Chapter Text
They meet in the library, on the third day of med school.
It’s late in the evening on Friday when Claire finally manages to head there, making good use of the first quiet moments she can find after the hurried frenzy of the first few days, and she stops dead in her tracks when she takes in the gigantic room she ends up in. She expected it to be big, sure, but not… this big.
She shakes herself out of it quickly, though, when she remembers that she has less than an hour left before it closes. She needs to find a few key books to take home with her for the weekend; she intends to read up on two major topics the teachers already put a stress on so she can ahead of her classes as much as she can, before her mom inevitably forces her to throw all her studying plans away by forgetting to take her meds and showing up at her door in the middle of the night after a series of terrible decisions – which Claire is ninety-nine percent sure will happen.
The library is almost empty by now, most of the students having left as soon as the classes ended. That’s why Claire doesn’t really pay attention to where she’s going, more focused on the titles of the books in front of her as she browses several different rows and picks up some than on where her steps are taking her, and of course, she ends up bumping into someone as she rounds a corner. It surprises her enough that two of the books she’s holding slip out of her grasp, and she bends down to retrieve them out of pure reflex before she’s even thought of glancing up to see the person she just collided with.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going, and I—” she starts to say apologetically, grabbing her books from the floor as well as a third one that must belong to whoever she almost face-planted into, but she’s cut off almost immediately by a rather unfriendly female voice.
“Yes, I noticed. You made that quite obvious, actually.”
Blinking in surprise at the clipped tone, Claire gets back up and finally comes face to face with another student about her age, holding her hand out expectantly to get her book back. They stare at each other in silence for a few seconds as Claire keeps it close to her chest with the rest of the pile she gathered, neither of them moving while Claire processes what is happening, until the young woman narrows her eyes and huffs with annoyance.
“My book, if you don’t mind”, she says slowly, the hint of condescension impossible to miss. “I don’t have all day. In case you didn’t know, the library closes in less than half an hour now.” She cranes her neck to the side to get a better look at the covers of the books Claire picked for herself, and adds: “Actually, I was looking for two of these as well; so if you wanted to hand them over too, that’d be a much better way to apologize than words.”
Claire lets out an incredulous laugh, as instantaneous and impossible to hold back as it is short. “Wow, you really do have some nerve”, she retorts. “Especially for someone who’s only been here for a few days – because if you’re searching for the same books as me, I’m guessing you’re a first year student too. And yet you already want to act as if you own the place!”
“First year student indeed”, the young woman confirms, undeterred, “and not here to make either small talk or friends. My. Book. Please.”
Claire finally holds it out to her wordlessly, all desire to apologize gone from her thoughts, and pointedly ignores two things when the young woman whose name she doesn’t even know takes it from her hand and their fingers brush: one, the way said young woman quickly retracts her own hand as if she had been burned as soon as the book is securely in her grasp, and two, the electric current that runs up Claire’s arm for some reason pretty much at the same time. She doesn’t dwell on either, decides she doesn’t care, and walks away from the rude stranger without another word.
She has other, much bigger fish to fry.
Claire doesn’t hear her alarm right away on Monday. She spent so much time studying during the weekend that she fell asleep on her book the previous night, exhausted, and the annoying repetitive ringing that fills her apartment a few hours later takes a while to be processed by her brain. Quite a while, even. Long enough that when Claire finally bolts upwards, she already knows she won’t catch her usual bus no matter how much she hurries to get ready – and she misses it, indeed. So she takes the next one, more than ten minutes later, and walks so fast she nearly jogs to cross the campus once she finally gets there. In the end, she slips into the amphitheater with less than two minutes to spare before the first lecture of the day.
The room is packed, as she expected it would be, and the last few seats available are all – unsurprisingly – in the first row. It doesn’t bother Claire; she’d rather hear everything than mess around with her fellow students like she knows many others do. She doesn’t waste much time looking around the room, just dumps her bag at the foot of the empty seat the closest from the door she just walked in from.
“Hi”, she says, smiling to the guy next to her. “Do you mind if I sit here, or were you saving it for someone else?”
“Hello”, he answers, not looking up from the textbook on the table in front of him. “You can sit here if you want.”
“Thanks”, she whispers, still a bit out of breath from hurrying so much as she slides onto the folding seat. “I’m Claire, by the way.”
“Shaun”, he introduces himself in return, but he still makes no move to look at her.
Although surprised by his behavior, Claire doesn’t let it show. She figures there has to be a good enough reason why he’s acting this way; she doesn’t have much time to wonder what that reason might be, though, because Pr Melendez walks into the amphitheater right on time and she focuses solely on what he’s saying from that point on.
