Thank you for the reviews.
Before we start this story properly, I just want to say that I do like 11 and that I have nothing against him. I just wanted to put that out there.
Please enjoy.
New Teacher
It was the first day back after the summer. Clara sighed with some relief at that thought. She could go back and do the job she loved. She could already picture the corridors being filled with students, new and old, reuniting, even if they had seen each other, and chatting away about their summers. She could see the excited faces of the years 7's just starting 'big school' and the bored looks of the year 11s as they think it is the start of another year.
She just wished she was with them but she wasn't and she was running late.
Clara tried to make as little noise as possible as she looked for her keys. She carefully picked up each bottle to see whether it was obstructing them. She sighed heavily as she left the kitchen to the living room. She frowned as she saw John sleeping along the sofa. She knew that he hadn't come to bed last night because she found his side empty and cold but she knew that he would now be grumpy because of how uncomfortable the sofa was to sleep on.
She made her way carefully and slowly over to her keys, attempting not to wake him up. She heard him shift as her keys jiggled as she picked them up.
"I didn't mean to wake you." She said as she turned to him, seeing him awake. She walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Got to get to work."
She stopped suddenly as he grabbed her wrist. It was something that he used to do and she used to feel her heart jump at the motion before he would slowly pull her back. She would usually fall against his chest and he would kiss her properly before letting her go with 'have a good day Mrs Smith.'
But not now. His grip was tight around her wrist. She made sure that she moved back to him before he pulled her.
"You haven't kissed me properly." He said, raising his head up.
Clara gave him a small smile before kissing his lips, making sure that it was as passionate as she could make it without ruining her make-up. She could feel his grip loosen on her wrist and she pulled back before standing out of his reach.
"Sorry, I have to go. I will be late."
5 minutes early is on time. On time is late. Late is unacceptable.
That was all that Clara could hear in her mind as she rounded the corner and made the short distance to the staff room. She hated being late. She was someone that was always early.
Clara composed herself as she opened the door to the staff room. She felt like one of the kids when they would enter to talk to one of them. Everyone turned and looked at her.
"I am so sorry."
"Please come in Mrs Smith. Don't worry, you haven't missed too much. I am sure Adrian will catch you up."
Clara smiled at him before walking over the Adrian as the headmaster finished up.
"You're late." Adrian whispered.
"I know." She whispered back.
"You're never late."
"Don't rub it in. I hate being late."
"John?"
All Clara had to do was sigh and he knew that John was the reason.
"Clara?"
"Adrian, there is no need to worry. Everything is fine. I just couldn't find my keys and he requested that I gave him a proper kiss before I left. Nothing that hasn't happened before."
"I will always worry about you. Every since ..."
"I know." She interrupted him.
She allowed her eyes to scan the staff room. She stopped when she sees a man that she didn't recognise. He looked sharp in the suit he had on, a white shirt with black trousers and a navy coat. Clara tried not to guess his age but she knew that he was going to be one of the older ones among them with his grey hair and wrinkles. But that did mean that he wasn't handsome. Clara cursed herself for thinking that but he was.
"New guy?" She asked Adrian as everyone started their own conversations.
"Only new addition we have."
Clara smiled up at Adrian before she made her way over to him. He had moved from his place to the little kitchenette in the corner of the room. She leant against the counter as he filled up the kettle.
"Coffee?" He said.
Clara smiled and nodded. He was Scottish and, even though only one word had fallen out of his mouth, she loved it.
"I'm Clara by the way." She said holding out her hand.
"The Doctor." He took her hand and shook it.
"I was hoping for your name, not your title." She joked.
He chuckled. "My name isn't anything special. It was just a nickname that I had that has stuck."
"Names are important even if they are boring. What are you a doctor in then?"
"Physics." He said as he poured out the hot water.
"Ah so you are replacing Mr Jacobs."
"I should hope so." He said as he handed her a mug and the milk and sugar. "Should have asked how you had your coffee."
"It's fine." She said as she poured in the milk and put in one sugar.
"Hey, we should all go out to Well & Bucket tonight to welcome the Doctor." One of the teacher shouted.
There was a mummer of agreement. Clara just wondered whether John would allow her.
Clara and Adrian stood by the bar as they waited for the drinks that they had ordered. They were on rounds by department and it was now the English departments turn.
"It is nice that you have come out for a change."
"I am glad that it was mentioned earlier in the day. I called John as soon as I left the staff room. I do need to be back by 8 though."
"I know that it might sound like an obvious question but why don't you just leave him?"
"I … I can't. Not in the state that he is in. I just can't. If just losing his job has made him like he is, what do you think he would be like if I left him? I would never be able to go into another relationship and he probably … I wouldn't want to think what he would do."
"But you are clearly unhappy."
She smiled at the bartender as he placed the drinks on two trays for them. "It has just been a long day, that's all."
"You look a little cold." The Doctor said as he placed his coat around her shoulders.
She pulled it closer to her. "Thanks, but won't you be cold."
"I am not the one that has been sitting outside."
Clara sighed. "I had ordered a taxi but the guy has just phoned me and told me that he is stuck in traffic because of some accident. So I told him not to bother but no other taxi service can get here."
"Where do you live?"
"Wimbolt Street. The amount of time that I have been sitting here, I could have probably walked home." She looked down at her phone.
"Come on, I will give you a lift. It will give me a reason to leave."
"Not enjoying it?" She asked as she followed him.
"Not really my scene."
He got out his keys and unlocked his car. Clara took off his coat and folded it up as she got in, placing it on her lap. She gave him directions and they made small talk as they went. Clara really didn't know what to make of him. There seemed like there were times during the day that he wanted to be left alone but now, with her, he was really chatty.
"If you just drop me here, I will be fine." She said as they got closer to her road.
With John being as he is, she knew that the last thing that she should do is pull up outside the house in a strangers car. He would go ballistic at her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it will be fine." She said as she got out. "Thanks for your coat."
"I will see you tomorrow Mrs Smith."
"See you tomorrow Doctor."
She watched him drive off and took a deep breath before she looked at her phone for the time. She groaned as her phone showed 19:59. She didn't live far but it was still a push to be back in a minute. She pulled her bag close to her chest before running down the street, hoping to be home as close to 8 as possible.
