Chapter 11: The Morning After
Rory woke up and looked around the unfamiliar room she found herself in. She couldn't remember how she'd gotten there and she didn't recognise anything except the insistent pounding in her head. 'Argh hangover.' was the only coherent thought she had. She rolled over groggily and noticed a glass of water, two aspirin and a still steaming cup of coffee on the bedside table. She took the aspirin with a gulp of water and moved onto the coffee. In a matter of seconds she had drunk the whole cup and with her headache subsiding slightly she took another look around her surroundings, noticing a familiar masculine theme in the room. She groaned as she realised the events of the night before were reality and had not been a dream. She got out of bed slowly and went down stairs. No use prolonging the inevitable, she thought with a sigh. She found Logan and Finn in the lounge room watching TV.
"Ace," Logan said looking up when she walked in.
"Look Logan, I know we need to talk about this," she waved her hands in front of her for effect, "but can we please wait till later? I can't think right now," she said rubbing her temples.
"Ok well I'm going to go…do something for a bit, leave you two alone," Finn said. He walked out and came back in a second later. "Car, car, don't have a car. I came with Colin. Logan where are your keys?"
"Take mine," Rory offered. "They're in my…" she looked at Logan in panic. "Logan where are my keys? My bag, my jacket," she looked at her bare feet. "My shoes!"
Logan smirked, "Relax, Ace. They're in my room."
"Right I got that," Finn said heading up the stairs.
Rory went and sat down in an arm chair and tried to think what to do about her and Logan's situation. Nothing came to mind except the image of Logan pushing her away when she had kissed him. I guess Honour was wrong, she thought sadly.
Logan watched her quietly unsure of what to say, if anything at all. Luckily Finn came in. "Ok going now. Rory, love, I thought you might want this," he said handing her her cell phone. She nodded her thanks and Finn turned to leave. "Taco," she muttered incoherently.
"What was that doll?"
"Taco. Can you please get me a taco?"
Finn looked at Logan who nodded. "Make that two," the blond said.
"Ok," Finn replied leaving the room once more.
They heard Rory's car start up a few minutes later but neither said a word.
Rory's cell phone went off in her hand and she jumped at the sound. "Oh no," she groaned when she looked at the caller ID.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"Paris," she groaned. "I didn't come home last night and I didn't call. I don't want to talk to her my head still hurts," she said with a whine.
Logan sighed, "Give it here," he said holding out his hand for her ringing cell phone.
She smiled sweetly and handed it to him. "Thank you."
"Hello?" he said flipping it open and walking into the kitchen.
"GILMORE WHERE THE BLO-wait you're not Rory who the hell are you?" Paris screeched.
"She had a bit too much to drink last night so she's not feeling too great," Logan said not answering Paris' question.
"Logan? What the hell are you doing answering Rory's phone?"
"It was ringing," he said simply.
"Hardee har har," Paris said, "You're a comedian Huntzberger really. Now why didn't Rory answer her own phone and why is she with you?"
"Lot's of questions there Paris. Why don't I let her explain it all to you later?"
"No I want answer's here Huntzberger! Why is she with you?"
"We went out."
"On a date?"
"No Paris not on a date. We're friends. Why is that so hard for people to grasp?"
"Well as far as I know this is the first time I've even heard about you in months."
"She didn't tell you that we've been talking this past month?"
"No, I didn't know that. She's sure got some explaining to do. Well I'll let you go remind her to call me next time. I was worried about her."
"You're a good friend Paris. I'll tell her to call you next time, bye." Logan hung up and walked back into the lounge room. He handed the phone back to Rory. "You didn't tell her about us. Why not?"
"I didn't want to tell too many people incase it turned out that you didn't like me or want me back," she said to him. "And that's what happened so good thing to,' she added under her breath.
"About last night…"
"Don't Logan."
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that."
"Done what Logan? You didn't do anything; I kissed you not the other way around. Turns out mom and Lane were wrong."
"So you told your mother and Lane but not Paris."
"I told my best friends. I've only been back living with Paris and Doyle for a few weeks and besides I didn't really want Doyle to know and I don't know whether Paris would tell him or not."
"Yeah I'm not sure I want him knowing either," Logan said.
"I imagine you told Colin, Finn and Stephanie."
"I told Colin and Honour at first and then I told Finn this morning and Colin must've told Steph because she told me to say hi to you before she left here with her fiancé."
"Steph's getting married? To who?"
"Colin.'
"Since when?"
"About an hour ago actually."
"I can't believe I missed it!"
He grinned at her. "That? I can't believe you slept through Colin, Finn and my shouting match and Colin's temper tantrum."
"Me either but I guess I was pretty drunk last night, if this headache is any indication," Rory said shutting her eyes and rubbing her temples.
"Uh yeah to the level of being unable to walk."
"Oh god then how did I get…oh god."
Logan smirked. "You gonna' finish a sentence at some stage there Ace?"
She shook he head. "Ow, head. Hurt. Shower?"
"Sure Ace, use my bathroom, you know where my room is."
