Disclaimer: Amy and Daniel Palladino, along with the rest of the WB, own Gilmore Girls. I'm just borrowing the characters. New Order owns "Turn My Way." Beck owns "The Golden Age."
A/N: The next installment. I'm overwhelmed by the amount of reviews I got. I seriously thought I'd get about two, three if I was lucky. You guys rock my socks! I love you! No, really, I do. You're the only reason I get up in the morning… plus, the state says that I have to go to school. Haha. But, yeah. Love you to death. And, they're in their junior year at college.
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Junior Year:
Finn intently studied the brunette in front of him, but she wasn't giving anything away. They were playing Slaps, and he had to win this round to stay in the game. She put down a two, he put down a ten, she put down a queen, and he put down a queen. In a flash, they both struck out to slap the cards. Unfortunately for Finn, Rory's hand got there first.
"Aha!" she cried triumphantly, collecting her winnings. "I told you I was good at this game."
"Damnit," he moaned as he stared down sadly at his remaining three cards. "I don't have any face cards left."
She quirked an eyebrow. "You aren't supposed to look at your cards."
"Doll, when have I ever followed the rules?" he asked, flashing a wicked grin in her direction.
She laughed despite herself. "So, are we gonna finish this?"
"Put me out of my misery and just take them." He threw the cards at her and crossed his arms over his chest, slumping back into his seat and pouting.
She collected the cards and began to shuffle them. "Big date tonight?"
"No. She's one of those that have a better personality when I'm hammered and making up most of what she's saying."
"So why are you going out with her?"
It was Finn's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Did you not hear the hammered part?"
"Cancel it," Rory suggested. "Tell her that you're studying or something." She laughed. "Sorry. Or you could come up with a lie more plausible, like you've come down the Black Plague."
He managed to look insulted, even though she was just joking. "I study!"
"When was the last time you studied?" she challenged.
He thought about this for a moment before admitting, "A while ago. But school just started!"
"A month ago," she corrected, dealing the cards out again.
"I'm still settling in," he tried again.
She stopped dealing. "You've been going to Yale for three years now."
He looked awestruck. "You're good. Debate team in high school, eh?"
She looked down and finished dealing the cards. "Yeah." She rearranged her cards and put one down. "Ace of Spades."
Finn took this as a clue to change the subject. "What about you? Big date-esque extravaganza with Logan tonight?" he asked, putting down two cards. "Two twos."
"BS. And I'm not. I have a very important date with my article that I simply cannot miss."
Finn picked up the cards and added them to his deck. "You're gonna have to learn to say 'bullshit.' Why're you here then?"
Rory put down a card. "One three. Because I came to see Logan. But he's obviously not here, and you said that you were bored but didn't want to go outside. Hence, the card playing."
"Four fours."
"Two fives. This is boring with only two people. Where's Colin?"
Finn shrugged. "Class, probably." He took Rory's cards. "Wanna do something?"
"Like what?"
He stood up. "An adventure! We could gather the troops, sail the seven seas!"
She laughed. "I'd love to, Finn, but I have my article to write."
"Excuses," he sighed, slinking back into his seat.
"How about you gather the troops tomorrow, and we can have an adventure then?" she suggested as she gathered her things.
He sat up. "Anytime?"
"Within reason," she agreed.
He stood up and walked to the door. "This is where we say our goodbyes. See you tomorrow, darling."
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Rory yawned and rubbed her eyes, leaning away from the computer. She looked at the clock, which read 12:04. The article was almost done, and had to be turned in to Doyle in the morning. Luckily, her first class was at nine-thirty.
She was going out with Logan the next night. The two had been dating for almost six months. He'd met her mother already, but that was a given. In fact, Colin and Finn had also. They were always clamoring for her attention. It amused Lorelai to no end, much to Luke's displeasure. The three boys were rarely separated from one another as they were, in Logan's words, "chemically bonded together." As a result, she was good friends with Colin and Finn, and was rapidly winning over Stephanie.
Rory shook the thoughts out of her head and focused on her article. She wasn't sure how to end it. She stared at the screen when suddenly there was a light yet urgent tapping at the door. At first, Rory thought she was imagining things, but the knocking got louder as time wore on.
"You're going to wake Paris, and I will not be responsible for your subsequent deaths," Rory hissed in a greeting as she flung the door open.
There stood Logan, Colin, Finn, and Stephanie dressed in all black and trying to look as inconspicuous as possible, which wasn't very. Logan kissed a still-surprised Rory in his own greeting. "I heard we're having an adventure."
