-1AN - So, I know it's been forever since I updated… like over a month. But I was in the hospital with pneumonia for 2 weeks. Sorry. That and my love life has consumed my life it seems like. It sucks being in a love triangle with your two best friends. One is in love with me, but I like the other, but it seems like he only wants the physical part of a relationship and not the emotional. Plus I'm not ready for a new relationship as my brother hates my ex, and knows things that evidentally occurred in the 2 ½ month relationship, but won't tell me until he's home from Cuba. So, there's my excuse. This is the second to last chapter. I swear it's the end, although the title says it is. It's the end of her essay.
I'm not sure you all are going to like the way the 'summer' ends, but hey. I warned you in the summary. Anywho, to BJ - while that would be hilarious, just doesn't fit.
Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers. You really make my day and keep me going. I never expected the response I got for this. Thank you all so much.
Australian Summer
Chapter 10:
The End
Although the storm had passed, the clouds and overcast clung to the sky as a scared child does its mother.
Logan was still asleep when Aryn woke up. Remembering she was still mad at him, she pushed him off the bed. He landed with a thud, followed by an ow.
"What the f-… Aryn? Did you just push me?" He asked from the floor.
"Well, yeah. I'm still mad at you."
"Obviously." He muttered. He lifted himself off the floor. "I was under the impression once I talked to my parents I'd be forgiven."
"No. But did you?"
"Yes. I told them I have a daughter, and they told me I was crazy, petty much. Then I told them you were Finn's sister, and that backfired. I told them I was staying with you and that I love you, and that if they try to do disown me they can, but then they don't have an heir. I did give them a chance to respond really, just described Aryn and hung up."
"Thank you. Your forgiven. But don't think that's always going to work. It won't." Logan hung his head.
"I know. I love you."
"I love you, too."
-
-
Weeks passed, as everyone became accustomed to little Aryn, known as Ryn. Colin and Stephanie left the family to themselves and went to spend the last few weeks of their summer in Europe. Rose had left the day after Ryn was born. Finn nor I mentioned what was said by the nursery. Logan and Aryn were adjusting quiet well to be parents. They just weren't sure how to go about anything with school yet. Everything was, as much as it could possibly get, perfect.
We woke up and just laid there watching one another. It was something I'd never done before. Finally his smiling face broke the silence.
"You know, my cousin's come next week."
"Really? Already? Wow, that means Mom should be her soon."
"Very true. I can't wait to meet her."
"She'll love you. So, how does this work with your cousins if they're in school?"
"Well, most of us who are in university are in school over in the good ol' US of A. But when my aunts and uncles were younger, your grandparents and mum were out here for 3 weeks during Lorelai's summer vacation. After they stopped coming, everyone missed it. Mum started bringing me and Ari out for 3 weeks when we were little just for the hell of it. Then when we started school, she said 'Screw it. They're smart enough.' And takes us out for three weeks. Eventually so did everyone else."
"Huh." They were silent for a moment. "Can you believe it's been 3 weeks since Ryn was born?"
"I know. She's getting big already. She's going to be heartbreaker some day."
"Very true." We just smiled at each other and fell back into the comfortable silence of lying in bed just watching one another.
-
-
"Mom!" I ran to her, and she to me. Much like when I went to Washington. "I missed you!"
"I missed you!" We hugged for about five minutes before we realized there were people staring. "Aryn!" Mom squealed, letting go of me and hugging her childhood friend.
"Lorelai!"
"It's been too long!"
"I missed you!" Aryn replied.
"I missed you!"
"Okay, way too many 'I missed you's.'" Finn complained.
:"And you must be Finn. I haven't seen you in years. Did you know I changed your diapers?" Finn cringed.
"I so never want to know that again."
"Yeah, mom, that was disturbing."
"Oh, hush."
"Finn, dear, be a good boy and put Lorelai's things in the car, please?"
"Certainly, mother." Finn kissed Rory quickly, and grabbed her mother's bags, quickly retreating.
Aryn and Lorelai looked at one another and let out a collective "Oooh."
Rory blushed. "Shut up." She quickly exited the airport. The adults cracked up laughing.
"Who'da thunk that our children would get together?"
"Not me!"
