Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, settings, music, or movies mentioned.
AN: Here we go! They are going to meet in this chapter and I love how it happens! Enjoy!
Rory stepped out of the limo and the driver handed her the Coach overnight bag. She strutted through the courtyard in her black thigh high boots toward Branford where Elle and her friend Stephanie lived. She adjusted her nude pink mini skirt and tucked her shirt in right. The black long-sleeved top had flared sleeves at the wrist and a diamond cut out at the top of her cleavage. (Cover photo as always, this outfit is adorable!)
She made it to dorm B16 and knocked on the door. "Come in Ror!" she heard from the other side. Rory opened the door and stepped inside.
"Elle?" she called. She received no answer and put her hands on her hips. "Elizabeth Hope Hayden!"
"Lorelai Leigh Hayden!" Elle mocked. "I'm just getting dressed just make some coffee, I'll be there in a second."
"Fine," she yelled back, rolling her eyes as she knew that Elle would be 'just getting dressed' for at least 30 more minutes. "What are we doing today?"
"We're hanging out with some of my friends," Elle told her.
"Sounds good," Rory said. With that she made her way over to the contraband coffee pot on a table her sister had set up. She poured herself an eight-ounce paper cup and placed the lid on it. She leaned against the table and quickly finished the cup. This definitely wasn't big enough, her eyes scoured the room looking for a thermos or a mug. She spotted one high up on a shelf and found a chair to stand on. No sooner had she got on it and reached for the thermos did the front door open and practically slam shut, making her jump. She fell back and squeezed her eyes closed, bracing herself to hit the ground.
But she didn't. She fell and she didn't hit the ground. She slowly opened her eyes only to find that someone had caught her. A very hot someone. He stared back at her with piercing brown eyes and a jaw line that was sharp enough to cut through steel. Her eyes unconsciously traveled over his biceps and rock, solid abs that she happened to be pressed against as he held her. And wow, if he wasn't holding her she probably would have fallen over, again, just by looking at that smirk.
Who the hell is this and why have I never met her before?! Logan looked down at the girl, woman, very hot woman, who had literally fallen out of the sky and into his arms, and couldn't help but smirk. She stared up at him with striking blue eyes and gorgeous, curly, chocolate brown hair. His eyes involuntarily roamed over her body, her slim waist, long legs, breasts the perfect size to fit right in his ha-
"Hi," she breathed out.
"Hi," he said in a husky voice that sent shivers up her spine.
"Um, thanks," she said. "That probably would have ended pretty badly if you hadn't caught me, then again if you hadn't walked in I guess I wouldn't have fallen, so it's kind of your fault, but you did save me, so yeah, thanks."
"Well you're welcome, and I'm sorry, I guess," he laughed. "But if you don't mind me asking, what were you doing on that chair?"
"Oh, I was trying to get the thermos. It was too high for me to reach so I thought, 'Hey I should stand on a chair, it's not like I'll fall or anything' and we see how that worked out," she sighed.
"Do you always ramble like that?" he asked, smiling at her.
"Yes. No. Um, sometimes, usually when I'm nervous and I don't quite know what to say so I end up talking too much and… I'm doing it again. No, not usually," she said, blushing.
"Don't worry its cute, so, you're nervous?"
"Little bit."
"Any reason why?" he asked knowingly.
"You're still holding me."
"And?"
"And, you're… well you're kind of, um…"
"Hot? Handsome? Charming? Sexy?"
"Cocky? Pompous? Narcissistic? Egotistical?" she fired back.
"Wow, never heard those before. Especially from someone who just fell for me," he said, again with that smirk.
"Arrogant? Self-absorbed? Big-headed?" she said.
"My head is an average size, I'll have you know," he said, offended. She couldn't help but laugh at the horrified look he gave her. "Fine, laugh is up, my misery is hilarious." This only served to make her laugh harder, which he couldn't help but notice was adorable. "You're making fun of me and I don't even know your name."
