Eleven
They stopped a few feet from Rory's classroom door, finding a small recess in the wall to tuck into, finishing up a quick conversation on the validity of the rumor that Professor Simmons hair was neither real, nor fake, but the result of a very bad hair transplant. Rory laughed and finished her coffee before tossing the cup in the trash can.
"Guess I needed that," she smiled.
"Yeah, but I have no idea how you're going to make it through his two hour lecture," Logan closed his eyes and pretended to snore loudly.
She playfully smacked his arm, shushing him before rolling her eyes, "Well, some of us actually went to bed last night, Huntzberger."
"Righto," he acknowledged, "and on that note, I'm going to let you go enjoy your lecture, Ace. Somehow, I know you will."
"Always do," she patted her book and notepad.
"Bad news though," he frowned. "My parent's have a thing Friday night, big to-do, fancy dress. I was originally going to blow it off and take the verbal beating, but it seems I now have no out."
"And because you have no out..." Rory pieced together.
"You now also have no out," Logan grinned.
Rory frowned, "Misery loves company."
"At least we can be miserable together," he countered.
"And here I thought you had skillfully relieved us of Friday night dinner plans," she teased.
He shook his head, "Dinners, yes. Events, not so much."
Rory laughed, nodding her head. She, more than anyone, understood what he meant.
Logan glanced around, more than a few people were lingering uncomfortably in the corridor where they waited, too many eyes glancing in their direction for it to be regular foot traffic. No, this was a gossip confirming gawk-fest. A billion thoughts were suddenly spinning through his head, none of them even remotely helpful. He'd been so preoccupied with trying to establish a routine with Rory, to have a path of action to follow, rather than the aimless unknown he'd been struggling with since this whole thing had begun, he hadn't thought it through. Now there were too many eyes on them for him to slip away unnoticed.
He shifted uneasily, realizing that there was going to be absolutely no way around this.
"Ugh," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, the weight of everything and alcohol finally bringing on the hangover headache he'd forgotten to expect.
"What?" she asked, sensing something was off.
He started at the floor, lowering his voice. "What's rule number one?"
"One?" she repeated, her head tilted in her confusion.
He looked up at her, wearing that same desperate look she'd seen on him before, the same way the corner of his mouth turned downward but his eyes wide, almost hopeful, and she instantly knew.
"Trust," she said, barely at a whisper.
He wasted no time, giving her no chance to stop him.
He stepped forward, eliminating the space between them, his hand slipping to the small of her back, careful not to spill his coffee all over her shirt. The other, grazing her cheek to rest behind her neck, pulling her to him. His mouth found her's instantly, first, open and tense with shock, then, softening slightly as he pulled her even closer. Any sane thought was lost, planned course of action aborted, he was suddenly consumed in everything Rory. Her lips were soft, her hair silky against his fingers as they hovered along the nape of her neck, and she smelled like lavender mixed with fresh laundry. It was too much, overwhelming even, but just as he mustered the forethought to pull himself away, suddenly, she was leaning into him, kissing him back, and he was lost again. He took it as permission, deepening the kiss, turning her gently into the tiny alcove they had been waiting in, and he'd swear he heard a slight moan escape from her lips.
A door slamming roused them both, giving Logan the chance to finally step back, putting much needed space between them.
He dared a look at her. Her eyes were glazed over, lost in the haze of what just happened.
He slipped his near full cup of coffee into her hand, whispering in her ear, "I think you're going to need this more than I will, don't over think it."
He kissed her cheek and turned to walk away, leaving them both with the exact same thought.
What the hell just happened?