A Surprise friendship..
Author's note : My intention is for this story to be a PDLD but this is not definitive...
Chapter 1 :
On morning of Graduation, Logan is still waiting for Rory's answer and he is with Collin and Finn having late breakfast before the ceremony. They had decided to meet and come to the graduation as some of their Friends were graduating, including Stephanie and Rory.
"I have asked Rory to marry me last night at her Grand Parent's shindig."
"Did I hear you correctly Logan?" asked Collin coughing back a bit of the orange juice he had just drank.
"You did my Friends. And please no mention of the Vegas trip in front of her and of any of my indiscretions you know about, alright guys. Those mistakes I am not about to do again. I love her and we will have a great life together when she gets her senses back and answer me with a Yes" Logan says with confidence.
"Come on Logan, she knows at least for London doesn't she? " Finn asked a bit wondering what had been pushing Logan to propose to Rory at this moment in time.
Collin looked at Finn and then Logan.
"Nope, she doesn't have a clue and I want it to stay this way. I can't lose her, I love her. Once we are married, I will not wander, I am sure of it. " He added to himself, and I just wish she would be a bit more adventurous in the bedroom department.
"It's not fair for her Logan. You're asking her to marry you, but you are hiding this huge thing from her. What if she found out? And what about the London "issue". She has a right to know what she's getting into!" Finn said. "Having a kid is usually a skeleton that does not stay hidden for long." he added quickly.
"Don't worry about that, it was taken care of and Bobbie has everything she needs as long as she keeps this a secret. The kid will never need anything she won't be able to provide. He will even be able to attend Oxford if he wishes it!" Logan answered thinking of the deal his Dad made with Bobbie.
"But he won't have a father…" Finn whispers to himself and only Collin hears him.
Collin was a bit taken aback that Finn, out of all of them, would bring this out to Logan. Finn had not been a one woman man. He might himself be in this predicament without knowing. Although they haven't been hanging out as much he was stunned of his best friends attitude change… He himself was in Harvard Law School getting his Law degree in order to join his family Practice. Finn had been working since December in New York also in the Family business Hotels and Entertainment… he was in charge of the latter for the Morgan Group. But they had not met often with just that one time in Vegas to cheer up Logan, and cheer him up it did. Why was Finn so concerned?
"She won't find out unless you or Collin tell her. Anyway, what's it to you? Why are you all of a sudden concerned? You were even with me in Vegas and you knew I was with Rory? Why was it ok then and now? All of a sudden you have a conscience about how I wandered a couple of times. You of all people shouldn't talk, when were you in a relationship? "
"I didn't know then that you were at this point in your relationship with her. I hadn't seen you two together, or her for that matter, since you had left for London. In Vegas I thought you were in a straining relationship since you did not hesitate to have an affair. Don't you think you disserve better than to start a marriage that is already failing before you even get married? Do you really want to repeat your parent's mistakes?"
"Finn, how many of our parents do you believe has never had an affair? I am not delusional, I know both my parents strayed and quite a lot… Ok, maybe yours are still as "in Love" as they used to be but they are not living in Society all year round; your parents are in Australia most of the times. Collin's dad gets married every year or so to someone always a bit younger… You're the only one I know whose parents still are pretty much in love and who do not alienate their kids. This is what Society couples are to the exception of your parents and maybe Honor's."
"I don't know, I just think you owed her the truth before asking her to commit into marriage. After, there will be a lot more repercussions on both of you. Rory is a really nice girl, not like the type we used to have one-night stands with. She was special to you and we became friends with her. I kind of feel I am betraying her."
"Finn, you would be betraying me telling her."
"I know, and as one of your best mate, I will sustain… Collin?"
"Hey, no questions asked, you were the one with the conscience Finn. By the way what was up with you since after Vegas we have not heard much and nothing in the Press from one of the Most Eligible Bachelor in North America under 30? To think of it, even in Vegas, you were I believe the most sober one if not completely sober."
"Nothing, I just stayed put, I really love my work… I am in bars most of the evenings, handling the business so I can't drink much which was a big change for me. But the night life in New York is entertaining even sober! And I kind of met someone. We're taking it as it comes and I don't think it is love everlasting but still… we've been exclusive for 3 months now and she is not from Society." Finn said finishing almost in a whisper.
