„I'm not going home without Rory hooking up with a really hot guy." Lucy said with a confident look on her face, holding her margarita in her hand, sitting next to Olivia who was giggling at Rory's confused facial expression.
„You guys are crazy, you know that, right?" Rory said, taking a sip of her second tequila sunrise cocktail, which she clung to herself as if her life depended on it.
„Well, it has been a couple of dry years for you Mary." Paris said with a laugh, already feeling a little bit tipsy, even though the night has just started and there were a lot of locations that they needed to hit.
It was the night of Parises Bachelorette party. Doyle proposed to her on the day of her graduation from Harvard School of Medicine, six months ago, and they were both over the moon for the decision to get married, even though that piece of paper wouldn't change a thing since they have been living together since their senior year in Yale.
As her maid of honour Paris has, of course, chosen her best friend Rory.
„It was NOT that dry." Rory laughed and took another big sip, her body warming up from the alcohol. They were still in the apartment, read to hit the clubs. Rory wore a very tight, red dress with an open back and black high heels. Her hair was curled and make up dark, she felt pretty good about herself, it took a couple of hours, but she liked what she saw in the mirror.
She didn't have many moments like these with her friends, especially not with Paris since she has been living in New York for the past four years. It didn't take long after her Obama campaign pieces for her to get a job at the New York Times. Of course they read her pieces, of course they were fantastic and of course she was over the moon happy for getting the job she has always wanted to have.
Rory was a busy woman, she was strong and independent, she was a hurricane of a woman. Submitting piece after piece, there had rarely been an issue without at least one of her pieces. It took most of her time, but that was okay, she didn't want to have more time for herself.
Being alone meant thinking about him, being alone made her fingers automatically type his name in the search bar and look over every single damn picture that popped up. Do you think she was proud of that? Such a powerful woman being so weak for someone who turned his back on her five years ago? It was driving her insane, so the only thing she could possibly think of was to simply dive into work, completely drown in research, surveys and interviews.
She had a beautiful two bedroom apartment in Queens, it was perfect for her, had a beautiful view and was full of books. It had a touch of Rory in every corner, with a little bit of her mothers craziness, so it feels like she is always with her.
She didn't talk about it, it was forbidden for anyone to mention it. The failed proposal was a tabu that no one even dared to mention at gatherings, let alone in a one-on-one conversation with Rory. It was a sore spot, something she hated with every inch of her body. She hated everything about it, the way it was done, the way he acted, the way he said it, in front of who he said it, when he said and how he said, and also, what her response to it was. She hated it all. How he left, how he hadn't called and how desperately she wanted him to call.
But, tonight was all about Paris, their strange friendship and how it will last forever. Rory helped Paris get ready, she had that glossy dirty blonde hair and was never done since Paris always had better things to do, which was quite frankly a shame, because she looked smashing in her gold metallic dress that she bought with Rory a week ago.
Madeline and Louise were also there, but everyone knew they would simply disappear the moment they would all enter the club. At the age of 27, nobody even asked them for their IDs, instead they paid the entrance and walked inside of this huge Manhattan club filled with people drinking, partying and dancing.
Thankfully they have reserved a special table just for them, so the security guy walked them over to their table, right in the centre of the club. Lucy and Olivia seemed to enjoy the music since they soon after the drinks came started dancing to the latest hits.
„I already feel a little bit tipsy." Paris said to Rory, who was surprised to hear that, since they just walked inside. But, thankfully, Paris wasn't one of those people who would get sleepy when she drank, instead she joined Olivia and Lucy in their strange dancing routines.
Rory was looking all round the club, holding just another one of her cocktails in her hand, nodding her head to a familiar song she knew from the radio. She was glad her dress was quite revealing, since it was very warm in the club, that however also helped with the boys, some of which couldn't keep their eyes off of her.
She knew it wasn't allowed to still feel sorry for what happened so many years ago, there was no excuse for why she was single and lonely most of the time. Sometimes, well, most of the time, she wished she had someone. It would have been nice to come home to, after a long day. Sometimes, just sometimes, it would have been nice to have someone to pick up the slack, to talk to her about stupid shit that only she cared about.
And each time, she wanted to commit to someone, she would realise how stupid it would be, to give herself to someone, just for the sake of not standing all alone. It was an unpleasant reality she had to face everyday, and slowly she feared, that there might never be another „he" in her life. You may argue that that approach was a bit overdramatic, and she would agree with you, but there was no escaping the facts. She searched for him in everyone she met. That wasn't healthy, she knew that, but she would rather be honest with her feelings than have another Dean, trying to form him and mould him to fit into her world which was created after this image of her with Logan, and their perfect life that she was so close to five years ago.
