Author's Note: I thought it would be interesting to do this story in 3 parts. The first part will be in the POV of Rory's current boyfriend, second chapter will be in Logan's POV and then third chapter will be Rory's POV. I hope you enjoy!
My name is James Hearst and I have been dating Rory Gilmore for 2 years now and I was ready to propose. We had met at a gala for the New York Times three years ago and it took me a year to convince her to go out with me. I could tell she had suffered some major heartbreak but I figured with time she would move on with me. I figured I would try friendship first and when she was ready I would make my move.
We had been dating for a year and a half when I had asked her to move in with me six months ago but she said she couldn't. She said it was because of her lease but when it was up they could talk about it again. I felt like she was still holding back but I didn't want to push her and end up losing her. I wanted to take the next step with her, marriage. I had decided I was going to propose but I needed to figure out the perfect place and time.
It was the night of the gala for the New York Times and I figured this would be the perfect time to propose, as it was the place and event where we had met 3 years ago.
I had picked her up from her apartment and we had taken a car service here. It was beautiful but nowhere as beautiful as her. She was wearing a dark blue long silk dress with a high slip with a low scoop neck top. She had her hair curled and down and had some dark makeup.
I couldn't help but stare. She caught me staring and kissed me chastely then smiled as we entered the ballroom. We looked around and took in the scene before we decided to move forward. All of the big names in journalism were there. I felt her tense and looked to where she was staring and saw Mitchum Huntzberger and his son Logan Huntzberger.
The Huntzberger's and my family were somewhat competitors in the journalism world. Neither one of us owned the New York Times but we were always looking to purchase it. My family owned most of the newspapers that the Huntzbergers didn't. We were just as wealthy as them and you could say that we didn't get along. However, we knew how to behave in society.
I looked over at Rory and saw that she wanted to start mingling on the opposite side of the room from the Huntzbergers and I was relieved. We had been mingling for about an hour when Mitchum approached us.
I saw him look at me and then at Rory smirking before he spoke.
"Hello James. Rory."
I spoke first as I could feel Rory tense. I slipped my arm around her waist, where she relaxed a bit before answering, "Hello Mitchum, How are you? Still pining for the NYT?"
Mitchum simply laughed before saying, "Well, it's always on our radar as I'm sure it is for your family. So Rory, I hear you are working for the New York Times. How have you been?"
Rory smiled back but I could tell it was forced. "Hello Mitchum. I've been good, busy."
"Rory I was hoping we could move forward from the past. I have seen your work and am very impressed. I know you would not come work for an HPG publication but at least accept my apologies. Please stop by and say hello to Logan, I know he would love to see you."
With that Mitchum walked away and Rory dragged me straight to the bar where she downed a martini. I looked at her for an explanation but she just ordered another martini, said she would tell me later and that we should split up to make our appearance shorter by splitting the guests in half.
I watched as she started walking away and talking with some of the people there. I did the same with the rest of the people, keeping an eye on her.
After about a half an hour I looked around and saw Logan Huntzberger approach her. I knew I shouldn't have left her alone. I didn't know how they knew each other and from the looks of it they seemed to have been close.
I watched as she tensed up when he came over but after a couple of minutes she seemed to relax. As their conversation continued I watched as both of their faces lit up as they were laughing and how he reached out to rest his hand on her arm. I couldn't believe what I was seeing but I couldn't make myself interrupt just yet. I was curious to see what was going to happen.
I saw when he asked her to dance. They walked to the dance floor and began dancing society style. However as the song continued I watched as he began whispering in her ear and how she simply stared back at him. He pulled her closer with his hands dangerously low on her back and her hands playing with his hair while they danced in silence. I began to realize that Logan was the man that had broken her heart.
After watching them for a few more minutes I made my way over and asked to dance before she left me for him. He looked at me nodding his head, let go of her and told her to find him before she left.
I tried to get information out of her but all I could get out of her was that she had dated Logan when she was at Yale for a little over 2 years and they had broken up 3 years ago and that this was the first time she had seen him since.
We continued to dance until we were ready to leave. She approached Logan to say goodbye. They hugged goodbye and they both looked like they didn't want to let go of each other. They exchanged information and said they would meet for coffee the next day.
I knew I couldn't propose to her today. Not until I knew the rest of the story.
We got into the car and I tried to get information out of her but she said that it was late and they could talk about it tomorrow. She began yawning saying she was going to go to sleep at her apartment and she would call me tomorrow. I watched as the car pulled up to her building, where I walked her to her door. She kissed me chastely and then went inside.
I had no idea what had happened to their relationship but I knew that it should be public knowledge due to Logan's family's status. I decided to look it up online and read the articles about him leaving HPG, that he had proposed and that she had said no. I continued reading and saw that he had moved to California after he left HPG but was currently expanding his company and merging with HPG. He was moving back to New York. I knew I was in trouble.
Rory had never been interested in me for my money nor my position in the journalism world. I also knew in those areas, Logan could offer her the same. I had to figure something out before I lost her but I might already be too late.
The next day I called Rory and I knew she had her coffee date with Logan but I wanted to talk to her before she left. I got her machine and couldn't help but feel like I was losing her without a chance of even fighting for her. I decided to go for a walk in hopes of taking my mind off of the two of them sitting in a coffee shop together.
I ended up in her neighborhood and thought that since it was an hour later she might be in her apartment. When I got near her apartment I saw her sitting in front of the window in the coffee shop talking seriously with Logan. They both looked serious but you could see that there eyes still carried love for each other. Then they started laughing and I saw him reach over and place his hand over hers. I waited for her to do something but all she did was intertwine their fingers. I watched as they continue to talk and knew I had to talk to her later.
A couple hours later, I was back in my apartment when Rory called. She asked if she could come over. I was happy. I thought that this was a good sign
She walked in and sat down hesitantly before uttering the words no one ever wants to hear. "We need to talk."
She explained her prior relationship with Logan and how it was the first time she had seen him. She said how they had talked and he had admitted that he had made a mistake by giving her an ultimatum. She said how she still felt love for him and that he still felt love for her. She said that she knew she would regret it if she didn't give her and Logan another chance.
She said that she loved me but that she wasn't in love with me. She apologized for hurting me and leading me on. She hoped we could be friends in the future.
I told her I didn't understand what he could offer her that I couldn't. She simply said that it wasn't what he could offer her materialistically but simply that he had stolen her heart and never given it back. She said had she met me before him, she would have been in love with me instead of him but it was too late.
Then she left.
I went over to my closet and pulled out the ring knowing I had to sell it. I would always love her but her heart belonged to him.
Six months after that day, I was bringing in all of the newspapers when the headline of the New York Times caught my eye.
Logan Huntzberger finally weds college sweetheart Rory Gilmore in small ceremony
I went on to read the article and saw the pictures where both their eyes were oozing of love and happiness that I had never seen in her before.
They had married in a small wedding and were heading for a month long honeymoon to Asia.
It went on to state how the Huntzbergers could not be more thrilled to have a fellow journalist join their family and that it was about time.
I always figured she would realize she made a mistake and come back to me but now it was too late.
He had taken her heart years ago and she had let him. Now he had taken it forever.