-
-
Finn's entire family was already at the house by the time we got back. It was a bit over whelming seeing the hotel sized house filled with people. Most of them were nice enough, and his cousins were all worshipping Mom. It was kind of funny actually. However, one of his cousins were not as kind as the rest. She was rude, arrogant, that evil beautiful -you know what I mean. Like Angelica Houston in Ever After. Beautiful, but evil looking. To top it all off, she was an amazing actress.
Finn left me to Scarlet while he played football, or soccer, with his cousins.
"Rory, was it?"
"Yes, Scarlet, right?"
"Yes. It's actually Katie, but everyone calls me Scarlet, it's my middle name. Mum's into the whole Gone With the Wind thing a bit too much."
"At least it's a classic. She could have named you after a horrendous movie or novel. Both are classics."
"As you've said. You're named after your mother, too, right? Just like Ari."
"Yeah. Mom was hyped up on dremonol." I laughed slightly. Scarlet obviously didn't get it, or didn't find it funny. Suddenly, I was kind of uncomfortable.
"So, you and Finn?" I couldn't contain my smile at the mention of my boyfriend. Yes, boyfriend. I don't think I've mentioned that or not. We were never officially together, but after the Rose situation, we made it that way.
"What about us?"
"How long have you been dating? Since you got here?"
"No. We weren't officially together until Ryn was born."
"But you were shagging before that?"
"What makes you think we're sleeping together?"
"Don't you share a bedroom? Josie overheard Gran mention that you two sleep in the same bed every night and try to sneak off to your own room before anyone notices."
"I… well technically we're sleeping together, but we're not, as you put it, shagging." This girl was making me very uncomfortable.
"Sure. You don't have to keep up pretenses around us, Rory. Our families have been friends forever. You're part of the family now."
"I'm not. I have the nickname of Mary at school for a reason."
"You're still in school?"
"Yes… I'll be a senior next semester."
"You do know that Finn's in college, right?"
"He goes to Yale. It's not that far from where I live. I do live in Connecticut."
"Oh. Didn't he have a girlfriend back at Yale?"
"Yeah, Rose, who showed up right before Ryn was born. Part of the reason we became official." I was getting very pissed off now, and I knew it was showing in my face.
"And yet your still got together with him? Even though he had a girlfriend?"
"What is your problem?" I demanded.
Suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around my waist, a kiss was pressed into my shoulder. "Oh, you're cold."
"Tends to happen when you play outside in the winter, Love." He noticed the tension between Scarlet and I. "Everything alright?"
"Yeah, I was just excusing myself to go get a drink." I smiled sweetly before moving out of his arms.
"What did you do?" I paused once around the corner, curious to see if she'd answer.
"Using another, Finny?"
"What are you talking about?"
"She's in high school, Finn, what could you possibly want from her other than sex?"
"For your information, we aren't sleeping together. …In that sense…" He added as an after thought.
"Then what do you want from her? Or is that how it started but she won't put out and now your stuck?"
"God damn it, Scarlet, shut up."
"Why, am I right?"
"Do you get some sick pleasure out of this?"
"Answer me, Finn."
"Maybe." He mumbled. I barely heard him, but I did.
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"
"Sort of, okay? I was attracted to. She was a challenge. But that's not why I'm still with her. I love her-"
"You don't know what love is, Finn!" Scarlet screamed at him.
"And you do?"
"I know that I don't. You however like a girl and assume that you love her because you want more than just a good fuck from her."
"I do not."
"I do recall a drunken phone call at the end of your semester where you told me how much you loved Rose and yet she was a stupid slut who would fuck anything that had a dick and maybe some that didn't."
"Keyword, drunken. I was drunk. Didn't mean anything. I was hurt, yes, but not that stupid-"
"Bullshit. Finn, think about this seriously. When you go back to Yale, what's going to happen with you and Rory? She'll be in her senior year and your in college."
"True… but she happens to live 22.8 miles from Yale."
"It's sad you know that." Scarlet interjected, laughing slightly. Quickly sobering, she continued her lecture. "And what makes you think either of you will have time for that kind of a relationship. Can you even be in a relationship when that are scores of girls around? You think you'll be able to be faithful to her? You're a playboy, Finn."
"People change."
"Not that quickly nor drastically."
"So what the hell are you trying to tell me?"
