Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who. If I did, 11's song would not be over and whouffle would still be going strong. And Clara would have asked out The Doctor episodes ago.
It turned out The Doctor was right. Miss Pond and Mr. Owens respectively asked their partners to tonight's fair. This meant he would not be going. The Doctor knew the couples need to go and have a date, and a double date would be an easy start. He didn't want to be a fifth wheel.
"Maybe I will go and sit on my cloud. Or help out in the shop?" The Doctor pondered as the roof door opened once again.
He was on break and didn't want to be found. The roof had seemed to be the perfect choice. But standing there was her. The brown haired girl he ran into this morning. The Doctor turned and looked at her, the spark of life gone from his eyes.
"Can I help you?" His tone was cold and bored.
She shook her head and disappeared through the door. The Doctor wanted to smash his head against a wall. That was his chance to find out who she was. He lost that chance and began to sulk his way back to class.
As he got to the door, a small note laid on the ground. Picking it up, he could tell it was from the girl. The message written was neat and looped. All it had was a location. The town's only park with a playground.
"Amy. I'm telling you that there is someone I have to meet after school."
"Doctor I know you're lying. I know that you're going to go home and sulk. That's what you usually do without us."
"You know what Amelia Pond; I'm not going to explain myself. I thought we were friends. And that implies trust. But you won't take my words so goodbye. And Craig, I know you're listening. So I wish the both of you luck and happiness for tonight." With that The Doctor jumped from his seat as the bell rang. He made his way through the group of students and out the doors. He tried to keep the tears in his eyes from falling.
The path towards the park was long in The Doctor's mind. He had cleared the meeting with David and explained to him about the new couples. David tried to be sympathetic but couldn't fully do so. As The Doctor learned he had finally asked out his long time crush and love of his life, Rose Tyler, on a date and David was over the moon. John was happy for his brother and wished him luck.
The Doctor had decided to take a quick shortcut to the park. It required climbing a few fences, dodging two dogs and finding an old red fez.
"Fezzes are cool!" The Doctor exclaimed, the Egyptian hat sparking life back into the weird teenager.
Running from another dog and losing the fez caused the teen to pout the rest of the way. When he finally made it to the park, fifteen minutes later than expected, little children were running around everywhere. The Doctor debated joining in a game of football but decided against it.
He wandered through the park until he found a set of old swings.
"Could you push me?"
"I want to go higher!"
"Shut up Chin-boy!"
The Doctor bent over and held his head as a wave of memories smashed through.
It was when he first moved to town. His brother had brought him to the park and let him play while he went for ice cream. It was on the swings he made his first friend. But who was it? The person's identity was elusive in his memory.
The Doctor sat back up and began to rock himself back and forth with a foot. Watching the children run and play brought a sad smile to his face. He remembered the days of him, Amy and Rory sometimes Craig and Sophie also playing together. Everything from football to tag and even Doctor.
That was when no one was concerned with dating or teeny-weeny stuff. And he couldn't help but miss those days. But even at that age he had his regrets. His parents never got to meet his friends. Neither did his first friend. He was so excited to meet that friend, and now he couldn't even remember them.
As The Doctor sat deep in thought, moving back and forth, another sat in the swing next to him. The person smiled and began to swing too.
"It's been awhile, hasn't it, Chin-boy?" The person asked with a sad smirk on their face.
That snapped The Doctor out of his pondering. He looked at the figure and almost jumped out of the swing. "It's you. The girl I ran into this morning. The Impossible Girl!"
"Nicknames for me already. Down boy." The girl laughed out.
"Wha- No. Shut it."
The girl sat there and laughed as The Doctor's face reddened.
"Who are you? And do we know each other from somewhere?"
"You don't remember me? That hurts a little." The girl responded. "If you want to apologize you might have to treat me to some cake."
The word cake snapped a new, old memory to his mind.
"John, I want you to go play while I get ice cream. Try and talk to those kids playing football." A younger David Smith told his brother.
David walked away and left a seven year old John in the field. Instead of joining the game he walked to a nearby swing-set. Gently sitting, he pushed himself back and forth. The whole time never taking his eyes off the group, wishing for a friend.
"Do you mind if I swing?" A shy voice interrupted John's brooding.
"Sure." Was the timid response.
"Thank you. I'm Clara." The girl smiled, revealing a missing front tooth.
"I'm John, nice to meet you." The boy returned the gesture. "Why aren't you playing with the other kids?"
"Well I just moved here and I tried to join but they wouldn't let me play 'cause I'm a girl and they think I have cooties." She replied embarrassed.
"That's not nice. And I don't think you have cooties." John responded.
"Thank you." She smiled again. "Can you push me? I want to go higher."
"Sure." John answered, jumping off of his swing. He stood behind her and gave a few gentle shoves.
"John, I want to go higher!" Clara exclaimed.
With a little smirk John pushed the swing hard. Clara zipped high and as she was coming down, he jumped on the swing with her, knocking them both to the ground.
Clara shoved his shoulder for his actions and they proceeded to roll around and wrestle on the ground. After a few moments John exclaimed "I win!" Which was followed by laughter.
"No you didn't." Clara argued back.
"But I have you pinned down." A smirk.
"Shut up Chin-boy!"
"Hey! Nothing's wrong with my chin."
"Keep telling yourself that." She giggled.
"John! Where are you?" David called out.
"By the swings."
John and Clara watched as David jogged over to the two of them.
"I forgot to ask what kind of ice cream you wanted. And who is this?" He asked, a raised eyebrow and a playful smile on his face.
"Clara, this is my brother David." John announced gesturing to the eleven year old.
"Hi." Was all she could muster.
"Well Clara, I was about to get me and John some ice cream. Would you like some too?"
"Sure."
"You're Clara! My first friend, who met my brother before anyone else." The Doctor exclaimed.
"Right you are, Chin-boy."
"Oi'! My chin is normal."
"Careful. You might poke someone's eye out."
The Doctor just crossed his arms and stuck his tongue out at her. She laughed and rolled her eyes.
"So do you remember that nickname you gave me?" Clara asked.
"Wasn't it Soufflé Girl? Because you love them so much. That day you got chocolate soufflé ice cream. And I got the same to impress you. Then you dropped it and I gave you mine. I also owe you one don't I?" The Doctor explained, searching for memories.
"Why would you?" She asked now curious.
"Because I felt so bad about you not getting to eat your ice cream. And being the person I am, I gave you mine and promised a soufflé." The Doctor clarified.
Clara just sat there, looking at her feet and blushing. She couldn't believe he remembered all of that. She felt bad for teasing him.
"Now Clara, I have a question for you."
"Yes?" She whispered, bracing herself for what she knew what would be asked.
"Why did you not come back?"
Authors Note: I AM SO NOT READY FOR MATT TO LEAVE YET! One of my favorite Doctor Who quotes is "Life depends on change and renewal." Which sums up Doctor Who perfectly. SO I will accept Matt's departure and hold him and his Doctor in my heart. Because you never forget your first Doctor, and he was mine.
Since I'm posting this on Christmas, Happy Christmas! And if you want to get me something for Christmas, I hear reviews are nice this time of year. :) Until next time, which will hopefully be before New Years.