Rory Gilmore is your typical teenager. Not. She lives with her mother and never hears from her father let alone sees him. She has her mother's fiancé, Luke who has been more of a father to her then her own. She grew up going to school in Hartford, as per her grandparent's request, up until High School. Not that she minds, she did grow up with everyone she goes to school with. Her mother is known as the "cool mom" to her friends and they sometimes include her in their plans. She didn't always go to Chilton with her friends, she had attended Stars Hollow high her freshmen year. Last year was different; she started to go with them thanks to her grandparents. When she told her friends, everyone was thrilled, especially Logan. He's her best friend, that's how they grew up. Everyone kept telling Rory that he had a thing for her but she always brushed it off and said that they were mistaking his friendliness for liking. It's not like she didn't like him, it's just that she denied it every time someone would ask her if she did. She didn't want to ruin them. After all, they did grow up best friends. This year, their junior year was going to change them though, but was it going to be for the better or for the worse?

It was later that same day when Rory was looking for something to do so that Luke and Lorelai could have the house to themselves. She decided to call Logan to see if he was busy. "Logie, what are you doing?"

He cringed at the childhood nickname but chuckled. "I'm actually not doing anything Ace. Is something up?"

"No, nothing's up, I just want to see you. Can you come and get me?"

"Not until you give me the real reason."

She pouted. "Fine. I want to give Mom and Luke some time alone."

"So then why didn't you just tell me that?"

"Because, that's not what I'm telling Mom. I'm also telling her that I'm staying at Steph's tonight."

"When you're really staying with me."

"Correct."

"I'll be there in twenty minutes Ace." He hangs up and gets in his car and drives to her house.

Rory packs an overnight bag and brings it out into the living room. "Mom, I'm going over to Steph's I'll see you tomorrow ok?"

"Whoa, since when?"

"Since a few minutes ago when I called her, and she wanted me to come over."

"Oh ok. Well have fun; call me if you need anything." She kisses her cheek and smiles.

"I will Mom. You and Luke have fun too, I love you."

"Love you too kid."


Rory grabs her bag and walks out of the house and sees that Logan is in her driveway. She smiles, getting into his car. "Thanks."

"No problem." He pulls out of her driveway and looks at her from the corner of his eye. "So why did you lie to Lorelai?"

She sighs, looking out the window. "I don't know. I know I didn't have to; I just didn't want to tell her why I was leaving. I'm not saying Luke doesn't like me, I know he does, I just don't think he's comfortable sleeping there when I'm there, you know? Mom said that's not true, but I know Luke. I just want them to have some alone time."

"I'm sure he's comfortable sleeping there when you're there, it's just new to him. I really think you should talk to Lorelai, Ace."

She nods. "I will, soon." She looks at him. "Why does school have to start on a Friday?"

He chuckles, looking at her. "I'm not sure; take it up with the school board."

"Don't give me any ideas." She smiles. "So how's Summer?"

He nods some. "She's good, none too happy with me when I told her she couldn't spend the night with me tonight."

"Oh Logan, if I knew you wanted her there I would have went to Finn's."

He shook his head. "No, no I didn't tell her after you called me; I told her yesterday when she left."

She nodded. "Ok." She frowns. "Summer doesn't like me very much, does she?"

He chuckles. "I don't know why though. Don't worry about it though ok? You'll always come first."

"Logan, no don't do that to me. Don't put me first, put her first."

"I'll try not to but remember you'll always be my best friend."

"Well duh, it's mandatory that I am. That's how we grew up."

He laughs at her. "Cute Ace, very cute."

She grins. "I know I am."

He pulls into his driveway and turns the car off. "Alright get out."

She sticks her tongue out at him. "Such a gentleman." She grabs her bag and gets out of the car and goes into the house.

"This is going to be a long night." He got out and followed her into the house. "You want me to take you to your room or you want to hang out for awhile?"

"Logan, it's only eight thirty, we're going to watch a movie then we can go to bed." She looks at him, biting her lip. "Unless you don't want to then I'll go to bed now."

He puts his arm around her shoulders and leads her up to his room. "No, you're going to watch the movie with me. I get to pick though." He walks into his room with her and goes over to the television.

"No fair, but fine." She walks in with him and sits on the chair next to his bed, curling into a ball. "Pick something good on Mac."

He puts on Spiderman and lies down on his bed. He looks at her. "What are you doing on the chair?"

"Watching a movie."

"But you never sit on the chair when we're in here alone together. Come over here."

"I want it to go on record that I've got a bad feeling about this." She gets up and lies down, her head near his feet. "Don't kick me."

"Wouldn't dream of it Ace." He started to watch the movie with her.

"Should I be worried that you love this movie?"

"No, you shouldn't. Hey, you love the movie John Tucker Must Die."

"So?"

"So nothing, I'm just making my point."

"Ok, jeez." She moved and sat on the floor and continued to watch the movie.

He sighed and turned on his stomach so he could see her. "What's the matter Rory?"

She looks at him. "I don't know. Maybe I'm just tired."

