"Clara you're burning up, you can't go to work in this state," James tried to stop her getting up. "I can work from home today, stay back with you," he sat up in the bed as his attempts failed and Clara got up.
"You're sweet James, but it's Friday. I can manage one day and rest over the weekend," she made her way to the bathroom, ignoring her throbbing head. She jumped in the shower, running it cool to help her cool down a little and then dressed and put enough makeup on to cover how pale she was.
"I'm going to work from home anyway, I really can't be bothered to go in for no reason. Call me if you need anything," he told her, "you really shouldn't be going in."
"You've made that clear enough," she smiled, "have a good day, don't be too lazy," she winked at him before disappearing downstairs and out the door.
She made it through the morning by some miracle, but even Clara had to admit she was beginning to feel pretty bad. She avoided leaving her room over lunch, the idea of seeing food not really appealing. She lay with her head on the desk, eyes closed trying to calm her head down. Clara almost didn't hear her door open, but shot upright when she did notice.
"Where have you been hiding all day?" Danny was standing there. Clara looked at him a little confused, "Grace sent me, she was about to come and find you when a student grabbed her, hence - here I am. No offence, but you look awful."
"Thanks, but I'm fine, just a headache. How are you doing? End of the first week and all that?" Clara asked, rubbing her head.
"Yeah it's going well, I appreciate the support from you guys it's good to know I have friends," he smiled. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I do wish people would stop asking me that," Clara asked, "there are 3 hours left until the weekend, I can make it." Danny nodded. She went to stand up but went dizzy as she did. Danny ran over, grabbing her before she fell. "Stood up too fast…" Clara slurred a little.
"Sure, give me your phone," Danny instructed as he sat her back down.
"No, don't be stupid," she told him.
"Phone! Now!" he held his phone out and Clara sighed, handing it over and unlocking it as she did. "Thank you, now drink that water and I'll be back in 5." He left the room, immediately calling James. What he wanted was to take her home, look after her, but he couldn't do that anymore - it wasn't his call. He glanced back in the room to see Clara lying back on the desk, fragile, it had been a while since he'd seen her like that.
"Hey sweetie how you doing?" Danny almost winced at hearing the man's voice - he shouldn't have been jealous, but he was.
"Sorry, not Clara, I work with her. She's really not well, almost collapsed on me just now, there's no way she's fit to drive home…" Danny explained.
"I'm on the way, I'll be there in 5. Thanks for calling, can you… stay with her?" James sounded really worried, he clearly loved her.
"Sure, we're in her classroom. See you soon," Danny hung up and went back in. "James is on his way."
"Thanks," Clara mumbled, not lifting her head up from the desk. "Why is it so cold in here?" she asked.
Danny looked at her, she was shivering, but it was boiling in her room. "It's not," he replied and put a hand to the one part of her forehead he could reach. "Bloody hell Clara, why on earth did you come in today?!" he sighed, "some things never change." Clara lifted her head slightly to give him a disapproving look. "Like I said," he gestured at her and she rolled her eyes, immediately regretting it as it hurt so much and lay her head back down. Danny watched as she rested, staying with her as he agreed but keeping a distance.
About 10 minutes after he'd hung up the phone there was a knock at the door and James walked in. Danny stood up from where he'd been perched and walked over, Clara had dozed off on her desk by now. "She's got a horrendous fever, when she stood up I had to catch her. I think even she's admitting it's too much now. Sorry, I'm Danny - probably should have said that."
"New maths teacher right? Clara mentioned you'd started. Thank you for looking after her, I'll get her home. Is everything sorted here?" James asked, making his way over to Clara.
"Grace is organising lesson cover, I'll speak to Mr Armitage," Danny opened the door, "see you around," and he left.
Clara woke up as James gently shook her shoulder. She leant into him automatically, letting him help her up and support her to the car. She didn't have the energy to argue anymore, ignoring any glances from students as they headed out. He helped her into his car and she leant against the window once the door was shut. James climbed in the other side and took a look at her. "Clara open your eyes," he put a hand on her arm.
"No. It hurts," she complained, mumbling more than talking now.
"Okay, alright…" he started the car, "just rest there, we're going to the hospital."
