Never in a million years
AN Thank you so much for all the reviews! Sorry for any grammatical errors.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Opening Up
They drove back in silence. Finn would glance at her from time to time but he would just find her looking out the window. He pulled into the parking lot in front of her dorm. She didn't move when he took the keys out of the ignition and neither did he.
As they sat in the car Finn began to think, not a regular activity for him at this hour. He had a girlfriend. An honest to god, not casual, strings attached girlfriend. After a year of begging her to come home with him she finally had and now he had to leave her. He didn't love her, but he could have.
Finn felt horrible and the thing with Rosemary was a minor contributing factor. The discovery of Rory's past answered some questions her had had when he first met her. Why she had been skittish around him, Colin, and Logan, why she had been reluctant to make friends, why she mostly kept to herself. It was the missing piece of the puzzle and how they had treated her for the past year and a half made him feel even more like crap then he did twenty four hours ago.
A knock on the window pulled him out of his thoughts. He looked out the windshield to find Logan, Stephanie, Colin, and Paris waiting for them to get out of the car. Rory noticed, grabbed her purse, and got out of the car, not even looking at Finn. Stephanie and Paris huddled around her and Finn closed the car door. He realized that out of the four of them Stephanie was the only one Rory had really talked to since the party, given, Stephanie was also the only one who had apologized to her.
"Is she okay?" asked Logan.
"Would you be?" Colin retorted.
The three guys looked over at the three girls to see Paris and Stephanie leading Rory away, presumably to her dorm.
"Who was that guy?" asked Finn.
"Her abusive ex-boyfriend who cheated on her with her best friend." Colin replied matter-of-factly.
"Of course he is." Finn muttered to himself.
"Are we supposed to follow them?" Logan asked, referring to the girls.
"As if on cue, Stephanie turned around and yelled, "Aren't you coming?" across the parking lot.
"What are you going to tell Rosemary?" Colin asked as they started walking.
"I don't know."
"You should do it soon." Logan added. "It's only a matter of time before the press gets wind of this."
"I know."
"Did she say anything on the drive?" asked Colin.
Finn shook his head; he had a feeling that what Rory told him was supposed to remain between the two of them.
"Do you think she'll ever not hate us?" Logan asked.
"I don't think she hates us." said Colin. "I think we hurt her and she still hurts."
Logan and Finn gave Colin a strange look; Colin wasn't known for being insightful.
"What?" asked Colin.
The three stood in front of the door to Rory's dorm, not sure what to do.
"Should we knock?" asked Logan.
"Technically speaking we were already invited inn so we don't have to knock." Colin figured.
"Yeah but-."
Finn was interrupted by the opening of the door.
"Are you three just going to stand there reenacting 'The Little Match Girl'?" asked Paris before walking away, leaving the door wide open.
They walked into the dorm to find Rory sitting the couch with Stephanie who was applying concealer to her black eye. It scared Finn how she acted so nonchalant about it, how it was no big deal to her.
The ring of Rory's cell hone broke the silence and Paris handed it to her. Whoever it was caused Rory to frown before answering.
"Hi Grandma . . . I know Grandma . . . I don't want a birthday party . . . but grandma I . . . . . Fine." She hung up and stormed into her room, slamming the door behind her.
"Her birthday's next weekend!" Stephanie suddenly remembered.
"Yeah; Emily and Francine want to throw her a party." Paris said. "They've been nagging her for weeks. They're using the face that she wouldn't le them last year as an excuse why she has to let them this year."
"They're planning her wedding; isn't that enough?" asked Stephanie dryly.
"That's what she said." Paris retorted.
"Someone should go talk to her." Colin said.
The three guys and Paris looked to Stephanie.
With a roll of her eyes, Stephanie opened the door to Rory's room and ventured inside. She found Rory lying on her bed looking u at the ceiling; she wasn't crying.
"I'm thinking of selling the house." Rory said, still looking up.
"Why?"
"It's not the same; she's not there."
"Why not keep it? It's not like you need the money."
"I know, I just don't ever want to go back there." Rory confessed.
Stephanie nodded in understandingly.
"So the grandparents are trying to throw you a birthday party, huh?" Stephanie ventured onto the subject.
"Yeah, only I won't know anyone there."
"Well, they guys and I will be there and I'm sure Paris will be invited. We can form a sub party. Plus, you may not know any of these people but there is something that they all have in common." Stephanie told her knowingly.
"Oh yeah, what?" asked Rory, propping her head up on her bent arm.
"They're rich. So after the party your grandmother's throw the guys and I can give you a real party and you, Paris, and I will have enough money to go on a major shopping spree!" Stephanie exclaimed.
Rory smiled. "Sounds like fun/"
The room was silent until Rory's stomach. Stephanie looked over at her with a smile.
"Hungry?"
"A little," Rory answered. Right then her stomach growled again, only louder.
Stephanie burst out laughing.
"When was the last time you ate?"
"I pick at dinner last night." Rory offered as an explanation.
