Author's Note: I'm dreading writing this chapter, because it is SOOOO long! My fingers are going to snap off! Gah, okay, here's your precious chapter, I hope you're happy… I'm not, I'm going to develop carpool tunnel.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls, and it's ending Tuesday. I'm just glad that we still have fanfiction! Don't stop writing/reviewing people m'kay?
Chapter 9
Sit Down, It's Just a Talk
Logan
A month later…. (March)
"The jello is looking partially good today," Rory noted, picking up a cup of lime green jello and placing it on her tray. Logan laughed and picked up a cup of tapioca pudding for himself.
"You and your jello," Logan quipped with a smile. For the past month, he and Rory had been inseparable. They had actually become friends…. This was strange because Logan had only ever had one friend who was a girl and that was Steph. He found it even stranger, because he obviously had more than platonic feelings towards Rory; not that she knew that…
"I happen to like my jello a lot, and I don't see a problem with that," Rory replied, smugly. She looked at his pudding and made a face. "Yuck, tapioca." She walked up to the tired looking lunch lady and paid for her lunch which contained jello, a piece of chocolate cake, a slice of pizza, a milkshake, and some fries. Logan's tray contained a slice of pizza, water, and his pudding… It slightly scared him and amused him that Rory ate more than he did and looked like she did.
"It astounds me at the amount of food you are able to consume in a single sitting." Rory rolled her eyes.
"Just pay for your food, Mr. Smarty Pants." Logan raised his eyebrows at her choice of nickname and paid the lunch lady for his meal. Rory smiled and led Logan over to a two-person table in the corner of the elaborate cafeteria. She plunked her tray down on the table and sat down. Logan followed in suit.
"So, any news about the Paris situation?" Logan asked, taking a sip of his water. Rory stabbed her piece of chocolate cake and stuffed it into her mouth. She shook her head after she swallowed.
"Nope, she still hates me." Logan nodded solemnly. For the past week, Paris had been completely torturing Rory, because the members of the Franklin had overthrown her as editor and Rory, being the assistant editor, was the new editor. Needless to say, Paris was pissed.
"She can't stay like that forever can she?" Rory shrugged.
"My relationship with Paris has been through ups and downs since I first met her when I was in fifth grade. We have been roommates every year, and at least once a year we get into a huge fight. It wouldn't be Paris if we were always getting along." Logan smiled weakly. He had come to learn over the past month that despite that fact that Paris was a pain in the butt, she was Rory's best friend and their current fight was really hurting her. Especially since there was only a half of a semester left in the school year.
"I'm sure it will work out soon."
"Yeah," Rory sighed and she picked up her now empty tray so she could throw away her trash. Logan couldn't help but smile. Not only did she eat a lot, but she also ate fast! "I'll be right back," Rory informed him, walking over to the place where she could dispose of her tray and its remaining contents. Logan couldn't help but watch her walk away, something that didn't go unnoticed by a certain blonde boy. Logan sensed somebody standing over him and he looked up to see Tristan glaring down at him. Logan smiled weakly at him.
"Fancy seeing you here," Logan said, trying to lighten the dark mood set by Tristan. Tristan harshly ripped the seat that Rory had been sitting on out from under the table and sat down in her place. Logan felt slightly uncomfortable with Tristan glaring at him as if he was going to rip his head off. "May I help you Tristan?"
"Stay away from my girlfriend," Tristan snapped. Logan's smile broadened.
"Why?"
"Because she's my girlfriend, and that's not going to change anytime soon." Logan shrugged.
"We're just friends Tristan." Tristan scoffed, but Logan didn't care. He had been expecting this conversation for quite a while now, the whole school had been buzzing for weeks about how much time he and Rory had been spending together. The rumor was that Logan was trying to steal Rory from Tristan, which wasn't completely untrue, but so far Logan's actions had been strictly honorable. 'You just keep telling yourself that, Huntzberger," he told himself. Tristan's eyes narrowed, as if analyzing him.
"Do you actually expect me to believe that?" Logan smirked.
