Classic

Chapter 7

Logan didn't know what he was doing. He was standing outside the townhouse, just staring up at it. It was intimidating despite its size, which was nothing in comparison to the Huntzberger Mansion. Its intimidation probably had something to do with who the owner was.

Her had seen her leave earlier. He honestly wasn't sure how long he had been in front of the house, all he knew was when she had left the house he had still been sitting in his car and now he was standing up against it. He had resisted the urge to jump out of his car and talk to her. Deep down he knew he had not come to the house to speak with her, no matter how much he wanted to. He was here to get his best friend back. Girls came and went but best friends were supposed to last forever. Then again, he had thought he and Rory were going to last forever—not that he would ever admit that out loud.

There was no alarm in thinking Rory would return to the house soon. When she had left earlier, Logan had noted she had her books with her. He presumed she was on her way to the library like she used to do every Saturday she wasn't with her mom in Stars Hollow. He knew she would be gone all day. He wasn't worried.

He took a few cautious steps away from his car and towards the front door. He wasn't even sure Finn would want to talk with him, not with the way things had gone the last time. He took a few more steps; determined steps this time. He needed his crazy Australian friend back. They had been through too much not to get through this too. They all, him, Colin and Finn had been kicked out of private school after private school for many stupid stunts that none would have pulled without the others. Logan remembered the first time any of them had drunk. They had broken into Logan's father's liquor cabinet. They had spent the night joking and laughing. They next morning he remembered a lot of vomiting, only Finn didn't. He had always been able to hold his booze.

With renewed passion, Logan took the remaining steps to the front door and rang the bell. They few short moments he had to wait felt anything but. They ranked as one of the longest he had to wait. Second only to the moments he had to wait for Rory to answer her door on their first date. He had been nervous then too.

Finally the door opened to reveal a laughing Finn. His mirth stopped and he visibly tensed when he saw Logan.

"What are you doing here?" Finn asked. He didn't sound angry or confused like Logan thought he would. He sounded guarded like he would if he were talking to his father. Logan fought hard not to flinch.

"Can I come in?" Logan asked instead of answering the question. He thought it would be best if he was on the other side of the door before he began.

Finn stepped aside and Logan stepped through. He took a moment to look around at his surroundings even though he knew Finn was standing against the door waiting for him to speak.

Logan noticed right away that the house was decorated for comfort and warmth and not to impress. None of the kitchen chairs matched and instead of stiff family portraits adorning the walls there were photos of friends and family, everyone was smiling happily.

His eyes landed on the large living room. Colin was sitting on one of the mismatched comfy looking couches. He stood up suddenly and grabbed his coat. "I'm just going to leave now," he said.

"What? Why?" Finn demanded to know.

Colin sighed as he pulled on his coat. "You two need to work this out."

Logan was barely able to process what he said before Colin had opened the door and left leaving the two friends, one the outs, alone.

Neither of the two men seemed to know what to say. Logan had his hand in his pocket playing with a forgotten penny.

Finn cleared his throat causing Logan to look in his direction. "What are you doing here?" he asked again.

"Colin's right, Finn, as odd as that sounds to admit. We need to talk."

Finn nodded. "I know," he shrugged. "I just didn't expect you for another week."

Logan laughed. "Yeah, me too." He motioned around the room, "nice place."

"I like it. Rory and Lorelai decorated it to look like their place of worship," Finn explained as he threw himself on a couch.

Logan smiled at that. The house did look like a cozy coffee house. It even smelled like it. The air was full of the smell of fresh ground coffee beans.

"You know, this is the first place that has ever actually felt like home. Is that weird?"

Logan shook his head. "Considering how we grew up? No." Logan sank on the couch beside his friend.

They were both silent for a moment. The only sound was coming from the television where a rerun of an old series was playing.

"I—" Logan said.

Finn sat up eagerly. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry!" he said loudly as he stood up. He spread his arms wide to emphasize his point. "I—I over reacted. Happy, now?"

Finn grinned triumphantly before he frowned. "No."

"What? Why not?"

"I'm not the one you need to be apologizing to."

Logan knew Finn was right. As hard as it was to admit, he had screwed up. He had royally screwed up and he knew that a sorry was just not going to cut it this time. He knew he had to apologize to her. Ever since her return to Yale he had been avoiding any place where he knew she would go; the library, the Yale Daily News, any and all coffee carts.

"I know," he said quietly.

They lapsed into a silence.

"I didn't mean what I said to her, you know," he admitted in the same quiet and defeated voice.