"Pizza or Chinese?" Stephanie asked.
"Both."
Rory grabbed a sheet of paper and pan and began making a list. When she was done she handed it to Stephanie who looked it over.
"You forgot peanut butter."
Rory added it to the list and the two went back into the common room; Rory gave the list to Colin before picking up the phone to order the pizza.
"What is this? Every type of junk food on the planet?" asked Colin.
"It's your shopping list." Stephanie told him.
"Who said I was going shopping?"
"Logan and Finn are going with you." She said.
"Gilmore, make sure you don't get anchovies." Paris warned her.
Colin gave Stephanie a withering glare but, nonetheless, grabbed his wallet and coat and walked out of the dorm; Finn and Logan followed.
"Paris, will you order the Chinese food?" asked Rory. "Just tell them you want two Hayden specials; they'll know what you mean."
Paris picked up her cell phone and started dialing.
57567
"Finn, we're taking your car. There probably isn't enough room in Logan's." Colin said as the three walked through the parking lot.
"True," agreed Logan.
The three got into the SUV. Finn started the car and pulled out of the Yale parking lot.
"I still can't believe she's even talking to us." Colin said, bringing up the thing that was on all three of their minds.
"Neither can I." commented Finn.
"She's only really talking to Stephanie." Logan pointed out.
"Stephanie is also the only one who has actually apologized." Colin retorted
"Yeah, but we brought her coffee; shouldn't that count for something? Like a peace offering?" argued Logan.
"Logan, the girl may breathe the coffee, but it's going to take a lot more then that to get back into her good graces. I mean, Stephanie has apologized and brought her coffee but Rory hasn't fully forgiven her yet." Colin replied.
"She talks to Finn." Logan said.
"True," agreed Colin. "What has she said to you?" Colin asked of Finn.
Finn said nothing.
"What has she said?' Colin repeated.
"Nothing," muttered Finn.
His two friends looked at her expectantly.
"She thinks that we didn't think of her as friends, just Logan's girlfriends."
"We did-do think of her as friends." Colin said, confused.
"How is she supposed to know that? We just stopped talking to her one day and continued to ignore her for over a year. I'd be pretty upset to." Finn retorted.
"She's opening up." Logan defended. "She was willing to let me drive her back to school which meant she was willing to spend forty-five minutes in a car with me."
"Are you sure she didn't say anything on the drive?" Colin asked suspiciously.
Finn kept his eyes on the road and his friends gave him the same expectant look.
"I'm not telling you." Finn said as he pulled into a local grocery store.
"Is it about me?" Logan asked, though in an unselfish manner.
"No," Finn shook his head. "No it wasn't about you."
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Three days later he told Rosemary.
After the guys got back from the store the pizza and Chinese had arrived and the girls were watching Casablanca. It was then that he decided to tell Rosemary. He didn't like feeling guilty, and every second he spent with Rory without telling Rosemary, he felt more and more guilty.
He went to her dorm Wednesday morning. He didn't even consider telling her in a public place, she deserved to be able to make a scene. Finn didn't want to have to tell her and he was having second thoughts about going through with it as he sat on the couch in the dorm Rosemary shared with Juliet. He noticed how her face had fallen when he uttered the words 'we need to talk.'
"What going on Finn?" she asked cautiously after a few minutes of awkward silence.
"I . . . I don't know how to say this." He started.
"You don't know how to say what?" she ventured.
He looked her in the eye and said, "I'm getting married."
She looked confused but then a look of realization swept over her face. Rosemary was from society, she knew how their 'world' worked.
"To whom?" she whispered.
"Lorelai Leigh Gilmore-Hayden." He didn't know why he used Rory's full name.
"Rory?" Rosemary's eyes were full of tears and disbelief
Finn nodded.
"Is that why . . ." her voice mirrored her eyes.
"She had just found out and was coming to tell me."
Rosemary accepted that answer.
"I'm sor-."
"Don't apologize," Rosemary cut him off and stood up. "It's not your fault."
They were both silent for a moment.
"Could you . . ." Rosemary motioned to the door.
He understood. Finn got up and kissed her good bye one last time.
He noticed how the tears in dwelling in her eyes finally made the journey down her cheek as she whispered, "Goodbye Finn."
"Goodbye Rosemary." And he made his way out the door.
789789
It was Sunday, the day of her birthday party, and Rory hadn't seen Finn since the day her drove her home from Stars Hollow. She had heard via Stephanie that he had broken up with Rosemary and she had felt a little guilty; she hadn't known he had a girlfriend.
They were all going to her party, or rather, her grandmothers' party. She, Logan, Paris, Colin, Stephanie, and Finn were sharing a limo so none of them hat to worry about sobriety, or lack of.
A phone call from Francine had woken her up at eight in the morning. She found it unfair that she couldn't sleep in on a Sunday, let alone her birthday. But, after the phone call, it had been a pretty mellow day. She didn't have any work to do, she had turned in all her articles for the paper, and Paris was in the library all day.
