Sex, Love & Rock 'N Roll

Chapter 1: Prologue

Clara checked her look in the small, dirty bathroom mirror and nodded to herself. She had put on an extra layer of black eyeliner and tousled and teased her hair like she hadn't done since college. But this was a special occasion, a very special occasion. Tonight she would see the Doctor live in concert, something she had been dreaming about since she had discovered one of his albums in a small record store over 10 years ago. Clara had chosen one of her favourite dresses for the occasion, a red one with a petticoat underneath it that suited her small figure very well. She had completed her outfit with fishnet stockings, her favourite boots and the obligatory leather jacket. She felt absolutely prepared for the best rock concert of her life.

Butterflies had been going through her stomach ever since her boss has handed her the concert ticket, but Clara needed to remind herself that this night wasn't only for her own amusement, she was here on a job. Tomorrow she would need to sit down and write an article about this concert and the Doctor's performance that had to contain words besides "oh my God" and "awesome". She took one last breath and turned around, almost bumping into two other women that had just stepped through the bathroom door. Clara immediately noticed the difference between her and the other girls, whose skirts were smaller than some belts Clara owned. She wanted to shake her head, but decided to not give them any special attention and left the bathroom, heading straight for the concert hall to secure a good spot in the front.

The hall was still almost empty and Clara didn't find it difficult to walk right up to the barrier that was guarded by security. They didn't give glance at her when she positioned herself at the barrier, but Clara watched them ogle the two women who she had just met in the bathroom a few minutes ago when they came to stand by her side, giggling endlessly.

It started filling up quickly when the concert was about to start and people kept nudging and pushing Clara, but she held tight to the barrier, determined not to let anyone rob her of her perfect spot. Then came the first announcement and the opening act started to play.

Clara had to refrain from yawning. Compared to the Doctor's music this was utter trash, only noise to her ears. She thought about what she was going to write about the band in her article and if they were worth more than a subordinate clause at all. She applauded without real enthusiasm and was surprised to find the bathroom girls actually cheering. But then again, they probably couldn't even tell real music from the sounds of a construction site.

Then the whole room went dark and silence fell over the audience. Clara heart started to pound against her chest and for the first time she noticed that her ears felt numb. She desperately wanted to hear or see what was happening on stage, but the noise of the opening act and the smoke had ruined that for her. When people started cheering Clara knew that something was up and she saw it moments later when a light beam was switched on, revealing the Doctor on stage.

He was just standing there, no guitar, no microphone, his head bowed slightly. Just the Doctor's glorious self, wearing a black suit and a white shirt, his RayBans shielding him from the bright lights on stage. He didn't move or speak, but his presence alone made Clara's knees wobble and her heart was beating so fast now she could hardly contain it. She had loved him for his music ever since she was a teenager, even though she had always found him quite good looking. But seeing him actually standing in front of her and taking in his presence was impressive and something else entirely. The Doctor was actually hot.

While everyone around her was cheering Clara felt like she was glued to her spot, unable to move. She had been dreaming about this moment for ten years and now she was so stunned she couldn't even raised her hands to clap.

When he started singing Clara's world stood still, although singing was not the right word for it. The Doctor started rocking. She had forgotten about her job assignment the moment he had stepped on stage, not even wondering how she was going to put his performance in words than were suitable for children under 18. Clara only watched him as if in trance, taking in his music, his looks, she moved to his music and started singing along until a not so gentle push shoved her into the barrier.

People were now fighting to get as close to the Doctor as possible and they were all taller and stronger than her. She didn't even notice that the singing stopped and the Doctor started talking while she was trying to fight back.

"Now, if everyone could please stop pushing this lovely girl here in the front, that would be absolutely thrilling," the Doctor said.

Clara looked up to see who he was talking about and to her surprise found his finger pointed at her.

"Yes, that's right. You, the lovely lady in the red dress. Please, give her all some space."

Even though she now had the room to do it, Clara suddenly found it very hard to breathe. He had noticed her. The Doctor had noticed her. The Doctor! And he had pointed her out and called her lovely lady. Oh, how she wished she could put that in her article, if only to show it to all the other women who had come here dressed practically in lingerie.

The concert was over all too soon, even though the Doctor played five additional songs and people kept on cheering and applauding. Clara couldn't tell how much time had passed. Somehow she expected that the whole world must have changed while she had been in there, listening to and staring at the Doctor.

The crowd was starting to vanish and Clara was about to turn around and leave as well when she noticed the security guards chatting with the bathroom girls.

"The Doctor is hosting a party at his house tonight. Do you want to come?" they asked the girls, who still giggled like schoolgirls, "He always invites a few girls. Would be boring otherwise, wouldn't it?"

Clara turned around a spotted a similar thing happening at the other end of the barrier line, security guards inviting scantily dressed women. She finally turned around and started to make her way to the exit when someone started shouting.

"Her as well!"

She couldn't tell what made her turn back around. Maybe it was because the Doctor had pointed her out earlier and she had almost missed it because she would never have guessed that he meant her, maybe it was the hope of being invited to the Doctor's private party, too.

"Yes, you. The woman in the red dress," one of the security guards said.

"What? Me?" Clara asked, still uncertain, although she didn't see anyone else wearing red.

"Are you sure?" the other guard asked him as quietly as someone who had just witnessed a rock concert would.

"Yes," the man replied to both his partner and Clara, "Do you want to come to the party? Private party at the Doctor's house."

Clara was suddenly very suspicious. This could be a trick. But then again. . . she might miss out on a chance of actually meeting the Doctor. And she did remember reading something about how the Doctor always threw parties after his concerts, inviting lucky fans.

Clara shrugged. "Sure, why not."

Immediately she could feel the bathroom girls' disapproving looks on her. The security guard waved at her to follow them and Clara walked back to the barrier.

"Come one, the party waits for no one. Not even the lovely lady in red," the other guard who had been uncertain about her invitation said teasingly and Clara could feel his disapproval as well. Compared to the other girls they had approached she looked like a wall flower and suddenly she regretted agreeing to this.

Clara exhaled sharply. Well, if the party sucked, at least she would gather more material for her article.