Fic: Can This Be Love? - (2/?)
Title: “Can This Be Love”
Authors: thenoblethang & monkeysrule13
Rating: PG (will raise to only PG-13 later)
Characters: Ten (John Pond), Eleven (Troy Smith), Donna Noble, River (Pond), Amy Pond, Rory Pond, Sarah Jane Smith, Rassilon Smith
Genre: Drama, romance, humor, fluff, friendship
Words: ~5600 (cripes)
Disclaimer: We own them not, but the idea is ours. ‘Tis true.
Summary: This is a completely AU story that surrounds John (Ten), Troy (Eleven), River, and Donna.
It takes the criteria of a typical Filipino Drama. Takes place in a fictional setting, probably a mix of London and the Philippines. LOL what.
Warnings/Spoilers: There are very few spoilers, but there are crack pairings (well, only Sarah/Rassilon), and lots and lots of drama in parts to come.
A/N: monkeysrule13 and I were discussing the criteria of a Filipino drama, and it goes -
- Cheesy title after an equally cheesy love song ("Can This Be Love" - Sarah Geronimo)
- Lots of crying, and we means lots
- Complicated/forbidden love triangles/squares/pentagons
- Complicated blood relations and/or family issues
- Childhood friends/lovers
- Class difference
- Lots of minor character death
- Jealousy issues
- Overload of cliches
- Happy, tears of joy inducing endings with magical marriages
- Dragged out storylines that just don’t seem to end
Chapter 1
Chapter 2: The Young and the Clueless
John and River were in the living room, staring at their small TV screen. River was bitterly eating her cookie, while John rested his face in his hands. One would think someone ran over his dog.
“Did you two have fun at the party with Auntie Sarah and Rassilon?” Amy asked, trying to cheer them up as she joined them on the sofa.
“He’s an ass, too,” River said full of attitude.
“Now River, your dad doesn’t like that word,” Amy warned, and River grumbled. She smiled at her daughter knowingly. “Troy’s a cute kid, isn’t he?”
“No! He’s stupid!” River shouted before she put half of her cookie down in disgust. “He’s ugly and stupid and mean and stupid and arrogant and stupid and he’s just... stupid!”
“Does someone have a crush?” Amy raised her eyebrow which accompanied her smirk.
“She totally does, mom,” John said absently.
“He’s right,” River pouted, “I do have a crush.” then she glared at a near by picture of the three of them during October before picking up her cookie and throwing it at it. “But not with that stupid head!”
They all heard Rory give a sigh of relief from the kitchen.
River stomped her way upstairs and into her room.
Rory came into the living room, hands in his jacket pockets. “What will she be like when she’s a teenager if she’s like this already?”
“You’re the one that wanted a girl, you dumbo,” Amy smirked. She scooted closer to John and put her arm around him. “So what about you, little squirt? Why so down?”
“I met nice person and I won’t see her ever again so now I’ll be stuck with Troy and River who bicker to the world’s end and then they’ll get married and have kids while I’m a lonely old oaf.”
“If your sister is getting married to anyone, it’s her job!” Rory quickly interjected.
“Oh shut up,” Amy said. “Now, John. If you met someone wonderful and had a wonderful time, shouldn’t you be happy? What’s that thing Dr. Seuss said? Ah... Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened, or something? Yeah... Cheer up, kid.”
John was only a little swayed. “I guess.”
“And besides,” Amy continued. “You never meet anyone that special just once. Have hope, kiddo. Jeez. You’re as hopeless as your father.”
“Hey!” Rory pouted, and Amy only laughed at him. Rory’s expression then changed to a more serious one. “By the way, did Sarah Jane give you the money, yet?”
John’s head perked up. “Why would she need to give us any money?”
Amy glared at Rory. “Oh, she bought some...old stuff that we didn’t need, she said they were um, antique or something. Why don’t you go to bed now, eh?”
“Okay,” John agreed, yawning. Amy kissed his cheek goodnight and he went off to bed.
Amy stared at Rory, still standing in front of her as she crossed her arms and legs. They heard John’s door shut, and that’s when they continued to talk.
“They aren’t supposed to know.”
“Sorry,” Rory apologized tiredly, taking a seat next to his wife. “It’s just we’ve been really slipping, Amy. These kids are pricier than we thought, and, just...”
“Shh, it’s alright, we’ll pull through we always do,” Amy reassured him, “and maybe I can talk to Sarah Jane, I think she’ll understand.”
“No,” Rory said firmly, “we can’t just rely on them,” he sighed and rubbed his neck, “I’ll get more shifts at work and maybe we should put the house up for mortgage.”
“No,” Amy hissed, “we just paid it off, we can’t and we can’t risk losing the house. I’ll get a second job too. Maybe we can have the kids sleep over at the Smith’s when we can’t be home. Trust me, it’ll all be fine.”
Rory nodded and was silent for a moment. “I reckon what we’re doing for Sarah Jane... she thinks this is the least she could do for us, right?”
Amy tightened her lips. “Yeah.”
-----
Six years seemed like a long, long time. Probably because it was. For them, at least. Three times a week River and John would find themselves sleeping over at the Smith’s. It didn’t take John long to figure out why, because now and again he’d listen to them from the stairs in the morning. It took River a little longer, she seemed so oblivious and almost happy about the arrangement. She never hesitated to pack over night clothes.
This arrangement lasted a long 4 years, before they allowed John and River to be home alone, most likely because they were waiting for John to be old enough to watch over his sister and him without a hitch.
Life was not always at home, of course. John went through what any teen would do. Being an innocent kid was something he had trouble remembering. First relationships, first kisses, what not. Failed a few classes. He even tried being in a new circle of friends for a few years. Then drama. Oh, the blasted drama. In the end, after all the events that stressed him like mad, he just crawled back to his good little sister and his best friend Troy.
Now, John was more than half way through with high school. Too fast, if you asked him. He watched Troy and River grow up as well as himself. For a trio that accidentally met 10 years ago, they had strong bonds. Never could John have found a friend more loyal than Troy. And River, she was starting to turn into their father’s worst nightmare. A woman.
The bell that became part of their lives rang, and they all scattered out of the classes. The trio met up at their lockers as a tradition.
“Hey there Goldie Locks, wanna come over tonight and see how just right my bed and porridge are?” Troy waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively.
“Only if Papa Bear and Mama Bear are out,” River winked back jokingly.
“Oh god, you might as well strip right here and do it on the lockers,” John groaned disgustedly.
“I’m up for it if you are Goldie,” Troy continued to tease, knowing just how much it bothered John.
“Oh shut up Troy, why don’t you ever learn to quit while you’re ahead,” River told him before slamming her locker loudly next to his ear. “Oh um, John,” River called as she saw him leaving. “I’m going to Troy’s today, he’s helping me study.”
“Is ‘study’ just another code word?” John teased, and River made a face.
As they grew older, John was also finding it harder and harder to read River’s, and sometimes, Troy’s expressions. Whether they were sincere, a joke, or just lies, he’d never know.
“Go on then, I’ll be at home. Give me a call,” he said, doing his usual big-brothery routine. Troy may be his best friend, but that didn’t give him any right to hurt his little sister, physical or emotional.
