Logan yelled, "Just a moment, please," before the driver could open the door to let Rory out.  They could see his shadow turn and stand with his back to the door through the darkened windows of the limo.

They both straightened their clothes and hair. Logan sat on the seat and handed Rory her purse, "I'm sorry. That shouldn't have happened."

"I'm not. I wanted it to happen," Rory said boldly.

"Well, it can't happen again. We know where we stand now," Logan said raking a hand through his hair. "Thank you for the tickets. Claudia is very excited. We are at your hotel. You have a goodnight."

"Logan, can we please talk? Maybe tomorrow? Meet me for coffee?" Rory asked.

"Why, Rory? You made it quite clear you weren't interested in me anymore that night in that hotel hallway. What do we have to talk about?" Logan said with emotion creeping into his voice.

"I was a jerk. I know that. I am so sorry. Please can we meet? I just want to talk," Rory begged.

"I'm sorry, I can't tomorrow. I have an important presentation. Please courier over the tickets for Claudia. I'll make sure she gets them," Logan said trying to hurry her along.

Rory didn't want to push Logan too far too fast.  She remembered all too well how he reacted when he was backed into a corner.  Rory also knew this was all her fault and she would have to be patient.  She took a card out of her purse with her phone number on it. Rory hoped Logan still had her number, but she wanted to take no chances.  She handed it to him.  "Please call me, Logan.  I miss you.  I am really sorry for the way I acted.  I was an idiot and acted like a child.  I took out a bad day and bad job situation on you.  After I had my tantrum and calmed down, I realized how badly I acted.  I'll understand if I don't hear from you.  But I really hope I do.  I don't know where things can go for us, but I would like to find out."

Still feeling brave, Rory took her purse and leaned over to kiss Logan on the cheek.  Then she opened the door of the limo and stepped out.  When she looked back, Logan was still sitting in the exact same spot with a shocked look on his face.  She smiled at him and said, "Goodnight, Master and Commander."  Then she closed the door of the limo and walked into her hotel.

"Oh my God!  That is so awesome!  It sounds like a movie scene!"  Lane exclaimed as Rory finished telling her all the details of the night.

"It WAS!  I have no idea where that came from!  I can't believe it was ME! My legs were shaking so much as I walked away,"  Rory said giggling loudly. 

"Is that Claudia woman really that big of an idiot?  Or did you make her sound worse?"  Lane asked nibbling on a Pringle chip.

"She's pretty bad,"  Rory said snagging a chip.  "She is really nice, kind of naive almost.  I don't think they are serious.  I didn't get the impression she lives with him.  The apartment was too masculine.  And she said she would 'call him tomorrow'.  She didn't say she would see him later.  She would have said 'later' if she was going home to him,"  Rory speculated. 

"Good signs, good signs,"  Lane agreed.  " So now what?  Do you think he'll call?" 

"Lane, I honestly don't know.  I hurt him badly, much worse than I thought.  But there was still a pretty powerful connection.  I know he had to feel it too,"  Rory said.

"I am sure he felt it.  You guys were really rolling around the floor of the limo?  How could you not feel it?"  Lane asked laughing all over again.  "That sounds like a Gil and Cyndi story not a Rory story!"

"I know!  I don't know what came over me!  Ever since our talk that one night, I just realized you were right about so many things.  I need to take control and make things happen.  I always just waited for things to come to me-- jobs, boys-- everything.  It is pretty scary to be forward, but feels good!"  Rory said.

"That's great, Rory.  I am really proud of you.  Speaking of jobs, are you ready for tomorrow?  Mark is so excited to see what you have for him,"  Lane said.

"I have a draft of the article on the band already done.  I wasn't sure exactly what he was looking for, so I just drafted what I thought.  It can be changed.  I also wrote up a proposal for the personal interview articles.  I really hope he goes for that,"  Rory said.

"He is going to be thrilled.  I've dealt with Mark a few times.  He's a good guy.  But you tell him how the articles will be.  We've told you what we want, how we want things written, what we don't want written.  If he doesn't go for it, someone else will buy the stories,"  Lane said confidently.

"Wow, you're right, Lane.  I didn't think of it that way.  I can't go in there all cocky and bossy, but I guess I do have a little more say in the articles than I thought,"  Rory said.  "This is exciting.  I've never had this much power over my life and things in it.  I really owe it all to you."

"What are best friends for?"  Lane said giving Rory a quick hug.  "Alright, I have to get to bed.  You should too.  You have your meeting and I have rehearsal in the morning.  Then we have the first show here tomorrow night!"  Lane smiled, "Don't worry, I'll have my scalper send over those tickets to Logan tomorrow."

Rory woke up early for her meeting with Mark at Rolling Stone.  She kept checking her cell phone for a text message or call from Logan.  She knew she was being silly, but couldn't help herself.  She kept reminding herself he had an important presentation that morning and telling herself not to be disappointed. 

A couple hours later she was sitting in an office at Rolling Stone with Mark.  Mark was a middle aged, balding man.  He was loud, but very friendly.  Rory was patiently, but nervously waiting as Mark read the draft of the article she had written on Hep Alien.  She watched Mark turn yet another page without comment.  Rory began to fear she made it too long and put in too many details.  When Mark got to the last page, he glanced up at her.  She gave him a weak smile and he returned to the article.

Finally, Mark had completed the article.  He sat back in his chair and put his hands behind his head.  He said, "I know you warned me this was just a draft and you had some changes you wanted to make to it.  But I have to say, I think it is damn near perfect the way it is."  Rory breathed a sigh of relief.  "I really like how you went into such detail on the dynamics of the band.  The reader really gets a sense of their interactions and foundation as true friends."

"Thank you, sir,"  Rory said.  "I know I have 'the inside track', I wanted to convey for everyone the special bond they have and the role their close relationship plays in their art."

"Oh, you definitely did that.  It's a great article.  I would like to discuss buying it as is.  I don't want to change a thing,"  Mark said.

Rory and Mark negotiated the terms.  Rory signed some paperwork and was promised a check the next day.  Before she left Mark's office, she said, "Thank you so much for this opportunity, Mark.  I have a proposition for you that you may be interested in if you'd like to hear it," she paused as Mark nodded and motioned for her to continue.  Rory began her pitch, "I have already spoken with and gotten approval from the band about this. I have been authorized to write pieces on each member of the band, in depth interviews and histories.  They have never done interviews like this, so I imagine the public would be very eager to read about their lives," Rory continued pitching her idea while Mark drooled. 

Rory ended up walking out of the office with a contract for four more articles for Rolling Stone and a healthy advance.  She was feeling pretty good.  She turned her cell phone back on and saw a text message.  Her heart fluttered until she saw it was from Lane.  Lane wished her good luck and told her the tickets had been delivered to Logan. 

There was no message from Logan, but at least she knew he had the tickets. And, more importantly, she knew she would see him that night.  Rory walked back to the hotel on a mission to make a second man drool that day.  Rory Gilmore was on a roll.  She was feeling confident.  She had just scored a series with Rolling Stone magazine.  Now she needed to win back the man she loved.