The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Twenty-One: The Invitation

Alessia had barely slept. The makeshift bed on Rory's dorm floor was as uncomfortable as she had expected, but that wasn't what kept her awake. It was the whirlwind of thoughts racing through her mind—Beau's injury, her unexpected run-ins at Yale, and Rory's excited recounting of strange happenings on campus. But more than anything, it was the mysterious invitation Logan had given her earlier in the day.

A sharp knock on the door startled her awake. Alessia rubbed her eyes and glanced at Rory, who was still fast asleep. She quickly stood up, throwing on a hoodie, and opened the door. Colin, one of Logan's friends, stood there with his usual mischievous grin. Finn was right behind him, looking as if he was trying to suppress a laugh.

"Good morning, lovely," Colin greeted, his voice dripping with an air of playful mystery. "You're needed elsewhere."

Alessia blinked, still groggy. "What? Now?"

"Yes, now," Finn chimed in, his Australian accent thick and amused. "Get a move on. Time waits for no one, darling."

Alessia shot a quick look back at Rory, still dead to the world, and hesitated for a second. But the thrill of the unknown and the vague promises Logan had hinted at the day before tugged at her. With a resigned sigh, she grabbed her coat and followed Colin and Finn out the door.

As they stepped outside into the brisk morning air, a sleek black SUV was waiting at the curb. Logan was leaning against it, a casual smirk playing on his lips as he saw her approach.

"Good to see you made it, Harvard," Logan said, opening the door for her. Alessia hesitated, looking back at the dorm where Rory still slept, then climbed into the car, Logan close behind.

Inside the SUV, the atmosphere was anything but quiet. Logan sat beside Alessia, Colin driving, and Finn sprawled across the front seat, his sunglasses hiding bleary eyes.

"You look like you've seen better days," Logan teased, glancing at Finn, who groaned dramatically.

Finn removed his sunglasses, squinting at Logan. "I'm delicate in the morning. Sunlight is my mortal enemy."

Colin chuckled, adjusting the rearview mirror. "He's just hungover. Again."

Alessia stifled a laugh, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease. "Is this normal? Being blindfolded and carted off somewhere before breakfast?"

Logan turned to her, an amused glint in his eye. "You're getting the deluxe package, Harvard. Most people just get the cryptic text."

Finn glanced back at her, his grin lazy. "Consider yourself lucky. We're rarely this charming before noon."

"So, what's the deal with this? Where are we going?" Alessia asked, trying to piece together the puzzle of this strange group and their secretive plans.

Colin exchanged a glance with Logan, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "We could tell you, but then it wouldn't be any fun, would it?"

Logan leaned closer to Alessia, his voice low and playful. "It's a bit of tradition. You'll see. Just go with it."

The drive continued with a lively exchange of banter and jabs, setting a light-hearted tone that made Alessia feel oddly comfortable despite the mystery of it all. After several winding turns through back roads, the SUV finally slowed to a stop. Colin and Finn hopped out first, Logan helping Alessia down onto a narrow path lined with lanterns that led them through a dense forest.

As they walked, the path opened up to reveal a grand, secluded estate surrounded by lush trees. But the real spectacle was the event unfolding outside—an elaborate, old-fashioned 1920s-style party that looked as if it had been plucked straight out of a Gatsby novel. Tents draped in rich fabrics fluttered in the breeze, twinkling lights hung from trees, and elegantly dressed guests in vintage formal wear mingled, their laughter and conversation filling the air. Tables adorned with white linens and crystal glassware sparkled in the morning sun.

"Wow," Alessia breathed, taking in the opulent scene. It was like stepping into another era, a world where time slowed down, and everything was wrapped in glamour and secrecy.

Logan watched her reaction, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. "Impressive, isn't it?"

Alessia nodded, her eyes roaming over the extravagance, but they stopped short when she spotted something unusual in the distance: a massive scaffolding structure rising high above the treeline, looming like a dare waiting to be taken. The platform at the top seemed impossibly high, and Alessia's stomach churned with an unspoken question.

"What's that for?" she asked, nodding toward the towering scaffold.

Logan glanced over, his expression carefully blank. "Just a little something we've got planned. Don't worry about it."

Alessia raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced. "It looks... dangerous."

Logan's smile widened, a mix of charm and secrecy. "Danger adds a bit of flavor, don't you think?"

Before Alessia could press further, Finn appeared with a drink in each hand, interrupting their conversation. "Here, to calm the nerves," he said, handing one to Alessia with a wink. "You'll need it."

Logan led Alessia further into the heart of the event, effortlessly mingling with the crowd. Despite the easy banter, Alessia couldn't shake the feeling that she was being swept up into something much larger than she'd anticipated. The scaffolding loomed in the background, a constant reminder that the night held more than just glamour and vintage charm—it held the promise of something thrilling and unknown.

As Logan guided her through the sea of tuxedos and flapper dresses, Alessia felt both exhilarated and uneasy. Whatever this was, it was unlike anything she'd ever experienced, and the anticipation hung in the air, electric and undeniable.

And for the first time in a long while, Alessia wasn't sure whether she was more excited or terrified of what might happen next.