She groaned inwardly and nodded as she went up stairs. She stripped down in his bathroom and stepped into the shower letting the hot water rush over her. Oh god what have I done? she thought. I'm having a shower in Logan's bathroom. Because I slept at his place, in his bed, with him. Oh my God! The events from the night before came back to her and she remembered asking Logan to stay with her. She remembered how they'd danced and she had noticed those two girls watching them and she'd kissed him. She remembered how he'd kissed her back at least for a little until he pulled away and they left. But the rest of the night was pretty hazy. She groaned as she got out of the shower and put her clothes back on.
When she got down stairs Logan was watching TV nursing another cup of coffee. Two others were sitting on the coffee table.
"Hey," Rory said announcing her presence. "For me?" she asked pointing at the two cups on the table
Logan nodded. "Assuming you can drink them both before Finn gets back."
"Easy," she said with a smile taking both cups and curling up in the arm chair, shutting her eyes as the caffeine began to course through her system.
She was half way through the second cup when Finn came in carrying a plastic bag. He opened it up and pulled out a taco handing it to Rory who smiled her thanks and dug in. He gave the other taco to Logan who took it in silence.
Finn surveyed the room and noticed all the discarded coffee cups. He sighed and gathered them up taking them to the kitchen. It was strange for him to be looking after his friends when they had hang overs. It was normally Colin or Logan looking after him. I guess reporter girl brings out the caring in all of us he thought, he thought returning to Logan and Rory.
Rory looked up as Finn came back in. She'd finished her taco and was feeling half way normal and her headache was now bearable. "Finn!" she cried jumping up and giving the lanky Australian a hug.
"Well Darling you sure bounce back quick don't you?"
"I missed you," she said hugging him tight.
"I missed you too love," Finn replied and he couldn't help the wide smile that spread across his lips as he looked down at the petite brunette. Yep, definitely brings out the caring in us.
He kissed her forehead before they both settled down on the couch across from Logan.
"So love, what have you been up to since I last saw you?"
"Well Mom and Luke got back together and after just 3 months Luke proposed again. Mom accepted and they're getting married in February."
"Oh that's wonderful! I'm glad your mom's happy, she deserves it."
Rory sighed happily, thinking about her mother and Luke. "Yeah she does."
Logan looked up right into Rory's eyes. "I think this was a bad idea Rory, us seeing each other again, so soon after…after what happened. It was a bad idea."
"And that's my cue to leave," Finn muttered squeezing Rory's hand and walking out.
Rory barely noticed Finns departure she was so focused on Logan. "No it's not, it wasn't," she said earnestly.
He stood up and started pacing in front of her. "I think it was a mistake," he said.
She stood up in front of him blocking his path. She kissed him, short and hard. "Did that feel like a mistake?" she asked fiercely.
"No," he whispered, his eyes still closed then he opened them and stared right into her blue ones. "But when I remember why I didn't kiss you first…then it's bad, it hurts and…it feels like a mistake." Logan ignored the tears forming in her eyes and turned away. "I think you should go," he said shakily.
"Ok," she whispered tearfully and turned on her heel and tore up the stairs into his room, She stayed up there for a few moments to compose herself and wipe her tears away. Then she walked back down stairs, head held high. She walked back into the lounge room and grabbed her cell from the coffee table. Logan was sitting on the couch his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
"Good bye Logan," she said standing in the door way.
"Bye Ace."
"Don't call me that, don't ever call me that again," she requested coldly and quietly. Him calling her Ace meant that everything was ok with them, that they weren't fighting or arguing, that he was wiling to fight for her and that he wouldn't give up on them. But now he had, at least in her eyes.
He looked up at her, his eyes empty. "Good bye Rory."
She'd held onto a tiny shred of hope that he'd stand up and pull her into his arms and kiss her just like he used to but as soon as he said those 3 words it all came rushing back. Him walking away from her after her graduation after saying those same three words… She turned and fled crashing into Finn in the hallway.
"Whoa slow down there," he said catching her as she almost fell from the impact. She looked up into his face and he noticed the tears falling down her cheeks and the hurt in her eyes. "What's wrong love?"
"Nothing, nothing I'm fine Finn, I'm just gonna go," she said trying to brush past him but he still held her arms.
"You're not fine, love, how about we go get a cup of coffee and you can tell me what's up?" he said holding her close as her body started to shake with sobs. "Logan we're leaving," he called and they were out the door without waiting for an answer.
The waitress had just brought Finn a small cup of coffee and Rory a large one as they sat in a little coffee shop.
"What's wrong love?" Finn asked the silent Rory, concern showing in his hazel coloured eyes.
"Logan, he…he said it was a mistake," she said looking up from her coffee. "Us meeting up again…why would he say that when he asked me. I was all for waiting for it to be the 'soon enough' stage but he went and asked me right in the middle of the 'too soon' part. But he asked me anyway, he asked me! Not the other way around. He must've thought…thought…he must've thought something good! But then he went and pushed me away and told me it was a mistake. I mean what does that mean? Oh and don't forget the cute 'By the way Ace, I love you too' text message I mean what the hell?" she ranted as Finn sat across from her stunned. Man that girl could talk, a mile a minute and strangely enough he followed all of it. Except the part about Logan pushing her away.
