Disclaimer: I do not own it.
A/N: Okay, so I have writing ADD, as you all know. Therefore, I decided to start a new story! Tell me if you like it!
Chapter One: Too Hot To Handle
"Blue," Rory watched Lane flip over the colored triangle fold, revealing two hidden numbers. She looked up at Rory excitedly, a goofy smile plastered on her face.
"Okay, four or five?"
"Um, five," She anxiously awaited her fortune, Lane quickly flipping over the last fold in the paper fortune teller.
"Rory, are you ready?"
"As ready as I am ever going to be," Lane smiled, taking a deep breath before reading.
"Alright, you, Rory Gilmore, will find love," Rory smiled in a bemused matter, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Wow, that is a very provocative fortune,"
"No degrading my fortune teller! I spent several long minutes concocting this,"
"Oh really," Rory laughed, picking up the paper configuration, "I can see the workmanship in this. I mean, these points, they are unbelievably sharp,"
"So, anyway, what do you think of your fortune?" Lane asked, her voice dry.
"Well, I think that it is a little late," She smiled, "Seeing that I am, indeed, already happy in a relationship,"
"Dean?" Rory nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Yes, Dean," Lane didn't say anything, opting to take up her fortune teller again. Something about Dean always bothered her. It had to do with his attitude around Rory. It was the way he put his arm around her a little too protectively, the way his eyes always darted accusingly to her when she was talking with another guy. He was never inappropriate in his actions, but it was the small manneurisms that bothered her. Rory of course didn't notice. She was too inindated with being Dean's perfect girl friend. She wouldn't have noticed if it hit her in the head.
"So, how is college searching going?" Lane asked, the topic of Dean less than appealing to her. Rory lit up at the topic, almost instantaneiously whipping out her pro con list.
"Well, Harvard is still in the lead, but I must say that Yale is not far behind. Besides the fact that my mom is totally against Yale, I kind of like it,"
"Are you visiting them?"
"I'm actually going to Yale tomorrow. My mom and I are going to visit. Especially after the whole grandparent debacle, we wanted to just see it on our own,"
"So there will be no proclomations of your undying love for Gloria Estefan?" Rory frowned but ended up bursting into laughter, shaking her head.
"Nope, there most definitely will not,"
"What do we have here?" A voice bellowed, looking down at the two girls seated in the gazebo centered in town. Rory smiled, her face brightening at the sight of Dean.
"We're telling each other's fortunes," Dean nodded, sitting next to her.
"And what was yours?"
"I'm going to find love," Rory announced chipirly.
"Well, I think that fortune was a bit too late," Rory beamed, weaving her arm casually through his.
"That's what I said!" She looked at Lane, absolutely brimming with joy. The sight alone sickened Lane, let alone the dreamy, over excited tone of her voice, "Lane, isn't that what I said?"
"Um, yeah, it sure was," Rory laughed, turning more towards Dean.
"Stop stealing my thoughts, mister," She warned, wagging a slender finger at his face. He smiled, grabbing her hand.
"How do you know you didn't steal mine?" She thought for a moment before shrugging it off with a smile.
"Well, great minds to think alike," He kissed her, bringing his hand to the back of her neck to deepen it. All through their show of affection Lane was sitting across from them, doing her best not to throw up the strawberry poptarts Rory and her and devoured moments earlier.
"Uh, guys," She prodded after a few minutes of absolute hell. Rory smiled sheepishly, her hand firmily inside Dean's grasp.
"Sorry Lane,"
"Yeah, sorry," Dean replied half heartedly but he was giving Rory a look, one that Lane knew too well. It was one begging her to leave with him, one that Rory hardly resisted.
"Uh, Lane, do you mind if I go?" Lane hardly even nodded before Rory was up, brushing the dust off of her jeans.
"Bye Lane!" She walked away happily with her prince charming, Lane sitting alone on her bench, a single fortune teller in her hands. She sighed, looking after her best friend's retreating figure. They hadn't even told her fortune yet. She half heartedly picked colors and numbers, flipping corner after corner. She laughed bitterly as she saw her fortune, written in bright purple letters. She had written it as a joke, and as she stared at her messy handwriting, that is exactly what it seemed like.
