Boats and Birds

1. Avalanche, Oh, Avalanche

My 30th birthday.

My boyfriend woke me up with a kiss. He spent the night.

Not until I opened my eyes did I see that he had a lot more than just a kiss planned.

I gasped. "What is this?!" I smiled big.

"This is breakfast in bed. I thought you deserved it, Ace."

I sat up and allowed him to set the tray on my lap.

"What did I do to deserve this?"

He handed me the daily paper. The New York Times.

I opened it, eager to see what he was talking about.

I laughed when I found it.

My byline. My very first front page byline.

"We're going to frame this, you know," he told me knowingly.

I giggled and couldn't stop looking at it all breakfast.

"Thank you, Logan."

"No problem, Ror. Now, I have a very eventful day planned, so hurry up and get ready."

I finished my cup of orange juice, kissed him, and ran into the shower.

When I got out, I dried off and wrapped my towel around me.

Logan was waiting for me in my bedroom.

"So, what do you have in mind?" I asked him, looking in my wardrobe.

"Just pick a pair of jeans and a shirt. Also, take another nice shirt - for later."

I gathered the clothing and flung them on the bed and put on my undergarments.

Logan's voice came huskily. "You're turning me on, Ace."

I turned around and smiled. "We can't. Don't we have somewhere we have to be?"

"Oh, it can wait."

I giggled as he took my hand and flung me onto the bed and climbed on top of me.

Later

"Where are we going?" I asked, repositioning my blindfold into a more comfortable sit.

Logan laughed. "We're almost there. Hold your horses. Don't you dare take that bandana off your face, I swear to god…"

"Relax. It wasn't fitting right. All fixed. Now, if you would just tell me…"

"You have no knowledge on what the word 'Surprise' means, do you?"

"It's a family thing, I assume. Mom's got it too."

"I feel sorry for Luke."

"He's gotten used to it by now."

"I bet. How long did it take him?"

"About three years."

"Well, then, if you are anything like your mother, I have about two and a half years to go."

I laughed and he put some music on.

"Aw, Logan, you hate The Fray…"

"Ah, I do, but you love them."

I smiled and leaned back in my seat, listening to the music.

When we finally stopped after what seemed like hours, he ushered me out of the limousine.

"Can I take this stupid thing off?" I asked, impatiently, shoulders dropped for emphasis.

"Just for asking, I'm going to have you keep it on a little while longer."

"You're so mean," I pouted.

"Eh, you'll get over it."

I sighed heavily and heard him laugh.

"Fine, take it off."

I did with enthusiasm.

I blinked a couple of times.

"You're… giving me a jet?" I guessed, trying my hardest to sound thrilled. It didn't come out like that.

He laughed. "What boyfriend would I be if I thought you'd like that?"

"The one that wouldn't be with me," I smiled. "What are we doing with it?"

"We're going on it."

I stepped back. "Logan… where are we going?"

He sighed. "It's a surprise."

"Okay… How long is the ride?"

"Oh my effing god. Get in the damn jet," he half-joked, smiling, and nudged me up into the jet.

Later

"Oh my god. I can't believe I was there!" I exclaimed walking off the aircraft onto familiar New York ground.

Logan laughed. "How do you think Paris was, Rory?"

"It was amazing! How did you set that up?"

"It's a secret. Good present?"

"Best present!" I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him fully on the mouth.

"Well, thank you, Miss Gilmore," he said, smiling, his arms still around me. "But perhaps you should see the rest of your present first."

"I have more? What time is it?"

"It's only eight. We've got plenty of time." He slung an arm over my shoulder and we headed for the chauffeured car.

He told the man that we were going to the third place on the list.

I hate secrets.

I was waiting impatiently as the car went on its merry way and we sat in the back talking and kissing.

I ran my hand through his hair. "I'm so lucky to have you."

"Likewise, Ace. You better switch to the other shirt you brought."

"Right." I raised the limo's middle window and changed.

I looked around when we parked. It was dark. There was a door where Logan led me into.

It was pitch black when we walked through a long hallway.

"Logan, where are we?"

"Just a minute, Rory. Wait for a sec."

"I've been waiting."

"Okay. Here's the door."

He pushed me into it, and it was still very dark inside the room.

