Chapter Five – The Man who Murdered Love
That evening was to be the first instalment of her additions to the itinerary. To fulfill her requirements I had to participate in an all night Gilmore Girls news-themed movie marathon. God save me now. As much fun as today ended up being, I was exhausted and was not sure that I could take anymore crazy.
Despite all that, I arrived at her apartment promptly at 5:30 bearing what felt like a ton of food. Had I not known her, I would have wondered how many people were coming to this thing; but I was pretty sure that it was just the two of us, unless, of course Lorelai found a way to teleport herself across the Atlantic which would not surprise me at all.
When I rang the doorbell I waited two full minutes before the door was thrown open and a grinning Rory appeared.
"Yay! You brought the food! I'm absolutely famished," she said ushering me inside.
"Where do you want me to put it?" I asked hefting the bags a little higher in my arms.
"Just put them in the kitchen. We'll serve ourselves dinner from there and then bring it into the living room, because at the moment, there's no more space for it in there."
I followed the smell of coffee to the kitchen and started unloading the bags onto the kitchen table. I had brought Chinese, Mexican and Indian food, not exactly sure of what she liked. I decided to ask, although it was a little late for it.
"Hey Ace?" I called.
"Yeah?" she replied, poking her head around the doorway. "Ooh! You smart boy! How did you know my favourite take out foods?"
I sighed in relief. "So you like Indian, Chinese and Mexican? Because I wasn't sure what you liked and ended up getting my favourites, but if you don't like them I got some others just in case."
"My mom and I basically lived off Chinese, Mexican and Pizza when I was growing up. And Indian food is my favourite but my mom hates the smell do I could only eat it when she was out of town," she explained. "So I'm sure whatever you brought it just fine."
"Good," I said. "Now load up your plate while everything is hot."
"'Kay," she replied entering fully into the kitchen. "Can you grab us some plates out of that cupboard there?" She indicated a cupboard next to the refrigerator.
I grabbed two plates and returned to the table, handing one to her before beginning to serve food onto my own plate.
"If you want coffee, there's some in the pot. If you prefer soda or anything refrigerated help yourself to whatever's in the fridge," she said while pouring herself a cup of coffee.
I walked over to the fridge and grabbed myself a soda, not really in the mood for any more coffee after the thirty-odd cups that I had imbibed that afternoon. I hadn't seriously meant to test every single coffee selling establishment in the area, but apparently tasting all the coffee meant tasting all the coffee. I was so wired that I doubt I could have slept regardless if I wanted to or not.
Balancing the plate and can in one hand, I moved to join Rory in the living room. When I arrived my jaw dropped in absolute shock at the scene before me. It looked as if the candy isle had blown up and landed in Rory Gilmore's living room. I was amazed at the sheer quantity of junk that she had collected for this event. I was amazed that she even thought we could eat all of it. Granted, we were going to be there all night, but that amount of junk was ridiculous.
"Are you ready to start your first ever movie marathon, Rookie?" she teased me, noting my incredulous expression at the contents of the room.
"As ready as I'll ever be I suppose," I said sitting next to her on the couch. "So, what's the movie selection for the evening?"
Her eyes lit up. "For our news-themed soiree I have compiled many classics for your viewing pleasure," she said dramatically. "Our featured movies tonight are: Funny Face, Superman, The Devil Wears Prada, 'Crocodile' Dundee, 13 Going on 30, Never Been Kissed and Spiderman. As for viewing order for the rest I thought it would be best to start with the newest and then work our way backwards. Therefore we have a definite order and there won't be any arguing." She paused before continuing. "There is also a certain matter of movie night rules that I will address as soon as the first DVD is started. Does that sound okay?"
I forced a smile. "Sounds great Ace."
With that, she bounced up to put in the first movie and I prepared myself for what was possibly one of the longest, yet most interesting nights of my life. I know that with every second spent in her presence, I was falling harder for her. Not to say that I was in love with her, but any decision to have her in my life as only a friend was already oceans away. I guess I had decided to shit because that pot was looking decidedly empty.
Three hours and one and a half movies later I was feeling decidedly drained. I was now ready for a cup of coffee even though the mere thought of coffee made me sick, it was better than nothing. Then again, the sickness might have been attributed to the three plates of take out I ate and the massive amounts of candy that followed it. Yeah, that was probably it. I thought while mentally rolling my eyes.
I stood up. "I'm getting a cup of coffee, would you like one?" I asked already knowing the answer.
All I got in response was a quick nod to the head. Ahhh, Movie Night Rules. Riiight. And with that, I exited the room in search of fresh coffee.
In the kitchen, I put on a new pot to brew and pulled out my cell phone. I had two important calls to make and this was probably going to be my last chance for the evening. I sighed and pushed number three on speed dial.
"Hello?" I heard a voice say as the call connected.
"Hey Honor," I replied.
"Oh, hey Little Brother," she said. "Weren't you supposed to call me three days ago?"
"Yes, and I'm sorry. But I've had a hectic couple days and I didn't have a chance, so please forgive me." I said in a relatively hushed voice, not wanting to alert to Rory the fact that I was breaking about three movie night rules.
