Rory pulled apart from Logan, furiously wiping at her eyes. She was angry at herself: angry at herself for not giving him the chance to explain, for believing some bitchy girl over him, for causing Finn and Colin to turn on him, and for sobbing in his arms when she had nothing to cry about at all.

He forgave her.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

He nodded as he looked over her shoulder at nothing in particular. His jaw was clenched, and his normally kind eyes were so cold.

He forgave her?

"Logan?"

"Don't worry about it," he leaned down and kissed her cheek gently, "I'll call you later."

"Logan."

"I'll call you later, Ace."

Without a second glance, he got into his Porsche and drove out the parking lot, leaving Rory upset and confused as she stared after him.

He hadn't forgiven her.

She forced back the tears that were threatening and walked towards her car. She didn't deserve to cry, it was all her fault. She was the one who pushed her away, she was the one who didn't trust him. She, the person who was always so angry about not being trusted, had turned on Logan because of her own trust issues.

God, she was a hypocrite.

She slid into her car and closed the door, determined to keep the tears hidden behind her crystal blue eyes. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and now? Now she didn't know if he would ever really forgive her. How could she be so stupid? How could she be so naive? Why couldn't she see that the whole thing was a set-up to tear her and Logan apart? Why had she let it work?

She pulled her car out onto the street, her mind clouded with the events of the day. If she just wouldn't have listened. Why the hell did the word 'London' peak her interest that much? God, she was so stupid.

And most importantly, why was she so desperate to push him away? He was her best friend, and she trusted him. Of course she did. She trusted with everything but a relationship. He was so different than her, so different that anyone she'd ever been with in the past. Logan was a challenge, a mystery, and the one thing in her life she felt like she had no control over.

And the scariest part was, he had her heart.

She had to trust him. She wanted to trust him. And after his speech in the parking lot, she did trust him. Logan was such a passionate person, and seeing him that passionate about her made her regret every doubt she ever had about him. He cared for her, really cared for her, and she felt like the worst person in the world for ever hurting him.

She pulled her car into her driveway, happy to see that nobody was home. Her mom could read her like a book, and she really didn't feel like dealing with that right now. With a sigh, she got out of the car and walked inside, throwing her books on the couch on her way to her room. She needed some time to unwind, some time to think.

He could see in his eyes as he turned to leave that day that deep down he still hadn't forgiven her. He was hurt and doubting everything they had together. She knew he was because she had looked and felt that way countless times. She didn't blame him really. If she had been in his position, she doubted she would've even given herself a chance to explain. She didn't deserve the chance he had given her.

That was the difference between him and her. He had given her her chance to explain, and she had denied him his. And she was sorry, more sorry than she could ever make him see. Silently, she cursed Jess and Dean and everything they pulled to make her so weary of relationships and people who cared about her.

They changed her. She knew that.

Before them, she would've been weary of Logan for awhile, but then she would have seen the true feelings in his eyes, and given herself completely to the relationship. Now every word, every kiss, every action was somehow questioned. Now, when Logan told her that he cared about her, she heard Jess saying that he loved her. And when she heard a rumor that Logan had cheated on her? Well, he didn't really care anyway, so how far of a stretch would that be?

She had to move past Jess, past Dean. She had to leave them in the past, where they belonged. She had to forget about the lies and the accusations and the heartbreaks. She had to let Logan care and believe him. Because if she didn't, was she any better than her ex-boyfriends at all? The answer was simple. No, she wasn't.

And on top of all the remorse she felt for betraying Logan, was the guilt on her shoulders for turning Colin and Finn against him. They had told her how furious Logan had been with them for turning on him so quickly, and she knew it was completely her fault. If she had just given Logan the chance to explain, the two of them would have never felt the need to come to her defense. If she hadn't cried and yelled, the whole situation could've been laughed about later. But now? Now she had an angry boyfriend and two regretful best friends. And it was all her fault.

It was her stupid fault for living in the past and worrying about the future. God, if being with Logan taught her anything, it was so embrace the present. She had to fix things, with everyone. She had a lot of work to do.

She reached for her phone and dialed the number of the only person who seemed to on the outside of the situation looking in: Stephanie.

"Hey," the blond greeted after a few rings, "How did things go with Logan?"

"We made up, but..." Rory's voice trailed off.

"But what?"

"But I'm sure if we really made up, you know?" she sighed, "We made up, and then he basically turned around and left. He was so...cold."

"Well, he's hurt, Rory, and angry. He feels betrayed by you and he thinks he lost Colin and Finn today. That's a lot for one guy to handle. Add on the whole Mitchum thing and--"

"When did he tell you about that?"

