I wanted to try something different, so here we are with a school AU. It's set in a boarding school, Clara and Danny are both around 13/14. That's kinda all you need to know before you read...

Clara sat in the dorm room on her own, her Dad having left her a few minutes ago. She was looking forward to getting away from home, it's had been unbearable since her Mum had died, but right now she was beginning to regret ever agreeing to this.

There was a knock at the door, causing her to jump back on the bed, pulling her legs up to her chest. The door opened and a woman's head appeared slowly, smiling. "Clara right?" Clara managed to nod. "It's alright, there's no need to worry, I'm Miss Grogie, but you can call me Paula. I've been assigned as your support teacher, your old school told us you've been struggling a lot since you lost you Mum and you might benefit from the help."

Clara stayed curled up but calmed a little as Paula walked in, shutting the door. "What did they tell you?" she asked quietly.

"They told us everything that has happened, but we're here to support you. It's nearly break so I expect Jessica and Faye will be back soon, I'll stay to introduce them to you, I think you'll get on really well," she explained. "It's okay to be nervous, everyone gets nervous at a new school, especially when you start a little later and have to live here too, but you'll soon make friends and settle down, and if you have any issues you are always welcome to find me - I'll give you my number so you can contact me at anytime." Clara finally seemed to relax, crossing her legs and sitting up more.

"I'm sorry if I seem weird… I can't really control it at the moment, it's new situations and new people, I don't know why it was never a problem before…" she sighed softly, feeling a little more comfortable talking to Paula now. She was there to help, Clara hadn't felt that from anyone for a while.

"You've been through a difficult time love, nobody expects you to come out of that intact, but we're all here to help you through," she explained, just as the door to the room opened and two girls walked in. The taller one smiled at Clara as they came in.

"You must be Clara!" she said enthusiastically, "I'm Jess, this is Faye, they told us a bit about you," Clara looked a little nervous at that, "don't worry we understand, it's scary joining here. You want us to show you around?"

"I can come with you if you want?" Clara considered Paula's offer but eventually shook her head.

"I'll be fine, thank you though," she responded, standing up and going over to Faye and Jess. They seemed friendly enough.

They waited until break was finished - Faye and Jess had been given permission to take Clara round while everyone else was in lesson as she didn't officially start until the next day. She quickly bonded with the two girls who were very understanding about her current state and kept making sure she was comfortable with where they were going.
"I know it seems big, but you'll orientate yourself pretty quick - you seem smart," Faye smiled, "shall we go to the English block Jess?"

Jessica must have spotted the glint in Clara's eye, "something told me you might like English," she said to Clara, "we'll get on famously!"

"Ergh Jess doesn't stop talking about Jane Austen it's like she's obsessed!" Faye groaned.

"I love her books, she's a genius! I wouldn't stop reading Pride and Prejudice for about 6 months last year, my Mum introduced me to her. I'm reading Emma at the moment," Clara perked up a lot at this subject and Faye rolled her eyes.

"You guys are going to be a nightmare," she shook her head and both Clara and Jessica laughed, "come on, I'll force myself in there anyway…"

They finished the school tour just as lunch began and went off to the canteen. They managed to get lunch and sit down before most people arrived which gave Jess and Faye the ability to give Clara the low down on everyone.

"The sixth formers are actually pretty cool, but they probably won't talk to you unless they have to. They don't get in the way much though so it doesn't bother anyone," they pointed out, "we (year 7) always come for lunch first and then the bell goes for each year group, it just means it doesn't get too crowded in here, but the sixth formers can go whenever so they'll appear randomly." Jess explained, just as she finished Faye groaned. "What?" Jess asked and Faye pointed at the group that had just walked into the room. Clara looked round and saw them walk over - a group of about 5 girls and 4 boys. Two of them were holding hands - the girl was tall - she had long strawberry blonde hair that was straightened to perfection and looked like she wouldn't take any fuss. The boy was around the same height, short styled brown hair and in Clara's opinion, didn't really look like he wanted to be there.

"That's Jackie and Danny. They're…" Jess tried to think of the right words.

