(A/N) I am sorry; so, so sorry. I didn't mean to abandon this story for so long. I mean, that was a pretty long four months for all of you. They were pretty fast for me because I sure did progress on From The Start. I'm about six or seven chapters from the end and that's about how many chapters I'd put out over this story's stint. Sorry, again. Thanks for the reviews.
Chapter Four
"So what happens from here?" Rory asked as she lay in Jess' arms the next morning. He considered this for a moment as he absently stroked her arm lightly with the tips of his fingers, sending shivers up Rory's spine.
"I'm not sure," he finally answered silently.
"Will this just be a one-night stand and we'll never see each other ever again?" she interrogated softly and worriedly, he adjusting her in his hold.
"First off, I don't think something that happens between us like this could ever be a one-night stand. Second, we'd eventually see each other because my uncle and your crazy mother will be getting married. Therefore, I, being the uncle's nephew, will have to go. And you, being the bride's daughter will also make an appearance."
"Not if I kill myself before the wedding so I won't have to avoid you after our disastrous one-night stand." Jess sighed and pulled her closer, kissing the crown of her head.
"I'm starting to get the feeling that you want this to be a one-night stand,"
"We need a new word for that," Rory said, changing the subject.
"Do you want this to be?" he asked.
"I don't think it has any synonyms," she ventured.
"Rory?" Jess asked impatiently.
"Maybe we should say—"
"—Never mind." And with that, he pushed Rory off him gently and leaned over the side of the bed to grab his boxers. He slipped them on under the covers, then got up and continued to dress.
"Jess—"
"—Hey, if you want this to be a one-night stand, fine. Go back to the monkey or find yourself another victim. I don't care." Jess pulled his shirt over his head and sat on the bed's edge as he pulled on his socks.
"Jess—"
"—I'm going to get some breakfast. Just leave before I get back, or whatever."
"Jess!" she called after him as he stood in front of the door, pulling on his jacket. "I told you I wanted to be with you last night," Rory whispered as he turned to look at her.
"Seriously?" She nodded and got out of the bed, wrapping the sheets around her as she walked over to him. "What about Logan?" he asked softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck, causing her blanket to fall to the floor.
"He'll be fixed," Rory answered after a beat and then began an assault on his lips. Obliging, Jess placed his hands on the small of her back and pushed her closer to him. Fumbling with his clothing, Rory fell back onto the bed, a high-pitched giggle escaping her lips, before he lowered himself onto her.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear after a quick kiss on the lips. He felt her cheeks rise in a smile underneath his as he nibbled on her earlobe.
"Same here," she said after a stolen moment's hesitation, but Jess overlooked that. She was making sure she did before she had to say it with an air of finality. That was enough for him.
…………………
"You hungry?" Jess asked as Rory stepped out of the bathroom in her attire from the night before.
"Yes I am." He smiled knowingly at her. "But, yes there is a but," she added at his questioning look, "I have to go to that function I told you about the other day." He nodded and walked over to her, kissing her profoundly. "I had fun," she whispered, pulling away. He smirked.
"Me too."
"I have to go," Rory whispered reluctantly.
"Don't go," he said, seductively kissing her cheek in the process.
"I don't want to."
"Then don't," he said muffled.
"This sounds familiar." She pulled away slowly and stepped away from him. Rory pouted and crossed her arms over her stomach. "I hate my grandmother."
"Same here."
"I better go. I'm already late enough as it is," she said after a short silence.
"What time does this thing start?" he asked curiously.
"At eleven."
"It's eight." She smiled and turned to walk towards the door.
"Rory?" She turned her head. "We have to talk." Rory nodded.
"I'll be back for lunch. That good?"
"Great."
"I'll call you later."
"You have my number?" Jess asked, puzzled.
"Yep."
"How?" Rory smiled, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"I have my ways…you can call me too. Bye." And with that, she was out the door.
……………………
"A fresh platter is all we need. Thanks," Rory told the waitress an hour and a half later. She looked over the room filled with socialite D.A.R. ladies. She was slightly proud of her work in a strange way.
"I need to go somewhere and have a little talk with you," her grandmother's voice said in her ear behind her.
"Later, Grandma. I'm need out her," she said in an irritated voice.
"Young lady, I insist that we go somewhere and talk right now," Emily battered.
"Grandma, I am sorry, I can't."
"There's a kitchen here, we'll go there."
"No, I am not going to the kitchen with you! We'll talk later." Emily turned to look at the balalaika players behind her.
"Must they play those damn guitars?"