"Today, at lunch. It's not the first time it's happened," Stephanie paused, "But back to the point, give him time. He didn't want to lose you over this, but that doesn't mean he's forgotten about it. Not by a long shot."

"What can I do?"

"Nothing. Just give him time."

"Steph..."

"Look, he obviously cares enough to keep you in his life, but he needs his space to cool off. He's got more on his mind than just you, Colin and Finn completely turned their backs on him today."

"I know," Rory exhaled shakily, "And that's my fault, too."

"No, it's not, you--"

"Don't. I know it is. I didn't go to Logan before I freaked out, and that caused all of this."

"That may have caused the situation between you and Logan, but Colin and Finn made their own decision," Stephanie sighed, "I know they are seriously protective of you, but that doesn't change the fact that they basically threatened him in the hallway."

Rory cringed, "So much for not turning on him..."

"What?"

Rory massaged her temple, "When we first started dating, Colin said that him and Finn wouldn't be able to just turn their backs on him."

Stephanie snorted, "That went well."

"Stephanie."

"Right, I'm sorry. I don't know what to tell you, Rory. This is for them to work out, nobody else."

"God, I suck."

"You do not suck," Stephanie was silent for a moment, "Look, about this whole trust thing, I've known Logan for a long time, and he has never looked at anyone the way he looks at you. He's not going to hurt you, Rory."

"I know that. I know that, now."

"Good. Everything else will work out."

"I hope so..."

"It will, I promise."

"Okay. I have to go."

"See you tomorrow."

Rory closed her phone and leaned back on her bed, staring blankly at her ceiling. She couldn't wait this thing out, she had to do something. If there was one thing she had inherited from her mother, it was her inability to wait out a situation. She needed to take control. She flipped her cellphone open again and selected Logan's familiar number, hoping that he would pick up.

"Hello?"

"Logan, it's me."

"I know, Ace, I have caller id."

"Right."

Silence consumed them, and Rory sighed shakily. This was not going to be easy.

"Logan, we have to talk."

"I thought we just did that."

"Logan, please."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"You still being angry..."

"We made up," he reminded her, "Isn't that enough?"

"Not when you're still mad at me."

"Can we do this later? I ha--"

"No, let me talk. I have some serious issues with relationships, you know that as well as I do. I've been hurt and lied to and used and I've not been trusted. I hated that feeling more than any of the others, I think. I hated knowing that the person I was in a relationship with didn't trust me. And you know what I hate the most? I hate that I turned around and did the exact same thing to you."

She waited for him to speak, but there was only silence.

"I've always trusted you, Logan, I want you to know that. I trusted you almost everything, everything except my heart. I didn't trust you for so many reasons but mostly for the way you handled relationships in the past and the way my relationships were handled in the past. But today in the parking lot, looking at you, I felt horrible for ever thinking you would cheat on me, or ever hurt me on purpose."

"Well, I'm sorry you felt horrible," he muttered sarcastically.

"I know," she replied quietly, "I know you felt ten times worse. Logan, I'm so sorry for ever believing that girl and for hurting you. I--"

"Rory!" he interrupted, his voice growing louder, "I thought we covered this already."

"No. We didn't. We made up, Logan, but you're not looking at me the same way."

He was silent.

"That's what I thought," she responded, the ever persistent tears forming behind her eyes, "I think I believed those girls partly because I was just waiting for you to mess up, because it just seemed natural that you would hurt me."

"I know."

"You know?"

"I know you, Rory, obviously better than you give me credit for."

"I know you, too. And that's why I know you haven't completely forgiven me yet."

"I know you trust me now," he assured her, "I do. I just..."

"Feel betrayed?" Rory offered.

"Yeah. Exactly."

She couldn't fight the tears anymore and they spilled over her eyes, falling freely down her cheeks, "I never wanted to hurt you. I was just so angry and hurt and I didn't take the time to think about anything. I'm so sorry."

"I know, Ace, I know you are."

"So we're okay?"

He sighed, "Yeah, we're okay. I promise you that we're okay."

And this time, she could hear in his voice that it was true.

"Now, about Colin and Finn..."

"Rory," he warned

"They didn't mean to turn on you, I know they didn't. It's just that they've seen me go through so much, that it's just their natural instincts. It's my fault for freaking out like I did."

"It's their fault for acting the way they did."

"If you're still mad at them then you should still be mad at me."

"No," Logan responded, "No. You have a horrible history in relationships that impaired your judgment. I can understand that, Rory, I can understand why you did what you did. I can't understand how they could turn on their best friend like they did. I can't understand that."