"Don't you think you are being a little paranoid?" Logan asked, feigning innocence. Tristan gritted his teeth angrily and was about to say something else, when Rory reappeared.
"Tristan, hey," she said, slightly surprised that he was there. Tristan immediately shed his defensive demeanor and stood up from Rory's chair. He snaked his arms around her and kissed her neck, sucking slightly. The sight turned Logan's stomach into knots. Rory quickly edged out of Tristan's grasp, uncomfortable with the display of public affection right in front of Logan. Tristan pouted shortly at her reluctance to make Logan jealous, when he quickly put on a fake 'society' smile. Logan smiled a knowingly to himself. Tristan's parents had taught him well. Tristan grabbed Rory's hand, still beaming and turned to Logan.
"You don't mind if I steal my girlfriend away, do you Huntzberger?" Tristan asked in a sickeningly sweet voice. Logan shrugged.
"I don't own her," Logan replied, "in fact, no one does." Tristan narrowed his eyes again and started ushering Rory out of the cafeteria. Rory turned around briefly.
"See you later?" she asked, still having Tristan drag her out of the room. Logan nodded feebly. When she was out of sight, Logan let out a long sigh. He ran an exhausted hand through his hair and scooped some pudding out of his cup with a spoon. He was about to shove the spoon into his mouth, when Cole sat down in the seat that Rory and Tristan had once occupied. Cole smiled brightly at Logan.
"That was a lovely conversation you just had there with Dugrey, Huntzberger," Cole said in an all-knowing tone. Logan groaned.
"You heard that?" Cole nodded.
"Most of it." He grabbed Logan's pudding cup off his tray and scooped some of its contents out with a spoon his supplied himself. Cole made a face and swallowed quickly. "Yuck, tapioca." He returned the pudding cup to Logan's tray. Logan sighed.
"I don't know how much more I can stand of that guy." Cole cocked his head to the side.
"Who, Tristan?" Logan nodded. Cole shrugged. "Rory's a smart girl, she'll see the errors of her ways soon." Logan shook his head.
"She's been dating him on and off again since the fifth grade." Cole raised his eyebrows.
"That's disturbing…" Logan nodded.
"Yeah." Logan looked off in the distance, deep in thought, and Cole cleared his throat. Logan snapped back into reality.
"Something wrong?" Logan shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"This plan," he said, hesitantly, "isn't working as well as the last one." Cole nodded.
"Just give it some time," Cole instructed. Logan crossed his arms over his chest, he didn't like waiting for what he wanted. Cole rolled his eyes. "I'm serious, if you make a move now, while she has a boyfriend, you'll regret it." Logan sighed, resigning to the fact that Cole was right. "If I remember correctly, it took a bit of effort on my part to get you to agree to last year's plan," Cole pointed out. Logan smiled, remembering how Cole had helped him last year and how he had been so reluctant. Cole smiled back at Logan and they shared a quiet moment. "Are you going to eat that piece of pizza?" Cole asked, referring to Logan's untouched pizza on his tray. Logan shook his head and Cole eagerly took the piece of pizza off the tray and stood up. Logan watched as he walked away, wondering what his life would be like now if he hadn't listened to Cole last year.
"Your papers sucked people!" Mr. Cole informed his English class in a slightly joking tone. A few people laughed and Logan wanted to punch them in the face, especially when he noted that Colin and Finn were among the few who chuckled. Mr. Cole shook his head. "No, I'm serious, there was only ONE A in the entire class. Now I'll spare you all the embarrassment by keeping the identity secret, but I want better research papers next time guys." Logan rolled his eyes, Mr. Cole was acting like he was doing them all a favor, but Logan, not to mention everybody else, knew that it was against school policies to reveal a student's grade to the rest of the class, even if it was a good grade.
Cole started handing out the papers one by one, setting the papers down on the desk upside down, so nosy students wouldn't be able to sneak a peak at the grades. Finn received his paper and groaned loudly. He crumbled up his paper, threw it over his shoulder, and collapsed onto his knees. He looked up at the ceiling and folded his hands in front of him.
