Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own anything Doctor Who. Cat's mine, though, so don't steal her. Seriously, that would be really hard because she's… Well, she's Cat, and she's good at kicking and screaming. Riley's the same. You can take Mrs. O'Connor, I don't care about her.

The bell on the door chimed dully as I stepped into the little coffee shop in the middle of St. Francis, a small town about a half an hour north of Minneapolis. I didn't live there, but my place was only a fifteen minute drive away, so it wasn't exactly a strenuous journey. In fact, I came here rather often. I did so enjoy the company. I might go so far as to say that I'd die without it. Then again, it would probably be the death of me.

As I crossed the threshold and the bell stopped, the few people in the small front room glanced in my direction and then went back to their laptops, or magazines, or whatever. The only person how paid me any extra attention was Riley, who was currently working as the barista.

"You're early," She mumbled as I reached the counter.

I threw her a fake smile. "You know me," I whispered. "Very proactive."

A bark of laughter escaped from her perfect, pink lips, attracting the momentary attention of a few of the customers. "You're just here to rub you're relaxation in my face." She turned, her perfectly curled hair dancing around her slim shoulders as she picked up a Styrofoam cup and swaggered over to the cappuccino machine.

"Sounds about right." I pulled my wallet out of my back pocket (purses were big, and clunky, and didn't really serve a purpose for me) and tugged a twenty out of the bills spot. "I should get about seventeen dollars back, by the way."

She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow at me, and I smiled mischievously.

"Just to save us both a good ten minutes of math."

She snorted in a very Riley-like fashion and held out my regular mix of caramel and French vanilla. "I spit in it, just so you know."

I grinned and pushed my black-framed glasses further up on the bridge of my nose. "Twenty minutes, right?"

She nodded. "I got my eye on you." She mumbled as she held out my change.

I accepted it, and then found my feet carrying me across the room to my regular spot, a small round table near the front windows. I set my cappuccino on the surface of the table, and soon followed it with my laptop case (which naturally had my laptop in it). I sat down and glanced at Riley to find that she actually was watching me, as if I was going to start a fire (with good reason, wink-wink).

After throwing her a cheeky smile, I plugged my headphones into their respectable hub. I stuck the buds in my ears and opened my laptop, the login screen immediately popping up. I typed in my password, which happened to be my last name, and smiled at the photograph of me and my nephew that I'd set as my home screen. I pulled open an internet page and logged into my email, sorting through my inbox before reading and replying. I spent a large portion of the time reading through an email from my younger brother.

After what felt like five minutes to me, I saw Riley hanging up her apron behind the counter. With a sigh, I packed up my laptop and chugged the last of my cappuccino. Then, I got to my feet and went to wait for her by the door.

"Thanks for coming with, Cat." She smiled as she sauntered over and pushed open the door. "I don't think I'd be able to reign in my mom on my own."

"What're best friends for?" I asked with a grin.

She rolled her eyes at me. "We're taking your car."

"Why my car?" I already knew the answer, I just wanted to hear her say it. I loved hearing people say it.

"Because your car's cool."

Oh, that was true. I owned a red 1984 Corvette. I bought it cheap because it was on its last leg, and then I'd probably put more money into it than it was worth. Now, don't get me wrong, I was normally very careful with my spending, but I loved that car. Plus, that was the beauty of a huge inheritance. If I didn't go crazy, I could treat myself every now and then.

I smirked and pulled my keys out of my pocket. I quickly tapped the little button that unlocked the door and hopped in the driver's side. Riley was soon beside me, tossing her little pink handbag into the back seat.

"I'm so excited!" She squealed as she bounced around in her seat.

I groaned. "I'll be dead by the end of this."

She shoved me, making me fumble with my key as I tried to shove it into the ignition. "Oh, don't be such a downer!"

"I have to, it's in my job description."

"C'mon," She groaned, giving me her famed puppy-dog look. "As a wedding gift?"

"I already bought you a blender."

"Cat!"

"Oh, alright…" I groaned, turning around the back out of the small parking lot. "I could use a new blender, anyways."

"Oh, I don't like that one very much," Riley's nasally mother said as Riley walked around in a frilly, strapless white wedding gown. "Shows too much skin for a wedding."

I snorted. "Are you kidding?" I put my fingers in my mouth and dog-whistled. Then, I went old school. "Work it, girl!"

