AN: Hey there! I'm so sorry for the delay, life is occupying a whole lot of time lately..
I can't promise I'll be more on time later, sorry.
I'll try my best, though, I promise.
So, new chapter: Tell me what you think about it? *puppy face*
"I am so not ready for physics" Groaned Rose, pulling her pencil case out of the backpack and laying her head on her desk.
"Physics? I'm not even ready for English, and that comes first." Replied Time, letting out a fake half laugh.
Over the past few days she and Rose had become fast friends, despite the closed-off nature of the first. Rose just seemed to bring out a little what was hidden behind her protective walls. Rose knew she could only scrape the surface, but for now she would content herself with this: opening up required trust, and trust needed time. Her daily goal was to get a smile out of her, a smile and she would consider her day successful.
"Thank god I had time to study English early this week or I'd be completely screwed in both tests" Said Rose, getting a snarl from Time.
«Yes, because it's so hard for her getting a good grade in English» Time thought sarcastically but felt a bit bad right after.
"What?!" The blonde asked surprised.
The hazelnut haired girl only glared at her, then turned back to the teacher and pulled at her sleeves. She did that a lot, Rose noticed.
"Listen, if you want you can ask me during the test and if I can I'll tell you the answer" She offered.
Time seemed taken aback, but only shrugged and shook her head a little.
Silence settled then, until Rose, bored and worried, broke it again.
"I should have asked John for physics.. Now I'll have to ask him to help me fix this grade too" She said to herself.
The grim voice of the Galaxy-eyed girl startled her.
"Your daydream boy?" She said in a clearly malicious tone.
"He-you-I do not daydream about him. He's just a friend" Rose stammered to defend herself.
"Mh-hm..sure, whatever you say" Time said patronizingly.
Rose huffed, annoyed.
"How do you know about him anyway? I didn't mention him more than once or twice.."
"Per hour? You always talk about him." Time snorted.
"Whaaat? I do not." Said Rose in a high pitched, defensive voice.
"John this, John that, John is so great, oh John!" The hazelnut haired girl mocked the blonde.
"No-that's not-you-" Rose tried to stop her.
"What's happening there?" Came the loud reprimand of the teacher.
"Nothing, sir" They chorused, but Rose shot a glare at the other girl that said that it was not over. Or maybe that it was?
"Rose.. Rose.." She heard a whisper from her left and turned around.
Time was staring at her with pleading eyes, so she made an expression that said "What?" and waited for an answer.
"What did you write in the third question?" The starry eyed girl asked.
Rose glanced at the teacher to make sure he wasn't looking at them, then proceeded to answer. As she was saying the last two words, her English teacher grumbled.
"Winters, who're you talking to?"
Rose felt her heart stop and didn't know what to do. She looked at Time and her eyes were blank: in them she could see the struggle between saving herself and being loyal to the new friend she just made, so the blonde girl made a split decision.
"Sorry Mr Smith, it was my fault.." She answered cringing.
"Tyler, give me your test." He said sternly and Rose slowly got up and went to the teacher. As she came back to sit, she could see the dumbfounded surprise in her friend's eyes, that was staring at her instead of writing the test.
"Finish the goddam test!" She whispered and then turned her head to her desk, smiling: being kind felt good.
John was sitting at his desk, oblivious to what was happening around him. He was thinking about Rose, a bit worried: she had two tests today, and one was in physics.
She seemed unsure about the subject but had refused his help because, he was quoting, she "didn't want to bother him too much". Silly girl. He would have loved to help her, to see her brilliant smile and hear her contagious laugh. And to-
His musings were interrupted by a loud shout in his ear.
"Jooohn!" Mickey was screaming, looking annoyed.
"What? No need to be loud, I'm not deaf" John sputtered back.
"Really? It's the fourth time I called you." Mickey said with a superior, sarcastic expression.
Mickey was the only guy from his team that was also in his class.
"Done thinking about Rose yet?" He asked and before John could open his mouth to protest he stopped him.
"Don't even try to deny it. I've known you for three years, I sit next to you every day and swim with you too. I know your expressions, especially when you're doing this one that shouts 'I can't stop thinking about her'. It's almost painted nonstop on you lately." Mickey finished and looked expectantly at John, only to find him sporting a pout that made him look like a three years old.
