Warning: I am not British, so I am not completely sure how school works in the UK, but after some research, I hope I didn't butcher the system here. AND! I don't own Doctor Who.

Rose Tyler was a new student to Gallifrey High, a sophomore. And she was late. Her first day and she was going to miss half of her classes. Of course the car had to get a flat on the way. And after a while, she decided she would walk the rest of the way while her mother waited for the car people to come fix the tire. She checked in at the office, before she hurried off to find her first class of the day.

She was lost. The school was a confusing mess of rooms and halls, and soon found herself going in circles. Theta Alpha 2 was her room. But she didn't know where Theta Alpha 2 could be. She figured the number was a room number, but she didn't know about those Greek letters. She wandered around for awhile, trying desperately to even just get back to the front office, or even just outside to get a better view on the school as a whole. But she couldn't.

"Oi! What are you doing out of class?" A voice barked from behind. Rose jumped and turned to see an older boy, not old enough to be a teacher, but old enough to be at least a senior or a visiting college student.

"I could ask you the same," Rose replied crossing her arms trying to hide the desperation of finding her way around.

"I have an off period; you're not old enough to have one yet. Who're you?" The boy asked. He was wearing a black leather jacket and navy blue sweater underneath it along with a pair of nice black slacks and black shoes. His hair was black and fairly short, even for a guy. His face was clean shaven and his ears. Oh his ears were big compared to his head making him look a bit awkward.

"My name is Rose Tyler," Rose answered.

"Nice to meet you Rose Tyler," the boy said his expression changing instantly to a jolly and joking look, while before serious, "You're new, aren't you?"

"What gave it away?" Rose replied, his smile infecting her face with a wide smile.

"Lost look on your face, in the halls in the middle of class without a pass. Plus, I haven't seen you around anywhere," the boy replied walking up next to her.

"Well, you're right, I am new," Rose replied, "D'you know where Theta Alpha 2 is?" The boy's smile faded and thought for a second before nodding.

"This way," he said offering his hand, which she took without even thinking it was a little odd to hold a hand of a guy she had just met. "Run," the boy said and took off running with her. Rose laughed, running with him, hand in hand. The two ran down the hall, their feet most likely disrupting some classes, down the stairs and down another hall for a short distance, before the boy stopped in front of a door.

"Thank you," Rose said with a smile and the split. Rose was about to open the door, when she turned around to ask who the boy was, but he had already disappeared. Sighing, she knocked on the door and slowly opened it, walking into the room. All eyes were on her, including the professor's. She nervously laughed.

"Sorry," Rose said, "I'm new, just arrived." The professor was tall with bleach blonde hair mixed with an under layer of brown. He wore a light brown blazer with a light green shirt and light brown dress pants. His light brown eyes held an expression of pain, though she did not realize why.

"Rose Tyler, yes, I got word about you. I am Master Koschei. Take a seat," the professor said and Rose decided not to ask why the 'Master' part of his title and she sat down in the first empty seat, towards the back of the room by a fellow woman. She had a short red leather jacket on with a bright blue and red blouse and blue jeans. Her skin was dark, as was her hair, but her eyes were bright. Her hair was in a bun sort of style out of her face and off her neck.

"Hi, Rose," the girl said with a smile, "I'm Martha Jones." Rose smiled back but looked at Master Koschei a bit worried. Martha, seeing this, laughed quietly. "Don't worry, he can't hear us back here over himself." She was still a bit confused. Master Koschei wasn't a loud talker. "He apparently hears something," Martha added, "All the time. Drums, he calls them, in a four beat pattern."

"Oh... so... he can't hear us over the drums?" Rose said.

"Unless he's being quiet himself," Martha replied with a nod, "He's a bit crazy, though he is supposed to be the best physics professor around."

"Then why's he teaching here? Not at some university or something?" Rose asked.

"He likes it here, I suppose. Went here when he was a kid too, I've heard. Either that or nowhere will take him because he's a nutter," Martha explained with a shrug, "Anyways, where'd you come from? Before this?"

"Stonewall High," Rose replied.

"Oh, it is a bit dodgy, that school," Martha responded, "I went to Getters High in Glasgow, last year, myself. For half the year at least, before we moved here." The two talked through the class, paying a little bit of attention to Master Koschei and taking a couple notes here and there. The bell rang, an odd bell, which sounded more like scrapping metal, and the class left. Rose picked up her pink backpack and went to leave the classroom, Martha next to her.

"Rose," Master Koschei called after her, "If you ever need help, I'll be here, alright? Make sure you are all caught up."

