Chapter 2-December 1999
The holiday season was approaching, and today was the last day of medical school before Christmas and New Year's. This was Clara's favorite time of the year. This would be the time that she would go to her parents' home and celebrate, just the three of them. Just the thought of it made Clara more giddy than usual.
The bus pulled up in front of Clara. She got on and took her usual seat. Following her usual routine, she took out her textbook and read through the chapter she was going to study with her class. As she was reading, she heard a man whisper her name.
"Psst, Clara!"
Clara turned her head around to see John, seated on the other side of the bus, smiling and waving. This time, she was happy to see him.
"Oh, hey, John!" Clara greeted back.
"It's been a while, like, two months?" John asked, coming over and taking the seat next to Clara.
"Yeah, really long time, isn't it?" Clara said, nodding her head knowingly.
"Yeah, it has. So, what you reading there?" John asked.
John scanned the pages of the chapter Clara was studying. His eyes widened as he found something familiar.
"Ah, developmental assistance, measurement of a child's cognitive, language, knowledge and psychomotor skills in order to evaluate development in comparison to children of the same chronological age," John said.
Clara looked at him in shock. "You know medical stuff?" she asked.
"Oh, well, my mum's a pediatrician, so the terminology's stuck to my head, unfortunately," John shrugged.
Clara scoffed at him in amazement. "You're incredible, John. I could tell you that," she commented.
John grinned at Clara, looking flattered, making Clara get chills.
"I've never thought of myself as incredible, but thank you, Clara," John said, with a smile.
"You're welcome," Clara replied.
"Off to medical school now, right?" John asked.
"Yep," Clara said, nodding in excitement.
"How do you like it?" John asked, interested.
"It's awesome. In fact, the most exciting part is when we get internships and we demonstrate what we learn at other hospitals all across London," Clara explained.
"Oh. When will that be?" John asked.
"Around April, I believe," Clara replied.
"Oh, well, good luck to you," John said, sincere.
"Thanks. I'll need all the luck I can get," Clara replied, making John laugh.
"What's so funny?" Clara asked, not removing her smile.
"Nothing's funny. I'm just amazed at how much you love your subject and how you're very determined," John replied.
"Well, I want the best for myself, so I just go ahead with whatever floats my boat in life," Clara simply said.
"You know, there should more girls like you, Clara. All brilliant and determined. You remind me of my mum," John said, with a smile.
Now it was Clara's turn to smile, feeling flattered at what John just said.
"What a flattering thing to say to me, John," Clara said, feeling proud of herself.
John only smiled at her. Soon her stop was approaching.
"I'm about to get off soon," Clara notified John.
"Oh, well, can I get your number? Just in case if we don't see each other for a while?" John asked.
"Sure, if you can give me your number," Clara replied.
"Of course," John said.
They both exchanged phone numbers like so, and now it was time for Clara to go.
"Have a wonderful holiday," John said, gathering Clara into a hug.
"You too, John," Clara replied.
Now it was her turn to give John a surprise of her own. She planted a kiss on his forehead, making him turn bright red. As she got off the bus, she giggled to herself at the thought of John going crazy right now.
April 2000
Clara never felt more excited in her life. Today was the first day of internships, and two of her close friends, Rose and Martha, was interning with her. Now they were being grilled on what was expected of them interning here by Doctor Barbara Wright, the Senior consultant. Clara hadn't lost her smile through the whole thing.
"It is imperative of you three to perform the best of your ability here," she said solemnly. "We are saving lives."
"Dr. Wright?" a familiar voice called.
Clara turned to see who it was. Her jaw instantly dropped in shock to see John in blue scrubs walking towards the group. He smiled at the group and discreetly winked at Clara.
"Ah, there you are, Dr. Smythe. Girls, this is Dr. John Smythe, he'll be settling you three in your respective duties," Dr. Wright introduced, at least to Martha and Rose.
"Oh, my God, he's gorgeous!" Martha whispered.
"I'll say," Rose agreed.
"Rose, I think David would be real happy to hear that from you," Martha said.
"Oh, yeah." Rose's face reddened.
Clara just stood there stunned. Firstly, he looks drop dead hot in those scrubs. Secondly, it all made sense to her with what happened on the bus back in December.
"Ah, ah, ladies," Dr. Wright quipped.
"Is it OK if I show them around first? And then I'll set them up?" John asked.
"Oh, yes, what a wonderful idea! Well, girls, I wish you the best," Dr. Wright said. She bid them goodbye and left.
"All right, ladies, let's get started, shall we?" John gestured.
On that note, John showed Clara, Rose, and Martha around the hospital. They were placed in the clinic, where people come who are sick or in need of a check up. Clara had the time of her life and even got a good report on her first day. It was her lunch break, and Clara caught up with John.
