The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Fifteen: Midnight Munchies

Alessia sat cross-legged on Rory's bed, flipping through an old issue of the Yale Daily News while Rory typed furiously on her laptop, a half-empty coffee cup by her side. The dorm room was cozy, cluttered with stacks of books and scattered notes, everything perfectly Rory. Alessia hadn't spent much time here before, and being in her sister's space felt oddly comforting, like a glimpse into the parts of Rory's life she'd missed out on.

"So," Alessia said, setting the newspaper aside, "are you finally going to tell me why you've got three different copies of Pride and Prejudice on your desk?"

Rory glanced up, grinning. "One's for class, one's annotated for my own analysis, and the other... well, it's just my favorite."

"Of course," Alessia laughed, rolling her eyes playfully. "You're such a nerd."

Rory threw a balled-up sock at her, which Alessia dodged with a giggle. They settled into a comfortable silence, the kind that had been missing for so long. Alessia was grateful that they were finding their way back to each other, bit by bit.

It was late when they finally turned out the lights, and Rory fell asleep almost instantly, her soft snores filling the room. Alessia lay awake for a while, staring at the ceiling, her stomach rumbling loudly in the quiet. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until now, the leftover takeout they'd eaten hours ago feeling like a distant memory.

Alessia carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to wake Rory. She spotted Rory's meal card on the desk and grabbed it, deciding to venture out in search of the cafeteria. The halls of Yale were eerily quiet at this hour, the dim lighting casting long shadows that made everything look slightly surreal. Alessia padded down the hall in her cute pajamas-a pair of soft shorts and an oversized sweatshirt she'd stolen from Beau-with Rory's meal card clutched in her hand.

After a few wrong turns and nearly giving up, Alessia finally found the cafeteria. It was almost deserted, save for a few stragglers nursing cups of coffee over open textbooks. She grabbed a sandwich and a soda, balancing them in her hands as she turned to leave.

But as she rounded the corner, she collided with someone tall and solid, her sandwich flying out of her grasp.

"Whoa!" Alessia exclaimed, stumbling back in surprise. Her heart jumped into her throat as she looked up to see Logan Huntzberger, of all people, standing there with a bemused expression.

"Easy there, pajama girl," Logan drawled, his smirk appearing almost instantly. He looked far too put together for this late hour-jeans and a crisp button-down, like he'd just wandered off a movie set instead of the Yale campus.

Alessia clutched the soda to her chest, cheeks flushing. "Logan? What are you doing here?"

Logan raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "I could ask you the same thing. Midnight snack run?"

Alessia glanced down at her pajamas and bare feet, suddenly self-conscious. "Yeah, something like that. I didn't think I'd run into anyone."

Logan shrugged, grabbing a bottle of water from the cooler. "The cafeteria's kind of a hidden gem at this hour. Most people are either asleep or too hungover to bother." He paused, his eyes flicking over her outfit with a teasing glint. "Nice PJs, by the way. Very... cozy."

Alessia rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks. They're very exclusive. You can't get them just anywhere."

Logan chuckled, leaning against the counter as he unscrewed the cap of his water bottle. "So, what brings you to Rory's stomping grounds? Slumming it at Yale for the weekend?"

Alessia took a sip of her soda, considering him. "Just hanging out. Rory and I have been... catching up."

Logan nodded, his expression softening just a little. "It's good you're here. I know she's missed you."

Alessia looked at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. "Yeah, I've missed her too. A lot." She hesitated, then decided to change the subject before things got too heavy. "So, what about you? You don't seem like the type to wander the halls at 2 AM."

Logan grinned,his voice laced with a playful yet knowing edge. His eyes gleamed with a mischief that suggested he wasn't just talking about a quiet campus at night. "Oh, you'd be surprised. Yale's much more interesting when the sun goes down."

He gestured to the sandwich still lying on the floor between them. "Need another one? I think that one's toast."

Alessia laughed, feeling more at ease. "Nah, I'm good. I think I've embarrassed myself enough for one night."

"Not at all," Logan said, picking up the sandwich and tossing it into the trash. "This place could use a little more excitement. And you're providing just the right amount."

There was a charged silence between them, the kind that was both awkward and oddly thrilling. Alessia wasn't sure what to make of Logan-Rory's stories had painted him as a charming, slightly arrogant flirt, but up close, he was more complicated than that. And as much as she tried to brush off their encounter as random, there was something undeniably intriguing about him.

"Well," Alessia finally said, breaking the silence. "I should get back before Rory realizes I'm missing and thinks I've been kidnapped or something."

Logan smirked. "Wouldn't want to be the cause of a twin sister panic. Go on, Harvard. I'll see you around."

Alessia turned and walked away, feeling Logan's gaze on her back the whole way down the hall. She couldn't help but glance over her shoulder one last time, catching the ghost of a smile on his lips before he disappeared around the corner.