A/N: Okay guys so some people have requested that I do some more stories, so here's one that I've been working on. And for those who are reading 'Unforgettable Summer' I will be updating very soon! Enjoy.
Chapte 1- Romeo
He hadn't even planned on going out. He had wanted to stay home, locked away in his study as he read rejection letter after rejection letter. Maybe he might've even watched a movie with his fiery-haired daughter.
Instead, Richard Castle had been forced out of the house by his mother, claiming that her son was dragging the house down.
That's what had led him here; a new club called Romeo's.
The line had been huge, nearly leading to the next block over. He had turned around as soon as he saw it, not even wanting to waste his time. It was only when a light, melodious voice floated through the air that he stopped.
"Hey blue shirt!"
Castle had looked down, confirming his button-down was indeed blue, before finding the voice.
She was looking straight at him. Her mouth curved up slightly.
Rick was speechless looking at her. She was tall, even without the heels. Her long legs stuck out of the black dress, clinging to her slim figure. Brown hair framed her face, the sharp lines of her cheekbones and dark, rimmed eyes.
She signaled him over to her and his feet willingly followed, automatically drawn to her. He saw her shoot the bouncer a dazzling smile, getting a nod in reply.
Rick felt himself getting pulled into the club, bright lights and blaring music invaded his senses, but he was only focused on the woman guiding him in.
She faced him, a smile planted on her face.
"What's your name?" She shouted over the music, her hand still gripped on his arm.
"It's uh Rick." He stammered. She let out a light laugh at his awkwardness.
"I'm Kate." She said. Her hand left his arm, and he instantly missed the warmth. She smiled at him once again, before dissapearing into the sea of people.
It had been over half an hour since he had seen her last.
Rick had been scanning the room from the bar, looking for Kate, but had come up empty.
There was really no point in staying there. Rick downed his last glass of scotch, before throwing the bartender some bills. He attempted to weave through the maze of people, but ended up being pushed to the other side of the bar. A certain conversation caught his attention.
"So since this club is called Romeo's, do you wanna be my Juliet?"
He noticed a tall, lanky guy, leaning on the counter, blocking the person he was talking to.
Rick heard the person snort in reply. "With pick up lines like that, I don't think you'll be getting a Juliet anytime soon."
It was Kate. His suspicions were confirmed when the lanky guy moved, revealing Kate.
Rick took his chance, sliding into the seat next to her. She didn't even acknowledge him, choosing to continue stirring her drink.
"What?" Kate snapped. Her tone was harsh, and Rick was taken back. "Sorry." She sighed.
"It's fine. Are you okay?" Rick asked.
Kate nodded. "Just fine."
"You sure?"
"I don't even know you, why do you care?"
Kate looked to be mentally slapping herself, apologising once again.
Rick signalled to the bartender, giving his order, before turning back to Kate.
"My name's Rick, actually it's Richard Edgar Castle. My birth name is Richard Alexander Rodgers, but since I'm attempting, keyword attempting, to be an author, I changed it. I like skiing and mysteries. One of my favorite authors is Edgar Allen Poe, hence my middle name. I've lived in New York City pretty much my whole life. And there, you know some stuff about me." Rick finished, and even though she was looking down, he could see a hint of a smile.
"Anything else?" Kate questioned, with a smile. He thought for a moment, before shaking his head. "My turn. Well I'm Kate. My favorite color is purple. I've lived here most of my life too. I like having fun, and I want to be a journalist. Anything you want to add?"
"I know for a fact that something bad happened to you." Rick stated, almost casually.
Kate's features visibly hardened as Rick spoke. "What makes you say that?"
"Your smile doesn't quiet reach your eyes, most of your answers are probably lies, you never mentioned your family so maybe that's the bad part, and you shouldn't even be here."
Kate was annoyed and angry. "I have every right to be here."
Rick shook his head. "No you don't. You're too young and pretty and innocent. So tell me, why are you here?"
Kate sighed, walls down. Nobody knew her problems, and nobody wanted to listen. This was a chance she was going to take. "My name is Kate Beckett. My mom was Johanna Beckett, she was murdered 2 years ago. The police passed it off as a random attack and the killer's never been found. It's just me and my dad now, and things have been spiralling downward ever since. My dad copes the only way he knows: drinking. I barely have any friends, NYU students don't really like rich, snobby, Stanford transfers. I went from law to police academy. I party every night. If I'm not partying, I'm studying because the only thing I care about is justice for my mother. I know I'm reckless and stupid, but I'm not innocent. I'm anything but." Kate finished, her voice cracking throughout the rant. Tears were steadily trekking down her face, and she refused to look up.
