Explore The Stars (Doctor Who Fanfic)

Chapter 12

Anna got home exhausted. Her mum was out working so she was able to avoid questions on the bandages on her hands. She fell into bed and thought about her day.

She had been in a time machine. She had travelled to the 58th century and saved a planet! Saleem. He was nice. Her first alien encounter- not including the Doctor of course. She then thought about the TARDIS. Anna suddenly remembered the key around her neck. She held it in her hand and inspected it. It was just an ordinary key, no special engravings or anything. How could this simple thing be the key to a time machine!?

Soon Anna drifted to sleep and dreamed dreams of running on distant planets and exploring the stars.

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MONDAY MORNING

Anna woke early. Which was unusual for her. She would normally wake late and then have to rush to school. The cuts on her hands had mostly healed with just a few scabs left. They were probably going to leave scars. When her mum had asked about them she just said that she had tripped in the school yard and gone down hard. She wasn't sure if her mum believed her but still, it wasn't talked about anymore.

Her laptop was still on her lap where it had been last night when she fell asleep. She had been working on her physics homework for the Doctor. They supposed to research nuclear fusion right? Well she had researched nuclear fusion in Doradus 30, the Tarantula Nebula. She wasn't sure if two pages was too much. Ah well, she had done it now.

She got up and changed into her uniform. She brushed her hair and was about to walk out the door when she looked back in the mirror. Her hair was always down in front of her face, always. She found a rarely used hair bobble and tied it back. No more hiding from bullies. If she can face the Vashta Nerada the she can face some teenage boys.

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The day dragged on. She didn't have physics until 4th lesson and she really couldn't be bothered with double maths. At least Joe was there. He ran in late as always, apologising to Miss Fedrun and collapsing in his seat.

"Hey" he said, catching his breath and pulling his maths book out of his bag.

"Hiya" Anna replied cheerily. Joe looked at her.

"You're happy." He stated.

"Joseph please be quiet!" Miss Fedrun called from the front of class. Anna sniggered.

"Yeah, Joseph." He glared at her. He always hated it when anyone called him by his full name.

"Shut up." He whispered. He got out a pen and went to start copying what was in her book already when he looked at her again.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing, you just look different today that's all." Anna was confused, it must have showed on her face because he then went on to say "Your hair, it looks nice."

"Oh, thanks." Anna almost blushed. No one ever told her that she looked nice. Apart from her mum of course. "I just tied it up thats all."

"Well, you should wear it like that more often." He gave her a kind smile. All she could do was return it. He went back to copying her work when he noticed the cuts on her hands. "What did you do to your hands?"

Anna quickly made her hands retreat under the table. "Oh, nothing. I just, you know, fell over at the weekend." Lying. She didn't mind lying to her mum or to teachers, but to Joe? He was her one and only friend. She relaxed again when he just believed the lie and just told her to be more careful.

The rest of the lesson went on as normal with Miss Fedrun blah blah blah-ing at the front and Anna and Joe making snide comments about her ugly cardigan. They were relieved when the bell finally went for break.

"I'm off to play footy with the lads again so.. Yeah" Joe told her as he was packing up his stuff.

"No worries, I'll come watch." Anna said with a smile. She had nowhere else to go during break as it was too short a time to go to the library.

Joe looked at her funny. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"You're... What's the word... Confident, about going outside." Anna just stared at him blankly. "That's where Chris and his gang normally are."

"I couldn't care less." Anna said. And she didn't.

"What changed? You used to hide away from those guys." They were now walking outside and across the yard towards the football field.

"Let's just say I had a change of perspective." Anna smiled to herself. Oh she certainly had.

Joe dumped his bag with the other boys' stuff and ran onto the field, pulling on his goalie gloves. Anna just stood and watched, thankfully it wasn't too cold out so she could just be.

"Ay-up shorty, what are you doing out of the library? Were you finally let out of your cage?" Here he comes. Chris Jones and his cronies. Anna froze upon hearing his voice, her old fear creeping back into her soul. She bent her head to let her hair fall over her face but then remembered that she had tied it up. Dammit. What did she do that?

"Oi! Nerd! I'm talking to you" he said pulling on her shoulder. Anna was terrified. It reminded her of when she had two shadows and had to stay absolutely still. She slowly looked up at Chris' face and spoke with a wavering breath.

"Don't touch me." Anna could hear her voice shaking. Her legs felt like jelly. Chris only laughed.

"Did you hear that? It spoke! Was that a threat midget? Was it?" He was bending down now, trying to patronise her. "And what are you gonna do? Space me to death with your stupid obsession with it?" He started pushing her back, all she could do was stumble backwards.

"I said don't touch me!" She shouted. Chris came to a stop. Anna was surprised at herself. She looked around to see that a few surrounding people had stopped to look at what was going on. Chris looked like he was going to start pushing her again when she heard a stern voice behind her.

"I'd listen to her if I were you." Anna turned her head to see the Doctor standing there with his arms crossed against his chest. Chris just looked at him, unsure of how to react. "You heard her Christopher, don't touch her. Now run along, lessons start again in 3 minutes and 45 seconds. You don't want to be late do you?"

Chris just spat on the ground and stomped away across the yard back towards the school building. Anna turned to face her saviour.

"Umm, thanks" she said with a shy smile.

"No problem." He replied with a grin. They both turned to watch the football game before them. "They're big wimps anyway. Probably wouldn't even throw a punch."

"Yes they would... They have." Anna said downcast. Her eyes found her shoes once more.

"Hey, listen to me." The doctor was now bent down so that he was at her eye level. "Those bullies aren't going to hurt you anymore. As long as you stay strong. Yes?" Anna just nodded, not looking into his eyes.

Suddenly the bell went for the next lesson and the Doctor stood up. "Right then! I'll see you lesson four!" And he strode off towards the physics department. Anna quickly retreated inside before Joe or anyone else could catch up to her.

A/N hey! So this was quite a long chapter, with not much happening in it really but I felt the need to put it in. Thankyou so much all my wonderful readers(I know there's only a few of you), I'd love to hear more from you. Just a small comment here or a vote there would make my day! More chapters should be on their way relatively soon so keep your eyes peeled!

-thepinkgremlin