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The week passed by uneventful. Weldon found out about what had happened and told me to stay home till I healed. Alexis and I lounged around the apartment. We watched movies, talked, laughed, and did some other things that we both thoroughly enjoyed.

Our relationship was progressing quickly. We could talk about anything and everything with each other. We had only been dating for two weeks now and it felt like we were inseparable. I missed her when she left for work, for school, or even for a glass of water in the kitchen. I was fully invested in her and us.

We were sitting in my living room watching Temptation Lane. Alexis head rested in my lab as I played with her gorgeous, long, silky hair.

"What are you doing on friday night?" I said breaking the comfortable silence.

She looked up at me, "Nothing. Why?"

"There is a benefit for feeding families for Thanksgiving. Weldon is hosting it."

"So…"

"So…I wanted you to be my date. There's gonna be dancing, food…"

"My dad is going to the benefit." She said interrupting me with a sigh.

"Oh…that's fine. It's not a big deal." I said trying to play it off. She gave ma knowing look and thought for a moment.

"I could ask my dad to take me with him. I mean I know he is taking Kate and my grams. We could meet up and pretend that we are strangers."

"Oooo, you mean like role play." I said wriggling my eyebrows and grinning like an idiot.

"Sure." She said rolling her eyes.

"So, is that a yes? You'll ask your dad?" I said with hopeful eyes.

"Yes, I'll go."

"Look away."

"What?" She asked with a very confused look on her face.

"Look away."

She looked away and I looked up to God and mouth thank you. She snuck a peak and started to laugh uncontrollably.

I wanted to do that for the rest of my life.

Friday night came soon enough. Alexis asked her father and he had accepted happily knowing his whole family wanted to join him for a night out. We had not seen each other since tuesday night since her grandmother had taken her dress shopping and she didm't want anyone getting suspicious because she spent most nights at my apartment instead of her father's loft. She was waiting till second semester then she would move back into her dorms.

I had gone to my parents' house the night before the benefit and had told them of my plan to go. My father had said that he and my mother were invited and would be attending the gala at the Tribeca Rooftop.

So, there I was standing by my father and mother in the grand ballroom mingling with potential campaign investors; bored out of my mind. I can't believe that I would be doing that one day. Kissing up to someone so that I could get their vote and money.

I excused myself from the boring conversation and made my way over to the large windows that faced out to the dark city skyline. I pulled out my phone and checked to see if Alexis had called or sent a message. Nothing. Either she was being fashionably late or she was not coming.

"Richard Castle!" I heard Weldon yell.

I turned around my eyes wandering the room in search of the red-headed beauty. There she was, coming down the staircase in a beautiful green dress. She was perfection. She was my perfection.

I saw her cobalt blue eyes dart around the room and they stopped as they found mine. Our eyes met and in that single moment, everything around us seemed to drown out. All the voices turned to silent. The rest of the room went black and there was only us, like in that movie West Side Story where Tony and Maria first lay eyes on each other. Only it wasn't them. It was us. Alexis and I.

Her father grabbed her and pulled her attention somewhere else and I quickly brought myself out of dreamworld. I watched her as she excused herself to get a drink, away from her father's conversation with someone. I followed her to the bar. I came up by her and she casually glanced my way. I kept my eyes straight ahead and motioned for the bartender to come over.

"You are absolutely breathtaking tonight. Not that you aren't any other night." I said looking straight ahead trying to keep my eyes from wandering over her. "Two sparkling waters." I ordered.

"You look handsome in your tux." She said taking the glass from the bartender.

I took mine, "Why thank you Miss Castle."

She blushed and looked around, "Is your family here?"

"Yea, they're around here somewhere." I took a sip.

She looked at me, "Do you want to dance?"

"Yea but on one condition." I said sitting my glass down.

"What?" She said confused.

"I get to lead." I stated with a smile taking her hand and leading her tot he dance floor.

A slow waltz started, the jazzy piano and trumpet played in the background. I twirled her around once before putting my hand on her hip and began to dance slowly.

"You are the most beautiful girl at this party. Ever actually."

"You need to stop saying things like that or people are going to wander why I'm blushing so much."

"I'll never stop telling you how perfect you are."

"I'm not perfect." She leaned in close and whispered.

The music slipped away from us and I stopped and stared into her eyes. She gazed up at me and I leaned in. She flickered her eyes down to my lips and back up to my eyes. I went past her lips and put mine to her ear.

"You're perfect to me." I whispered.

She leaned her head back to look at me. I had a small smile on my face. She dropped her hand from shoulder and grabbed my other. She dragged me out of the party and out to the balcony that overlooked the city. She let go of my hand and walked to the railing, leaning against the bar.

"Alexis? Alexis, did I do something…? Did I say something wrong?" I said slowly approaching her from behind.

"No. I…I just needed some air." She turned around suddenly. "Why do you say those things? Those perfect things. Why?"

"Because they're true. I…I think the world of you."

She walked up to me and crashed her lips onto mine. The shock receded and I began to reciprocate the kiss. I poured every ounce of my feelings for her into the kiss. She pulled away, breathing heavily. She leaned her forehead against mine and our breathing mixed. Her hands still cradling my face, mine on her lower back.

"I don't want to hide this anymore. I feel too much for you. I want this now. I want you now. We are going to tell our parents. Tonight."