Somehow, the atmosphere and the great choice of music has lead to the girls almost drinking all of the drinks that the waiter has initially brought to their table, so it was up to Rory to organise refills. She has pushed her way to the very long bar with hectolitres of alcohol on several meter long shelves behind the baristas.
Rory leaned on the bar to pretty much scream her order to the barista, who was smiling just at the sight of her. She knew her smile would make her order the top priority, so she gave him one of her famous Rory Gilmore charming smiles, making him instantly pick up her drinks.
Once he returned to her with her order, she pulled her money from her purse only for the barista to scream, „Already paid for!" pointing to his right. Rory looked over to where he was pointing, only to see her favourite little Australian misfit.
„Finn!" She yelled out and he walked over to her, giving her warm hug. „My goodness I didn't think you could get any more gorgeous, love!" He said while still holding her in his arms.
„You haven't changed one bit." Rory said to him, making him smile brightly.
„Who are you here with?" He asked, curiously.
„I'm with some friends, for a Bachelorette party." She answered.
„Do you guys need another stripper?" Finn said, doing a little dance move, pointing to his body, to which Rory simply had to laugh, he truly hasn't changed at all.
„No, I think we're good for now."
„Well, you just let me know love, anything for you." He said confidently.
„Who are you with?" She asked him, taking the bucket filled with enough Tequila and shot glasses to keep the girls occupied for some time.
Instead of answering, Finn pointed to his table, where three guys were laughing and each holding, what seemed to be Jack Daniels. She would recognise that blonde hair anywhere. He was turned around so that she could't see his face, but she instantly noticed slight differences in his body, he obviously worked out a lot. He was wearing a black shirt, which fit perfectly to his toned body.
Finn noticed how she stopped breathing for a second, he wasn't a fool, but even a fool could see the changes in her behaviour. She quickly snapped out of her thoughts and turned to him.
„Well, have fun!" She nodded and giggled, took her bucket and walked back to the girls, leaving Finn proud of the fact that he predicted her reaction, which wasn't that different from Logans, just a couple of minutes ago.
„Stupid." He laughed to himself and walked back to the boys, standing in front of Logan. He was a horrible actor, ever since he saw Rory's back at the bar, he couldn't hide the shock on his face, it was written all over it. He tried faking laughs and look around, trying to seem unbothered that on his only night off in months he sees the only person that could make him rethink of coming in the first place.
But damn, she was so beautiful in that dress, he though to himself. The way her brown hair effortlessly fell on her bare back was giving him chills, he remembered the smell of her coconut shampoo and just for a second wondered, if she was still using the same one. He froze in place when Finn made him turn around. He knew the lights weren't dim enough to hide the redness of his cheeks the moment he spotted her leaning to the barista.
Finn looked at him, as he nervously tried to make it look like he was looking at another girl, but Finn knew him well, he knew that this whole club was empty for Logan at this moment. Finn rolled his eyes and took another sip of his whiskey, it was quite amusing to him how their bodies couldn't fight it, not even a single bit.
Rory was distracted for the rest of the night, she danced with the girls, did some shots with Paris and laughed at the crazy dance moves by Olivia and Lucy, which eventually lead to Olivia sitting on a chair leaned to the table, feeling sick and being very close to actually falling asleep.
„We should get her some water." Paris said.
„Yeah, she doesn't look that well." Rory observed, grabbing her bag, ready to head to the bar.
„Bring me a soda as well." Paris added, checking her phone, probably to see if Doyle has sent her a message, or even better, a picture with his friends at their party.
Rory nodded to that and made her way through the crowd. As she pushed her way to the bar she leaned towards, ordering a water and a soda. She noticed eyes on her, she didn't have to look to know whose stare was on her.
„It's very rude to stare like that." Rory said looking straight ahead, hearing him laugh next to her made her smile brightly. He fixed his hair and stepped closer to her.
„It's very hard not to." He confessed, raising his hand so the bartender would notice him and take his order.
„I see not a single thing has changed." She said with her stare still focused in front of her, to the bartenders mixing cocktails.
„How would you know? Your stare hasn't left that bartenders butt." He said with a cocky smirk.
Rory turned around. Her glossy curly hair falling off of her shoulder as her eyes finally met his. He observed every inch of her, her glowing skin and petite figure. He though to himself, nothing in this world could ever compare to her, not even the dim, different coloured lights could hide the blue in her big eyes.