"You can't lose them," she whispered, "Just like you couldn't lose me, you can't lose them."

"I already did. I don't want to talk about this anymore."

"Logan, please..."

"Bye, Rory."

Then there was nothing but a dial tone in her ear. She wiped at her eyes, urging herself to stop crying. Her and Logan were okay now, there was nothing to cry about. There was nothing to cry about except the fact that she was responsible for the end of a lifelong friendship.

Emotionally exhausted, she felt her eyes growing heavy, and soon she had drifted off to sleep.

--------

"Ace..."

A gentle hand on her shoulder woke her an hour later, and she instantly founding herself looking into the once again kind eyes of her boyfriend. She sat up, staring at him in disbelief.

"Logan? What are you doing here? How did you get in?"

He smiled, "I walked in. You really shouldn't leave your door unlocked like that. Murderers could get in."

She couldn't help but chuckle, "The only murderer who has ever entered Stars Hollow is you, and you haven't harmed me yet, so I think I'm safe."

"I'm just biding my time, gaining your trust."

She looked at him seriously, "You've got it."

"Then I guess I've got good timing," he replied with a smirk.

He sat down on the edge of the the bed and cradled her face in his hands, kissing her gently on the lips. She instantly deepened the kiss, bracing her hands on his arms and pulling him towards her. He obliged, moving towards and placing one hand to her back as he tugged her as close to him as possible. When they pulled apart, Rory was breathless, and she stared at him, a smile playing on her lips.

"Now," he said, pushing a stand of hair behind her ear, "We are more than okay, understand?"

She nodded, hardly able to speak.

"I'm going to see Colin and Finn. Things with me and them will work themselves out, they always do. We've been through a lot together, Ace. We'll be okay."

"But--"

He placed a finger to her lips, "But nothing. We'll be fine. Believe me, I know how easy it is to be overly protective of you. After talking to Stephanie, I put myself in their position, and odds are I would've acted that exact some way. That's not to say that I'm not angry, I am, but I just wanted you to know that things are going to be okay."

She nodded again.

"And Ace?" he whispered, bring his lips close to hers again.

"Hmm?"

"Anything that happened between them and me is not your fault."

Before she could reply, he connected their lips again, instantly bringing the butterflies, fireworks, sparks, and every other cliché washing over her. He wrapped his arms around her and suddenly she felt safe, like nothing in the world could touch her. She was giving him her heart, completely, and without looking back. Now, she was trusting him. She was finally giving him the trust he deserved.

He pulled away, smiling softly, "I'll see you tomorrow, Ace."

"Okay."

He got up from her bed, and she watched him leave, unable to wipe the smile off her face. She was falling for Logan Huntzberger, and for the first time, it felt completely wonderful.

--------

"Hey Rory," Stephanie greeted the next morning.

Rory glanced at her, and groaned, "Coffee macker broke. Jess was working at Luke's."

"Oh no," Logan said with a smirk, wrapping an arm her waist, "A coffeeless Rory is a dangerous thing."

"For her and everyone around her," Colin added, "One time she walked into two doors in a row."

"Ouch," Logan laughed.

"Do we need to swipe some from the teacher's lounge again?" Finn inquired.

Logan raised his eyebrows, "You stole coffee from the teacher's lounge?"

"Nice, huh?" Colin asked.

"Amateurs," Logan replied smugly, rolling his eyes, "I stole a flask from a teacher's car in Europe."

Rory covered her ears, "I don't need to hear these things."

As everyone laughed, Rory's eyes wandered from Logan to Colin to Finn, and it finally hit her that they were speaking. Logan's words rang true: they were okay. It was like nothing had ever happened at all, and Rory was amazed at the ability of men to put snags in their friendship behind them. Not that she minded. Not having this group of people all together would've been horrible. They were her best friends, and she wouldn't want it any other way.

She leaned into Logan, resting her head against his shoulder as lack of caffeine became even more of an issue. But despite her coffee shortage, she couldn't remember a time when she'd been happier. Everything had worked itself out. Everything was okay again. Actually, everything was more than okay. It was...perfect.

"So, do you want the coffee, Ace?"

"Yes, please," she answered, "Actually, two would be great."

Finn rolled his eyes, "Yes, princess."

"Thanks, boys," she called as the three headed off towards the teacher's lounge.

Stephanie walked over and stood beside her, "I guess telling you to wait it out wasn't the best advice."

Rory smiled at her friend, "Actually, it probably was, but I inherited more from my mother than blue eyes. We are not patient people."

"Well, everything is back to normal anyway."

"Yeah," Rory nodded, smiling, "It is."