He shook his head and tried again.
"So I asked, are you done?"
"I'm sorry" She heard Time say even before she saw her.
"What for?" She asked turning to her and greeting her with a smile.
The break had finally arrived after the two tests and now Rose was leaning against a wall in the hallway, chilling her brain after two challenging periods. Why teachers felt the need to torture students like that was beyond her.
"For earlier, in English... You shouldn't have taken the blame, it was my fault and.." Time started ranting, but Rose stopped her.
"I had already finished the test." Rose said with a half smile.
"What?" Time asked confused.
"Well, I had to check it, but I had finished it." Rose shrugged.
"And you let me feel guilty all this time?!" Time asked feigning shock, but Rose could see the smile of relief on her face.
"Sorry" She said playfully, feeling satisfied for the day.
"Being kind feels good" Said Rose out of the blue at John.
They were walking home after a quite tiring training and their walk had started off fairly silently.
Their hands had found each other on their own accord and were now swinging between them. It was something that neither of them did with any other friend. But between them it felt so good, so... right.
Without any word, John looked at Rose questioningly.
Rose shrugged answering "Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about today and realized I always want to do this, to be kind: it gives so much more satisfaction than being mean and cruel."
John was astonished by this girl, she was extraordinary and probably the kindest being he had ever known, but she always wanted to be better.
"Yes, you're right. The world would be better if people were nicer to each other.." «If they were more like you» he added in his mind. She made him want to be better.
He squeezed her hand and smiled at her. She was a gift.
Speaking of which..
"I have a question" he said, remembering the "game" they had started playing when he started tutoring her to get to know each other better. Sure, they knew a whole lot more of the other than they used to, but still.
"Ask away" She answered smiling.
"It's just...I realised... I don't know when your birthday is." He said sheepishly and Rose grinned at his embarrassment.
"It's okay, I don't know yours either" she smiled.
"It's on February 14th" She added, waiting for the usual remark about how lucky she was because she would receive a present on her birthday anyway.
"On Valentine's Day? Must be annoying." He said instead and Rose looked surprised at the unexpected answer.
"Well, not exactly, why?" She asked, curious.
"Ah nothing, just.. Nah it's stupid and something a three years old would think, forget it." John said looking embarrassed.
"N'aw come oon! I already know you're a three years old inside" She teased with a tongue touched smile, bumping her shoulder on his.
John pouted playfully.
"Oh, that's what you think, Rose Tyler? Than I shall not tell you." He said turning away from her.
"See? Three years old." She remarked and tugged on his hand, leaning her face on his arm to make him forgive her.
"Umpfh.." was the unintelligible answer, but she could see the tender - wait tender? - smile on his face.
"So... When's yours?"
John was confused: what was she asking?
"What?"
"Your birthday, dreamer." She teased again.
"Oh, that! On January 10th" he smiled.
It was Rose's turn to pout.
"But that was not so long ago! You should have told me!" She protested.
"Oh well... Didn't count much, don't worry" he smiled sheepishly.
"Yes I do! You definitely should have told me" Rose said, sounding offended.
John sighed he had thought about telling her, but in the end thought not to do it because he feared it could seem he was «seeking her attention» and he didn't want to seem needy.
"You're right, I'm sorry.. I should have.." He answered, eyes downcast.
Rose didn't know what to think. She wanted to be mad but she could see he didn't do it purposely to hurt her. Still it made her sad that she missed it.
"I overreacted, I'm sorry too.. " She said squeezing his hand, meanwhile already thinking what she would do to make it up to him.
They stopped in front of her house.
Still connected by one hand, they turned towards one another.
"So.. February 14th, uh? Not far away" John asked maliciously.
"Yep." She smiled teasingly.
They stared at one another, smiling like fools for some seconds, then John had to look away (or he would have to listen to a Jack sounding voice in his head).
"Well, gotta go now" He smiled apologetically.
Rose nodded and, just when he thought she would move away, she stepped on her tiptoes and, using his arm to steady herself, she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
"Happy birthday, John" She whispered sweetly, then backed away, threw him the gentlest smile he'd have ever seen and walked back to her house.
John stood there dumbfounded: his cheek burned and his heart was racing. She had kissed him. On the cheek, but still..
Boy, she was a continuous surprise.