"Why god, why an F?" Colin's eyes grew wide and he smacked Finn on the head.
"You got an F again?" Colin asked in horror. Finn nodded solemnly. Colin shook his head. "Finn, if you fail a class, you get kicked out. I don't want to get kicked out yet, because I need Cole to help me win over Steph. Without Steph, I'm miserable and mopey, and I know how much you hate me when I'm miserable and mopey." Finn nodded. "Now, I thought you spent time on this paper, you were hauled up in your room for hours working on it." A wicked smile spread over Finn's face.
"I was hauled up in my room for hours with the lovely Katrina and a bottle of vodka." Colin groaned.
"What am I going to do with you?" Colin looked up to see Cole place his paper on his desk and then he placed one on Logan's desk. Colin flipped over his paper and smiled slightly.
"Okay, I got a B, at least I won't be kicked out." Logan secretively peeked at the corner of his paper that contained the grade. He winced, A+. "What did you get?" Colin asked him, his voice dripping with curiosity. Logan felt him hovering over his shoulder. He panicked and quickly crumbled up his paper in his hand like Finn did.
"F," Logan replied dryly. Colin groaned loudly and was about to say something, when the bell rang. The boys in the classroom scrambled around to get their stuff and Logan leaned down to retrieve his backpack. When he looked back up he saw Mr. Cole staring back at him with his arms crossed over his chest apprehensively and he was glaring at him. Logan let out a long sigh. The last thing he needed was a lecture from some self-righteous teacher. He quickly gathered up his stuff and tried to escape from the classroom without Mr. Cole getting a hold of him. He caught up to Colin and Finn who were waiting for him at the doorjamb, when his heart stopped.
"Logan, could I talk to you for a minute?" Mr. Cole's booming voice pierced through the classroom. Logan winced and clamped his eyes shut; damn, he was so close. He looked over at Colin and Finn who exchanged confused looks. Logan wheeled around and tried to swallow a lump that had formed in his throat. He nodded slowly at Cole's request and he turned back to Colin and Finn.
"I'll catch up with you guys later." Colin shook his fist at Logan.
"I swear to God Huntzberger, if you are failing this class I'm gonna-." Logan rolled his eyes.
"Relax Colin, I'm not failing." Colin looked at him like he didn't believe him and dragged Finn out of the room in a huff. Finn mouthed the words, 'good luck,' to Logan, before shutting the door on his way out. The sound of the door clicking into place on the doorjamb echoed through the classroom eerily. Logan looked back at Mr. Cole who was sitting at his desk, going through some of his papers from his other classes, he looked up at Logan and pointed to the chair adjacent to his desk chair.
"Sit," he commanded. Logan stayed rooted to his spot, trying to figure out how long this conversation was going to take and how much charm it was going to take to smooth talk his way out of it. Mr. Cole rolled his eyes and put down the papers he was reading in frustration. "Sit down, it's just a talk." Logan resigned himself to the fact that this talk was going to happen whether he liked it or not and he took his seat. Mr. Cole leaned forward over his desk and folded his hands on the wooden surface. Logan's eyes wandered to Mr. Cole's hands and he noticed Mr. Cole was wearing a high school class ring. The silver band had the words 'Harrow Preparatory School' engraved around it. Mr. Cole cleared his throat to gain Logan's attention. Logan's eyes transfixed on Mr. Cole's face and he noticed his usually laughing eyes were dark and serious. Logan really wanted to leave the classroom that was feeling smaller and smaller by the minute. "Do you know why you're here?" Mr. Cole asked. Logan shrugged.
"I don't know, I got an A+ on the assignment," Logan replied, apathetically. Mr. Cole nodded.
"And yet you told your friends that you got an F?" Logan nodded slowly. "Why?" Logan shrugged again. He wanted to portray to the man that he didn't care about what he had to say. "To seem cool?" Logan nodded.
"I guess so."
"How is it cool to seem like an idiot?" Mr. Cole spat. Logan rolled his eyes.
"Listen Mr. Cole, I appreciate your concern, but I don't need another guidance counselor trying to 'figure' me out." Mr. Cole shook his head.