"Thank you, sir," Rose replied.

"What?" He asked.

"I said, thank you, sir," Rose said a bit louder.

"Oh, yes. Just doing my job," The Master said with a small smile before he returned to his desk and sat down beginning to shuffle through papers whispering something about 'endless' and 'revenge'. Rose left the room and found Martha outside of the room waiting for her.

"Where're you going next?" Martha asked.

"Um... English... With Professor Song," Rose answered looking at her cherry colored schedule.

"Oh, that's actually far from my next class..." Martha said, with a frown, before smiling widely, "I think I can help you though." She quickly ran through the crowded hall leaving Rose alone waiting by the physics classroom. She watched in the direction that Martha had gone, but couldn't see her through the crowds of people. Soon, however, Martha emerged pulling the arm of a young man, who looked a bit older than the two girls, by the arm.

"Ow! Martha! What're you doing?" The boy asked. He was wearing a nice blue suit with a red undershirt with the blue blazer buttoned up. His shoes were red and white converse.

"Alright. This is Rose, say hi," Martha ordered letting the boy go.

"Rose?" The boy asked looking at the blonde curiously before a wide grin appeared on his face, "Hello, Rose."

"She's new here," Martha explained, "She also is going to Professor Song's. You're going there, right, Ten?"

"Yeah, and your point is...?" The boy replied. Rose soon noticed, having been entranced by his wearing a suit and converse (two that did not seem to match, but worked well on him) during the school day, his hair. It was tall styled up. It was the kind of hair that someone would want to run their hand through, and depending on the person, that alone could amuse them for the rest of their life. It was very great hair.

"You'll show her the way, of course," Martha explained shaking her head.

"Oh, alright," Ten replied, "Come on Rose!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her down the hall, not running but swiftly.

"I'll see you at lunch, alright?" Martha called.

"Alright! I'll look for you!" Rose called back before turning to look at this boy called Ten. "So you're named after a number?"

"Oh yes," Ten replied, "My brothers are too. Other than John."

"Really? Did you parents have no imagination?" Rose asked. Ten laughed throwing his head back.

"No, no. We all have different parents. They named us something else, we just don't know what. All of us are orphans, you see," Ten explained though his expression had changed from amusement to a hint of sadness.

"Oh, I didn't know..." Rose said trailing off.

"Don't worry about it! Everyone knows it except for new people," Ten replied his jolly smile reappearing on his face.

"So… none of you know your names from before?" Rose wondered.

"Well, John and Twelve came as teens," Ten explained.

"Shouldn't Twelve remember his name then?" Rose asked, "And why does John have a name and you all don't?"

"Eh, I dunno. I bet Twelve just wants to forget, and I don't think John is John's name from before, either," Ten answered with a shrug, "Some really bad things happened to them before, they don't want to remember. And I can't blame them."

"Oh, sorry… I didn't mean to pry…" Rose apologized, changing the subject "D'you know a guy in a leather jacket?"

"Yeah, I know lots of guys with leather jackets," Ten answered with a laugh.

"I meant... I met a guy with a leather jacket. He was a tall guy with short black hair. He helped me find my last class," Rose explained, "He left before I could get his name."

"Did he have big ears?" Ten asked.

"Yeah, you know him?" Rose asked hopefully.

"Yup. That's Nine," Ten answered with a nod, "He's a ninja sometimes."

"Your brother?" Rose asked.

"Well, of sorts, yeah," Ten answered, "The only ones of us that are actually related is Five and Six, they're fraternal twins."

"Maybe I should meet these brothers of yours sometime," Rose suggested.

"They'd love you," Ten replied, stopping at a door, "We're here. Professor Song's English class."

"So... you're a sophomore?" Rose asked as the two entered the classroom where many of the students were already at, talking.

"Nope! Junior," Ten answered.

"Then why do you have a sophomore English class?" Rose asked.

"Failed it," Ten laughed, "So they put me in a sophomore class. They said if I don't pass, I won't graduate next year, but I can graduate if I pass."

"I'm not the best at English either," Rose admitted.

"Oh I'm decent at it. I just never do my work," Ten admitted with a laugh pointing at a door just in front of them. "There it is. The classroom of Professor River Song."

"These professors have the weirdest names here," Rose said looking at her schedule, "Like Ushas Rani for History, or Master Koschei. And... There's a professor called Eleven. Is he related to you too?"

