Chapter 6

LOGAN POV

The ride to Hartford was quiet. I was nervous about the dinner and I think that Rory was too. In Hartford society, this dinner was a big deal. However, Rory and I had decided not to let their opinions stand in our way. Our families had insisted on this dinner, but Rory and I were happy with the way that things were going. She was joining me at Yale, and I couldn't be happier about that. When we pulled into my parent's driveway, I sat there for a minute.

"It's going to be okay." Rory said.

"I hope so." I said and kissed her cheek.

We got out of the car and walked towards the front door. I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. When the door opened, the maid let us in. I grabbed Rory's hand and we walked towards the sitting room. Everyone was there...my parents, Rory's parents, Lorelei's parents, Chris's parents and my grandfather.

"Hello everyone." I said. I lead Rory to one of the couches and we sit down.

"Logan. Your late." Mom said.

"Sorry Mom. There was traffic." I say. I get up and fix me and Rory a drink.

"You must be Rory." Mom said.

"Yes Ma'am. It's nice to meet you." Rory said.

Mom smiled. This was gonna be a long night. I downed my drink and fixed another. "How are you feeling Chris?" I asked Rory's dad.

"Better. Just glad to be out of the house. Lorelei's been hovering." Chris said.

"What did you expect Dad?" Rory said.

We all exchange small talk before dinner is announced. When dinner is announced Rory stands and grabs my hand. "You need to relax." She says.

"I'm trying. I'm waiting for the bomb to drop." I say. We walk into the dining room and take our seats. Dinner is served.

"Now I think that we should discuss the elephant that is lingering in this room." My Dad says.

"Dad." I say.

"Logan, Rory there is something that everyone has been keeping from you." Dad says. Rory and I look at each other. "We have slowly been pushing the two of you together since you were kids." Is he serious right now? "The two of you will be married when Rory is 22."

"What!" Rory yelled. She looked at her parents who were looking at their plates.

"The two of you join three of the wealthiest families in Hartford." Dad says.

"That's why you two were okay with everything?" Rory asked her parents.

Chris nods. "Ror, it's for the best. However, we didn't want it to be like a typical society arranged marriage. We wanted you to find someone that you love and that would love you." Chris says.

"I need a drink." Rory says. I hand her my drink. "Thanks." She downs it in one gulp.

"Now Rory everyone here understands that this is shocking news but -" Mom says.

"I need to process this." Rory says getting up. I assume she is going back to the sitting room for another drink. I get up to go look for her. She is sitting on the couch with a glass of scotch. She stands up when she notices me. "Tell me you didn't know about this?" She asks me.

"Of course, I didn't know. I wouldn't do that to you. I mean I had suspicions that they were trying to push marriage on us, but nothing like this." I tell her. I grab her hand and pull her close. She is looking at her glass. I lift her chin up kiss her. "Hey it's okay. Forget about them. It's you and me."

"Their gonna want a plan."

"We have time. Your 17. Your graduating Chilton in a few months and your starting Yale in a week. They would be stupid to push details right now." She leans up and kisses me. "You wanna go home?"

She shakes her head. "I want coffee and dessert first."

Rory and I go back into the dining room. We sit down just as coffee and dessert is brought out.

RORY POV

I look down at my dessert. "It's pudding." I say.

"Yes, I hear it's your favorite." Shira says.

"Yes, it is." I say and take a deep breath. "I have one condition." I say, looking at Logan's dad.

"A condition?" He asks.

"Yes. You said that we have to get married at 22. My condition is that no announcements or plans are made until my 21st birthday." I say to everyone.

"Rory, there is a certain way that things have to be done." Grandma Francine says.

I look at Logan's dad. "Do we have a deal?"

He looks at me and then turns to Logan. "Yes."

"Mitchum!" Everyone starts yelling.

"Rory, have you decided on a major yet?" Mitchum asked.

I take a drink of my coffee. "English. I want to be a novelist."

"Have you ever considered publishing?" He asked.

"Dad, do you really think now is the time for that?" Logan asks.

"Your right. Another time."

After coffee and dessert, Logan and I say our goodbyes and head out to the car. Mom and Dad follow us out. Mom pulls me into a hug. "It wasn't our decision." Mom said.

"I believe you. I just wished that you had told me." I say.

"I know. I'll see you tomorrow." I tell my mom and get in Logan's car. The ride home I didn't say much. When we get to New Haven, I feel drained. I feel like everyone I love has just betrayed me. When we get to my apartment Logan opens the door for me but doesn't seem to follow me in. "What's wrong?" I ask him.

"Are you ok? Are we okay?" he asks.

"Yeah. I pull him inside and he shuts the door. "I just need more alcohol."

Logan pulls out his phone, texting someone (I assume). I walk towards my room. I take off my jewelry and put it in my jewelry box. I take my shoes and toss in the bottom of my closet. I grab a pair of jeans and a T-shirt out of my closet and change into it. After I change, I look up and see Logan standing in the doorway.

"Collin, Finn and Steph are on the way with alcohol." Logan says walking over to sit beside me on the bed.

I kiss him. "You're the best." I tell him.

"I try." Logan and I sit on the bed with him holding me for a while not saying anything.

The only thing that breaks the silence is when I hear the front door open followed by Steph's voice. "Ror!"

"Come on!" Logan says pulling me off the bed.

We walk into the living room to find our friends standing there with lots of alcohol. The guys walk into the kitchen start making drinks. Steph pulls me aside. "What happened?"