"What!" Collin quickly went. "You never mentioned it. Sex with the same girl for 3 months and you haven't strayed once! Now I'm the only one with no significant other? Who would have thought?"
Finn and Logan smirked at his reaction… "You were always a slow learner Collin."
In her bedroom, Rory was looking at her and Logan's engagement ring wondering how to go about and let Logan know of her decision. She tried the ring, it was beautiful, must have cost a fortune. Logan did have such great taste in Jewelry. She sight and put it back into its box. Why was she hesitating? They had been together for a year and a half. She never would have thought when she met Logan that they would last this long. Ok there was this thing with the "Bridesmaid" but that was ok now, everything was forgiven. But then, what will it mean to her career, and California is so far away. She then heard her phone beep… she picked it up and read "Hey, I am waiting downstairs… are you both ready?" quickly replying " I coming alone, Logan met up with Finn and Collin for late breakfast he will be going to the ceremony with them as they have other friends graduating today. " She sighed and got up to leave and meet up with her mom waiting downstairs.
The Ceremony was beautiful and I must admit, it is scary to go into the world not knowing where to end up… But deep down, I know I have to at least try to make it on my own… Otherwise, I will always wonder if I had it or if Mitchum Huntzberger was right. I can't deny that I need to prove myself and prove him wrong. So I guess I have my answer. I just don't want to get married right now. I just want to continue the way it is right now with Logan. Why couldn't we just be happy still together but without the expectation an engagement will bring…
And there it was…
"Logan... I m sorry. I can't. I love you. You know how much I love you. I love the idea of being married to you. But... there are just a lot of things in my life right now that are undecided, which used to scare me, but now I kind of like that it's all wide open and if I married you, it just wouldn't be." I answer him honestly, hoping he would understand.
"So, what ? I move to San Francisco, you stay back east, and we see each other occasionally?" he asks her with amazement.
"Well, we can try long distance. We've done it before." i reason with him.
"You really think that would work?" he asks
"I think it would be hard, but- I don't want to do that, Rory. I don't want to move backwards. If we can't take the next step..." Logan shrugs.
"What?" I ask afraid of the answe I would get.
"Does it have to be all or nothing?" I say with hope in my eyes.
"Yeah, it does." He replies in a sad voice.
It was all or nothing... Logan did not want status quo... either we were engaged or we were nothing. And I was devastated as I watched him leave. I hesitated going after him but I couldn't move, I couldn't even think. In my mind, we could have at least tried again.
Argh! Why did I agree to go out tonight! I am not ready to tell everyone Logan and I broke up… I feel like crawling into bed and crying my eyes out… Why couldn't he agree to keep our status quo? We could still be together even if not engaged. I might regret my decision all of my life now. Rory, you've thought about it, if you had you would regret because you would never find out whether you had it in your or not… stop this and go on.
So I finished preparing myself to join Lucy, Janet and Paris at the pub. We had not been there much last year. This was more the place I would hang out with Logan and his friends… Oh! No! What if they were there tonight! I am so not ready for this but they'll probably just ignore me, be mad at me, they are his friends after all. Anyhow, it's too late now not to go.
As I arrive at the pub, I look around and try to find the girls. I spot Lucy somewhere gesticulating while talking to Olivia so I approach them… "Hey Girlfriend! We did it. Why are you looking so bummed about?"
" I am not in the mood to talk much about it… it's just that Logan and I broke up this afternoon, but I don't want to bother you with it… let's celebrate our accomplishments! We are Yale Graduate after all! Is this Marty that I am seeing back at the bar?"
"Yeah, we are trying to get back together. Let's just see where it goes. But don't tell me that you had a crush on him for the longest time now that you are single!" As I am hearing her my face just goes white as I hear the Australian accent coming from the door. Of course they are also coming here. "I was kidding Rory, I know you haven't". I look up at Lucy and smile quickly.
"What can I get you all?" a waitress asks towards our group… everyone orders their drinks and she leaves. I then hear someone say "Gilmore" loudly… Paris! Never one with subtlety! I look up at the same time and see Logan eying me with such animosity in his eyes.