You're best friend is Rory Gilmore
"Yeah," She said softly, "that's what I used to think,"
"Enough kissing," Rory said softly, pushing Dean away from her with an amused smile. He groaned, leaning in for another but she promptly stopped him, her hand firmly on his chest.
"You're killing me,"
"Dean, we've been at it for an hour,"
"So?" He leaned in again and she giggled, his lips crashing into hers. She gave in for a few moments and then pulled away, giving him a look.
"Let's talk," He sighed, moving from over her.
"Alright, what do you want to talk about?"
"Have you looked at any colleges," He groaned, looking away from her penetrating gaze.
"Rory,"
"Well, you haven't said anything about it. I'm curious,"
"I've looked at a few," She smiled, bouncing a bit with excitement.
"Where? Tell me where!"
"Nowhere you'd be going," He muttered, uncomfortable with the topic.
"Come on Dean, don't be like that,"
"Like what? Like myself?"
"No, Dean, you know what I mean," He sighed, kissing her temple.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I've looked at Hartford University, Bradley, and Constantine,"
"I've heard good things about Constantine," Rory mused, smiling at him.
"Yeah,"
"They're requirements are very high," He looked at her, eye brows raised.
"Rory, they ask for an ACT score of at least 17,"
"Well, that's still good,"
"Rory, what did you get on the ACT?" She looked away, suddenly very interested in her sweater.
"I thought we were talking about you,"
"Rory," She sighed, looking up at him.
"I got a 35," He laughed in a somewhat bitter way, his mouth forming a tight frown.
"Oh yeah, then a 17 is really great,"
"Dean-"
"How about you? How's that pro con list going?"
"Well, I'm going to Yale tomorrow,"
"Promise not to fall for some Yale guy," he teased, "because I know that they're all going to be after you," She laughed, leaning back onto the couch.
"Oh yeah, me, the small senior from Chilton who carries a book around with her. I am a college guy's dream,"
"Hey, that doesn't mean they won't go after you," She smiled, moving into his arms.
"Well, don't worry. I'm in love with you. No guy will ever measure up," He smiled down at her, kissing her tenderly.
"So, you promise?" He reitterated, his voice sounding more paranoid than joking.
"Yeah, I promise,"
"Okay, do we have everything for our road trip?" Rory smiled, picking up the last bag of red vines.
"Yes mom, we have everything we need for our road trip," She followed her mother out to the car, who was carrying two bulging duffel bags full of food and other assorted goodies, "Mom, may I remind you that it is only an hour drive?"
"But there and back it is two hours," Lorelai pointed out, loading all of their bags in the back.
"We don't need this much stuff for two hours," Lorelai slammed the door, hopping in the car next to her daughter.
"Rory, we are Gilmores. We always overpack," Rory opened up the bag of red vines, pulling out a long red vine.
"Want one?" Lorelai looked at her, eye brows arched in surprise.
"Do you even need to ask?" Rory laughed, handing three over.
"Sorry, my mistake," Lorelai pulled out of the drive way, blasting their Killers CD to its full sounds potential.
"Let the road trip begin!"
"I cannot believe this!" Lorelai whined, banging her hand against the steering wheel. It was precisely thirty minutes since they departed and they had ended up on the side of the street, their car useless.
"Maybe it just needs to rest?" Rory offered, looking sadly at the other cars zooming past.
"Needs to rest? Rory, this is a car, it doesn't need rest. It needs-" She stopped short, her eyes glued on the panel in front of her, "I cannot believe this,"
"Mom, you said that before,"
"No, this is different," Rory followed her mother's gaze and gasped at the sight.
"No way,"
"This is ridiculous," Rory shook her head in disbelief.
"We are both experienced, smart drivers. How could this happen. How could we forget to fill the gas tank?" They both stared sadly at the gas guage, seemingly mocking them with its long slender arrow pointing accusingly at empty.
