The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Fourteen: Twisted Paths

Alessia pulled her coat tighter as she walked across Yale's sprawling campus. The autumn air was crisp, the kind that nipped at her cheeks and turned her breath into fleeting clouds. She was here to meet Rory—finally. After weeks of tentative texts and slowly rebuilding their relationship, Alessia was excited but also nervous. It had taken time to get to this point, and though they weren't exactly back to their old twin-sister bond, things were better. At least, Alessia thought so.

They had been texting more lately, small things like funny memes or quick updates on their classes, which felt like tiny steps toward mending what had been broken between them. Rory had suggested Alessia visit for the day, and though Alessia had hesitated at first—still wary of intruding on Rory's new life at Yale—she eventually agreed.

Now, here she was, wandering through the unfamiliar maze of Yale's ancient, ivy-covered buildings, trying to navigate her way to Rory's dorm. Alessia glanced down at the printed directions Rory had texted her and then up at the stately stone archways that all looked maddeningly similar.

"Left at the library, then straight past the courtyard... or was it right?" Alessia muttered to herself, feeling more lost by the second. She fumbled with her phone, pulling up a campus map that offered little reassurance. Every direction seemed like the wrong one, and the more she walked, the more she realized she had no idea where she was going.

Turning a corner, Alessia nearly collided with a group of three guys who looked like they had just strolled out of a catalog—stylish, confident, and exuding an air of entitlement that practically screamed Yale elite. The one in the center was tall, with sandy blonde hair that looked effortlessly tousled. The other two flanked him: one with a playful smile and dark hair, and the other with an Australian accent that was unmistakable even before he spoke.

"Whoa there, love," said the Aussie with a cheeky grin, holding up his hands as if to stop her from crashing into them. "In a hurry to somewhere, or just lost in the magnificence of Yale's finest?"

Alessia stepped back, a little embarrassed. "Oh, sorry—I'm definitely just lost. Trying to find Branford Court, but I think I've gone completely the wrong way."

The blonde guy stepped forward, his blue eyes sharp with interest. "Branford? Yeah, you're way off." He smirked, and Alessia got the sense he was enjoying this. "Not many people find their way without a guide, especially newbies."

The guy with the dark hair—the one with the easy smile—nudged the blonde with his elbow. "Logan, be nice. She's obviously not from around here. I'm Colin, by the way."

Alessia blinked. Logan. She had heard Rory mention that name before, always in that slightly annoyed, slightly amused tone that Rory used when talking about people who somehow managed to irritate and intrigue her at the same time. She hadn't expected to run into him here, though.

"And I'm Finn," the Aussie chimed in, shooting her a wink. "The much-needed comic relief of this merry group."

Alessia laughed, feeling a little less flustered. "I'm Alessia. I'm actually trying to meet my sister, Rory."

Logan's expression shifted, recognition sparking in his eyes. "Rory, huh? Well, well. Now it all makes sense. You're the Harvard twin."

Alessia raised an eyebrow. "The Harvard twin? That's my new label?"

Finn grinned, leaning casually against a stone pillar. "Around here, everyone's got a label. You should see what they call Logan." He gestured to Logan, who rolled his eyes.

Logan smirked, unbothered. "Don't mind them. Anyway, Branford's just a few minutes from here. We can show you the way if you'd like. Consider it a Yale welcome."

Alessia hesitated, unsure if tagging along with these guys was the best idea. But she was already lost, and they seemed harmless enough. Plus, if Logan really was the Logan Rory had mentioned, then maybe she could glean a little insight into her sister's world.

"Sure," Alessia said, nodding. "Lead the way."

The four of them strolled through the winding paths of Yale's campus, and as they walked, the conversation flowed easily. Logan and Finn bantered back and forth, and Colin kept throwing Alessia questions about Harvard life. She found herself laughing at their antics more than she expected, and before long, the tight knot of nerves she'd felt about seeing Rory had loosened a little.

Logan watched her with keen interest, his gaze lingering longer than it probably should have. "So, Harvard, huh? Must be quite a ride."

"It's... intense," Alessia admitted, shoving her hands into her coat pockets. "Not exactly what I pictured, but it's got its perks."

Logan nodded thoughtfully. "It's funny, isn't it? Everyone expects you to know exactly what you want from these schools, but the reality is way more complicated."

Alessia looked at him, surprised by the candidness. "Yeah, exactly. It's like everyone's projecting what they think you should be, and you're just trying to figure it out as you go."

Finn chuckled, his accent thickening as he gave a dramatic sigh. "Ah, the burdens of the privileged and overeducated. It's a tough life."

They rounded a final corner, and Alessia recognized the courtyard from Rory's vague directions. She could see the entrance to Rory's dorm up ahead, and a mix of relief and anticipation washed over her.

"Looks like this is me," Alessia said, stopping at the entrance. "Thanks for the tour, guys."

Logan leaned against the wall, flashing her a half-smile. "Anytime. See you around, Harvard."

As the trio walked off, Alessia watched them go, still slightly amazed at the unexpected encounter. She shook her head, chuckling to herself, then turned and made her way up the steps to Rory's dorm, ready to face whatever lay ahead.