"Ok calm down," he said she opened her mouth to say something but he continued, "I strangely got all of that except the part about him pushing you away. I must've missed something in my Rory/Logan catch up class this morning."
Rory explained the night at the bar and Finn nodded. "Why are you nodding? You should be gasping and wondering why he did that?"
"I'm not wondering because I know. It all makes sense now."
"What does? Finn what do you know that I don't?"
"I'll tell you in a sec love," he said sliding to the end of the booth and standing up. He stopped as he stood up. "Can I borrow your cell love? Mine's dead."
She pulled it out of her bag and handed it to him wordlessly. "Finn what's going on?"
"Just…I'll be right back, don't move." He turned and walked off to the bathroom located at the back of the shop. He walked in and immediately flipped open her cell phone. He settled down leaning against the bench and dialled Honours number. Him and Colin knew her number in case of emergencies with Logan and this was definitely an emergency.
"Hello?" Honour answered.
"Hey, Honour, it's Finn, I'm on Rory's phone."
"Oh, I was wondering who was calling me."
"Right anyway I'm calling about Logan."
"What did he do now? When I left everything was fine. He was looking after Rory-oh god what happened with them?"
"Well they discussed what happened last night. With rather unpleasant results."
"But last night…it went fine I was there I mean it was all going great until he came up to me and we left…I missed something didn't I?"
"Yeah you did," Finn replied, "You missed the part where she kissed him."
"Oh she took my advice that's so great. Wait if they kissed why was he so grumpy and everything? And why are you calling me? Still missing something aren't I?"
"Well you also missed the part where he pushed her away."
"Oh that stupid little son of-" Honour began angrily.
"Honour! You know I enjoy insulting your mother just as much as you do…we have work to do," Finn said cutting her off. "I'm with Rory and she's not in that great a shape. I'm gonna take her home. I was wondering if you could go talk to Logan. I'd ask Colin or Stephanie but they're kind of indisposed at the moment."
"Oh god again?" Honour remarked. Steph and Colin were well known for their heated on again off again romance.
"This time it's legit though," Finn said with a smile. "They're engaged. So they're having happy fiancée sex."
"Oh that's so great! But kind of gross I don't want to hear about what they get up to in their spare time. It'll be nice though, to have someone else in the 'I'm married club'. I'd hoped it would be Rory but maybe it will be soon enough. I'm happy for them."
"Yes, yes, it's great now getting back to the point…"
"Yeah sure, I'll go talk to him, just make sure Rory ends up ok. I really like her," Honour said.
"I will. She'll be fine I'll take her to see her mom and she'll be fine, just he wasn't in that great a shape either so yeah…"
"No worries Finn, I got it, I'm on my way. I'll talk to you later," Honour said.
"Right bye," Finn replied hanging up and walking back out to Rory. She was sitting at the table staring out the window just silently watching the street and everyone that walked by. Her coffee cup was still full. Uh oh, Finn thought, that can't be good. "Hey love, how you feeling?" he asked her.
She looked up at him and nodded blankly. "I'm fine."
"How about I take you home?" he asked putting money down for their coffee and grabbing her hand.
"Sound's good," she whispered following him out of the café and to her car.
"I swear to God Logan!" his sister fumed as she stormed through the open door of his apartment. "I told you not to screw it up and you went and screwed it up! What the hell did you do to her? What did you say? Why in god's name did you push her away? You are in love with that girl Logan and I honestly thought you knew that!"
Logan shut the door behind her and slumped against it, his eyes closed. "I really don't want to talk about this right now Honour."
"I don't give a damn! Deal with it because we are going to talk about this, and we are going to talk about it right now!" She stormed off into his lounge room and threw herself onto the couch. "Sit down," she commanded and he sat on the couch opposite her.
"Honour, I-"
She got up and paced angrily in front of him. "We care about her Logan. Me and Colin and Finn and Steph, we also care about you. We don't want to see either of you hurt by the others stupidity. I like her. She's nice, she's friendly, she's smart and she's good for you. And she has that whole I don't care what anyone thinks thing going for her."
"She does care though," he mumbled.
"Well obviously seeing as Finn's off comforting her right now!"
Logan's head shot up. "What? Why? Is she ok?"
"No she is bloody well not ok!" Honour yelled. "You said or did something or both and I don't know what it was exactly but you hurt her Logan and for the life of me I cannot understand why."
"Because it hurt me!" he yelled back at her. "Seeing her again and being so close to her when I didn't know if it meant anything because she was drunk at the time!"
"What do you think it meant to her?"
"I don't know. She was drunk for God's sake Honour."
"She may have been drunk last night but that doesn't mean she doesn't care about you. She wasn't drunk when we arrived. She wasn't drunk when she called you that first time and she hasn't been drunk all the other times you guys have talked," Honour pointed out.
He groaned leaning his head back against the couch and rubbing his face, his eyes screwed shut. "I know, I know I just…"
"Go and see her Logan," Honour said quietly going to sit next to him on the couch.
"I…I can't. I can't go to her," he whispered. "I'm scared."
A/N: And the chapter started out so well didn't it? Well it wouldn't be Logan and Rory without a little drama. Now it's his turn to be scared.