"Okay, out," Lorelai ordered, bounding out of the car so quickly that Rory didn't know what was happening until she had opened her own door and was proceeding to pull her by the arm.
"Mom!"
"Out, get out of the car," Rory unbuckled herself, getting out of the car. Lorelai looked around, spotting a large blue sign. She squinted, reading the bright white letters, "Okay, the nearest train station, according to this lovely little sign, is only a quarter mile away. We can walk that,"
"Yeah," Lorelai looked at her daughter, shaking her head.
"Oh no you don't! No using your 'I'm already defeated but I will go on' voice. We can do this. We both ran the mile sometime in our life in some gym class. A quarter of a mile is nothing," Rory nodded, trying to boost her spirits.
"You're right Mom. Let's do this!"
"Rest, I need rest," Lorelai croaked, collapsing onto the cushy train seat. Rory plopped down next to her, breathing heavily.
"Too much walking,"
"Way too much walking," Rory propped her leg up, rubbing her foot.
"I never knew that I could be in so much pain,"
"At least we wore comfy shoes," Lorelai looked at Rory, who was currently rifling through her bag. After several moments of sifting through it Rory produced a glossy brochure, Yale in dark, stately letters, printed on the front.
"You actually took the brochures?" Rory nodded, opening up the cover.
"Yes,"
"You left the food, but took the brochures?" Rory smiled, reaching into her bag again.
"I did not leave all of the food," She unearthed a full bag of redvines along with a bag of marshmallows and one of pretzels. Lorelai smiled proudly, grabbing the marshmallows.
"Look at you, a regular Mary Poppins. I am so proud. What else do you have in that bottomless bag?"
"A few books and two bottles of water,"
"You really are my hero. So, what is in that handy brochure of yours?" Rory paged through it, the glossy pages gleaming in the sunlight.
"Well, there is a map which without our tour guides will be useful,"
"Do you mean Adolf and Eva?"
"Are you calling Grandpa a girl?" Lorelai smiled.
"Well, if you ask me who's wearing the pants in that relationship I'd have to go with Emily," Rory shook her head, nonetheless grinning at her mother's antics.
"Okay, there is also a description of Yale's history,"
"Blah,"
"A description of classes,"
"Double blah,"
"A list of good restaurants,"
"Oohh, me like," Rory laughed, passing the brochure on to her mother and then pulling out yet another variation.
"Are you two going to Yale?" A man nearby asked. When Rory looked up she found that the man was actually more of a boy, he even looked her age. With sandy blonde hair and dark brown eyes he was definitely what the Chiltonites would call attractive.
"Yeah, we are," Lorelai answered, saving Rory from having to speak.
"So am I. I could show you around if you'd like. From what I've heard you don't want to see the mainstream stuff and I could take you around, show you all the good stuff. By the way, I'm Logan" Lorelai smiled, placing the brochure on her lap.
"What a nice pick up line. Does it usually work?" The guy laughed, his eyes gleaming.
"Seeing that it wasn't a pick up line, no,"
"Oh come on,"
"Did you think it was a pick up line?" He asked, directing his attention to Rory. She sat there like a deer caught in headlights, her mouth unable to form words.
"Um, uh, I...no?" His eyes were gazing into hers and she found it hard to breathe. Finally he looked away, a smug smile on his lips.
"See, your friend there doesn't think that it was a pick up line. You should listen to her, she looks smart," Lorelai shook her head.
"Thank you for the offer but we're fine. We've actually been here before,"
"You can go a lot of places and never really experience them,"
"That's something I can live with," He shrugged, standing up.
"You do know that this is the stop right?" They both scrambled to reassemble their things, him looking on with an amused expression. They inadvertantly followed him off, the warm sun beating down on them.
"Are you sure you don't want me to show you around?"
"Wow, you really are persistent,"
"Just friendly," Lorelai looked at him, cleary sizing him up. He seemed clean cut enough, not dangerous, but also not too straight laced. After a moment's consideration she decided to give him a chance.
