AN

I actually had a load of trouble writing this episode. This was the third story I wrote, so I already had Cassie’s character firmly in my mind. Writing how they met however turned out to be harder than I thought. I know it’s a bizarre story, but for some reason I got hooked on the idea and couldn’t let it go. Plus, I know there’s a random part about eye colour in here, but it does have relevance, and it’s subtly explained later.

Just take it with a pinch of salt.

Greeting Cassie Green

Jason Lax fidgeted nervously in the back of the taxi. He rubbed his neck and stared distantly out of the window, his eyes flickering over the variety of lights that flew by. He let out a shaky breath and checked his bag again; silently counting the three hundred tiny components he was going to need later. He barely noticed the taxi had pulled to a stop outside a plush looking hotel until the driver coughed loudly. Jason stared up at the large clock on the exterior of the building. 6:15. Panic rose quickly in his stomach and he felt like he was going to vomit.

“I haven’t got enough time,” he croaked, pulling at his shirt anxiously.

The driver turned around and glared at Jason.

“You know full well what’s going to happen if you don’t finish it”

“But I need more time!” Jason cried, thrusting the bag forward towards the driver.

He got no helpful response, just a gruff “Get out” before the driver slammed the compartment that separated the two men shut.

Jason pushed open the door, hauled his bag onto his shoulder and took one last look at the taxi before heading inside the hotel.

“Good luck tonight Mr Lax” a soft voice said as he passed the reception desk. He waved a dismissive hand and carried on through. He had no time for idle reception staff at the moment, there were more pressing matters at hand.

His shoes clicked loudly as he crossed the marble floor and made his way over to a set of grey doors. He glanced around, checking it was clear before stepping backwards, pushing them open and hurrying down the twirling steps.

“You’re late Mr Lax” a voice hissed as Jason reached the basement. He stood nervously by the steps and ran a hand through his blonde hair.

“Apologies Madam, I am truly sor-“

A loud snarl erupted from the shadows sending a shiver up Jason’s spine. He rested one foot on the step, fighting the urge to run back up the stairs and out of this hotel forever.

“Have you begun?” the voice asked impatiently.

Jason shifted his weight onto his other foot and held the bag out in front of him.

“I have the tags, I just haven’t filled them yet,” he said quietly, bracing himself for another angry outburst.

“If you expect me to keep my part of the bargain, you’d best get on with it” the voice growled.

“Yes Madam, right away” Jason paused and rolled his shoulders back, attempting bravado. “Can I see her?” he asked firmly, his interior not matching the confidence on the outside.

“If you expect me to keep my part of the bargain, you’d best get on with it” the voice said again, ending the sentence with a callous laugh.

With that, Jason set the bag down and pulled out a tiny metal contraption. It looked just like an ordinary bracelet, gold in colour with a name engraved along the edge. He pushed an almost invisible white catch, and the end of the bracelet popped open, revealing a hollow tube. Pulling a large glass beaker from his bag, he popped the cap and began to fill the tube with a strange blue liquid. He readjusted the catch and set the bracelet down carefully. 1 down, 299 left to fill.

“Grand De La Plaza?” Cassie scoffed, casting the newspaper aside. “That’s just Grand Plaza, with De and La stuffed in the middle. Hardly an original name”

Cassie ran a hand through her ruffled black hair and rested her head on the table, sighing loudly.

“Oh, come on Cassie. It’s not every day you get invited to an opening night”

Cassie raised an eyebrow at her flatmate.

“Aimee, you only got invited because you slept with the waiter.”

“You can thank me later” she replied, flashing her pearly white teeth.

Aimee Billows was gorgeous, with long blonde hair that curled to her waist, and legs that reached up to heaven. God had graced her with perfect proportions of bust and bum and she often used them to her advantage, hence the invite she’d received.

Cassie however was small, a very petite 5”1 as she’d put it, with short black hair. The only unique, and slightly strange, thing about her was her eyes. They were a brilliant Caribbean green, brighter than any normal eye and unique in colouring. The doctors said she was ‘one of a kind’.

“Don’t roll your creepy eyes at me” Aimee whined, slumping into the chair beside her friend and slinging an arm around her shoulders. “Please Cass” She jutted out her bottom lip and sniffed weakly.

Cassie sighed again and smoothed her face, wondering what an earth she was about to get herself into.

“Fine, we’ll go” She pulled away from Aimee’s bone-crushing hug and held her at arms length. “On two conditions”

Aimee raised her eyebrow cautiously.

“Go on” she said.

“One, if you bugger off with some strange guy, I’m leaving you there”

Aimee nodded and crossed her heart with her fingers.

“Two, I get the shower first”
Cassie dropped Aimee’s arms like they were on fire and sprinted off towards the bathroom. Aimee followed suit, reaching out to grab her friend’s shoulders and missing by mere inches.

“Cassandra Green, I put the hot water on, so I should get to go first” she whined, but was answered by a loud giggle, and the bathroom door slamming in her face.

“Oh get over it” Cassie laughed, shoving Aimee’s shoulder and causing her to wobble dangerously in her heels. Aimee had been sulking for the entire journey, insisting that she hadn’t had enough time to wash her hair properly. Cassie rolled her eyes and pushed onwards, blocking out her friends repetitive ranting until they approached the hotel on the opposite side of the street. Cassie whistled through her teeth.

“Wow,” she said. “It looks like something from a movie”

The two friends came to a stop beside a lamppost so that Aimee could adjust the strap on her heel.

“Impressive isn’t it” came a voice from beside her. Cassie turned around and looked into the face of a man dressed in a smart, black tux. He had a mop of brown, spiky hair and a huge grin was plastered across his face.

“Yeah, it’s incredible” she agreed.

“I’m the Doctor,” he said suddenly, holding his hand out towards her.

“Your parents were pretty cruel” Cassie replied, laughing. “I’m Cassie, Cassie Green”

The Doctor grinned. “Nice to meet you Cassie Green, shall-”

He trailed off and cocked an eyebrow thoughtfully.

“What?” Cassie asked anxiously, running a hand through her hair.

“No, nothing” he said, shaking his head, but staring deep into her eyes. “So, what brings you here?”

“My friend Aimee, managed to, uh, score an invite and she dragged me along for the ride. What about you?”

The Doctor shrugged. “Ah, just passing through really”

Aimee mumbled something unintelligible behind them and Cassie, momentarily dazzled by the stranger, remembered her presence.

“Well, we’d best be off. I suppose we’ll see you in there?”

The Doctor nodded and watched the two young girls cross the road as a peculiar feeling rose in his stomach.

He didn’t like peculiar feelings, especially when he couldn’t place them.