RORY'S POV
"What is this Vineyard place you are all talking about?" Clara asked
"It's an island, there are beaches everywhere-it's beautiful" Finn explained to her
"Ahh, j'ai compris." she muttered under her breath in French, I would have to get used to that. "What boarding school did you go to? Maybe I know it."
"Herlufsholm Skole og Gods, at least in Danish it is." he said in a beautiful Danish accent if I'd ever heard one...
"Oh, yes! I have many friends that went there, I lived in Denmark for 3 years, are you fluent?" she asked
"Yes, we should get to talking in Danish sometime"
"Of course, but I'm out of practice so it has to be easy conversation." Clara said with a laugh, but it annoyed me how charming he was towards everybody else-why did they have to like him?
"Steph?" Colin asked with an outstretched arm asking her to dance. She obliged, took his hand and they waltzed across the floor naturally as if they'd done it a hundred times before, leaving us all surprised by their skills and comfort with each other.
"One dance? Please!" Finn pleaded to Clara
"Oh, fine" and she grabbed his hand and rolled her eyes, but when he tried to put his arm around her, she slapped him and walked stiffly next to him while he just kept smiling at her. I giggled at their encounter, only to find "blondie" staring right at me with those big brown eyes asking me to dance.
"No."
"Come on Rory..."
"Fine, but only because I don't want to look stupid and alone." I said and pulled him by his arm onto the floor.
"A feisty woman, I like it." he smirked while I gave him a deathly glare, this was going to be a long, long night.
FINN'S POV
"That was more than one song" she sighed, god, she was so beautiful, funny, and smart-I couldn't believe I'd even met her in the first place.
"I'm pretty irresistible"
"You wish" she laughed and a silence fell between us as neither of us knew what to say or do besides stare deeply into each others' eyes. Her striking emerald eyes mesmerized me and I felt like I could stare into them forever.
"What're you doing tonight?"
"Quel cochon! I'm not sleeping with you!" she yelled and turned to stomp off until I stopped her by her arm suddenly, surprised at her action, but people were still staring at us from the loud pitch of her voice.
"I meant for coffee..." I sighed
"Oh...I'm sorry, yes-yes I would like to get coffee with you tonight." she smiled nervously and then burst into laughter that only made me want to join in and laugh with her. Soon, we were laughing hysterically in each other's arms and I shook my head, she really was some girl. And different too, rejection felt good-everything felt good with her.
STEPHANIE'S POV
His hand on the small of my back and his face so close to mine was too much. There was so much tension between us and I couldn't stand it much longer. Everything was different since spring break, that kiss, that one kiss changed everything I thought I knew about him. So what if it was a dare, a silly game, we were both too afraid to admit it-and I knew I had to tell Rory.
RORY'S POV
"I'm going to go grab some food." I said tearing myself away from him, every part of me wanting to stay except for my head.
"Thanks for the dance." he said smirking and he walked away casually towards Steph and Colin.
Once I arrived at the food tables, I was interrupted by a man who looked about my age.
"Rory?"
"Mm-hm?" I asked confusedly turning around
"I'm Jordan. Your grandmother sent me over here. Apparently we're made for each other."
"Oh, gee. Well, how convenient."
"There's nothing like having your family play matchmaker. How old are you?"
"Me? I'm, um, almost seventeen."
"All right, good. Just making sure everything's legal. You need a drink?"
"No, not a drink."
"Why? Get a little crazy when you drink?"
"Yes. That's it." I replied awkwardly
"I'd like to see that."
"Rory. There you are, I've been looking everywhere for you. I'm late, I'm sorry, don't be mad. Logan Huntzberger." Logan said arriving to my rescue, putting his arm around my shoulders, and introducing himself to the guy who was supposedly, Jordan.
"Uh, Jordan Chase."
"Good to meet you, thanks for keeping my girl busy. If you hadn't, she would've noticed exactly how late I am and then she mighta left and that would have been very, very bad."
"Excuse me, I'm sorry - you're with her?"
"Going on a year and a half."
"Great. What the hell am I doing here?" he muttered and I was glad to see him go
"Oh, thank you."
"You looked cornered."
"I was."
"Well, glad to be of service."
I smiled, gritting my teeth, and turned to see my grandfather standing there in front of me and Logan.
"Rory! Logan? How are you, son?"
