Miss Brightside

Chapter 37

Addi finished yawning at the Doctor's rant and jogged after his retreating figure, swinging the TARDIS doors closed behind her. Donna was stood on the side of the road, trying to hail a cab as the pair approached her. 

"Donna-" The Doctor tried to get her to come back with them. 

"Leave me alone. I just want to get married."

"Don't we all," Addi scoffed under her breath.

"Come back to the TARDIS," the Doctor tried. 

"No way. That box is too weird."

"It's bigger on the inside, that's all."

Both Donna and Addi gave him stares of disbelief. Donna, stepping in front of Addi, "Oh! That's all? Ten past three, I'm going to miss it."

"You can phone them. Tell them where you are," Addi suggested, stepping toward the woman's side, instead of being behind her. 

"How do I do that?" Donna asked them.

Addi opened her mouth to say something, but the Doctor cut her off, "Haven't you got a mobile?"

"I'm in my wedding dress," Donna spat back the man as Addi resisted the urge to facepalm. Donna carried on, "It doesn't have pockets. Who has pockets? Have you ever seen a bride with pockets? When I went to my fitting at Chez Alison, the once thing I forgot to say is 'give me pockets!'"

"This man you're marrying. What's his name?" The Doctor asked. 

"Lance."

"Good luck, Lance," Both Addi and the Doctor chimed. 

"Oi! No Stockholm's child and stupid Martian are going to stop me from getting married. To hell with both of you!" Donna ran away from them down the street. 

"I'm- I'm not-I'm not- I'm not from Mars," the Doctor sighed.

"Well I'm not sick in the head either, but that isn't what matters right now is it?" Addi said, running off after the woman. 

"Taxi!" 

The yellow car drove past them without a glance and Addi crossed her arms with a grumble. Donna turned to the younger girl with a disgruntled pout, "Why's his light on?"

"There's another one!" The Doctor pointed out as another cab approached them. 

"Oi!" The redhead screamed. Once again, no luck. 

"Do you have this effect on everyone? Why aren't they stopping?" The Doctor question the bride. 

"They think I'm in a fancy dress," Donna replied.

"Stay off the sauce, darling!" One of the passing drivers yelled out the window. 

"They think you're drunk," Addi snorted. 

"You're not fooling no one, mate!" 

Donna's face dropping as she gave a mortified screech, "They think I'm in drag!"

Addi could no longer hold it together and burst out laughing, hunching over and clutching her stomach. The Doctor felt the weight on his shoulders lessen at the girl's bright giggles. Even Donna couldn't deny that the girl lit up like the sun when she was grinning- she'd only ever seen the girl frown or stare blankly at whatever was in front of her. 

"Alright," Addi calmed down, "let me show you how it's done."

The small blonde let out an ear-piercing whistle and the taxi that had just passed them did a U turn, skidding to a halt right before them. Donna hopped in the back first, followed by Addi and then the Doctor. 

"Saint Mary's in Chiswick, just off Hayden Road. It's an emergency. I'm getting married. Just hurry up!" Donna spouted out to the driver, who immediately stepped on the gas. Addi jolted back into the seat.

"You know it'll cost you, sweetheart?" The driver said over his shoulder. "Double rates today."

The three passengers froze in the backseat, realizing the situation they'd put themselves in. Donna turned to the other two, "Oh my God. Have you got any money?" 

"Er...no. Haven't you?"

"Pockets!" Donna spat back at the man, before looking at Addi. "What about you?"

"I'm thirteen," the girl deadpanned. 

The taxi stopped at the curb abruptly, sending Addi flying forward. The Doctor and Donna both placed their arms out to keep her from going any further than the backseat. They were then rudely told to get out of the car. Donna barely had both feet out of the vehicle before the man was speeding off again.  The bride was shouting profanities at the top of her lungs and Addi took a few steps away so she wouldn't be associated with her. 

"-talk about Christmas spirit." Donna finished.

"Is it Christmas?" The Doctor questioned. 

"Well, duh. Maybe not on Mars, but here it's Christmas Eve." 

The young girl froze hearing those words. She didn't register the Doctor dragging her toward a phone box or the conversation the other two were having. She was reliving all her Christmas memories with her family, and once again, she felt hollowed out. Why did it have to be Christmas right after she'd lost her mother and sister? Why'd she have to lose them in the first place? Where were the Doctor and Donna?

Spinning around, she spotted the Doctor stealing money from a nearby ATM and Donna hopping into a Taxi after taking cash from an old lady. The only thing she could do was blink in complete confusion. 

Jogging over to the Doctor, she took the cash from his hand and patted him on the shoulder, "I think I'm gonna sit this one out, Doctor. I'm gonna get a taxi to a friend of my mum's and see if she'll do an estate sale of the flat."

He gave her a saddened, hesitant stare, "I don't know if that's a good idea, Addi."

"Please," she grabbed his hand, "I need to do this....I need time to grieve on my own."

A moment of silence passed between the two until finally the Doctor nodded, "Fine, but tell me where this friend lives so I know where to pick you up."

Addi gave him a small appreciative smile.

"It's on Baker Street."