He picks her up and pulls her onto the bed. "Then let's sleep. You know I can get you to sleep better then anyone else."

"Yeah, I know."

Flashback…

A two year old Rory had been crying for the past three nights, not even sleeping. Lorelai and Emily were taking shifts to get the little girl to go to sleep but nothing was working.

"Mom, nothing is working. Nothing is wrong with her, she just won't stop." Lorelai looked at Rory. "Come on baby girl, go to sleep."

"No." She was still crying.

Lorelai sighed and picked her up out of the crib and put her down.

Shira Huntzberger walked in with her then, three year old son and saw that Rory was crying. "She still won't stop?"

Lorelai shook her head. "No, it's been three days."

Logan walked over to Rory and hugged her. "Wory shh, its kay." He walked her over to the rug he usually uses for his naps when he's over there and lies down on it with her. "Wory sleep." He wrapped his arms around her as best as a three year old could and the pair soon fell asleep.

Lorelai gasped, shaking her head. "I don't get it. I tried everything, I even did that and it didn't work."

Shira laughed and took Lorelai out of the room so she could get some much needed sleep. "I guess he knew what to do."

Rory laughs as she remembers the story. "I think Mom was grateful for you right then and there, little Logie taking charge like that."

"Hey, to this day I'm the only one who can get you to go to sleep when you've been up for days or you're sick."

"And I appreciate it very much, you know that."

He smiles. "Yes, I do."

She lies down next to him, putting her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're my best friend."

"Why's that?"

"Just am. Now hush, Rory wants to sleep. Night."

"Night Ace." He covers them both and rubs her back as she sleeps. He falls asleep a few minutes later with a faint smile playing upon his lips.


When Logan woke up, he saw that somehow, in the middle of the night, Rory ended up with her head on his chest. He remembers her starting that not long after she started seeing Dean.

About two years ago…

Rory had been seeing Dean for three months and she wanted Logan to meet him. Since she started seeing him, she had changed; she was a lot quieter then normal. Logan asked her numerous times about it but she blew him off each time saying that she was tired. When Logan saw them together that day, he knew Dean was the cause for Rory's mood change.

"Logan, this is Dean. Dean, this is Logan, my best friend." Rory hugged Logan and kissed his cheek then stood by Dean again. Dean wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her towards him.

Logan saw Rory wince under his touch and grew slightly worried. "Nice to meet you man." Logan offered Dean his hand but the taller teen refused.

"So how do you and Rory know each other?"

"We grew up together."

"Oh so you live in Stars Hollow?"

"Hartford actually. Rory went to school with us and my parents and her Mom are friends."

"So you're the reason she goes to Chilton."

"Dean, he's not the reason I'm going there and you know that." She gives Logan an apologetic look.

"Ace, it's ok. Actually Bean, I am. I helped talk Richard and Emily into paying for it."

"It's Dean."

"Sorry man could have sworn she said Bean."

Dean pulls Rory away from Logan. "We need to go."

Rory frowns. "Bye Logan. Call me later ok?"

Logan sighs to himself. He blamed himself and still does for Rory getting that black eye that night. He shook her gently and looked at her. "Ace, come on, get up."

She opened her eyes and saw where her head was and immediately woke up. "Sorry." She grabbed her bag and went into the bathroom and showered. She came back out half an hour later, dressed and sat on his bed.

He had gotten up and went into the kitchen to get her some coffee. He handed it to her when she got out and he went into the bathroom himself and got ready for school. He came out and went over to her. "Do my hair for me?"

She laughed at him and brought him into the bathroom. She sat on the counter and pulled him to stand between her legs. She grabbed the gel and put some in her hands and worked them through his hair.

He put his hands on her hips and looked up at her. Her tongue was poking out slightly as it usually is when she's concentrating on something.

"All done." She kissed his forehead then got off of the counter and washed her hands. She dried them and smiled. "Ready Logie?"

"Yes I am, Oreo." He smirked at her.

She hit him. "You swore you'd never call me that again."

"Well when I started to call you that it stuck, I like it."

"Yeah, yeah let's go already." She grabbed his hand and dragged him from the bathroom and downstairs. "So what are you and Summer doing tonight?"

"I'm not sure. She told me she was busy so probably nothing." He unlocks his car and they get into it. "Why?"

"I think we should do something, you, me, Finn, Tristan, Steph, and Colin. Please?"

"What did you have in mind Ace?"

She grins. "Well, I'm almost eighteen now and what did I promise you guys I'd do the month before I turned eighteen?"

He grins, pulling out of the driveway and heading towards the school. "Ace, you want to drink, finally?"

"Keep pushing it mister and I'll wait until I'm twenty-one. I talked to Finn about it yesterday when I called him and he said he'd get the stuff. So it's either your place or his."

"We'll do it at his, at six?"

"Sounds good to me." She gets out her phone and texts him.

Logan looks over at her and sees her smiling. "You like Finn, don't you."

She looks at him. "No, why."

"It's ok to like him Ace, he's a good guy."