"Don't lead her on. You know as well as I do the main reason you like her so much is because she's the only female here. She's easily accessible for your enjoyment. Once there's that distance between you two, the attraction will fade."
"You don't know that." He muttered weakly.
"I don't? I've been there, Finn. I was the one left behind. Don't tell me I don't know. I do. Because I also know you."
And Finn didn't even bother to argue with her anymore. He knew she was right. And so did I.
-
-
Finn found me hours later in the library, tear streaked cheeks and Gone With the Wind in my hands.
"Good book." He commented lightly from the doorway where he'd been leaning.
"Scarlet's a bitch."
"My cousin or O'Hara?"
"Both." I spat out bitterly. Everything had been going perfect and then Scarlet Morgan came along and screwed it all up again.
"What did she say to you?"
"She just kept asking questions about us that were none of her business. But then again, you two seem pretty close, so I'm surprised she didn't already know."
"We're all close." He replied vaguely. "She can be a bit intense when it comes to us."
"Really? Why is that?"
"She's the oldest. She feels the need to protect us."
"By telling you what to do?"
"What do you mean, Love." By now he had sat down next to me, and finally noticed my tear tracks. "What's wrong, Rory, why were you crying?"
"Why are you with me, Finn?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why are we together? A summer fling? Because I'm here? Why?" I demanded, a new batch of tears forming.
"You heard." It wasn't a question. Just a simple fact. "Rory, don't listen to her. She's just, worried about me. And you. She doesn't think we'll be able to make it work once the winter's over, but I know we can."
"Oh really? And all the girls at Yale, Mr. Playboy? I knew Logan was a whore, I didn't know you were."
"You knew about Rose…" He replied confused. "I am not a whore. I do casual relationships. I don't just fuck who ever the hell I feel like at the damn time. Yes, I occasionally have one night stands, but I do have relationships."
"No, you don't. You have fuck buddies. You have Roses. People just like you, afraid of commitment."
"I am not afraid of commitment. I'm here with you, right now, in a committed relationship, aren't I?"
"How do I know you won't go back to Yale and not cheat on me?"
"How do I know you won't go running back to Tristan in September?" I slapped him.
"I can't believe you'd say that…" I stood up ready to leave the room.
"Rory…" He called after me. I just moved faster. "Rory!" But I was already gone.
-
-
Once again I found myself unable to sleep. I was in my own bed, for the 4th night since my fight with Finn. I refused to budge on the matter. I stuck to Ari and Logan those days, and Mom and Aryn. I refused to forgive him. I would walk away now, and try to enjoy the last few weeks of my vacation. I'd be leaving in a little over 2 weeks, and I couldn't wait. I'd ask Mom to leave early, but she was enjoying herself with Aryn so much. I couldn't possibly take that away from her.
He'd tried numerous times, I give him that. I had coffee and a rose on my night stand every morning. He tried to corner me in the library or media room. He even went to Mom and Aryn, begging their help. Mom was willing to help until he explained the Tristan comment. Then she simply told him he was on his own, and the mothers had to sit back and watch their children get hurt.
I don't know why the Tristan comment hurt so much. Maybe because I was afraid that it was true. Tristan was going to be back at Chilton this year. I didn't know how I was going to act. To my credit, I've successfully ignored him and vice versa. I'll admit that part of me will always love him. He was my first, and holds a part of my past and heart that no one else can ever have.
Finn, however, Finn held the rest of my heart, and every day apart from him, made it break just that much more. My heart was a dying rose. Everyday it lost another petal, and wilted just a bit more.
Every night, I was finally able to sleep around 3 or 4 in the morning when the tears would stop, and I'd be so exhausted, my body would just give out. By the 11th day, surprisingly, it's lasted that long, I woke up with strong arms wrapped tightly around my waist. I tried to remove them, but they wouldn't budge.
"Finn, get off of me."
"Not until you talk to me." He pleaded. Clever of him. He knew I'd never wake up. I'd be comforted by his scent and stay asleep.
"No. I have nothing left to say."
"Then at least listen to me." I tried to squirm, but his grasp was too strong for me.
"Fine." I muttered darkly.
