Clara Oswald stepped closer, looking out at the waves as they slowly drew up and back, slightly touching her bare toes. The sky was grey with some peaks of sunshine trying to break through, a cool breeze blew through her hair, she wrapped her arms around herself, wishing she had worn more than just a grey sweatshirt and white shorts. Still the breeze was somehow soothing almost calming.
She inhaled, letting it set in that Broadchurch was her new home, now. Her new start, at least she hoped, anyway.
It seemed perfect for a teacher trying to move on, quiet yet friendly. Everyone here seem to keep to themselves but were still friendly and thankfully not nosy.
Still, it was quite the contrast from London, barely any traffic except for the occasional bike rider, it was nice kind of deserted but not like Twilight Zone extreme, every now and then someone would say hi' to her as she passed by on the street.
Though the loneliness still lingered sometimes, she briefly closed her eyes remembering her life with her boyfriend, Danny. Two teachers living in a small simple flat trying to get by it wasn't perfect, but it was theirs'. Then that Autumn afternoon, happened, such a stupid accident, a text from a fellow teacher distracting him as he crossed the street, never seeing the car running through the stop light then tragically taking his life. It was so weird, almost ironic, really, Danny a former soldier surviving war and combat only to get killed by just simply crossing the road. It still made no sense.
After a while it got too hard to stay in their flat, so many memories, laughter, deep conversations of hope and their future in that apartment, it was too much plus her twin sister Oswin, returning to her life didn't help, either. Why couldn't the past just leave her alone?
Clara still regretted how things ended with her sister, at one point they were really close, sharing late night talks, swapping clothes, gossiping about their latest crushes, basically just being sisters. But something happened, Oswin changed, maybe it was because of their father's remarriage or just teenage angst but whatever it was something went wrong and somehow Clara briefly got caught up in her troubled world.
But she somehow managed, getting her life back together but at the cost of her relationship with Oswin. And now her sister was trying to reach out, but Clara wasn't ready and not sure when she would ever be.
Clara hunched her shoulders, watching the wave curl and break, white foam dissipating over gray stones, almost symbolic. She still wasn't sure how things would go here but for now, this was where she needed to be. And maybe that was enough, right now, a place for her to just let her breathe.
Meanwhile, Alec Hardy was shifting in his chair in the middle of some fancy restaurant, he couldn't even pronounce in what he thought was going to be a routine parent, teacher meeting with Daisy's math teacher, Miss Smith instead it turned out to be a date planned by his meddling daughter. What was worse, Miss Smith actually thought this was a date arranged by him, leaving Alec feeling more awkward dressed in his work suit and badge still pinned on his jacket while Miss Smith looked beautiful in her white dress with lace trim and her red hair styled in a messy bun. The whole thing was a mess. But Alec had to go with it, much like a lot of things in his life.
Alec smiled politely, again, at Miss Smith, occasionally glancing at the melting ice in his water glass before uncomfortably looking back at her.
"I'm really sorry about this," He finally spoke gesturing at the elegant table setting. "I had no idea Daisy planned this." Alec explained.
Miss Smith just nodded.
"You already said that" She pointed out, smiling slightly. "But thank you, anyway." Miss Smith replied.
More awkward silence, Alec sighed wishing this was over, the romantic violin music and couples chatting in the background was not helping.
Alec then cleared his throat again trying to come up with any kind of small talk.
"You know," He started, voice uneven, "I really appreciate you putting up with...well, all this." He gestured around. "I will say this my daughter can be very…creative when she wants." Alec added with some exasperation.
Miss Smith nodded taking a sip of water, smiling slightly. "Yes, she's very creative. And smart, only one in class that could solved a complex geometry problem faster than anyone." She noted before sighing.
After another few moments of uncomfortable silence and polite chat, the waiter suddenly appeared, setting down two bowls of buttery pasta with chunks of lobster and what appeared to be snails, the heavy scent of garlic hit his senses making him wince. Alec then glanced at him, slightly disgusted.
"Um, is this what I ordered?" He asked carefully.
The young man nodded, "Yes sir." He smiled.
Alec then glanced back at Miss Smith, who was cringing slightly, "I tried to tell you." She said, simply shrugging.
Alec sighed, grabbing a fork, gently pushing at the shelled mollusks while muttering under his breath, he was going to have a long talk with his daughter, later.