Chapter 2. Part 1 "We just have to learn from them."

Rory couldn't help but let her mind wander to the curious boy that she just met. She also couldn't help the guilty feelings that she felt in knowing that she couldn't deny the subtle attraction that she felt towards someone that was on a first name basis with her Grandfather. What would her mother think? After all, her mother couldn't possibly like someone that her own parent's approved of. Rory attempted to shake this feeling from her mind. It wasn't worth thinking about. She probably wouldn't see Logan again anyway. Not to mention the fact that she just broke up with her boyfriend, making thoughts like these somewhat inappropriate. She would take some time off from the opposite sex. Life would be much less complicated that way. . .

"Emily! Emily! Look who I've brought home!"

Richard searched frantically for his wife with a pleased look on his face for obvious reasons.

"Is it a dog, Richard? You know how I feel about dogs. I've told you a thousand times, not that you listen to me when I'm speaking of such things. You should listen to me when I'm speaking to you Richard; it's rude if you don't."

Richard followed his wife's voice through the house that was considerably large for only two people, three when Lorelai, Rory's mother, was younger.

"I did not bring a dog home, I do listen to you simply because you make it impossible not too, Rory will be staying with us for a while, and I was not being rude to you Emily, I know better than to mess with you."

Emily Gilmore shrieked at the mention of Rory's name and appeared in the living room where Richard and Rory happened to be standing at the time. She had the same pleased expression on her face that Richard did in first stepping into the house. It was obvious to Rory why. After her mother left home at the age of sixteen, Richard and Emily Gilmore were ecstatic at having the company of their only granddaughter, outside of their weekly Friday night dinner that is. To have Rory's company for the foreseeable future was more than either could hope for.

"Oh Rory, it's so good to see you!"

"It's good to see you too Grandma."

"You're looking rather pale dear; you can help me with my garden later. The sunlight will do you some good."

"Don't pester the girl Emily, she just got here."

"She did just get here didn't she. Why did she get here exactly?"

Emily had a curious look on her face, one that made Rory all too nervous to be faced with the countless amount of questions that were bound to be asked.

"You know Emily, I forgot to ask. You know, I was wondering the same thing when she called, but she was out of a place to stay so I didn't waste time with what could wait until she had a roof over her head. Go ahead Rory, tell us, why are you here exactly? What happened to your dorm?"

There it was. The question that she would have so much trouble explaining.

"Well you see . . . it's nothing really. It's a long, boring story. I wouldn't want to waste your time with it."

"Don't be silly Rory, tell us what happened."

Rory knew that wouldn't work. When Emily Gilmore wanted information, she got it, regardless of who she had to interrogate. She only said what she did in order to buy time. Just enough time to get her story straight in her mind. She didn't want to cause a reaction that she would have to deal with for the rest of the time that she would be staying with her Grandparents.

"Well, I wasn't staying in a dorm."

"You weren't? Lorelai didn't tell us you were staying at home. It doesn't make sense to stay at home you know. Having to drive back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth, every single day, it doesn't make sense. I mean, you drive from that town of yours to Yale, and then class is over and you drive back, and then you have class again so you drive back to Yale. It's too much. Your mother should have realized that when she said you could stay with her. Sometimes I wonder about her. Sometimes I wonder where her mind is at."

"Her mind is just fine Grandma."

"But if she had you driving like that—"

"She didn't! I wasn't staying with Mom. I was staying with . . . with. . ."

"With who child! Go ahead, spit it out."

Even her Grandfather was getting frustrated. She had to think of something soon.

"I was staying with. . .a friend."

"A friend?"

"Yes Grandma, a friend."

"Well what happened to this friend? Why aren't you staying with her now?"

Rory believed it to be safest just to let them believe her friend to be a girl.

"Well, we had a fight, and now we aren't friends anymore, so I can't stay there anymore."

"What was the fight about?"

"Isn't that prying Emily? Just leave the girl alone. Let her move in peace."

"No it is not prying Richard, I have a right to know what kind of people my Granddaughter has been hanging around and living with."

"It was just a fight Grandma. Stupid stuff. You wouldn't care. Besides, we're not friends anymore, so you have nothing to worry about. I don't want to bother you with this, when you have so many more important things to be tending to."