“Shut up,” River rolled her eyes, giving him a good smack in the arm. “See you later.”
She quickly scurried away.
John proceeded to take his route home, passing by the school’s pool. Usually not even acknowledging it’s presence, he noticed that the doors were open.
It’s not as if he was in a hurry, so he stepped inside.
The water was dancing in little sine waves. Someone had been in it. And not far away, by the wall and under the bleachers a girl was wrapping her hair in a towel.
John, being the bloke he was, couldn’t help but to look at her. Not because of that or anything--okay maybe because of that-- but something about this student he’d not seen before...
“Oi,” she finally caught him staring. “Don’t just stand there ogling me.”
John blushed. “Oh, no, I’m sorry, I, just...”
She raised her eyebrows, and if he looked closely, he would have noticed a faint smirk on her face.
“Well then? Don’t stand there watching me change for crying out loud.”
John immediately turned around, hands behind his back. “Sorry, it’s just, the pool is usually closed down, only available for students on the team, you see.”
“Well I am on the team, for your information,” she said with a kind of attitude as she promptly changed into her dry clothes.
“Why aren’t you in the locker rooms, then?”
The girl blushed. “Maybe cause I’m new. Or something.”
“Oh, you’re new?” John asked keenly. “I was wondering why I didn’t recognize you.
John didn’t see, but the girl’s smile fell instantly. She was already done changing, but the idiot was still turned around. She began to comb through her damp hair.
“Oh. Yeah. Well... at any rate... would you...” she hesitated, “care to show me around, sometime? Y’know, cause. I’m not that familiar with this place yet.”
“Oh, sure!” John agreed. “Is tomorrow fine?”
“Yeah,” she smiled. “I’ll meet you in front of my homeroom? Room 430, lunch?”
“That’ll be great! Oh, you’ll love it here, you will. It’s a very nice school, save for the occasional dreary professor that goes on and on about, what, the importance of tomatoes in literature or something. Oh! And since you seem to like swimming so much, I have a friend who’s been on the team for all four years of high school, she could probably help you out if you’re not so good. And my name’s John, by the way...” he turned around and she was gone.
Stupid oaf. Probably talked too much and scared her off.
“Ah well,” he shrugged a bit sadly. “Maybe another time.”
---
“Troy, stop it,” River giggled as Troy continued tickle her, “stop it!” she laughed as he trapped her on the bed.
“Just say it, then,” he smiled as he held her wrists in one hand while pulling her forward and poking her sides with the other. “All you have to do is say it.”
“You said you tutor me,” she said in between cackles. He wouldn’t let up one bit.
“I am, I’m tutoring you on how to get the information you want from someone very, very stubborn,” he explained as he let her go and used both of his hands to tickle her sides.
River gave a very loud, high squeak scream before she started laughing and trying to kick him off, but there was nothing she could try to do to get him to stop tickling her that she hasn’t tried before.
“Fine,” she screamed, and he suddenly stopped. “I like you,” she whispered and smiled before trying to get away.
Troy smiled victoriously and wrapped his arms around her. “Why won’t you admit it? Just tell me you love me.”
“Why don’t you say it first?” she challenges.
“Would you want me to lie?”
“You are such an ass,” she pulled his arms off and threw them away from her.
She tried to walk to the opposite side of the room, but he quickly got hold of her again and held her closer.
“Sorry,” he said as he rested his head on her shoulder and giving her a pout.
“Yeah I know,” she said, suddenly, gently rubbing his arms. Then without another thought, she flipped him onto his bed. “So am I.” She stuck her tongue out at him immaturely.
Troy quickly grabbed her and pulled her down with him, trapping her in his embrace. “Oh you’re going to pay for that,” he said in a jokingly, threatening manner.
Before the games could continue, Rassilon came in. The two teens turned and looked at him with an expression of brief shock. River’s eyes recognized him faster than Troy. He felt her heart beat quicken as he held her closer, reassuring her that he wouldn’t let her go. Rassilon gave them a scowl before focusing his attention on River.
“What are you doing here?” he asked her bitterly, he never liked her. From the first moment she stepped into his house 10 years ago he just knew she was trouble.
Before River could answer, Troy spoke. “We’re studying.” He felt her trembling in his arms, and he furrowed his brows, almost hiding her.
“Let her speak, boy, she has a voice,” Rassilon told him, before laying his sights on River. “What are you doing here?”
“Troy’s helping me study for biology, sir,” River responded quickly, having quite the opposite attitude towards Rassilon as she did six years ago.
“Is it going well? I heard screaming,” his stare suddenly hardened.
“Yes, sir, sorry, we were taking a break and were just fooling around.”
“Well I’d like to see less fooling around and more focusing,” he said as he set his sights on Troy. “Do we have an understanding?”
Troy scowled and gave a nod, knowing that River couldn’t see it or even notice it. Rassilon gave a small smile before stepping out of the room.
The second the door clicked, River let out a breath she had been holding in and tears began to spill over her face. Troy held her closer and laid her head on his shoulder crying.
“Shh, it’s okay, shh,” he soothed her, “it’s okay River. I’m here, I’ve got you. I won’t let you go, and I won’t let it happen again. That was years ago, he can’t do it again, not while I’m around.”
“It’s not that, you dumbo,” she sobbed. “I just... you wouldn’t understand...”
Troy still wouldn’t let her go. She never told him what it really was, she always told him he wouldn’t understand. She didn’t even give him a chance to. That didn’t matter though, not right now. Not when she let her walls down this far. She never did that, not even for John.
Troy had only seen River cry 5 times since they met, but John, he’d only seen her cry twice. That wasn’t something Troy took lightly.
“River,” Sarah knocked before entering. She saw the girl in her son’s arm and gave a soft, understanding smile, she knew exactly what was going on, she was there, both times. “I just wanted to tell you your brother is downstairs. You take your time gathering your stuff, I’ll tell him your cleaning up.”
“Thank you,” she gave her a small smile.
Before leaving Sarah Jane couldn’t help but give the poor girl a hug. She did put her in this mess.
River quickly began to recompose herself as she picked up her school books. That was the only downside she saw to coming to Troy’s house, his damned father. She would beg him to come to her house, but she knew if that were to happen, her father would have them in the living room while he sat on the lounge chair, watching them awkwardly.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Troy kissed her forehead as he walked her to his bedroom door.
River leaned against the door, stopping him from opening it for her. “Aren’t you going to tell me goodnight?” she asked innocently.
Troy smile and shook his head before placing a chaste kiss on her lips. “Good night.”
River gave him a big smile, “Goodnight.” She stepped forward and let him open the door for her.
----
“Your sister will be down in a bit, John,” Sarah said as she quickly paced down the stairs. “She may take a while to pack. Would you like some tea?”
“Oh, just a little,” John said from his seat in the living room. He did love her tea.
Sarah Jane left for the kitchen and shortly returned with a light blue mug that she always gave John.
“Thank you,” he said, accepting the cup. Sarah Jane was such a warm character, always treating him as if he were her own son.
“You always look so down, John.”