"I'm sorry I said that. But can you blame me for being scared, Rory?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Well, not for being scared, but for saying it. I love you, Finn. Loved you. I loved you. I didn't even think about Tristan until you said that. Just because he's going to be back doesn't change anything. He ran away. Even if I hadn't… I still wouldn't want anything to do with him. If I had the baby or not."
"You know how your so worried about all the girls? I'm afraid your going to see him and fall bloody in love him all over again." Finally, having enough of the argument I quickly moved out of his relaxed grip.
"Finn, this is pointless. Arguing over this is futile."
"Exactly, now come back here so we can make up."
"No, Finn, I mean it's pointless because there is nothing to argue,. It's over. It was fun, but it 's over. I have to concentrate on school and Harvard, not whether or not my boyfriend is out fucking some red head."
"No, Rory, please, don't do this. Fuck what Scarlet said." He'd moved to stand in front of me. He held me hips and looked me in the eye, those beautiful green eyes brimming with tears pleading with my own pooling blue ones.
"I can't, Finn." I whispered, looking away. It was too much.
"I love you, Rory." At that there was only one response I knew I could give that would hurt him enough to leave me alone, and let me walk away.
"Not enough." His body tensed, his head dropped, and his arms fell to his sides. I walked away. As soon as I was far enough from my room, I broke down. And that was were Mom found me.
-
-
There was something in the stomach, nagging me. I needed something. Something I wasn't sure of. I had an inkling of what it was. I lied. I lied so blatantly to him. Just because I was scared. Mom decided we should leave early. She'd apologized to Amelia and Riley, explaining that I was home sick, although they both knew it was the issues between Finn and I. She asked that they not say anything until we were gone. She explained to Grandma and Grandpa that I was hurting and couldn't stay there anymore. She said good-bye to Aryn, who promised to come visit next time she was in the states. I said good-bye to Ari and Logan and Ryn, who would be coming to the states in a few weeks, too.
Aryn was going to go to a private school in New Haven, and a nanny would watch Ryn while they were both in school, only, and Logan had most of his classes pushed back to the latest possible times, or the earliest, so he could watch the baby as often as possible. They'd only be needing the Nanny for the first year, as Aryn would be graduating after this year, and then take a year off until Logan graduated. Then she would go to Yale as well, and Logan would work from home for one of his father's papers. Things were turning out quite well for them.
I didn't want to, but I had to say good-bye to him. He hadn't a clue, though. I entered his room at close to midnight. He was already in bed but not sleeping. His eyes lit up as he saw me in the darkness. He sat up, "Rory." He exclaimed. He made to move out of the bed to embrace me, but I quickly replied,
"Shh… lay down." He did as he was told. I quickly moved his blanket and straddled him.
"Ror-" He began as I removed my shirt over my head.
"Shh…." I leaned down to kiss him. "Just, shut up and enjoy, Finn. Please." I practically begged into his ear.
Finn and I made love that night. I'd call it sex, but it was so much more than that. He was perfect. Everything about it was perfect. Waking up in his arms was the greatest feeling in the world. Unfortunately, he wouldn't enjoy the same feeling. I quietly removed myself from his room, and redressed. When Finn woke up that morning, he was alone.
Aryn told me that he went to find me in my room and was shocked to find that the room had been cleared of all traces of myself. Except his hoodie lying on the neatly made bed. He ran to her room, demanding to know where I was. She told him I was gone. I'd gone back to America. He apparently went off the deep end a little, and spent the rest of his summer break, locked in his room, almost permanently drunk.
-
-
"You alright, babe?" Mom asked me as we boarded our flight.
"No." I began crying. Mom did her best to comfort me, but nothing could heal my broken heart. Between the heart break, and the guilt, I couldn't bare it.
And that was it. The end of my Australian Summer. Or, winter actually. But to me, all the love and passion I felt made my soul feel on fire. Thus it still felt like summer. If only I hadn't fallen in love for the Aussi. Every night, I still have trouble sleeping without him. Part of me wishes I hadn't left his hoodie, because then I'd have a piece of him with me. But like Tristan, I have to cut him out and let him be nothing but a memory. I need to move on. It was a summer fling, and something I've never forget.
I'll always love Finn.
How could I not?
Fin
How ironic?
That's not the end. Just the end of her paper about her summer. I promise, it won't end like that!