Sorry this is late, I broke my wrist and it was not the best way to write. I do have the next chapter and a half ready so I will be posting again tomorrow.
"So, I decided to take your advice," Rick said the following morning. "I texted her and she agreed to come over tonight."
"I have a study group anyway," she said smirking slightly. "You'll have the loft to yourself."
"Thanks pumpkin," he said pulling her into a tight hug.
"Don't be nervous, she loves you," Alexis said, hugging him back.
"I think I'll try working off these nerves writing", he chuckled.
When her dad went to his study to work, or stare at his laptop, she was once again sucked into thoughts about the barista. It was confusing to her to be so interested in this way, what made her so special? I don't even know her name. I could go and see if she's working today, see if she still has the same effect on me.
Just as Alexis was about to walk into her fathers' study to tell him she was leaving to grab a coffee on her way to the library, his phone rang. "Kate." Alexis stopped at the door, hearing Ricks nerves.
"I thought you were coming over later, is everything all right?" She heard him say. He was doing some sort of 'I-love-you-but-I'm-still-mad' brooding.
"I'll head out right now," he said as he hung up, a little startled when he noticed Alexis standing in the doorway.
"Oh, hey, that was Kate," he stated as he stood up, "she wants to talk right now." His nervous tone was back full force.
"Dad? Just make sure she knows that you are all in. Don't let her say anything until you've told her." Alexis said as she left the study, adding with a wink, "don't forget the ring."
Alexis went to her room, to get changed and fix her makeup. If the cute barista was working, she wanted to look her best, whatever that means.
As she neared the coffee shop, she glanced inside, hoping to see the barista, she didn't. She had come this far though so she might as well grab a coffee to go.
Her mind was still wandering as she walked in, paying no mind to her surroundings until she felt herself collide with something. When she had gathered herself, she realized that she hadn't bumped into something, but someone, and of course this someone had to be the barista. The collision had caused Alexis to drop her purse, again, and the barista had barely held on to her tray.
"Oh. My. God." Alexis was beyond mortified. Of course I had to literally walk right into her.
"I am so sorry, are you all right?" She asked when she composed herself enough to speak.
"Fine, just wasn't expecting such enthusiasm today," the barista answered smirking. "Are you always this graceful?"
"No, I, uhh, am usually a klutz," Alexis joked, feeling warmth radiating from her arm, forced to look at what was causing it she saw that the barista was holding on to her arm, having grabbed her to help keep both their balance. While Alexis was looking at where the barista was holding, her hand slid down her arm and rested in her hand, it was slow and it must have been done subconsciously.
The butterflies in her stomach are wreaking havoc on her mental capacity, which is probably why she said, "I don't even know your name, yet you're holding my hand." When she heard back what had left her mouth she wanted to face palm, but decided that would be even more embarrassing. So, she tried to let a smile replace the grimace that was currently on her face.
"Oh, right, sorry," the barista said, instantly dropping her hand.
"Don't be," Alexis said, finally in control of her brain and thus her body. The tension from their connected hands seeping out and causing her smile to turn genuine.
"I'm Hayley, by the way," the barista introduced herself as she bent down to gather Alexis' stuff, prompting her to do the same.
"So, Alexis, do you come here often?" Hayley asked, managing to sound both sarcastic and interested.
"Well, considering that I need at least two cups of coffee to get through the day," Alexis said smiling, "I probably visit here way too frequently."
Hayley just smiled.
"Who do I talk to, to get a really good cup of coffee?" Alexis asked.
"Well, I would recommend getting in line and ordering," Hayley said, then laughed happily as she walked away with her tray.
Alexis thought it was strange that she would feel such a warmth wash over her and through her at the sound. Having only been attracted to boys, on a conscious level, before now. Was this even really attraction, or merely admiration?
When Alexis turned around to get in line, she noticed firstly that there was no line, and that the barista had taken over as cashier.
"So, are you treating yourself to something sweet today?" Hayley asked, when Alexis was pulling out her wallet.
"I am, but I'll just have a latte," Alexis said smiling, proud of how smooth she had managed to sound. This isn't flirting, was it? No, it was just playful banter. Yeah, that's right. Playful banter with a really cute girl, with those eyes and those … wait. Stop. You need to pull yourself together.
Hayley looked at her curiously, "any syrup?"
"Nope, just regular is fine," Alexis said, still smiling, but also blushing slightly.
Instead of handing the cup over, for someone else to make it, like they usually do. Hayley went over to the machine and started making the latte herself. Alexis was a little surprised by this, but just held her smile in place.
"How did the dreaded study group goo yesterday?" Hayley asked.
"I ended up skipping it and going ring shopping," Alexis answered honestly. Seeing the baffled look on Hayley's face, she elaborated, "my dad needed help shopping for an engagement ring."
"Your parents aren't married?" Hayley asked, obviously a little confused.
"No, well, my dad and my mother are divorced, but my dad and Kate are, hopefully, getting engaged today or tonight at the latest." Alexis said happily.
"So, we like Kate, do we?" Hayley asked, with a smirk.
"I like Kate," Alexis laughed, "you'll have to make up your own mind if, and when, you meet her."
"That's good, yeah? Not angry that your parents got divorced, or that your dad is remarrying." Hayley asked, looking at Alexis for a second before focusing back on the coffee in her hands.
