Chapter rating: T
I hope you all enjoy :) all errors are mine.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
The next few weeks were jam packed as their final year got into full swing and the group worked hard to make a decent start on their essay.
"Hey" John whispered to Donna as he sat down next to her in the library during his free period.
"Hey" Donna replied with a soft smile, "where's Jack today. I thought you both had all the same classes?"
"We do, but when I left him, he was talking to the new boy Ianto from Cardiff. I think Jack might have a bit of a crush on him, and I remembered you also had a free period, so I thought I'd leave the two of them alone and come find you" John said peering over her shoulder to see what she was working on.
"Now this I can't wait to see. The infamous flirt with a crush. Sounds much more interesting than trying to figure out my calculus prep work for my test tomorrow" Donna sighed in frustration.
"If you need some help with it, I'd be happy to assist you. I'm lucky calculus seems to come naturally to me" John replied although selfishly part of him liked the idea of having an excuse to spend more time with Donna.
"That would be amazing, thank you" Donna said giving John a quick hug, "I've got a bunch of other homework to get through now. Would you mind coming over to my place tonight to work on it?"
"Yeah that's fine with me, I've been meaning to come over and take your grandpa up on his offer to go up the hill behind your house anyway" John replied trying not to show how excited he was.
"Here comes trouble" Wilf said as Donna reached the top of the hill later that night, where John and Wilf were looking at the stars.
"Permission to board sir" Donna replied with a salute.
"Permission granted" Wilf said patting the ground next to him.
"I bought you boys each a thermos. Tea for gramps and hot chocolate for spaceman" Donna said handing them each a flask.
"Thank you darling" Wilf replied eagerly taking a sip from the flask.
"Since when did I become spaceman?" John asked with a pout, although he was not totally opposed to the nickname.
"Dunno, since now, just seems to fit you and you're obsessed with space, so…" Donna replied shrugging her shoulders as she sat down between the pair, "you seeing anything?"
"Yeah, we've got the telescope focused on Venus at the moment. Come have a look" John said staying close to the telescope so she'd have to basically snuggle next to him in order to have a look. Although pleasingly she didn't complain and even leaned into his side.
"So how was it?" Jack asked waggling his eyebrows when John entered their room after arriving home.
"How was what?" John replied taking off his shoes and getting ready for bed.
"Your date with Donna" Jack pressed eager for any information the doctor would pass on, and to watch the doctor squirm.
"It wasn't a date" John protested, "I was just helping her study for her calculus test and we went stargazing for a little bit".
"That last part sounds pretty romantic to me" Jack said with a cheeky grin.
"Well, her grandpa was with us, so not really. We're just friends" John replied knowing he wasn't fooling anyone about his feelings towards the fiery redhead.
"Sure, you keep telling yourself that" Jack said laughing as the Doctor got flustered.
"How's Ianto doing?" John replied turning the tables on Jack, causing the other male to blush.
"Touché. I'll drop it for now, but this conversation isn't finished" Jack said pointedly.
"Look" Donna said to John excitedly, thrusting a piece of paper in his face when he and Jack entered their English class two days later. Taking the piece of paper and pulling it away from his face so he could have a proper look without everything being blurry, he grinned when he noticed it was her calculus test, with 80/100 circled in red.
"Well done. I knew you could do it" John replied wrapping his arms around her and lifting her off the ground in a tight hug, causing Donna to squeal and people to turn in their direction.
"Okay class, as we're getting very close to the due date of your essay, you can have the lesson to work on your essay with your group. Please keep the noise levels down though" Mrs Smith announced as she walked into the classroom, effectively ending their impromptu celebration.
"Okay you two time to stop gossiping, our essays not going to finish itself" Jack said to Donna and John with a cheeky grin as the pair turned to Jack blushing.
"You have certainly changed your tune in relation to John from when we first met him and Jack" Martha said to Donna as they walked home together that afternoon.
"I may have acted a bit abruptly when we first met, but what's new with me" Donna replied chuckling, "turns out they're fun guys to hang around with, albeit a little weird".
"Yeah they're a little odd aren't they?" Martha said before nudging Donna lightly and adding "if I had to guess too, I'd say you and John might have a crush on each other".
"Don't be daft, we're just good friends. He's just a long streak of nothing, I get a paper cut every time I hug him plus he'd never be interested in someone like me" Donna dismissed Martha blushing.
"Me thinks the lady doth protest too much" Martha said knowingly, "and don't put yourself down! Just because Lance was a jerk last year and things didn't end well, doesn't mean you're any less important or worthy of love".
"I know, I try it's just hard" Donna replied sighing and trying to quell the sound of her mother's voice putting her down, which always seemed to be in the back of her mind.
"Watcha up to?" John asked Donna when he found her sitting alone at lunch, underneath their usual tree, the following day.
"Just getting some fresh air. Martha's spending lunch in the science lab working on her chemistry assignment" Donna replied smiling and patting the ground next to her.
"Jelly baby?" John offered holding open a bag once he'd situated himself next to her.
"Thanks. I still have no idea how you're so skinny with all the junk food you eat" Donna replied rolling her eyes.
"Well well well aren't you a sight for sore eyes" a blonde girl said as she walked towards the pair interrupting their conversation.
"Hi Nerys. How was your four-week exchange in Birmingham?" Donna replied stiffing besides John.
"Fantastic, all the boys were falling all over me. It was a shame I had to tell them all I already had a boyfriend back home" Nerys said smugly before turning to John and batting her eyelids, "I don't believe we've met. I'm Nerys, if you ever looking to escape from boring little Donna my friends and I would be happy for you to join our little group".
"I think I'm alright thanks. Donna's brilliant, you should've seen the way she helped a group of trapped ood kittens last week after school, it was awesome" John replied beaming with pride.
"Well if you change your mind, you can find me in the dining hall most lunches, I'd be happy to show you a good time" Nerys said with a wink before sauntering off.
"Are you okay?" John asked once Nerys was out of earshot.
"Yeah, just some bad history there. We used to be best friends, but she changed once we got to Highschool. Things really went sour last year though, turns out she and my ex were seeing each other behind my back pretty much the entire time we were together. I later found out he only asked me out as a dare. The way my mum talks that shouldn't surprise me, but the worst part was I did actually love him" Donna replied quietly, a tear falling down her cheek.
"He's a fool and so is she" John said reaching over and linking his fingers with hers and squeezing lightly, "You're an amazing person, don't let anyone convince you otherwise".
"Thank you" Donna replied squeezing his hand back and wiping away her tears, before removing her hand from his and to his surprise wrapping him in tight embrace, which he readily returned.
They sat there for a moment; arms wrapped around each other, before John took a chance and placed a kiss on the top of her head, rejoicing when she seemed to snuggle into his embrace further.
"What have you got planned for tonight?" John asked when the pair finally separated.
"Nothing much, I thought about maybe hanging out with Martha because my parents are going out for their anniversary, and gramps is going round to one of his friend's houses, but Mickey asked her out on a date, so I'll probably just potter around the house by myself" Donna replied dejectedly.
"I've got nothing planned for tonight. I picked up a copy of big at blockbuster a couple of days ago, how about I come around to yours and we can watch it together?" John suggested trying not to seem too eager.
"That sounds nice spaceman. I'll have to double check with my mum, but she knows you so I'm sure she'd be fine with you coming over even though no one else will be home" Donna replied with a small smile.
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