Disclaimer: I do not own Castle.

AN: Thank you for the follows and favorites, and especially for the reviews :)

Chapter 7

"Kate, it won't be long until he asks you out, take my word for it, he'll be asking me for your number soon" said Alexandria

"I don't know guys, I'm not sure if I want to get into anything right now"

"Why not? Alex is hot, and he's a nice guy, you don't find that a lot these days" said Maddie.

"And… I'm sick of the stupid blondes he used to date. I'm glad he's finally found someone smart to hit on" said Alexandria

"This isn't about you Alexandria" said Madison. Kate nodded and Maddie went on "This is about me"

"You?" Kate asked, looking at Maddie.

"Yes, me. I couldn't take the idea of him dating all those bimbos, he needs someone hot, someone smarter than him, someone to out-wit him, leave him speechless, and I think Kate's just perfect for that, and that's what I would totally root for"

"That's how you explain this to be about you?" said Alexandria. Maddie nodded, and both Kate and Alexandria burst out laughing

"Anyway, he hasn't asked you out yet, so let's stop breaking our heads over it, until the time comes" said Maddie and they continued to eat.

Kate however was hyperaware of his question from this morning "go out with me" he had said. "I'm interested in you". Those very words and the way he said her name at her ear, all of it was on repeat in her head. Suddenly, she found that all she could think about was Richard Castle.

That night back in her hostel room, Kate opened up her phone and quickly pulled up his contact on her phone. What really made her smile was that he had not only saved his number there, but had also clicked an image of him and saved it with his name 'Richard Castle'

"Hi, Kate here." she sent him a text. There was no reply for a while, so she kept her phone aside, and got to doing her homework. Just as she was done, she heard her phone beep

"Kate, Hi, I thought you were never going to get back to me"

"Why, should I beware of you?" she replied with a winking face.

"Nothing of the sort, I was just impatient to hear back from you"

"That's good to know"

"So does this mean you'll go out with me?"

"About that… Yes, I don't mind getting a coffee with you, but that's all, nothing more"

"That's perfect"

"Kate, can I ask you a favor"

"Shoot"

"Don't tell Alexandria I asked you out"

"Okay, but I don't understand why."

"I'll tell you when we meet, so what you up to?" He replied

"I was just finishing up with homework, wbu?"

"I'm at a party with friends" he said

"Okay, don't let me disturb you, have fun" she replied back

There was no reply from him soon after, and Kate assumed he was too engrossed in whatever party he was at. So she kept her phone away, pushed her books aside, and decided it was time to sleep.

When Kate woke up the next morning, she sat up and checked her phone. There were quite a few messages on her phone, all from him.

The first one came in at 2 am. It said "Kate, are you awake, I want to see you."

The second came shortly after that "gosh, I can't stop thinking about you"

Then there was a message an hour later "I'm drunk as fuck, and I kind of really want to see you right now"

The next was at 5 am "Kate, are you a virgin?"

She laughed at that one, he really was drunk as hell.

The last one, 15 minutes later read "I really want to kiss you, tell me where you are"

Kate put the phone down, and threw herself back on her bed, and buried her face into the pillow. The guy was thinking about her the whole time he was drunk. She didn't know what to think, but right now there was a blush on her face, and a flutter in her heart and just one name on her mind. Richard Castle.

"Good morning Rick, how's the hangover treating you? I guess you could do with a coffee this morning. If you're up to it, let me know." she sent to him.

Richard Castle woke up to a pillow hitting his back with great force

"Wake up Alex! It's 8 am on a Sunday morning! What time did you get in last night?!" said Alexandria, as she kept hitting his bare back with a pillow.

"6.30 am" he mumbled into his pillow

"Mom's gone to meet some of her old friends for brunch, she's left breakfast for you in the kitchen, I'm off for a jog"

"Yea" he mumbled back, and fell back asleep, his phone clutched tight in his hand.

At exact 11 am, his eyes opened again, this time to Alexandria's voice.

"You're still asleep?"

He turned over to look at her standing at his room door.

"I'm up now"

"Alright, I'm off, meeting Kate and Maddie at the mall"

"Hmmm" he mumbled and Alexandria went away.

Kate. KATE! Alex looked at his phone and sat up with a start. He saw that there was a text message from her. And it was a message asking him to meet her for coffee.

He quickly texted her back "Goodmorning, is it too late? Or are you willing to ditch my sister and Madison to help me nurse my hangover with some good caffeine"

"I'm sorry, you're too late. Maybe next time"

"Okay, how about you text me when all your shopping is done, and when your company has left you, and I'll walk you home"

"I'll let you know" came her reply.

"I'll be waiting" he replied. He kept his phone aside, and ran his hands through his hair. His head was throbbing with pain. He doesn't even remember how much he drank last night, all he remembers was sitting at a booth with his friends and their girlfriends, and texting someone.

Texting someone.

His eyes widened and he quickly reached for his phone again.