"Pains in the arses?" Faye suggested.

"They're the kids that think they're better than everyone else. Jackie is the girl that all the boys fancy, she acts like she's perfect but she's evil. Danny is the sporty guy - good at pretty much everything. I admit he's good looking, but to be going out with her there must be something wrong with him. Their entourage are just as evil. Basically, just stay out of their way - it's the best way to play it." Clara nodded, still trying to work out why Danny looked so pissed off but shrugged and looked back round, finishing up eating.

"Is it okay if we go? It's getting kinda busy in here…" Clara asked, feeling like she trusted them enough to say that.

"Of course! Hey, let us show you our hide-out," Faye said and jumped up, taking their trays over before heading out.

That night Clara lay in bed feeling much better than she expected. Today was the first day in quite a while that she'd smiled, and having clicked so well with her dorm mates gave her a lot more hope that this might just be okay. She still was dreading the next day though - starting lessons was a terrifying thought. She wasn't going to be with Jess and Faye for everything, and although she knew Paula would be with her the whole experience was scary. A room full of people who didn't know her, who didn't know why she was so scared all the time. Clara sighed, hating what had happened to her, hating her mental health and wishing that her Mum could come back, but that wasn't going to happen…

#-#-#-#

Her first lesson was English and that made the day a little more bearable at first. Paula sat with her and a few people vaguely smiled but Clara was happy to just settle into the lessons for now. She'd noted Jackie and Danny were sat at the back of the room together, but she - as suggested - didn't pay much attention to them.

It was going really well - the book they were studying was one that Clara loved so she was perfectly happy answering the comprehension questions, but it was when the teacher decided they were going to share answers that things went wrong.

They were put into groups and Clara ended up with Jackie and 2 other girls who seemed to be pretty good friends with her.
"New girl right?" Jackie asked when they sat down around the table and Clara nodded. Paula had got up to speak to the teacher, leaving her alone for a moment. "Well I'm sure you already know who I am and where I stand," Clara nodded again. "Don't speak much do you?" Silence… "Aww we've got a shy one girls! £10 says she goes running home to Mummy before the end of the day."

That was where it went wrong. Clara could feel her respiratory rate rise and her heart thumping in her chest. She tried to hold it together, she really did, but her head was spinning as the panic attack hit her. Before she could stop herself Clara had run out of the room. Paula followed her almost in an instant but she just kept running, she could hear Jackie laughing as she did and that didn't help. She only stopped when she had left the building and fell to the ground on the field, sobbing uncontrollably. Paula caught up with her, crouching down and putting a hand on her shoulder. Clara instinctively hugged her, then panicked and moved back, unsure if that was okay, but Paula opened her arms again and she cried into her. "Just breathe Clara, in and out with me," Paula told her and she slowly managed to calm her down. "Tell me what happened?"

"I… I just panicked, I don't know, I didn't know them and… I guess it got too much," she didn't know why she lied, but she did and she couldn't stop it. "I'm sorry…"

"You don't have to be sorry Clara, all your teachers have been warned about what could happen and they understand that, and the pupils will forget about it soon enough," Paula comforted her until she settled fully. "You want to go back now or wait till the end?"

"We can go back… it's okay," Clara stood up, wiping at her face. "I can't stop thinking how disappointed my Mum would be with me for this," she sighed.

"I'm sure she wouldn't, it's not your fault this has happened, you've reacted badly to what's happened, it's clear your trust barrier has heightened, but you've been able to accept Jessica, Faye and me so that's a start, and you know we're getting you the help you need so you'll get through this," Paula told her, "you'll come out the other side stronger."

"Thanks," Clara smiled a little as they got back to the classroom. The group discussions were thankfully over so Clara went back to her seat and sat down, trying to ignore all the glances and Jackie who was whispering to Danny about her.

When the lesson ended Paula asked her to wait behind. She had PE next but they'd signed her off from that for the first couple of weeks until she settled in, and her English teacher wanted to talk to her - but they'd gone outside to talk first. Clara sat on her own in the room, her mind wandering more than she liked and ended up reliving what Jackie had said to her. She held her chest as it started to hurt and didn't even notice the door open.