He looked up at her as he took a careful sip at his tea. “Oh, well. How could I not be?” he joked. “Troy and River love being around each other without me. Serves me right, I suppose, I left them alone for quite a while, didn’t I?”
Sarah smiled. “Well you’re still welcome in this household, if not by Troy, then by me, alright?”
“John?” River called from the stairs.
“There you are,” John said, then carefully finished his tea. “Thank you, Auntie Sarah. We’ll see you later.”
With that, John and River left.
Sarah stared at the door after they shut it wistfully. Rassilon had been standing near the hall the entire time.
“Sarah.”
She turned her head, not having noticed him. “Oh, darling. I didn’t see you.”
They were silent for a moment, until Sarah started up. “I really don’t think you should be so hard on River, she’s just a child--”
“You know bloody well that she’s no good for our boy, Sarah. He can’t go fooling around with, tarts!”
“Rassilon!” Sarah stood up.
“And who is this boy? This John boy you seem to favor so much over your own son? Hm?” Rassilon pressed on his accusations. “You think I wouldn’t find out, did you, Sarah? It’s him, isn’t it? After all this time...”
Sarah was choked with emotions, tears already brimming her eyes. “No,” she denied. “He’s not... he’s not him, I promise.”
Rassilon was still unconvinced. “Mind telling me why you’ve been giving monthly payments to the Ponds, then? What’s so special about them, that you basically have to support them in everything they do? Why else, then, Sarah Jane, tell me!”
“Rassilon, quiet down--”
“Tell me!”
“They just need help,” Sarah Jane whispered, “they don’t want to admit it, but they need it. Don’t you remember, they work practically all day. I was just trying to help them.”
“Maybe you should stop trying to help them, and start helping our son.” Rassilon told her in a low voice, “because if that John boy is who I think he is, it won’t be ending well for any of the Ponds.”
Sarah Jane stayed silent as she listened to his threats, she knew that they were far from hallow. She let tears stream down her face, and she was trembling. “Okay. Okay I will, but, please, know that it’s not him. Don’t hurt him or the Ponds, please. I gave him up, I told you, and they told me he’d died of pneumonia years later, he’s gone, Rassilon. So leave them alone. Please.”
Rassilon stared at his wife, then nodded. He gave her a cold embrace, and left.
-------------
Troy was atop the stairs, sitting with his head in hands. They were doing it again. They were fighting. Over John. Who the hell was he? Who was he to take over his life like this? Why? Years of noticing the small feelings of hurt whenever his own mother would put more effort in helping John rather than him arose to the surface. He thought it was just a mistake. That John was just naturally charming to everyone.
But no. And now Troy was making his dumb conclusions again, and that conclusion was that it was John who made his life harder. River’s too. And god, he couldn’t stand it. And he was his best friend. And now, he could not stop crying. Because it hurt. Because it was hard to accept. But most of all, because he had to choose.
----
At home, the Ponds were just setting up for dinner. Rory was cooking his famous Beef Steak with onion rings.
“Don’t play with your food, John, you’re too old for that to be cute,” Amy said to John, who looked a bit empty.
“What’s wrong with you today?” Rory asked.
“He’s just sad cause he talks too much,” River said placidly as she drank her glass of water.
John only narrowed his eyes at her and stuck his fork into his food, and his family only laughed heartily at him.
----
John was outside Room 430, at 12:15pm, lunch - as swimmer girl had said. It was daft of him, he thought, to be here when she walked out on him. Still, was worth a shot. John was a lonely bloke. Becoming more and more antisocial...
“Hello,” a voice startled him. He jumped and then faced the source of the greeting and oh good lord there was an incredibly familiar and very attractive redhead next to him.
“Donna?”
She smirked at him, arms crossed, standing on her tiptoes. “Ready for my tour, John?”
He gaped at her, rubbing his eyes, pinching his arms, anything. “You’re the birthday girl!”
“And you’re the skinny boy! Took you damn long enough,” she huffed.
John’s confused and shocked expression changed into glee. “So... you’re here? You’re the new student?”
“Yess,” she said, with a sassy head movement. Oh, that was so her. “How could you have forgotten me, by the way? I was in a flippin’ pool, how could that not spark any memory? Daft git,” she complained, smacking him lightly on the arm.
“We-ell,” John scratched the back of his head. “I’ve sort of lost hope in ever seeing you again, so...”
Donna gave a sympathetic “aww”, babying him. John rolled his eyes. But he smiled at her, because even if he wouldn’t directly admit it, he was really, really happy to see her.
“You haven’t changed much,” he commented. “Sort of. Well. Personality wise, I mean. Physically, of course you have, cause -- I mean, I wasn’t staring or anything, I swear, I just--”
“Now I have the power to make you babble like an idiot, now do I?” Donna teased. “Shut up and show me the hell around, would you.”
She wrapped her arm around his and they strolled off out the hallways.
-----
They were sitting at the lunch tables, because Donna insisted that he eat for once.
“Like I told you that many years ago, I eat!” he grumbled.
“Nuh-uh, skinny boy, your arm is like a stick. How are you ever going to make a girl feel all warm and bubbly inside if all she has around her shoulders are strings of cheese? She’ll just be hungry around you!”
John took a bite into his ham sandwich and muttered something.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full either. Sheesh, have you any class? How many girlfriends did you tell me you had?”
John swallowed his food. “Five.”
“Right,” Donna started, “did they happen to have had any recovering concussions while they were with you?”
John couldn’t help it. He’d been insulted so many times before but the way Donna did it...made him think he was slightly masochistic for laughing.
“What about you, then? Any of them blokes?”
Donna’s playful visage went away. “Nah.”
John wondered if he’d said something wrong and was about to apologize when he spotted Troy and River.
“Hey!” he waved, beckoning them to come and sit with them.
Troy gave John a desolate look, ignored him, and walked off. River looked worried, and for a moment tried to decide who to follow. She chose to let Troy be and joined John.
“What was that all about?” John asked.
“Oh, nothing,” River batted away the question and made an enthusiastic front. “So!”
“Right,” John said. “This is Donna,” he introduced, “from the party when we were kids. It was her birthday.”
River gave Donna a look, and she to her. John eyed them suspiciously.
“Oh, John,” River sighed. “You bumbling idiot, she’s been here for a month now. She’s the Donna I’ve been shopping with!! How did you not remember? I say her name at least once a week.”
Donna could have keeled over and died laughing. “Only once a week? Really? How hurtful,” she joked.
“Well, I try, I really do, but sometimes it looks like he’s going to cry when I say your name,” River teased.
John was aghast. “You didn’t tell me it was this Donna!”
Donna let out a snort and she needed to put her head on the table to not flip over and die. Once she recovered herself, she started again. “Serves you right for not remembering me.”
“How long did it take him to realize it was you after he saw you?” River gave her brother a cheeky smile.
“Do you mean saw me, as in from the pool incident I told you about, or saw me as in when I walk into his math class everyday?”
John nearly spat out his apple juice. “That was you?! Blimey that is just cruel!! How could either of you do this to me!?”
But neither River or Donna could answer him, they were too busy being the loudest laughs in the cafeteria.