"Rory," she said, grinning.
"Logan," he said.
"Well Logan if you would be so kind, do you think you could put me down and help me get that thermos?" she asked.
"Anything for a damsel in distress," he said, setting her down gently and letting her out of his grasp so he could reach up and grab the cup she wanted. He handed it to her and watched as she sauntered over to the coffee and filled the thermos. He kept his eyes on her hips, swaying as she walked and swallowed the lump in his throat.
"So how do you know my sister?" she asked.
"What?" he asked confused.
"Elle, this is her dorm," she said.
"Oh right, I'm good friends with her roommate Steph," he said.
"You're that Logan? As in Logan, Colin, and Finn?" she asked, realization dawning on her.
"Uh oh, you've heard about me, that can't be good," he joked.
"I'm ready," Elle aid, coming out of her room. "Oh, I see you met Logan."
"I have," Rory said.
"Has he tried to hit on you yet?" Elle asked.
"No," Rory laughed.
"I'm not that bad," he said, walking to the mini fridge.
"I don't have any beer."
"I'm getting water!" he said, waving the bottle around. "But it's nice to know you think so highly of me."
"I know you too well by now to think highly of you," she laughed. "Steph isn't here by the way."
"I know, she's at the pub which is why I am here. Your both coming with me to meet the gang there," he said.
"That's fine, don't coerce Rory into drinking, she's only 17 and I don't need you to corrupt her," Elle said.
"Your only 18," Logan pointed out.
"Almost 19," she defended.
"Did I miss the legal drinking age being changed to 19?" Rory challenged.
"Your assuming I care," Elle said.
"You care enough to stop me from dinking," Rory fired back.
"And to stop me from getting her to drink," Logan added.
"You just met each other and your ganging up on me?" she asked, looking between them.
"Apparently," Rory said, shrugging.
"You ready to go yet?" Logan asked.
"Yes, yes, let's go," Elle said, following them out the door and locking it behind her.
"So where is this pub of yours?" Rory asked.
"About 30 Kropogs from here," he said automatically.
"Kropogs?! Oh my god you're such a Yale dork," Rory said, giggling.
"A Yale dork?" he asked, offended.
"Nobody actually measures distance in Kropogs, that's just something stupid the alumni's always talk about," she laughed.
"Well maybe I'll bring it back to the campus," he said, cockily.
"What a trendsetter," she mocked him.
"Just you wait, when you get to Yale people we'll measuring everything by Kropogs. Even textbooks will be 1/7 Kropog," he laughed.
"That'll be the day," she said, shaking her head. "I'm actually not coming to Yale though."
"Oh yeah?" he asked, oddly disappointed by this. Wait, why the hell am I disappointed about that?
"Yeah, Harvard is the dream," she said.
"It has been since we were two," Elle added, who was beginning to feel like quite the third wheel.
"Harvard? I don't know if I can associate with you anymore," he said, seriously.
"Yeah right," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Alright Ms. Harvard, what do you plan on majoring in?" he asked, opening the door of the pub for them both.
"Journalism," she said as they approached the table.
"Logan! Who is this lovely woman?!" Finn asked.
"This is my sister Rory, Rory this is Finn, Colin, Steph, and Juliet," Elle said, motioning to everyone as she pointed them out.
"Hey," Rory said, sliding into the booth with Elle on one side and Logan on the other. Logan slid his hand into hers, entwining their fingers. What she took to be a comforting gesture in the midst of a new group, he knew to be as an excuse to touch her. Having her in his arms a mere 30 minutes ago wasn't enough, he still wanted to touch her, he needed to feel her soft skin on his and that was that.
"Hey!" Steph answered first and Rory immediately pegged her as the nice, perky one. Of course, she had also heard things from Elle to make her come to this conclusion.
"Nice to meet you," Colin said.
"Yes, we love new eye candy," Finn joked.
"She's 17 Finn," Elle warned.