„Ace." He said completely cut off of reality, he couldn't help but to stare at her the whole time.
„Logan." She smiled at him.
It was very obvious for anyone looking at them that there was a lot of history behind those looks, a lot of mixed feelings were flying all around them.
Logan finally snapped out of it and sat into a barstool next to her.
„So what brings you here?" He asked after he ordered another drink at the bar.
„Paris is having her Bachelorette party, and you?" That answer had Logan almost choke on the drink he brought with him from his table, he couldn't help but to respond in laughter.
„Paris? Paris Geller?" He asked her, still not believing it.
„Doyle…" She added, to which Logan leaned his head back slowly, since it was making more sense now.
The bartender brought Rory her drinks, she took them and said, „Well, I gotta go."
„We should meet up sometime." Logan said to her, placing his hand on her upper arm.
„I really don't think that is a smart idea." Rory said looking down at her drinks.
Logan was hurt, hearing her say those words hurt him more than he wanted to admit to himself. How could they have ended this way? He didn't even know how much he has missed her presence, until she was here in front of him, more beautiful than what he had remembered her. Of course he knew what she had been up to for the past couple of years, his family was still in that business and all of the information about her work was only a couple of clicks away, but that's not what he was interested in.
He wanted to know what was going on with her, what is going on in her life, the books she was reading, how her family was doing, her friends. He wanted to know what she feared, what she wished for and what her hopes were. He felt like she was distant, not really interested in him, so he let it slide. He nodded and stepped aside, letting her walk back to her friends.
As Rory was walking towards her friends a tall brown haired guy approached her, seemingly drunk.
„So how about I buy you a drink sweetheart?" He asked her, following her through the crowd.
„How about you leave me alone?" She yelled back through the noise, but he didn't seem to care about what she was saying, so he followed her to the table.
„Who is that guy?" Paris asked her, taking her soda from Rory.
„I don't know, he just wouldn't leave."
„Let me handle this." Paris said and walked over to the guy.
Rory observed Paris in her efforts to make this guy leave, she seemed extremely angry and loud, the guy seemed scared to hell and back, shortly, he was out of sight and Paris returned.
„Was that Logan Huntzberger you were talking to?" Paris asked her confused.
„Yes, he is here with his friends from Yale." Rory answered, looking anywhere but at Paris, knowing very well that Paris would be able to read her mind when it comes to him, and that would resolve into unnecessary drama and need to explain what happened and what is going on right now.
„Oh, okay, so what did he-" And just as Paris was about to finish her sentence, Olivia puked over the floor, making a scene. Rory jumped over to her and helped her remain steady on the chair.
„Get her out, she needs air." Paris said, grabbing their bags and handing it to Rory.
Rory and Olivia walked out of the club on the sidewalk and Olivia sat down with her face buried into her hands. Rory stepped away a little bit to call the cab and in that moment she felt unfamiliar hands touch her lower back, to which she instantly turned around.
„We haven't had the chance to get to know each other properly." It was the guy from before, getting extremely close to her. She could feel his horrible breath on her face as she tried to push him away.
„Get away from me." She yelled out, but she was too weak.
The guy was leaning against her when two strong hands pulled him off of her and punched him right into his face. It was so loud that it seemed very painful. Logan's eyes were red with fury as he pinned the guy to the ground and punched him several times, until Collin appeared from behind to pull him away from the guy.
„Don't you ever touch her again! Ever!" Logan screamed at him, completely pissed.
Rory stood there in complete shock, she couldn't believe the way Logan was acting, he was never this aggressive before, if it hadn't been for Collin, God knows what would have happened. The guy stood up and quickly ran away from the scene. Rory looked at Logan, who was being lead into a limo by Collin and Finn. He turned around to look at her, his breaths were heavy and short, but his look softened as he looked at her. He didn't want her to see this, he didn't want her to think poorly of him or to see this side of him, but seeing that guys hands on his Rory made his blood boil with anger and his hands got a mind of their own. He stepped inside of the limo with the guys and they quickly drove off, leaving Rory on the sidewalk. Paris rushed outside with her phone.
„What is going on Rory?" Paris asked her with concern in her eyes, looking around, seeing all of the shocked people in their best attempt not to stare at her.
„I have no fucking idea."
So, what do you guys think?
I'm still not sure if I should continue with this story,
let me know what you think about it.
Thank you so much for reading!
xx