OK I know I left on a cliffhanger but I promise to deliver...eventually...
As always I don't own places, GG characters, or people.
Read & Review like always
Where we last left off:
Logan grabbed Rory's hand and led them both downstairs.
"Stephen, thank you for helping me with the clothes and getting the three drunkards up last night. Finn's right. You're a good man."
They got to the airport and to the lounge with no issues. By the time the plane was ready to board the three of them were so tired they couldn't keep their eyes open. The seating arrangement was the same. Rory and Logan were able to cuddle together and were falling asleep when Rory heard Logan say "I love you Rory."
Friday 6 PM PST
The flight felt longer than 4 hours to Rory. She felt like she was back in the car with Dean and 15 years old. Did she love Logan? Did he mean to say it to her? What does this mean for their relationship if she can't say it back? Is he going to leave her like Dean did? Finally she heard the pilot say they were approaching the airport, Rory was relieved. It meant she would be able to take a breath.
"Hey guys," She said to Logan and Lane trying to appear as calm as normal. "We're about to take descent. I guess I'm getting better at this than I used to. I'm not panicking as much."
"That's great Ace." Logan replied. "Did you sleep much?"
"No. I had some champagne and just watched the clouds."
"Okay what's going on after we land? Are we going separate ways and meeting up later?"
"I think Lane and I are going to wait for G and then have a girls night. She'll be here tomorrow mid afternoon."
"So you just want me to go home or do you want me to come over tonight? Up to you Ace?"
"How about I text you when I get Lane settled and we decide what to do."
The captain announced they had landed and first class passengers were allowed off first.
"Okay Lane. We're going to survive as real California girls. We'll take a taxi to my place."
Logan grabbed Rory's hand and noticed she wasn't making eye contact.
"You okay Ace? You seem a little off?" Logan asked looking at her eyes full of concern.
"Yeah it's just the time change. I'm getting a little jetlagged already."
"Okay, you'd tell me if it was something else right?"
"Yeah I would."
They walked hand and hand to baggage claim and Logan got a luggage rack for their bags. They walked out of the terminal and Logan loaded Lane and Rory's bags into one taxi and his in another. He paid both drivers.
"1023 East Village North" Rory told the driver her address.
Lane got into the car and Rory kissed Logan goodbye.
"I'll call you tomorrow and you can ride with us to the airport to pick G up. She's going to text me her details. I'm tired so I think we're just going to order in and watch movies tonight."
"Okay Ace. I'll talk to you later. Night hun."
Rory waited to see if he said it again but he didn't. Maybe it was a subconscious thing. Maybe she was overthinking the whole 'I love you' scene.
"520 East Ranrior" Logan told his driver.
"Oh no Logan." Rory said playfully "Now I know where you live. Maybe I'll stalk you."
"Well in that case, It's building number 5C." Logan replied laughing. "I'll see you later babe."
They parted ways and Rory joined Lane in the cab.
"Logan said he loved me." Rory said to Lane.
"What?" Lane asked shocked. "When? Where? Was it just now?"
"No, it was while he was sleeping on the plane. I don't even know if he meant to say it to me or if it was a subconscious thing. I'm so confused Lane. What do I do?"
"Well when we get to your house, let's play a game I saw on an episode of Friends. Give me a piece of paper and pen."
The rest of the ride home was quiet. Rory was lost in her thoughts and Lane was scribbling things down. They got to the suite and Rory asked the driver if he was paid enough. He replied that he was paid enough to help her up to her house with her bags. Rory was uncomfortable with that idea so she declined that offer.
"First rule of Palo Alto," Rory said to Lane. "Unless you know a person, do not let them to your door."
They walked up to the door and the doorman was there to help them in.
"Hello Miss Hayden. How was your trip? I read about your grandfather. Sorry for your loss."
"Thank you for the condolences Frank. I think I'm going to check my mail then head upstairs. There will probably be some take out and I need to add three names to my approval list."
"Go ahead with the names."
"Lane Van Gerbig, Georgia Hayden, and Logan Huntzberger. Lane is the person next to me, Georgia will be here tomorrow, she's staying with me for a week and Logan is my new boyfriend."
"Sounds good Miss. I'll get these things up for you."
Frank led the girls up to the top floor and walked to the 3rd door. He put their things inside and Rory went over to her answering machine and checked her messages.
Thursday at 5:23 PM Rory, it's your grandma Emily. Please let me know when you get home. Your grandfather, Francine, and I are leaving Monday morning for Martha's Vineyard and staying for two weeks. Don't worry we'll be back for your party. I'm handling it all over the internet. Apparently it'll be great still. We will probably head back to the Vineyard until Georgia's graduation.
Thursday at 7:45 PM Hey kid it's me, your mother, your phone is still off so I guess you're still flying. Call me when you get home.