#-#-#-#-#
Danny couldn't stop thinking about how fragile she'd looked. It wasn't good, she looked awful. Then he thought about her fiancé. He seemed so concerned about her, the worry in his voice and on his face was evident and Danny couldn't deny that he cared.
"Did James come then?" he looked up and saw Grace had reappeared in the staffroom.
"Yeah, he's taking her home," Danny sat up from where he'd slumped down in the chair.
"Thanks for sorting that, she really wasn't well." Grace sat down near him. "So tell me more about your school days together then, how long is 'a while'?" He knew what she was asking.
"6 years," he replied casually.
"6 years?! Bloody hell… it must be pretty weird working together now then?" Grace wasn't going to stop asking questions that much was clear.
"A little, but it's been a few years - we've both moved on," he picked up his coffee from the table and sipped it.
"Sure about that?" Grace raised an eyebrow, "you looked very worried about her earlier."
"Clara will always mean something to me, but she's engaged now, she's happy. There's nothing more going on, I don't feel that way anymore." At least that's what he told himself. Grace nodded, seemingly accepting that response.
"Good, because James is a good man," she told him sternly.
"Point duly made," he told her, having another sip of his tea and sitting back.
He saw Grace pull her phone out, glancing at the screen once and then looking again, sitting up. Danny could tell something was up and soon enough she looked up at him. "He's taken her to A&E, apparently she's refusing to open her eyes and not talking properly," she looked really concerned - this was her best friend after all. Danny moved over a chair so he was sat by her.
"She will be fine, Clara's strong," he tried to reassure himself as much as her.
"I know… I just wish I'd persuaded her to go home earlier," she sighed. Danny nodded, understanding. "Sorry, I barely know you and I'm practically crying on your shoulder. I bet this wasn't what you expected from a new job."
"It an experience," he replied, "besides, I think we can at least be considered friends." Grace nodded as the bell went for the end of lunch. "Okay?"
"Yeah, thank you. I'll keep you updated," she told him.
"Appreciated. See you later," he replied and went off to his lesson, trying to keep his head on the job.
#-#-#-#-#
James sat by the side of her bed while they waited for results of her tests. He held her hand, stroking the top of it gently and watching her. She was resting now after they'd taken her for scans and blood and all sorts, it was hard to watch. They'd tried to get him to leave while they did everything, but Clara wouldn't let him go. She was scared, they were rushing around but they wouldn't say anything. Grace had text him for an update but there wasn't anything he could say yet.
"Miss Oswald," he looked up to see the doctor had snuck in while he was focused elsewhere. Clara squeezed James' hand to let him know she was awake.
"She's listening," he told them.
"The good news is we have ruled out anything serious. The CT scan was clear and your bloods don't suggest any meningitis. It seems you've got quite a bad infection so we are going to admit you for 24 hours to give you some IV antibiotics and monitor you to make sure nothing worsens. We've organised a bed so they'll be down to transfer you shortly," Clara nodded a little, not speaking. James thanked the doctor before he left.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered a few moments after he'd left.
"No, do not be sorry Clara you have no reason to be. This will all be sorted before you know it and you'll be home. I'll go and fetch you some things when they take you up and I'll stay till visiting hours are up. This will all be fine," he reassured her but soon spotted the tear on her cheek. "Come on now, don't be crying," he wiped it away before leaning over and kissing her head. "It's all going to be okay," she clung on to him now, so scared.
"Tell Grace and Danny, they'll be worried," she added.
"I will call her in a bit. Danny has only known you a week and you've already collapsed on him - poor guy will be getting a complex," he chuckled.
"Mmm…" now wasn't the time to tell him about their past. "Thank you." Her final words before she fell asleep.
#-#-#-#-#
Danny waited round the corner from her house for her to appear, he was looking the other direction when she pounced on him from behind. Danny chuckled and spinning around and kissing her softly before adjusting his backpack on his shoulder where it was nearly falling off. "Ready?" he asked.
"Do we have to go to school, can't we just go and sit somewhere?" she sighed, taking his hand.
"Excuse me, miss goody two shoes, since when did you talk about skipping school?" Danny asked, nudging her with his hip as a tease.
