Happenstance

sixteen

"I think this was my favourite one," she tells me and a content smile comes to my lips. I know Doctor Who is her favourite show so I always assumed she would like this stop a lot, I didn't think it could be her favourite of them all though, but that's great.

Then I look at the picture and notice she's not wearing your normal outfit; Maca looks like a Victorian lady and I can only blink in confusion. She's clearly not dressed up like that and if she had gone out like that Archie or Grace would've told me, which means she dressed up like that there. Then I look closer, noticing Shaun as the eleventh Doctor, and Cami aslo in Victorian clothes and I have to think about it for five seconds before it clicks.

"You're cosplaying! You're Clara!" I exclaim and she giggles. My eyes dart from the picture up to her face and I see her blushing, adorably blushing. "Did they make you cosplay for the picture?" I ask watching her in the picture again, appreciating the smile on her lips and the way her eyes look so bright. Sheer happiness and satisfaction, that's what I see.

"Not like that. We re-enacted the scene from The Snowmen," she replies and my eyes widen. "And I was Clara. We did that scene when the Doctor gives her the key of the TARDIS."

"That's so amazing! Did they record it? Do you have it with you? Should I call Sarah now?" I shoot question after question and she chuckles embarrassed but I can't contain myself, I really want to see her acting as Clara Oswald.

"It is recorded and I guess you can call her... later, when I'm not around. I would die of embarrassment if I see you watching me acting. You're a professional actor and I'm just some amateur," Maca mumbles, looking down but I shake my head. With my free one I grab her chin and make her look up.

"No matter what, I bet you put your heart there and I want to see that," I tell her and she blushes even more so I release the hold on her chin. I'm still holding her hand and I won't let her go until she asks me to.

"I-I think I did. I've always loved acting and in fact at some point I wanted to become an actress," she confesses and my eyes widen in surprise and delight.

She also loves acting! The thought makes my heart race in happiness that we can share another important thing, even if she didn't pursue that path, she loves it and that makes me so excited I can barely contain myself.

"I once joined a drama club in uni, just to try but well... things didn't work out for me. I stopped attending."

"Why?" I ask.

I understand that pursuing a career in theatre is quite a difficult decision. Not everyone makes it to the telly and living from acting in real plays on stage doesn't lead to a glamorous life. Most of us struggle to make ends met, some of us even can't do that and need another job besides acting, but we do it because we love it passionately. Many can love theatre, but only courageous one really pursue it for it is a big risk. It makes me sad Maca didn't choose to actually become an actress even if she wanted because maybe we could've met like that or end up in the same company. It's not like this city has countless theatre companies, and it's actually quite a small world.

"I hardly ever finish something I begin. I fill myself with excuses or I just drop it without even questioning. I wanted it to be a motivation but I just... I dunno," she confesses and looks way, avoiding my scrutinising eyes that want to ask more but I she just acknowledged her condition in front of me and I assume it has everything to do with that and how she struggles.

"That's a pity," I mumble because right now I don't know what else to say. I lower my own gaze to give her some space and focus on her slender finders tangled with mine and I smile at that sight. I like it way too much.