Chapter 3
"Bigger on the inside…? What?" I'm confused beyond imagination.
"Well, how else should I put it, Miss Rose… wait what's your last name again?"
I answer, "It's Tyler. Rose Tyler."
"Rose Tyler," he says with a smile. "What a nice name. Anyhow, my time machine is quite a looker, if I do say so myself." The Doctor's hand strokes what looks like a control panel in the center.
The inside of the Tardis is really quite enormous. There are little peculiar holes on the wall and, pointing to them, I ask, "What are those hole things for?"
"No clue!" Then he laughs and throws a switch, which causes the TARDIS to experience an earthquake-like trembling. I grab the nearest railing to prevent myself from falling. A loud whooshing sound fills the area, and I suddenly feel the sensation of acceleration. The box must have wheels or something. "Where would you like to go, Rose?"
"Um, back to Archie's would be nice," I say cluelessly.
"Come on, have some imagination!" He seems so carefree when he talks that I nearly envy him. However, he is an insane mad man with a snog box, so I won't be turning green over him any day soon.
I don't know how to respond, so he answers himself for me (how generous of him). "How 'bout New York? The first New York, of course, not New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New York, though they have inns there."
The first thing I think is, You idiot, we're in London in a box! There's no way we're getting to New York in this thing! And what was that garbage about a New New New York? What I actually say is, "New York sounds fine, whatever."
Another switch here, another lever there. The Doctor asks me to hold down a button on the other side of the control panel, but I'm too afraid to let go of the railing. I vigorously shake my head (oh, god, that sounds so childish now). Then he gives me those big eyes and that cheesy smirk that say, Chicken? Well I triple-dog-dare you.
Finally, I practically crawl over to the panel, after a dramatic huff, obviously. The button is small and green, and I hold it down until the Doctor says to release it. Suddenly, it feels like we jolt to a stop. Swinging his paper thin body over the railing, the Doctor gallops to the doors, pull them open, and says, "After you." I scramble to the door and hop out. The first thing I see is the empire state building. Wait a second…
We're actually in New York. My mouth drops open unconsciously, and all I manage to say is, "H-how?"
"Remember when I was telling you about myself?" he questions. "I'm a time traveler, and this is my traveling machine." He pats the TARDIS affectionately.
I chuckle. "Right. How could I forget?" Grabbing my hand, the Doctor pulls me to a fountain in an open area. I over hear people talking, and I find their American accents quite appealing.
"So, you're a time traveler then?"
"Well, I'm actually a timelord from the planet Gallifrey." I open my mouth to speak, but he cuts me off. "Yes, yes, I know. I'm an alien. Gotta problem with that?"
"Well," I start lightly, "that's definitely not something you hear every day! But sure… it's fine… I guess. How come you look human?"
"How come humans look timelord?"
"Fair point."
I gently put my fingers in the water of the fountain. The water is bone-chilling cold. I rub my poor red fingers when I pull them out. "Oh, that water's freeeezing."
"C'mon then, let's go buy you a pair of gloves," the Doctor retorts. "I bet you didn't think you'd be glove shopping in New York this morning!" We laugh, and I follow him to a petite little shop. There, he treats me (once again) to a pair of gloves. The next hour or so consists of us wandering around New York looking in the little shop windows and oohingand ahing. Walking past a giant clock, I read that it says it's 12:45.
"My!" I exclaim. "It's 2014! It totally slipped my mind!"
"Um, actually, remember how I said the TARDIS was a time machine?" He scratches his head adorably.
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, since it's New Year – technically – where we are should be packed. You know, the ball drops and such. Well, I didn't want it to be so hectic, so I merely brought us back exactly three days. It's actually December 29."
"Oh. Right." I'm shocked.
"Yeahh."
"Well then. Ehm, what do we do now?" It's plain to see the gradual decline of excitement in the conversation.
"How bout I take you somewhere that's actually interesting?" he replies.
We return to the TARDIS, and, after much "time vortex" turbulence, I step outside to see that I'm standing in a large white building. The Doctor comes after me and turns me around to face a glass window which covers an entire wall. A shimmering crystal waterfall is right outside the glass. "Welcome," he says professionally, "to Midnight."
