AN: Hey! Thanks for all the reviews, as always you guys are wonderful. I'm sorry for the delay on this chapter, but I've had a major case of writer's block. This chapter is short and a filler. I'm sorry if it's horrible. I think it's horrible. But if you could leave me a review anyway, that would be great.

After Christopher went to bed, Rory and Lorelai were the only ones left in the room. Lorelai scooped out a dish of icecream, tucked her legs underneath her, and turned to her now cried out daughter.

"Well?"

Rory glanced up, "He broke up with me."

"I caught that much, kid. What happened?"

Rory took a deep breath and began telling the story for the third time. When she finished, Lorelai stared at her for a few seconds, before slowly lowering her icecream to the coffee table.

"He actually said that to you?" she demanded, "I thought if I said I would loved you things would change? He actually said that?"

"Yes," Rory confirmed simply, forcing back the tears that were threatening to fall.

"Aw, hun," Lorelai wrapped an arm around her daughter, "I'm sorry."

Rory shrugged and furiously wiped at her eyes, determined not to cry anymore, "It's okay. I'll get over it."

"Why didn't you tell me about this? About him telling you that he loved you?"

"I don't know," Rory sighed, "I wasn't sure how to feel about it, and I thought I was acting stupid. I didn't tell anyone."

"Rory, you know I would never think you were stupid," she smiled slightly, "You are going to Chilton afterall."

"I know."

"So, Logan was here the whole time?" Lorelai questioned, changing the subject.

Rory actually smiled, "Yeah, he was great, really great."

"So, cocky, lazy, and annoying doesn't apply anymore?"

"Mom, that hasn't applied since we became friends," she waited a beat, "Well no, I lied. He's still cocky."

"But sweet too, right?"

"Very sweet."

"Okay," Lorelai hugged her daughter again, "Are you sure you're okay?"

Rory smiled, "I will be okay. I think I'm going to head to bed."

"Good enough. Night."

"Good night, mom."

Rory stood up from the couch and plodded into her bedroom, not even bothering to change into her pajamas before setting her alarm, turning off the light, and collapsing on her bed. The events of the night came rushing back to her almost instantly, and she curled up tight under the covers, hoping to somehow fend the memories off. But it was no use. All she could see behind her closed eyes was Jess's furious gaze, and his back as he walked down her driveway for the last time. The last time.

She couldn't believe he'd used those words just to get what he wanted. He couldn't believe that Jess, her former sweet, funny boyfriend, would intentionally hurt her that way. And it did hurt. It hurt more than she had let on, except maybe to Logan. She'd wanted so badly for it to work with Jess, wanted somebody to accept her male best friends and just be with her for her. Maybe she even loved Jess. But she guessed it didn't matter now, he was gone. And in the end, he wasn't the person she'd always thought he was.

And then there was Logan. The person who had seen her the most upset, who had been there almost the instant it happened. The person who turned his car around simply because he had a feeling that she would need him. The second he put his arm around her shoulders, she understood completely what she couldn't comprehend before they had become friends. She saw a drastically different side of the self confident blonde, saw what Stephanie, Colin, and Finn had already known. He was a good guy deep down, a really good guy, and an amazing friend.

Colin and Finn were great, Stephanie too, but there was something about Logan. When he had his arms around her, or his hand was stroking her hair, she felt safe. And when he told her that everything was going to be okay, she actually believed him. She'd been drawn to him all night, hating to be more than a few feet away from him in fear that her sense of comfort was going to disappear. There was just something about him, something she couldn't even describe, that she had failed to see before but was flashing before her eyes now. The connection with him had been there ever since their first meeting, although she'd been blind to it then. The fateful talk that made them friends had shown her that there was something between the two of them, an understanding, a likeness, something special. Tonight had only made that more clear.

She sighed and rolled over as Logan was pushed out her thoughts and replaced quickly by Jess. The tears slipped out of her eyes now, dampening the pillow beneath her head. She wondered if she would ever find a guy who would trust her, who would be her boyfriend and accept her friends. She'd done nothing to Dean or Jess to deserve the distrust. Nothing. Jess was supposed to love her. He told her he loved her. And maybe she had a hard time believing it, and maybe it had seemed strange to her. But it had sure felt nice to hear the words. She wanted to be loved.

She swiped at her eyes, trying to get the tears to stop dropping. And then she remembered what Logan had told her on her porch, the words that had draped a warm feeling all over her. Maybe it was only for a second, but it had worked.

How do you know?

Because you're better than this.

Better than what?

Everything.

- - - - - - - -

"Morning," Christopher greeted when Rory walked into the kitchen the next morning, "Coffee's almost ready."

"Thank God," Rory mumbled, smoothing out her skirt as she plopped down on the kitchen chair.