"Since everyone decided you're a bad influence on me and started trying to keep us apart," she told him, sounding genuinely upset.
"And you're going to prove that I'm not a bad influence on you by skiving…" he pointed out and Clara smiled slightly, "my parents are away tonight, tell your Mum you're staying over at a friend's house?"
"Sounds wonderful," she stopped quickly to kiss him again, "looking forward to it already."
When the end of school came around they me at the gates, making their way back to his. He let her in, shutting the door behind them. "Freedom at last," he smiled and kissed her softly, "drink? I can raid the wine cupboard?"
"Danny we're 15," Clara replied with a small smirk on her face.
"Mmm we are aren't we…" he giggled and went to the cupboard anyway. "I'm sorry everyone thinks bad of you because of me," Danny told her.
"They're just talking rubbish, I just wish our parents would stop believing it. Why has this suddenly happened after 2 years? It's not fair," she sighed, pushing herself up to sit on the kitchen counter, swinging her legs a little.
"2 years eh? You still haven't grown," Clara grabbed a nearby orange and threw it at him, chuckling as it hit his shoulder. "Alright alright point made Oswald," he grinned, pouring two glasses of wine. "Dinner?"
"Mmm you cooking?" Danny nodded, "excellent, mind if I go shower?"
"Course not, enjoy," he smiled and watched as Clara disappeared upstairs. He hated how this was affecting her, he hated the rumours that were being spread, he hated how much her parents were holding her back. He promised himself in that moment to never let her down, not ever.
Grace had called him to update him on Clara and that left Danny sat on the sofa worrying about her being in hospital. It was stupid, until Monday they hadn't seen or spoken to each other in 6 years and now he was worrying stupid about her. It ran through his mind, constantly eating at him how much he thought about her now. Something had to change…
#-#-#-#-#
James didn't leave until visiting hours ended the previous night, but it was the next morning and she was alone until 2. They'd put her in a side room so she could have the lights off which meant she could finally open her eyes, but the whole experience was a little overwhelming. She stared at the ceiling, thinking over the events of the last 24 hours. James had been right, she should never have gone to work, but she'd ignored him. Plenty of students had questioned if she was alright and she'd just snapped at them, something she never normally did - that should have been warning sign enough. Grace had been checking in on her every 10 minutes, making excuses to come to the door, but Clara hadn't listened, nobody could get her to listen. Nobody that was, except Danny. He knew, he'd always known. When they were younger he would always make her see sense…
She was rolling in to self-destruction. Clara had refused to go in to school for weeks, refused to see anyone, even talk to anyone. Friends had been knocking on the door but Clara had always told her Dad to send them away. He'd been trying to get her to go out, but she wouldn't. The loss of her Mum was too much to handle, she didn't know how to process it, she didn't want to. She lay in bed, curled up, the lunch that her Dad had made was sat on the side untouched, she wasn't hungry - hadn't been for weeks. She lay in her own thoughts, fighting the dark ones, trying to focus on the happy memories.
The knock on her window made her jump, not least because she was on the first floor of the house. She ignored it initially, but it came again. Eventually she sighed and pushed up out of bed, opening her curtain to see Danny perched on the very small balcony that sat outside her window - it couldn't really be considered a balcony, just a few bars, but none the less - he was there.
"Hurry up for goodness sake, I can't hold on forever" he told her and Clara, opened the small doors, something she hadn't done in a very long time. Danny jumped over and in to her room, shutting the doors behind him to keep out the cold.
"What are you doing here?" Clara asked, going back to sit on her bed, "we have a front door you know?"
"Yeah, and you're not letting anyone in it. Hayley told me what happened when she came round," he sat down on the edge of the bed, not getting too close for now. "You can't just throw your friends out, they want to help!"
"Nobody can help, nobody knows how," she told him, bringing her knees up to her chest. "Just go Danny."
"No, I'm not going anywhere," he wasn't kidding, Clara could see that.
"Fine," she replied, lying back down and facing away from him.
"When was the last time you ate?" Danny noticed the untouched sandwiches on the side. Clara shrugged, not speaking. "You look so pale," now he moved over, brushing her hair out of her face. Clara didn't fight it, but she didn't respond either. Danny took a deep breath before speaking again, "your Mum wouldn't want this." He expected a harsh response to this, but she didn't. Instead she sat up again, looking at him.