"I'm very well, sir, and yourself?"
"Oh, I'm fit as a fiddle! It's good to see you. Are your parents here?"
"Wandering around here somewhere."
"Ah, yes. All right, Rory. Since I see that you are in capable hands I will make another round and end up at the bar."
"It's been good to see you, Richard."
"Good to see you, Logan."
And he walked away leaving me stunned at how he knew so many of the people around me. "Okay, so how do you actually know my family so well?
"My folks are good friends with Richard and Emily, when they lived out here in Hartford I guess, so I've met them a couple times."
"But you don't live here anymore, I would've met you." I asked confusedly
"I don't." he said and walked away while I rolled my eyes and walked on after him, but when he slipped his arms off my shoulders, I didn't even know they were there.
LOGAN'S POV
Her furrowed brow, trying to figure me out was quite adorable-everyone tried, no one had ever done it, yet still quite amusing, her concentration, bright blue eyes, and confidence. She was different, and I liked it. She intrigued me.
...
RORY'S POV
"I swear, I thought Col was never going to wake up." Finn said with a laugh retelling a story to the group with his arm still draped protectively over Clara's chair
"If I knew the hangover was going to last that long I wouldn't have."
"There's nothing like a 'you wouldn't believe how drunk I was' story to get the girls all hot." I shot back to the boys
"It always worked before." Colin joked
"Oh, God, the smell of this food is making me ill." Stephanie said pursing her lips
"Mmm, I think it's delicious." I replied,
"Known R for my lifetime and still don't understand how she does it."
"You haven't eaten a meal since 1994, Steph"
"My metabolism simply doesn't accept food."
"Yes, that must be it. A modern medical miracle. May I?" Logan asked me and poured more beer into the "China Palace" cups in front of us.
"Sure, thanks."
"Clara's going home with me tonight. I just thought everyone at this table should know." Finn said drunkenly, getting a whack in the head from her
"Oh, Finn, you do hallucinate."
"Are you going to eat that fried shrimp?" Steph asked with a giggle as she watched me pick up a piece of the shrimp
"I think I am."
"Oh, God, can I watch?"
"Steph, just eat something!" Colin said
"No! I am not eating until I get married to some gorgeous but very poor man who will sign an iron-clad pre-nup and get very, very fat, but he won't ever leave me because he would be cut off without a penny and die in a trailer park." Steph said with a laugh
"My God, that is brilliant." Finn replied, giving her a thumbs up on her plan while we all rolled our eyes and laughed as a group, being in each others' company was enough, and I never wanted this night to end.
"That is sick." Clara said while smiling her perfect smile
"I agree with anything Clara says tonight."
"Not going home with you, Finn."
And we all carried on our own conversations with one another even just meeting Clara and even Logan. We were all so comfortable even though we were in Chinese food restaurant still wearing our long and large dresses, coming straight from the gala event. We got weird stares from tables near us and knew the restaurant would be closing soon, but we all wanted the night to last forever.
"Guys, come on over to our house!" I exclaimed and shrugged as they all questioned me
"She's right, we don't mind, our parents don't mind, your parents don't mind."
"I don't think my parents know I'm gone." Finn joked, but it wasn't so funny..
"Huh, let's see. Which mom are you on?" Steph asked
"I believe she's a blonde, but it might be a brunette now actually"
"Ah, yes."
"The blonde was hot." Colin admitted
"You didn't know her, Colin."
"All your mothers have been hot, Finn."
"Stop being an asshole Col, so is that a yes?" I asked expectantly
"Yes for me, I already live at your house anyways" Steph replied
"Me too" Finn said giddily
"I'm in" replied Clara and Logan collectively
"Let's go bitches" Steph said drowning the drink in front of her and walking away confidently as we all stood and followed her out.
...
"Hey mom, we're downstairs, we'll be ready to leave tomorrow, I know" Colin said stepping in the kitchen to find our parents laughing and drinking wine in their pajamas
"Okay, hun, who's over?"
"Steph, Finn, and this is Logan and Clara, we met them tonight. They're all sleeping over"
"Okay, nice to meet you! If you need bedding or anything come get me or Florence, okay?"
