Just myself

Chapter three - I wish I could stay

The day passes in a blur, specifically a blur that lasts ten hours and fifty-three minutes. We end it sat where we began, this time with ice creams in our hands and many more memories. He took me everywhere in London. He took me to see Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the houses of parliament, the London Eye (which, coincidentally, looks nothing like an eye), many parks and cafes and several shops. Unfortunately, though, the day has come to an end.

"So," I begin, taking another lick of my mango sorbet "thank you, for today, I had a great time."

"No problem, I had a good time too." He replies, looking at me as he crunches the last of his cone.

"Sadly, I have to leave though."

His face visibly drops as I say those words. He brushes his hands on his legs, getting rid of any crumb from the crumbly waffle cone that he had demolished in a mere five minutes. "But do you really? I mean, couldn't you just stay?"

It's startling really, how quickly people can form bonds. It astounds me every time. "I'm sorry, I can't stay. I have one thing to promise though." I say, making my cone vanish. "I promise you that I will visit you here exactly one year from now. You may not recognise me, but I will be here, waiting for you." I take his hand in my own and look into his eyes, imploring him to agree. 

There is a kind of stoic stubbornness in his eyes that makes me believe that he will simply tell me to never speak to him again but he slowly nods his head. "Fine, my impossible girl, I will be here in exactly a years time, waiting."

"Impossible girl?" 

"It's from a show that I watch."

"But I am not impossible." My brows furrow in confusion, what part of me is impossible.

"No, it's... never mind."

I stand, brushing my trousers off. "Now, Aaron, I must leave you." I bring my hand to my forehead in a salute, "Goodbye, my friend." Then I nod my head and take myself back to my apartment in New York without so much as a second glance.

The fresh, floral scent of my home hits my nose before I can register that I have arrived, giving me a sense of familiarity. I slide my coat off and hang it on the hooks, painfully aware that I will probably never wear it again, not after today. I undo the buttons on my sleeves and pull them to my elbows, then slump to my bed, flat on my back.

The power begins to work its way through me with a sensation that I know only too well, through my limbs, into my torso, up through my neck and into my head. Through every strand of hair runs energy that is matched only by few things. I need not look to know that every inch of me is glowing a vibrant emerald green, broken only by the fabric of my clothing. The pain is extortionate, it feels like small particles of fire have attached themselves to every cell in my body. Before long, the energy is released from my body with one final shriek, hitting the walls and disappearing into nothingness, taking with it my very being.

I sleep for maybe three hours, until dawn has broken across the city and the people are beginning to wake all throughout. Waking brings a sensation of emptiness in the very pit of my stomach... which is just a dramatic way of saying that I am hungry. I sit and examine the room through the new perspective that I have now gained. The room looks the same, just blurrier, which means, unfortunately, that I am back to a face with bad eyesight. I lean over my bed and rummage around in my bedside drawer, pulling out a pair of glasses, so long unused that dust has coated each side. Using my waistcoat, I wipe the fine powder from them then slide them onto my face, seeing my vision clear up at once. With this, I rise from my bed. My feet carry me to the mirror where I examine my new face. My lips are fuller than before, and plumper than they have ever been. My face is shorter than before and my eyes larger but they are still the stormy grey-blue that they have always been. That bit never changes. My hair hangs, long and straight, down to my shoulder blades and I have a fringe hanging across my brow. I have to say that this is quite possible the loveliest face that I have had yet.

Next, I turn my attention to the rest of my body. I am definitely smaller than before. My clothes hang off of me in a way that they did not before. I can feel that I am less... gifted in the... in the... chest region and that my trousers hit the floor and crumple at the contact. All in all, I am generally smaller.

Now, it's time to get to work. I begin to try out new clothes for my new body. I try jeans, skirts, dresses and jumpsuits, liking each and every one of them but I eventually settle on a black, long sleeved dress with tights, a pair of deep green, lace-up boots and a suede jacket in a similar hue of green. Then, I pull my hair into a loose bun at the back of my head, teasing a few strand down around my face and apply a coat of mascara with a little black eyeliner. Pleased with the final result, I pull my phone off of the charger at my bedside and dial the one person I need to talk to right now.

"Liam?"

"Eliza, hello. It happened, didn't it?"

"Yes."

"The usual?"

"Yes."

"Ten minutes." With that, the line disconnects, leaving me stood in the centre of my room, holding my phone to my ear for no apparent reason. I snap out of my daze and hurry down the stairs, out of the door and into a taxi outside. Liam ordered the taxi. He always does. 'The usual' is Starbucks. Yes, I know, what a basic white girl place to meet but it is a place full of mindless people who won't bat an eyelid if someone says something weird, which is exactly what we need.

With a small thanks, I exit the taxi and make my way into the crowded coffee shop. It's difficult to spot him but, after a quick scan of the room, I spot his golden hair and snappy suit.

"Hey." I greet him, making my way to his table.

"Eliza," He takes a moment to look me up and down, with no attempt at hiding it. "I like this one." He offers me a seat next to him. "Was it any better this time?"

"You know, not really. You'd think that after sixteen regenerations, I would have gotten used to the pain but evidently not. The aftermath was better though, I slept for three hours and didn't throw up this time so... that's a good thing." I throw my hands up in awkward finger-guns, earning a smile from the usually stoic and untouchable man that sits before me.

"Well, that's good. For what it's worth, you look good."

"Thanks."

"So, you're looking for a job, I presume?" He pulls out a deep blue ring binder, full to the brim with paper and card.

"Yes, just, nothing like last time. If I ever see a fish again I think I'm going to throw up." The memory brings a shiver to my spine... eugh.

"Okay, so, no fish then." He grins lopsidedly at me. "I have... a waitress?"

"Nope, degrading."

"Um... a librarian?" He asks, looking at me hopefully.

"Nope." I reply, popping the 'p'.

"Okay... Ah, here we go. I have an opening for a secretary at Pym Tech? It's a very fancy company with one of the best gender equal pay-rates and they work with some very cool stuff." There's a sense of formality in his eyes... god, he knows me too well.

"That's the one. Get me an interview?"

He nods and pulls his phone from his pocket, stepping outside to, presumably, get me an interview at Pym Tech. I wander over to the tills. "Hello, can I get a caramel macchiato?"

"Yep, size?"

"Grande" 

"Okay, and the name?" 

"Eliza." I reply handing my server the exact $4.75 in change.

"Cheers, have a good day."

"You too." I step away from the counter, take my drink and walk back to the table where Liam waits with a small smile.

"So, I got you the interview, two o'clock this afternoon."

"Ah, you angel!" I throw, my arms around him in exultation. "Honestly, thank you so much."

"No problem, now, there's the matter of my payment."

"Sure, tomorrow, ten in the evening at the bar down the road." My eyes roll so far back in my head that they could possibly go all of the way around.

"Nice. So, aren't you going to ask me how life is going?"