"Hey Paris how are you? "
"Good, Good. Why aren't sitting with Logan and his follower in the back?"
"Because I said I would come and celebrate with my girlfriends here. And because Logan broke up with me."
"What! He did what? I thought he just proposed?"
"Relax Paris, I refused. I am not ready to be married, I need to get my career started and I will never know if I have it if I get married to Logan right now. I would always wonder if it was because of my own achievements or because of my relations to the HPG that I would get by. When I told him that I did not want to be engaged right now, he decided it was all or nothing so it seems it is nothing for both of us…" I say and break apart… "Sorry guys, I need to go, I thought I could do this but with them here… I just can't." And I go toward the door quickly looking towards where Logan was sitting… He looked up his eyes were so mean when he looked at me… He smirked and then grabs the girl next to him and starts kissing her in front of me… I turn around and leave.
Once outside, I just go to the street and stop at the gate and I start crying like I had not since this afternoon. I just don't care that everyone passing by can see me like this… I am beyond caring at this point… why did he just do that, we haven't been over for more than 6 hours! I have got to get myself up… go home and do a lot of wallowing… and Packing oh God, I need to pack everything! As I am drying off my tears with my sleeve, I hear someone calling me.
"Rory, love, are you ok?" Finn says.
"What do you think? Do I look ok to you?" I answer a bit unsure as to how much he knows.
"Come here you need a hug." And Finn hugs Rory tightly. God this feels good right now she thinks.
"I am sorry; Logan just said you had broken up with him when he came back to us this afternoon. I thought you were both just pissed at each other?"
"No, I am not pissed at Logan. I am heartbroken because of him… Hey, you're sober? " I ask not really believing it… I think it is the first time I see Finn near a pub and not being drunk and without an entourage of woman.
"Yeah, not as much a drinker anymore… or should I say, I am normal drinker now! I am sorry for you guys… I thought if anyone would stay for the long haul with Logan it would be you. He did not say why you broke up when we were expecting to be celebrating your engagement! Yeah, he told us this morning. Why did you refuse? I guess you knew all along?"
"Knew what?" What should I have heard? Did Mitchum put Logan to doing it…
"Hmm nothing. Still why didn't you accept, you still love him?" He brushes off and I am still too shaken to make anything of his last question.
"You really want to know why?" I couldn't believe he was talking to me, not to say being nice to me. Why?
Finn nods and add "Only if you feel ok to talk about it."
"Because I need to start my career knowing I get offers for my talent and not my name. I wanted to stay with Logan as a couple. We could have done the long distance if I had found a job on the east coast or wherever I will end up, he could not accept the status quo." Finn looks at me with stunned eyes, "why is that so surprising… can't I want to prove myself becoming Mrs Someonelse."
"Ho, I kind of get it. Not exactly what Logan told us then! And honestly, I totally agree with you, now was not the right time"
"Finn" I hear Collin's angry voice. "I know you're talking to her. Why the hell are you doing talking to her! She just humiliated our best friend and you are here socializing with her! I can't believe you! Logan is in there angry as hell, and you leave me with him to go to her. Get your priorities straight Finn."
"Sorry Love, I gotta go back… Can I give you another hug! I'll email you if you don't mind from time to time" Finn says.
"Thanks, I would love a hug. And the email, don't feel obligated, Logan is your friend we hadn't even talked this year."
"If you think I would do anything out of an obligation you really do not know me Love. I will be in touch"
And he hugged me. God it felt so good.
"Finn" Collin's voice came again and Finn turned around and walked back to the pub looking back at me with a small smile as if saying sorry.
Arriving at her apartment, Rory finishes her boxes and cries herself to sleep. Tomorrow it's back to Stars Hollow and job search...
The next morning, she received and email from Finn.
"Morning, Love,
I hope you are doing better this morning. I am about to leave for New York and get back to my life but let me know how you are doing. Let's catch up a bit on the last year if you feel like it… we could meet anytime either in New York or your town soon. Don't worry, you've made the right choice.
I gotta go, I've got to leave someone at the airport on the way!
Take care, Yours truly
Finn"
This is so weird she thinks… I had not heard from him in the last year and he was just nearby, still, it is nice to know he cares… She clicks on reply but before she can write anything she hears the doorbell…