Chapter 3

Logan might've pushed his thoughts of regret, mixed in with embarrassment, of having not said anything more substantial to Rory when he'd seen her aside that same night. But throughout the weekend that followed he found his thoughts far too idle to ignore the whole thing. No matter how much he tried to push himself to work through the weekend, his brain kept craving for a break. It was almost as if his brain was trying to cheat him, and force his feet to move and his taste buds to yearn for coffee. His curiosity to explore led him further from his usual place. And a few turns that he pretended to be completely at random later he found himself at the same streetcorner he'd emerged from on Friday morning, buying a large macchiato at the corner coffeeshop. Involuntarily images of Rory buying herself a coffee at this very shop played in front of his eyes as if watching a movie. He knew the odds that she'd just walk in here at precisely the same time as he sat there, drinking his cup as slowly as humanly possible whilst trying to read the people that stopped by for coffee and those who simply passed the window, were slim to begin with. Honestly, he wasn't even sure if he really wanted her to, having not many new ideas of what to say other than the polite small-talk he'd conjured to himself right after their last encounter.

Eventually, Logan forced himself to leave, internally calling himself ridiculous for even having ended up there. It wasn't like he wanted to win her back - this wasn't like the last time he'd stalked her with gifts and coffee carts. Thinking back, all that sounded so over the top that he was actually astonished it had worked at all. He felt, thinking back, how he'd been childish. Money had made him that way - that was what he liked to believe, even though it was more than likely life experience, being out there on his own, had significantly contributed as well.

It took for about a week of desperately trying to forget about her again, trying to put his mind into his work and finding a receptionist for the office who wouldn't sleep with Finn the first week in. But oddly enough, even the latter thought only led him back to thinking of Rory. She would've been perfect for the position, even though he knew she'd hate her forever suggesting she'd make a great assistant to anyone. His dad hadn't been wrong, he just hadn't seen her full potential.

Still, it was underneath that same thought - that maybe Rory could somehow become a part of this new company of his if she didn't already have something great going for herself - he made his way back to that street corner, and slipped in from the apartment complex's door in question.

The doorbell buzzed, and Logan had mustered at least a handful of good, neutral, openings that wouldn't be construed as lines. But they all went straight out of his mind as the person who appeared on the door was not the newly-auburn haired Ace he'd known so well once, but Eva.

"Logan? Hello? I'm sorry - did we have plans?" Eva answered the door, holding a wine glass and looking all giggly. Behind her Logan could see two other women, one of which was doing the other's makeup.

Oddly enough, this scenario hadn't even crossed his mind, making him wish he could sink into the ground yet again. It wasn't a usual feeling for him.

"Hi, um, no - I'm sorry. I'm actually looking for your room-mate," Logan replied, looking around the living room behind her.

"Um, what? Rory? Um, she's not in and I'm not sure when she'll be back," Eva replied, looking not so much hurt that he wasn't asking after her, but astonished and a little drunk.

"Sorry, for bothering you…," Logan added, wondering whether asking her to leave Rory a note was wise.

"Well, o-kay?" Eva said, stretching out the 'o', and tentatively closed the door in front of him, before bursting into laughter on the other side of the door. Clearly the three would have a field day with Logan, but Logan really didn't care, believing he actually kind of deserved that.

Logan shook his head, in disbelief, that he was there in the first place. What was he doing?

He ambled down the stairs, hoping to slip into the darkness like it never happened. He wasn't about to run a search on her to find her e-mail or phone number either - he didn't want Rory to think he was stuck on her. All he wanted to do - apologize and ask how she was doing, genuinely. But in his mind this couldn't happen in a way that was forced.

The downstairs door slammed shut behind him, and it was then he saw her, even if she hadn't seen him yet, having her hair in front of her face as she was searching her purse for her keys. He was silent, waiting for her to raise her head and meet his eyes, even if it just took nanoseconds.

"Twice in a week - wow!" Rory exclaimed, looking not entirely happy to see him.

"No, hi, sorry. That's not why I was here," Logan said, realizing what she was suggesting. He knew her undertones better than most people, after all.

"Oh?" Rory reflected, pausing for a moment before using the key fob on the door.

"I was here to see you, actually," Logan confessed.

"Oh!? What do you want?" Rory asked, sounding like she was offended for some reason.

"I just wanted to see how you were. The other morning - I just wasn't myself, I've beaten myself up for not asking then," Logan shrugged.

"Well, you shouldn't. Ancient history," Rory replied, and opened up the door.

"Wait - are you mad at me for some reason?" Logan asked, not really understanding her. He couldn't find a reason why this couldn't just be a nice friendly conversation.

"I'm not mad," Rory declared, sounding very much like her stubborn self.

Logan crooked his eyebrow, like he didn't really believe her.

"I'm just annoyed," she clarified.

"Annoyed that I'm here? Or that I was here the other day and the circumstances of it? I mean, I clearly didn't know you were going to be here either and I'm sorry, but there's not much I can do about it now, can I?" Logan shot back in a familiar fashion. She just drew that argumentative side out of him, reminding him of old times - the really-really old times.

The corner of Rory's mouth raised, clearly recognizing the familiarness too. But she wasn't that soft to just let him get off that easily, Logan could tell.

"I was just hoping that maybe we could - I don't know - have a friendly cup of coffee or something? Catch up?" Logan suggested, shrugging his shoulders.

"Ugh…," Rory exhaled. Logan wasn't sure that that meant - was it that she was tired or simply tired of his presence. "I'll think about it, okay? Either way - not tonight, I'm dead tired," she added.

"Okay, that's fine," Logan replied, taking that as half a win.

"Well, okay, then. Bye?" Rory said, and slipped through the door.

"Do you have my number?" Logan called after her.

The door slammed shut just before he finished his question, leaving him out there, feeling puzzled and disappointed. She wasn't just saying she'd think about it, was she? But at least, the message was out there.