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Chapter 7

In his head, the Doctor was making a list of things he would rather do than to go to the studio and record a few songs with Clara Oswald. He had never really been a morning person, but the prospect of dealing with her made him even grumpier than he usually was. But Missy was right. He really couldn't afford to blow it, so instead of complaining about it any further, the Doctor took a shower, drank his morning coffee, ate a slice of stale toast because once again, he had forgotten to go shopping and then he headed out of the door. However, as he spotted the car that was waiting for him, he found yet another nasty surprise.

"Quit staring and get in," Clara Oswald snapped at him. "I don't wanna be late because of you."

"We're sharing the car?!"

Clara raised her hands in a surrendering gesture, careful not to spill the cup of Starbucks she was holding in one hand. Of course, a silly girl like her would spend £3 on a cup of coffee even though the home-made version tasted just as good. "Trust me, I was just as surprised as you are."

Still a little baffled, the Doctor watched Clara turn around and climb into the car and he had no other choice but to follow her example if he didn't want to pay for a taxi to take him to the studio. Luckily for him, the back of the car was spacious and the Doctor sat down on the opposite end to have as much space between them as possible. Neither of them said a word when the driver set the car the into motion.

"I'm Louis," the driver suddenly said. "The label told me to take you to the Chesterton Studio. I suppose we'll be there in-"

"Thanks, we know where we're going," Clara Oswald interrupted him, the air of annoyance hanging around her.

The Doctor's head shot around and for a moment, he merely watched her sip her coffee. Without all the makeup she usually wore on the posters and the additional Photoshop job, Clara was quite a natural beauty with dark, brown eyes, a cute nose and nice lips that were currently stained with coffee, but her character undid all of that and made her ugly.

"Do you have to be rude?" the Doctor asked her. "Louis is just doing his job. There's no need to snap at him."

In return, Clara Oswald raised her head to look at him. She opened her mouth and for a moment, the Doctor thought she was going to snap at him next, but then she closed it again and merely shook her head before she turned her attention back to the coffee in her hand.

"Spoiled bitch," he muttered under his breath, too low for anyone to hear it, but Clara had obviously noticed that he had said something.

"I'm sorry, what was that?!" she barked.

"I said I hope you choke on your coffee."

"Well, and I hope you-"

Her insult was cut short when Louis suddenly interrupted her. "Do you guys want me to put on some music?"

"No!" they both shouted at him in unison.

After that, the car fell silent. The Doctor sank back in his seat and decided to focus on the road ahead of them, but the sight was blocked by Louis' head. Clara was busy drinking her coffee, but he dreaded to think what would happen once she finished it. How on earth were they ever going to work together if they couldn't even have a single decent conversation without being at each other's throats? Somehow they needed to find a way to get along at least on a professional level.

"Are you sure you don't want me to put on some music?" Louis asked again, more carefully this time.

Just to see her reaction, the Doctor let his gaze wander to where Clara sat and their eyes met. She was glowering at him.

"What exactly is your problem?" she demanded to know.

"Me?!" the Doctor asked in surprise. "I don't have a problem. What's your problem?"

In response, Clara discarded the empty coffee cup and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I certainly don't have a problem either."

"Then why did you have a go at me on the bus?"

"Because you stepped on my foot! Why did you make such a scene when we met to sign the contract?!"

"Because I was wet and eager to go home. Are we seriously still fighting about that?!"

"Apparently, we are!"

The Doctor scoffed and turned around to look out of the window. They had left London by now and the driver was heading down a rather quiet road towards the Chesterton Studio. He knew that place well by now and Ian, the owner, had become something like a friend over the years. Most of his albums had been recorded at that studio and at least the familiar environment was something to look forward to.

"Where are you taking us?" Clara asked the driver after a while.

"He's gonna take you into the forest to chop your head off," the Doctor replied dryly without even looking at her.

"Sorry, did I give you the impression my question was directed at you?"

"Like I said," Louis threw in before the Doctor had a chance to respond, "we're going to the Chesterton Studio. We'll be there in half an hour."

Clara huffed angrily and the Doctor heard her sink back into the leather seat, praying that she would remain silent for the rest of the way, but obviously, he had no such luck.

"This thing reeks of one of Amy's bad plans," she muttered angrily.

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't it obvious?" she asked back.

The Doctor turned his head and glared at her. To him, it wasn't obvious at all and he was tired of Clara dancing around the subject. He was tired of Clara.

"It's our managers trying to make to get along. Why else would they make us drive all the way out here in the same car?"

"Because it's cheap," the Doctor deadpanned. "The studio is cheap, sharing a car saves money. No other reason."

"Oh," she uttered in response and quickly averted her eyes. Well, the Doctor figured, apparently she wasn't so smart after all. Somehow, that realisation brought a smile to his face.

"Are you done now and can I finally put on some music?" Louis asked from the front seat and suddenly, the Doctor felt a pang of embarrassment. They had been arguing in front of the driver for the duration of the entire trip over something as silly as stepping on someone else's foot on a crowded bus. Louis must think they were children.

"Fine, put on some music," Clara agreed and threw a dark glance at the Doctor. "Anything is better than listening to him."

The Doctor was about to throw something back at her when suddenly, the car started to stutter. He turned his attention towards the front seat where Louis was holding on to the steering wheel, but the red, blinking check engine light instantly caught his eye.

"Oh dear," the driver uttered and only just managed to pull over when the engine went out and the car came to a halt a short distance later.

"What's wrong?" Clara demanded to know and stuck her head between the headrests to get a proper look at the situation. "What's happening?"

Louis uttered a heavy sigh. "I'm afraid we've broken down."