#wishuponabluebox

Rose bit her lip as she watched the woman run her finger around the rim of her drink. She had an expressive face and right now it was projecting discomfort as the man standing next to her leaned closer. He seemed completely oblivious.

Rose had been in that situation way too many times. Some people just wouldn’t take no as an answer until they were forced to. She downed the rest of her drink and set it back on the bar before standing and straightening her dress and hair. Once she was settled, she took a deep breath and started towards the other end of the bar.

She breezed past the boorish man and slung an arm around the woman’s shoulder, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. “Hey, love, sorry it took me so long to get here! I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”

Rose implored the other woman to play along with her eyes, flicking her gaze to the man and back in an attempt to explain.

A smile bloomed on the woman’s face, knocking the breath out of Rose with its brilliance. “I haven’t been here long at all. But you should really know to get off work in time for weekly date night by now!”

The man sputtered out something, trying to get the attention back on him, trying to salvage the situation somehow.

Rose looked up at him in mock-surprise. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m so rude. I’m Rose, this one’s,” she nudged the other woman with her shoulder, “girlfriend. Are you a friend?”

“He’s not,” the other woman said firmly. “He was just leaving I think.”

She turned towards Rose and reached out and entwined their fingers. “Can I get you a drink, Rose?”

It was Rose’s turn to flash a smile as she heard the man beside her get up and leave, grumbling under his breath.

Rose took his stool, heart racing as the other woman maintained her grip on her hand.

“Sorry about all that,” Rose said, waving her free hand vaguely. “You looked a bit uncomfortable and I know guys like that won’t leave unless they’re sure you’re taken so I thought…”

“Oh, that was brilliant, thank you! I was trying to figure out a way to get out of talking to him without making a scene.”

Rose felt her cheeks heat. “Kinda made a scene for you.”

“I went along with it,” she said with a shrug. “And I would like to buy you a drink, if you’d like.”

“Only if you let me buy us some food too. I think you’re stuck with me until that bloke leaves and I’m starved and already two drinks in.”

The woman laughed. “There are much worse ways to spend the evening than stuck with you.”

She pulled her hand away from Rose’s to reach into her purse and pull out some cash and wave down the bartender. She ordered drinks for the both of them and let Rose order food before telling him that they’d be in a booth when food was ready. She pointed towards the empty table across the room and looked at Rose with a raised eyebrow.

Rose just nodded, unable to wipe the smile off her face.

They settled into their new seats with fresh drinks and Rose couldn’t help but marvel at her luck. It wasn’t every day she got to spend an evening with a gorgeous and interesting woman, after all. Maybe coming out with Shareen was actually going to end well for once.

“I didn’t even ask,” the woman said after they’d talked about the other extreme measures they’d gone through to get rid of unwanted suitors, “is Rose your actual name?”

“Yeah, Rose Tyler,” she answered with a smile. “Never managed to get your name at all.”

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry! I’m Martha. Martha Jones.”

“Very nice to meet you, Martha Jones,” Rose said, letting the tip of her tongue creep into the corner of her smile.

She felt like cheering when Martha’s gaze dropped down to her lips.

“Very nice to meet you too, Rose Tyler,” Martha shot back, a split second too late to hide the fact that she’d been distracted.

Their conversation flowed easily through their dinner and another drink and by the time they left the pub and ventured into the cold a few hours later, it was hand in hand and with their numbers programmed into each others mobiles.