"You have a serious problem," Christopher said with a grin.

"It's in my genes."

"What's in your genes?" Lorelai asked, walking into the kitchen and pouring two cups of coffee.

"Coffee addiction," Chris explained.

"Thank you," Rory said to her mother, holding out her hands for a mug.

"For what?"

"The coffee."

"Hah. These are for me. Get your own."

"Serious problem," Chrisopther sing songed.

Lorelai and Rory promptly made a face at the same time as Rory poured her own mug of coffee before sitting down again.

"Well, ladies," Christopher announced, standing up, "I have to get to work."

Christopher leaned down and planted a kiss on Rory's forehead, and one on Lorelai's lips, before walking out of the house.

"So...how are you feeling?"

Rory sighed, "Like my boyfriend broke up with me last night."

"Well, that would be a tough one to fit on those online journal mood thingys."

"How do you know about the online journal mood thingys?"

"Talk shows," Lorelai explained, "Apparently they're the down fall of teenage civilization."

"The mood thingys or the journal in general?"

"Not sure."

"Hm. We'll have to look that up."

"Will do. But seriously kid, how are you?"

Rory shrugged, "Been better."

Lorelai touched her arm gently, "I'm sure."

"Oh no," Rory groaned suddenly, "No, no, no, no, no."

"What?"

"We can't go to Luke's anymore!" she explained, dropping her head onto the table, "I can't see Jess."

"Rory, we can go to Luke's, just not when Jess is working."

"He's always working. I knew there was a bad side to dating the diner owner's nephew."

"We'll figure something out," Lorelai consoled, "I promise."

"Okay," Rory stood up, "I have to get to school. Oh, no. My car. I completely forgot about my--"

Lorelai tossed Rory her keys, "Your dad and me picked it up early this morning. So early, in fact, that I'm going to need at least eight cups of coffee before work."

"Thank you. I owe you a really, really big cup of coffee."

"Don't I know it. Bye, kid."

"Bye."

Rory grabbed her bag and walked out of the house, trying to ignore the flashbacks from the night before playing in her head. She didn't want to think about it anymore, and she really didn't want her friends to have to worry about her that day. They spent enough time with her the night before.

She got in the car and pulled out of her driveway, concentrating really hard on just going through the motions and not thinking at all. But everytime she thought she'd blocked everything out, she would remember her first kiss with Jess, or the way she felt when she believed his declaration of love. She slowed the car slightly, tears building up in her eyes as she remembered the way her heart would flutter when his hand gripped hers.

But he didn't feel all those things. He lied. She wondered if he ever really cared about her at all.

And then she saw him. She'd taken a specific route to avoid driving past Luke's and Stars Hollow High, and yet there he was. He looked up as he heard a car go by, and they made the briefest of eye contact. Before she could turn away, he held up his hand and walked out to her car. With a half sigh, half groan, she pulled to a halt and lowered her window.

"What?" she demanded.

"Are you okay?"

She blinked, "Excuse me? Is that a serious question?"

"...Yes."

"You don't get to ask me that anymore," she informed him, "You just don't."

"Why? Because I'm not one of your so-called best friends? You tell them everything."

"You seriously stopped me in the middle of the street just to continue acting like a four year old? And why would I tell you anything when you broke up with me last night for the dumbest reason known to man?"

"I hardly consider you practically cheating on me the dumbest reason known to man."

Rory rolled her eyes, "And I hardly consider getting a ride home because my car wouldn't start cheating. But hey, to each his own, right? Bye, Jess."

She rolled her window up quickly and pulled away before he could see the tears flooding over her eyes. She didn't even remember most of the drive to Chilton, but the next thing she knew she was pulling in the parking lot. Taking a shaky breath, she flipped down her mirror and stared at her reflection, wiping the black mascara streaks off her cheeks. When she pulled herself together, at least somewhat, she slipped out the car and walked into the building.

Her friends were standing around her locker when she entered, and she realized that Jess and the crying had made her later than she thought. She was usually the first one there, and would then end up at one of their lockers.

"Morning, Ror," Colin greeted, "How are you?"

She faked a smile, "I'm okay."

She felt Logan's eyes on her, and she turned to find him staring her down, "Really?"

"Yes, really," she insisted.

"Did you finish the icecream?" Stephanie asked with a knowing smile.

"Yes. And it was wonderful, thank you."

"No problem."

The bell rang, signaling the start of classes, and before Rory could utter a goodbye three of them vanished.

"So," Logan began casually, "What happened?"

"What are you talking about?" Rory asked as they turned down the hallway.

"Something happened."

"Nothing happened."

"I know something happened."

"And how do you know that?" Rory demanded.

