Chapter 24

Clara lowered her head when she stepped into the pharmacy, but she was fully aware that people might still notice her short party dress under her coat, along with her high heels, both of which simply reeked of a very embarrassing walk of shame. She made her way to the counter and she could already spot the unfriendly and stern face of a middle aged woman standing behind it. Oh, this was going to be fun.

Clara cleared her throat. "Hello, uhm, I'd like the morning after pill, please," she said quietly, trying not to attract the attention of the other customer browsing a shelf in a different corner.

The pharmacist looked at her, her gaze so obviously judging her, before she turned around and vanished into the storage room. Clara almost breathed a sigh of relief once she was gone.

However the woman returned shortly after, holding a small package, and Clara was about to outstretch her hands to take it from her when the pharmacist's looks held her back.

"In my position as pharmacist I am obligated to warn you about the dangers of unprotected sex," she said.

Clara groaned and rolled her eyes in annoyance. She had feared this might happen. "Can we please not do that? I know all about the dangers of unprotected sex. Just last year I sat through an entire sex ed class with my year 8 students."

The pharmacist granted her that look, that one look that said Well, it seems you haven't paid enough attention. "Apart from the risk of an unwanted pregnancy, there is also a number of illnesses-"

"Please," Clara hissed sharply, cutting the woman off, "I cheated on my fiancé with a man I have known since I was a schoolgirl. I trust him not to give me chlamydia or anything else and I already feel very, very bad about what happened. And, for the record, I did use protection, but I was unfortunate enough to throw up my pill and now, will you please, please just sell this stuff to me so I can go home and cure my hangover?"

Clara was a little out of breath after her little rant, but at this moment she just felt angry. Angry at herself for cheating on Danny, angry at the Doctor for not having the brains to use a condom, angry at the universe for throwing the two of them back together when she had been content with Danny. Clara didn't want her life to be so complicated. She just wanted to rest.

The pharmacist looked at her for a long moment. "Would you also like some painkillers for the hangover?" she asked after a while.

"Yes, please," Clara breathed.

Once she had paid Clara considered going home straight away, but the pharmacist had stirred up her anger and when she realized just whose house was on her way to her flat, Clara decided to blow off some steam.

The Doctor dropped down on the kitchen chair next to Missy and buried his face in his hands with a groan.

"Please tell me you know a magic trick to undo the last 24 hours of my life," he said.

"No such luck. What happened?" she asked, shoving a cup of coffee in his direction.

"Clara and I got drunk and had sex and-"

The Doctor broke off when suddenly Missy burst into laughter. He raised his head to look at her, but she didn't even notice. She was howling with laughter, apparently unable to stop, and the Doctor didn't even have a clue what was so funny about that fact.

"Missy-"

"You had sex," she laughed, "Oh my God!"

"Yes," he raised his eyebrows, still a little bewildered because of her sudden outburst.

"That means she," Missy paused, trying to catch her breath, but still unable to stop laughing, "She saw those underpants."

"Yes," the Doctor hissed sharply over the sound of her laughter, "Hilarious. Can you please stop now?"

Missy wiped a tear from her eye and tried to calm down, but it still took her a moment to actually stop. Just when the Doctor was about to continue with his story and explain to Missy why the evening had been a disaster, the door bell interrupted him.

"I'll go," he growled, "Don't want you scaring anyone with that laughter or they might call the nearest asylum for the mentally unstable."

The Doctor trudged towards the door, but once he opened it to see who was in front of it, his heart sank into his boots. Then a punch handed in his shoulder.

"You're an arse!" Clara yelled at him.

"Ow! Clara!" the Doctor reached for his arm and stared at her in disbelief. He knew that last night hadn't gone well, but he had no idea what could have made her come here just to shout at him.

"You're an idiot!" she continued angrily, "You slept with me even though you know I'm engaged! You made me cheat! You were too stupid to use protection and I just had to listen to a very awkward lecture about STDs and I am absolutely furious with you!"

"Clara," the Doctor inhaled sharply, "Please, come inside, we can talk-"

"I don't wanna talk! I am angry and I just wanna shout at someone!"

"Please," he tried to beg her, but Clara simply groaned and turned around, ready to walk away. "We can talk about this!"

But Clara didn't seem to hear him as she stomped away without looking back. The Doctor knew that it wasn't his fault, well, at least not entirely, so he decided to give Clara some time to cool down. They would talk sooner or later. Later meaning tomorrow, when they saw each other at work.

When the Doctor stepped back inside the kitchen, Missy was sipping her coffee and from the look on her face alone he knew that she had heard everything,

"Oh boy," she muttered, "You're in trouble. Bet she didn't like the underpants."

When Missy chuckled, the Doctor simply turned around and headed towards the shower. He needed to clear his head and tomorrow he vowed to talk to Clara properly.

Clara had only just reached the right floor when she could already spot a large bouquet of flowers that someone had placed on her doorstep and instantly the guilt came back up. Even before she had read the card that was attached to the flowers, Clara knew that they were from Danny.

Once she had stepped inside her flat, she drew out her phone and read last night's text message along with the card and they confirmed her horrible decision. Danny hadn't broken up with her at all. Clara had just cheated on him.

While she was still holding the phone in her hand, considering her next move, Clara could hear it ring right as Danny's name popped up on the display. She answered it reluctantly.

"Hey," she croaked into the phone.

"Hey," Danny said back, "Did I wake you?"

"No, I only just got home. I spent the night on Amy's couch," she explained quietly.

There was a pause. "You got the flowers then?"

"Yep," she confirmed, her voice weak. The nausea was back, but this time it had nothing whatsoever to do with the Scotch or the punch. This time it was her guilty conscience. "They're lovely."

"Are you okay? You sound a bit off."

"Hangover," Clara explained, "Amy had warned me about the punch. I didn't listen."

She couldn't tell Danny. If she told Danny what had truly happened last night, it would break his heart.

"I'm sorry about the fight, Clara," Danny said after a moment, "I truly am. I completely overreacted and I really need to apologize. I couldn't stop thinking about what you said and I realize I should have seen how you felt, but instead I decided to close my eyes because I want that house and that marriage so much. I'm sorry. It never occurred to me to ask whether you were just as enthusiastic about it."

Clara swallowed hard, but she couldn't find the courage to reply.

"You gave me all the signs and I ignored them. You were reluctant about the ring, about the house and I should have made sure that it was what you wanted, but I didn't. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"

Tears were rolling down her cheeks and Clara couldn't stop them. Danny was the most perfect boyfriend a woman could wish for and she had just betrayed him in the worst of ways. She felt as if her heart was being torn into pieces because she loved the Doctor as well and a part of her wanted to leave Danny to be with him. And yet another part wanted to stay.

"Clara?"

"Yes?" she sniffed, "Yes, yes, I'm sorry, too. I'm sorry I shouted. I'm sorry I didn't say it sooner. I'm sorry, Danny."

"So, we're good?" he asked carefully.

"Yes," Clara confirmed, even though it was a lie. Nothing was good. Nothing.

"Okay," she heard Danny sigh in relief, "Do you want me to cancel that appointment with the real estate agent in two weeks?"

Clara swallowed. She didn't want a house, but after last night she didn't want to put Danny through any more trouble. "No, it's fine. It's just looking, right? It's not like we have to buy one on the spot."

"Thank you," Danny replied in earnest, "It means a lot to me that you want to give it a try."

Clara nodded even though Danny couldn't see it. She was going to hell for this, that was certain.