In the heart of Harvard, Alessia Gilmore is ready to embrace her second year and the independence it brings. After a summer spent reconnecting with friends and discovering herself, she's determined to step out of her twin sister Rory's shadow and ca...
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Alessia Gilmore wasn't sure how she ended up in Logan's car with Finn and Colin crammed into the backseat, bickering like an old married couple. The original plan had been simple-pick up snacks and coffee before heading back to the dorm. But with these three? Nothing was ever just simple.
"Do not touch my hair," Finn snapped, swatting Colin's hand away as Colin made a grab for the baseball cap sitting perfectly backward on Finn's head.
"Relax, man. I was just checking if it's glued to your skull or something," Colin teased, lounging against the car door with a cocky grin.
"It's not glued, it's styled," Finn corrected, glaring at him. "Unlike your bird's nest."
"Bird's nest?" Colin leaned forward, mock-offended. "This is bedhead at its finest, thank you very much. Some of us have a natural charm."
"Natural chaos, maybe," Logan muttered from the driver's seat, smirking as he glanced at them through the rearview mirror.
"Alright, enough!" Alessia cut in from the passenger seat, rolling her eyes. She reached over to fiddle with the radio, switching stations until she found something tolerable. "If I have to listen to you two argue for one more second, I swear I'm going to kill myself."
"Don't be dramatic," Logan said with a smirk, keeping his eyes on the road but clearly entertained.
"This is me, Logan. Everything I do is dramatic," Alessia quipped, flipping her hair for emphasis.
Finn groaned from the back. "God, could you two flirt quieter? It's killing my vibe."
Alessia shot a glare over her shoulder. "No one's flirting, Finn."
"Uh-huh, sure," Colin interjected with a grin. "And I'm the King of England."
"More like the jester," Alessia muttered, earning a laugh from Logan.
"Thank you!" Finn exclaimed, gesturing at Alessia like she'd just validated his entire existence.
As the car sped down the road toward the café, Alessia leaned back in her seat, letting herself relax for a moment. It wasn't often she let herself just be, but something about this group-even with all the chaos-made it easier. Logan's easygoing nature, Colin's ridiculousness, Finn's sharp comebacks...it all felt strangely balanced, even if it was absolute madness.
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The café wasn't crowded, which was probably a blessing considering the four of them together had the energy of a chaotic hurricane. Logan ordered black coffee, Alessia opted for her usual latte, and Colin and Finn spent five minutes debating the merits of flavored syrup.
"Vanilla is basic," Finn argued, leaning on the counter like he was delivering a TED Talk. "It's the coffee equivalent of plain toast."
Colin scoffed. "Says the guy who orders peppermint year-round."
"Peppermint is refreshing," Finn shot back.
"It's toothpaste in liquid form," Colin retorted.
"Would you two order already?" Alessia interrupted, pointing at the cashier, who looked both amused and exasperated.
They finally placed their orders, Colin getting a mocha ("like an adult hot chocolate," he insisted), and Finn sticking with his peppermint latte. Logan handed over his card before anyone else could protest, shrugging off their objections with a simple, "You can pay next time."
As they sat down with their drinks, Alessia couldn't help but notice Logan watching her, his expression unreadable but soft in a way that made her stomach twist. She shook it off, focusing on Colin, who was currently trying to balance his cup on Finn's head for reasons unknown.
The conversation shifted as they settled in, moving from playful banter to something more grounded.
"So," Logan said, breaking the comfortable hum of background noise. "What's everyone doing for the break next month?"
"Heading home," Finn said, his tone casual but with a hint of reluctance. "My mom's been texting nonstop about making some giant family dinner."
Colin nodded. "Same. My parents are dragging me to some charity gala." He rolled his eyes. "Can't wait to get lectured on 'networking.'"
"What about you, Alessia?" Logan asked, his gaze steady.
She hesitated, staring into her coffee. "I don't know yet. Haven't decided." She didn't mention how her mom had left her a voicemail about coming home, or how she hadn't listened to it yet. It wasn't like Rory or her mom were bad people-they just didn't get her, and being home always left her feeling...small.
Logan tilted his head, clearly wanting to say something, but before he could, Finn jumped in. "You should come with us! My family loves random strays."
"Wow, thanks, Finn," Alessia said dryly, though she was secretly touched by the offer.
"Or," Colin interjected, "we could all just stay here. Screw family obligations and do our own thing."
"That's...not a bad idea," Logan said, surprising everyone. "It'd be nice to stay put for once."
Alessia looked at him, trying to figure out what he wasn't saying. Logan had always been a bit of a mystery, and moments like this only deepened the intrigue. She wasn't sure why, but something about the way he said it made her want to say yes.
As they left the café, their conversation shifted back to lighter topics-Finn and Colin making a bet about who could finish a milkshake faster, Logan teasing Alessia about her coffee order, and Alessia firing back with her usual wit.
The chaos of the day felt oddly grounding, like a reminder that even in the middle of everything-her family, her photography project, whatever the hell was going on with Logan-she wasn't alone. For now, that was enough.