Rory turned her glare to Finn. "I told you tomorrow."
"It is tomorrow." He gestured to the clock. Rory looked at the clock to see it read 12:13. Stupid Finn and his technicalities.
"I also said within reason."
"This is reasonable. We're awake, you're awake, Paris isn't," Finn told her with a grin.
"I have class tomorrow."
"Now you're just grasping at straws," Colin said with his own grin her direction.
"Skip it," Stephanie told her with a smirk, sauntering into her room to get some suitable clothes for their outing.
Rory followed the blond haired girl into her room, where she was already raiding her closet. "So, Invisible Girl, what is the plan you and the rest of the Fantastic Four have cooked up?"
"Road trip to Princeton," Stephanie simply replied, getting down an overnight bag and putting the clothes in it. "Anything else you'd like?"
"No, because I'm not going."
"Sure you are. I'm sure you could find a classroom to sit in while we tour the place."
"C'mon, Ace," Logan pleaded from the doorframe. "Please? You can sit in an English literature class if it makes you feel better." He wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a kiss.
Rory sighed in resignation. "Fine, but first you have to tell me why we're going to Princeton."
"I have a friend that goes that I haven't seen in while."
Stephanie grinned. "Sorry to interrupt this little moment, but the natives are getting restless." She gestured to Finn and Colin, who were exploring the rest of the dorm. She threw some clothes at Rory and slung the bag over Rory's shoulder. "Put these on, we'll meet you at the rendezvous point."
Rory looked at the black clothes that Stephanie gave her. "Do I even want to know?"
"Finn's living out his spy fantasy," Logan explained. "You can try to get some sleep in the car, but he's driving."
Ten minutes later, Logan and Rory met Colin, Finn, and Stephanie at the entrance to the science department. She'd left Paris a note telling her that she'd gone to Princeton, so not to be worried, and that she'd get the article in on time and to call her cell if there were any questions. The three were hiding behind trees and bushes. Rory opened her mouth to ask a question, but Finn put a finger to his lips.
"We're going to do a loop-de-loop and get in the car, where I'll scan for trackers. At 0100 hours, we'll leave."
Rory looked at Logan, but he just smirked. He grabbed her hand as they followed Finn, had his hands in front of him like a gun, and even rolled on the ground a couple of times. He had them circle the car once, but all piling in. Logan and Rory were in the back, Stephanie got the middle, and Colin-who'd called 'shotgun' in the dorm before they left to get Rory- got the front. Finn slid under the car.
"What's he doing now?" Stephanie asked with a sigh.
"Checking for trackers," Colin replied as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I thought that was code for finding something good to listen to."
"Oh, how little you know."
"Shut up, Colin."
Finn got into the car and turned it on. "We're all clear, and the car didn't blow up. This is a good sign. Now, to Princeton!"
"You do know how to get there, right?" Rory asked.
"Not a damn clue."
"I brought a map." Stephanie took it out and waved it in front of Finn's face.
"Stephanie the Amazing strikes again," Colin muttered. Stephanie smacked him.
"Are we all ready, or should we stall a bit more?" Logan asked sarcastically.
"I'm waiting for the 'all clear' sign, mate," Finn replied defensively.
"I see it!" Colin cried elatedly, pointing to the sky. Rory squinted to where he was pointing, but saw nothing.
"Ladies, Gentlemen, and Logan, this is your captain speaking, but you can call me Merrill," Finn announced in a deep voice. "We are prepared for take off." With that, he backed the car out, and drove out of the parking lot at almost ninety miles an hour. "The estimated time of arrival is three-thirty."
Logan put his arm around Rory, and she laid her head on his shoulder, situating herself so she was more comfortable. Within minutes she was asleep. Logan kissed her forehead. Finn looked back at the two, noticing how nice Rory looked when she slept, and smiled.
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Rory awoke with a start as the car screeched to a halt. Stephanie and Colin were arguing, and Finn got out of the car with a slam of the door. She blinked a few times, and looked around. Logan gave her a kiss.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Finn forgot to fill up the car, so we're at a gas station. Stephanie wants to go to the store, but Colin doesn't want her to go alone, so now they're arguing," Logan explained.
Stephanie got out of the car and slammed the door so hard that it shook the car. Colin sighed and followed her. Rory yawned and stretched.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"About an hour and a half. It's still an hour until we get there." He gave her a lingering kiss. "Go back to sleep, we'll wake you when we get there."
