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Almost two months had passed since the Doctor was attacked by a rabid dog. He had embraced his volunteer work happily, teaching Year 10 students, remembering why he had decided to teach in the first place. He was beginning to feel the same excitement and passion he first felt when he started teaching. The only difference this time is that he has someone to thank that for. But alas, his volunteering work came to an end as the students were done with their GCSEs.

He had been giving his full attention back to his research, realising just how much he missed teaching and he would love to start seeing his students again.

However, Clara still hasn't given him an answer. As a matter of fact, neither of them ever mentioned about the upcoming dinner in their conversations and the Doctor wasn't exactly sure if you ask her again.

He certainly would have ditched the annual dinner if he wasn't required to attend the board of examination meeting but he had to and so, a week before the event, John worked up the courage to ask her. It was just a simple question of asking a friend to accompany him, nothing more, or so he thought.

John waited by the school entrance as students rushed out, some eager to return home, some wanting to hang out with friends. He spotted Clara and smiled at her.

It had become somewhat of a routine for them to share a drink together ever since he started teaching and it continued even after his volunteer work was over.

"Same café or should we try the new one that just opened a week ago?" Clara asked as they began walking.

"Up to you," he replied. "Personally, I'd prefer having a drink in Space Glasgow."

Clara knitted her brows, not understanding the joke.

"That was a bad attempt at joking, I know."

"Maybe your humour needs a bit of work."

John frowned. "My students think I'm funny!" he argued. "I once taught pure maths to a group of engineering students and when we came across factorials, instead of saying 'n factorial', you pronounce it as n!"

Clara did not laugh or react. She had no idea what the Doctor was rambling about. She was sure they had only laughed so that they wouldn't fail the module.

The grin on his face dropped. "Oh, come on! It's hilarious!"

The two had grown much closer since the past few months and their friendship had definitely improved a lot. In fact, the Doctor seemed to be a lot more relaxed, especially with Clara.

They finally reached the new café.

"Can I at least tell you one more joke?"

"Is it another one with puns?"

"… No."

She sighed as a sign of resignation. "Fine."

John grinned. "What do you call a fake pasta?"

Clara thought about it for a second before she gave up and shrugged.

"An impasta!"

The cashier behind the counter chuckled. "That's a good one!"

The Doctor looked triumphantly at his friend. "See, he gets it!"

She merely shook her head, failing to hide her smile before both ordered their drinks and picked an empty table. The café was full of people and John was contemplating whether it was a good idea to ask Clara.

He couldn't chicken out now.

John cleared his throat to get her attention and said, "Um, I'm travelling to London next Thursday for a university meeting and the annual dinner is on Saturday. Have you, have you thought about going?"

She had thought about alright. Since day one and hadn't made up her mind yet. The truth was, she was afraid. She had come to the realisation that she likes the Doctor more than just a friend. She was sure of it after he saved her but there were still questions circling her mind. Was she ready to move on? Does the Doctor feel the same way about her? Was he married? Then again, if he was, why would his sister invite her in the first place? It still doesn't explain why he's wearing a wedding ring.

"I'm so sorry, I completely forgot about it," Clara lied. "But I'll definitely let you know before the week is over, yeah?"

John nodded and leaned back as a waiter came over and served them their drinks. "Take all the time you need."

The moment Clara reached home, she immediately discarded her belongings on the sofa before she paced in the small living room. She thought about calling her grandmother, telling her what was on her mind but that would require her to explain from the very beginning. She wouldn't understand completely.

Maybe she could talk to Donna. She was the best landlady that Clara could ever ask for and a wonderful friend as well.

"Oh my God! You poor sausage!" Donna exclaimed as she watched a baby born iguana running away from its predators on the large television.

She heard several knocks on the front door and ignored it as her eyes were glued to screen. She heard it again and sighed before reaching for her phone and pausing the video.

"Yeah, yeah, you can stop knockin' now!" she yelled, approaching the door. "Knockin' on my door as if you're about to bring it down," she whispered under her breath.

She unlocked the door and was greeted by a frantic looking Clara.

"Emergency girl time," was all that her tenant said before she ushered her in.

"Why didn't you say so!" Donna said excitedly, leading her into the living room. "Want a drink?"

"I'm good," she replied and sunk into one of the arm chairs.

Donna sat in the opposite one. "So?"

Clara began explaining how she had met the Doctor's sister up to the point where he had asked her about coming to the annual dinner with him earlier today.

"I don't see why you shouldn't go," Donna reasoned. "I think he's just shy and doesn't like showing his emotions in public."

"Still doesn't explain why he has a wedding ring."

Donna thought long and hard. "Maybe he wears it to stop women from hitting him?"

Clara shot her a confused look.

"What? You have to admit he's quite handsome, extremely intelligent and he's clearly a gentleman. What woman wouldn't go crazy?"

Clara groaned in frustration and buried her face in her hands. "The thing is, I'm not sure if I'm ready to move on. My last… well, let's just say it ended unexpectedly."

Donna wasn't sure if she should ask her what had happened in her previous relationship. No, it wasn't her place to ask. She placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I think you should go – as friends. I'm sure that's what the spaceman has in mind too," she suggested. "Besides, when was the last time you left this quiet town?"

And that was how Clara ended up staring at her phone an hour later. The Doctor's number and name were both displayed on the screen. All she had to do was next was type a message or maybe call him.

She tapped the phone icon and heard the line beeping as it was trying to connect her to the network.

"Clara!" John answered with a happy tone, his Scottish accent thicker than ever.

She cleared her throat. "Hi, Doctor. I've thought about the upcoming dinner and yes, it would be lovely to attend the event."

"Fantastic," he said and placed the phone against his other ear. "It's on Saturday next week, starts at eight and ends at midnight?!" the Doctor exclaimed as he read the email from the faculty.

He read it twice before he heard Clara speak again. "We can always leave early, can't we?"

"Of course, but what I don't understand is why it's starting and ending later than usual. I thought that maybe we could return to Hastings together after the event but I doubt there are any trains running after midnight."

He scrolled down the email, looking for any explanation and came across one.

"It says that Saturn will be visible on the night of the event, hence why it ends later than usual."

Even if they were to leave early, they would still have to catch a late train and John wasn't keen on reaching home at two in the morning. He also couldn't just let Clara return all by herself in the wee hours of the morning.

"O… K," Clara said slowly, racking her brain to find a solution. "Worst case scenario is finding a hotel. I'm not taking a midnight train."

John's brain immediately told him to ask her to stay at his London home. It has a guest bedroom so why not. "You could," he hesitated. "Stay at my place. The guest bedroom is barely used."

She had agreed to go so she didn't really have a lot of options. "If it's not a problem for you, then that would be great. London isn't exactly cheap. Thank you."

"It's not a problem at all," he replied. "And thank you. At least now, dinner wouldn't be boring."

Clara's heart skipped a beat. Who knew the Doctor could do charm?