Day Two

Matt

I woke up to my roommate, Rory, leaving the room. It was 7:53- seven minutes before class started- and I had uncharacteristically slept in. I had the coolest dream. Clara was in it- oh yeah, Clara. I sighed with happiness. She's so pretty, and I … am I getting too ahead of myself? That thought string motivated me to finally get out of bed and get dressed. Bow tie or no bow tie? I thought. Clara disliked it, and I wanted to make a good impression, but at the same time- it's a bow tie.

Realizing I couldn't dwell on it much longer, I put on the bow tie, quiffed my hair, and grabbed my bag to make it out on time. I was halfway across the hall when I ran into Clara.

"Hi Matt," she greeted me. Oh good, she remembered my name. Of course she did, I thought, she has eidetic memory.

She was nervous, figures- first day at a new school which may or may not be a government testing facility where they're running intense psychological experiments on us. I wish I could comfort her without sounding like a complete idiot.

"Hi Clara," I responded, about five seconds after what's socially acceptable.

"You okay?" She asked. Ah yes, the question where the majority of people who respond are lying. No one's really okay, and knowing that but not being able to help them is tortuous.

"Yeah," I said, and if you were to recall my previous statement, you would know I meant it. "What's your first class?" I asked.

She pulled out a piece of paper from her bag and unfolded it, "Sorry, let me just check," her index finger followed her eyes as she scanned the paper for her class. "Practical Applications for Powers," she said, "with Mr. Davies," she said. She thought that all these sounded like something from Harry Potter. Charming.

"Oh good," I responded, glad she wasn't with Moffat first. Mr. Davies was nice. He let you get away with not doing homework, and he doesn't use negative reinforcement which I was especially thankful for. "Me too," I said.

She perked up at that, "Well at least I'll have a friend," she said, smiling. She looked up at the clock at the end of the hall, "Three minutes," she said, "better hurry up."

We raced down the corridor to get to class- just in time too. Mr. Davies was just walking in.

"Smith," he said, glaring at me, but I could tell he didn't care, "you're late,"

Clara leaned closer to my ear, "I thought you said he would understood why we were late!" She was even more nervous than she was before.

"Well…" I said, struggling for an excuse.

"Smith, you should tell me the truth before you speak," Clara said.

"But Clara, I didn't-" I tried to defend myself. Clara rolled her eyes and began to walk towards an empty desk and looked back at me, as if to say nice try.

Mr. Davies was getting slightly annoyed, "Shush! Class is starting." Clara went to sit at a desk next to River, who was giving me a look. I glared at River, who just smirked lazily.

I sighed and slumped into my seat next to Amy. Well, that kinda messed up my relationship with Clara. Oops? She was more engaged with her new surroundings than she was with me, anyways.

Amy looked at me with a sly smile, "So, already thinking of getting with the new girl, eh?" Amy was always really blunt and liked messing with me for some reason. She and River always loved to do it. River especially.

"I- what? No," I hissed back at her. She only gave me this look and I could hear the doubt in her thoughts. "Shut up, Amelia." Amy shot me a glare and started teasing me in her thoughts, which I tried to block out.

After an hour of being lectured about why Jack shouldn't try and set a world record for most people 'banged', and why Martha can't just convince the prime minister to give her his job, the bell rang and I put my things back in my bag, with a scowl on my face.

"What's wrong?" Clara asked with genuine concern.

"Nothing," I grumbled. She gave me a doubtful look.

"Lying, are we now?" Amy asked and sped up ahead of me. I could hear her thinking to your girlfriend.

"Shut up, Amy!" I said out of the corner of my mouth, but it was no use, I knew Clara could hear.

"What's going on?" Clara looked at me, as well as Amy's retreating figure, and back at me, trying to figure out what was going on. "Who was that?"

"That's Amy Pond," I said, "she's a friend."

Clara raised her eyebrows at that, but she believed it, sidetracking a little bit-really we were best friends. Met each other as kids, grew up together, with Rory as well who didn't like me for some time because he thought Amy was crushing on me, long story.

Clara was confused, "If you say so," she said cautiously.

