It Was Never Really Goodbye - Gilmore Girls

Chapter 5

Rory woke up with a hell of headache.  She knew she was in her room at Finn's place. She was just thankful she wasn't in his room.  That was a mistake she didn't care to repeat, their friendship was too important.  She slowly remembered everything that happened the night before.  The guy was fun, but once it was over, it was time to go.  She didn't usually have Finn pick her up, but she had learned that he usually stayed out until she texted him that she made it home safe, just in case she needed him.

Some time during the last several years, she learned that at one of the boarding schools he attended during high school, he had been in a very serious relationship.  So serious, in fact, that he had been thinking of proposing marriage.  Before he did, though, he found out she had serious boyfriends in several other boarding schools around the state, as well.  The pain had been almost unbearable for him.  He had purposely gotten caught pulling a ridiculous prank on the headmaster, got kicked out, and never entered into a relationship again. 

Rory found out about it after her breakup with Logan and had understood exactly what he was feeling.  Somewhere along the line, they had formed a bond over that as well.  The fact that they accidentally slept together had freaked them both out completely.  It was something they preferred not to speak about nowadays but worked very hard to avoid repeating.  He had become the brother she never had. 

She pulled some clothes out of the drawer that she kept there and went out to see if Finn was up.  He was just getting off the phone and looked a little shell shocked.  "Everything ok?"

He looked at her, "ya.  Coffee's ready."

She wanted to push, but thought better of it. "So, how was the redhead?"

"Not bad, yours?"

"Same.  Are we headed to breakfast?"

"Ya."
Z
They always met the others for breakfast the next day when they went out together.  In the car, Finn was fairly quiet.  Rory wondered if it had anything to do with the phone call he had earlier, but she knew he would get it out at some point if it was bothering him. 

When they joined the group, everyone looked equally hungover. That was comforting at least. They all quickly ordered and sat in silence for a couple minutes while taking their first sips of coffee.

Collin was the first to talk, "so Rory, are you gonna tell us what the monkey on your back last night was all about?"

Everyone looked at her and she wondered how she thought she'd ever be able to keep it from them to begin with. "It's ok guys, it's not a big deal," she whispered in a feeble attempt to ignore it.

Rosemary put her hand on Rory's, "no it's not. You usually end up leaving with some guy, but never that fast. You were trying to hide from something. Tell us what it is. It will help."

She felt tears form in her eyes. This group, Finn, Collin, Robert, Rosemary, Juliet, and Stephanie, never pulled any punches. She hadn't kept in touch with all of them at first, mostly just Finn. When she moved to NYC, though, Finn had insisted the first few times that she join them. She had worried about it being too awkward, but it hadn't been. They had first come into her life because of Logan, but she quickly learned that they stayed because they cared about her too. From then on, aside from Paris and Lane, they remained her closest, most reliable friends.

She looked around at them, took a deep breath, and finally gave in, "Mitchum Huntzberger called yesterday to ask me to come in for an interview to head up a new department that focuses on integrating technology into their publications." She said it as quickly as possible, so she would be able to get it all out. She let out a breath and cringed when Finn spit out the coffee he was drinking. Everyone else was looking at her with their jaws on the floor. Not a one of them hadn't been privy to the history between her and the Huntzbergers.

Finn was the first to recover, "what did you say?"

"At first I said no, but..."

"He convinced you didn't he?" Stephanie asked.

She nodded.

Robert finally asked what everyone was thinking, "what about Logan?"

"He said he has nothing to do with the company and no matter what the future holds that it wouldn't be a problem." Nobody said anything, so she finally said, "guys, it's a huge opportunity that I just can't pass up."

"And what if you eventually have to work with Logan?"

She looked at Finn and tried to answer the question that she had also been asking herself ever since it happened. "Then I'll do it. It's not like I have some grand illusion of us getting back together ever. I'm still going to be who I am. I still don't want a relationship. I like my life just the way it is." The waitress came with their food, and everyone got quiet. After she left, Rory looked at them, "guys, I know it might not sound like a good idea, but I'm going into this with my eyes wide open."

Juliet finally asked what everyone had been wondering, "You already decided didn't you?"

"Ya. I'm taking it if he offers."

Finn nodded, "well then there's nothing to talk about. How did the rest of you do last night?"

And with that, the conversation turned to how the others ended their nights. She was thankful for it.  Spending the morning with friends had been just what she needed.  After Finn took her back to her apartment, she decided she had better make a trip home to tell her mom about the call.  Better to drop the bomb before she actually takes the job.

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Finn had called once he got on the road to ensure that he wasn't making the trip for nothing.  As soon as he heard what Rory said, he knew that he was going to be tracking Mitchum down today.  He had to protect his friends from whatever Mitchum's stupid scheme was this time.  It was one thing when it was just Logan, he was used to it and could handle himself.  Rory, on the other hand, might be used to it, but she didn't deserve it. 

He pulled up to the Huntzberger house and was let in then led to Mitchum's study right away.  He was told to wait for him, so he helped himself to a glass of scotch and sat down.

"Finn!  I didn't expect to see you here."  Mitchum walked in, shut the door, and sat down behind his desk.

"Really?  Didn't think I'd find out about the strings that you're carelessly pulling?"

"Who said it was carelessly?"

"Well you lied to Rory and do you even have a heart condition?"

Mitchum sat back.  "Are you sleeping with her?  Scared she'll go back to Logan and drop you?"

"I'm not sleeping with her.  She barely recovered from their breakup last time, and I don't think she can handle another one.  I'm not sure that Logan can either.  So what the hell is the play here?"

Mitchum narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath, "can I trust you?"

"That depends on what you're planning."

"Very well.  I do have a heart condition.  I told Logan the truth, but not all of it.  He doesn't know about Rory and technically I didn't lie to her either.  I called her before I talked to Logan.  Yes, I am trying to set up my company in the best way possible, but it's not all about that.  Logan and Rory could be a huge power couple, but only together.  They make each other better.  Are you going to tell me you don't see that?"

"Of course I do, but it's not about business."

"No, it's not.  It doesn't hurt, but it's more about seeing my son happy again. I may come off as heartless, but any fool can see that life without her is slowly killing him.  I haven't been around Rory, but I would guess that it's doing the same to her?"

As much as he didn't want to agree with Mitchum, he was right.  He finally nodded, "ok, so what exactly is your plan?"