----
John walked his usual route home, alone again. River was in the library with Troy, not wanting to go to his house for a reason John didn’t know, nor was curious enough to want to.
There was still a soft smile plastered on John’s face from today. It was like he’d been stuck inside for years and finally he had some fresh air.
“Hmm, may not want to tell her that,” John murmured to himself absently.
His idle thoughts were invaded by the sound of someone running behind him.
“You! Skinny boy!” he heard that someone call. He turned around and gave Donna a smile.
“Speak of the devil, and he shall come, ey?”
Donna panted as she caught up to him. “Shut,” she huffed, “up.”
John slowed his pace for her. “Heading home?”
She nodded, normalizing her breath.
“Where is it?”
“Why’d you wanna know, hm?” Donna raised an eyebrow, and John turned light pink.
“Just asking, if you want someone to walk home with,” he defensively shrugged.
“How gentlemanly of you,” she said. “So don’t just stand there and be all shy, talk more. No wonder you’re always just with your sister and Troy. Such a loner.”
“I could be saying the same thing for you, Little Mermaid,” John poked back, and she bumped him in return.
Donna invited him to stop on the front garden of The Noble House, the one John hadn’t set foot around in quite a while.
“Why’d you have to move in the first place?” John asked, laying on the grass under a tree with his messenger bag as a pillow. Donna sat with her knees up adjacent to him.
“Dad had a new fancy job somewhere,” she said.
“No more job?”
“No more Dad.”
“Oh,” John’s face fell. “I’m sorry.”
Donna shrugged it off and looked away. “It’s nothing. Least I’m here again, yeah?” She attempted to avoid the possible tragic let-me-play-you-a-song-on-the-worlds-smallest-violin moment in conversation.
“Yeah,” he agreed, a small smile on his face.
The sun was setting, the skies of Philidon turning to grapefruit colors.
“I still can’t believe you were here all this time, right under my bleedin’ nose,” John brought up again, making Donna laugh.
“I was beginning to think that maybe you knew but just had lost all interest in me,” she confessed. “Six years is a long time, John. You could’ve turned from such a good kid to some mohawk wearing drug addict.”
“Was close to doing that,” John murmured. Donna rolled her eyes.
“I mean I could always leave,” Donna said in a small voice, “if you don’t want me sticking around so much.”
“No,” John said solemnly. “Don’t.”
Donna made a face. “You’d think you’d been all alone all your life, talking like that.”
He shrugged. “I’ve been like a third wheel lately, is all. River’s been giving up half her time with Troy. Seems fishy to me.”
Donna tried to hide her smile. She’d let him find out on his own later in the future.
“Well,” she decided to change the subject, “would you like to try some fried bananas? I made them just yesterday. They’re sugar coated...?”
“Oh, I’m not all that hungry,” John put his hand up in polite refusal. Bananas though, sounded tempting.
“Come on skinny boy, you need to get some meat - or fat - on those bones. Anything so you don’t look quiet like that stick bug from A Bug’s Life.”
John rolled his eyes but smiled. He looked at her, noticing something. Noticing how extremely beautiful she looked, with her head against the pink sky.
“You know you’re really pretty,” he found himself saying.
Donna sighed. “See, this is what lack of food does to your brain, makes you see things.”
“No, but really,” he continued, making Donna’s face match the sky. “You are.”
“Oh, shut it,” she muttered, looking away. John grinned at her modesty. Or what he thought was modesty, anyway, instead of insecurity.
A figure came by, and stopped upon seeing Donna and John.
John tilted his head to see who it was. “Oh, Troy. What’re you doing here?” he asked, half curious, half suspecting something.
Donna’s smile had gone out again. Troy wore the same face.
“Donna,” he started, in a monotone attempt to be casual, “this is for your mother, mine told me to send it over.” He held up a white cardboard box.
“I thought you were at the Library with River,” John butted in, even more suspicious and Troy didn’t like his tone.
“I’m here, I’m here, relax,” River said, huffing and catching up to them. “Hello, Donna!”
“Hey,” she greeted back with less zeal, and stood up. “I’ll be taking that then.” She motioned to the package. Troy handed it to her without any eye contact then turned away.
“Alright,” John broke the awkward silence, getting up. “I best be going home now, Donna. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She smiled vaguely at him. “Yeah, see you.”
John stood in front of her and put a hand on her forearm. “You alright?” he asked quietly.
Donna nodded. “It’s complicated. But I’ll be fine.”
With that, John turned to leave, and Donna went inside.
The three of them walked to the Pond home in a troubling atmosphere.
“What’re you doing getting involved with her?” Troy asked, almost bitterly.
River walked at a faster pace, wanting to avoid where this could go. She knew something was up from the moment the three of them met up at the lockers in the morning and Troy was in a more serious mood, the very opposite of his personality. Now she knew it was time for it to all come out and she wasn’t going to be caught in the cross fire.
John slightly furrowed his brow. “What’s wrong with Donna? You keep saying you don’t know her but you act like she’s your sworn enemy or something.”
“It’s cause she’s not worth anyone’s time.”
“You what?” John was agitated at this point. “Don’t you dare say that about Donna!”
“Oh, why? Has John gotten himself all bubbly over some ginger he’s only known for a day? Is little John just that desperate and lonely?” Troy mocked, and John was seething. “I’ll tell you what, Johnny boy, if she’s taking you, it’s out of pure pity cause not even you are worth the squabble--”
“Shut up, Troy,” John warned, walking faster, leaving Troy behind him and not wanting to fight. He was better than this.
“Oh you think you’re full of it, aren’t you?” Troy caught up, basically in John’s face.
“Troy! Leave it! You’re being ridiculous!”
Troy gave John a shove, and that’s when River had to intervene.
“Stop it! Right now!” she yelled.
Troy and John ignored her and continued their brawl. She watched with fear as they got ready to bring the fight to the next level. Passing adults stared at them before choosing to ignore the scene and walk in a different direction. She looked between them several times before finally deciding.
“I said stop,” she commanded as she punched Troy and got him a good two feet away from her brother. “Troy, that was a step too far. I don’t know what the hell your problem is or what’s going on between you and Donna, but leave my brother out of it.”
She turned to John pointed a finger at him, much like how their mother did. “I would have punched you too if you weren’t my brother, but leave Troy alone. I know he’s being an ass, but you don’t have to get all jealous or over protective. I know for a fact that he isn’t doing anything with her. Stop being so defensive.
“I am sick and tired of the both of you, you are supposed to be best friends. Get over your petty little problems and make nice, understand?”
“Whatever,” Troy told her, not meaning to be mad at her, but hurt that she punched him. “I don’t need to deal with any of this crap.” He walked off, not letting anyone say another word.
“Troy,” River called after him, seeing the hurt and betrayal in his eyes. What did he expect her to do? Strike her brother? She’d never do that to him. “Troy!” she called out again when he didn’t turn.
She let out an irritated groan before running after him, leaving John alone in the middle of the path. He sighed as, once again, his sister chose to run off with Troy rather than walk home with him. What was up with those two?
