Chapter 14

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Rose stared into the mirror, debating the merits of the red lipstick she'd borrowed from Jackie. She was going out to Shireen's for New Year's, much to her mother's satisfaction. She almost seemed happier about Rose reconnecting with her friends on the estate than Rose did. Keisha had been by earlier in the day, and she'd chosen Rose's outfit for her—at the thought of her clothes, Rose tugged down the hem of her miniskirt with a grimace. It didn't help, though. The blasted thing remained just as short, a flippy little silver number that fluttered and waved around the tops of her thighs. Her top wasn't much better, all smooth black silk that was draped carefully around her curves. At least the black tights Rose had slipped on after Keisha left kept things from looking too daring.

"Rose, are you almost ready?" Jackie's voice proceeded her into Rose's room and she appeared in the doorway, wearing a short, tight dress and too much perfume. "Blimey, look at you! Darling, you're gorgeous. Mickey won't know what hit 'im."

"Mum, I'm not tryin' to get back with Mickey." Rose flushed and dropped the lipstick on her vanity, opting for a light lip gloss instead. She'd run into him a few times over the past few weeks, mostly when she was visiting Rita-Anne, and it had been incredibly awkward each time. He could barely bring himself to mention Hogwarts, and Keisha and Shireen just thought she was attending a specialized academy her dad had gone too (and lord, had she gotten teased about that)—they had no idea how specialized a school Hogwarts was.

Jackie was grinning, and she gave Rose a wink. "Sure ya aren't. Right, I'm off to the pub—make sure you're home before too late, I dunno when I'll be back. Ben from downstairs has been lookin' mighty scrumptious lately."

Rose gagged. "Mum!"

"Oh, don't look at me like that! A woman's got needs, an' there's no shame in seein' to them. Later, sweetie!" She strolled out, and Rose pulled on a pair of black heels and wobbled to her feet.

She smiled a little as she put on the dangly silver earrings Donna had sent her for Christmas and wrapped the scarf from Hermione around her throat. Ginny had sent her a box of Wizarding chocolates that fizzed and danced in her mouth—those hadn't lasted the week. Jackie had loved them until she realized that the Dark Chocolate Flavorbomb she'd tried had dyed her mouth brilliant purple, and it was only then that Rose saw the tiny Weasley Wizarding Wheezes logo hidden on the bottom of the box.

There had been nothing from the Doctor, but she wasn't thinking about him. She pulled on her jacket and grabbed her purse, locking their flat behind her.

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The door to Shireen's flat was already open, loud music and the indistinguishable drone of conversation spilling out into the hallway. Rose pushed her way in between a girl in a skin-tight dress and a bloke in an ugly shirt. Shireen was standing by the doorway, nodding along happily to the thumping beat, and she squealed when she saw Rose. "Rose, babe, there you are! C'mon, let's get that jacket off so I can get a look at you." She tugged Rose into her bedroom, tossing her purse and jacket carelessly on the bed before gesturing for her to spin. "Oh, Rose, you look stunning. Now let's dance! We've got a live band an' all!"

Rose leaned closer as they shoved their way through the crowd, raising her voice to be heard through the music. "Who's playin' for a house party?"

"I don't think they've got a name yet, but Keisha's brother Jay knows the drummer." She grinned wickedly. "Good thing, too—he's a bit of all right."

Rose laughed. "God, Shireen, don't you think of anything else?"

"Well, I could—but this is way more fun." She threw her arms up and closed her eyes, and Rose followed her lead. On the dance floor she didn't have to think about how much she missed the Doctor, and how angry she was that she did miss him—there was just the beat that thrummed down her spine, pulsing through her veins.

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Rose stumbled off the dance floor, pushing her way through the crowds to Shireen's balcony. The band was taking a break, so Keisha'd switched on some electronica, and the air inside the flat was thick with sweat and the heavy synth coming from the speakers. She slipped out through the doors, leaning against the railing and shivering. The chilly December—almost January—air felt fantastic against her damp skin, though her teeth began to chatter as a cold breeze flowed around her.

"Bit nippy out here, innit?"

Rose turned her head at the light male voice, sighing a little to watch her breath cloud in front of her. "A bit, yeah, but it feels good."

The guitarist from the band strolled up next to her, leaning against the iron railing and looking out on the estate. He seemed a bit older than her, maybe nineteen or twenty, with messy light brown hair and bright blue eyes. "So, what's a girl like you doin' out here alone?"

She grinned a tongue-touched smile, cocking her head. "An' what sort of a girl is that?"

He winked at her. "A gorgeous one." She shivered again, and he shrugged out of his jacket. "Here, want this?"

"Won't you be cold, though?"

He glanced down at her, eyes quickly tracing her body. "I'm a bit more covered than you are, love. I'll be fine."

She blushed. "Sure, hand it over."

"Now what kind of a gentleman would I be if I did that, eh?" He spun his jacket theatrically and settled it on her shoulders, smiling down at her. "Better?"

She tucked her hair behind her ear. "Yeah, thanks."

"Looks better on you, anyway." He shifted to one elbow, facing her. "I'm Jimmy, by the way. Jimmy Stones."

"Rose Tyler."

"Nice to meet you, Rose Tyler. You never answered my question, by the way."

She lifted her chin. "Maybe I just wanted to let go an' have some fun, for once."

He laughed. "Big fan of fun, me."

"Well, who isn't?"

"You'd be surprised." The countdown started in the flat, a drunken medley of voices chanting down to the new year. Jimmy turned to her and raised an eyebrow. "How d'you feel about a bit of fun right here, right now?"

Rose paused a moment before raising an eyebrow and turning towards him. "You're that confident, are you?"

"Haven't heard any complaints." He waggled his eyebrows and smiled down at her, and she smiled back.

"5!" The Doctor's face drifted into her mind, waggling his eyebrows as he beamed at her, eyes full of mischief.

"4!" She tightened her hand, remembering how he'd always caught her hand with his, almost as much instinct as breathing.

"3!" Then the long hours in the Hospital Wing came back to her, the days spent waiting for someone who wasn't coming.

"2!" Donna's face as she tried to make excuses for the Doctor, excuses he wouldn't even bother to give Rose himself.

"1!" The owl post returning to her on Christmas day, her package for the Doctor still clutched in its claws even though Donna's present was gone.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Rose leaned up as Jimmy leaned down, their lips meeting in a rush of warm air and soft skin. She closed her eyes and stopped thinking.

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