"They're balalaikas!"
"They're too loud."
"They're Russian and they aren't mic'ed. That's their volume."
"I'm not liking this tone of yours."
"Well, you're forcing the tone, Grandma! I said I'll talk to you later, but right now, I'm not leaving this room." Rory turns and walks away from Emily, to the other side of the balalaika players, but is followed by Emily.
"Where were you last night? Why didn't you call?"
"You're overreacting."
"You're not wearing your dress," Emily noticed once they were facing each other.
"I didn't have time to go home."
"You almost missed the event," she accused.
"No, I was early for the event. What I missed was your inspection of me back at the house. That's what you're upset about."
"My inspections, missy, are for your own good. You're new to the D.A.R. You don't know the proper procedure for things. The proper dress!" Emily exclaimed, signaling at her clothes.
"I do okay!" Rory defended.
"This is not just about me, everyone was worried about you!"
"You mean everyone that you called when you took my private address book and tried to find me?"
"Yes, I did call people."
"Well, you shouldn't have!"
"A lot of good it did. You should update that ridiculous address book of yours; half the numbers were disconnected!"
"Oh, I'll do that," Rory said sarcastically.
"You have people in there you haven't spoken to for years! You should remove them!"
"Uh-huh."
"I'm throwing that book out," Emily said, furious at her sarcasm.
"Do not throw that book out!" Rory demanded.
"Do not use that tone with me!" Emily smirked manically.
"I want to be very clear—"
"—You are becoming more like your mother with every passing day."
"And you are becoming more like my mother's mother with every passing day!" Rory pointed out.
"That's it, that's it!" Emily pointed at her curtly.
"What's it?" Rory asked furiously and confusedly.
"You're grounded!"
"Grounded?"
"Yes!"
"I'm twenty one! You can't ground me!"
"And no more sleepovers at Paris' house!"
"Grandma, I go wherever I want, whenever I want. And I haven't been sleeping at Paris' house three nights a week! I've been at Logan's!" Rory yelled.
"When your father gets home, we're going to talk about the house rules and be the same page once and for all!" Rory stared at her, confused and surprised.
"You mean my grandfather?"
"You know what I meant!"
"Well, I'd have to be living at the house to have house rules!" She yelled.
"What does that mean?"
"Excuse me." Rory turned and walked back to the other side of the room.
…………………
Rory sat in her car at 1:00 that afternoon. Sighing, she put her hands on the wheel at ten and two then rested her forehead against the wheel. She knew that she had to break up with Logan. She just wasn't sure how. Her cell phone's ring tone brought Rory out of her reverie and she let out a deep breath, preparing herself for the worst.
"Hello?" she answered after locating her phone.
"Hey." Rory raised her forehead off the wheel and smiled.
"Hey yourself."
"So, how'd the thing go?" Jess asked, sitting on the bed in his room.
"Okay, except for the part where I blew up at my grandmother while people were watching. I also kicked myself out. So, what've you done?" Jess smirked.
"I went to Luke's. He asked me how everything went with you and I said that I was pretty sure I'd impregnated you."
"Jess!" Rory exclaimed, her cheeks turning a dark pink.
"Relax, I just said that I must have knocked some sense into you because you showed up at the Inn, begging for forgiveness. Then I said I'd impregnated you."
"That's not funny," Rory whined.
"Are you coming back to the Inn?"
"Yeah, but I'll be a little late. I have to take care of something first."
"Okay. I guess I'll see you later."
"Yeah, later. Bye."
"Bye." Rory threw her phone into the passenger seat and turned the key in the ignition.
…………………
"Ace?" Rory pushed past Logan into his apartment.
"Look, I'm not here to forgive you for what you did last night and I'm just going to get some of the stuff I left her the other night." Rory looked Logan over in a quick motion with her eyes t see he was still in his pajama pants and a t-shirt.
"Can you please not yell? I have a killer headache. Now, let's talk this out. Why are you so angry at me?" Logan put a hand on the small of her back and tried to lead her over to the couch, but she refused to move.
"You know what happened last night. I'm here to tell you that you and I are over. I'm done with you and your little parties and your little outbursts and your friends and drinking. I'm getting my clothes and I'm gone." She walked through the living room to his bedroom. Seeing her bag next to her side of the bed, she walked over to it and began to collect her clothes.
"Don't do this, Rory. I know you; if you go off with writer boy, you're going to end up getting hurt and you'll have nowhere to go. I, however, won't hurt you," Rory heard him whisper in her ear. His breath tickled the back of her neck. She began to feel butterflies in her stomach once again, only this time it wasn't for Jess. She didn't know what to do.
