Oh boy. Cocoa Puffs or Frosted Flakes? Either way, she's not going to be happy. Sharon is never happy when I grocery shop. Let's try Frosted Flakes; maybe she'll at least appreciate the effort.
I sighed as I place the blue box into my cart, "If she doesn't like it, she can just shop for herself." I mused disappointingly as I started to place our normal week's worth into the cart: bread, milk, orange juice, various frozen dinners, etc. We never did anything special for meals, well, except for birthdays.
"Mrs. Manchester, Mrs. Manchester!" I called from across the store when I saw our next-door neighbor.
The tall, seventy year old woman with white hair, a blue trench coat, and a tan leather patched purse looked up from the oranges she was comparing and smiled at me. "Hello, Dear." She said once I came closer to her. I leant over just a touch to give her a nice hug. "Oh, you keep growing." She said lovingly, pulling out of our embrace.
"I try not to." I said sheepishly, pushing my dark hair back behind my ears.
"Oh, I remember when you had your father's beautiful red hair. Sharon, too." Mrs. Manchester used to have red hair too.
Unconsciously touching my hair, I said full of nostalgia, "Yes, I miss being ginger."
She looked over towards my semi full cart. "Doing your weekly shopping?"
I nodded and smiled. "Yes. And you?"
She, too, nodded. "Yes."
"Where's Mr. Manchester?"
"Visiting an old friend in Pine-Wood. He's not doing so well."
My face dropped. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"James was too. He seems to spend all his time next to Tom Oliver's bed."
"Poor, Mr. Oliver."
She nodded in understanding. "I know. I'm sorry to cut this visit short, but I was going to make James lunch and take it to him."
"Of course. I'll see you later."
"Goodbye, Sweetheart." And she turned her cart towards the cash registers and left. I stayed for a few minutes more, picking out different fruits and vegetables before leaving as well.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~
I was walking down the wintery streets of London, heading back home. It wasn't too far away from the store, just a couple blocks south. I was carrying two large paper bags full of food, minding my own business in my dark green pea coat when this guy in a tan sport coat ran into me, knocking me down, and spilling all of my newly bought food all over the street.
"Oi!" I shouted at the man who kept running. He stopped and turned around when he heard my yell. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Pardon?" He asked, walking back towards me.
"Did your mother not teach you manners? You run into me and you don't even say 'sorry' for it?"
This man, this tall, blonde, wiry man put his hands in his pockets and looked slightly sheepish. "I'm sorry. Look, can I make this up to you later? I'm kind of in a hurry."
"Where're you going?" I asked, picking my things up and throwing them haphazardly back into the bag while he just stood there, looking awkward.
"Um..." He looked around, as if trying to make sure we were alone. It was eleven in the morning on a Wednesday; of course we were alone. "I'm not really sure."
"Then why are you in such a hurry?"
He kind of chuckled as he thought up an answer. "Well, that is a very good question. One that I will answer..." The man trailed off when he looked in the direction he came from. "At a later date. Gotta go!" And he ran off.
I turned to see what he was looking at, but there was nothing there. I turned back around, shaking my head and scoffing at the man and continued on my way. I didn't go very far before I saw it: a nine foot tall blue police box, hidden away in an alley. "Aw great." I said, walking a little faster. "Just what I need, another one of them."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"Sharon!" I said loudly when I entered the small, two bedroom house we shared.
"In here!" She replied from another room.
"Where's here?" I asked myself as I slumped the grocery bags onto the kitchen counter and took off my coat. I went into the living room and was completely shocked at what I saw. "What are you doing here!"
The blonde man from before smiled from the couch. "Hello, there. Nice to see you again, too."
"Mumu, this is the Doctor." Sharon explained, getting up from the chair opposite the couch and came over to me. I hate that name so much.
The man held his hand out with a smile. "Hello." He tried again.
Reluctantly, I shook it. "Hi."
"Now, I bet you're wondering why I'm here." He let go of my hand and started pointing his finger in a teacherly manner.
"Sort of. Bet you can't tell me what my next question is." My eyes followed him when he started pacing around the room.
"Wait." Shannon intercepted. "You guys know each other?"
"No-"
"Yes." The Doctor said over me. "We're old school chums."
"Really?" Sharon asked me.
I stared at the Doctor with cold eyes, and he stared calmly back. He knew. "Yeah. Old school chums."
"You guys don't sound like it." Thank you, Captain Obvious.
"Well, we didn't exactly leave it on good terms." The Doctor explained, still standing in the same spot, his hands in his pockets.
"Oh, were you the boyfriend?" Sharon asked so obliviously.
"What?" The two of us asked simultaneously.
"The boy that you were going out with all throughout high school. Uh, Geoffrey something."
I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Sure. Geoffrey, can I talk to you outside for a second?" I grabbed the Doctor's arm and dragged him out the door. Once I had shut the door tightly, I crossed my arms over my chest. "I have a few questions."
"Fancy that, so do I." Again, he put his hands in his pockets.
"What are you doing here?" My voice had a threatening tone.
"Me, I'm just traveling. What about you?" He raised an eyebrow and gave me a quick once over.
I gave him a nice sarcastic smile. "I am living my life."
His eyes became very focused and...scared, almost. "I know what you are."
"What am I then?"
"You're a timelord."
I shrugged my shoulders. "So are you."
"Yes, but I'm supposed to be the last." The Doctor sounded more confused.
"Well, Doctor," I leaned up against the door, rubbing my arms, trying to keep some body warmth. "You are no longer alone."