The Viking Alpha

Cassi

(Cassi's POV)

The busy cafe was just what Cassi needed. The people. The noise. The distraction.  This week had been the week from hell. She crammed to finish four papers due next week. Studied every night for five exams that were coming up in a matter of two weeks. She was an over achiever and a bit of a perfectionist. She believed in getting things done as soon as possible. There was not a procrastinating bone in her body. She believed it came from her background. Being raised by a single kind hearted but ditzy scattered brained mother taught her a lot for the adult world. Or of what not to do. Her professor in her biology class had targeted her specifically on the first day. All because Cassi had accidentally corrected the professor on studies found in Africa and a few of the species that had been researched there. Cassi didn't mean to show her up. She just wanted to make sure she had the right information and sources for her thesis. She was majoring in Zoology. Her dream was to travel and study animals and their behaviors all over the globe. She wanted to help wildlife blossom and take care of animals in need of help. The wildfire spreading in Australia was what made her decide that. It was a volunteer basis but it was the best three months she had ever spent anywhere. Helping injured animas and reunite young with there mothers was fulfilling. Her feeding a baby kangaroo with a bottle was the most incredible thing she had ever experienced on the trip. Ironically it made her sick seeing animals be put in captivity. Even though she knew it was for there own good until they healed and there was somewhere else to relocate them. 
     'Cas!' A females voice broke her thoughts. Her friend, Amy was standing behind the bar with her order in her hands.
    'Morning Amy.'  Cassi greeted approaching the bar.
    'Morning. Here you go.'
     'Thank you. Always looking out for me.' Cassi took the caramel latte from Amy while reaching for the twenty dollar bill in her pocket.
     'Will you add this to my tab, please? I'll probably be in later. I'm looking at an all nighter tonight.'
Amy took the money and put it in the register. She paused and gave Cassi a look of disapproval. 

    'Cassandra. It's friday. Take the weekend to decompress. Live a little. I've seen you bust your ass every day here studying when your not at the library. Not to mention the late night shifts you do at the diner.'

Cassi gave Amy a look before stepping aside to let the other patron put there order in. She stood to the side and still talked to Amy. They did this regularly. Amy was in her forties but cold pass as young as late twenties early thirties. Her slim form and petite features, and glossy brown hair made her very attractive. She  was tough as nails and was quite feisty when you get her riled up. She's seen her kick out a couple customers when they were rude. It had been quite the show when you have the average "I'd-like-to-speak-to-your-manager" people come through.  Amy and Cassi met a year ago when  two men were harassing Cassi at the bus stop. Amy just so happened to be passing by when she heard them talking obscenely.  She warned then to leave Cassi alone. The two thugs then went to target Amy and before one of them men was finished she had decked one in the face and kicked the other between their legs. They ended up scurrying off when she got out the pepper spray. Amy actually ended up giving Cassi the very same pepper spray.
    "Listen, girly, you have to have some means to protect yourself here. People here are more ruthless I'm sure then where you come from."

Cassi took the advice and joined up with Amy at her self defense class. From then on Amy took Cassi under her wing and showed her everything she needed to know about living in New York City. Later, Amy needed a roommate after her last one ditched out on her. Cassi was too happy to to fill the void. It beat the hell out of the one small bedroom she rented in a house that was shared with six other occupants.
      'I've got a professor who would love to see me fail since I accidently showed her up in front of her class. I've got exams coming up every which way in the next two weeks. Not to mention my thesis looming,'

    'All the more reason to take a night off. It won't kill you. I'm actually going to a club tonight. It's been a while and I say you should come. One night. That's all. Then the following day you can study and cram to your hearts content.' 
Cassi scoffed and shifted her messenger backpack on her shoulder. 'I have to stay focused. I just have three years to get through and keep my scholarship intact.'
    'Let me put it another way, Cassandra. Either you come out for on hour tonight or I come drag you out. As your friend and an elder with life experience, it's my job to look out for you and make sure you don't burn yourself out. You can study for a few hours then come play for one or two hours tops. Then go back to working yourself to death.'

   Cassi laughed at her friends ultimatum. There was no doubt Amy would follow out her threat and. She held her hands up in surrender.
        'Okay mama Amy. Where are we going and what time should I be ready?'

Amy smiled triumphally. 'To the Inferno. It's all I've been hearing about lately. A bit of a wait to get in, so we should leave around five o' clock. I'll be home around three.'
    'Okay.' Cassi turned while looking over her shoulder. 'See you later.'
    'See ya'

She headed to the door when a man caught her sight. He was sitting at a table by the window close to the door. He was staring back at her. His green eyes were almost illuminating. The navy colored suit he was wearing looked expensive. Armani. She was guessing from her limited fashion knowledge. To say he was gorgeous was to bland of a word. Cassi was not boy crazy by any means. One of the many lessons she learned of what not to do from living with her single mother for nineteen years . But this man was the kind you couldn't help but look at. His hair was chocolate brown and wavy. Clipped professionally short. His olive skin was dark, clear and radiating almost a glow. She didn't realize she was gawking until she saw his lips turn up in a smug smirk. She snapped back to reality  and shook her head mentally. With that she left the diner and started up toward campus.