"Yeah, he came not long after Nine and I. He's older than the two of us though," Ten replied with a laugh, "I know we have some of the oddest names in the world, but they are good people. I think my favorite is Salyavin Chronotis. He's the choir director. He's probably one of the oddest professors here."

"You're kidding!" Rose laughed, "There's seriously someone named Salyavin Chronitis?" Ten nodded with a laugh as well. "That's a very weird name." The two took a seat at a desk nearby the windows, sitting next to each other as a woman with huge marvelous curly hair came in.

"Hello, Professor Song, looking dashing as always," Ten called and the professor turned around.

"Really Ten? I thought that after I started dating your brother you might stop," Professor Song said, as if annoyed, but with a soft laugh that said she was just joking around with him.

"Even if you marry him, I will not stop telling the truth that you, River Song, look dashing," Ten replied. Rose watched the exchange curiously. It definitely told something about him. He was a flirt, at least with this professor. Perhaps he thought he could get a better grade if she liked him.

"You must be Rose Tyler," River said with a smile looking over at Rose shaking her head at Ten's compliments.

"Erm. Yeah," Rose replied.

"We'll get you caught up real fast," River said with a warm smile. She was much more comforting that that phsyics guy, but that was probably because he had entered her class in the middle of his lesson. Which wasn't the best first impression. However, Rose could imagine walking into Professor Song's class late, and her not being mad at her. In fact, she couldn't picture Professor Song mad at all. She seemed like one of the kind that took a lot to anger, and it was scary when she was angry. At least, that's what Rose got from her first impression of her. She was usually a good judge of character, at least she thought so. Her mother did not, though.

Class was fairly fun. Professor Song had them play games that would stretch their brains into thinking with the right kind of mindset to analyze papers, but they didn't get to the reading papers today. Professor Song said they would look at them tomorrow and to continue with the activities today after school. The bell rang and the school was released for lunch.

"I hate to leave, Rose, but I have a meeting with some friends," Ten said, "Just go down that hall and you'll reach the lunchroom, alright? Look for Martha." Before Rose could answer, Ten ran off. Rose followed Ten's directions, and walked down the hall nervously, holding the right strap of her pink backpack. She passed a crowded hall of people getting into their lockers and talking to each other.

"Oi! Leave him alone!" An older blonde straight haired man said slamming a curly blonde haired man against the orange lockers. Behind the straight haired one was a boy around the same age who was trying to pull the other one back.

"I don't need you to protect me, Five," the one trying to pull back the blonde said. This boy was shorter, wearing a multicolored scarf and had a full head of brown curls with bright buggy blue eyes.

"He needs to take it back, Four!" Five said shaking his head, but eventually backing off at Four's wish.

"No he doesn't," Four said. The blonde curly haired one had fallen to the ground and got up dusting himself off.

"I shouldn't be hurt for telling the truth," the curly haired one said.

"Shut up, Six," Five growled making him almost look like an angry golden labrador. Rose approached the three boys, at first planning to just pass, but decided she would try to help the situation.

"What's wrong?" Rose asked though still nervous about everything. Six glared at her, but the other two softened.

"He," Five pointed at Six, "Called Four crazy."

"He wasn't... just joking around?" Rose asked looked towards Six.

"Of course I was," Six replied.

"No you aren't!" Five said glaring at Six, "Four's had a problem in the past with... well, you know."

"It's not a big deal," Four said shaking his head stopping Five from saying anything more, changing the subject, "We're sorry for this whole ordeal. Would you like a jelly baby?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gummy treat with a toothy grin.

"Uh, sure," Rose replied nervously and took the candy, eating it and smiling at the taste. The three boys seemed to have made up for the argument already. "Are you one of the kids that lives with Ten?" Six looked ashamed, while the other two simply showed a small smile.

"Yeah," Five answered, "We're three of the... Numbered Boys."

"Numbered Boys?" Rose asked.

"Oh, you don't know? You must be new," Six said with a raised eyebrow. The hall was starting to clear out.

"Erm, yeah, I am. I came today. Ten's in my English class," Rose explained.

"Oh, so you're a sophomore," Five said with a nod, "We're seniors. If you meet up with Eight or Seven, they're sophomores too."

"So... let's get this straight. I've met a Ten, Nine, Five, Four and Six. And there is an Eleven, Eight, and Seven. What about One, Two and Three?"

"Don't forget Twelve!" Six interjected.

"And Twelve," Rose added.

"Twelve's a junior, but the others have all graduated. They come by the place sometimes though. One owns the place himself now. He bought it from the Moffat, so he takes care of us now," Five explained.

"Four!" A voice called. The scarfed one turned to see a beautiful brown haired woman.