She learns four things over the course of the next two hours, as their first class with him turns out to be more of an oral test of their pre-existing knowledge than a lecture per se. One, Shaun appears to know at least half of the syllabus already. Two, Pr Melendez really doesn’t like him for some reason, considering his behavior any time he’s forced to let him answer a question because no one else has the answer. Three, the rude student from the library on Friday is in this class as well. Four, said rude student knows almost as much as Shaun – even more than Claire herself, despite how many hours she spent with her head buried in books borrowed from the public library during the summer holidays before med school started. She’s impressed, even though she refuses to admit it because she’s still not over how their first encounter went.
Once the two hours come to an end and everyone packs their stuff into their bags again, Claire jokingly asks Shaun: “Are you sure you even need to attend this class? You seem to know everything already!”
“I am required to take it as a first-year student”, is the very serious answer she gets.
“I know, but it sucks. I think you’ll get bored quickly”, she comments, stating the obvious and feeling rather sad for him. “Not to mention that Pr Melendez doesn’t seem to like you very much.”
“He doesn’t”, Shaun confirms, his voice still emotionless. “He didn’t want the school to let me attend any classes in the first place. He thinks I don’t belong here.”
That stuns Claire. “What? Why?!”
“I have autism.”
Well, that explains the repeated lack of eye contact. It absolutely does not, however, explain why med school would not be a good place for Shaun. “So?!” is all she manages to reply at first. “You’re his best student from this class at the moment. Of course you belong here!”
There’s a pause in the conversation as Shaun doesn’t answer, focusing instead on meticulously closing his bag, and he only speaks again after looking at the watch on his wrist. “I need to go to the next lecture on my schedule”, he simply says. Before Claire has time to add anything else, he turns her back to her and heads out of the room.
With her thoughts going a mile an hour, she grabs her bag and goes to her next lecture as well.
It turns out that she has a lot of classes in common with Shaun. It’s not surprising; they both dream of becoming surgeons and thus made similar choices when they signed up to the school, although the wide range of options available as soon as their first year there means there are still a few they don’t share. Claire is happy about how similar their schedules are – she likes him, even if it takes some time to get used to the unusual way he communicates. She is less happy about the fact that the rude blonde white girl whose name she still doesn’t know (and doesn’t care about, she reminds herself) is in most of her classes as well. She didn’t notice it during the first half week, but she definitely does notice it now that miss know-it-all is a noticeable face in a sea of students Claire has never interacted with.
It’s fine, though. They stay out of each other’s way, they pretend they don’t even see each other, and over two weeks go by like that without them exchanging a single word. Still, Claire has a feeling both she and Shaun are running on that girl’s nerves, since she appears to need to be the best at everything all the time and so far they’re the only two other students giving her a run for her money.
(If Claire works hard, it’s so she can make her dream come true. If miss know-it-all works hard, it seems to be to prove to the entire world that she’s better than everyone else. Which is not a mindset that Claire appreciates at all.)
The unspoken rule of mutual radio silence gets broken during lunch break on a Wednesday, albeit not intentionally.
The cafeteria is crowded that day for some reason, but Claire and Shaun are still lucky enough to find a table with four seats that gets vacated right when they need it. They sit next to each other as usual so they can put the chapter of the book they want to discuss between them, and then proceed to do just that while still shoving food into their mouth every so often.
About halfway through their lunch, a voice behind them asks: “Is this seat taken?”
Claire doesn’t need to turn around to know who the voice belongs to, since it’s becoming increasingly familiar to her, but she does so anyway.
“Oh. It’s you”, miss know-it-all adds with a frown when she realizes who she just asked the question to.
“What’s your problem with me exactly?” Claire snaps. “I bumped into you, I apologized, it’s been over two weeks, get over it!”
“I don’t have a problem with you”, is the retort she gets. “I was just surprised.”
Claire scoffs. “Sure.”
“She’s probably telling the truth, you know; don’t take it personally, she’s just that friendly with everyone. I’m speaking from experience”, a sarcastic male voice cuts in, which Claire identifies as belonging to another first-year student walking up to them. She recognizes him easily, simply because they share quite a few classes as well and he’s noticeably older than pretty much everyone else. “I’m Alex. Alex Park”, he introduces himself, offering his hand to Claire who shakes it.
“Claire Browne.”
“Nice to meet you”, Alex says before extending his hand to Shaun this time, who looks at it but makes no move to shake it. Alex pulls it back, a bit self-conscious, and asks instead: “And you are?”
“I’m Shaun. Murphy. Why are you in med school in your thirties?”
Alex laughs. “You’re direct, I like that. I’m a former cop in the middle of a career swerve.”
“And I’m Morgan Reznick, in case anybody cares”, the latter interjects as she sits down uninvited in front of Shaun. “Starting med school after spending so long in another job is an interesting choice. It certainly doesn’t put the odds in your favor.”