"I'm not trying to be a guidance counselor Logan," Mr. Cole said softly, "I'm trying to help you."
"Don't," Logan instructed sharply. Logan tried to get up, but Mr. Cole shook his head.
"Sit, we're not done yet." Logan slinked back in his seat, reluctantly. "Listen Logan, you're smart, you proved that with this paper and the one article you provided for the school paper, but you purposely bomb tests! Don't try to deny it either, because I can tell."
"I wasn't going to." Mr. Cole let out a deep breath.
"What I don't understand is why? I mean, I get why you fail the tests, to get back at your unloving father right?" Logan didn't say anything, but Mr. Cole must have taken that as a yes, because he continued, "What I don't understand is why you do really badly on some things, but do really well on others!" Logan looked at the door, trying to decide if he made a run for it, if Mr. Cole would chase after him. He decided against it and concluded that the more he cooperated with the man, the sooner he'd get out of there. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, as if trying to figure out where to start.
"If I fail a class, it means that I would get kicked out of this school," Logan informed him quickly, "Now normally, that wouldn't bother me, but Colin has convinced himself that you can help him win over Steph, and Colin's desperate. He asked Finn and I not to get kicked out of this school yet, for that very reason." Mr. Cole blinked at Logan's little speech.
"But I am helping Colin," Mr. Cole explained, "and I can help you too if you want." Logan groaned and shook his head.
"You don't get it do you?" Mr. Cole stared blankly at him, "I don't WANT help," Logan said, his voice rising in frustration.
"But you need it," Mr. Cole reasoned. Logan shook his head in disgust.
"You're pathetic," he informed the man sitting across from him, "just because you have a sad life as a teacher you need to live vicariously through others!" Mr. Cole shook his head lamely.
"I wanted to be a teacher, Logan." Logan scoffed and glanced over at the door again.
"Yeah right," he said scornfully, "Just like I 'want' to be the CEO of the Huntzberger Publishing Group."
"You don't have to do that; you could be destined for greatness." Logan's face contorted in disgust.
"The only 'greatness' I'm destined for is becoming my father!"
"And who is your father Logan?"
"A man who will get married to some stupid blonde, trophy wife right after college," Logan spat, "he'll have a few kids until he produces a suitable heir." Mr. Cole was watching him intently, urging him to continue on his rant, "He'll send his kids off to fancy boarding schools, so he doesn't have to deal with them. Then, he'll have enough time to pour himself completely into work, screwing his secretary, ignoring his wife so she'll drink and smoke herself into oblivion." Mr. Cole leaned back in his seat and narrowed his eyes. " That's the 'greatness' I'm destined for, so before I have to give everything up, yeah I'm going to drink, I'm going to party before it's too late." Logan leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and waited for a response from his 'all-knowing' teacher. Mr. Cole sighed and shook his head solemnly.
"It doesn't have to be that way kid," Mr. Cole said. Logan rolled his eyes. "You could do something else. There are so many doors available for you." Logan was getting annoyed. This man had no idea, none at all. He was giving all these suggestions that were not possible. But how could Logan expect him to understand. Mr. Cole was apparently doing what he wanted. He wasn't being forced to do something he didn't want to do. Instead of explaining this to his ignorant teacher, Logan let his anger get the best of him. He pounded the desk hard with his fist.
"You don't understand," Logan cried in frustration, "you
talk about these doors being open, but all I see is ONE door and I'm
being shoved through it! YOU try living without options!"
"HOW
HARD ARE YOU FIGHTING IT?" Mr. Cole screamed louder than Logan had
ever heard anyone scream in his entire life. The room echoed with
his words and Logan's heart skipped a beat. He sat there, stunned,
like a deer caught in the head-lights, unable to move let alone
respond to Mr. Cole's words. He had never thought fighting it was
an option. He felt himself pale and he noticed his hands were
shaking. Never had he been more terrified in his entire life. He
opened his mouth to retort, to say anything, but he couldn't seem
to find his voice. He could only sit there and stare at the angry
teacher in front of him. He hated to admit it, but he was right.