She snuggled back into the crook of his arm, smiling contently as she drifted into a deep sleep.
"Rory."
She fell back into consciousness at the sound of her name.
"Rory." It was louder this time.
"Oh, for fuck's sake. Rory, love! Time is of the essence!" That time it was Finn.
She opened up one eye. "What?"
"The great literacy skills of my girlfriend the reporter, ladies and gentlemen," Logan quipped.
"If memory serves right, you're not too coherent first thing in the morning either, idiot," Stephanie snapped back.
"Kids, can we kindly refrain from sniping and baiting each other right now?" Colin asked. "There are more important things to be held right now, like whether or not Logan has his dorm number?"
Logan dug a piece of paper out of his back pocket. "Right here."
"So this mystery man knows we're coming?" Rory asked, cracking her back and neck.
"No," Colin and Finn replied together, then cracked up.
Stephanie rolled her eyes and exchanged a smile with Rory. "We're traveling with Laurel and Hardy."
"You flatter us," Colin told her with a hand to his heart.
"That's because I love Finn. You, I'm still working that out," she teased.
"Well, let me help you with that decision." He hopped out of the car and held out his hand to help her down.
"My, my, my, a true man under that tough exterior. Who would've thought it?"
Finn winked and helped Rory down. "You'd be surprised at what's under his clothes."
"Finn!" Colin exclaimed. "Have you been spying on me in the shower again?"
He held up his hands defensively. "It's not my fault you're in the ladies shower."
Colin punched Finn in the arm while Logan unloaded the trunk, handing each person their respective bags.
"My hero," Finn said in a falsetto voice.
"What did they get at the gas station?" Rory asked Logan.
"Caffeine, caffeine, and more caffeine. And did I mention caffeine?" he whispered back, holding her hand and looking at the piece of paper.
Five minutes later, they were on the second floor of one of the Princeton halls standing in front of a posh looking dorm. Finn slung his arms over Rory and Logan. "Are either of you gonna knock, or are you gonna leave it up to me again?"
Logan gestured to the door. "Knock yourself out."
Rory at Logan with a smile. "Pun intended, I assume."
Finn knocked loudly on door. "C'mon, mate, open the hell up, we know you're there!"
A minute and a half later, an irritated blond opened up with his angry looking roommate right behind him. "If you aren't insanely beautiful, there's going to be more than one punch thrown."
"Well, it's a good thing I'm insanely beautiful, now isn't it?" Finn asked with a grin.
The blond rubbed his face and focused better. "Mary?"
"No, my name's Finn. Or have you forgotten that quickly already?"
"Tristan?" Rory replied with an equal amount of surprise in her voice. She turned to Logan. "You never told me that you know Tristan."
"Right back at you, Ace."
Before either could explain, Finn interrupted by jumping on Tristan and giving him a wet kiss on his cheek. "I missed you, babe."
Colin and Stephanie took that gesture as a sign that they could enter, and pushed past the three bewildered people standing in the doorway. The roommate had already gone back to his room.
"Fancy place you got here, Tris," Stephanie announced, making herself home on the couch. "Ooh, I'm sleeping here tonight."
"Damn. I wanted the couch," Colin replied, lying down next to her.
Tristan snapped back to reality and allowed Logan and Rory to pass. "What are you doing here?"
"We can't come see a good friend without an explanation? Tristan, you wound me," Logan replied.
"At three-thirty at night, I better get a good explanation," he threatened.
Stephanie got up and gave him a friendly peck on the lips. "You worry too much. We'll explain it all tomorrow. Go back to bed. You look just as tired as Rory."
Tristan, seemingly just having remembered Rory, turned to her. "If she's that tired, she can sleep with me." He gave her a slight leer.
"Tristan!" Finn exclaimed, scandalized. "You can't go around propositioning ladies when I'm here. That's my job." He turned to Rory. "Will you sleep next to me tonight?"
"I'm thinking that I'm gonna sleep near Stephanie," she told them.
"Well, I'll sleep with you, Tristan," Finn said with his own playful leer.
Tristan laughed. "You're no Mary, but you'll do." He grabbed Finn's arm. "I guess the rest of you have already made yourselves at home. I guess we'll talk about this tomorrow."
Finn winked at Colin, Stephanie, Rory, and Logan. "I'm getting some tonight."
"You're a jackass," Tristan said.
"I wonder why you put up with me."