"Our families have been planning an arranged marriage since we were kids." I tell her.

"For you and Logan?" I nod. "You and Logan are getting married?"

I nod. "When I'm 22"

"Wow. Good thing you guys are in love." Steph said.

Steph made a good point. I did love Logan and he loved me. This may not have been the way that we would do things, but I couldn't imagine my life without him. I look over towards the kitchen and smile at Logan. He smiles back. "Your right." I say. Steph goes to get a drink.

Logan walks over and hands me a drink. "You okay?"

I take a sip of my drink. "Yeah. I realized something though."

"Oh yeah what's that?"

I smile. "Maybe I'll tell you someday."

The rest of the night was relaxing. Finn ended up crashing on the couch (more like passing out), Collin and Steph managed to at least make it to Steph's room before they passed out and I had to drag Logan to bed so that he didn't pass out in the chair.

The next morning, I woke up to my landline phone ringing. I felt around my nightstand table until I found it and answered it. "Hello?"

"Morning sleeping beauty."

"Hi Mom"

"Why are you still in bed? I figured you would be on the road or close to it." Mom said.

"Late night."

"Right. Once again I'm sorry about the ambush."

"Its fine." I sit up and realize that Logan isn't there. "I've made peace with it."

"Really?"

"Yes, mom I have."

"Is Logan coming with you tonight?"

"I don't know. It depends on what time his first class is tomorrow. I'll call you when I leave."

"Okay." I hang up before she can say anything else. I get out of bed. I need coffee. I walk into the kitchen. There is already coffee made and a note on the counter. "Took Finn and Collin home. Needed to grab some clothes. Be back soon. Love you, -L" Well I guess that answers my question about Logan coming with us. I pour myself a cup of coffee and sat at the breakfast bar to read the paper. Steph comes out of her room a few minutes later.

"Ugh." Steph grunts.

"There's coffee. Logan made it before he left." I tell her.

"Thanks. Where's Collin?"

"Logan took him and Finn home. He had to grab some clothes. Probably figured he'd kill two birds one stone."

"Gotcha." Steph says.

Steph goes to take a shower. When I finish my coffee, I go to my room to get dressed. I throw on a blue jean skirt, tank top and my blue jean jacket with my tennis shoes. I throw my hair into a ponytail and I'm done. I grab my cell phone and keys and walk into the living room. I see my sunglasses sitting on the coffee table, so I grab them and put them on my head, so I don't forget them. "C'mon Steph! Logan will be here any minute!" I tell her.

The front door opens and Logan walks in. "Ready?" Logan says.

"Waiting on Steph." I say.

He grabs my hand and pulls me to him. "You look hot." He says.

"Thanks." I kiss him. "You don't look so bad yourself."

"Ok. Let's go." Steph says.

The three of us walk out of my apartment. When we get to my car, Steph gets in the back, Logan in the passenger seat and me driving. I synced my phone to the audio system and called Mom as I pulled out of the parking garage.

"Hey sweets." Mom said when she answered.

"Hey. We're on the way."

"Who's we?"

"Me, Logan and Steph. You know this. You implied it this morning when you called and woke me up. Gotta drop Steph at her house and then we'll be on to our house."

"Okay hun. See you in a bit." I hung up the phone as I made my way onto the highway. There wasn't much traffic this time of day which was good. I was getting off the highway in Hartford when my phone rang again. It was G. "Hey" I said.

"Hey, where are you?" She asked.

"About to drop Steph off at her house. Why? Where are you?"

"At home packing for school. Dad's being unreasonable. Can you hurry?"

"I'll be there in 5 minutes. Just calm down okay?"

"Okay. See you soon." I hang up. Logan looks at me as I pull into Steph's driveway. Steph hops out and tells me that she'll talk to me later. I pull out of her driveway and head to my house. When we walk in, we are greeted by Mom and Esmeralda.

"Esmeralda, can you take Logan's bag and put it in Rory's room, please." Mom says.

Logan and I look at each other. "You sure mom?" I ask.

"Your dad's idea."

"Where's G? She called me freaking out. Something about Dad being unreasonable." I say to Mom.

"Upstairs in her room. Your Dad got so frustrated that he went to the club." Mom says.

"Dad never goes go the club." Mom nods. I go upstairs to find G. She's sitting on her bed. I sit beside her, and we talk. It's the first time since I have started dating that we have talked like this. It felt good to talk with G like this again. I tell her about the family dinner. She had a hard time believing it. I told her that no matter where she was she could always call me. She agreed. Once I get her calmed down, we go downstairs and get some coffee. Dad is back by then.

He hugs me when I walk into the living room. "I'm sorry, Ro." He says.

"It's okay Dad. Like I told Mom, I've made peace with it. And Logan and I have decided that we aren't gonna let any of this affect us." I say looking at Logan. Dinner that night was peaceful. Mom had given the cook the night off and we ordered Chinese. We did it in true Hayden fashion...eating straight out of the containers. Mom tells me that I have to be in the headmaster's office at 8:30 to pick up my papers. I tell her that I will be on time. Dad and Logan end up in dad's study for a drink. No doubt Dad is probably giving Logan some kind of lecture since he is staying in my room tonight. A little while later, Logan and I make our way upstairs to my room. I change into my pjs and Logan changes into his sweats. We climb into my bed and I lay my head on his chest. Everything feels perfect. I know that one day we will have our society duty and get married but right now, I am content with the way things are and I'm happy.