"It's alright, I forgive you," she said with a laugh. "Well, you're forgiven as long as you tell my why you're whispering. Please don't tell me you're in bed and there's a naked girl next to you. I don't was to be associated in any way with that image," she pleaded.
I rolled my eyes. Is that what everyone thought of me? "No, I do not have a girl next to me, nor am I in bed. I'm at Rory Gilmore's house—"
"Isn't that the girl Dad has you mentoring?" Honor cut me off.
"Yes," I said exasperated. "If you would let me finish the sentence I would have gotten there."
"Fine, continue. I'm listening."
"I am at Rory Gilmore's apartment watching a news-themed movie night that was her part of the deal to participate in the mentor week. So far I have suffered through The Devil Wears Prada and half of 13 Going on 30. I am currently getting myself a cup of coffee in the kitchen and I decided that this would probably be as good a time as any to call you seeing as I also need your opinion on something."
"That is a pretty sound excuse for the whispering," she said sarcastically.
"I'm not actually supposed to be anywhere near the phone while a movie is playing. It's against the rules. And the reason I'm calling you now is because I have a slightly time sensitive issue to talk to you about."
"Sure. Whatever you need."
"What do you think of me coming to Rome to visit you and Josh later this week? I might have to bring along Rory because I do kind of owe her the week, but Dad ordered me over there to check on some damage that has been done to that big paper."
"Sure, that sounds fine Logan. What day should I expect you and Rory?"
"Ah, now comes the second part of my dilemma, I haven't asked Rory yet so I don't know if she can come or even wants to, but I will have to bring two others with me if you can house them," I said apprehensively.
Honor groaned. "It's not Finn and Colin is it?"
I winced. "You're only half right. Finn and someone who needs to apologize to you."
"Someone who—Oh my God! You found Sophie??" Honor squealed.
I shook my head amazedly. "I don't know how you do it Honor. I would have never guessed that it was Sophie given what I told you."
Honor scoffed. "You told me Finn was coming. That was enough. We all knew Sophie had a thing for him and with that red-head obsession that he's been nursing ever since she disappeared the last time made it really simple."
"You my dear sister are very good," I said amazed.
"I know," she said happily. "So when are you arriving?"
"I'm not exactly sure, I still need to talk to Dad and tell him I'm going as well as ask Rory if she wants to go. I'll be sure to email you the details tomorrow at the latest."
"I'm holding you to that little brother," she said, and I could feel her glare through the phone.
"I promise tomorrow there will be an email from me in your inbox. Now, I have to call the Dark Lord back."
"Fine. But if you don't email me or call me tomorrow you aren't allowed to stay here!"
"Am I really that bad?" I asked mock-hurt.
"Goodbye Logan," Honor said dryly.
"Bye Sis." I said before disconnecting the call.
Now for the hard call. I sighed before punching in the numbers for my father's phone at work.
"Huntzberger," he greeted and I winced.
"Hey Dad," I started.
"Logan. Are you going to Rome?"
I rolled my eyes. And people asked me why I didn't like talking to my father. "Yes Dad. I am. That was actually the reason I called. I was going to let you know that I was going and I'm going to stay with Honor and Josh. What day do you want me to leave?"
"Wednesday at the latest. I'm aware that you have some outstanding things arranged this week for the Hayden girl so take care of those and then head to Rome."
"Of course Dad. Will do."
"Bye Son."
"Bye." I said and closed the phone. I checked the timer on the phone. Less than five minutes and I felt drained. I put away my phone and busied myself with the task I originally came for by grabbing some mugs and pouring coffee.
I was walking back toward the living room when the doorbell rang and I heard Rory make her way to the door grumbling about movie night rules. As I peered around the corner of the kitchen doorway I watched her open the door and stare blankly at the figure in the door before throwing herself in his arms and saying, "Oh my god, Bible Boy!"
The blond man entered fully into the apartment with the slim brunette still ensconced in his arms. "Hey Mary," he said smiling. "Did you miss me?"
"Are you kidding? Please tell me you're kidding Tristan because if you ever do that to me again, I swear I'm kicking you out."
"I'm kidding Mary." He teased. "I love you way to much to do that to you."
I stepped fully into the foyer interrupting their reunion.
Her eyes lit up upon seeing me. "Logan! Come here! I want you to meet someone." She turned to Tristan. "This is Logan, my grandparents set up this deal with his dad to show me around the news business. Logan is here fulfilling his end of the deal in an obligatory movie night." She turned back to me. "Logan Huntzberger, I'd like you to meet Tristan Dugrey."
I reached out and shook the hand of the man who was probably my worst nightmare at the moment, at least if I was still interested in telling Rory how I felt.
As I looked into the face of my number one opponent I met ice blue eyes that froze me to my core. Shit, I thought, I guess I'm in trouble.
Hey Guys. I know this update is a lot shorter than the previous ones and I'm sorry but I could not continually be putting up multiple chapters. It's just not possible if you want to have updates that are even remotely regular. Anyhow, this chapter is dedicated to Rayc Petite the XTC fan… Lol. And now is time for me SQUEE both Tristan and Logan!! Ahahahaha. I'm pretty jazzed. We'll see what happens in the next chapter wont we:P God I'm having a great time writing this thing. I hope you're enjoying it as well!!
Singing Sailor