“Not everyone makes it their life’s mission to be at the top in every class”, Alex points out, rolling his eyes and sitting down next to her. “For most of us, making to the end of med school is a good enough goal.”
“One less person whose ambitions I have to worry about. Good to know”, Morgan replies rather contemptuously before turning to face Claire and Shaun. “I guess my biggest competition will keep being you two”, she continues.
It’s Claire’s turn to roll her eyes. “You’re the only one who sees classes as a competition rather than as an opportunity to learn.”
“You know, this is even more disappointing to hear from someone who actually has the potential to be great.”
“I’ll do my best to not feel offended by that remark”, Alex comments dryly. “See why I said she’s like that with everyone?” he asks Claire.
She nods, appalled. “Yeah. If anything, that makes her even less likeable.”
“She is right there”, Morgan reminds them. “And she wants to become a surgeon, not win a popularity contest.”
“I want to become a surgeon too”, Shaun says.
Morgan smiles at him, in a falsely sweet and actually patronizing way that makes Claire cringe. “Good luck with that.”
“Oh, wow. You really are something else”, Claire hisses through gritted teeth.
“No, I’m just being realistic. Pr Melendez won’t let that happen, no matter what his grades look like.”
“I want to be a surgeon”, Shaun repeats, more slowly and louder.
“Yes, well, we don’t always get what we want in life”, Morgan notes dismissively.
“You should leave”, Claire says coldly. “I don’t recall telling you you could sit here in the first place, and I have very little patience for intolerance.”
The surprise that paints itself on Morgan’s face at this assessment is genuine. “No, I think you misunderstood me. I believe everyone should be judged on their own merits, not on how many people are prejudiced against them, but I’m also realistic. The world doesn’t hand out opportunities to people just because they’ve earned them in theory.”
“You think I don’t know that?!” Claire exclaims, incensed.
“Then you know exactly what I mean”, Morgan continues. “Just because he wants to be a surgeon and is smart enough to earn his chance doesn’t mean he’ll even get to try. Don’t get me wrong – that’ll mean less competition for me once we get there and I’m happy about that, but it doesn’t mean I think it’s fair.”
“That’s really twisted; I hope you’re aware of that at least”, Claire replies, incredulous. “Do you even know what empathy is?!”
“Yes. An obstacle for success.”
“I— Wow.” Claire shakes her head. “No. I don’t even have words right now.”
“O-kay”, Alex cuts in, wide-eyed and hands up in surrender. “How about you both take a deep breath and think about eating rather than fighting?”
His words break the bubble that Claire feels had isolated her and Morgan from the rest of the world about five minutes ago, and she immediately turns to looks at Shaun who is curling up in his seat out of sheer discomfort.
“I’m sorry”, she apologizes quietly, in what she hopes is a soothing voice. “I forgot how overwhelming loud noises are for you. It’s okay, we’re done shouting now.”
Shaun curls and uncurls his fists under the table a few times before reaching out for the book still open between them, and clumsily closes it with somewhat shaky hands before putting it carefully into his bag. “I have to go.”
“Shaun, wait— Shit”, Claire mutters when he goes without acknowledging them any further.
“Someone please catch the old guy up to date”, Alex pleads, confused. “What just happened?”
“Shaun has autism”, Morgan explains.
“And it was not your place to disclose that”, Claire retorts, breathing out angrily.
“Why?” Morgan pushes. “Do you think it was yours?”
“No, I think it should have been Shaun’s choice to— Wait, how did you even know?” Claire asks, suddenly realizing that neither she nor Shaun told her about his autism.
“It’s not so hard to guess if you know what to look for”, Morgan answers almost scornfully. “Which, if you’re asking this, I suppose you didn’t.”
“Okay, you know what?! That’s it. Keep your snide remarks to yourself. I’m done with you.”
“I— Why do you make a big deal out of everything I say?!”
“Because it is a big deal! Every time! Have you even heard your tone?!”
“Oh, yeah, right – or you just have a problem with me!”
“And we’ve come full circle”, Alex sighs, rolling his eyes at Morgan. “When I came up to this table, Claire was accusing you of having a problem with her, and now, you’re accusing her of having a problem with you. Sounds like you both have a problem with each other, if you ask me.”
“Oh, no, I don’t have a problem with her; I hardly know her. I have a problem with her behavior”, Claire rectifies.
“Great! At least we’re on the same page.”
“And I’m starting to think Shaun had the right idea”, Alex mutters. “I’d rather go finish my lunch outside. Shout at each other all you want while it’s just the two of you.”
Claire shrugs. “I have nothing more to say to her.”
“Good! Me neither”, Morgan agrees.
“See?” Alex says as he goes up with his tray in his hands. “You managed to be of the same opinion twice in a row, even if it’s just about how much you don’t like each other. Miracles do happen!”