"You're a doctor, John?" Clara asked.
"I'm not just a doctor, I'm the Doctor," John joked.
He laughed at his little joke, but Clara stood there unamused. He noticed her not laughing, and ended his laugh with clearing his throat.
"Why didn't you tell me you were a doctor? As a matter of fact, aren't you a little too young to be one?" Clara asked, upset that John kept this from her.
"I'm older than I look, Clara, and it would ruin the surprise," John replied.
"Well, I don't like being surprised that much, and how old are you, really?" Clara asked.
"I'll be 29 this October," John simply replied. Only four years older than Clara.
"That's still too young! At least for me it is," Clara crowed.
John smiled. "The cafeteria food isn't great here, there's a sandwich stop across the street from here, let's eat there and I'll explain everything."
"Gladly," Clara grumbled.
The two of them left the hospital and went over to the sandwich shop and ordered their food. Throughout that time John had told Clara about how he didn't like being in school and would want to learn alone. He learned fast through all his studies, passed all his classes and got his levels. He started college and medical school very young. Clara was blown away by his intelligence.
"So that explains everything," Clara said.
"Yep. Mum calls me the walking enigma," John smiled. "Are you still cross with me?"
Clara cracked a smile. "How can I stay mad at you? When I said you were incredible, you really justified that."
John grinned at the compliment. "Thank you." He checked his watch and saw that it was ten minutes to 2.
"We'd better get back to the hospital, or else Dr. Wright whinges," John said.
"Your orders, Dr. Smythe," Clara replied playfully, making John laugh.
As they were on their way back, John had something he meant to tell Clara.
"So, Dr. Wright's leaving early today, so there's a karaoke party. You should come, it's fun. By the way, your friends, Martha and Rose are staying back," John offered.
"Oh, karaokes! I love them, of course, I'll stay!" Clara replied enthusiastically.
"Great!" John grinned.
But then his face fell as something he meant to tell Clara popped in his head.
"Clara, I have a confession to make. About that day I met you, I came to your house because..."
"Save it, John. I knew your little plan all the way," Clara said knowingly, not taking the smile off her face.
John looked shocked. "And you led on?"
Clara chuckled. "Two can play it at that game, John."
John then started laughing as the wind picked up, blowing hair in his face, Clara still smirking. Clara never heard him laugh so hard before.
"Who's the incredible one now?" John commented.
"Well, it was obvious," Clara said with a narrowed look.
"C'mon, let's go back to the hospital," John said, offering Clara his hand. Clara gladly took his hand and the two of them took off running back to the hospital.
The afternoon hours were very busy, maybe because people are more wild in the afternoon than in the morning. But Clara didn't mind it. After Dr. Wright left the hospital, the clinic closed for the day, and it was party time. The lounge was full with the clinic duty doctors and nurses, with Clara, Martha, and Rose, too. Rose was up on the stage, the confidence she has, singing a Billie Piper single that just came out recently and has been hitting the charts as of late. Rose sounded just like her, and if Clara didn't know any better, she would think Billie was Rose's long lost sister. The song ended, and the crowd erupted into cheers, Clara and Martha being the loudest. Rose grinned, took a bow, and ran off the stage. How cute.
"That was great!" Martha said as Rose took her seat between Clara and Martha.
"Thanks," Rose beamed her tongue-between-teeth smile.
"Honestly, you sounded like Billie herself," Clara added.
"I know, I get that a lot, isn't it crazy?" Rose exclaimed, knowingly.
"Alright, who's next?" a doctor asked.
"John!" a doctor yelled out from within the room.
"Yeah, John!" another doctor agreed.
"Guys, you know I can't sing that well," John protested.
Soon John's name was overlapping between the crowd. John sighed as he conceded defeat and said,
"Alright, fine."
The crowd cheered as he took the stage. He rolled his eyes as "Fields Of Gold" by Sting started to play. He started singing along to the song, making Clara turn hot. What a voice he had! Halfway through the song, he stared feeling the music and his eyes darted to Clara. He smiled as if he was singing for her. Rose and Martha were going crazy, nudging Clara and whispering, "Did you see how he looked at you?!" But Clara ignored them, keeping her focus on John. The song ended and the crowd cheered, Martha and Rose's cheers sounding like screams. Clara was still in a trance, that she didn't cheer. And thus, on that day, Clara saw John way different than before.
A/N: Since you guys asked politely, there's your update! About that medical term that John schooled Clara on, I just picked it randomly from an actual UK medical school terminology, and another note, I thought it would be funny if Rose actually sung a Billie Piper song, considering that she was portrayed by Billie herself. Anyway, the next few chapters would be fluff, but don't worry, the more action will come, I have everything planned ;) . Please review!