She wasn't acting jealous, just curious, like most people when they come. Donna's first day was especially bad- but she made everyone forget the details. She really needed this class. "What's next?" She asked.

"Breakfast," I said, "even Mutants need to eat." Clara laughed. Her face is so pretty when she does that, it lights up the whole room.

"I haven't eaten in days," she realized, putting a worried look on her face. "I'm starving."

"Me too," I said, "follow me. You can sit with me, if you like. I'll introduce you to my friends." Great, now she thought I was trying to set her up. The exact opposite of what I wanted.

"Sure," she said, perking up. "I'd like that."

As we walked down the hallways, her eyes were taking in every detail ("It'll help me distinguish them," she said. God she had a weird way of remembering things). We made it to the dining hall and as I opened the door, Clara's face fell, she was expecting more 'Hogwarts' and less 'Low budget high school's teacher's lounge'.

"It's okay," I promised, "the food's decent," she stifled a laugh. "Here follow me." We walked to the serving area and each got a tray of what looked like-porridge? I don't even know.

"So," she asked, "where are your friends?" Her eyes scanned the room for familiar faces.

"Right there," I pointed in the opposite direction of where she was looking. She felt embarrassed but turned around to see my group of friends. More like acquaintances really, none of us had been here more than a week.

Hey Raggedy man, I can hear Amy's annoying thoughts, I see you're with the new girl again?

"Amy, Rory, River, this is Clara. She's the newest Mutant," I said, trying not to tie my tongue in a knot (happened before- not very fun).

"Hi," Clara said, "I think I met some of you yesterday." She analyzed their faces. I suddenly realized why she thought of not having friends earlier. I know that was mean. Sorry.

"Ah I've seen her before," Amy had a slight smug look on her face. "She was in our first period class wasn't she?" She knew what she was saying, and she knew that she was messing up my plan- or she would be if I had one. She didn't care.

"Yes she was," River answered for me, "Careful sweetie, you're about to make a huge mistake."

Clara's emotions shifted from excitement to concern.

"What do you mean?" she asked. "He was just showing me around. I don't like him, well as a friend I do, and I'm not saying that I don't-" she trailed off, River smirked. "Fine," Clara said, "you win."

"'Course I did," muttered River. I always win, I heard her think. Bad memories, that brought up some really bad memories.

"Well," I said, clapping my hands together, a habit of mine, "this is awkward. I'll go." As I tried to get up, Amy pulled me back by my bowtie, a habit of hers that I wish she would stop- she's ruined five of my bowties so far.

"You're staying here," she said, I focused on a glint in her eyes, "Raggedy man." Why was she doing this to me? I needed to escape this. Well I suppose I didn't need to, but it would have been very, very helpful.

"What?" Clara asked. She was confused and angry, but most importantly suspicious. Suspicious of us, suspicious of Moffat, suspicious of Torchwood, suspicious of me.

"Raggedy man," I said, "It's her nickname for me- long story." Clara nodded slowly, as if to say, "you guys are effing weird" actually, she was thinking that. But she was thinking so many things I chose to ignore that.

We talked for a while about things. Things like life here at Moffat's School For Mutants ("MSFM"), what Torchwood wants with us, if we ever will be free. There were more answers than questions.

Then I was saved by the bell. Next class. No Clara, no Amy, no River, thank Rassilion.

As I listened to Ms. Gardner drone on about how Mutants came to be, a story that we hear every day, I started exploring my thoughts. About Clara. I mean, I liked her and everything, but she'd be kinda creeped out if she knew I constantly read her thoughts. I stifled a yawn and put my head on the desk, and soon dozed off.

"Mr. Smith!" I jolt awake. I'm not in Ms. Gardner's class. I'm in a cell. Not like the high security prison cells of today, but one like those old fashioned early 2000's movies. Metal bars, cement floors - heck, I was even in handcuffed. There were a few notions of my time, a handprint scanner and of course a computer display.

"Who's there?" I asked, fearfully. I could hear thoughts, but I couldn't discern them It's like you're in a busy street, and all you hear is noise. I couldn't make it stop. My head is throbbing. I don't where know I am.