"See Emily. It practically doesn't matter."

"If you say so."

"I say so. So Let's leave Rory in peace so she can get settled in. Feel free to go out for dinner or something Rory. I'll leave some money for you in the kitchen if you need it."

"No, that's silly Richard. She can eat in the dining room with us."

"Let the girl go out, get some air, clear her mind, have a good time, and relax. She's young Emily, she deserves that. She'll be fine, won't you Rory."

"Yes, Grandpa, I'll be fine."

"Okay, just let us know when you come back in, okay?"

"Okay."

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

Rory wasn't hungry. She found herself walking along the upscale streets of Connecticut observing stores and restaurants, as well as the people in them. By now it was dark so she decided to stop at a pier and observe the stars that were reflected in the water there. She found herself to be a tad chilly as the tights that she decided to wear that matched her skirt weren't doing anything to keep her warm. The chill in the air, however, was not enough to make her go back to her Grandparents, leaving the peaceful scenery that she found herself in. She turned to sit down on a wooden bench next to the pier, preparing herself to stay here for at least another hour. Her Grandfather did tell her to relax, one thing she did not think herself to be capable of doing if her Grandmother was around.

"Well if it isn't Miss Rory Gilmore."

Rory knew that voice. It was a voice that she didn't think she would ever hear again. A voice that she was glad to hear again.

"Well if it isn't Mr. Logan Huntzberger."

"What, did your Grandparents kick you out already? It's only been about 6 hours. That must be a record."

"My Grandparents did not kick me out; I just didn't feel like going home."

"Some people choose a pier, others choose a bar. . ."

"That was so funny Logan. You could be a comedian. No really, you could. Take that same joke on tour across the country. Don't worry; even if people don't think you're funny you'll still have your looks and the family fortune to support you."

"Wow, sarcasm, ouch."

"Well, you shouldn't pick on me then, unless you like being on the receiving end of my wrath."

"Noted."

"Good."

"Good. So you're just going to sit here."

"Yeah I think so, for another hour anyway. I was looking at the stars until this annoying person that is following me popped up and distracted me."

"Hey, I'm not annoying, and I'm not following you, I just saw you and decided to stop by."

"Well, I'll give you the following part, but you are actually annoying."

"You're probably right."
"Of course I am."

"A little cocky aren't we."

"Some call it cocky, others call it confident."

"Oh, funny."

"I thought it was."

"So, Rory, would you mind if I were to sit with you, until you decide to leave that is?"

"No, I could use the company."

"Me too."

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

Rory and Logan had been sitting with each other by that pier until Rory realized that her Grandparents would probably be waiting up for her. She decided to spare them by going back to the house so that they could be aware that she actually was still alive.

"Come on, I'll walk you home, unless you still don't trust me."

Logan stuck out his hand for Rory to hold while waiting to see if she would take his offer.

"No, I trust you."

She grabbed hold of his hand while taking note of how it seemed to warm her as soon as she touched it. The two were beginning to walk off hand in hand when she heard her name causing her to turn around.

"Rory, I need to talk to you."

"Derek how did you know I was here?"

She dropped Logan's hand.

"I didn't, I just saw you and knew that we needed to talk, but I guess you had someone else to talk to didn't you."

He eyed Logan up and down with a disgusted look on his face.

"You had someone to talk to also Derek, don't forget about that."

"I know, and it was stupid."

"What? Did her daddy find out? Did you suddenly realize you were sleeping with a minor?"

"Rory—"

"Don't start with me Derek. Not now, not ever. I don't want to talk to you, and you have to accept that."

Rory turned back around and looked at Logan as Derek began to walk away.

"Do you still want me to walk you home Rory?"

"Yes, please."

She grabbed his hand again as they began to walk.

"You know, you look like you are a little cold. Let me give you my jacket."

Logan stopped to take off his leather jacket, making sure to carefully place it around the girl that appeared to be so sad.

"Rory, can I ask you a question?"

"Yeah, go ahead."

"Was that the guy? Why didn't you want to talk to him?"

"Do you remember when you said to me today that we all make mistakes?"

"Yeah, I do. It's true you know, we all do make mistakes."

"I know, Logan. The thing is… we just have to learn from them…"