Chapter 3

The next day followed much like the first. And the day after that and the day after that. All the couples were very friendly and she had already agreed to teach Jack some ballet. She had picked up some really good steps and was told about all of the dances she'd be doing. Apparently John was to do most of them so she would have to learn them all pretty quickly, which made her nervous. Clara hadn't spoken to him much after their conversation in the theatre, which probably wasn't smart since they would be interacting with each other in more ways than one soon. With each passing day she felt apprehensive about dancing with him, and the fact she was so beginner in this area. It wasn't that she regretted it, but it did influence her thinking. If it were not for Rose's kind comments and advice she would have talked her way out of it. She also noticed that John was exactly how she had thought him to be, unsocial, inaccessible, who only really talked to Sarah Jane. However her observance concluded that he was ridiculously in fact, a heartthrob. Every time he moved there was some reaction, even from Jack (who she had gathered already was attracted to both genders) and he appeared not to make anything of it. At one point, sitting in the comfy chairs of the eating area he had gotten up silently and swept out the room with his jacket in hand and everyone had turned at his movement. She didn't know what it was that made him so charming but she could see that there was definitely a widespread reaction. Either John was oblivious, or was lapping it up like a dog. She tended to think the latter.

'Clara?' Donna stood in front of her, waving a hand over her face. She had been too deep in thought to notice her. 'Oh, sorry.'

'Could you possibly fetch the balance boards for practice. Rose and Nine will be doing some tricky lifts. I hope that's okay? Bit tied up at the moment.'

'Um, no that's fine. What room?'

'They're in the room directly backstage next to the changing rooms.'

'Okay.'

Clara knew by now where to go, her footsteps taking her behind stage with ease. There were three doors, and she tried the middle. She burst into the changing room, a figure turning round to stare at her with one eyebrow lifted in surprise. It was John, and her breathing became shallow as she braced herself for an explosion. Yet he hardly said anything. He was only half turned toward her, a black t-shirt in hand and his chest exposed. From what she could see of it he was thin but incredibly lean, and he quickly pulled the t-shirt over his head. His beard was quickly growing wilder, now spikes more than stubble and she thought she caught a flash of silver gleam at his neck. A thick silence settled between them and Clara couldn't think of what to say on behalf of her interruption.

'What are you doing?'

Again, those words slipped out of his mouth toward her just like the first time, and she was just as addled. She hadn't quite worked out how to play him yet.

'Looking for the boards.'

'Well, they're not in here.' He replied sarcastically.

'Clearly.' Her voice raised a little, giving herself more and more confidence as the seconds ticked by.

'They're in the next room.' He emphasised, nodding his head to the left. He still looked surprised but resumed his choleric demeanour.

'Right. Uh, thanks.' Her eyes teared away from him and she could feel his eyes following her as she walked out. No movement suggested he was still standing there frozen, like he had been caught in the act of doing something criminal. She didn't know why her disruption startled him so, if anything because he was embarrassed by his body or anyone else seeing it. But that was hardly believable, she thought. Clara entered the next room, laden with all sorts of equipment, most of which she knew and had used herself. She spotted a few raised leather boards and took one in hand. It was easily taller than herself and moderately heavy, but one by one she managed to haul them to Rose and Nine's studio. With every trip she gave a glance toward the changing room but she didn't personally see John exit from it. The last board was wedged between a stack of weights and some poles, which proved difficult to budge. Her tugging caused an unknown pole to drop to the floor but she hardly noticed it as she pulled on the leather and it finally came free. She stepped back but she hit the rolling pole and fell. Just as her head was to hit the floor a pair of hands caught her head in their lap, and her vision blurred together to see John's eyes look down at her, his knees bent and his nose looming large above. She realised the board had been released of her grasp and the pole resting her ankles. Her whole body was levitated above the ground by an inch and he still held her head. Smirking, he took her hand and spun her to her feet with an expertise that seemed to be effortless.

'I'll be catching you when you fall from now on.' He told her, and Clara felt flustered, but unimpressed.

'Very funny. You have good reflexes, though.'

'Tis only to be expected.' He replied.

Everything about the situation just created a more palpably awkward atmosphere. Clara had a hard time looking at him directly.

He took a step forward, bent down and took the board in hand, all the while never looking away from her eyes. She felt uncomfortable with such a gaze but he at last turned away.

'No, it's okay-'

'It's fine.' He told her, schlepping it over his shoulder one-handedly. Clara stood there while he sauntered away with it, unsure of what to do.

Once the day was gone and past and she gladly retired home she collapsed onto the sofa, petting her faithful dog as she entered a realm of her own thoughts. The next time she was back to the theatre she would be dancing, all sorts of different numbers she had heard of but never learned. And with John Disco himself. She questioned whether he would be a good teacher, if he could tolerate her or if she could tolerate him. The more she thought the more she could pick out every single little problem that would probably not even matter. John's face appeared in her head, all these questions surrounding him. She wondered if he would allow her to know certain personal things about himself, or if dance partners wasn't the same as friends to him. Either way her anticipation was short-lived just by the nervousness at dancing with John. Something about him unsettled her. Her mind was so swimmingly confused she let it rest and soon after fell asleep.