Mr. Cole stood up and began pacing the room frantically. Logan watched him with his eyes, it was hypnotic. Finally Mr. Cole let out a loud sigh. He turned to Logan and shook his head as if disappointed in him. It was the same face his father gave him every time he screwed up, which happened often. "You know Logan," Mr. Cole said, frustration obvious in his voice, "You remind me of myself." Logan furrowed his eyebrows, trying to comprehend what Mr. Cole was saying. Mr. Cole continued to pace the room. He laughed bitterly when he noticed Logan's confused face. "You forget, Harrow is my Alma mater. You of all people should know that they only let the extremely rich and privileged into schools like this, with a few exceptions. Well let me tell you, I was not one of the exceptions. I was just like you at your age, a playboy, bitter; my parent's planned my whole life out for me before I was even born. I was supposed to be a Doctor for Christ's sake!" Mr. Cole threw his hands up in the air.
Logan's mouth was gaping wide open, but he didn't care. His mind was swimming with thoughts that he couldn't seem to banish them. Mr. Cole continued, "But I fought that plan Logan, I fought it and I'm now a teacher! The thing is, I didn't have anyone to help me, and boy would it have been easier if I had, but you sit here, unwilling to accept help that I would have killed for and you COMPLAIN about the life set for you." Mr. Cole started walking towards the door in anger. He placed his hand on the door and sighed loudly. "You can't complain about your life, if you're not even willing to fight to save your life," Mr. Cole explained in a resigned tone. Logan's heart was pounding in his chest, he needed to hear more. He needed to find his voice and admit what was the hardest thing for him to admit; that he needed help.
Mr. Cole turned the doorknob and swung the door open. Suddenly, finding his voice wasn't as hard as Logan thought it would be.
"Wait," he said in hoarse tone. Mr. Cole paused and turned around. He had a confused look plastered on his face. Logan took a deep breath and bowed his head. "I want help." For a split second Logan thought Mr. Cole was going to ignore him, he thought he was just going to leave and give up on him for once in for all, but Mr. Cole turned around and sat back down in the chair behind his desk. He looked at Logan sternly and folded his hands back on the desk.
"Okay," he said simply. Logan blinked in confusion.
"It's that simple?"
"It's that simple," Mr. Cole confirmed. "So, Logan Huntzberger, what do you want to do with your life?" Logan bit his lip.
"I don't know," he said quietly. Mr. Cole smiled slightly.
"Well I can tell you really want to fight for what you want, Logan," Mr. Cole replied sarcastically.
"I want to write!" Logan blurted out quickly. Mr. Cole blinked in surprised.
"…I'm confused… I thought that's what your dad does." Logan nodded.
"It is, but… He deals with the business aspect of the company," Logan explained, "he doesn't actually get to write." Mr. Cole nodded, understanding. He clapped his hands together, please with himself and leaned back in his chair.
"Well, that's a good plan, because the one piece you wrote for the paper this year was the best one." Logan raised his eyebrows.
"Really?" he asked in disbelief.
"Really," Mr. Cole confirmed. Logan smiled at the compliment. "But the hard part is that you need to tell your father." Logan's face paled. Mr. Cole chuckled loudly at Logan's reaction.
"I don't know how to talk to my father," Logan explained.
"Oh come on now, it's not like you want to be a beatnik poet or anything. You want to stay in the family business. I hardly think your father would disown you for wanting to write for one of his papers." Logan nodded in agreement. He stood up and Mr. Cole smiled warmly at him. "Why Logan Huntzberger I do believe we made some progress today." Logan gave Mr. Cole a half smile and he slowly walked out of the room. He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he walked right past Colin and Finn. They walked briskly after him.
"What did Mr. Cole want to talk about Logan?" Colin asked eagerly. Logan took a deep breath and turned to his two best friends in the entire world.
"Life," he replied simply. He walked off to his next class, leaving his friends behind him wearing puzzled looks. They were probably wondering what had gotten into him and Logan knew what it was; hope.
Author's Note: I do believe it's time for a review:P