Rory was glad for the free time nut couldn't help but worry about what the night's even had in store for her. Her mother had always warned her to never underestimate Emily Gilmore.
She hadn't rushed to get ready and was able to take her time. Rory wanted to out off leaving as much as she possible could. Logan said he would come get Rory and Paris when the limo arrived but Paris had dragged her out of the dorm and the two girls waited just outside their building. Rory didn't see how this saved any time but Paris had insisted on it.
"Do you'll think she'll be here?" asked Paris as they waited for Logan.
"Who?"
"Rosemary."
Rory shrugged. "I don't know."
"I'd be worried if I were you." Paris threw her two cents in, "I mean you did steal her boyfriend."
"I did not steal her boyfriend." Rory exclaimed.
"You didn't steak whose boyfriend?" asked Logan as he approached them.
"Rosemary's," Paris replied.
"She didn't steal her boyfriends." Logan insisted and then turned to Rory. "Happy Birthday."
Logan and the two girls walked in a comfortable silence to the limo. Rory, in a floor length pale pink dress, couldn't help but dread this evening. At lease it was at the Gilmore house; Rory had a room there.
It didn't take long to get to the limo. Rory and Paris were greeted with enthusiasm and with a glass of champagne being pressed into their hands. Finn was already drunk and Rory downed her glass of champagne; she was starting early tonight. It worried Stephanie, but she didn't voice her concern.
They kept the conversation light and the drive past too quickly for Rory. When she stepped out of the limo she stumbled a little, but Finn, who was behind her, caught her and Rory couldn't help but to look him in the eye, and notice the intensity in them, as he help her back to an upright position.
"Rory! Happy Birthday!" she was greeted by Emily as she entered the house.
"Hi grandma."
"Come on Rory, I want to in introduce you to some people."
Before Rory could say anything, Emily pulled her away from her . . . friends. She would even have been grateful if Finn could have come with her.
Emily must have introduced her to fifty of her 'closest friends' and their spouses. It was an hour before she was able to escape to the bar.
"Can I get you anything?" the bartender asked.
"Logan Island Ice Tea please."
The bartended looked her over and Rory could tell that he knew she wasn't twenty one yet. However, he started to make her drink and Rory waited for her beverage to be ready.
"Well, well, well if it isn't Mary." a girls said in a scathing voice. Rory recognized that voice and turned to face the owner.
"Summer, it's been a while."
"I haven't seen you since the end of junior year. Rumor was you were pregnant." Summer finished the rest of her martini before continuing. "Of course, I didn't believe it; you were too much of a prude, you probably still are."
Rory and Summer never exactly got along.
"Rather a prude then a slut." Rory replied pointedly.
"You mean like your mother is? Or was. She is dead isn't she?"
"You're making fun of me because my parents are dead. You know Summer, I really didn't think you could sink any lower; I guess I was wrong."
Before she could gauge Summer's reaction, Rory walked away and went out to the pool house. She had had enough.
Rory knew she couldn't stay out here long. Her grandparent's would come looking for her sooner or later; Rory hoped it was later. She noticed the pool house looked the same as it had when she left it earlier that year before she left to move into the dorm. The TV, DVD player, and couch were still there and Rory would much rather be in there then at 'her' birthday party. She located one of her leftover DVD's, put it in the player, grabbed the remote, removed her shoes, got settled on the couch, and started the movie; she loved Miss Congeniality.
The only light source in the room was the television and Rory hoped it wouldn't draw much attention. Unknown to Rory, Finn had noticed when she left the party and followed her into the pool house.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked innocently.
Rory screamed.
"You scared me!" she exclaimed.
"Sorry love," he said as he walked over to her. Rory just turned back to the television and continued to watch the movie. Finn didn't know if he should leave or stay. He chose the ladder and sat beside her on the couch. After about half an hour of silence, Finn spoke up.
"You can't shut me out forever you know. I know your mad at me . . . at all of us, but you will have to talk to mea t one point." He got no reaction from her but her kept going. "If you think about it, I'm your only ally. I mean, it's you and me against my parents and your grandparents.
"I'm not shutting you out."
"Yes you are."
"You're the one who stayed hulled up in his dorm all week." She snapped.
"Yeah, well . . . ." he faltered and looked away, suddenly guarded.
"I'm sorry," she said softly, truly meaning it. "Stephanie told me about-."
"It's okay," he cut her off.
They were silent.
"You know, I've met Sandra Bullock." Finn said casually after a while.
"Really?"
Finn nodded.
"Maybe we can invite her to the wedding. Think she'd come?" Rory asked.
Finn laughed and so did Rory.
He decided he liked her smile.
They were both silent for a while before, yet again, Finn spoke up.
"I'm sorry."
She didn't say anything; she didn't even look away from the screen. She did, however, lean into him and the two continued to watch the movie.
Since tomorrow is the last day of school for me I decided to update. I liked this chapter I'll be gone all weekend but I'll try to update my other stories as soon as I have the chapter written. Please review!