"You should get used to that, he means no harm but he comes on strong," Logan told her.
"Yes, Finn is a wonder," Steph agreed.
"No, it's a wonder that he doesn't have liver cancer," Logan corrected
"It's a wonder he has yet to wake up in a ditch on the side of the road," Colin said.
"Do you see what I put up with?" Finn said, directing his comment at Rory.
"It must be horrible for you," she said, placating him.
"Finally, someone who understands me!" Finn cried. "Can we keep her, please?" he begged Logan.
"Only if you promise to feed her and take care of her," Logan laughed along with the rest of the table.
"Hey, I am not a dog," Rory huffed.
"More like little puppy," Elle said.
"They might have a point Ace, you are cute," Logan said, smirking. Rory blushed at his comment and she certainly didn't move out of his grasp when he rested his arm around her shoulder. The rest of the table knew there were already two girls here normally vying for Logan's attention, and now that he was giving it to someone new it was clear that Juliet and Elle would do anything to get it back. Especially since this new girl happened to be Elle's sister, and her younger sister at that.
"High school girls are just adorable," Juliet added in an overly sweet tone.
"So, I'm assuming you go to Chilton like Elle did," Logan said.
"Yes, unfortunately," she said.
"Ready to get out of there by now?" he asked knowingly.
"Absolutely," she laughed.
"Plus, she has a certain blonde hitting on her constantly," Elle said.
"Oh, do tell," Steph said, excitedly.
"He does not hit on me, he annoys me," Rory corrected.
"She's in denial, this guy likes her and since Rory has always been unbelievably oblivious when it comes to guys, she doesn't notice," Elle explained.
"Yeah, I can see that," Steph muttered, glancing at Logan who still had his arm around Rory.
"Who is it? Would we know him?" Colin asked.
"Tristan Dugrey," Rory said, rolling her eyes.
"Mary!" Steph gasped, pointing at Rory.
"How do you know that?" she asked, her eyes wide.
"He never shuts up about his Mary, oh my God," Colin laughed.
"Great," Roy sighed.
"At least he's not using you real name Ace," Logan said.
"And apparently neither are you, what does Ace mean?" she asked.
"You said you major in Journalism," he shrugged. "Ace reporter."
"Cute," Juliet said, rolling her eyes.
"Hm, I like it," Rory said, laughing.
"Good, I probably wouldn't have stopped saying it if you hadn't," he said, squeezing her shoulder.
"What is with hot blonde guys giving you nicknames?" Steph joked.
"Aw Steph I always knew you wanted me," Logan boasted.
"Guess again Huntzberger," Steph said, rolling her eyes in disgust. Logan and Finn were practically her brother, no thank you. Now Colin on the other hand, she thought, kissing him on the cheek.
"Yeah, yeah, reject me for my best friend, see if I care," he teased her.
"I thought I was your best friend," Finn said, offended.
"We are not doing this again Finn," Steph groaned.
"Rory what do you think? Who's the better friends, me or Colin?" he asked, putting Rory on the spot.
Logan leaned in close and whispered in her ear, an act that sent a shill through her and she was surprised he couldn't feel the goosebumps on her arm. "Just tell him you can't decide and you need a drink."
"Um, you know I'm not sure but I could use a drink," she said.
"Of course, she needs alcohol to think clearly," he realized. "I'll be back love."
"And if you'll excuse me, I'll just go make sure the only thing that goes in that glass is sprite," Logan said, getting up and following Finn to the bar.
"Finn is… quite original," Rory laughed.
"That he is," Steph agreed.
"So," Juliet started. "You and Logan?"
"Um, what about us?" Rory asked, genuinely confused.
"Are you sleeping together?" she asked bluntly.
"Juliet!" Steph warned.
"What? I'm just curious," she said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Well, no we aren't. I just met him an hour ago, and so far, we haven't jumped each other or anything," Rory said sweetly.
"So, you're not interested in him?"