"She wouldn't want you here either," she replied, "but I'd still see you," Clara moved over now, leaning against him and suddenly bursting in to tears. "I'm sorry," she told him but Danny shook his head, holding her close.
"Don't be sorry, you do not have to be sorry, just accept help Clara - let us help you," he rubbed her back softly, letting her cry.
She did, for about half an hour, she didn't stop. Danny didn't speak, he just held her, he could tell that she hadn't had a good cry yet and that was something she really needed. Clara looked up when the tears had finally stopped falling and then sat up, resting her head on his shoulder. "Can we go out?" she asked quietly.
"Of course we can, why don't we go to the café in the park? It's never very busy in there and you can eat something," he told her.
"Please, I need some fresh air," she replied.
"You get ready, I'll go speak to your Dad," Clara suddenly looked a little scared, "he knows I'm here Clara, he rang me." Danny explained and she smiled slightly, "he's worried about you too."
He'd always been the one who could persuade her, everyone knew that, clearly that hadn't changed. It was nice having him back in her life, even if they were just friends now, it had clearly benefited her this week. It was a strange feeling, having him back in her life after all this time, she didn't really know how to feel. 6 years ago she'd let him go, watching him and not knowing if he'd ever return. Until a few days ago she didn't even know that he'd survived, she'd stopped thinking about it. Last night she'd considered telling James all this, but something had stopped her. What would he think? How would he react? Maybe it was better to let him get to know Danny first, after all at the moment he was just grateful that he had persuaded her to leave work. It felt like a huge mess, but at the same time she didn't want to change it.
Her phone went off, she picked it up expected it to be James again, but it wasn't.
'How you doing?' she smiled at the text from Danny.
'Still alive, thanks to you. Being pumped full of antibiotics,' Clara replied.
'Someone had to persuade you out of there. Everyone was concerned about you x' Danny told her, she wasn't really surprised.
'Nice to know. I appreciate it, but I'm sorry for causing you so much hassle,' she felt bad for him really, he'd only been back a week.
'Don't be stupid, all I did was make a phone call.' Clara smiled again, just a phone call… yeah.
'But it shouldn't be your place anymore, I'm grateful, both James and I are,' she added that on at the end after much careful thought, but it shouldn't have needed any thought really.
'I'm glad. Look after yourself, let me know if there's anything else I can do for you x' Clara left it there, putting her phone back down as the light was beginning to hurt her eyes again.
#-#-#-#-#
She got out of hospital on Sunday morning in the end, James picked her up around 10 and drove her home. She felt miles better, almost back to normal and completely fed up of being stuck in a hospital room.
"I was thinking of getting your colleague a little something to thank him for helping you," James mentioned as they drove back.
"Don't be silly, he only made a phone call," she replied.
"He'd only known you 5 days but he still had the guts to force your phone off you, that deserves respect," Clara chuckled a little, she would have more if the statement had been accurate.
"Still, I'll thank him tomorrow," she told him.
"Alright, and invite him over for dinner if you like, it'd be nice to get to know him - invite Grace too, we haven't had her over in a while," Clara nodded.
"Sure, consider it done. Can we stop off at the shop? I could really do with some decent food tonight - I'm starving," James agreed and diverted appropriately.
When they got home, James cooked up a proper lunch and they sat on the sofa eating and watching the TV. "Have you got all your work done?" she asked, "I guess I interrupted your day on Friday…"
"Don't worry about that, I sorted some stuff yesterday morning. Are you sure you're okay to go in to work tomorrow? I can postpone my meeting if you like?" Clara smiled at his concern.
"I love you, but I feel so much better honestly. Grace already told me she'll help me out tomorrow, don't worry," she told him, putting down her plate as she finished eating and moving to lean against him.
"Alright, but don't overwork yourself - you heard what the doctor said," James kissed her head, putting an arm around her, "you're not allowed to scare me like that again, the thought of losing you…" Clara looked up to him and kissed him gently.
"Don't worry, you don't get rid of me that easily," she took his hand, playing gently with his fingers. This was what she loved about James, he really cared, he really loved her, she was happy.
