Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed! I apologize for the delay. Anyways, here's the next chapter, and remember to review!
Chapter 2: Meeting Castle
By the time Kate got there, I was dead. She couldn't believe it. After all, we'd been best friends ever since we were kids. "No! She can't be dead! She just can't be!" Kate yelled, tears running down her face.
"Kate, you couldn't have done anything to save her. Let me take her to the morgue." Laine said, walking towards my dead body. "Don't touch her!" Kate held Laine back. "Look, unless the answer to whether this was a suicide or a murder is in this room, I have to examine the body."
"Fine. I'll let you do it, but only because it's what Serena would have wanted." Kate sighed. As soon as I was about to be lifted into a body bag, I inhaled and my eyes flew open. I heard a few screams (still not sure if it was from the women or the men in the room) and I sat up, slowly. "Oh my God!" Kate exclaimed, startled and happy.
"H-hi Kate." I said through numb lips. She gaped at me. "What?" I asked, wondering why every eye in the room was fixed on me. "But- How did you- What?" Kate sputtered. "I think you'd better come with us, Ms. Carter." An unfamiliar man said.
He was handsome, I supposed, but he seemed worried about something. He looked about my age, perhaps older. I just couldn't figure out why I found him so interesting. Maybe it was because of his outfit: blue dress shirt, black dress pants, and shiny black shoes, which complemented every part of him.
Or maybe it had something to do with his light brown hair, which fell slightly into his green eyes. Then again, it could have been the way he looked at me. I shook my head. Come on, Serena! You don't get involved with guys. You are a reporter. He's a cop. Pull yourself together, already. With that thought in mind, I followed the mildly interesting cop outside.
"Cloud!" Kate called out. The cop I was following, turned around. "My apologies, Ms. Carter. I-" He stopped talking, and looked at me. "Are you currently dating someone?" He asked, suddenly. Before I could answer, Kate called for him again. "You'd better go. I know Kate, and if something huge has happened, she has little patience." I leaned against the brick wall of the alley.
"Will you be all right?" Cloud asked, kindly. "I'll be fine." I looked at him. "Really," I added, though I wasn't sure why. "Okay. I'll see you around, then." He saluted me. I realized that I'd been holding my breath. I inhaled, confused. I thought back to what Cloud had said. "I'll see you around, then." He'd said it like it was a fact. Like he knew he would see me again.
I shook of my uneasy feeling. "Excuse me, miss?" A relatively deep voice asked. I looked up, seeing a ruggedly handsome man. He was wearing a nice suit and had his hands in his pockets. "Yes?" I asked, not sure whether or not to call him 'sir'. "I couldn't help but notice that you're bleeding." He sounded sincere.
I looked down at my stabbed chest, and blushed. A mental alarm went off in my head. Serena Carter doesn't blush! You don't get uncomfortable! Others do, but not you, Serena. Get a grip girl! I mentally yelled at myself. "How did you not notice that?" He asked, bringing me back to Earth. That triggered a small burst of anger.
"I was too busy recovering from being dead for 5 hours!" I snapped. He put his hands up, his eyes wide. "Sorry, I just got here! No one told me anything. I didn't mean to offend you." He spoke fast, but for some reason, the corners of my mouth curled into a small smile.
I found myself saying: "It's all right. I'm usually not like this. Oh, my name's Serena by the way." I offered him my hand. He blinked at me, a confused look on his face. For some reason, I found it adorable. "Richard Castle," he said, shaking my hand. I did a double take. "You're Richard Castle?" I asked.
"Yes. Am I in trouble?" He asked, tentatively. I got very flustered. "No. Not at all. It's just that I'm a huge fan of your work, and I've been wanting to meet you for a long time!" I said, feeling like I was babbling. "Really?" Richard asked, fixing an imaginary tie.
"Well I'm happy to appease your needs, dear lady." He paused, thinking about what he'd said. "That sounded better in my head," he looked very awkward. Then he started laughing. "What's so funny?" I asked, shaking from trying to contain my laughter.
"You are!" He laughed. I raised an eyebrow at him. "How am I funny?" I said feeling confused again. He shook his head, still laughing. "What?" I asked, folding my arms. He wiped his eyes. "I can totally tell that you were trying not to laugh!" He burst into laughter again at my expression. His laughter was contagious, and I started laughing too.
I'd never admit it but although I was a ruthless reporter, I loved to let the other side of me show every once in a while. The wild, fun loving Serena Carter. However, that Serena had been silent for quite sometime. "In all seriousness, Serena, I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me tonight?" Richard looked at me, a new expression on his face.
My heart raced, and I found myself speaking the four words I never had said to any guy before. "Yeah, I'd love too," I smiled at him; covering the shock I was feeling. "Oh, you might want to change into something… non-bloody," he said, noting my torn jacket, my dirty skirt, and torn stockings. I smiled, nodding.