There's A Class For This

Chapter One
2009

Ryleigh Anne Morrison sat in the empty headmaster's office waiting on her tour guide to show her around her new school. If there was anything that Ryleigh hated more than being the 'new girl', she couldn't think of anything at that particular moment. The office was too quiet. The lack of noise was making her ears ring. She pulled out her brand new iPhone 3GS and began scrolling through her Twitter feed when the door to the office slowly opened and a boy with kind eyes and sandy blonde hair peeked in.

"Are you Ryleigh?" He asked, as he walked into the vast office.

"Depends." Ryleigh replied as she tucked her phone back into her pocket. "Are you my welcoming committee?" She smiled a cheeky grin as she stood up and held out her hand for the boy to shake.

"John Watson, your tour guide." John stuck his hand out and grasped Ryleigh's hand in his.

"Ryleigh Morrison, at your service." Ryleigh laughed.

"What would you have said if I wasn't your tour guide and I was just some weirdo who knew your name?" John asked as Ryleigh handed over her school schedule.

"Oh, I'm sure I would have thought of something." Ryleigh chuckled as she tossed her long, black hair over her shoulder. "So, Mr. Watson, what do you have planned for me?"

John studied Ryleigh's schedule. "Well, it's almost lunchtime, so I'll show you where your classes are, we'll eat, and then I'll walk you to your class after lunch." John held the door open for Ryleigh and followed her out into the hallway.

"Such a gentleman." Ryleigh winked.

As they began their walk down the hallway, John got a better look at Ryleigh. She was a bit tall for her age and John couldn't help but stare at her mile-long legs. Her hair was jet black and reached her mid-back and her eyes were ice blue. Her skirt was almost too short and her Doc Marten boots were well-worn. Her earlobes were gauged out to around a half an inch and she had multiple other piercings in each ear, as well as a Monroe piercing on her upper lip and her septum as well.

She caught John staring and grinned. He cleared his throat, embarrassed, and shoved his hands in his pockets. "So, uh, where are you from?" He asked, clearing his throat once more, averting his gaze.

"Oh. Uhm, Cardiff." Ryleigh coughed. "Kind of boring, but hey, they shoot Doctor Who and Torchwood there, so it's not all bad."

"You like Doctor Who?" John asked. They rounded a corner and John checked Ryleigh's schedule. He pointed to a door emblazoned with the number 201. "That's your first class of the day. Oh, lucky… You're second hour is right next door." He pointed to door number 203.

"Cool." Ryleigh shrugged her backpack back up on to her shoulder and John caught a glimpse of her midriff. "But yeah, I love Doctor Who. I'm pretty sure they denounce your citizenship on the spot if you don't, so might as well like it. She grinned once more and John chuckled.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"I was an extra on Who once…" Ryleigh tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

John's face lit up. "Really? You were?"

"No." Ryleigh laughed. "Think I could tell people that? Think they'd believe me?"

"Well, that's no way to go making friends when you're starting a new school, lying to them on your first day."

"I don't want to make friends. I don't need any." Ryleigh shrugged.

"Oh." John's face fell a bit as he pointed to room 308. "That's your third class of the day."

Ryleigh furrowed her brow. "I'm sorry, John, I didn't mean it like that. I've just always been better off by myself."

The pair walked in silence as John pointed out the rest of Ryleigh's classes and led her to the lunchroom. They got their food and sat down at a table away from everyone else.

"Look, John, what I said about not needing friends…" Ryleigh broke the silence.

"No, it's alright. You explained yourself." John began to move food around his plate. "I understand."

"You don't have many friends, do you, John?" Ryleigh asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Not, uh, not really. There's a couple blokes I'm on good terms with, but no one wants to be friends with the smart kid that doesn't like to party. From what I hear, I'm kind of a bore. But I can't really afford to be reckless. I'm trying to join the Army."

"I got that from your haircut. Are you already doing drill?" John nodded at the observant girl. "But you want to be a surgeon. Or at least a doctor."

"How can you tell?"

"You have the hands of a surgeon. And I saw the medical books poking out of your bag." Ryleigh grinned at the look on John's face. "Sometimes, John, people see but they don't observe." She winked once more and smiled slightly. "You know, I may not be in the market for any friends, but I think I have a position open for a John Watson. Now, don't get too excited. It can't be just any John Watson… He has to be smart, funny, and clever. He has to like Doctor Who. And he has to be joining the Army." She leaned in and whispered. "But what he really wants is to be a doctor." She straightened back up and took a bite of her pizza. "You know anyone that fits the bill?"

"I think I may know of someone. Now, I don't know if he's as funny or as clever as you want him to be, but he's a hell of a bloody good dancer." John laughed.

"And I think he may be selling himself short." Ryleigh grinned. "But being a good dancer is never a bad thing."

John shrugged and couldn't help but to grin. "So, what prompted the move to London?"

Ryleigh shrugged. "Got kicked out of one too many schools. I'm a bit of a troublemaker."

"You mind if I ask what you got kicked out for?"

"Well, my last school… I got caught off campus after curfew, so I got the boot." Ryleigh laughed as she relived the memory.

"They kicked you out for missing curfew?"

"Ehh… Let's just say that it wasn't my first time missing curfew… And it wasn't my first time getting escorted back by the police. Headmasters aren't too keen on their pupils being brought back in silver bracelets being led by a group of the local law enforcement." Ryleigh laughed a bit too hard at the shocked look on John's face. "Told you I'm a troublemaker."

"So you did." John chuckled nervously. "Don't be getting me in any trouble like that."

"Don't worry, I won't." Ryleigh reached her hand across the table and covered John's own hand with hers. "I usually save that kind of thing for when I'm by myself."

John blushed at the contact. "Well, don't do that shit here and have to move. I didn't realize I was in the market for a Ryleigh Morrison, but now that I've got one, I don't think I'll be too keen on losing it."

"You're too sweet, John." Ryleigh laughed. "I think they picked me the right tour guide for my first day. Thank you."

"Not a problem. I was really all too eager to get out of class… Maths… Not my strongest subject."

"Then I'm glad I showed up in the middle of your Maths class."

John chuckled once again as the bell signaling the end of lunch rang. "Come on. Let's get you to class."

"John, do you, maybe, want to come over after school? I'm new to the area and I think I need a tour guide."

John smiled. "I'd love to."

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