AN: It's been six/seven years since I last updated; writers block and life can do that to you. It's hard to believe that I started this story when I was a high school freshman and now I had just graduated from college. Crazy huh?! I wonder how many of the readers from 2007/2008 will be reading this (if you're one of them, please let me know ) I don't know how long it'll take for the next chapter to be written, but I certainly hope it won't be six years later. Thanks to xshynenstarx for PMing me, a fail on my part for logging on to the account a year after it was sent, but I did message you back!
I did some rereading of the chapters I written and I'm a bit embarrassed at the earlier chapters, mainly the ones before chapter 6. I hope this one doesn't disappoint. I am a bit rusty, so please bear with me. Enjoy!
Chapter 10- Say It Now
Rory was in the middle of organizing her desk when she heard two sharp knocks on her cubicle wall. She turned to the opening and saw Megan, the pregnant blond from the staff meeting two days ago.
"Hope I'm not interrupting you, I just wanted to stop by to say hi!" She greeted; her smile warm and welcoming.
Rory shook her head, "Oh no, not at all! I was just trying to keep myself busy. Let me move that," she got up from her desk and removed a box from the spare chair, "Have a seat. It's nice to formally meet you, I'm Rory."
"Megan Kyle." The two ladies gave each other a handshake and leaned back into their chairs. "It's usually tough being the new girl, but the staff here is very friendly and we all get along great."
The brunette chuckled. "I've definitely been there before and I don't need a repeat of high school, thank you very much! But all jokes aside, I really do like it here and I haven't felt out of place yet."
"Where are you from?" asked Megan.
"Stars Hollow, it's a really small town in Connecticut." Rory answered.
"We're practically neighbors," the blond gushed, "I'm from Branford. I think we're only about an hour and a half away from each other."
"Oh where are my manners," Rory mentally slapped herself on the forehead, "Congratulations! How far along are you?"
Megan's eyes gleamed as she patted her stomach, "Thank you! I'm at my eighth month. I feel like I'm gonna pop anytime soon!"
"My mom's in her second trimester and she's just starting to show," Rory softened while she talked about Lorelai, "She likes to joke that she's not pregnant when people come up to tell her congrats or offer her bathroom privileges. She gets a kick out of putting people in awkward situations."
Both women laughed at the story, "I can't wait till the baby comes. I think once I finish the article I pitched in the newsroom I'll be taking a long break." The blond shifted in her seat at the tightness in her belly.
"I caught a bit on the topic you suggested last time, what's the focus of your story on?" Rory asked.
"I have a meeting set up with Harold Sanders about his company, Meta; it's supposed to be a pretty big upcoming advancement towards technology. That's usually my forte to write about." Megan groaned a bit as she clutched the arm rest tightly.
Rory grew concerned, "Are you okay?"
The older girl shook her head and tried to smile. "I'm fine, it's just Braxton hicks. I've been getting them a lot more often now. Anyways, I should probably let you get back to your work." Megan pushed herself off the chair and waddled to the entry with Rory by her side.
Before they knew it, liquid started to trickle down Megan's leg. Rory's blue eyes widened as she stammered the words out of her mouth, "I think your water just broke."
Being handsome was a given, but being charismatic is a talent. Logan was well aware of the eyes on him, females in particular, as he strolled down the street to his company building located on 42nd and Park. Giving a light nod of acknowledgement and a smile that enhanced his dimples; he passed them by and entered the door. The atmosphere and pace in New York was certainly different from San Francisco's, but it was a change he welcomed.
Getting off the elevator on the fifth floor, he walked toward his office but stopped when he heard someone call his name.
"You need something Harold?" Logan asked as he poked his head into the room.
The man signaled him to enter, "I just have a slight favor to ask you. I was supposed to meet with a reporter tomorrow; however, a potential investor called right after wanting to meet up before jetting off to Hong Kong. It so happens that he's only available during the time I had booked with the writer."
"Ah." Logan nodded understandingly, "So you wanted me to take your place with the writer. Though I do have to say that I don't necessary have the fondest impressions or experiences with journalists." Truer words have never been spoken.
"I'm sure you'll be fine!" The older man reassured the blond, "As the son of a newspaper mogul and a former staff of the Yale Daily News, I'm confident it'll feel familiar to you. It'll be a great opportunity to get our name out there. What'd ya say?"
"Just tell me the time and the place and I'll be there." Logan said as he rose from the chair.
"I'll have Elaine send you the info with the final arrangements she made. Thanks, I knew I could count on you."
Logan tilted his head and joked, "You owe me."
