The New Hat (the third book in the hat series)

Chapter Two

THE Pub is where I spent most of my time. It was owned by A sour bear of a man named Tom. A smile from the man was rare, and most words that came from him were negative. A man after my own heart if I was ever interested. He took no shit, and we quickly became friends. Though if you over heard our bickering you wouldn't think so.
The night in question ended like normal, with Tom kicking me out. It was an hour past closing, and though I wasn't terribly drunk, he wanted to go home. So I made my way down the block towards my appointment. The the only lights in the dark sky were those from the buildings. Fog gathered around my feet and draped across the near empty street.
As I round the corner, I pass by a hooded individual. It wasn't long till I heard heavy footsteps behind me. Great. I knew this man, sorta. He was famous for mugging people in this area. A homeless man trying to pay for his addictions. I sigh audibly. Checking my pockets for cash. I brace myself to feel a fake gun on my back but instead I feel a tiny arm wrap around mine.
"Hey baby!" A soft female voice exclaims with a clear British accent.
I look over to see a pair of piecing blue eyes and a killer smile.
"H-hi" I reply, rather confused. Behind me the footsteps trail off down a random direction and I am left alone with a different, beautiful stranger. Something about her seemed so familiar. She looked over her shoulder and let go of my arm.
"Sorry." She said, looking down at her feet. Her pale face was shrouded in ebony hair. "I thought you may need some help so I just kinda acted impulsively."
"That is alright..." I stuttered. It wasn't anything new, I always stuttered, but this girl made me more embarrassed by it. I began to fidget with my fingers, picking at the peeling skin around my nails. "Do I know you from somewhere?" I asked.
She flashed that brilliant smile back at me. "I'm your new neighbor." She said. Her soft voice rang in my ears like a soft harp. I remembered her. I had seen her this afternoon with two men carrying in a couch into her new apartment across from mine. She held out her hand, "my name is Cass."
The sound of her name caused a pain in my chest. "Is that short for something?"
"Cassidy. I know it is kinda lame."
"No." I choke out, "It's lovely."
She looks at me, then at the ground. The rest of the conversation wasn't memorable, both of us trying to keep the conversation up but trying desperately to not make it weird. She followed me to my front door, or I followed her. Whatever. She wished me a good night and I grumbled out one myself. At the time, I had no idea how important Cassidy would become, and how much our fates would be intertwined. And so, the stage was set.