Reminding himself to interrogate her later, he went off on his way home.
TBC
Authors: thenoblethang & monkeysrule13
Rating: PG (will raise to only PG-13 later)
Characters: Ten (John Pond), Eleven (Troy Smith), Donna Noble, River (Pond), Amy Pond, Rory Pond, Sarah Jane Smith, Rassilon Smith
Genre: Drama, romance, humor, fluff, friendship
Words: ~5600 (cripes)
Disclaimer: We own them not, but the idea is ours. ‘Tis true.
Summary: This is a completely AU story that surrounds John (Ten), Troy (Eleven), River, and Donna.
It takes the criteria of a typical Filipino Drama. Takes place in a fictional setting, probably a mix of London and the Philippines. LOL what.
Warnings/Spoilers: There are very few spoilers, but there are crack pairings (well, only Sarah/Rassilon), and lots and lots of drama in parts to come.
A/N: monkeysrule13 and I were discussing the criteria of a Filipino drama, and it goes -
- Cheesy title after an equally cheesy love song ("Can This Be Love" - Sarah Geronimo)
- Lots of crying, and we means lots
- Complicated/forbidden love triangles/squares/pentagons
- Complicated blood relations and/or family issues
- Childhood friends/lovers
- Class difference
- Lots of minor character death
- Jealousy issues
- Overload of cliches
- Happy, tears of joy inducing endings with magical marriages
- Dragged out storylines that just don’t seem to end
Chapter 1
Chapter 2: The Young and the Clueless
John and River were in the living room, staring at their small TV screen. River was bitterly eating her cookie, while John rested his face in his hands. One would think someone ran over his dog.
“Did you two have fun at the party with Auntie Sarah and Rassilon?” Amy asked, trying to cheer them up as she joined them on the sofa.
“He’s an ass, too,” River said full of attitude.
“Now River, your dad doesn’t like that word,” Amy warned, and River grumbled. She smiled at her daughter knowingly. “Troy’s a cute kid, isn’t he?”
“No! He’s stupid!” River shouted before she put half of her cookie down in disgust. “He’s ugly and stupid and mean and stupid and arrogant and stupid and he’s just... stupid!”
“Does someone have a crush?” Amy raised her eyebrow which accompanied her smirk.
“She totally does, mom,” John said absently.
“He’s right,” River pouted, “I do have a crush.” then she glared at a near by picture of the three of them during October before picking up her cookie and throwing it at it. “But not with that stupid head!”
They all heard Rory give a sigh of relief from the kitchen.
River stomped her way upstairs and into her room.
Rory came into the living room, hands in his jacket pockets. “What will she be like when she’s a teenager if she’s like this already?”
“You’re the one that wanted a girl, you dumbo,” Amy smirked. She scooted closer to John and put her arm around him. “So what about you, little squirt? Why so down?”
“I met nice person and I won’t see her ever again so now I’ll be stuck with Troy and River who bicker to the world’s end and then they’ll get married and have kids while I’m a lonely old oaf.”
“If your sister is getting married to anyone, it’s her job!” Rory quickly interjected.
“Oh shut up,” Amy said. “Now, John. If you met someone wonderful and had a wonderful time, shouldn’t you be happy? What’s that thing Dr. Seuss said? Ah... Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened, or something? Yeah... Cheer up, kid.”
John was only a little swayed. “I guess.”
“And besides,” Amy continued. “You never meet anyone that special just once. Have hope, kiddo. Jeez. You’re as hopeless as your father.”
“Hey!” Rory pouted, and Amy only laughed at him. Rory’s expression then changed to a more serious one. “By the way, did Sarah Jane give you the money, yet?”
John’s head perked up. “Why would she need to give us any money?”
Amy glared at Rory. “Oh, she bought some...old stuff that we didn’t need, she said they were um, antique or something. Why don’t you go to bed now, eh?”
“Okay,” John agreed, yawning. Amy kissed his cheek goodnight and he went off to bed.
Amy stared at Rory, still standing in front of her as she crossed her arms and legs. They heard John’s door shut, and that’s when they continued to talk.
“They aren’t supposed to know.”
“Sorry,” Rory apologized tiredly, taking a seat next to his wife. “It’s just we’ve been really slipping, Amy. These kids are pricier than we thought, and, just...”
“Shh, it’s alright, we’ll pull through we always do,” Amy reassured him, “and maybe I can talk to Sarah Jane, I think she’ll understand.”
“No,” Rory said firmly, “we can’t just rely on them,” he sighed and rubbed his neck, “I’ll get more shifts at work and maybe we should put the house up for mortgage.”
“No,” Amy hissed, “we just paid it off, we can’t and we can’t risk losing the house. I’ll get a second job too. Maybe we can have the kids sleep over at the Smith’s when we can’t be home. Trust me, it’ll all be fine.”
Rory nodded and was silent for a moment. “I reckon what we’re doing for Sarah Jane... she thinks this is the least she could do for us, right?”
Amy tightened her lips. “Yeah.”
-----
Six years seemed like a long, long time. Probably because it was. For them, at least. Three times a week River and John would find themselves sleeping over at the Smith’s. It didn’t take John long to figure out why, because now and again he’d listen to them from the stairs in the morning. It took River a little longer, she seemed so oblivious and almost happy about the arrangement. She never hesitated to pack over night clothes.
This arrangement lasted a long 4 years, before they allowed John and River to be home alone, most likely because they were waiting for John to be old enough to watch over his sister and him without a hitch.
Life was not always at home, of course. John went through what any teen would do. Being an innocent kid was something he had trouble remembering. First relationships, first kisses, what not. Failed a few classes. He even tried being in a new circle of friends for a few years. Then drama. Oh, the blasted drama. In the end, after all the events that stressed him like mad, he just crawled back to his good little sister and his best friend Troy.
Now, John was more than half way through with high school. Too fast, if you asked him. He watched Troy and River grow up as well as himself. For a trio that accidentally met 10 years ago, they had strong bonds. Never could John have found a friend more loyal than Troy. And River, she was starting to turn into their father’s worst nightmare. A woman.
The bell that became part of their lives rang, and they all scattered out of the classes. The trio met up at their lockers as a tradition.
“Hey there Goldie Locks, wanna come over tonight and see how just right my bed and porridge are?” Troy waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively.
“Only if Papa Bear and Mama Bear are out,” River winked back jokingly.
“Oh god, you might as well strip right here and do it on the lockers,” John groaned disgustedly.
“I’m up for it if you are Goldie,” Troy continued to tease, knowing just how much it bothered John.
“Oh shut up Troy, why don’t you ever learn to quit while you’re ahead,” River told him before slamming her locker loudly next to his ear. “Oh um, John,” River called as she saw him leaving. “I’m going to Troy’s today, he’s helping me study.”
“Is ‘study’ just another code word?” John teased, and River made a face.
As they grew older, John was also finding it harder and harder to read River’s, and sometimes, Troy’s expressions. Whether they were sincere, a joke, or just lies, he’d never know.
“Go on then, I’ll be at home. Give me a call,” he said, doing his usual big-brothery routine. Troy may be his best friend, but that didn’t give him any right to hurt his little sister, physical or emotional.