Then all the fluorescent lights came on and a whole bunch of people came out of nowhere and yelled, "Surprise!"

I felt my cheeks heat up in response as I gaped at the hardest-to-get-in club and all my friends (plus many more) that were in it.

"Oh my god!" I shouted, beaming.

I turned to Logan and gave him a face of question.

He gathered me in his arms and whispered in my ear, "Happy birthday."

I smiled and kissed him and all my friends 'ahh'd and 'ooo'd us.

I turned around and started making rounds.

There were people that I haven't seen in a while – just because of different schedules and stuff.

"Jen! Oh my god!" I screamed and ran over to hug her tightly.

"I missed you!" she said to my ear.

"It's been forever," I replied. "What? Three, four months?"

"Too long."

"Thanks for coming. I missed you too."

"Alright. Go say hello to everyone else. I'll meet up with you later."

"Yes, you will," I said walking away, going to greet some of my co-workers.

About a half an hour later, Logan tapped his champagne glass with a knife.

"Presents!" he called out and everyone settled down and I walked over to the table that had the collection of boxes wrapped in pretty paper.

After I was done, and after a few glasses of some fruity, alcoholic drink, I had to excuse myself to the restroom.

"Oh, I'll come with you," Logan teased, his eyebrows wiggling suggestively.

The crowd laughed and I declined, after kissing him.

I went to the bathroom, flushed, washed my hands, and started to make my way back up to the private room upstairs that Logan had booked.

I felt someone's eyes on me.

I turned around, looking.

I was right.

It was him.

Oh my god.

What the hell do I do?

He was advancing toward me.

I started working up my anger again.

I surprised myself when I realized after so long, I'm still very pissed at him.

"Having fun?" he asked.

I clenched my jaw at the too-personal question. "What the hell are you doing here, Tristan?"

His hand went to his chest in mock-hurt. "I heard you were having a party tonight. Can't I wish you a happy 3-0?"

"We haven't spoken for two and a half years. You just thought you'd ruin something else for me?"

"Oh, don't be so melodramatic, Rory. I just wanted to see how you were doing. Like you said, we haven't talked in a while."

"Whose fault is that?"

"You had my number."

"Didn't want to hear Michelle's voice. Oh yeah, how is your marriage?"

His eyes darkened and I knew that I achieved my goal of upsetting him.

"Just like the engagement, I suppose," he told me.

"Oh? That shitty?"

He clenched his jaw and decided not to answer. "Didn't see you at the wedding last year."

"Yeah," I narrowed my eyes, "Couldn't make it. Work – and stuff."

"Saw you in the paper. First page. Good job."

"A lot has changed."

He nodded toward Logan and spat, "I can see that."

My blood boiled. "Don't you dare make assumptions on my life."

"I'm just saying he doesn't seem like your type, is all."

I told him, through gritted teeth, "You don't know me. I am happy with Logan. Without you. Stay the hell out of my life."

After that, I left him and walked up the stairs.

When I got to the top, I hugged Logan and kissed him hugely on the mouth.

"Hey, what was that for?" he asked, smiling down at me.

I shrugged, not telling him the real reason. "It's just a great party."

I looked behind me and saw Tristan a floor lower, still staring at me. I glared at him.

"Great party," I muttered under my breath.

A/N: Okay, I bet you already knew that I just couldn't leave this story alone. It just wasn't finished. This was a very short chapter compared to the other story, but I thought you'd like it. I also wager that you're all asking yourselves the same question: "What the hell happened to them?" Well, it's all going to be revealed in later chapters. Also, I want to say as much as I hate Logan, I really didn't want to make a whole new character. Just want to say, as well, I WENT TO THE FRAY'S CONCERT two days ago. It was soooo amazing. You all should go. Eisley played as well and I love them too. I got a Fray shirt and an Eisley tote which I got signed by them. So amazing. I also got a picture with Eisley. Unfortunately, Fray doesn't come out to sign or take pictures. Damn them. Anyways, hope all of your summers are going great. I'm just waiting till my junior year of high school starts in about a month. I'm so excited. Please review, and thanks if you do. Also, I have a FictionPress account I just started. Same screen name. You should check it out. It's mostly just poetry. Okay, thanks to whoever is actually reading this right now, and thanks in advance for reviewing!