"Well, for one there's mascara stains on your shoulder. Now normally, this would mean absolutely nothing, except for the fact that there is hardly any left on your eyes. Two, you're late. You're never late, Ace. And finally, your hands are shaking like a leaf. So, what happened?"

Rory's just stared at him, her mouth dropping.

"Hey, getting the scoop is in my blood," he said with a smirk.

She only shook her head.

"So, tell me."

"I saw him this morning," she explained, then stopped.

"And?"

"And," her voice dropped, breaking slightly, "He walked out onto the street and we had a fight. Nothing major, but enough to shake me up a little bit."

Logan rested his arm around her shoulders, "We can beat him up you know."

She smiled gratefully, "I know."

"Even though," he reminded her, "You told me he could kick my ass a few weeks ago."

"Details, details," she joked with a toss of her hand.

Logan laughed, "Okay, this my stop."

She raised her eyebrows, "Your stop? So, you're actually going to class today?"

"I figured I'd try something different," he replied, smirking, before focusing a pair of serious brown eyes on her, "You okay?"

"I'll be fine. Go to class. And make sure to introduce yourself, I don't think they've seen you all year."

"Harsh, Ace. See you later."

"Bye."

- - - - - - - -

"It's about time," Colin greeted Rory as soon as she got to her locker at the end of the day.

"Sorry. Paris held me up with paper stuff."

Logan cringed, "We don't have a meeting today, do we?"

"No, take it easy," Rory said with a smile, "She just wanted to annoy me unofficially."

"I see."

"So, are we ready to go?" Finn asked, shifting impatiently from foot to foot.

"Go where?" Rory questioned.

Stephanie grinned, "You'll see."

"What?"

"It's a surprise," Logan smirked, "It'll be great, I promise."

"But I have homewo--"

"Do not finish that sentence," Colin ordered, "You'll have plenty of time to finish your homework. Let's go."

Logan laced his fingers around her elbow and pulled her out the doors of Chilton, where a large, black suv was parked. Rory's mouth hung open in amazement as the five of them piled inside.

She knew they were trying to cheer her up, and give her a distraction, and she loved them dearly for it. But she also knew her friends, which was why she was slightly petrified as to their destination.

"Are we going to get arrested for this?" she inquired.

Finn raised his eyebrows, "For what, love?"

"For whatever we're doing."

Logan grinned, "Just trust us, Ace."

"This coming from the boy who stole Charleston's desk."

"Hey, that desk was not being guarded very well. It was asking to be stolen."

"I'm sure."

"Turn here," Colin instructed Finn.

Finn turned the car off of an exit Rory didn't recognize.

"Left," Stephanie chirped.

Finn zipped off down a side street, and Rory cast Logan a glance. He smirked slightly and she couldn't help but smile.

"What?"

"Just hang in there," Logan instructed.

She stared at him for a second longer, before shifting her eyes to stare at the passing scenery. And that's when her mind starting drifting again, and lately when her mind drifted tears usually followed. This time her mind wandered to that morning, and how Jess had asked her if she was okay. He actually had the nerve to talk to her after what he did. God, he broke her heart.

It wasn't like the pain she felt when Dean broke up with her. No, this was different. This was coming from someone she used to think she could trust, back when they were really happy. This pain was caused by someone who promised her he would be different, who said he would try his hardest to accept her friends. She thought back to when he said that. It was a week after Dean broke up with her, and he was standing on her porch, telling her things would change with him.

Her cheeks were growing wet again, and she felt Logan's hand press against her back gently.

"We're here!" Finn announced, whipping into a parking lot.

Rory offered Logan a grateful smile, before wiping at her eyes and glancing out to see what their destination was. Finn had pulled into a parking lot of the largest coffee shop she'd ever seen. She quickly opened the door and stood staring at it, her hands on her hips, as a real smile took over her face.

"You guys..." she murmured, letting her voice trail off.

"Come on, Ace. It's much better inside."

She shot Logan a pointed look, before following her friends through the doors. Once inside, she marched straight up to the counter and ordered three different cups of coffee. Her friends simply shook their heads in amazement as she gathered her purchases and chose a comfy booth in the back to wait for them.

There were two things she couldn't believe about the situation. One was that there was a coffee shop like this within an hour of her house and she didn't know about it. The other was that there were four people in the world who cared about her enough to take her there. She decided at that very instant that what Jess said was going to be true now: her friends would come first. They were the ones who were always there for her. They never turned their backs.

"See Rory, nobody's getting arrested," Colin said with a grin.

"Unless, of course, you want to steal some of the coffee to keep at home," Stephanie continued.

"In which case," Logan picked up, "You're going to have to give us a fair warning because these type of things take planning."

Rory smiled, "You would know."

"Do you like it, love?" Finn asked.

"There are no words," she paused, "Thank you guys. For everything."

"Happy to do it," Colin replied.