"Not as anything more than a friend or an acquaintance," Rory said.
"Good," Juliet said, sitting back.
"Lay off," Elle said.
"Don't you want to know too? We all know you've been trying to get into his pants since you met him," Juliet snipped.
"Don't be so crude Juliet," Steph said.
"At least I haven't been pining for him since I was six," Elle fired back.
"Um, I'm just going to go check on that sprite," Rory said, slipping out of the booth. She hurried away and up to the bar, desperate to get away from the uncomfortable situation. She just made it there when Logan was handed a glass, he turned to walk back, almost bumping into Rory.
"Woah, careful there," she laughed.
"Sorry," he said, handing her the drink. "What are you doing over here?"
"Drama ensued," she said simply.
"Ah, yeah that's always uncomfortable," he said, knowingly. "Elle and Juliet?"
"Wow, so this happens often?" she asked, surprised at her sister's behavior.
"Quite often," he said, leaning against the bar.
"And that's not awkward for you?" she asked.
"It is, I tend to disappear around the time they start," he said.
"Huh," she said.
"What?" he asked, sensing they was something else.
"Well, I mean if you don't mind me asking, why don't you just date one of them?" she asked.
"Honestly?" he asked. "I've developed a sort of love them and leave them approach to dating."
"Love them and leave them?" she asked with a smirk.
"Sleep with them and leave the next morning," he explained. "It sounds horrible but I don't get hurt that way and neither do they. And I could never do that to my one of my friends."
"And you've never thought about, I don't know, settling down and committing?" she asked.
"I have but, I always thought… ok this is kind of stupid," he said.
"It's not stupid I promise, what is it?"
"I've always thought one day I would meet the perfect girl for me, the girl who would make me want to commit, the girl I just couldn't stand to see with anyone else. So far, I haven't met her yet, and until I do, I don't want to waste my time trying to love someone else," he said. He really didn't know why he was telling her this, the only other person on the planet who knew was Honor and now here he was spilling his guts to a girl he had only met an hour and a half ago.
"That is not stupid Logan, it's sweet. I think it's great that your holding out for your soulmate, even though you are dating, it's not emotional. When you meet this girl, you will only have ever loved her, and I think that's really sweet," she said.
"But what if I don't meet her?" he asked.
"Well then, you'll buy yourself a very nice trophy wife," she joked, laughing which made him laugh too. "Seriously though, you will find her. If you want it bad enough then you'll find her and you won't let her go."
"Thanks Ace," he said, still laughing. "Come on, let's go dance or something I'm not ready to go back the hostile environment that the table has become."
"Sure," she said, accepting his hand and leaving her empty glass on the bar.
They made their way out to the make shift dance floor in the pub and he rested his hands on her hips, hers going around his neck. They swayed to the music and Rory managed to maintain a friendly distance, which Logan chuckled at and proceeded to pull her closer. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of being in his arms again, the intoxication of his scent, and the exhilaration of his hands low on her back. Logan quite literally couldn't take his eyes off of her and resisted the urge to place a kiss on her forehead. Had he really only just met her? Had it really only been an hour and half since he caught her. Maybe she was right and he definitely was going to find his dream girl, maybe he already had. Maybe his soul mate was comfortably in his arms right now. He'd be damned if he let Rory be the one that got away, he needed to take this seriously and really get to know her. Two months, he decided. If in two months he could positively say that Rory Gilmore wasn't the girl for him, he would go back to casual dating. But if he could say she was, then he was prepared to quit cold turkey now and commit to her when the time came. And damn it, he was really hoping for the latter.
"Why the hell would he want to date you anyway?" Elle bit out.
"I'm hot and blonde. Your blonde but I hate to break it to you, your just average, like a potato," Juliet said, condescendingly.
"At least I'm not some brain-dead bimbo," Elle defended.
"I don't know about that," Steph said, shocking Elle. "If either of you had half a brain you would have realized by now that Logan isn't interested, and you would have noticed that he is other wised smitten at the moment."
