I never know why. I only know who. (AU)

Chapter 4

Clara was sat twiddling her thumbs in English, reading up on her poetry for the exams that were coming up. She had done half of this work in year ten and now it was simply revision on notes they had made a year ago.

The class was quiet and quite boring, but it was essential they got this done. And as much as Clara wanted to deny it, she really needed to read this work over. Her last years notes hadn't been the best and she could dust up on them a bit. Turns out putting the effort in now hadn't made too much difference.

At that moment, the door opened and everyone turned their heads. The receptionist was in the doorway scanning her eyes around the room.

"Clara Oswald?" She asked urgently, looking around for the girl. Clara raised her hand slowly, concerned as everyone turned to face her suddenly.

"Come now. Bring all of your things." The woman looked rushed and hurried. Clara looked to John, who was staring at her in confusion. She quickly grabbed her things and left the room, wondering what on Earth was going on.

John watched as she left, the woman grabbing her shoulders so that she would walk faster. The teacher quickly told the class to get back to work, but he kept staring at the door, hoping that Clara was okay.

He thought about it for the rest of the day, hoping to hear something from her. He checked his phone for a text, but there was nothing there, he was glad she'd asked for his number but he'd like it if she used it. She would probably tell him tomorrow, or at least that was what he told himself.

Amy and Rory told him to stop worrying, but it was in his nature. No-one ever really gets dragged out of class so suddenly. Not unless it's an urgent situation.

To say that he didn't spend all weekend tossing and turning over it would be lying. He spent half of it downstairs in the kitchen, which annoyed his brother greatly. David was currently in year thirteen, and like every eighteen year old, hated their kid brothers. John and David weren't on the best of terms in life either. It hadn't helped that he was constantly teasing John for being a loser when he had been the popular guy.

John came to school on the Monday, looking for Clara everywhere. When he figured she was nowhere to be seen, he realised that he would just have to be patient and hope she was okay.

Clara looked down as she walked through the hallways, ignoring everyone. She didn't care what they had to say and she didn't care what they thought. She had not a single care in the world. Because they all pretended that the world was amazing, when it wasn't. It was fucking useless and no-one could do anything about that.

She hated how everyone thought their lives were perfect, when in fact, they weren't. Anyone's life can be turned upside down in an instant. Clara was the perfect example of that.

She sulked her way through the whole of her first two periods, trying to find a way to be emotionless, because emotion meant more crying, which she really couldn't stand.

And worst of all, she had English next, which meant everyone asking her why she had left in the middle of class yesterday. She wished everyone would just disappear and leave her alone forever.

She sat down in English early so she could avoid the stares of anyone. She managed it rather successfully. That was, until, John sat down.

He immediately turned to her with a puzzled look. Why did he have to be so god damn caring all of the time?

"Clara, are you okay?" He asked gently, placing his hand over hers on the table. He was testing his grounds, and instantly knew where he stood from the way she retracted her hand so quickly.

"M'fine." She mumbled, looking down to the book in front of her. She knew that her eyes had dark bags underneath and she knew that they rimmed red around the edge from tears. She couldn't avoid that, but she could avoid all the stares.