Disclaimer: I'm a high school senior; I clearly don't own Castle.

A/N: And the plot begins!

~Rose

Chapter Three

"Oh I'm a lucky man to count on both hands the ones I love"

"A book about me?" Kate asked incredulously. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to write a book about her. She wasn't interesting—broken, yes—but interesting? She just couldn't fathom it. He wanted to get closer to her but she couldn't allow that. Everyone she got close to found a way to leave her; her mom when she died, her dad when he started drinking, and her best friend Maddie when she decided she couldn't handle catatonic Kate any longer. No, Kate would not get close to this boy with the stunning blue eyes. "Why would you write a book about me?"

"Kate," he almost whispered, his voice low and melodic. Her warm hazel eyes met his ice blue ones and she couldn't deny that there was a definite spark between them. "You are amazing," he told her softly. A piece of hair had fallen loose from her bun and he had to restrain himself from reaching out and wrapping it around his finger. He leaned in closer and could smell the faint fragrance of cherry scented shampoo; it was intoxicating. His fingers were now dangerously close to hers as he breathed, "Do you even realize how extraordinary you are?"

She looked down at his hand reaching for hers and pulled her arm away. "Because I have a tragic past," she said stiffly; it was a statement not a question. She had to try to tear her eyes away from his before she lost herself in those stunning blue orbs.

"No," she told her gently, "because you have a tragic past and yet you are still able to get up in the morning and live life." She had to stifle a cruel laugh; if he only knew how hard it was to get up some days-how depressing it was to live a life without people. "Kate," he whispered again, "I mean it, you are extraordinary."

She shuffled her chair back and inch and sunk into it as far back as she could. Rick was disappointed that she was clearly trying to put as much distance between them as possible. He wanted to fight against that, but the deer-caught-in-the-headlights look she was currently giving him cautioned him not to push too hard. "I'm—I'm not," she struggled to get out. There was something about the way he was looking at her that made it almost impossible to speak. Rick opened his mouth to argue but Kate cut him off. "I'm not," she repeated as she pushed her coffee cup towards him. Before he could say anything else she got out of her seat and almost ran out of the coffee shop, leaving Richard Rodgers sitting there alone.

~O.o.O.o.O~

Rick felt too disheartened to go home and deal with his mother right away. Going for a walk seemed like the only option. As he walked down the crowded street all he seemed to see was couples all around him. Watching them was his own personal hell right now. His last girlfriend, Kyra Blaine, moved away leaving him broken hearted. He had tried to date since then—there had been a red-head named Meredith and a blonde named Gina—but they weren't Kyra. He never thought he would meet anyone that special ever again; but then he met Kate.

He knew that he didn't have a chance with the beautiful brunette, but he was still sad that she basically shut out the idea of them even being friends. He knew she probably had people issues due to her background. He was so fortunate and down-right lucky to have so many people in his life that he loved; she probably didn't have that. If her had read her right, she probably only had her father. She didn't seem to have any friends, which was a pity. Anyone would be lucky to be friends with someone as amazing as her. She may not want to believe it but she truly was spectacular.

He wasn't really paying attention to where he was walking but somehow he ended up back at his apartment anyways. "Richard?" His mother called out as he opened the door.

"Yes Mother. Who else would it be?" he pointed out with zero patience. She gave him a wondering glance and then did a double take. He probably looked like a puppy that had been kicked which would explain the look of concern on her face.

"Are you okay?" she asked in a rare moment of motherly concern. Was he okay? He wasn't even sure of that. He wasn't used to his charm not working on the girls; but it was more than that. This one was special; he didn't want her to get away.

"No I'm not," he admitted, "but I will be." And it was true, he would be, he just had to win Kate over. He would do whatever he could to prove he was trustworthy and that she could always open up to him. He would be the best friend he could be and then maybe one day they could be something more.

"Okay kiddo, I'll take your word for it," Martha said giving him the benefit of the doubt. The actress had a feeling her son's mood had something to do with Katherine Beckett, but she didn't want to pry. Oh, who was she kidding? She was Martha Rodgers, of course she was going to pry. "Girl trouble?" She asked innocently.

Rick forced a laugh, "Since when do I have problems with the ladies?" he asked with the raise of his eyebrow. She gave him a knowing look so he caved and told her the truth. "I may possibly be having some issues with Kate at the moment but she'll come around. I just have to be my normal charming self."

"And what are you going to do when that plan fails?" Martha asked with a sceptical look and a laugh.

"It won't fail," he insisted, "I'll make sure of that."

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