Hey, David. Would you like to go see the new Maze Runner movie in the cinema this evening?
Groaning, David rolled over in his bed to reach for his buzzing cellular phone. Squinting at the fluorescent light that invaded his senses at such an early hour, he began to type his response.
ok. c u at 8?
He pressed send, his prodigy mind already racing to find a way to tell Martha nicely that he just wanted to be friends. He did like Rose, after all. Clever Rose, with her flowing blonde hair and fair skin and kind words. He found himself grinning as he thought about his best friend in a way that people generally didn't think of their best friends. He might tell her when they're older, though he can't see such a wonderful, beautiful person like Rose ever liking him like that.
His phone buzzed once again, effectively snapping him out of his thoughts.
Of course, David. I'll see you at 8:00 tonight. Meet you by the entrance.
David found the way that Martha formed her texts frankly too formal. He and Rose always texted in slang and abbreviations because it was quicker to the well organised mind. Martha texted the way she spoke, proper and elegant. He didn't like it.
So, if Martha wanted to go see the Maze Runner, he was okay with that. He had already seen it once, with Rose, and it was truly fantastic. But, first on his agenda today was going to Rose's house to see if she was feeling better. His boyish features morphed into those of worry as he thought about his fun loving companion being sick. He would bring her some snacks, he decided. From the corner mart by Henrick's. She would like that.
He rolled out of bed and threw on a green shirt and some trousers. Looking in the mirror, he ran his hands through his unruly hair in an attempt to make it lie flat. It didn't, of course, so he just sighed and continued into the kitchen.
"David! There you are. It's about time you got up, I was just about to wake you. Your father's already left for work, he has," he's greeted by the cheerful voice of his mother, holding out a cup of tea for him. "Drink up, you look like you haven't slept in weeks, my boy."
He sighed and rolled his eyes. He had been up kind of late the previous night fretting about Rose, but his mother was definitely making hyperbole. "Thanks, mum, I'm just gonna go over to see Rose in a mo," he says gratefully, taking a careful sip from the hot mug.
"Ah, Miss Rose Tyler. I want to see her soon, you know. Have you asked her out yet?" she asked knowingly, ruffling his hair even more.
Batting her traitorous hand away defensively, he retorted, "Stop it mum! I told you, I'm going on a date with Martha Jones tonight."
"Martha Jones. I do recall you telling me, sweetie, and she's a nice enough girl. I just think that you and Rose would be a much better fit, that's all. The two of you are so precious, all curled up on that couch together and napping. Jackie and I have already started planning the wedding," she gushed.
"Rose and I are just friends. She feeling sick so I'm going to go see her today.'
"Okay, but try and be back by two. I have to go grocery shopping and I want you to come and help pick out what we need. If Rose is feeling better she can come," she says. "But you're eating breakfast first. And have you combed your hair?"
:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
Rose is just finishing up a Tale of Two Cities when the doorbell to her flat makes her jump out of her skin. Sticking the bookmark between the pages, she gets up to answer it. There stands a flushing David Doctor, holding a shopping bag she recognises from the corner mart about a block away. Inside she scowls, but outside she grins at him, because he's her best friend and he's really done nothing wrong. She's just being petty.
"Mr. Doctor, what are you doing here?" she asks, trying to keep her tone light.
"Well, you said you were feeling under the weather so I brought over some chocolates and other sweets. I know you like them. I figure we could have a Sherlock marathon and you could come grocery shopping with me and mum later." he stood beaming at her, and put in as an afterthought, "if you want to."
At this she found herself actually grinning at him because no matter how oblivious he was, he still came through for her. She opened the door wider for him to come through, absentmindedly attempting to fix her own unruly blonde hair but no succeeding. Noting her struggles, he suggested, "let me brush your hair for you. I know how much you hate doing it." Her cheeks turning pink at the thought, she nodded and rushed off to get her hairbrush as he started setting up for their impromptu television session. Upon re-entering the room, she looked fondly at the array of snacks and blankets placed around her telly. He switched on the DVD player and she handed him her disc set of series one.
Settling down under the blankets, he took her hair comb and began to worry out the knots in her long hair. He was always gentle, which she never got, because how would he know how much it hurt to have long hair brushed? But he was always mindful. About half of the way through The Blind Banker, he started braiding, and she enjoyed the light scratches of his fingers across her scalp. She had taught him how to French Braid back in fifth grade after she had gotten tired of doing it herself, and now he did it without thinking.