"Are you okay?" Clara looked up to see Danny stood a few paces away. She jumped a little, scared of what he might say. "I'm sorry for what happened today, Jackie was out of order," he said and walked over. Suddenly Clara realised she didn't actually want to run away from him. "Can I do anything?"

"I… don't know…" she managed to get out between breaths. Danny sat down on the chair next to her.

"Breathe with me," he told her, carefully putting a hand on her back for support and he led her through her breathing, calming her down. "My sister used to get panic attacks, I know they're horrible. Better now?"

"Yeah… thank you," Clara looked up to him, "that… was weird."

"Weird?" he asked.

"Mmm, I didn't run away…" she couldn't quite understand why, they hadn't met until today really, and she'd been told he wasn't nice. "Thank you."

"Well I'm honoured, but I'd better get to PE before anyone asks questions. See you around," he smiled and picked up the book he'd left behind before leaving.

#-#-#-#

"Freak!" Clara walked by Jackie and her gang. Jess pulled her away, glaring at them but not saying anything.

"I hate that girl, you've not done anything wrong," Faye sighed, "are you okay?"

Clara nodded, "I'm used to that one," she sighed. "They don't even know the half of it yet," she rolled her eyes as they went into their room. "At least I managed not to run out of anymore lessons today."

"I can't believe people can't understand how difficult this is for you," Jess replied and Clara shrugged. "Why did you leave your last school?"

Clara sat down on her bed, "everyone knew," she told them simply, sitting back against the wall, "and Dad wanted me to go to boarding school to be honest, I think he wanted me out." Jess and Faye joined her on the bed, looking a little confused.

"I know you've only known us for a day, but you can trust us if you want to talk, sometimes it helps to have friends to talk to?" Faye asked, crossing her legs and facing Clara. She wasn't sure, but they had been a great help. Clara reached over to her bedside table and picked up her phone, unlocking it and showing them the home screen. "Is that your Mum? You guys look close."

"We were," Clara told them. "She died, the day after this photo, it was sudden… and it's basically screwed me up." She wiped at her eyes quickly, "I barely trust anyone anymore, I can't stand crowds and the littlest things send me into a panic attack. Boys or men are basically a no go area, if they even come close…" Clara suddenly drifted back to what had happened with Danny earlier and shook her head. "That's a brief summary of my life and you are more than welcome to back away," she told them but instead both of them moved a little closer and waited for Clara to agree before they both put an arm around her.

"The thing with boarding school friends is that you're family, we stick together," Jess told her. "You're one of us now - like sisters." Clara smiled a little at that. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

#-#-#-#

The rest of the week wasn't so bad. She had a couple of panic attacks but as she got to know the students and the teachers things got slightly easier. Generally she kept out of most people's way, just talking to Paula, Jess and Faye.

Sunday bought new challenges. Clara woke up and looked at the clock - 6.40am. She sighed, staring at the ceiling and knowing she wouldn't get back to sleep. After 20 minutes she gave in, getting out and quietly heading to the loos to get sorted and dressed.

She walked out having got dressed and immediately bumped into someone, jumping back. Her heart rate rose immediately and she started looking around for an escape but she was stopped.

"Hey, relax I'm not gonna do anything," Clara looked up to see Danny in front of her. "What're you doing up so early?" he asked.

"Couldn't sleep…" she took a deep breath and relaxed. "You?"

"Likewise. What you planning on doing?" Danny asked her and Clara realised she hadn't thought about that.

"Probably go to the library and read," she told him, "I know- very geeky."

Danny looked saddened at her saying that, "I'm sorry, they've been calling you all sorts this week, I should say something…"

"No, don't. Nobody else should suffer, I'm okay honestly, you learn to block it out," she told him, "it's nice to know you don't agree, but I don't want you to lose your friends for me." Clara was honest with him. "I should go…"

"Yeah, me too," Danny agreed and they both awkwardly headed off in different directions.

#-#-#-#

"We were beginning to wonder where you'd got to!" Jess looked up as Clara walked into the room, "Paula just came looking for you, she got concerned when we said we hadn't seen you."

