Sunlight streamed through the curtains, lighting the small room that looked like a hurricane had blown through. Under a layer of clothes, books, and miscellaneous items with the covers pulled to her chin, Rory Gilmore opened a weary eye. She sat up and groaned at the thud of pain that met her movements. She caught her reflection in the mirror on the opposite wall: not too pretty. Her skin was pale and her eyes had mascara smudges from the night before. Her head was ringing, her hair was greasy, and she noticed her teeth felt …skuzzy? She winced once more before heaving out of bed and heading to the bathroom. On her way, she stepped on her phone and pausing, leaned over to scoop it off the floor. 4 missed calls and one new message. Clicking a button, she found that Logan had called three times in the last two hours. More than in the last week, she noted grimly. Somewhat curious, she dialed her voicemail, fully expecting to hear his voice. Instead the voice on the machine was different than Logan's and it said, "I bet your head is killing you after last night, Mary. Call me." It was Tristan who had called her and not Logan. Rory blinked confusedly as this registered in her mind and slowly memories of her hazy alcohol saturated night came back to her in small increments. Logan and a blonde, Fin and vodka, Tristan and her…kissing. Kissing, Tristan and her kissing! The realization jarred Rory, and as her heart sped up, she remembered being at the party, seeing Logan and that girl walking towards them, and desperately whispering, "kiss me." And he had, Tristan had kissed her. An achingly slow kiss that had made her feel like her bones were melting and she wondered what she had been missing all of high school. As she remembered the sensation of that kiss, rather than how scandalous it taking place was, Rory felt her heart slow down and her cheeks begin to flush.
A knock at the door interrupted her reverie. "Rory, someone is here for you," Paris called through the door. Rory instantly thought of Tristan and she called back, trying to sound nonchalant, "okay, send them in." She ran into the bathroom quickly and squirted some toothpaste on her tongue, rubbing against her teeth…somewhat suspect hygiene and hey, girl has to do what she has to do. Hearing the door open, and emerging from the bathroom, she saw Logan standing in her doorway. Rory, instantly felt a swift surge of disappointment, and ignored it, smiling at him hesitantly.
"hey," she said quietly.
Logan smiled back at her, widely, and a little forced she thought.
"Ace, how are you?"
"Not my best…remind me to thank Fin for a killer hangover the next time I see him."
Logan looked uncomfortable for a second and then said, "right, from last night at the party…or did you drink more when you came home?"
Rory looked at him puzzled and answered, "I think I drank enough at the party without having to go home and have more."
"Right, right…I just wasn't sure if you came home. Alone, I mean." He said staring at the floor.
Rory felt her cheeks flush again, but this time anger.
"And I guess that's why you called me and came here…to check up on me?"
Logan met her eyes immediately, "no no not at all…I wanted to see you, Ace"
"Yeah seems that way," Rory answered harshly, the words leaping from her tongue.
Logan ran a hand through his blonde hair, "Ace, look I'm doing this all wrong. Last night made me think, alright"
Rory waited, looking at him warily.
"It made me realize how much I've missed and what an ass I've been lately. Please?" He motioned for her to come closer to him.
Rory pause a second before allowing him to pull her into his arms. He whispered into her ear, "I'll better okay?" and as their lips, Rory had to remind herself that this is what she wanted.