Chapter 3. That's why we love her.

Rory left a note on her bed as she snuck out of the room. Good morning. Didn't want to wake you. I'm in the park. Call me when you read this. R´

Kiera obviously needed the sleep and she, Rory, had to meet Logan and the others. When she arrived in the park Stephanie was already setting up the picnic table. Logan and Colin were busy teasing Finn, who was so hung over he really did look rather green.

"Hey"

"Hey Ace", Logan got up and pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "I've missed you all night. How is your friend?"

"Oh, she's still asleep. She's in pretty bad shape. Her fiancé ended their engagement pretty viciously yesterday. That's why she came here; she didn't want to stay in her apartment."

"Why didn't she go home then? If she went to Chilton she must live pretty near here."

Rory and Logan settled down on the blanket as Rory started to relate the history of her friend.

"Well, her family is from here originally but she didn't grow up here. Her parents sent her here when it was time for her to go to Chilton. She lived with an old friend of they family who died last summer. But Kiera grew up in Kuala Lumpur."

"She grew up in Malaysia?" Colin asked incredulously.

"Mhm. Her parents still live there. It's the headquarters of the family business."

"And what does her family do?" Stephanie asked curiously.

Rory put her head to the side and squinted against the sun behind Stephanie. " Ever heard of Wyndam Enterprises?" she asked.

"Wyndam Enterprises?" Finn said, suddenly startled awake. "As in Wyndam Medicals, Wyndam Aeronautics and Wyndam Agronomics? That Wyndam Enterprises?"

"One and the same. Kiera is their only daughter. And therefore just as filthy rich as you guys." She said the last part teasingly to all of them.

"Wow. Beautiful, rich and, if I heard you correctly, recently available." Colin assessed.

" No no no. Not available. She's been really hurt. Heartbroken. She is still very much off limits. That applies to you, Robert and especially YOU." Rory pointed a warning finger at Finn.

"Me?" he asked innocently. " I would never get involved with a girl like her!"

"Ha ha. You never really get involved with anyone, do you? So I guess that's not promising to much on your part. But I mean it, Finn. The last thing Kiera needs right now is some charming Aussie fratboy doing a number on her. So try to control your instincts. And your hormones."

"All right, all right. I will be nice, but not to nice."

"Good! Thank you."

They all turned to the food and had just started eating when Rory's cellphone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hi, it's me. I'm up now. Showered and dressed. So how do I find you guys? And do you have any food at home? I'm starving."

"We're having a picnic, so yes, all the food you can eat. Just go out side, round the building and straight on ´till you see the park. You should see us from there."

"Right. Thanks. See you in a minute then."

A few minutes later Kiera came walking over to them. She had her hair let down and its dark red colour made it sparkle like fire in the sunshine. Rory noticed that she had borrowed her brown knee length cardigan and a pair of sneakers. She looked better then last night but still a little worn around the edges and Rory could just assume that her choice of cardigan had been based on preventing her shirt riding up and revealing her bruised back to anyone.

"Hi, sweetie!" Rory jumped up and hugged her friend gently. "Everyone, this is Kiera Wyndam. Kiera, this is Logan.."

Logan got up and shook her hand. "Hi, nice to meet you."

"…and Stephanie…"

"Hi, welcome to Yale."

"…and I believe you have already met Colin and Finn." Rory concluded the introductions.

"Ah, yes." Kiera smiled at Colin and Finn. "My knights in, well, not shining armour maybe, but equipped with telephones, which is much more important. And how are you two feeling today? A bit hung over perhaps?" she teased as she settled down on the blanket between Rory and Finn.

Finn shrugged. "I've been worse. And anyways, seeing my lovely lady again is definitely the best cure ever."

Rory shot him a warning glare, but Kiera just laughed. "You are a charmer, aren't you? Sorry to disappoint you but that's not going to get you anywhere here."

"I'm crushed." Finn said and theatrically but his hand over his heart. "But that's okay. Rory has just warned us all off again. Friends: off limits."

Kiera laughed again. "Yes, our Rory takes good care of her friends." She looked over at her friend affectionately and nudged her shoulder with her own. "Always has. That's part of the reason we love her so much." Kiera and Rory exchanged a knowing smile. Two friend who had been thru a lot together.

"Now; what's there to eat? I'm starving."

Rory laughed as well and they all turned back to the food and a lot of pleasant small talk. It was the best time Kiera had had for quite some time.