"Oh, I just went for a walk," Clara told them.

"Alone?" Faye sounded surprised.

Clara nodded, "I do it a lot… sorry, I should've told someone shouldn't I? I'm used to nobody noticing."

"Well there are people here that care so you'll have to get used to that," Faye chuckled and threw a pillow at Clara who smiled.

"Thanks, I'd better go and find Paula," Clara told them, "are you guys going on the outing?"

"Yeah, are you not?" they asked.

"Not allowed… long story. It's fine, I'm gonna stay and catch up on the work I've missed. Have a good day."

She went round and found Paula looking a little frantic in her office. Clara knocked on the door sheepishly and she looked around, standing up and looking immediately relieved. "Where have you been?"

"I just went for a walk, sorry, I should've thought they told you about that day at school before…" she shut the door. "I'm fine, I just woke up early and I didn't know what to do. I went to the library but I needed fresh air so I walked out to the river and read."

"Maybe you should text me when you go out in future, I'll give you my work number," Clara nodded. "Anyway - about today, Jess and Faye are both going out so I didn't want you worrying about being on your own."

"I was just gonna work in the library, I've got a lot of catching up to do," she shrugged.

"Alright, well I'll be in here most of the day if you need me, sure you don't want company?" Paula checked and Clara nodded, "alright. I'll see you later then - don't wear yourself out."

Clara nodded again and left the room, making her way to the library with her bag in hand.

Studying had always been her safe place. Learning new things, textbooks were set out logically, they made sense. She stayed in the library all morning, working her way through various catch up exercises she'd been set.

"That was a tough lesson," Clara jumped a little and looked up to see Danny behind her. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you, just I've been in here 3 times this morning and you've not looked up from the table, I was kinda intrigued as to what you were doing."

"Why exactly have you been in here 3 times? Aren't you out with the others? I thought it was compulsory." Clara asked.

"Ah… that would be because I failed the maths assignment and have a whole bunch of work to do to make up for it," he smiled sarcastically.

Clara looked a little confused, "how did you fail it?"

"I… didn't revise, distractions, you know how it is," he shrugged and Clara sat back.

"Jackie?" she asked and the look on Danny's face said it all. "Alright, show me what you need to do," she kicked the chair opposite out for him to sit down and nodded to the folder he was holding.

"And what makes you think that you can help?" he asked. Clara shrugged and handed him the worksheet she'd just been doing. "Oh my god Clara this is like A level stuff you're not actually meant to understand this I think that's Mr Hart's attempt at a joke…"

"I know, and this is my attempt at one," she smiled, "so what do you need to do?" Danny looked a little baffled but sat down. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," she smiled and took his folder from him to look at the work. "Geez that's a lot of questions, you only failed a test!"

"Yeah well, it's probably not a bad thing that I've got a day to get to grips with this stuff," he told her.

"With no distraction," Clara pointed out, "but something tells me it's not going well." Danny looked confused, "you've come into the library 3 times this morning and this is maths work."

Danny sighed, sitting back, "fine I'm struggling, so what brainbox?" he moaned and Clara rolled her eyes at him.

"Do you want help or not?" she asked.

Danny sat up again, leaning on the table, "yes, sorry, didn't mean to say that…"

Clara laughed at his reaction, "why are you so afraid of upsetting me?" she asked. "Nah, never mind. Come on - algebra time." They worked through the next couple of hours, Clara explaining the work to him and letting him do the questions on his own. He seemed to get it after a while and was getting through the work quicker. He'd finished soon enough and Clara sat back. "I guess my work here is done, good job." Clara stood up, "I'm gonna go get lunch," she put all her work together. "See you around I guess," she started to walk away quite quickly but Danny rushed after her.

"Are you okay?" he ran around in front of her. Clara nodded and started to walk again, "what's going on you look scared?"

Clara had to lean against the wall, she could feel the attack coming on, except something felt really wrong this time. She didn't even notice her books falling to the floor, in fact she didn't really remember herself falling to the floor, but suddenly she was there, she could see Danny running out of the room, and then everything went black.