Rory looked at the bright lights of Las Vegas. She didn't know how Logan and Finn talked into spending her 21st birthday here but they did. She couldn't imagine her life without her two best friends. Logan was the mastermind behind all of their adventures and Finn was the funny one and on the odd occasion he was sober he gave great advice.
Logan had told her earlier in the day he had a surprise to give her in the Vegas. She still didn't know how he managed to set everything up in that short amount of time. It hadn't registered that she was finally 21; it was like her sixteen birthday she didn't feel sixteen until she got her license and her car.
Now she was on private plane on her way to Vegas with her friends. Logan kept hinting at his present to her all day and now it was just bugging her. Finn leaned over during the flight and told her that she would like it. It seemed that the present was from everyone.
When they landed in Vegas they went straight to their hotel to get ready for a night on the town. Rory just looked at her possible outfits for the evening.
"Hey Finn, could you come in here?" She called across the hall to Finn and Logan's room. Soon both arrived in her room knocking on her door.
"What's up Rory?" Finn asked sounding a little sober.
"I can't decide what to wear."
"Well okay." Both boys looked at the outfits laid out on the bed. Of course Finn picked the most sluttish while Logan decided to pick a happy medium. "How about that shirt with this skirt and those shoes?" Rory hugged him and went into the bathroom to change.
"So love do you think she'll like her present?"
"Well I talked to him and he said after the way they left things she'll be happy to see him."
"I hope she likes it, she's been so depressed since what's-his-name."
"Yeah I know. He was just a jerk who used her, she deserved better."
"I say we drink to that!" Finn shouted as he broke up a bottle of alcohol.
"Too sober?"
"Yes I can't handle being like that for very long." He handed Logan a glass.
"To Rory's present." They both downed their glasses and headed out to meet up with Rory's present.
An hour later the group sat in the Real World Suite of the Palms. They were holding Rory's party there away from the crowded bar downstairs. Rory sat among boxes of clothes and CDs laughing and taking pictures with her friends.
"Hey guys, where are Logan and Finn?"
"They went to pick up your other gift don't worry."
"I'm not worried they are just missing all the fun." Just then Logan and Finn arrived with Rory's 'present'. She ran and gave the boys hugs and she came face to face with her present.
"Ya know Mare I thought I would at least get a hug after all these years." Rory's mouth fell open and she squealed.
"Tristan!" She wrapped her arms around his neck. "What are you doing here?"
"Well my cousin over here called me and asked if I wanted to come spend some time in Vegas."
"Your cousin?"
"Logan's my cousin."
"But Logan how did you know?"
"When I heard you talking about Tristan to Steph the other night I thought I should give him a call."
"So Mare did you miss me?"
"Of course." They went back to the party and hours later everyone was falling asleep so they went back to their hotel rooms. Tristan went to stay with Logan when Rory stopped him.
"What's wrong?"
"Wanna catch up?"
"Sure." She shut her door behind him and went into the bathroom.
"So Tristan how was life after Chilton?"
"Well Military School wasn't bad it actually changed me."
"How so?"
"I guess it showed me that there was more to life then girls and parties. Then after graduation I went to Yale."
"You go to Yale?"
"Well I did."
"You did?"
"Yeah I transferred to NYU during freshman year."
"Why?"
"I needed to get out of the society. I mean I was the happiest I could remember in North Carolina well with the exception that you were there."
"What?" She asked coming out of the bathroom in the pjs. Tristan looked at her up and down amazed at how she had changed.
"I had fun in North Carolina but I missed you."
"What are you saying?"
"Everybody knew that I had feelings for you. But we just didn't want to realize them. Why else do you think Logan invited me down here?"
"Oh."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing it just all makes sense."
"What all makes sense?" He sat down on the edge of the bed waiting for her answer a look of confusion on his face.
"Well I haven't been myself since Dean and I broke up a couple of weeks ago and I guess Logan knew that I had been thinking a lot about you."
"You and bag boy stayed together that long?" He replied with a hint of amazement in his voice.
"No we broke up shortly after you left then got back together."
"Oh, so you thought about me?"
"Well Paris wondered how you were awhile ago and so I guess I have thought about you."
"What about me?"
"What would've been."
"What do you mean what would've been?"
"I wondered what would've happened had you stayed."
"Oh well that's easy, we would've gotten together."
"Really?"