Obviously I don't own Castle, I'm just a little obsessed. :')
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Rick Rodgers walked through the gates of Beacon High School for what felt like the first time in years, when, in reality, it had only been six months.
His mother had landed a part in Hollywood and whilst there, she had been lucky enough to land a few more roles. She was ecstatic, but Rick had been miserable. Being moved from school to school, place to place and passed off between mother's new 'friends', spending most of his time backstage with, admittedly hot, actresses but none that would give a kid like him the time of day. He had tried to keep his emotions hidden for his mother's sake, she was so happy there, she was getting parts she'd only ever dreamed of, fan mail and practically a florist after every show, but Rick never really shared his mother's talent and eventually she saw through his façade.
She had cornered him on one of her rare nights off and simply asked him if he was happy. He of course had said yes but apparently his fake smile hadn't been convincing enough this time as she had taken his hands in hers and forced him to look her straight in the eyes and say that again. But he could never just lie to her, not when she was being like that, so he had just kept quiet and his silence had proved answer enough.
The next day they were on a plane back to New York and Rick had felt terrible. He kept apologising and saying that his mother shouldn't let him drag her down with her job, her happiness and her dream. She had just shaken her head saying that she had two jobs, two dreams. Being an actress and his mother. And although her dream since she was a little girl may have been to have her name up in lights, millions of fans wanting to be like her and coming to see her movies, and that dream gave her a lot of happiness. Her second job and dream; bringing up the good young man in front of her, watching him grow, one day fall in love, get his heart broken, get married and give her some beautiful grandkids, brought her more happiness by far than any acting role ever could.
She wasn't giving up her dream for him, he was her dream.
Then in true Martha Rodgers style, after having this deep emotional conversation, she had turned away, ordered a martini and began chatting up the poor unsuspecting flight attendant. Yeah this was his Mother, and he wouldn't change her for the world.
So that's why he was walking through these gates again, because of her. So this time he's determined not to let her down. He'd try not to get into too much trouble, although it usually did just find him, and he'd be happy, that was for sure, because he'd just seen his best friends.
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"Guys!"
In true comic fashion, the group of teenage boys slowly turn around with matching looks of confusion on their faces only to be replaced with pure excitement.
"Well look what the cat dragged in! We thought we'd got rid of you for good this time Rodgers!"
"Afraid not Ben, I'm back to take all your money in this week's poker game, and every week to come."
"Seriously, you're back for good?"
"Yeah, you know there's only so much Hollywood can offer a guy like me."
"Tell us everything."
Rick, Ben, Adam, Craig, Jamie, Chris and Tony spent the rest of the morning catching up; Rick telling them all about the 'wild and crazy' things he got up to in Hollywood and in turn they filled him in on what was new this year at Beacon High School.
"The place hasn't really changed much since you've been gone, but really how much can a school like this change? We all got in a lot of trouble for our beginning of the year dares but…wait. Ricky my boy! You haven't done your dare yet!"
From the crowd of boys comes a collective outburst of animated 'oh yeah's then the hushed discussion of what his dare should be.
You see, since they had started at Beacon High School, the boys had had a…tradition of sorts. At the start of every year the boys would dare each other to do something outrageous and hilarious, no rules or regulations, plain all out pranks and all you had to do was top the year before, which was beginning to become difficult for the guys. They'd done everything from stink bombs and letting seven pigs loose in the school then on top of that mayhem, telling the school there were eight pigs, it took them days to figure that one out, to stealing a police horse naked. And Rick was the king of dares, he gave out the best and wasn't afraid to take on whatever was thrown at him, which is why he knows the boys are huddling around trying to think of the best dare ever and frankly he's thinking 'bring it on'.
Ben seems to spot something out of the corner of his eye then gives an evil cackle that Rick knows means he's figured out his dare. All the boys turn to the direction he seems to be looking at and nod, evil smirks adorning each of their faces.
But when Rick turns to see what this dare must be he's met with the sight of a young brunette girl, curled up on a bench reading a book, one they're actually not forced to read in class.
"Who is she?"
"That Ricky, is little Miss Kate Beckett. New, she arrived practically just after you left."
"So what does my dare have to do with her? She seems kinda…" Gorgeous, beautiful, stunning with looks that make you want to go out, buy a guitar and learn how to play it just so you can write her some soppy love songs "…hot."
"That she is Ricky, but only on the outside. Pure ice queen, freak, weirdo. Trust me, you don't want to become associated with her, except for when it's to do with your dare that is."
"Okay, out with it Ben."
"Oh, your dare is not really much of a dare…more of a challenge."
"Well I'm always up for a challenge." He says confidently.
"Jamie! Camera now! I want this all documented."
Jamie's secretly a tech geek so always takes care of this side of the business. When he has the camera poised and ready, Ben stands on the bench next to them and they all circle around him.
"I dare you, Richard Rodgers, to melt the ice queen, make her fall head over heels and get her to come to the end of year prom with you."
Rick's jaw drops. The dares had been challenges before, sure, but this? Rick had never had a problem with the ladies at this school so it should be a piece of cake really but how was this in anyway hilarious?
"What's wrong Ricky? You chicken?"
All the boys begin walking around making ridiculous squawking sounds.
"No, no. Of course not, just how is this matching up with last years dare at all? This isn't near as funny guys."
"Oh don't you worry your pretty little head Ricky, if you succeed you will be rewarded with not just the pride that you did it but money from each of us and we will all do something both embarrassing and outrageous in front of the whole school. But if you fail Rick, you pay us and have to do something I'll be working hard on to make the biggest extravaganza of a dare ever in front of the whole school."
Are they crazy? All he has to sweet talk a pretty girl then watch them make asses of themselves in front of the whole school? He likes this dare, he really likes it.
"Deal."
He shakes Ben's hand just as the bell chimes and the boys rush off to registration, whereas Rick has to go to the school's reception to get his class schedule then the principle's office as his mother had told him last night that the principal wanted to speak to him about something.
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"Mr Rodgers, so nice to have you back again, please do come in."
Principal Jones had always had a soft spot for Rick, even through all his troublesome behaviour. He had always said he had a real talent, especially when it came to writing. Truthfully, Rick thinks maybe he reminds Jones of himself when he was Rick's age. Everyone has heard stories of a wild Principal Jones back in his day, living outside the rules but eventually growing up to realise the necessity of them and becoming a teacher then principal to try to teach others the importance of these rules.
"So you've missed almost six months of work, but I reckon if you work hard at it you'll get up to date in no time, especially if you work well and cooperate with your tutor."
Rick gives him a confused look and Principal Jones visibly shakes himself for forgetting to tell him.
"Yes Rick, I said tutor. You are extremely behind all of the other students and I'm afraid if you're not given a tutor you'll never catch up fully. So on to your tutor, an extremely bright student with what I believe could be a big future ahead of them; they are being kind enough to use up their free time to help you so I don't want to hear back about any trouble being caused. You're a good kid Richard but you can be easily led. Use this year wisely and don't-"
His sentence is cut off by a quiet but firm knock at the door.
"Ah and here is your tutor now. Come in!"
"Richard Rodgers may I introduce your new tutor Kate Beckett."
This bet would be even easier to win than he had first thought.
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So I've always enjoyed reading castle high school fanfics but often I find them very fluffy and although I love them for that I thought I'd go for a different approach, but what do you think? Worth continuing? Please review and keep in mind my life is currently so busy and on top of that I have two other stories I am supposed to be updating before I got pulled into this. But my life should calm down in a few weeks and then I'll be updating all the time. So I hope you like this chapter!
Again, please review to let me know what you think!