"Kate-" Rick whispered. Her pain was overwhelming, so much that Rick had to blink his own tears back.
"I'm fine." Kate's voice was broken, signalling that her words were a lie.
"You're not fine, nobody should have to feel that much pain."
She looked at him, her mascara was running, but she was still beautiful.
Kate opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by a ringing sound, barely audible over the club's music.
"I should get that." Kate grabbed the phone out of a purse, hidden behind her. Rick turned away, wanting to give her as much privacy as possible and instead, focused on counting the bottles on the shelf. He had been up to 47, when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
He turned to see Kate, placing her phone down, and picking up her glass. She downed it quickly, grimacing as she swallowed.
"That was my dad, I should be going."
"Are you okay?" The question had barely left his lips, before she dashed into the crowd. He sighed, downing his own drink and throwing some bills down.
Rick began to walk through the crowd, when he heard someone call out.
"Hey buddy! Your phone!" Rick heard someone yell. He turned to see the bartender waving a black phone.
"Thanks." Rick said tossing the phone in his pocket. He made his way through the sweaty bodies, making it outside and into the cold air. He heard his phone ringing, and grabbed it.
"Hello?"
"Who is this?" The voice on the other end asked.
"Who are you? And why are you calling me at 2 in the morning?" Rick asked, slightly confused.
"Rick?"
"Yes?" He said suspiciously.
"It's Kate, you have my phone." She whispered in a hushed tone. Rick was suddenly alert, hanging onto every word. He felt around in his pocket and pulled out an identical phone, only this one had a picture of his 6-year old daughter eating cake.
"Still there Rick?" Kate asked, his name flicking of her tounge.
"What? Yup, I'm-yup, still here." Rick stammered, pocketing his phone. Kate's laugh floated through the reciever and Rick couldn't help but smile himself.
"So how am I going to get my phone." Kate whispered.
"Kate, why are you whispering?" Rick asked, signalling to a cab.
"My dad just passed out. I- I just don't want to deal with him waking up and taking it out on me." Kate admitted.
"Kate, does your dad abuse you?" Rick asked softly, the question nearly getting lodged in his throat.
"No. God no, Rick. Not physically, or on purpose. Sometimes he's just so...out of it, that he doesn't realize what's coming out of his mouth. He doesn't mean it." Kate sounded like she was trying to convince herself, more than him.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah. I'm fine, I can take it." Her breath hitched and he heard her sharp intake of breath.
"Kate-"
"So how am I going to get my phone?" Kate asked, cutting his question of care off.
"I could drop it off now?" He wanted her to say no. Her phone was the only think keeping them talking.
"I'm not sure. How do I know you're not some creep, like those guys of Taken?"
Rick easily laughed. "Fine, how 'bout I drop it off at the academy?"
"No, I'm in class all day."
There was only one other thing he could think of, this time he actually wanted her to say yes.
"Why don't you come over to mine, tomorrow night? You can grab your phone from mine, and we could maybe have dinner." He was hanging onto his last bit of hope. He wanted to hang onto the phone, but he wanted to see her too.
Kate seemed to be contemplating it, taking a few more extra seconds.
"What if you're a-"
"Creep?" It was Rick's turn to cut her off. "Look I promise I'm anything but. And don't worry there's gonna be someone there anyway."
"Really, who?"
"Alexis. My girl. She's beautiful, sweet, amazing. I don't know what I'd be without her." Rick bragged. His cab pulled up at his building. He paid and thanked the driver, before making his way inside.
"She sounds great." Kate replied, attempting to keep the disappointment out of her voice. She thought that he had felt something for her. She liked that someone had cared, but obviously it was apart of his personality. He already had someone special in his life.
"Kate?"
"Yeah?" She replied, faintly hearing the sound of keys and a door opening.
"Hey, where's Alexis?" Kate heard Rick talking to someone, but didn't hear any reply. "Sorry about that. I wanted her to talk to you, but she's asleep. So about tomorrow?" He sounded so hopeful, she couldn't say no.
"Tomorrow's fine, see you then Castle."
"So it's Castle now huh? What happened to Rick?" He asked in a teasing tone. Kate rolled her eyes.
"Night Rick."
"Sweet dreams Kate."
She hung the phone, her shoulders slumping. It was the first time in a while that she found someone who cared, someone that listened. It was a shame that his heart already belonged to someone else.
A/N: Done. Don't worry Castle is not a creep, he's over 20, but under 25. I'm not sure of the age, but I've already written the second chapter. :)