“Shut up,” River rolled her eyes, giving him a good smack in the arm. “See you later.”
She quickly scurried away.
John proceeded to take his route home, passing by the school’s pool. Usually not even acknowledging it’s presence, he noticed that the doors were open.
It’s not as if he was in a hurry, so he stepped inside.
The water was dancing in little sine waves. Someone had been in it. And not far away, by the wall and under the bleachers a girl was wrapping her hair in a towel.
John, being the bloke he was, couldn’t help but to look at her. Not because of that or anything--okay maybe because of that-- but something about this student he’d not seen before...
“Oi,” she finally caught him staring. “Don’t just stand there ogling me.”
John blushed. “Oh, no, I’m sorry, I, just...”
She raised her eyebrows, and if he looked closely, he would have noticed a faint smirk on her face.
“Well then? Don’t stand there watching me change for crying out loud.”
John immediately turned around, hands behind his back. “Sorry, it’s just, the pool is usually closed down, only available for students on the team, you see.”
“Well I am on the team, for your information,” she said with a kind of attitude as she promptly changed into her dry clothes.
“Why aren’t you in the locker rooms, then?”
The girl blushed. “Maybe cause I’m new. Or something.”
“Oh, you’re new?” John asked keenly. “I was wondering why I didn’t recognize you.
John didn’t see, but the girl’s smile fell instantly. She was already done changing, but the idiot was still turned around. She began to comb through her damp hair.
“Oh. Yeah. Well... at any rate... would you...” she hesitated, “care to show me around, sometime? Y’know, cause. I’m not that familiar with this place yet.”
“Oh, sure!” John agreed. “Is tomorrow fine?”
“Yeah,” she smiled. “I’ll meet you in front of my homeroom? Room 430, lunch?”
“That’ll be great! Oh, you’ll love it here, you will. It’s a very nice school, save for the occasional dreary professor that goes on and on about, what, the importance of tomatoes in literature or something. Oh! And since you seem to like swimming so much, I have a friend who’s been on the team for all four years of high school, she could probably help you out if you’re not so good. And my name’s John, by the way...” he turned around and she was gone.
Stupid oaf. Probably talked too much and scared her off.
“Ah well,” he shrugged a bit sadly. “Maybe another time.”
---
“Troy, stop it,” River giggled as Troy continued tickle her, “stop it!” she laughed as he trapped her on the bed.
“Just say it, then,” he smiled as he held her wrists in one hand while pulling her forward and poking her sides with the other. “All you have to do is say it.”
“You said you tutor me,” she said in between cackles. He wouldn’t let up one bit.
“I am, I’m tutoring you on how to get the information you want from someone very, very stubborn,” he explained as he let her go and used both of his hands to tickle her sides.
River gave a very loud, high squeak scream before she started laughing and trying to kick him off, but there was nothing she could try to do to get him to stop tickling her that she hasn’t tried before.
“Fine,” she screamed, and he suddenly stopped. “I like you,” she whispered and smiled before trying to get away.
Troy smiled victoriously and wrapped his arms around her. “Why won’t you admit it? Just tell me you love me.”
“Why don’t you say it first?” she challenges.
“Would you want me to lie?”
“You are such an ass,” she pulled his arms off and threw them away from her.
She tried to walk to the opposite side of the room, but he quickly got hold of her again and held her closer.
“Sorry,” he said as he rested his head on her shoulder and giving her a pout.
“Yeah I know,” she said, suddenly, gently rubbing his arms. Then without another thought, she flipped him onto his bed. “So am I.” She stuck her tongue out at him immaturely.
Troy quickly grabbed her and pulled her down with him, trapping her in his embrace. “Oh you’re going to pay for that,” he said in a jokingly, threatening manner.
Before the games could continue, Rassilon came in. The two teens turned and looked at him with an expression of brief shock. River’s eyes recognized him faster than Troy. He felt her heart beat quicken as he held her closer, reassuring her that he wouldn’t let her go. Rassilon gave them a scowl before focusing his attention on River.
“What are you doing here?” he asked her bitterly, he never liked her. From the first moment she stepped into his house 10 years ago he just knew she was trouble.
Before River could answer, Troy spoke. “We’re studying.” He felt her trembling in his arms, and he furrowed his brows, almost hiding her.
“Let her speak, boy, she has a voice,” Rassilon told him, before laying his sights on River. “What are you doing here?”
“Troy’s helping me study for biology, sir,” River responded quickly, having quite the opposite attitude towards Rassilon as she did six years ago.
“Is it going well? I heard screaming,” his stare suddenly hardened.
“Yes, sir, sorry, we were taking a break and were just fooling around.”
“Well I’d like to see less fooling around and more focusing,” he said as he set his sights on Troy. “Do we have an understanding?”
Troy scowled and gave a nod, knowing that River couldn’t see it or even notice it. Rassilon gave a small smile before stepping out of the room.
The second the door clicked, River let out a breath she had been holding in and tears began to spill over her face. Troy held her closer and laid her head on his shoulder crying.
“Shh, it’s okay, shh,” he soothed her, “it’s okay River. I’m here, I’ve got you. I won’t let you go, and I won’t let it happen again. That was years ago, he can’t do it again, not while I’m around.”
“It’s not that, you dumbo,” she sobbed. “I just... you wouldn’t understand...”
Troy still wouldn’t let her go. She never told him what it really was, she always told him he wouldn’t understand. She didn’t even give him a chance to. That didn’t matter though, not right now. Not when she let her walls down this far. She never did that, not even for John.
Troy had only seen River cry 5 times since they met, but John, he’d only seen her cry twice. That wasn’t something Troy took lightly.
“River,” Sarah knocked before entering. She saw the girl in her son’s arm and gave a soft, understanding smile, she knew exactly what was going on, she was there, both times. “I just wanted to tell you your brother is downstairs. You take your time gathering your stuff, I’ll tell him your cleaning up.”
“Thank you,” she gave her a small smile.
Before leaving Sarah Jane couldn’t help but give the poor girl a hug. She did put her in this mess.
River quickly began to recompose herself as she picked up her school books. That was the only downside she saw to coming to Troy’s house, his damned father. She would beg him to come to her house, but she knew if that were to happen, her father would have them in the living room while he sat on the lounge chair, watching them awkwardly.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Troy kissed her forehead as he walked her to his bedroom door.
River leaned against the door, stopping him from opening it for her. “Aren’t you going to tell me goodnight?” she asked innocently.
Troy smile and shook his head before placing a chaste kiss on her lips. “Good night.”
River gave him a big smile, “Goodnight.” She stepped forward and let him open the door for her.
----
“Your sister will be down in a bit, John,” Sarah said as she quickly paced down the stairs. “She may take a while to pack. Would you like some tea?”
“Oh, just a little,” John said from his seat in the living room. He did love her tea.
Sarah Jane left for the kitchen and shortly returned with a light blue mug that she always gave John.
“Thank you,” he said, accepting the cup. Sarah Jane was such a warm character, always treating him as if he were her own son.
“You always look so down, John.”
