Chapter Four-Helen, the Girl That Launched A Thousand Punches

Tell me what you thought about when you were gone

and so alone

The worst is over

You can have the best of me

We got older, but we're still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up—The Starting Line

Days had passed since that night; almost a week, in fact. They had done a good enough job staying away from each other….until Friday…fate had other plans.

Rory awoke, still trying to figure out why she had refused him, but she thought it would be better to push him away now, before she got in too deep.

Too late, she thought gravely as she pulled herself out of bed and into the bathroom. She brushed her teeth, hair, and dressed, and headed for the coffee cart.

She had no classes, so she decided to head to the office and work on an article.

She looked around, half hoping to see Logan, half dreading it.

Fortunately for them, he was not there.

She sighed, and sat down at her desk, and looked over her notes.

Logan awoke, and looked around. He was actually sad not seeing his Ace everyday.

"What the hell am I doing?" he said quietly. Slowly, he got out of bed, and left his room, going wherever his feet took him.

He suddenly found himself in the door of the newspaper office, staring at Rory.

She was so beautiful.

Why did he not want a relationship with her? Oh yeah,he remembered. The last time he did that, he got his heart broken.

That's why he had the reputation he had. He had decided never to fall in love again, and just have fun. He had since then, always been a "ladies man;" drifting from girl to girl without a care in the world. That was, of course, until he met Rory Gilmore. Things changed.

He suddenly found himself feeling…caring. In the few months he had known her, he'd come to care about her…to feel for her. It scared him.

Rory looked up, and her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes locked with his, and without a word, he turned and left.

Rory did the only thing she could think of-she ran after him.

"Logan!" she cried. Logan stopped walking.

"Yeah, Ace?" he called back, not turning around.

Rory caught up with him, and looked at him. He wouldn't meet her eyes.

"Logan, I'm sorry." He finally looked up.

"For what?" He asked, looking her in the eyes. His heart beat faster as he searched her sparkling blue eyes for answers.

Rory took a shuddering deep breath. "For expecting too much of you."

"Rory-"

He used her name again. It gave her chills hearing him say it. His deep, sweet voice saying her name.

"For getting angry when I knew all along we didn't want the same things."

"Rory-"

"For wanting something more than what we agreed on. For trying to have strings. I knew you didn't want strings, but I tried anyway. For ruining any sort of relationship we did have…and might ever have. I know you don't do commitment, but I pushed you, and-"

"Rory!"

Rory took a deep breath, and looked into Logan's chocolate-brown eyes.

"You shouldn't be the one apologizing."

"Wha-"

"Just let me finish. It's my turn to ramble. You don't need to apologize. Yes, you expected more than I offered, and I admire that. You had every right to be angry. I was, in a way, leading you on. Yes, we agreed on no strings, and no, you didn't ruin anything. The truth is, Rory, I like you. Ever since the day you took my hand and jumped off the scaffolding with me. When I fell with you, I fell for you. I told you I don't do commitment because…"

Rory stared at him, eyes wide, waiting for him to continue.

He stepped closer to her, and looked into her eyes.

"I was hurt once, and so were you. But I'm ready, and I think you are too. I'm ready for strings.

He took her hand and smiled. "You jump, I jump, right?"

Rory smiled, tears forming in her eyes.

"You jump I jump." She moved closer to him, and pulled his face to hers, kissing him sweetly.

"Glad to have you back, Ace. I missed ya," he whispered against her lips.

"Right back at ya, Master and Commander," she whispered back.

He finally pulled away, and laughed.

"By the way, Naked Guy pulls a damn good punch," he said, indicating the bruise on the left side of his face.

Rory laughed. "Oh my god. My new name should be Helen-The girl that launched a thousand punches."

Logan raised an eyebrow.

"Long story," Rory said. "Very, very long story."

A/N: Sorry about this chapter…It kind of sucks, I know. Most likely very out of character, and I'm sorry. Don't hate me!