"What?" Elle asked.
"Your little sister is stealing 'your man'," Steph said, rolling her eyes.
"I'm not worried," Juliet said flippantly.
"Why is that?" Colin asked.
"Tristan doesn't call her Mary for nothing," Juliet said. "Logan has an itch that needs scratching and she sure as hell isn't going to do it."
"I hate to agree with her but, she is right," Elle admitted. "Rory is pretty innocent, and if I have anything to say about it he won't get close enough to hurt her."
"Are you the protective sister right now, or the jealous bitch?" Steph snapped, not liking how her friend was acting right now.
"A little bit of both," Elle said sheepishly.
"Drop the bitch, it's not a good look for you," Steph said bluntly.
"Huntz will be over this girl by midnight," Juliet said.
I wouldn't bet on it, Steph thought as she watched them sway together on the dance floor.
Rory laid on the couch staring up at the ceiling. Last night had been amazing, from meeting Logan and all of Elle's friends, to dancing with Logan and later Finn which was rather exhausting. She couldn't help but smile as she thought about how he held her, how good he smelled, and how safe she felt with him. She loved that he had opened up to her about his life and just the fact that she knew a little bit more about him. From what she had heard from Elle, the guys were notorious partiers and playboys, so knowing that Logan did in fact have a soft, emotional, hopeful side to him, one that he was willing to share, made her happy. Of course, that happiness wasn't exactly justified, or at least she couldn't justify it. Why did she care so much that Logan had a soft side, that he wasn't just a frat boy? If it was Colin or Finn she probably wouldn't still be thinking about it, or be so elated by it. Was it only because he was good looking? Or maybe because he had caught her and she liked being in his arms?
Damn it, she liked being in his arms, and she hated that. She really hated that, because if she liked being in his arms, that meant she liked him, and if she liked him that opened up a whole host of other implications, not to mention obstacles. One of them being her sister, she remembered, closing her eyes and groaning. Her sister and Juliet, both of them equally determined to catch Logan's attention and both equally likely to fail. Logan had already written them off as friends and she wasn't about to get friend zoned too. She wanted Logan Huntzberger and now all she had to do was show him that she was the girl he's been looking for.
And really why couldn't she be? They already got along well and she was attracted to him, very attracted to him. And Rory wasn't the type to swoon over a guy, but boy was that man swoon worthy. His abs, his arms, his chiseled features. But she also loved his smile, and his eyes, and his dimples when he laughed. And his voice, she thought. His voice alone turned her on and made her smile all at the same time. She would definitely be visiting Yale more often.
A knock on the door broke through her thoughts. Assuming both Elle and Steph were still hung over and sleeping, she sat up and moved off the couch. She ran her hand through her hair and tugged her shirt down further before opening the door. She gasped when she was greeted by Logan carrying 2 cardboard carriers, complete with eight coffee cups, and a big white paper bag. "You are a god!" she said.
"I'm flattered," he said, handing her one of the carriers. She took it and stepped back for him to come in, then closed the door.
"So, are you like the coffee fairy or something? Because if so I may have to bring you home with me," she teased.
"More like the hangover cure fairy," he said, setting the coffee down as well as the bag, which he reached into and took out burritos and tacos.
"Wow, you are the hangover fairy," she said, sitting down on the couch and tucking her feet under her.
"I've had a lot of experience," he laughed, sitting down as well.
"Oh, I don't doubt that," she said. "You all seem like a wild group I'm sure dealing with all of them hungover is your specialty."
"It is," he said, then looked up at her, his smile dropping a little. "Look about last night…"
Rory and Logan returned to the table from there dance and found Steph and Elle glaring at each other. Logan sat down and motioned for Rory to slide in next to him. "I'll be right back, I just have to run to restroom," she said.
"Hurry back," he said with a smirk, watching her walk away and quickly tearing his gaze from her hips when Juliet called his name.
