Tristan's POV

Tristan watched Rory with the blonde man she was with. She didn't look happy and part of him was glad. The other part wanted to rush over and use his training to defend her, even though he knew she could take care of herself.

"Who's that?" He asked out loud, without thinking.

"That," Emily said with a huge smile. "Is Logan Huntzberger, a very fine family indeed. Do you think..."

Jess growled before Emily could finish her sentence. Tristan shot him a look before turning to see Rory walking quickly to them.

"Mom, Grandma, Luke?" Rory asked as she reached them and hugged the older people. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, nothing. You know how your grandmother likes to make a scene," Lorelei said too quickly.

"Honestly Lorelei, I do not make scenes. It was hot, way too crowded in this small of a room," Emily said condescendingly.

"Then why did you come?"

"We have been over this."

"Mom?" Rory asked again.

"Mrs. Gilmore fainted for just a moment." Tristan explained.

"Luke will take her to her hotel and be back, quick as ever." Lorelei said.

"But-" Emily started to say.

"It's for the best. Right, mom?" Lorelei cut her off.

"I suppose," Emily said as Tristan helped her up.

"I be right back, I'll just walk them out," Lorelei said quickly as she followed her husband and her mother.

Rory and Tristan watched them leave before noticing they were alone in the lounge.

"Wasn't Jess here?" Rory asked, looking at Tristan with a confused look.

He looked around and realized that during the commotion, Jess had disappeared with the rest of the crowd.

"He was. He was with your grandmother when I found them."

Rory nodded but didn't say a word. Tristan studied her. She looked exactly the same, just older. She was still the magnet that drew him to her.

"You ready to join the other sheep?" He asked her with a smirk.

She looked at him and sighed.

"Not in the slightest. Wanna take a little walk with me?" She asked looking at him with her blue eyes.

"Can you leave a party held in your honor?" He asked, knowing he'd go anywhere with her.

"If we sneak, anything's possible," she smiled and his heart sped up.

"Let's sneak," he said with an actual smile.

Jess's POV

Jess had went to the bathroom, looking for any place to be alone. He pulled out his latest notebook and scribbled a few thoughts.

He was still scribbling when his solitude was interrupted by a toilet flushing. Realizing he wasn't alone, he quickly shoved his notebook in his pocket.

Groaning when he saw the rich dick walk, he reached in his pocket and lit a cigarette.

"Can I bum one?" The rich dick asked.

"You sure?" He asked, shocked.

"I've been known to smoke a time or two. Stress'll do that to you."

Jess handed him the pack and his lighter. He watched the rich dick pull one out, light, and inhale like a pro. Mildly impressed, he slipped the pack in his pocket.

"I'm Logan Huntzberger."

"I know who you are," Jess smirked.

"You do look familiar."

Jess shook his head, looking down as he puffed the cigarette.

"So," Logan said uncomfortably.

Jess found it hilarious and started laughing. He looked up when he heard the door and quickly followed.

He found Logan sitting in a couch, holding his head in his hands. Jess stopped and just stared, feeling guilty and angry.

"You don't have to stop. Just walk on by. It's ok," Logan said without looking up. "And hey, thanks for the smoke."

Jess knew he was going to regret this, but he walked over and took the chair nearest the man.

"You ok?"

"You don't care, so don't pretend to," Logan said, looking up so Jess could see he was angry.

"I was just tryin to be nice, pardon me, gosh you really are a dick," he exclaimed, jumping up.

"Excuse me," Logan said darkly as he stood up.

"Don't be that guy," Jess warned.

Logan sighed and fell back on the couch.

"I'm spiraling and it's not good."

Jess slowly sat back down.

"Then quit drinking."

Logan looked at him. "It's not the alcohol. I can't get drunk anymore, I barely taste it. But emotions...that's what I need to drink to numb."

Tristan's POV

Tristan got a kick out of Rory. Her idea of sneaking out was to walk right out the front door.

"You are still such a Mary," he chuckled when they were outside.

"Oh, I'm no Mary," she said, walking beside him. "I've done things."

"And what things have you done, Mary," he tried to ask seriously but smiled as he spoke.

"Let's see, I dropped out, I jumped 8 feet with an umbrella, I've kissed a girl, committed adultery, stole a yacht, and turned down a perfectly proper, society proposal," she said matter-of-factly and sending his head spinning.

He wasn't sure which piece of information shocked him more and he actually stopped walking. When she noticed, she laughed as she walked back to him.

Logan's POV

Logan stared at his hands. They used to be smooth and unblemished, exactly what you'd expect from the heirs hands. Not anymore though. Since he picked up surfing and moved to the tiny house on the beach, he'd worked with his hands more. His hands were rough and marked up, making him proud.

"Why are you still here?" He asked as the guy next to him cleared his throat.

"Question of my life."

"How do I know you?" Logan asked, tired of the charade.

"You really don't remember?"

"Was it before 2010?" He asked, closing his eyes.

"Yeah," Jess said as he handed him another cigarette.

Logan took it and they lit up, exhaling at the same time.

"Who knows if I will remember you, I killed so many brain cells."

"I'm Jess Mariano. We met through Rory."

Ace. Logan closed his eyes again, remembering how mad she was.

"The writer ex. You got her back to school when no one else could."

"I don't know about that."

Logan remembered him now. He'd been intimidated by another guy and so he'd overcompensated.

"So, you're here with her?"

He hated to ask but he had to know.