"One hour," She said simply.
"What?"
"You have one hour to show us everything amazing about Yale, starting with the best place to get coffee," He surged forward without a word. After a moment he turned around, ushering them to follow.
"We only have on hour and that means that we have to move fast!"
"This," Logan began, gesturing to a lone coffee cart, "has the best coffee in all of Yale," The girls looked skeptically at the cart, taking in the flavor syrups and sugary confections.
"Real coffee," Lorelai clarified, "What place has the best real coffee? Not cappucinos or that latte crap. Real, black, stain anything coffee," Logan smiled.
"This is still it. You can get anything from here and it is amazing. Lanny is a pure genius," He nodded his head to the guy at the cart who was looking at the three oddly.
"Hey Lanny, would you make the three of us coffee to go?"
"Yeah, sure Logan. You're working two girls today?" He laughed, shaking his head.
"Nah, I'm actually their tour guide. I've got one hour to show them the best of Yale,"
"One hour? Wow, time constraints,"
"Yeah, that's what I thought. I can do it though," He grabbed the three coffees, handing one to Lorelai and then Rory.
"Alright, let's go,"
"Okay, here is the library. I usually don't go to it because it would ruin my street cred, but I've heard it's pretty good," Rory looked longingly at the building, yearning to see what was inside.
"Let's go inside," Rory finally said, not looking at anything but the doorway.
"There's a lot to see," Logan countered.
"I can head to the next spot and you can stay with Rory," Lorelai offered, smiling at her daughter's shocked expression.
"Mom-"
"Miller Hall is right down the quad. It's where they made the largest pop tart in history," Lorelai laughed.
"Wow, that I definitely need to see. You guys meet me there," She walked off, leaving Logan and Rory in front of the library.
"So, are we going to go in or loiter?"
"Uh, let's go in," The minute they entered Rory knew that she was in her element. She could smell the books, the musty scent that always enraptured her senses. The library was beautiful with elaborate paneling and heavy wooden tables polished beyond reason.
"I take it you're a reader," Logan commented, noting the look of awe on her face.
"You could say that,"
"I heard you say that you had a book with you. May I ask what it is?" Rory looked at him, surprised.
"Were you eavesdropping?" He shrugged.
"A little,"
"I'm reading Kite Runner," He nodded, walking towards an aisle of books.
"I read that last month, good book. The prose in it is amazing. I didn't think that I would like a book so politically charged, but I really did enjoy it," She looked at him, a small smile forming.
"I thought you said you didn't read,"
"Just because I don't go to libraries doesn't mean I don't read," Rory nodded, walking down an aisle loaded with first editions.
"You know, you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover," She looked up at him, not even trying to hide her amusement.
"A literary saying in a library? Wow, you really are a winner. Anything else over there?" He frowned, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I think I liked you better when you didn't talk," Rory smiled.
"So, any books here that you would reccomend. Not that you would actually know of course, but just the word on the street," He shook his head at her teasing, causing her to smile with satisfaction.
"Well, I've heard that Cold Mountain is pretty good. Of course you need to read the classics, Pride and Predjudice, Anna Karenina, Jane Eyre..."
"Do you reccomend anything other than romance novels, or is that your specialty?"
"I was merely naming the classics. I could add in War and Peace if it would make you more comfortable," Rory's eye was caught by a particular book, the leather bounding worn. She immediatly picked it up, her eyes wide in awe.
"Is this an original of Wuthering Heights?" Logan nodded as she opened up the cover to examine the author's page. Her hands trembled slightly as they touched the thick, slightly yellowed pages of the book.
"We have an original of Pride and Prejudice too," She put the book back, smiling contently.
"This is so going on the list," He gave her a questioning look and she blushed, looking down at the shelf of books.
"Um, well, I'm inbetween three schools and I sort of made a list to help me decide,"
"What schools?"
"Princeton, Harvard, and Yale," He nodded in approval.
"Wow, you're pretty smart,"
"Uh, I guess so," He smiled at her discomfort.