"Okay, thanks, night guys!" Colin said as he led our awestruck guests to our posh basement area
"Those are your parents?" Logan asked confused
"Yeah" I replied like it was no big deal, but I also knew not everyone had parents like ours, especially in high society
"Flo!" Steph exclaimed and ran down to give our maid, Florence a big hug and I smiled. Florence was like a part of the family, ever since she moved in with us from Brazil 8 years ago.
"Stephanie, I missed you so! Who are you're new friends?" she asked gesturing towards Clara and Logan happily, but not before giving Colin a hug and kissing Finn on each cheek too.
"Logan and Clara, we met them at a party tonight"
"Beautiful, I set out your snacks, but I'll set out some more."
"Thanks Flo" I said appreciatively as she walked out of the room and Clara and Logan where surprised at our interaction and at our basement. There was a humongous sectional that stretched across the whole room that you could probably fit 50 people on. Mounds of snacks were piled on the table and our huge flat screen TV played Friends re-runs. I laughed at their surprised reactions and flopped down on the huge sofa before realizing we were all in our fancy clothing.
"Come on, let's get changed, there are extra clothes in the guest room and me and Col have clothes too. Come on Clara, Steph" and I pulled them up the stairs to my room giggling all the way and walking as fast as we could in heels and long, trailing gowns.
...
"Let me get this straight, you're on first name basis with your maid, your parents say good night to you, and they supply all this food and alcohol willingly?" Logan asked in disbelief
"Basically...pretty much" I smiled
"Oh, truth or dare! We should play it!" Steph said a little tipsy from the drinks and we all sighed and agreed.
"Okay but no follow up questions to truths and you have to do the dare, whatever it is-besides it being too sexual" I said with a giggle being a little tipsy myself. We all gathered in a circle on the plush carpet and I turned to Colin asking him to start."
"Okay, hmm...Clara! Truth or dare?"
"Um, truth"
"Where's the craziest place you've had sex?"
"Probably an airplane" she said with a smile as we all laughed
"Seriously? How?" I asked giggling way too much from all the Long Island Iced Tea's
"Okay, Steph, truth or dare?"
"Dare"
"Brave soul, okay, I dare you to make out with...Colin-in the closet" she said settling on him with an evil look in her eye.
We all looked at them laughing and expectant until Steph rolled her eyes as Colin groaned and they both got up and stumbled into the closet.
STEPH'S POV
"We don't have to do this-" I said but was cut off by the touch of Colin's lips against mine, he was never one to let go and not see the consequences of the situation, so this act was definitely out of character and I liked it-I loved it. The cheesy sayings in the movies about fireworks exploding finally made sense to me as I granted him entrance to my mouth, savoring every second.
We continued on for what felt like only a few seconds until Clara knocked on the door bringing us out of the trance we were stuck under for those recent moments. I quickly jumped away from him surprised at what we'd just done, and I slowly backed away with my hand over my mouth. Covering my mouth to hide my messed makeup, and the smile unconsciously forming on my face.
...
CLARA'S POV
I knew I had to leave, but everything was telling me to stay, yet my head obliged-and today I decided to follow it for once.
"Rory, we'll meet again I'm sure of it" I say and give her a large hug and she smiled warmly yet sadly.
"Steph and Colin" I say with a mischievous smile, something's going on between these two, everyone else may be oblivious to it-but I'm not.
"Logan, what a pleasure" I said and gave him a hug, he was so much like me in a sense and I could definitely understand him best out of all these wonderful people I had just met last night. I had met lots of people in my life so far, too many to count, but none as deep minded as these people-harder to read than others definitely.
"What about me, love?"
"Finnegan" I sighed and gave him a kiss on the cheek, he really was something. I turned regretfully yet never looked back. I ordered my driver to drive me to visit a friend I had out in NYC, who knows where this little trip would take me.
...
RORY'S POV
"I can't believe we are all going to be in the vineyard this summer! Including you Logan, it's just so exciting!" Steph gushed and I rolled my eyes, but admitted to myself I was happy to be away from Hartford for a while.
We were sitting in our black SUV with all of us piled comfortably in the back, Logan was coming the same day anyways so everybody thought it would be "great" if he came along on the way...as if.
They chatting animatedly within each other and I tried to do the same, but with his eyes on me for what felt like the whole ride there-it was hard, this trip would be hard-and I didn't want anyone ruining my perfect summer.
"Miss Gilmore, we have arrived at the Huntzberger estate."
