My Dear Professor: whouffaldi

Chapter 3: Apologetic

Chapter 3: Apologetic

Once Clara and Amy got back to the dormitory, Amy had to leave for her first class of the day. Amy didn't even bother to change clothes, she just grabbed her book bag and ran out of the room quickly, shouting a loud, "Goodbye!".

Clara sat down on her bed and pulled out the paper Professor Smith had given her. After scanning over the forum slightly, she signed it in cursive handwriting and stuffed it back in her messenger bag. Her back hit the bed as she huffed and closed her eyes. Maybe a two hour nap between classes? Soon enough, Clara fell asleep.

--

The next morning, after she had five classes the day before, Clara woke up to the sound of her alarm and hit it roughly. The sound ceased and she rolled out of bed. Today was chillier than usual, so she put on a pair of black skinny jeans, a black tank top and a large camouflage jacket, along with a pair of black combat boots and a crystal necklace. Clara twirled in the mirror and watched as the hem of her jacket twirled with her. Her face lit up as she was satisfied with what she was wearing.

Clara left Amelia to her sleeping as she stepped out of the door with her messenger bag. Today, Clara didn't jog or run. She was just on time. Not early or late. She swiftly walked down the sidewalk, her hair bouncing as she went. Once she got to the door to Professor Smith's classroom, she sighed before she entered. 'It'll be okay, Clara. Don't let him pick on you today. Confidence. Confidence.' Clara smiled to herself and opened his door.

Inside she found a few students and--of course--Professor Smith. He looked up to find her smiling and walking to her seat. Professor Smith resisted smiling and turned back to his computer screen. 'Don't look at her, John. Don't do it.' John looked up to find her at his desk, wearing the same smile as she did the day he met her two days ago.

"Here's my forum, Professor." she set the paper on his desk.

"Oh--uh, thank you, Miss Oswald." He nodded

"You're welcome. Oh--and you can call me Clara." Clara grinned and turned back to her desk.

He had to admit, she looked pretty good walking away. John shook his head to wipe the thought of her out of his head. 'She's a student, John! I mean, like it's not illegal, she's over eighteen, but still. Stop!'

By the time class had started John's blush was wiped off his face and was replaced with a serious attitude. "Quiet down now. Ok, if you haven't turned in the forum already, turn it in on my desk at this moment." Suddenly he looked out at his class and could only see Clara twirling her pen in her fingers and pursing her lips. He paused before he continue to speak, a quite noticeable pause. 'Stop it, John!' John said to himself in hopes of shaking off this odd feeling Clara made him feel. This feeling of...nervousness or anxiety, the good type. "So today we will start to learn about the three basic types of literature..." he droned on. Somewhere between learn and basic Clara had zoned out, resulting in her staring at him.

Clara noticed the way his suit crinkled at his hips and the way his eyebrows would form a crease when he was intense on a subject. John would throw his hands in the air as he talked about figurative language and he would look up as he listed examples off the top of his head. How she noticed this she did not know.

By the end of class, at 9:12, Clara was in an absolute daze. She was quite tired as well, so she didn't notice when everyone else was leaving that she did not stand. "Miss Oswald--uh, Clara?" Professor Smith said to her, almost concerned.

Clara hopped out of her daze quickly at the sound of his Scottish accent. "Uh--sorry! I didn't mean to--I just... Sorry, I'll go now." Clara stood up, grabbed her messenger bag from the floor and slung it over her shoulder.

"No, no. It's fine, I know my lectures aren't the most exciting things in the world, Clara." John said with a light smile.

"Wait--did you just call me Clara? Twice?" Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at him.

"Yes? You said I could call you that, right?"

She pursed her lips--which absolutely killed John. "Yeah, I just didn't expect you to call me that. But it's fine." Clara chuckled slightly and started to walk towards the door. Once she grabbed the doorknob, a firm but gentle hand grabbed her shoulder.

"Uh, Clara?" John spoke softly. Clara turned around. "I just wanted to say..well.. sorry about picking on you yesterday. It wasn't necessary."

Clara clenched her jaw and glanced at her feet before replying, "Yeah, you were being kind of a jerk. But I'm a strong girl, I can handle being picked on by now, even if it by my Professor." At that, she opened the door and walked out of the room.

--

"He apologised!" Clara said in an extreme tone of voice. "He actually literally apologised."

Amy turned onto her stomach on her bed and looked at her with a confused look. "I don't believe it. Are you sure? He doesn't seem like the apologetic type."

Clara sat on her bed and fell backwards. "I know."

"Maybe he likes you! Some professors do that, date students. It's not illegal as long as their over eighteen." Amy explained.

Clara thought for a second. Is it possible that he could just simply like her and that's why he felt bad for picking on her? John did help her carry stuff to her room that first day. Maybe that's when John started liking her, before he realised she was one of his students. He did look at her during class, not look as in a side glance, but look as in examine and analyse. He tried not to smile around her and called her by her first name. It was quite possible... Clara smirked to herself.

"Don't tell me you like him too, Clara." Amy asked, but Clara didn't respond. Clara bit her lip and shrugged. "YOU DO! Clara has a crush on her professor! Clara has a crush on her professor!" Amy chanted with a grin.

"Shuddup! I do not!" Clara hit her on the top of her head playfully. Amy cocked her head and rose her eyebrows. "Ok...maybe." Clara grinned foolishly and blushed.

"I never knew you were into older men, Miss Clara Oswald, I would've set you up with my grandfather!" Amy laughed.

"Oi! It's rare that I find an older guy attractive. But I highly doubt he'd go for me." Clara shrugged and pouted.

Amy rose her eyebrows again. "Clara, Professor Smith is so into you!"

Clara had thought Amy would find her slight crush on Professor Smith odd or creepy, but she didn't. Her red-headed best friend was actually intrigued by it. Maybe it wasn't so weird to like older men...?

"How so? How do I tell?" Clara asked. 'Oh God, I'm so rusty with boys--well, men I suppose.'

Amy thought for a moment, "Dress really nice and try to look mysterious yet sexy... Tease him. Then you'll be able to tell." Amelia smirked.