A/N: I'm in one of those moods, so this chapter is going to be very different then the others. Hopefully, you'll like it.
Thanks for my reviews.
Part 4 (Rory's POV)
Somehow, you aren't surprised when you see him.
It didn't take you long to figure out your grandparents' "dinner party". After about 3 introductions:
"This is Dr. and Mrs. Bennings. And this is their son, Max. Max is majoring in business at Harvard."
"These are the Tanningtons. And Jason -- how's the premed program at Princeton?"
"This is Kip. He's a perfect pedigree - graduated magna cum laude from Oxford, lettered in three sports, great in bed, and no receding hairline. Don't worry about the wedding, we'll take care of it."
Well, not the last one. But those were the words you heard coming out of Emily's mouth as you tried not to turn red with the embarrasment from your realization -- this was husband shopping. And you were the customer.
As if your life didn't embarrass you enough.
Embarrasment and anger turned to bleak understanding. Somehow, you tell yourself as you make an excuse to get away from another suit clad prodigal son, and down your second glass of champagne, they found out about Dean.
"Oh Rory, Rory," you hear as Emily calls to you shrilly. You turn, ready to meet another handsome, rich, snob. Which you do, technically. He is rich, extremly snobby. And handsome doesn't begin to cover it.
But you have met him before.
His gray eyes question you with amusement as he reaches out and shakes Richard's hand, compliments Emily on her home. His parents -- the infamous Mitchell Huntsberger and wife, media deities -- smile at you benignly. And you remember his comment the night before, and inwardly kick yourself for not paying attention.
"Rory and I know eachother, of course." He says, smiling at Emily, and then smirking at you when they aren't looking. "We work on the paper together. Actually, I provided her with the scoop for her last article." This time, his smile is extremely multifaceted. You remember the extactic rush of the air as you fell to the ground, your hand in his.
How does that song you? Nobody knows it, but you've got a secret smile, and you use it only for me.
Like that smile he gave you after he kissed you. That smile holds too much in it, and it sucked you in way to quickly. It's sucking you in now, even though you have a relationship -- though confused and clandestine.
Even though you know the only product of this little experiment will be a broken heart.
You bravely smile back at him and his parents, while you think of Jess. There is more than one way of being emotionally unavailable. And at least Jess wasn't an elitist snob.
Well...
You interrupt your thoughts by speaking aloud. "It's so wonderful to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Huntzberger. If you don't mind, I would love to probe your thoughts about journalism."
They smile at you -- Mr. Huntzberger, 1/2 indulgently and 1/2 interested, and Mrs. Huntzberger 1/2 warmly and 1/2 desperately, like you are her son's last chance.
After Mr. Huntzberger responds by asking for you to call him and set up an appointment -- "We'll talk shop," he says. "I always have internships available in the summer, and it's not as if Logan would ever stoop to actually doing work." -- you let Logan lead you away, his hand pressing into the small of your back.
The champagne-induced giddiness steps up a notch as he sits you down on the couch. Suddenly, lots of young men surround you, and you are tempted to call your mother. This would make Lorelai's night. Then again, she would never let you live this one down.
They talk, you talk, he talks. Everyone talks for ice cream. Instead, dinner is served, and you once again find yourself being guided in a seat between Logan and Kip. Logan is flanked on his other side by Colin and Finn, who somehow materialized in the last half hour, sans gorilla masks, of course.
You can't seem to concentrate on what Kip is saying to you -- all you can see is Logan, watching you. He never stops smiling, except to lick his lips every once in a while.
You can't ever remember having wanted to kiss someone so badly.
Dinner passes by in a blur. Distantly, you realize that you are not acting like Rory. You are floating in the sky, somewhere, ready to jump back down with a black umbrella. You never are so apart from yourself, feel like your only observing your life.
You never flow with the go.... you are also rarely this drunk, you realize.
Logan, winking at you, rises and walks off. You remember him mentioning something about finding a bathroom. A few minutes later, you make an excuse, and follow.
You note, distantly, that everyone is watching. Everyone knows. However, your grandparents beam at you; Colin and Finn grin knowingly. Even the maid seems approving.
This is your destiny, after all. It's been a while since your heart has been broken. This is your world now, and if it does not work with Logan, it will work with someone else.
You begin to realize how your mother felt when she fell in love with your father. Trapped, and bemused.
Logan stands against the wall, smiling at you. He reaches out to take your hand, and you no longer feel trapped.
Your free falling when he kisses you.
Hope this worked! This will be done tomorow, but review.