"Thanks Steve, and remember, call me Rory!" I exclaimed
"Yes, Miss-Rory"
"Thank you" I said with a smile and he smiled back
"Thanks for the ride you guys, I'll stop by later maybe, we're just a few doors down!"
"Great..." I muttered under my breath
"Bye Logan" they all chorused and I glared, I didn't care if I was being rude and bitchy, this boy was really getting on my nerves.
"Let's go check out the house and get settled in" I interjected and they nodded in agreement and we turned to get back in the limo to drive the last 30 seconds to the house.
"Well, it didn't get smaller" Steph shrugged and we walked in to our respective bedrooms we had stayed in earlier and ordered the boys to put our bags in our rooms while sitting on the plush couch in the living room.
"God, I missed this couch." I said sinking into the plush and comfortable fabric after the long day of traveling and packing.
"Party tonight, Roberts house"
"Ugh, Robert" Colin groaned
"Agreed" I replied to them all nodding, Robert was a real ass.
"We won't even see him. He'll be too busy with his usual blonde bimbos"
"Hey, isn't that what you guys are always doing?"
"True, except I like to believe we're more selective..." Colin smirked
"You boys are the biggest hypocrites we'll ever meet." Stephanie said with a sly smile and we walked away together to start emptying our bags into the white cabinets in our bedroom.
...
"Are you girls ready, already?" Finn asked annoyed
"Yes!" we screeched excitedly and bounded down the stairs in our heels and very, very short dresses.
"Wow..." they muttered as they looked us up and down, but Colin only had eyes for Steph and he mentally undressed her to the point of drooling while Finn and I laughed at him. I was just excited about going to a party for once now that school was over and it was our first night at the Vineyard.
"Let's go drink!" Finn yelled and we all walked off towards the limo and made the short drive to the other side of the island and to Robert's respective house at the Vineyard.
Once we arrived to the vibrating mansion, I felt more sophisticated, everything felt different than the few high school parties I went to without the gang. This, everyone seemed older and I felt glad to be rid of my high school years.
"Let's get a drink!" I said and pulled Steph along with me. My short, navy dress flowing around Steph's bright, red, tight one. My hair was pulled to the side with a braid and hers blonde and beautiful as always.
"Rory, Rory Gilmore." I heard a sly voice say behind me and I suddenly wished I hadn't let Stephanie go and talk to Colin and Finn while I got another drink. I turned on my heel slowly and confidently to find him staring straight at me hungrily.
"Logan, Logan Huntzberger, what a big surprise"
"Well, you know me, always with the element of surprise. I'm surprised to see a Mary like you at a joint like this."
"Well, you know me, always with the element of surprise."
"You're a funny girl, Lorelai"
"Aren't you the charmer, stupid boy playing with all us women like this."
"Can I buy you a drink, Ace?"
"Ace?"
"Yeah, ace reporter, I listened to the conversation last night at least a bit. How little you think of me."
"Wow, the great Logan Huntzberger has a nickname for me, I'm so honored."
"You should be." he said with a smirk and pulled me by my arm towards the rest of the gang.
"Watch the dress!"
"You look beautiful" he said simply and I felt a rush of heat bloom across my cheeks but quickly made it fall away-I was not going to let Logan Huntzberger make me go weak at the knees, I was everything but that girl.
"Logan! Can't say I'm-" Colin started to say until he was cut off by a big surprise-to all of us.
"Well if it isn't the breakfast club"
"Clara!" Finn shouted and ran over, picked her up and threw her around in a circle easily and she laughed with a joking glare in her eyes.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"Um, Clara, what are you doing here? You're in Martha's Vineyard!"
"I am? Huh, never knew, friend of a friend brought me along and seemed better than flying back tonight so I'm here." she said, sincerely surprised herself
"You look great, Clara" Colin said and gave her a hug as did Logan while Finn just checked her out, very obviously.
"Thank you boys, it was definitely fate that's bringing us together again"
"Definitely" Steph said with a large smile and gave Clara another hug. There was something about Logan and Clara, it felt like they belonged-with us.
CLARA'S FRENCH PHRASES
"j'ai compris"-I understand, I get it
"Quel cochon!"-you pig!, what a pig!
hope you all enjoyed this chapter a lot and again, please please read, review, and follow this story so you know exactly when you can read the next chapter;) i of you guys so much and by looking at the amount of views "all fall down" got i was about to cry!3