"Sarah!" Four replied. The woman ran up and hugged Four, nearly tackling him to the ground. "I thought you were going to America to be a journalist."

"Well, I missed my plane ride. Decided to stay here instead. One called me the other day, he said he found a job I could have here if I wanted it. That way I could stay with you all," Sarah explained happily. Five's face lit up like a light bulb.

"That's great! I'm sure Three was excited to hear," Four said with a very happy smile looking at Sarah.

"Actually, I came here as soon as I could, I haven't talked to the others yet," Sarah admitted. Four released the hug and kissed her cheek quickly, which caused Sarah to blush slightly.

"You better get going, then. Three will be ever so excited," Four said.

"Well, I was hoping... to have lunch with you," Sarah said.

"Lunch!" Rose quickly said having been lost in the conversation, "Sorry, I promised to have lunch with someone. I have to go."

"I can go with you if you want," Five offered.

"Well, your friend just arrived, and... yeah I don't want to inconvenience you," Rose said walking passed with a smile, "Don't worry, the lunch room's just down here, right?"

"Here, I'll show you," Five said walking with her, "I'll see you later, Sarah Jane."

"No, we can all go," Sarah Jane suggested.

"Erm, alright?" Rose replied with a nervous chuckle, "What about those two?" She pointed between Five and Six.

"Oh they fight all time. Five's a very protective sort," Sarah laughed walking up next to Rose with Four trailing behind her. The two blondes smiled at each other. "They like to play rough. Well, only with each other."

"Oh alright," Rose replied, "My name is Rose Tyler, it's a pleasure meeting you all."

"I'm Sarah Jane Smith, and you've already met these boys," Sarah said with a warm smile, hooking her arm with Rose's, and the group escorted her down the hall to the lunchroom finally.

"Would you care to eat with us?" Sarah Jane offered.

"Well, I promised Martha I would meet her here. You should go on, tell Three you're back," Rose suggested with a warm smile, "I really do appreciate you all." She was being a little over crowded by people wanting to help her. It was something she was used to, but she still hated it. Crowds. They always made her feel a bit claustrophobic, and one her first day at a school, she was already scared enough. Plus, she didn't want to be the reason they couldn't go out and have fun because Sarah Jane had decided to stay in town and they obviously weren't close. She wasn't being rude, and she hoped she didn't come off that way.

"Alright, well, we'll see you around!" Sarah said and waved at her before turning and the group walking off. Rose sighed and looked at the crowded lunchroom. It was a beautiful bronze colored room, with intricate designs on the stairs leading up to an upper eating area. So... she just had to find Martha somewhere in this huge room. Good luck, she told herself.

She barely began to move when she spotted someone in the corner, by no one else, people passing by as if he weren't there. Rose decided that she could go over there and look for Martha, over there. And so that was what she did.

"Hi," Rose said to the older man with a warm smile looking out over the cafeteria, "Thanks for showing me where my class was earlier." It was the boy she had first met, the one with the leather jacket. "Your name is Nine, isn't it?"

"No. That's my designation by the Moffat," Nine replied gruffly glancing at her for a moment. She could feel his eyes pierce into her, but they weren't cold, in fact, his glance seemed to melt into her.

"I don't understand," Rose said.

"No one does. My number, it isn't a name. A number is not a name for anyone," Nine replied.

"Then why don't you give yourself a name?" Rose asked curiously. Nine smiled softly, looking over the crowd.

"I don't deserve a name," Nine replied.

"Everyone deserves a name!" Rose insisted.

"It doesn't matter, either way," Nine replied, "No one would call me by any name other than my number."

"I would," Rose said looking up at the taller boy whose grin grew.

"Oh? What name would you suggest?" Nine asked with a chuckle.

"Oh, I dunno," Rose said thinking about it for a few moments before she smiled widely, bumping playfully against Nine, "What if I called you Chris?"

"Chris?" Nine asked his grin disappearing looking at her curiously.

"Yeah. Do you like it?" Rose answered a bit worried.

"It's fantastic," Nine replied his grin reappearing. However, before Rose could respond Martha came running through the crowd towards her.

"Rose! There you are! I was worried you got lost. Did Ten leave you?" Martha asked, before seeing Nine there, "Oh, hi, Nine." He nodded in greeting to Martha, his grin disappearing the instant she came by.

"Erm... well he gave me directions, before he had to leave for something. Then I bumped into some... well, guys fighting about a name one called a third one."

"It was Four, Five and Six, wasn't it?" Nine asked.