Friday at 9:45 AM So I just got a call from an Australian man, I'm guessing is Finn. He wants to know if there is going to be room in the Hayden household when you get announced to public. Well kid, of course there will be and not that mommy cares but why are strange men calling at all hours of the night? Love ya
Friday at 10: 45 AM Ok well I'm boarding the plane at 9 AM tomorrow. Will you be there to pick me up or will I need to take a cab? Call me sis. Bye.
"Wow, you sure do get a lot of phone calls." Lane said to Rory.
"Yeah, it sucks occasionally. Make yourself at home. Here is your bedroom." Rory led Lane to the first guest bedroom. It had a queen sized bed and dresser plus a TV mounted to the wall with cable attachments and a DVD player. Off to the side was a walk in closet and bathroom attached.
"Dang. I think this is bigger than my room in the apartment we shared with Bryan."
"It's nice. It's one of the reasons I choose this place. There is another guest room it's as big but no attached bathroom."
"How big is this place?"
"3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, an office, a laundry room and of course a dining room, living room, and kitchen. You can go anywhere you want. Explore all you want. There is a balcony that overlooks the outside pool. If you want to swim there is an indoor pool and outdoor pool plus a workout room all on the first level. Frank will take you and show you if I'm not around. I have to go into the office Monday so you and G will have free reign of the suite. I'll leave my pass and you can use whatever you want. It's a part of my monthly dues."
"I hate to know how much you pay for this."
"Trust me, I don't want to know. They just automatically withdraw. I didn't even look at the number."
Lane put her stuff into the guest room she was staying in and started unpacking her things while Rory started working on her next article.
California!I'm back and I brought a little bit of Stars Hollow back with me! My best friend Lane and I will be tourists along with my sister Georgia this next week! If you have any suggestions on where tourists go, please let me know! We're going to go to San Francisco one day for sure but I'm not even sure where to go there. I know where ever I go I'll have fun because of the company I keep. I've known Lane since kindergarten and she's definitely the friend that turned family. Eric Idol once said "I have been very blessed in my life and rewarded with good friends and good health. I am grateful and happy to share this." That is so true. I know I wouldn't be the person I am today without my friends. Just remember, when you think about the good times that you've had under the worst of circumstances, those are the friends that you value. Lane has been with me through heartbreak and romance, every bad haircut and every horrible style choice. If you have a "Lane" in your life, I consider you blessed. Just remember, if you have any recommendations on where to be a tourist at, let me know. And if you see a brunette female, blond male, blonde female, and asian woman that just might be us galavanting the streets of California!
Rory looked up and realized it was 8:45.
"I have to send this article to Bill then I'm free to order food and watch movies for the night." Rory said to Lane.
Lane didn't answer right away so she went and checked on her. She was passed out on her bed still in her jeans.
"Lane." Rory nudged her carefully.
"Huh, what happened?" She asked groggily.
"You fell asleep which is no biggie but sleeping in jeans might be uncomfortable. Get changed and go to bed. We'll live it up tomorrow."
"Okay good night."
-So Lane's asleep already. Rory texted Logan.
-I'm surprised you're not. You didn't even sleep on the plane. Are you okay? You seemed quiet when we got home.
Rory contemplated telling him but decided not to.
-Yes I'm fine. Just sleepy. I think I'm going to bed soon.
-Ok Ace. Goodnight. Call me if you can't sleep. I'm catching up on some work here.
-I finished mine earlier.
-Are you going to bed or do you want to talk?
-If you want to call me, talk.
Rory's phone went off a minute later.
"Hey babe. How's work?"
"It's going good. I was thinking, why don't you come by the office one day next week and you can do an article on the business and the merger with HPG. You can't publish it for a while but you'll have the first grab at the article. Plus you're an amazing write and I would be honored if you could write it."
"That's an amazing. I would be the one honored."
"Well then, how about coming to the office next week after Lane and Georgia go home? Did you eat dinner yet?"
"Good."
"No, I was so wrapped up in my column I didn't realize what time it was."
Rory heard a knock at the door and got up and looked through a peephole.
"Who's there?" Rory yelled at the door.
"China Express."
"I didn't think you had time to eat yet so I ordered and had it delivered. It'll be like a date. I'm eating my chinese and you're eating yours."
"Well then what are we going to talk about my date?"
"Let's start with your plans this weekend."
"Well tonight is sleep and tomorrow we're going to wake up and lounge around until G gets in around 2 or so then we'll probably go out to dinner."
"Girls only or am I tagging along?"
"Well I'll have to talk to G but you can probably come. She was upset over the whole James thing. Speaking of which I have to call her."
"Ok well I have to get to work anyway. Ace, you're going to be a bad influence on me. I can already tell."
"What are you a work dork?"
"Maybe? What if I am? So are you? You just finished your work before I did."
"I'll talk to you later."
Rory waited to see if he would say I love you again.
"Bye Ace."
Rory still didn't know what to think about his sudden confession. She was waiting for him to say it again. She stopped thinking about it. She knew if she kept her mind on it she would drive herself crazy. She decided to call the Hayden home phone, knocking two birds out with one stone.