"Honestly, I haven't seen my dad this happy, probably, ever," Alexis said, smiling before adding, "and Kate is great." Deciding to throw in a little wink at her lame rhyme.
Hayley handed Alexis her latte, with an automatic, "here you are," and a smile that went from fake to sincere remarkably fast.
"Thanks," she blew on it and took a tentative sip. It was obviously freshly brewed, and therefore steaming hot. She hummed in delight, "this is really good."
"That's what you asked for, isn't it?" Hayley asked with a smirk.
"It was, thank you." Alexis smiled, "I should get going. I need to get to the library to make up for not studying yesterday."
"Have fun," Hayley said as Alexis picked up her purse and headed out.
"I will," Alexis said, waving as she added, "see you tomorrow."
Alexis was sure she heard a faint chuckle and a 'bye' as the doors swung shut behind her.
In order to distract herself from thoughts of the barista, Alexis had been doing a mind-numbing amount of studying, when her phone thankfully rang. She hurried out of the silent reading room and quickly answered.
"Hello?" Having been focused on not running into anyone or anything again today, she hadn't checked the caller ID before answering.
"Alexis, darling, how are you?" Alexis sighed at the sound of her mothers' voice.
"Hey … mom …" She rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, just busy with school. Finals are coming up so I feel like I don't have time to think about anything other than studying, let alone do anything." Why am I talking this much, it's not like she was really asking, not like she really cares.
"How's LA?" Alexis asked, turning the conversation back to her mother to get it over with as quickly as possible.
"LA is wonderful, though it is getting harder and harder to find roles that inspire me." Meredith said airily.
"I bet, so what's up?" Alexis asked, "any trips coming up?"
"Well, I've been in New York for the past few getting ready for an event tonight," Meredith said, oblivious to the hurt it caused Alexis.
"My date got stuck in LA, so I was wondering if you could come." Alexis wasn't sure how to feel about this, how many times would she have to come second in her mothers' life.
Gritting her teeth a little, Alexis begrudgingly agreed, but did her best to let her mother hear how hurt she was. "Sure mom, what time?"
"I'll pick you up from the loft at two, that way my hair and make-up people can do you too. Do you have a dress?" Meredith asked, her focus obviously not really on the conversation anymore.
"Yes, I have a dress." Alexis sighed, why the hell was she agreeing to this?
"Don't wear red or green, red clashes with my hair and I'm wearing green." Meredith told her as she hung up.
"Ok, mom." Alexis said as she put her phone in her pocket and started packing up her stuff at the reading room. She only had an hour to get to the loft shower and have her things ready before her mothers' car service would pick her up.
"Why did I agree to this?" Alexis asked herself out loud.
Quicker than she would have expected she was showered and had her two dresses ready, both blue but very different.
She knew that she would be a publicity stunt almost, so she decided to just enjoy it for what it was, a night of dressing up and having fun. Even with all her flaws as a parent it couldn't be denied that Meredith was fun.
(2:07pm) Hey dad, heading out with Meredith, staying at the dorm.
Alexis didn't want her dad to worry, and decided that a text was enough. She then opened her camera app and took a few pictures of her dresses and jewelry, then made a collage and posted on twitter with the caption.
#dressingup for a #charity event w. actingMeredith #princessofCastle
As soon as she was with Meredith she could feel the buzz of excitement create a crazy atmosphere, Meredith was pregaming with a glass or three of champagne and all Alexis could think was, this is going to be fun.
Alexis enjoys being pampered by hair and makeup artists, but is somehow always glad when they are done.
"Alexis, darling, you look absolutely beautiful," Meredith said as Alexis put in her earring, the final touch to her ensemble.
"Thank you," Alexis said with a smile and a twirl. "You look great too."
Meredith just smiled and started for the door, Alexis followed.
When they exited the town car Alexis was surprised to see they were walking a red carpet. She hadn't known it would be such a big event.
"Meredith, this way," the press wanted to take her mothers' picture, she expected that, but when she heard, "Alexis" and "miss Castle", she was surprised. Usually they focused their attention on her dad, her mother, her grandmother and in the rare occurrence that they did want to talk to her it was usually about them. So, she wasn't at all surprised when she heard, "miss Castle, what do you think of your fathers' relationship with Detective Beckett?"
"As long as my dad is happy, then so am I," Alexis replied, having learned at an early age that when asked questions by the press, don't go into details, they can be edited and twisted around. Short and simple is the best way to answer.
After answering a few more questions along the same lines as the first, ignoring all personal questions and making sure she kept going, Alexis was finally inside.
Alexis stayed for dinner and a bit of dancing and then it was suddenly midnight. She was supposed to spend the day studying but ended up doing next to none of that. She would have to make up for it tomorrow, she thought as she approached Meredith.
Having posted a few more photos throughout the night she wanted to get one with her mother too.
So, she pulled out her phone and got her mothers' attention and they took a series of photos, she even let Meredith pick the once she posted.
actingMeredith and I having a blast.
"This has been fun, but I should head back to my dorm," Alexis told her mother. "I need to get some rest so I can continue studying for finals."
"Well, darling, it was wonderful to see you," Meredith said, "thank you for not forcing me to go solo."
"You're welcome," Alexis smiled, "I'll talk to you later, have a safe flight back to LA." Alexis turned around and walked away, then looked over her shoulder and smiling said, "bye."