"Relax, it was a compliment," He looked at his watch, seeing that it had nearly been twenty minutes.
"We better go find your mom. I kind of lied about the whole pop tart thing so she's probably starting to get antsy," Rory looked at him, grinning wide.
"Did you really lie to Lorelai Gilmore about food?"
"Yes, I-" He stopped, her comment suddenly hitting him, "Did you say Lorelai Gilmore?"
"Yeah,"
"Impossible," He muttered to himself, shaking his head.
"What? Is there something wrong?"
"No, uh, it turns out that we aren't exactly strangers. My parents are close friends of your grandparents. They're Emily and Richard, right?" Rory looked at him, her eyes wide.
"Yeah, who are your parents?"
"Does Mitchum Huntzberger ring any bells?" Rory stopped walking, stunned.
"The newspaper mogul?" Logan smiled, but she could sense sadness behind it.
"The one and only. What? Are you some ace reporter?"
"I write for my paper but I wouldn't call myself an ace reporter," They had continued walking and had finally made it out of the library.
"Are you going into journalism?"
"Yeah, I don't exactly want to be the next Diane Sawyer, but I know it's where I belong,"
"It must be nice to be so sure of something, to be so happy with it," She looked at him, once again seeing the flash of sadness.
"What are you majoring in?"
"Business, daddy dearest is training me to basically become him,"
"That sucks,"
"Yeah, well that's my life. Anyway, what is on that little list of yours?" Rory smiled.
"Just a bunch of random stuff really. Things I like about each school and then things I don't,"
"Well along with the library you can add one more thing to Yale,"
"What?"
"I'm here," She laughed, shaking her head.
"I hardly know you,"
"What better reason to go here than to get to know me?" She smiled, not saying a word. They walked the rest of the way in silence, both of them content in the stillness.
"There is no pop tart here," Lorelai snapped, tapping her foot impatiently on the floor. Logan smiled sheepishly, shrugging.
"Sorry,"
"You're lucky that your hour is over buddy or I would've gotten you back for this,"
"It's over already?" Rory asked, sad to see their time at Yale over. Lorelai was surprised by her daughter's behaivor, thinking that she would be more than happy to leave the uncomfortable prescence of Logan. She noticed that things had changed since she left though. Rory was standing closer to Logan, her body turned slightly towards his. She noticed how his eyes darted towards her every so often, Rory's eyes doing the same.
"We could extend that hour if you'd like," Lorelai offered, seeing Rory's face brighten at the proposition.
"That sounds good, but I actually have somewhere to be in a half hour,"
"Oh, alrighty, then it was nice meeting you Logan,"
"You too Lorelai," He gazed at Rory, smiling a bit wider.
"Bye Logan, thanks for showing me the library,"
"Any time Ace, and don't forget to add me to that list," She smiled, nodding.
"I won't," She watched him walk away, feeling an overwhelming urge to run after him. Instead she turned to her mother, tearing her gaze away from the retreating blonde.
"Well, that was fun," Lorelai gave her daughter a look, one that told her to spill.
"What happened there,"
"What?"
"Come on, something happened in that library. Did he take you to the stacks?" Rory laughed, walking on with her mother.
"You do know that stacks do not actually exist,"
"They did when I was young. How do you think you came about?"
"Ew Mom, way too much information," Lorelai laughed.
"I guess I did go a little too far. So, there was nothing between you two?" She felt a longing for it to be true but she merely shook her head, a hint of sadness in the movement.
"May I remind you I have a boyfriend," She replied, almost reminding herself of the fact.
"Right, Dean," Lorelai was less infactuated with her daughter's other half than Lane was. Simply said, she was not Dean's biggest fan.
"So," Rory began, deciding to change topics fast, "What do you say about getting some of that amazing coffee again?" Lorelai smiled, nodding vigorously.
"Now that is a good idea,"
A/N: I hope that you liked it! This is new so please leave a me a comment telling me if it's worth continuing. There would obviously be more ROGAN interaction in the future. I'll get them to interact somehow, I don't know how, but I'll think something up. Thanks again!