I'm Frightened
"Hey!" Rory greeted her friends with er usual bubbly demeanor. The guys were already seated at a table at the bar
"What took you, we've been waiting for half-an-hour" Colin greeted Stephanie with a kiss
"Yeah, I had to go ahead and order a drink before I died of dehydration" Finn complained, placing his arm around Rosemary as she sat down beside him
"We were just getting ready. We had a long day of shopping and really looked terrible. You wouldn't want us to m'embrassa you by showing up all sweaty" Rosemary said
"Luv, I wouldn't care if you had died your hair purple if it ment you'd let me kiss you" Finn attempted to compliment Rosemary
"Hey Logan, how do you like campus?" Rory sat down next to him
"Its great. I'm so happy to be back. You seriously could never have guessed how home sick I was" Logan talked easily with Rory, as if he had never been away
"We are so happy you are back. Thinks were to quiet around here. Finn and Colin were lost without you. The stunts and pranks they pulled really weren't up to par. Hey, the LDB really could use you" Rory said thoughtfully
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. My grandfather used to rant about them. I don't know if I'm the best person to join though. I'm really not as adventurous as I once was. The new me would never jump off bridges or sail to Figi in a yacht like I once would have. Switzerland showed me that I have to be mature and take charge of my own life" Logan said. Everyone stared at him, before bursting out laughing
"Thats a good one mate" Finn chuckled, "Don't scare me like that. I almost believed that you had left us back in the life of girls, beer, parties, and youth"
Logan smiled half-heartedly, "Seriously, don't you think that you should be thinking about your futures? Go to at least one of your classes, you might realize what's actually important to you"
the friends sat in awkward silence. Rory impulsively put her hand on Logan's shoulder. She saw something out of the corner of her eye that caught her attention. "Shit" she cursed quietly, though Logan took notice, "I'll be right back" She got up and walked towards the bar entrance
"So" Colin said trying to break the silence, "Steph and I are together. ironic isn't it, who would have guessed. I mean, we grew up together and were friends, but now we are dating. Like a fairytale"
"Yeah, congrats" Logan said absently, watching closely at the encounter Rory was having outside. She had walked out of the bar and right up to a tall guy with messy brown hair. They seemed to be having a heated discussion because Rory and the guy both kept throwing their hands in the air exasperatedly
"If you didn't notice, Rose and I are together" Finn tried to win back Logan's attention
"We've been on a few dates, but you know Finn, not boyfriend material, can't be trusted" Rosemary said sadly
"Hey, your a redhead, I'm all yours baby" Finn told her
"Yeah, you gotta keep a close watch on this one Rose" Logan laughed, still watching the fight outside. Rory seemed to be crying now, but the tall guy was just getting angrier. "Who is that?" Logan asked quietly
"Who?" Steph followed his gaze, "Oh," she said quietly, "him. That, is Rory's boyfriend, Dean Forrester" Stephanie spat the name in disdain
Logan watched as the guy raised his hand and slapped Rory across the face, sending her reeling backwards. All the color drained from Logan's face, "He just hit her," Logan jumped to his feet
"I know, but don't interfere. Rory would hate you forever. She says she wants to make her own decisions and defend herself, no help from anyone" Rose said solomnly
"but... but..." Logan stammered, not knowing what to do
"Trust us, Rory's not the angel you remembered. She can take care of herself, most of the time anyways" Finn said, equally serious
Logan sat in silence, ignoring the rest of the conversation his friends were having. He watched as Dean walked away to his truck, leaving Rory crying. He watched her too walk away from the bar. He felt angry at himself that he couldn't do anything for her
RLRLRLRL
"Hey" Colin jerked Logan back to reality, "It's time to go, bar's closing"
"We're giving the girls a ride, you coming?" Finn asked
"I think I'm going to take a walk, get to know the campus at night" Logan told them
"Suit yourself" Finn swung his arm around Rosemary and got into the car with Stephanie and Colin. Logan began to walk in the darkness, only light from the moon and the street lamps. It was quiet, reminding him of his years in the tranquil mountains of Switzerland. Logan whirled around, noticing that there was something moving in the shadows.
"Rory?" Logan recognized the figure huddled against the wall of the building
"Leave me alone Logan, I need to be along" She cried quietly
"No, what you need is to get inside. Its freezing out here" Logan grabbed her arms, helping her to her feet. In the light, he could see that she was pretty beaten up.
"Oh my god," He said quietly, brushing her hair back from her face, "Your bleeding"
"It's just a little cut, and the rest are just bruises, they will go away soon, it's not a big deal" She tried to pull herself out of his grip, but he wouldn't let her
"Rory, that cut looks bad, maybe I should take you to the hospital"
"No!" Rory shrieked, "No! I'm fine! don't take me to the hospital" Rory struggled to get away
"Fine, I won't take you to the hospital, but at least come back to my place. I have a feeling that your roommates won't be home for a while and I don't want you to be alone there, or out here" Rory said nothing, but let herself walk along, shivering under Logan's arm, wrapped protectively around her
RLRLRLRL
"So, you want to tell me how you got like this?" Logan asked, knowing full well what the answer would be. He sat on the couch, prepared to be Rory's bed, waiting for her as she came out of the shower.
"I would rather not"
"Since when have you kept anything from me? You used to tell me all your secrets, your hopes, your fears. I won't tell anyone Ace, just let me in"
"Ace?"
"Yeah, I heard that you are on the paper, you can have a lot of talent. Your an Ace reporter, plus, your defiantly an Ace in my deck. Your the only one I truly missed when I was away"
Rory looked at him carefully, deciding whether or not he was being serious, "My boyfriend hit me"
"Looks like he hit you more than once" Logan eyed her bruised face, "has he hit you before?"
Rory looked away, "Yes, " she said quietly, before adding defensively, "He really doesn't mean it. He's not actually a bad guy, he just has a hard life. You can't hold his actions against him"
"Logan decided it was best not to argue, "Why did he hit you this time?"
"He thought I was cheating on him because I had my arm around you, but he was just angry because he was just fired from his job. He wasn't really angry with me"
Logan noticed how defensive of Dean Rory was, "You sure your not just trying to convince yourself that because he really is a crappy guy but you need somebody to love you?"
Rory was stunned how Logan had just read her mind,but she said, "No, how dare you assume that! He's more of a man than you'll ever be! He loves me!" Rory yelled, "He loves me," she said again, this time whispering more to herself than to Logan.
Logan decided not to pursue the subject anymore, "Ok, here's your bed. Finn may come home later, maybe not alone, but he has his own rooms down the hall so he shouldn't bother you"
"Ok, thanks Logan" Rory said, kissing him on the cheek good-night
"Night Ace" Logan hesitantly kissed her back, before turning off the lights and walking to his own room.
RLRLRLRL
Logan's eyes slowly opened, staring into the dark gloom. In the moonlight he saw someone standing in the doorway
"Logan" Rory said quietly
"Ace?" Logan rubbed his eyes
"I'm scared Logan. My life scares me. Please, can I stay in here with you tonight? I just want to be safe for a night" She whispered
"Of course" Logan motioned to her and she walked over carefully. She lay down beside him, relaxing against his body. Logan smelled the delicious smell of her hair, mixed with the sourness of her tears. Her body against him made him feel like he hadn't in years. He felt wonderful, being able to make her feel safe. At the same time, he wondered why she needed to feel safe.
I know it was short, but I wanted to introduce Dean, and prolong my major events I have planned. Review!