He looked up at her as he took a careful sip at his tea. “Oh, well. How could I not be?” he joked. “Troy and River love being around each other without me. Serves me right, I suppose, I left them alone for quite a while, didn’t I?”
Sarah smiled. “Well you’re still welcome in this household, if not by Troy, then by me, alright?”
“John?” River called from the stairs.
“There you are,” John said, then carefully finished his tea. “Thank you, Auntie Sarah. We’ll see you later.”
With that, John and River left.
Sarah stared at the door after they shut it wistfully. Rassilon had been standing near the hall the entire time.
“Sarah.”
She turned her head, not having noticed him. “Oh, darling. I didn’t see you.”
They were silent for a moment, until Sarah started up. “I really don’t think you should be so hard on River, she’s just a child--”
“You know bloody well that she’s no good for our boy, Sarah. He can’t go fooling around with, tarts!”
“Rassilon!” Sarah stood up.
“And who is this boy? This John boy you seem to favor so much over your own son? Hm?” Rassilon pressed on his accusations. “You think I wouldn’t find out, did you, Sarah? It’s him, isn’t it? After all this time...”
Sarah was choked with emotions, tears already brimming her eyes. “No,” she denied. “He’s not... he’s not him, I promise.”
Rassilon was still unconvinced. “Mind telling me why you’ve been giving monthly payments to the Ponds, then? What’s so special about them, that you basically have to support them in everything they do? Why else, then, Sarah Jane, tell me!”
“Rassilon, quiet down--”
“Tell me!”
“They just need help,” Sarah Jane whispered, “they don’t want to admit it, but they need it. Don’t you remember, they work practically all day. I was just trying to help them.”
“Maybe you should stop trying to help them, and start helping our son.” Rassilon told her in a low voice, “because if that John boy is who I think he is, it won’t be ending well for any of the Ponds.”
Sarah Jane stayed silent as she listened to his threats, she knew that they were far from hallow. She let tears stream down her face, and she was trembling. “Okay. Okay I will, but, please, know that it’s not him. Don’t hurt him or the Ponds, please. I gave him up, I told you, and they told me he’d died of pneumonia years later, he’s gone, Rassilon. So leave them alone. Please.”
Rassilon stared at his wife, then nodded. He gave her a cold embrace, and left.
-------------
Troy was atop the stairs, sitting with his head in hands. They were doing it again. They were fighting. Over John. Who the hell was he? Who was he to take over his life like this? Why? Years of noticing the small feelings of hurt whenever his own mother would put more effort in helping John rather than him arose to the surface. He thought it was just a mistake. That John was just naturally charming to everyone.
But no. And now Troy was making his dumb conclusions again, and that conclusion was that it was John who made his life harder. River’s too. And god, he couldn’t stand it. And he was his best friend. And now, he could not stop crying. Because it hurt. Because it was hard to accept. But most of all, because he had to choose.
----
At home, the Ponds were just setting up for dinner. Rory was cooking his famous Beef Steak with onion rings.
“Don’t play with your food, John, you’re too old for that to be cute,” Amy said to John, who looked a bit empty.
“What’s wrong with you today?” Rory asked.
“He’s just sad cause he talks too much,” River said placidly as she drank her glass of water.
John only narrowed his eyes at her and stuck his fork into his food, and his family only laughed heartily at him.
----
John was outside Room 430, at 12:15pm, lunch - as swimmer girl had said. It was daft of him, he thought, to be here when she walked out on him. Still, was worth a shot. John was a lonely bloke. Becoming more and more antisocial...
“Hello,” a voice startled him. He jumped and then faced the source of the greeting and oh good lord there was an incredibly familiar and very attractive redhead next to him.
“Donna?”
She smirked at him, arms crossed, standing on her tiptoes. “Ready for my tour, John?”
He gaped at her, rubbing his eyes, pinching his arms, anything. “You’re the birthday girl!”
“And you’re the skinny boy! Took you damn long enough,” she huffed.
John’s confused and shocked expression changed into glee. “So... you’re here? You’re the new student?”
“Yess,” she said, with a sassy head movement. Oh, that was so her. “How could you have forgotten me, by the way? I was in a flippin’ pool, how could that not spark any memory? Daft git,” she complained, smacking him lightly on the arm.
“We-ell,” John scratched the back of his head. “I’ve sort of lost hope in ever seeing you again, so...”
Donna gave a sympathetic “aww”, babying him. John rolled his eyes. But he smiled at her, because even if he wouldn’t directly admit it, he was really, really happy to see her.
“You haven’t changed much,” he commented. “Sort of. Well. Personality wise, I mean. Physically, of course you have, cause -- I mean, I wasn’t staring or anything, I swear, I just--”
“Now I have the power to make you babble like an idiot, now do I?” Donna teased. “Shut up and show me the hell around, would you.”
She wrapped her arm around his and they strolled off out the hallways.
-----
They were sitting at the lunch tables, because Donna insisted that he eat for once.
“Like I told you that many years ago, I eat!” he grumbled.
“Nuh-uh, skinny boy, your arm is like a stick. How are you ever going to make a girl feel all warm and bubbly inside if all she has around her shoulders are strings of cheese? She’ll just be hungry around you!”
John took a bite into his ham sandwich and muttered something.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full either. Sheesh, have you any class? How many girlfriends did you tell me you had?”
John swallowed his food. “Five.”
“Right,” Donna started, “did they happen to have had any recovering concussions while they were with you?”
John couldn’t help it. He’d been insulted so many times before but the way Donna did it...made him think he was slightly masochistic for laughing.
“What about you, then? Any of them blokes?”
Donna’s playful visage went away. “Nah.”
John wondered if he’d said something wrong and was about to apologize when he spotted Troy and River.
“Hey!” he waved, beckoning them to come and sit with them.
Troy gave John a desolate look, ignored him, and walked off. River looked worried, and for a moment tried to decide who to follow. She chose to let Troy be and joined John.
“What was that all about?” John asked.
“Oh, nothing,” River batted away the question and made an enthusiastic front. “So!”
“Right,” John said. “This is Donna,” he introduced, “from the party when we were kids. It was her birthday.”
River gave Donna a look, and she to her. John eyed them suspiciously.
“Oh, John,” River sighed. “You bumbling idiot, she’s been here for a month now. She’s the Donna I’ve been shopping with!! How did you not remember? I say her name at least once a week.”
Donna could have keeled over and died laughing. “Only once a week? Really? How hurtful,” she joked.
“Well, I try, I really do, but sometimes it looks like he’s going to cry when I say your name,” River teased.
John was aghast. “You didn’t tell me it was this Donna!”
Donna let out a snort and she needed to put her head on the table to not flip over and die. Once she recovered herself, she started again. “Serves you right for not remembering me.”
“How long did it take him to realize it was you after he saw you?” River gave her brother a cheeky smile.
“Do you mean saw me, as in from the pool incident I told you about, or saw me as in when I walk into his math class everyday?”
John nearly spat out his apple juice. “That was you?! Blimey that is just cruel!! How could either of you do this to me!?”
But neither River or Donna could answer him, they were too busy being the loudest laughs in the cafeteria.