Riley giggled, and then posed like a model. Her mother flashed her a disapproving look, and then turned to glare at me.

"Catherine," Mrs. O'Connor snapped at me. "We are in public!"

I grinned. "Oh, look at that, we are in public! Now that we've got a firm grasp of the obvious," I paused for effect, and looked to Riley who was watching our little exchange with an amused smile on her perfect face. "Next dress, Riles."

A small smirk on her lips, she shook her head and retreated to change into the next dress we had line up for her.

Mrs. O'Connor turned to me, a deep-set frown on her aged face. "Catherine, I will not have you spoiling Riley's wedding."

"If anyone is spoiling her wedding, it's you." I crossed my arms.

"You and your little comments are ruining everything!" She seethed.

"If you haven't noticed, she's been smiling at me and my 'little comments.'"

"It's disrespectful and rude-"

"It's fun, Mrs. O'Connor. Then again, I suppose the word fun isn't in your dictionary, is it?"

"Fun has no place at a proper wedding," She sneered. "But I suppose you wouldn't know a thing about proper."

"Excuse me?" I growled as I got to my feet, my small hands clenching into fists. I wanted to drop-kick the woman over my back fence. Now that I think about it, I'm sure I could, if I got the chance.

"Oh, please!" She stood as well, and raised her chin. "You're mother's a nice woman, but she doesn't know the first thing about raising children. You and your brothers, the screw-ups that only survived because their father was of high status!"

I shook with acrimony, my teeth clenched and my fists turning an ugly white color. What did she know of my family? She'd only met my mother once or twice, and she hadn't seen Ian or Adam since I was fifteen. She could insult me all she wanted, but my family was out of the question. Especially my mother. No one said things about her. No one.

"Guys, I think this is the one!" Riley squealed as she twirled into the room, her perfect figure wrapped in white silk and lace.

I tore my dark hazel eyes away from Mrs. O'Connor and looked at her, my eyes softening slightly at the smile on her gorgeous face. She looked beautiful. The dress was a wonderful strapless gown with a white bodice and skirt, a single wrap of black silk around her waist.

I glanced at Mrs. O'Connor, who had a triumphant smirk on her arrogant, disgusting face. I looked to Riley one more time. "That one's my favorite." Then, I grabbed my jacket from the chair I'd been sitting in and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Riley called to me.

"Home!" I called back. I felt guilty about leaving in the middle of one of the happiest moments of her life, but I couldn't stand her mother.

I quickly weaved through the small amount of customers in the bridal shop and out the door into the street, barely nodding at the attendant as she told me to have a nice day. When I reached my car, which was parked about ten spots from the shop, I unlocked the door and hopped in, making a point of slamming it shut again.

I took a deep breath and rubbed at my teary eyes. I shook my head, and then shoved my key in the ignition. I sighed blissfully when the engine purred to life, making my seat vibrate gently. Oh, what a sweet, sweet sound. Normally, I would've drowned it out with loud alternative music, but I wanted to listen to it today. And I did, all the way home.

My keys made a clinking sound as I tossed them into a bowl I'd laid out on my kitchen counter for them years ago. I walked past the machine for my home phone on my way to the refrigerator and pressed the messages button.

"Two new messages." The feminine voice of the machine blurted.

"Cat, it's your brother," My elder brother Ian, judging by the voice. Well, there was also the fact that my younger brother used his phone calls to talk to my mother and his girlfriend, but I ignored that. "Could you take Nicky for a couple of days? Morgan and I have an emergency business meeting in Chicago next week. I know it's sudden but… Um, just give me a call when you get a chance. My cell phone, you know the drill. Talk to you soon, I hope."

As the message played, I fished my milk out of the fridge and twisted the cap off, taking a large gulp before twisting the cap back on and putting it back on the top shelf. I rolled my eyes. "You really should be more proactive, Ian," I smirked. "Like me."

"Hey, it's me," Riley's voice played now. "Um, I was just wondering what happened? You know, at the bridal shop. Just… Um, just sorry if my mom said something. I know she does that. And thanks for coming. I ended up buying that dress, the one you said was your favorite." Good, at least she took my opinion to heart. "Dave and I are still doing that movie on Monday, and we're expecting you to come. So you better show your ugly mug! Just kidding, you're gorgeous. Well… Bye…?"