She thought she probably looked a mess right about now; Jack's sweater and her own ripped jeans, no makeup, dark circles and her horn-rimmed glasses that were far too big for her face instead of contacts. Little did she know that he thought she looked frankly quite adorable, just like he always did.
:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
When they finished The Great Game, concluding series one, Rose got up to get the next disc. Before she got too far, she felt something small bounce off the side of her head. When she turned to find the source of the disruption, she found none other than David grinning at her cheekily, holding their bowl of popcorn. "Oh, you did not just do that," she exclaimed.
His response was another kernel pelting her in the nose.
"It's on, Doctor," she cried out, grabbing a bag of chocolate covered raisins from the coffee table in front of her. She relentlessly chucked them at him, giggling like an eight year old and he held up a sofa cushion in defense.
"Miss Tyler, you're being very rude!" he called out, bounding over to her and, despite her struggles, throwing her over his shoulder in a firemen's carry.
"David, put me down," she laughed out, going red in the face.
"As you wish, my darling," he said dryly, flipping her over onto the couch. She flopped down, glaring at him in good nature. Before David had time to think of something new, she was stalking over to him, mischief in her eyes. "Rose... what are you doing-" he stopped when she began to tickle his side mercilessly, his face scrunching up as he tried to hold back his snorts of laughter. Her devious fingers run up and down his sides and he can't help the tears that spring to his eyes when he can't stop giggling and squirming. "Rose! Rose stop!" he somehow manages to flip them over and hold her wrists down, breathing heavily.
Rose's eyes go wide and it's only then that he realizes the compromising position he's put them in. He's positioned over top of her on the floor, one hand holding her wrists above her head and one hand keeping his body slightly over hers. Their face are so close together, and her eyes flutter shut when he leans in slightly, and he's sure their lip are about to meet, when-
"Look at this mess!"
God save Jackie Tyler.
:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
Half an hour and two brooms later, the mess is cleaned up and David's mum arrives to take the teenagers to the shopping mart. Neither speak of their almost kiss, instead pretending that it never happened and continuing on with their friendly teasing and banter. David could still feel her cool breath on his lips, and the way her body felt almost touching his, and butterflies erupted in his stomach just thinking about it. Especially when Rose linked her arm in his the minute they stepped out of the car.
"You two push the trolley, and go pick up snacks you want for the house. I'm going to have a go at the cosmetics section. Don't fool around too much, mind you," she called after them as the rushed off in the other direction.
"Rose Tyler, I'm going to take you for a ride on the Shopping Cart Express," David beamed cheekily at her, holding his arms out in a Game Show manner in the direction of the trolley.
She smiled at him in her tongue-in-teeth way that would look ridiculous on anyone else but just looked adorable on her. "We haven't done this in ages!"
"Well, all the more reason then," he chirped, and rocked back and forth for a moment as she climbed up on the cart to stand on the rails. He clamoured up behind her, feet on either side of her's, and pushed off down the empty aisle.
:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
Rose had to really try not to notice how nice David felt pushed up behind her, and how good if felt to have his chest pressed against her back. She focused instead on riding the stupid trolley down the produce aisles, avoiding sales assistants and managers. His chin was resting on the top of her head, and once again she cursed how tall he was. As they came to the end of the section, they both jumped off, keeping the cart at bay and laughing like small children. He took her smaller hand in his larger one, and used the other one to push the cart. He smiled at her in that goofy way and she couldn't help but almost go weak in the knees.
They spent ten minutes plucking things up from the stands before Rose was tapped lightly on the shoulder. "Excuse me?" a voice behind her asked. Turning around, she was greeted with the kind face of an elderly lady. "I've been watching you kids for a while, and let me just say, you make a very nice couple," she smiled at them. "It's so nice to see young people in love these days."
Rose's cheeks went pink for another time that day. "Oh! Oh, no we're just friends," David stuttered beside her, and she felt herself nodding along with wide eyes.
"I apologize! It's just, you look at each other as if there's no one else in the entire store, so I never would have guessed," the lady said fruitfully.
She found herself staring at her shoes when she replied, "it's quite alright, ma'am, it happens often. We've been best friends since forever," she explained embarrassedly. The lady smiled in a way Rose thought might have been knowingly before walking in the other direction. She and David shrugged at each other before continuing on with their shopping experience.
A/N: So that concludes today's chapter. I want to hear what you guys think! I know it's not my best work but I am currently in a rush. Next chapter will include David's date with Martha which I am not looking forwards to writing because, though I do like Martha, I am a firm Ten/Rose shipper. Until next time! :)