Finn nodded. "I know. You know, she tries to pretend what you said had no effect on her. But I know it did."

That made Logan feel even worse, if that was possible. He hadn't meant for those things to slip from his mouth. It had been an accident. He was angry, upset. He slumped lower on the couch.

"Mate, uh," Finn said uncertainly. "Why—why did…"

"Why, what? Why did I get so mad? I don't know maybe because you were in the same bed as my ex girlfriend all dishevelled and—and in the same bed!"

"No," Finn said shaking his head. "Why did you and Rory break up? I mean, honestly, you will never do better than Rory, you know that right."

Anger suddenly swelled in Logan's heart as he thought back to that night. It was almost funny, how so rapidly he no longer felt and remorse for the way he had treated Rory almost a week ago. She had deserved the words he had said.

Finn must have noticed Logan's eyes darken and his body tense. "Mate?" he asked. "What happened?"

"She doesn't deserve an apology! I didn't do anything wrong. I was right," Logan replied, yelling. "I was," he said softer.

Taken aback, Finn was speechless. He opened his mouth several times but no words were able to escape him. He had never heard Logan speak so vehemently against anyone, except perhaps his father but that was another story.

Logan stood up and grabbed his coat as he strode purposely to the door. The house disgusted him once again. He couldn't believe he was even standing in it.

"Logan?" Finn called after him.

He stopped at the door, his hand on the knob.

"What happened?"

"Do you remember that weekend I had to go to Kansas?" Logan asked he was still facing the door with his hand gripping the metal of the knob tightly. His knuckles were turning white.

"Yeah."

"Well, it seems Rory made a date that night. A date with someone who wasn't me." He turned the knob and stepped out of the house.

-

Finn couldn't believe what he had just heard. There was no way that what Logan said was true. It couldn't. He wouldn't believe that sweet innocent Reporter Girl Rory would do something like that. He picked up the phone and dialled Rory's cell phone number and placed the phone to his ear. When the phone connected, instead of ringing it went straight to her voice mail.

"Love, its Finn. I need you to call me as soon as you get this." He hung up and threw the phone onto the couch.

He walked to the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat down at the table. He took a sip and shook his head. It had to be some sort of misunderstanding.

When he finished his beer he walked back over to the couch and picked up the phone. This time he dialled a different number.

"McCrae," Colin said in way of answering.

"What do you know about Rory and Logan's break up?"

"Finn?" Colin asked confused. "What does he want?" Finn heard Stephanie say in the background. He had obviously interrupted something, not that he cared.

"What do you know about it?" he asked again.

"Where is this coming from?" Colin asked. "Wait, did Logan say something when you talked to him?"

"No, Colin," Finn replied sarcastically. "I'm clairvoyant and can read people's minds."

"Oh really? Read mine next," Colin answered deadpanned. "What did he say?"

"He said that Rory cheated on him."

Colin laughed. "Good one." When Finn didn't say anything he asked uncertainly, "you're not kidding?"

"Its what he said."

"Rory wouldn't cheat." "Who would even think that?" Stephanie said, obviously listening to the conversation.

"But what if—"

"Rory wouldn't cheat," Colin repeated sternly leaving no room for argument. "Is she back yet?"

"No."

"Look, I'm on my way, just don't do anything stupid."

"Like what?" Finn asked insulted.

"Like cornering Rory."

-

When Colin got off the phone with Finn he rolled off his bed and pulled on his clothes. Behind him he heard Stephanie doing the same.

"Are you coming with?" Colin asked turning to the blonde haired green-eyed girl.

"Obviously," she said rolling her eyes. "You think I'm going to let you two handle this? I know you and Finn both love Rory and only mean well but you have no tact. Plus do you really think she's going to want to talk about her break up with two boys? Two boys who are best friends with her ex? I don't think so."

"And you think she'll tell you?"

"Yes."

"How do you figure?"

Stephanie smirked. "We're friends."

"She friends with me and Finn, too."

She laughed. "Yes but girls tell each other things. Plus Rory and I have been meaning to get together to discuss this situation."

He pulled on his coat and helped Stephanie into hers. "Why haven't you discussed it yet?"

Stephanie rolled her eyes, "because Rory has been trying to catch up on her work. We were planning a coffee date tomorrow."

Colin shook his head and pulled Steph to him as they stepped out into the cold night.

A/N: How many people are pissed off that you haven't found out what happened to Rory yet? Don't worry, its coming, I promise.