----
John walked his usual route home, alone again. River was in the library with Troy, not wanting to go to his house for a reason John didn’t know, nor was curious enough to want to.
There was still a soft smile plastered on John’s face from today. It was like he’d been stuck inside for years and finally he had some fresh air.
“Hmm, may not want to tell her that,” John murmured to himself absently.
His idle thoughts were invaded by the sound of someone running behind him.
“You! Skinny boy!” he heard that someone call. He turned around and gave Donna a smile.
“Speak of the devil, and he shall come, ey?”
Donna panted as she caught up to him. “Shut,” she huffed, “up.”
John slowed his pace for her. “Heading home?”
She nodded, normalizing her breath.
“Where is it?”
“Why’d you wanna know, hm?” Donna raised an eyebrow, and John turned light pink.
“Just asking, if you want someone to walk home with,” he defensively shrugged.
“How gentlemanly of you,” she said. “So don’t just stand there and be all shy, talk more. No wonder you’re always just with your sister and Troy. Such a loner.”
“I could be saying the same thing for you, Little Mermaid,” John poked back, and she bumped him in return.
Donna invited him to stop on the front garden of The Noble House, the one John hadn’t set foot around in quite a while.
“Why’d you have to move in the first place?” John asked, laying on the grass under a tree with his messenger bag as a pillow. Donna sat with her knees up adjacent to him.
“Dad had a new fancy job somewhere,” she said.
“No more job?”
“No more Dad.”
“Oh,” John’s face fell. “I’m sorry.”
Donna shrugged it off and looked away. “It’s nothing. Least I’m here again, yeah?” She attempted to avoid the possible tragic let-me-play-you-a-song-on-the-worlds-smallest-violin moment in conversation.
“Yeah,” he agreed, a small smile on his face.
The sun was setting, the skies of Philidon turning to grapefruit colors.
“I still can’t believe you were here all this time, right under my bleedin’ nose,” John brought up again, making Donna laugh.
“I was beginning to think that maybe you knew but just had lost all interest in me,” she confessed. “Six years is a long time, John. You could’ve turned from such a good kid to some mohawk wearing drug addict.”
“Was close to doing that,” John murmured. Donna rolled her eyes.
“I mean I could always leave,” Donna said in a small voice, “if you don’t want me sticking around so much.”
“No,” John said solemnly. “Don’t.”
Donna made a face. “You’d think you’d been all alone all your life, talking like that.”
He shrugged. “I’ve been like a third wheel lately, is all. River’s been giving up half her time with Troy. Seems fishy to me.”
Donna tried to hide her smile. She’d let him find out on his own later in the future.
“Well,” she decided to change the subject, “would you like to try some fried bananas? I made them just yesterday. They’re sugar coated...?”
“Oh, I’m not all that hungry,” John put his hand up in polite refusal. Bananas though, sounded tempting.
“Come on skinny boy, you need to get some meat - or fat - on those bones. Anything so you don’t look quiet like that stick bug from A Bug’s Life.”
John rolled his eyes but smiled. He looked at her, noticing something. Noticing how extremely beautiful she looked, with her head against the pink sky.
“You know you’re really pretty,” he found himself saying.
Donna sighed. “See, this is what lack of food does to your brain, makes you see things.”
“No, but really,” he continued, making Donna’s face match the sky. “You are.”
“Oh, shut it,” she muttered, looking away. John grinned at her modesty. Or what he thought was modesty, anyway, instead of insecurity.
A figure came by, and stopped upon seeing Donna and John.
John tilted his head to see who it was. “Oh, Troy. What’re you doing here?” he asked, half curious, half suspecting something.
Donna’s smile had gone out again. Troy wore the same face.
“Donna,” he started, in a monotone attempt to be casual, “this is for your mother, mine told me to send it over.” He held up a white cardboard box.
“I thought you were at the Library with River,” John butted in, even more suspicious and Troy didn’t like his tone.
“I’m here, I’m here, relax,” River said, huffing and catching up to them. “Hello, Donna!”
“Hey,” she greeted back with less zeal, and stood up. “I’ll be taking that then.” She motioned to the package. Troy handed it to her without any eye contact then turned away.
“Alright,” John broke the awkward silence, getting up. “I best be going home now, Donna. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She smiled vaguely at him. “Yeah, see you.”
John stood in front of her and put a hand on her forearm. “You alright?” he asked quietly.
Donna nodded. “It’s complicated. But I’ll be fine.”
With that, John turned to leave, and Donna went inside.
The three of them walked to the Pond home in a troubling atmosphere.
“What’re you doing getting involved with her?” Troy asked, almost bitterly.
River walked at a faster pace, wanting to avoid where this could go. She knew something was up from the moment the three of them met up at the lockers in the morning and Troy was in a more serious mood, the very opposite of his personality. Now she knew it was time for it to all come out and she wasn’t going to be caught in the cross fire.
John slightly furrowed his brow. “What’s wrong with Donna? You keep saying you don’t know her but you act like she’s your sworn enemy or something.”
“It’s cause she’s not worth anyone’s time.”
“You what?” John was agitated at this point. “Don’t you dare say that about Donna!”
“Oh, why? Has John gotten himself all bubbly over some ginger he’s only known for a day? Is little John just that desperate and lonely?” Troy mocked, and John was seething. “I’ll tell you what, Johnny boy, if she’s taking you, it’s out of pure pity cause not even you are worth the squabble--”
“Shut up, Troy,” John warned, walking faster, leaving Troy behind him and not wanting to fight. He was better than this.
“Oh you think you’re full of it, aren’t you?” Troy caught up, basically in John’s face.
“Troy! Leave it! You’re being ridiculous!”
Troy gave John a shove, and that’s when River had to intervene.
“Stop it! Right now!” she yelled.
Troy and John ignored her and continued their brawl. She watched with fear as they got ready to bring the fight to the next level. Passing adults stared at them before choosing to ignore the scene and walk in a different direction. She looked between them several times before finally deciding.
“I said stop,” she commanded as she punched Troy and got him a good two feet away from her brother. “Troy, that was a step too far. I don’t know what the hell your problem is or what’s going on between you and Donna, but leave my brother out of it.”
She turned to John pointed a finger at him, much like how their mother did. “I would have punched you too if you weren’t my brother, but leave Troy alone. I know he’s being an ass, but you don’t have to get all jealous or over protective. I know for a fact that he isn’t doing anything with her. Stop being so defensive.
“I am sick and tired of the both of you, you are supposed to be best friends. Get over your petty little problems and make nice, understand?”
“Whatever,” Troy told her, not meaning to be mad at her, but hurt that she punched him. “I don’t need to deal with any of this crap.” He walked off, not letting anyone say another word.
“Troy,” River called after him, seeing the hurt and betrayal in his eyes. What did he expect her to do? Strike her brother? She’d never do that to him. “Troy!” she called out again when he didn’t turn.
She let out an irritated groan before running after him, leaving John alone in the middle of the path. He sighed as, once again, his sister chose to run off with Troy rather than walk home with him. What was up with those two?
Reminding himself to interrogate her later, he went off on his way home.
TBC