"You know she's a virgin?" Juliet asked.
"I did not. I assumed, good for her," Logan said.
"So, she won't sleep with you," she said.
"I didn't ask her to," Logan said.
"Good, I just thought you should know," she said.
"Why would I need to know that?" he asked, curiously.
"So, you don't make a mistake and sleep with her."
"Why would it be a mistake?"
"If she loses her virginity to you she would get clingy," she said, obviously. "She would want you to commit."
"And I'm so incapable of commitment?" he asked, offended.
"Well no," she said, placing her hand on his. "Just not to someone like her."
"Someone like her?" he asked. "Smart, funny, nice, not a slut?"
"Inexperienced," she said. "Look just think it over, I'll be right back." She stood up and headed to the bathroom, swaying her hips for him despite the fact that he wasn't looking. She walked in and saw Rory reapplying her lip-gloss and stopped, placing her hands on her hips.
"Hey," Rory said, noticing her.
"Lip-gloss might be too innocent for Logan, he likes darker colors," she said.
"Excuse me?" Rory asked.
"Or is that your plan? The innocent and shy act? Do guys fall for that?" Juliet asked.
"Look it's not an act, I'm not trying to get Logan or anyone to 'fall for that'," Rory said. "I'm not a slut."
"No, not a slut, you're a tease. And no one likes a tease, you certainly aren't going to fit in with this group. Don't make the same mistake as your sister and think you can get Logan to like you." With that Juliet stormed out of the bathroom only to find Steph standing on the other side of the door with her arms crossed.
"Logan, its ok," she sighed.
"No, it's not," he said. "I'm really sorry about that, Juliet was way out of line and I just want you to know that none of the rest of us think that."
"It's ok, it wasn't your fault, you have nothing to be sorry for," she said, placing her hand on his arm. "Especially because you weren't there, you couldn't have stopped it."
"I know but, I feel bad about it. She said that because-," he said before she cut him off.
"I know why she said it, and it's still not your fault. You shouldn't feel bad," Rory assured him again.
"Well I can promise it won't happen again ok?"
"Thanks," she said. "You don't have to answer this but, why are you guys friend with her?"
"She's part of Old Money, we kind of have to. It looks good for us all to be seen together and it keeps our families happy," he said, shrugging. "I'm actually surprised we hadn't hung out with Elle until this year."
"Oh, our parents try to keep us away from society as best they can. They had Elle at 16 and then I was surprise number two not long after. Which went over like a lead balloon with the grandparents by the way. But at least this time they were already married. So as far as my mom and dad were concerned at the time, and today, society is boring and they wanted to stay out," she explained.
"That makes sense, and I happen to agree with them, it is boring," he said. "So, I know you aren't hung over, but I did get enough tacos and coffee if you're interested."
"I am interested," she said, reaching for a cup as he grabbed two tacos, handing one to Rory.
"No coffee?" she asked, skeptically.
"I already some this morning, I get jittery if I drink too much. Low caffeine tolerance," he said.
"Interesting, I can't relate," she said, taking a sip of her coffee.
"I didn't think you would," he laughed. "So, are we going to be seeing more of you?"
"Why do you ask?" she asked, unwrapping her food.
"Just curious," he shrugged.
"Well I do plan to visit Elle frequently, we're pretty close."
"That's good, I'm the same way with my sister. Honor and I are further apart in age but we are close," he said.
"Siblings are…" she started.
"A pain in the ass," he said, making her laugh. "But it's a special thing to have."
"It is," she agreed.
"Rory! Why does the sun hate me?!" Elle whined loudly from her room.
"Speaking of which," Rory laughed.
"I wonder how long it will take her to actually get up," he said.
"It depends," she said.
"On?"
"How long should I make her wait before I tell her we have coffee?" she said with a smirk.
"Oh, that's good," he laughed, nudging her side with his elbow. Two months. Damn this is going to be a long two months, he thought, locking eyes with her.