The two of them ran through the night, and Rose felt ecstatic. Rose had never exactly been a runner exactly, but it was something about the way their bodies curved through the night, streaming through the empty London streets. It was magnificent. The way John's lean body moved through the streets with such elegance yet still managed to hold her hand tightly lit her up inside in a way that was just indescribable. Somehow, being here, with John, everything in Rose's world just felt…right.

Eventually they came to a stop just inside of the estate, both of them panting heavily, their breath intermingling, given their close proximity. His smelt like orange tic tacs, zesty and fresh. Rose tried not to smile to herself like an idiot when she noticed he hadn't yet let go of her hand.

"That was… fun" she said, smiling gently.

"Yeah," he said, looking down at her. This is it; Rose thought the big kiss, the romance. Bring it on.

But John just simply smiled, and released her hand. "Thank you, Rose Tyler, for a wonderful night." He said, kissing her gently on the forehead before turning around and running off into the night. Rose sighed, and shook her head. What was that? She thought to herself. She really thought that John had liked her, and all his actions leading up to that were giving her all the signs, but then he left on that?

Rose looked down, and pulled her skirt a little lower down. "Maybe he thinks I'm a brainless tart" she thought aloud, before delving into her bag and quickly pulling her tights on, the cold air was now tickling across her thighs as the chilly night air sunk in, her adrenaline rushed out of her. She pulled out her phone, and saw two texts from Mickey.

22:06

U alrite at the party b?

22:27

I herd John was causing trouble?

She rolled her eyes and deleted them both, not even bothering replying. The fight would be the talk of the school on Monday, so she would just explain to Mickey then. She looked at the time, 23:07; hopefully her mum would be asleep. Rose just hugged her shoulders, and started heading up the stairs to her flat. She could see from her balcony that Shareen's bedroom light was on, so she decided to give her a call as she got in. she opened the door softly, and smiled as she saw her mum passed out on the sofa, TV still blaring. She tiptoed over, and shut the TV off, placing a blanket over Jackie's sleeping form, and crept into her bedroom.

She quickly changed into her pyjamas and dialled Shareen's number. Shareen answered promptly, after two rings.

"So what happened then?" was the first thing she said on answering "Because I heard from Macey King, who heard from Ray Foreman that you and John were getting cosy in the kitchen"

Rose could almost hear the smirk in Shareen's voice, and she rolled her eyes. "I can't argue with that, it was going well. Then Rocky in year eleven had to stick his oar in, and John ended up with a busted lip."

"John got beat up by Rocky?"

"Other way round Shaz, Rocky was being a dick and John beat him up. Then Jack stepped in and slung him out, the party ended after that."

"So what happened with you and John then? Did you heal his wounds or some other soppy bull?" she joked

"Shut up Shaz, nothing happened."

"Don't give me that Tyler, I saw you two come running into the estate, thick as thieves from my bedroom window. I shut the curtains after; I'm no lezzie watching my mate snogging."

"Well if you had stuck around to enjoy the show, you would've seen that I got nothing"

"Nothing? Not even a kiss?"

"A baby kiss. On the forehead. Then he ran off."

"What a wanker."

"Oi! He is a nice guy, but he's a bit… oblivious. Head in the clouds type, he did flirt and dance with me, all night. I thought he really liked me… maybe he does."

"Well from the way he was beaming at you like a kid on Christmas when you got in, I thought you were in Rose. I dunno, maybe your losing your touch."

"Losing my touch? That's why I got hit on at least three times when John went to the loo."

"Alright, alright, I take it back. Anything else happen?"

"That bitch Katie Bridge stuck her oar in. as usual"

"Oh god, I hate that girl. What did she do?"

"I pop off to the loos for five minutes, come back and she's all leaning into him, chatting aloud of crap as usual."

"What did John do?"

"Well like I said, he's a bit oblivious. He didn't notice she was trying to get off with him, and when I showed up she cleared off. He said he saw her stuff her bra, which I am totally spreading."

"Oh that's good. I'm so texting that to Macey…" Shareen said "But it sounds like it was alright. Don't know why John's pratting about, but he'll soon come to his senses. Oblivious or not, he definitely noticed your arse in that skirt."

"Shaz!" Rose exclaimed.

"You know it's true," Shareen said "Anyway, I gotta go. Mum's shoutin' about how she's gotta get to sleep. I'll text you tomorrow."

"Alright Shaz, talk to you tomorrow."

"And don't forget to text Mickey, he phoned me worrying about you, as usual!"

"I'll talk to him tomorrow."

"You know he'll just sit up waiting for you to text back, just put him out of his misery Rose."

"Alright, later Shaz"

"Bye."

Rose hung up and looked at her phone, lingering over Mickey's contact. She checked the time, 23:25; he'd probably be in bed by now anyway. Rose shut the phone, and climbed into bed. Mickey could wait until tomorrow.

oOo

Rose was awoken at nine am, by her mother pounding at her bedroom door. "For the last time Rose Marion Tyler, wake up! Mickey Smith's at the door, dithering as usual. He won't bog off until you come out!" she called, before Rose heard the familiar shuffle of her mum's slippers across the carpet.

"Yeah she'll be out in a second Mick, girls… they take forever!" she heard Jackie shout. Rose noticed the time and rolled her eyes, what could Mickey possibly want that was so urgent at nine in the morning. She quickly got up, and threw on a pair of grey tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt, along with her trusty red converse. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, wiping away last nights makeup, and put in two big silver hoop earrings. She decided to leave her hair, and just ran her fingers through it a few times. Mickey had seen her worse, after all.

She walked out into the kitchen, and grabbed a slice of toast off the side, before heading out the flat and downstairs. Mickey was waiting for her, sitting on the wall underneath her flat.

"There you are! I was worried about you when you didn't text back, and then I hear from Shareen that John got into a fight, with Rocky?"

"Mickey, slow down…" Rose said, wincing "My heads killing me, and I'm tired. Its nine in the bloody morning on Saturday, is this really that important?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Mickey I was fine, you don't need to worry about me. John got into the fight with Rocky over me, he was protecting me. He's a nice guy."

"I don't like him Rose, why did he start a bloody fight in the first place? Be honest, if he weren't there with you, would that fight even have happened."

"Yeah, it would of actually" Rose snapped "If John wasn't there , Jack would've looked after me."

"Yeah, maybe if he wasn't busy feeling up half of the girls in lower sixth upstairs."

"Oh come off it Mickey, why do you have an aversion to every guy I'm mates with."

Mickey shifted awkwardly, and avoided eye contact. "Because, I just wanna make sure your safe, alright?" he said.

"Mickey I don't need you looking after me. Ok?" Rose asked. Mickey just looked down, and Rose hopped off the wall. "Now I'm going back to bed for at least two more hours."

"Are you coming out later?"

"I don't know. Shareen's out with Carl Pierce, so I might meet up with John."

"Oh." Mickey visibly tensed.

"Problem?" Rose asked.

"It's nothing." Mickey said, before hopping off the wall and walking off towards his flat. Rose just shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes at Mickey's reaction. He was so over protective, you would think they were together or something. Rose knew how much Mickey cared for her, but he needed to back off a bit. She could hold her own, and the Jimmy stone incident taught her that. She didn't need Mickey. Not really.