13 Novella 2

Dress

TW: scars

You stand staring at your wardrobe concentrating intensely. Shy and uncertain, you thumb through with limited enthusiasm.

You sigh, searching for something to wear. You were meeting Jenny in the console room in two hours, and you still hadn't picked out a suitable outfit.

You are giving up and deciding on jeans when a knock sounds at your door.

"Come in" you call, not turning. Yaz knows how to approach you. She has no ill intent; actually she's visibly excited about something.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" She shrieks, making you jump.

"Tell you what?" You reply in alarm.

"That you and Jenny have got a date!" She says as though it were obvious. You blush and look away.

"It's not a date, and besides I'm not even sure I'm going... I've got nothing to wear" you groan siting on your stripped bed.

"Yes The Doctor thought you might have that problem and so- oh of course she knows" she giggles at your shocked expression. This was chaos.

"So anyway" she continues excitably "I suggested you might like to borrow one of my dresses!"

It's then that you notice several brightly coloured clothing items over one of her arms.

"Try some of them on, I'm not sure what your style is" she says, obliviously lying them on your bed. Two are blue, one is red and one is black. Only the red has sleeves. It's quite nice, but you prefer the black.

But of course you can't wear sleeveless.

You select the red and disappear into the bathroom and slip it on. It fits almost perfectly. You step out and do a theatrical twirl to please Yaz.

"Mmmm I like it! But I think you ought to try on the black" she says. You pause and shake your head calmly.

"No I think this one's fine..." you say. It wasn't that bad.

"Aww just try it on anyway!" She whines and you feel panic rise.

"I said no" you say coldly.

Yaz looks a little hurt but nods with a weak smile. You feel awful.

"No I'm sorry Yaz I really do appreciate your help, it's just... I can't wear the black one" you say hoping to convey with your expression what you can't say in words.

"You are going to look beautiful either way (Y/n)" she says catching on after a moment. "-but I understand".

You pause.

You roll your eyes and scoop up the dress, only to please Yaz. Your heart thumps as you change, but you can't help loving the dress.

It's soft and clingy, with laces up the thighs, and a small flower accent at the hip. You want to show Yaz, but are unsure of how she will react. You listen, and all is quiet. Taking a calming breath you step out.

"I think that's the one" she says quietly, deliberately avoiding your arms. You stand self consciously.

"I think so too..." you say uncertainly, fading into silence.

"I could help you cover them?" She says quietly and you nod, unable to convey how much this means to you. To be able to wear a short sleeve dress, such a simple thing.

You spend the next half hour trying not to visibly tense while Yaz applies corrector, concealer, foundation, powder, and all sorts of other things to your arms. Occasionally she breathes in sharply as she comes across some deeper ones, but you pretend not to notice.

"All done" she says with a warm smile and you look her in the eyes. They are warm and loving, full of compassion, and in that moment you realise Yaz is probably your best friend.

You get to your feet and look in the floor length mirror on the back of your door. You stare, and stare some more.

For the last 8 years at least your arms have been patterned with frozen rivers. Deep white and blush red or violent purple. But now, your arms... were arms again.

The urge to cry rises, and you feel Yaz slip her hand into yours silently. You want to pull away immediately when you catch an image of yourself as she sees you. Instead you squeeze her hand and she responds the same way. You didn't need to say it, she understood.

An hour later and you are making your way to the console room, hair past your shoulders, clacking along The Tardis in some matching black stilettos.

She thrums approvingly and you laugh. You pick up saucy music when you arrive on the deck and punch a pillar playfully. The music turns light hearted.

"Wow"

You turn and blush crimson as Jenny stands in a black suit, wearing just a bra-let underneath. You try to look respectfully, but god she was beautiful.

"Wow to you too" you say while trying to control your voice.

You stand staring at each other for a bit before someone clears their throat, interrupting the soft excitement coating the ground like icing sugar.

"If you two could save it for when you're alone" says The Doctor slyly, flicking switches. You stumble in your heels as you take off, but Jenny is instantly at your side and holding you steady. You blush some more to your embarrassment and feel the box land with a thump.

"Right you two, listen up" says the time lady sternly. "Behave and be safe, I will pick you up in two hours, and I expect both of you to be fully clothed and coherent" she continues.

"Mum!" Says Jenny while you resign yourself to being crimson coloured for the rest of your life.

"Just saying" she adds "and have a good time of course" she winks and you roll your eyes. An image from The Doctor comes to mind, it's you and Jenny, together and happy. You blush again as the Tardis thrums giddily.

"I mean it, shut up right now, both of you" you mutter at the machine and her master.

You look up, noticing too late your mistake.

"How did you know what the Tardis- ?" Starts Jenny but you head to the door, ignoring The Doctor's careful scrutiny.

"Come on" you call dismissively, and lead the way out the door.