"Hayden residence. How can I help you." a strange voice answered.
"Hi this is Rory. Who is this?"
"I'm April the temporary help. I was told you would probably call. Summer needed to take a vacation to be with her family for a month."
Rory thought and Summer never took vacations. Hopefully everything was okay.
"OH okay. Is my mom there or Georgia?"
"Georgia is. Your mother is at your Grandma Emily's house for the afternoon. Let me get Miss Georgia. I'll be back soon."
About 2 minutes later, Georgia picked up the phone.
"Hey Ro. How's it going? You got back finally?"
"Yes. We got grounded in Chicago overnight and met up with Finn. Let's just say the night ended with me passed out after playing multiple games."
"No way! You were drunk? I don't think I've ever seen you drunk!"
"It's not something I will revisit soon. So you're leaving at 9 from Hartford? That puts you here around 2 PST. Lane & I will meet you at the airport. Then we'll go back to my place, get you settled in, and then we'll do what you want. If you're tired we can watch movies and give each other facials, or we can go out to dinner. Whatever you want to do. Monday I have to go to the office so you and Lane are on your own but I've already cleared you on my list so you can get in and out when you want and Lane has a key card to get into the pool and workout room."
"Okay well I'm going to bring some homework with me. Even though it's a college visit week I still have to keep up. You know how Chiton is. Headmaster Charleston said hopefully this college visit is better than the last one that you hosted."
"Oh no. I forgot about that! I'll tell you later. I should probably call mom over at grandmas to let them know I'm home. Wait, I thought the grandparents were going to the Vineyard."
"So did I."
"Hey G."
"Yea Ro?"
"Do you think that I love Logan?"
"I think you like him a lot. I don't know about love though. I think it's early for love but what do i know? I think that if you think you love him you do. Ro, you've never been one to just toss that feeling around. It took you months to be as comfortable with Tristan as your are with Logan now and you were never comfortable with Dean. I think that you're old enough to know what you want in a man."
"Yes I know that he's perfect for me but it's crazy that I've been with him for only a week. I don't even know what he feels. I don't know if he's in love with me or if he just thinks of me as something to fill his time in Hartford."
"Well has he made plans with you since you've been back?"
"We talked on the phone for about 15 minutes or so until I realized that I had to call you. Oh and he ordered me chinese and had it delivered."
"Dang. Chinese? That's nice. See he already knows you. Well I have to go and pack. I'll see you tomorrow. Night Ro."
"Night G."
Rory texted her mom real quick.
-Hey I'm home. Delayed in Chicago yesterday. I'm going to bed. I'll call you tomorrow.
Rory decided it was good to go to bed then since it was getting to be 10.
SUNDAY at Noon
Rory realized that she didn't wake up until 12 that afternoon. She woke up to the smell of coffee. She temporarily forgot what was going on. She looked around and didn't remember setting the coffee timer. She got up and went out to the kitchen and everything came back to her.
"Lane, I forgot you were here for a minute." Rory said to Lane laughing.
"Oh good to know I can be forgotten." Lane said. "Your mom called while you were asleep. I told her that you haven't slept much for the past couple of days and you were catching up. She said Georgia's plane actually took off on time and she'll be here at 5 PM which is 2 PM here."
"Yes I know. We're going to leave here at 1 so we get there on time. I've got construction paper in the closet so we can make signs that say 'PRINCESS GEORGIA HAYDEN' or something."
"Oh yea lets! Oh and Logan called too. I apparently have become Rory's answering service. He wanted to know if you like silver or gold better."
"I hope you told him silver."
"Of course, like I don't know my best friend. I wonder what he's getting you?"
"I have no clue."
"Lane. Do you think I love him?"
"I think that you won't waste your time on nothing."
"That's what G said yesterday. Okay I have some to-go-coffee cups up in the cabinet, we need to call a cab and go get G. Wait, do you think we should call my service?"
"Yeah probably. They have an SUV right?"
"Yes, we should go by Logan's after we get G and bring him back for movie night."
"Do you remember his address?"
"Yepp 520 East Ranrior. I have a good memory."
"Are you going to surprise him or call him?"
"Surprise him. I'm excited to see his place."
Rory called down to Frank and got the car service ordered and twenty five minutes later they were downstairs with their sign for G. They decided to his Starbucks until 2 PM when they saw Georgia's plane land.
"Are you guys serious? Princess Georgia Hayden with sparkles and a tiara over the G? Did Paris leave some of her craft corner there?" Georgia said beat red.
"Yes." Rory answered.
"So what's on the itinerary?"
"Well first we're going to go see Logan and see if he wants to host or join movie night."
"Sounds good, what next?"
"Then movies, pizza, chinese, and soda until we sleep."
They gave the driver Logan's address and the three of them went upstairs to Logan's suite. Rory knocked on the door and a woman opened the door.
Ut uho. Who's the girl? Any ideas?