"Yeah. And then this girl, I think she's already graduated, Sarah Jane, came by," Rose explained.

"Sarah Jane didn't leave?" Nine asked curiously.

"Apparently not, according to her, One found a job she could have and stay here in London," Rose answered with a smile. Nine didn't seem to be fazed by it, but his words seemed to express his interest in the subject.

"Sorry you had to deal with Five and Six," Nine apologized.

"It wasn't really any problem. They seem nice," Rose replied with a smile.

"You must be starving, Rose," Martha said changing the subject, "I'll show you the line."

"Wanna come?" Rose asked Nine, who shook his head.

"I'm fine," Nine replied, "I'll see you around." And he left. She barely even blinked and he was gone. He was very fast and quiet with his movements, like a ninja. Or someone who didn't want to be seen or heard by anyone.

"He's a weird one," Martha noted with a laugh.

"I dunno, I think he's sweet," Rose said and Martha looked at her with one of those 'oohhhhhh' looks.

"Does someone have a crush on Nine?" Martha accused teasingly leading Rose towards the lunch line, which lead up to a vending machine.

"No!" Rose answered a little too quickly, "I just met him. Barely know him. Could be a complete jerk."

"Oh come on, he could be love at first sight! I know when I first met Ten..." Martha began, but became quiet before laughing, "Well, I guess it's no news to anyone."

"So you like Ten?" Rose asked, thinking Ten was indeed cute and charming and very desirable, but there was something that wasn't quite boyfriend material about him. Perhaps it was his overuse of charm. Though, she could see him and her being really good friends.

"Yeah. From the moment he walked into the office my first day," Martha replied.

"What happened?" Rose asked as they waited in the line, which was still a bit longer than one might think so far after lunch had begun.

"Well, I was getting checked in, last year, and he came in covered in paint," Martha said excitedly as they reached the vending machine at the end of the line, "Apparently he was caught painting Master Koschei's classroom, because The Master had complained his room looked drab in class." Rose laughed. Martha quickly explained the vending machine which gave out full lunches as long as you paid or had money in your account. Rose got her lunch, spaghetti and meatballs, and the two walked over to a lunch table.

"So... tell me. What's with the Numbered Boys? Why're they numbers?" Rose asked as they sat down.

"I don't know much. They won't say too much more than the fact they live together and their number tells what order they arrived in the house because some guy named Moffat brought them there," Martha explained, "They talk about it a lot, but they don't really say anything about it. They all arrived at different ages, so their numbers don't really tell who's older."

"That's why Ten is a junior and Eleven's graduated?" Rose asked.

"Far as I can tell," Martha said, "Rumor is that they are all orphans, or were left by their parents when they were younger. Some say they saw their parents die, which is why the Moffat took them in. Other say it was the Moffat who killed their parents so he could have the children."

"But... one of them said One owned the place now," Rose said very curious about this, even though it was all rumor and speculation. If it were true... well, Rose didn't know what to think if it were true.

"They say that the boys found out the Moffat killed their families, and so they killed him off in return," Martha said but then laughed, "But it's all rumors. It's probably just a story, distorted by the imaginations of kids that go here." Rose laughed and agreed, thinking of Nine and his problem with being called a number. She didn't understand these numbered boys, but she wanted to understand. Normally, Rose Tyler was not the girl to pry, but she was curious enough to at least attempt to get to the bottom of this. The rest of the day went without much of a hitch. She had History with Ushas Rani and art with Mrs. Williams, whom was a great admirer of Vincent Van Gogh, especially the painting of the sunflowers for some reason. Rose didn't understand. She just chose Art because she needed another class, and it was the only one mildly appealing after Theater, which she had before Master Koschei's class so she didn't get to go her first day.

She headed home, and cooked some dinner, her mother not yet home from work, before she headed off and watched some television in her room until it was time for bed, and then she fell asleep. It was a fantastic day. She felt as though she made a good amount of friends today, and discovered a very interesting mystery for her to solve. Perhaps when she would actually go to all her classes, she'd feel more a part of the school. Rose thought of the Numbered Boys, and Nine. Nine seemed to have something behind those eyes that was painful, despite the warm feeling she got when he looked at her. Her mind drifted off to sleep thinking of Nine's eyes looking at her warmly, despite his cold looking exterior.

Currently, I have three chapters, but in order to stay ahead, I'll post them once I have a new chapter done, or if its taking too long to be written. I felt it got a bit repetitive when Rose met Ten and the meeting with the others afterwards. I hope you liked it!