The Trick To Not Falling In Love

Chapter 1

"The trick is...don't fall in love. I did that trick quite a lot, sometimes twice a day."

The story of how Clara Oswald had to use that trick to stop herself falling in love with the Doctor...and how it didn't quite go to plan.

He's Brilliant. Of course he is. The Doctor is the most brilliant man I've ever met in my life. I'd never admit that to his face though. He'd just give me a self-satisfied smug grin and tease me for the rest of the day. Something else I'd never admit to him, the day we met was definitely the best day of my life.

It was your average weekend morning and I was trying to work out how to connect my new laptop to the Maitland's wifi. I've never been very tech-savvy myself, but I accidently ended up calling the Doctor for help. I'd meant to call the broadband support team, but it seemed that I got the wrong number.

It's when he turned up on the Maitland's doorstep dressed as a monk that I knew he was quite extraordinary. Now that I think about it, he wouldn't leave me alone. The Doctor seemed fascinated by me, like I'd met him before. Of course, he ended up saving my life so I decided to tag along with him in his TARDIS from then on. He seemed to want me to, I couldn't really refuse. Not that I wanted to refuse.

It was as if within the first few weeks I knew the Doctor he automatically became my best friend. He was always so interested in me, so caring of me, so…protective. And I wouldn't admit this to the Doctor either…but I actually kind of liked it. I seemed to be the sun and his whole world revolved around me. A man has never treated me like that before, with such great importance. Okay, I admit it. I loved it. Every adventure we had in those first few weeks made me always want to come back for more. So he'd come on Wednesday's…but often Thursdays too. Sometimes Mondays, quite a lot of Fridays and the odd weekend. So basically, most days of the week.

It was the most amazing feeling to suddenly have met someone that cared about you so much. We got on so well, constantly joking and teasing each other. He'd take me to a new planet or star, each time fuelled with excitement. And even though I knew he wouldn't ever admit this to me, I think he loved me tagging along and having someone to share the universe with. He loved my companionship.

It was the third week when everything started to go wrong from my perspective…or right. I just wished at that point it hadn't happened. That we could've continued travelling across the stars as just friends. But it was on the third week that I knew the Doctor it all began to change. I started to fall in love.

-x-

Vegas. He'd promised to take me to Vegas. "You've never been to Las Vegas?!" The Doctor had exclaimed. It was a Monday afternoon and we'd just returned from the beaches of Hoskatan.

"It's not that big a deal!" I'd replied. "My parents couldn't afford to take me to America when I was a child and now I'm a full time nanny. I don't get holidays!"

"Then we'll spend this evening in Las Vegas. I know a brilliant time period, 1983. You'll love it Clara, I know you will."

I'd grinned like an idiot when he said that. Everything he did, he did it to make me happy. What I hadn't realised then is that it made me feel all fuzzy inside. A little too fuzzy. I'd skipped to the TARDIS wardrobe and spent ages picking out the perfect dress. I finally found one that reached just over the knee and was made out of a silky egg blue material. It was gorgeous.

"Clara, are you done picking out a dress yet?" The Doctor had called. "I'm getting very bored!"

I'd chuckled. Patience had never been the Doctor's strong point. I'd quickly got changed into the dress and ran back into the console room and spun around. "So, chin boy, how do I look?"

The Doctor had been lying underneath the console fiddling with some wires. He'd been so surprised by the question that when he got up to look at me he whacked his head on one of the panels.

"Ouch!" He'd muttered before getting up on to his feet. He stared at me for what seemed like an eternity without saying anything.

"So, how do I look then?" I persisted to his annoyance.

"Um…you look…very um…blue."

I raised my eyebrows in amusement as I knew I'd made him feel uncomfortable. "I look…blue?"

He realised those choice of words had been a bad decision by the tone I put in my voice. "No! No…I mean you look…you look…nice."

To my surprise my face fell and the Doctor noticed. "No, I mean, not nice…lovely Clara. You look absolutely lovely."

I'd blushed a bit, as I'd been expecting him to say 'shut up' instead of actually continuing with the sentence. I tried not to let it show as he flew the TARDIS to our new location. The Doctor then grabbed a funny pair of 80s sunglasses out of his pocket and put them on his face making me laugh. They were the complete contrast to his vintage style purple tweed jacket and bowtie.

The Doctor grabbed my hand and pulled me through the TARDIS doors only to be met by many screaming, soaking wet men in military uniforms and lots of jerking and crashing from around us. Of course, the Doctor hadn't managed to get us anywhere near Las Vegas. We were in the North Pole. To be precise, in a sinking soviet submarine in the North Pole.

-x-

I'll tell you about the moment on that particular day, when I became aware of my emotions. Skaldak had just left the submarine and we were safe. I'd been so frightened. I think on that day I had been more frightened than any other in my life so far. I didn't tell the Doctor but I knew he knew. I'd been shaking like a leaf during the whole thing and it wasn't just because I was drenched. But when the ice warrior left and we were safe I was overwhelmed with joy. I couldn't help myself, I didn't really think about it. I just threw my arms around his neck and didn't want to let go. It was that feeling of being so close to death that made my heart race.

I let him go eventually when I realised how uncomfortable and unexpected the Doctor had found the embrace. I just beamed and gazed into his eyes like an idiot. "Saved the world then?"

He was leaning against the wall trying to act casual. "Yeah."

"That's what we do."

"Yeah."

I realised I'd been looking into his eyes for too long now. We were just stood there staring at each other with big grins on our faces. But do you know what I found myself thinking about whilst looking into the Doctor's big, wise eyes? Not that I was happy to still be alive, but that I wondered what it would be like to reach up and kiss him right now. I finally broke the eye contact stunned at what I had just thought. I turned my back on him and walked over to the ladder in the submarine which took you up onto the deck outside.

No. I'd thought to myself. No no no. This cannot be happening. I've finally found a friend that cares about me. A friend that whisks me away to see the stars. A friend who's over a thousand years old and an alien for crying out loud! I am not falling for him. Oh, but how I would have loved to kiss him… No Clara! Stop thinking like this. Where did all of this come from? But I knew where it had. Our teasing and joking was constant flirting. The way he touches my cheek and my heart flutters. The way I hug him and never want to let go. The compliments and the way he acted totally mesmerised by me. The way he makes me feel protected and loved. I almost had to slap myself. No. He's just a friend and that's all he will ever be. He doesn't even think about you like that.

I got out onto the deck and he emerged from the ladder behind me. The Doctor walked over to me and gave one of his big infectious smiles. Oh, he is brilliant… I'd thought again. But this can't ever be. I wasn't going to let myself fall in love with someone who doesn't feel that way back. I wasn't going to act like a fool. I wasn't going to let this happen.

It was then I made a promise to myself. Don't fall in love. That was the plan. I know I've had my heart broken by bad boyfriends and high school crushes a handful of times before. But I knew if my heart was broken by the Doctor it would be a thousand times worse. I wasn't going to let it happen.

That's the trick, don't fall in love. The trick to avoid a broken heart. I'd use it whenever I had to, whenever my guard fell down and my heart skipped a beat. Whenever his eyes locked onto mine, I promised myself I wouldn't fall in love.

But then again, when does anything in life ever go to plan?

*A/N: I know I only finished my other fanfic yesterday, but I got home from school and quickly wrote this idea up I'd been pondering on all day. Will only be a few chapters or so long. A bit angsty, a bit fluffy, very whouffle.

Review, favourite and follow for more! Please let me know what you think. Thankyou for reading, the next chapter will be up asap! x*