"I do not like him. He's one of my best friends."

"So now I've got to share the role of best friend."

"Yes, you do. Besides, Mom likes him more then she likes you." She sticks her tongue out at him.

"Ouch, Ace, I'm hurt. So then you don't like him?"

"For the last time, I don't like him like that."

"Ok, ok. That's all I'm asking." He parks the car in his spot and gets out with her. He sees Summer leaned up against a car, kissing some guy. "What the hell?"

Rory sees what he's looking at and gasps. "Logan, don't." She goes over to him and stops him from going over there. "Don't go over there now, wait until later. I don't want you getting suspended your first day back."

"Ace no, let me go over there."

"Then let me go with you." She quickly texted Finn and Tristan and looked at him. "I'm not letting you go over there alone."

"Fine." He clenches his jaw and walks over with her. "Summer."

Summer gasps, breaking away from the guy, and looks at Logan. "Logan, hi."

"Don't 'hi' me. What the hell are you doing?"

"I was just catching up with an old friend."

"To me, you were being too friendly, considering you've got a boyfriend."

"You're the one who dumped me for the night to hand out with that." She gestures to Rory.

"Actually, Summer, I didn't 'dump' you for the night to hang out with Rory. I didn't even know I was going to see her last night until after I told you to stay home. But you weren't home were you?"

"I don't have to answer to you."

"Just like I don't have to answer to you." He looks at her. "You know what? I'm done with this Summer." He grabs Rory's hand and walks away with her.

"Yeah go run off with your two bit whore."

Rory stops walking and goes back over to Summer. "What did you just call me?"

"A whore. You should know what one is, you read enough books. Besides, that's what your mother is." She laughs.

She looks at Summer and punches her in the face just as Finn and Tristan walk up. "Don't ever talk about me or my mother."

Summer goes to punch Rory back but she ducks and punches Summer in the face again, knocking her to the ground. "Now stay away from me, and stay away from my friends, got it?"

Summer scoffs and gets up, running to her car crying.

Tristan and Finn come up to Rory and carry her away from the rest of Summer's group before she can get into more trouble.

"Jeez Mare, didn't think you had that in you."

She wriggles in their grasp. "Put me down!"

"Sorry Love, we can't.

"Guys put her down."

Tristan and Finn put her down and she walks over to Logan. "You ok?"

He hugs her tightly and nods. "Yeah I'm ok. Thanks for doing that."

"Hey, you did the same for me when I had to break up with Dean."

"Dean, we need to talk."

"What's he doing here?" He gestures to Logan.

"I want him here." She looks at him. "Dean we need to break up."

"Rory, what the hell?"

"Dean, don't ok."

"You'll regret this Rory, you'll see." He walks away from them and Rory turns to Logan.

"What does he mean?"

Logan hugs her. "Don't worry; I'll make sure he doesn't come near you."

She shudders at the memory and looks at him. "You still want to hang out with everyone tonight?"

"Yes, I do. Come on Ace. I'm sure lover boy wants a hug."

She punches him playfully and runs over to Finn, jumping in his arms. "Logan thinks that we've got something going on."

He wraps his arms around her waist, holding her up, and looks at her. "Like what Love?"

"He thinks we're lovers."

"I guess it's time to come clean then huh Love?"

She nods. "I think its best Finny." She looks at Logan. "Logan, Finn and I have been dating for the past year and I'm in love with him."

Logan's jaw drops and he looks at the two of them. "What? Finn, what the hell man?"

Rory laughs, standing up. "We're kidding." She walks over to him. "I'm sorry Mac."

Logan glares at the two of them but his face softens when he sees Rory pouting. "It's ok; just don't do something like that again."

"But it was fun."

"Not to me."

She loops her arms around his waist. "Do you honestly think I'd date Finn, let alone keep it from you?"

"Hey!"

"Hush Finny." She looks at Logan. "Well do you?"

"No, I didn't think you'd date him." He kisses her forehead. "Come on, let's get you to class." He puts his arm around her shoulders and walks into the building with her. "You want me to take you home?"

"After school, yes I'd like that. Will you hang out with me until Mom gets home too?"

He nods. "I will. What's our first class?"

"History. Room eleven."

"Ok." He leads them to the classroom and he sits down with her in the back.

Finn looks at Rory. "Love, why won't you date me?"

She smiles. "Because you're not my type Finny."

He frowns. "But I'm exotic."

"And I love you for it, but you're not my type."

He sighs. "Fine, but before the end of this year Love, I'm finding you a man."

She nodded some. "Ok Finn." She turned around and faced the front of the class.

Logan hit Finn upside the head and shook his head. "Shut up."

"Sorry Mate."

Tristan sits in front of her and looks at her. "You ok Mare?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." She looks at him, her voice low. "What if the one guy I want, I can't have?"

He shrugs. "Just go for him. But can I ask why you can't have him?"

She sighs. "If I answered that then you'd know who it was."

"Mare, just tell me, I'll help you."

She sighs. "It's Logan."