Rory loved Logan, she'd told him that a few weeks ago. Jess, however, had told her he loved her in her freshman year at Yale. He'd only now heard that she still loved him. But she also loved Logan. Logan, though, still hadn't told her he loves her.
Rory turned around sharply to find him standing a few inches away from her. "You hurt me last night, Logan. You slapped me!"
"I didn't mean to, Rory! I was angry you were going out with book boy behind my back!"
"We were just going to have dinner and talk!" She yelled, still holding her bag.
"I didn't know that!"
"Yes, you did. I told you, pretty loudly too."
"I'm sorry Rory! Okay? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I need you to forgive me. I'm not going to hurt you again," he ended softly. Rory shut her eyes as she contemplated the situation. Opening them, she walked past him and dropped her bag next to the bedroom door. She walked into the study adjacent to his room and gathered all her books from his desk.
"Excuse me, Logan," Rory whispered when he appeared, blocking the doorway.
"No. I need to hear you say that you forgive me."
"Logan, please." He shook his head and stared daggers at her. Rory looked down at the pile of books in her arms as tears filled her eyes. What to do? What to say? "Just…just tell me that you love me," she whispered, looking up at him with tears streaming down her face.
His eyes softened and he walked towards her to wrap his arms around her small frame. Rory buried her head in the front of his shirt but still clutched her books. "I love you," she heard him whisper, hardly audible. Her shoulders shook with confusion. So, he did love her. He'd just never said it. Now she was stuck.
"Do you really?"
"Yeah, I do." Logan kissed the top of her hair and she pulled away. He reached forward and wiped the tears away from her face. Rory leaned into his hand and kissed her fingertips.
"I love you, too," she whispered.
…………………
And she found herself with his arms wrapped around her bare waist. They were facing each other and his hand was caressing her cheek. He leaned forward and kissed her tenderly.
Rory's bangs were sticking to her forehead with sweat and she found Logan running a hand over her forehead to wipe the sweat off. She found this sweet and cute.
She leaned forward and kissed him deeply. As the kiss slowed down and they pulled apart, she heard him whisper that he loved her. On autopilot, Rory said it back. As she stared at his face, she suddenly remembered Jess. As guilt took over her facial expression, she pulled away from Logan and sat up, wiping all the sweat away from her face.
"What's wrong, Ace?"
"I am so sorry, Logan," she cried and stood up, pulling on her underwear.
"What for?" he asked softly and rolled onto her side of the bed to pull her by the hand on top of him. She whimpered as his mouth latched onto her stomach and one of his fingers found its way under her panties. Rory pulled away again and began to throw on her clothes. "Rory?"
"I'm sorry. I'm just—I can't believe I did this and that," she explained obscurely.
"I don't understand a word you're saying." Rory frantically looked around the room for anything she might've missed in her earlier scour. "Will you stop and explain to me what's going on?" His demand froze her and she found herself at a loss for words. "Ror?" She closed her eyes before turning to face him.
"I…I slept with Jess," she whimpered. Rory watched as his eyes took on an angry look and his face turn purple.
"You what!" he yelled. Tears blurred her vision, and she repeated her statement. "I can't believe this!" Logan ran a hand through his hair and stood to pull on his boxers. He walked over to Rory and stopped a foot away from her. "You slept with Jess?" She nodded. "I knew it! I told you you'd cheat on me!"
"Logan," she
whimpered, "I'm sorry."
"No, you're not." Logan sighed
and ran another hand through his blonde curls. "So this was just a
game, huh? You wanted me to tell you I loved you so you could sleep
with me then tell me you slept with your ex-boyfriend?"
"No, I—"
"Forget it. Just get out of here, Rory. Consider us over." Logan pushed past her and walked through the living room to the front door.
"Logan," she pleaded as she slung her bag onto her shoulder and followed him.
"What?' he asked furiously.
"I'm sorry." Rory's tears continued and his eyes turned soft.
"Just go be with the guy you want to be with, Ace. Go." Rory nodded and hugged him.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen," she whispered into his neck. Pulling away, she smiled sadly and was about to leave when he pulled her back and kissed her passionately.
"Go," he said softly, jerking his head in the general direction of the door, after he pulled away.
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
(A/N) I told you it wasn't the end, yet. I'm sorry this took so long. I hope you like this and I will try my hardest to get the next chapter out soon. Please review. I hope this was long enough. Review! Review!