The staff writers at the New York Times once again met up in the work room, rather than pitching topics this time they gathered together to hear the news that had happened today. Rory sat towards the back of the room, her eyes focused on her boss as he talked animatedly with his hand.
"I've just heard back from Megan; she and the baby are both doing well." Carl smiled gleefully as various members in the room clapped and whooped in joy. "She and her husband wanted to thank everyone in helping her keep calm and she's looking forward to coming back when she's ready to."
Rory reflected back on a couple hours earlier and all she could sum herself up in the situation was a deer caught in headlights. When Megan's water broke, the brunette had froze a bit and helped her to a chair. A couple of her co-workers nearby came over to see if they could do anything, and at one's suggestion, the pregnant blond dialed her husband who fortunately worked a couple blocks down. After ending the call, the husband, John, had arrived in no time and drove off to the hospital.
People shifted from their chairs and exited the room, Rory began to follow suit when Carl called her name, "Rory, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure." She followed his lead and entered his office, "So, how can help you?"
"I was wondering if you would be able to take over Megan's article. I know you usually cover current events, but I think this will be a big story to publish especially since Meta is said to be the new Google. It's a bit sudden, but I wouldn't ask you if I didn't think you could do it."
Rory gave a reassuring smile, "I don't really know much about technology, but I'm willing to give it a try."
Carl sighed in relief and leaned back into his chair, "I was hoping you would say that. Since I just sprung this on you, you can have an extension, I'm sure I can just work something out with the schedule by pushing forward a couple of articles."
"I remember Megan talking about meeting up with someone from the company." She recalled.
"Right!" He picked up a folder on his desk and passed it to Rory, "She left some information here and I heard she has an appointment with Harold Sanders tomorrow. The time and location should be written somewhere in there."
Rory leafed through the pages and nodded along, looking up at Carl she smiled, "I'll be there."
"Table under Kyle." Logan stated to the host as he entered the coffee shop. He watched as the maître d' scan the reservation book for the name.
"Ah yes. Your party is here. Follow me." Grabbing a menu on the side, the host led him towards the quieter section of the cafe where a brunette sat with her back facing him.
"Hi, sorry I'm late-," Logan began to say as he sat on the chair across his guest. He halted his words as he saw stunned blue eyes looking right back at him.
Feeling the tension between the two, the waiter placed the menu booklet onto the table, "I'll be back when you guys are ready to order." And with that, he returned to his post by the entrance.
Rory didn't know where to start; she was surprised to see her ex-boyfriend once again in unlikely circumstances. "I'm not sure what to say. I wasn't expecting you to be here," she said softly, suddenly unable to meet his eyes.
"Likewise." Logan's tone was sharp as he tried his best to keep his emotions at bay, "Kyle?"
"I'm covering for a co-worker who couldn't exactly be here today." She answered, shaking her head, she tried to change the topic, "Look Logan, I know things didn't end well between us the last time, but-"
He cut her off with an indifferent scoff, "Which time are you referring to? The time you rejected my proposal or the time you took off after we slept together? Because to me, both times didn't seem so different. I really must be fucking pathetic."
Rory sighed and straightened in her seat, "I'm not here to fight with you and I don't want to fight with you. I get that you're mad at me and that I'm the last person you would want to see, but can we put that aside for now and both do our jobs?" She was almost pleading with him, her eyes scanning around the café to see if any attention were on them, luckily they were not.
A waiter walked by their table, "Ready to order?"
Before she could say anything, Logan stood up, "Actually I'm going to go. I don't think I can do this right now." Pulling out a twenty from his wallet, he placed it on the table, "Goodbye."
On the way to the office, Rory was still thinking about what had happened at the coffee shop. It wasn't long until she was back at her cubicle hanging up her coat and scarf. She knew she would have to tell Carl immediately that she just lost her story subject. But how would she go about doing that without bringing up their personal history? Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing on her extension.
"Hello?" Rory answered as she picked up the phone.
"Hi, is this Rory Gilmore?" The female voice on the other end asked.
Rory sat down by her desk, concentrating on the phone call. "Yes. How can I help you?"
"Hi Ms. Gilmore, I'm the secretary at Meta calling on behalf of Mr. Huntzberger. He would like to know when you would be scheduling the full interview."
Rory was confused. 'Full Interview? Wasn't it just canceled?' She thought. "Right. Yes, the full interview. Um, can I call you back with a precise time and date after I check my calendar?"
"Absolutely. Goodbye, Ms. Gilmore." With that the call ended.
What just happened?