I chuckled at Riley's odd teasing. That's why she was my best friend; She knew how to make me laugh. Still, the laughter wasn't enough to make me feel any better. I was tired. That shouting match with Mrs. O'Connor had taken its toll, and to add to it some kid had screwed up my order when I'd stopped at McDonald's that afternoon.

Rubbing my eyes beneath my glasses, I grabbed the phone on the counter and dialed Ian's cell. As always, he picked up on the third ring.

"Ian Black."

"I know who I'm calling, you idiot."

"Oh, Cat, good to hear from you," He cleared his throat and I rolled my eyes. "I sure hope you're not teaching my son that kind of disrespect."

"What's this about me taking Nicky?" I asked, ignoring his last comment as I leaned against the counter.

"Oh, you can take him for a few days, can't you?" He sounded hopeful.

"Sure, you know me," I smirked. "I'm always up for a few days with my favorite nephew."

"He's your only nephew."

"Hence my favorite," I mumbled. "Plus, if Adam and Maddy keep going like they are, I'll hopefully have a niece soon."

Ian chuckled on the other end of the line. "I'll bring him around on Wednesday, say nine-ish?"

"You got it, and how long will I have that little brat running around my house?" I used the term brat lightly, seeing as I was a brat at one point in time.

"We land back home late Thursday, so we'll drop by on Friday."

"Alright, anything I need to know?"

He was quiet for a moment, probably thinking of an answer. "Well, he's got this ship…"

The rest of Ian's words drowned out of my mind as I looked out the large window that led to my back yard. The sun was setting, but I could see a large, blue shape near the back of the yard. If I squinted, I could see two glass windows near the top, but all of the other details couldn't be made out by my bad eyes.

"Cat, are you listening?" Ian's voice broke through to my mind.

"See you on Wednesday."

"Cat, what-"

I never found out what he was going to say because I hung up on him and stared at the odd object in my back yard for a moment. After staring in absolute bewilderment for several seconds, I took the initiative and set the phone on the counter. I paced out of the kitchen and into my large living room. There was a glass sliding-door in there that led to my yard.

When I reached it, I flipped the lock and slid the door open, stepping outside onto my large patio. The sun had nearly disappeared behind my white picket fence, but there was still a bit of light. Seeing as it was the middle of summer, my tank top was enough to keep me at least decently warm.

Slowly, I shuffled towards the giant blue thing, the green grass tickling my feet gently.

I'd seen things like it in movies before. It looked like a phone box, the kind you'd find on the streets of London, only it was blue and the only glass was the two small windows. There was a little light on the top, like a police light, too. However, the most informing part (also the last thing I looked at) was the black plaque near the roof of it.

"Police Public Call Box?" I asked myself, reading the sign at the top. My eyes floated to the white sign on the door of the box. "'Police telephone'," I read. "'Free for use of public, advice and assistance available immediately. Officers and cars respond to urgent calls. Pull to open.'"

My eyes shifted to the black handle on the door opposite the sign. My lips felt dry, so I licked them, and then set my hand on the handle. I sucked in a breath, and then tugged on the door. It made a loud noise, but otherwise nothing happened. I let the breath out, and shrugged. Quickly, I turned and strode purposefully back to the still open sliding door. I stepped inside, shutting the door behind me, and heading for my bedroom.

Little did I know that, as I began climbing the stairs, the doors opened and a head popped out, scanning the yard before retreating back inside.

What had started out a long day had just gone to a long, odd day.

A/N: So, this is my first official Doctor Who story. I used a lot of aspects from my personal life to build up Cat's. Such as where she lives. It's the same area as my favorite aunt and uncle, who I visit rather often. There's also her best friend, Riley. Riley is the name of one of my best friends, although she's not quite as odd as Cat's Riley. Well, she is, but she's still a lot different from my character.

So, this is just sort of an introduction chapter. Y'know, meet Cat and learn a tiny bit about her. The next chapter will introduce the Doctor, and you'll find out how he works into the story. I'm gonna tell you know, this isn't one of those stories about the Doctor and a miscellaneous companion. He doesn't save her from a mugger or anything, and he deffinetly doesn't take her to travel through time and space.

Anyways, I have big hopes for this story. I've got so many plans, so many ideas, and I'm hoping to be able to share them all.

It's been a long time since I posted anything, and I've sort of forgotten what things to say in and author's note. So, I'm thinking this is as far as I'm going to go at the current time. More things will probably pop up next chapter, so… Yeah, we'll see.

Thanks for reading!

-Jazmine