They both glare at his back while he walks away, and finish their lunch in complete silence.
Things become weird after that. Not because they start to develop a rivalry that is bordering on unhealthy from that day on – although that may be a tiny part of it as well –, but because Morgan doesn’t seem to know how to leave people alone. As evidenced by their lunch break the following day.
“Are you kidding me?!” Claire hisses when Morgan sits down in front of her in the cafeteria.
Unbothered, Morgan grabs her fork and begins to eat.
“Listen, it’s simple: there are no tables for two, which means that you and Shaun have at least two available seats by default, and it just so happens that I need somewhere I can sit every day. The conclusion draws itself.”
“I don’t want you here”, Claire retorts, careful to keep her voice down this time so they don’t end up upsetting Shaun once more.
“Yeah, well, tough luck.”
“You managed just fine until yesterday.”
“And had to find an empty chair at a different table with different people every day, which takes time that I’d rather spend revising. Besides, it’s tiring to only hear frivolous conversations at a table; at least you two should be interesting. Somewhat.”
Claire glares at her. “You really do have a knack for compliments.”
“I know! It’s one of my specialties”, Morgan replies with a big bright smile and perfectly timed irony, and Claire would be lying if she said it didn’t almost – almost – make her lips quirk up as well.
Alex chooses this exact moment to arrive, his timing picture perfect.
“Huh. I must say, I did not expect to see the three of you together again after the disaster that was yesterday”, he comments, surprised. “Can I sit here today too?”
“See? At least someone here has manners”, Claire points out to Morgan. “And yes, of course you can. Every day, even, if you want to.”
“Great, thanks! No shouting today yet?” Alex jokingly asks, sitting down in front of Shaun.
“Oh, they won’t be any”, Claire assures him. “I’ve elected to ignore people who eat their lunch at our table uninvited from now on.”
“Right. This should be fun”, Alex sighs.
That’s how they end up sharing a table for four almost every day at lunch after that, and it’s weird.
Weird because Claire spends every class they share competing with Morgan now, because Morgan all but provokes her repeatedly and Claire refuses to back down even just once. She’s never been one to compete obsessively with others, preferring to keep getting good grades and bettering herself as her goals, but Morgan’s attitude brings out a side of her she didn’t even know existed.
Weird because Alex and Morgan end up talking a lot during lunch break, and Claire can’t help but listen in even though she keeps stubbornly refusing to talk to Morgan then.
Weird because Morgan infuriates Claire in a myriad of ways, yet Claire finds herself curious somehow. Curious to know who’s really hiding under the smartass exterior, because she can catch a glimpse of someone else poking through sometimes; curious to know why Morgan starts whenever a door closes a little too loudly; curious to know, too, how it’s possible that someone riles her up so much when no one ever did before in her life.
(With the notable exception of her mom. But that’s a completely different story and situation.)
Things stay weird for a little while, and then they become worse at the end of their first month in med school.
Pr Melendez’ announcement starts innocently enough. He informs them that a group project will count for half the grade in his course for this semester, which is not particularly uncommon in itself, but then he adds that he’ll choose the pairs of students himself – based on which partnerships he thinks will have been the most beneficial for everyone by the end of the project.
That’s when Claire begins to think that this might not go as well as she originally planned. Because if there’s one thing she’s instantly sure of, it’s that he’ll never pair her with Shaun. Not when he has a golden opportunity to try to prove that Shaun doesn’t belong in this class by pairing him up with someone who won’t know how to interact with him and won’t care to figure it out.
She’s so worried about Shaun that she doesn’t really spare a thought for her own situation; she doesn’t quite know anyone else in their class, sure, but she can adapt easily. She won’t be the one who’ll likely end up facing a gigantic problem.
At least, that’s what she assumes by default before she hears her name being called. As the person who’s getting partnered up with Morgan fucking Reznick.
She’s so stunned that she doesn’t react beyond staring at Pr Melendez in disbelief, but she does hear Morgan’s shocked “what?!” over the background noise of the students in the amphitheater.
She couldn’t have said it better.
And she spends the rest of the hour in somewhat of a daze; at least until the end of the class, when, without consulting each other at all, she and Morgan both jump out of their seat and rush to the front to talk to Pr Melendez at the same time. Except he raises a hand to stop them before they’ve even gotten a word out, and looks at them sternly in turn.
“Whatever you have to say, I won’t hear it. My decision is final”, he assures them. “You two are among the most brilliant minds in this room. Learn to work together. End of story.”
He leaves them there, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, and Claire groans audibly as soon as he’s out of sight. “Wonderful. Just what I needed.”
“You and me both”, Morgan mutters before going back to gather her things, somewhere between pissed off and defeated.
For once, at least, they agree on something again.
When she gets back to her place that day, Claire is sure of only one thing.
This project will be one hell of a ride.