A/N: Okay (good news/bad news... you decide) I just got confirmation from my parents that I'm allowed to use their holiday house for a week! Wicked, nay? So I'm packing up for a chaotic road-trip with my very best friends, as a 'schools out forever' kind of thing (which is, in reality, ironic because we're all about to jump into University). What does this mean for 'Pride and True'? Well, sometime next week, I'll have to stop updating for a week (I know... and I'm very sorry to all of you) because I refuse to bring my laptop down with me (no internet/cable connection anyway) – I want a vacation and so do my friends, we just want to get away from the world – from everything (we will literally be in this pocket of the world civilised society has yet to reach; think of a town with fifty people, no more, and I'm sure you get the picture). Perhaps I'll bring a pen and paper; perchance I get to write something whilst relaxing on the beach a la Ernest Hemingway (so, all is not lost). Anyway, I'm sorry, but as they say, 'cést la vie' (sorry 'bout the poor French too). Regardless, I'll keep writing as many chapters as I can before I leave; and when I return, the story'll pick up again, I assure!
To all reviewers: thank you all for the incredible support! It is truly overwhelming to check my email and see all these kind words in when all I'm doing is relaxing and enjoying myself :) Thank you also, for the e-mails and questions, I'll have to address them when I get a moment to, otherwise, hang in tight, I'm not ignoring you!
--Pride and True--
Chapter XII: Twenty Questions
She sat next to him in his expensive, yet classic, Jaguar roadster, quite unsure of what she was doing. Her mind hadn't exactly resolved the issue; she wanted to join him on whatever his little expedition was – but then again, she was entirely fearful of what she was jumping into.
Logan appeared to be a thrill-seeker. There wasn't anything he was afraid of – if there was, he certainly masked it well.
She fiddled with her hands, deciding to clasp them.
"Relax Ace," he soothed warmly, starring ahead and driving quickly, "we probably won't die".
"Comforting," she mocked, "but seriously, where are we going?"
Logan's expression turned from relaxation to one of slight turmoil. He pulled the car over to a siding and parked it easily. He turned to face her, "you should probably put blindfold on".
"Excuse me?" she replied sharply, "I'm fine thanks".
"No, really," he continued, attempting, for once, to avoid smirking it seemed, "where we're going, they won't like it that you saw how we got there".
"They?" she asked confusedly, "oh right... I should of guess – you're hijacking me and joining a cult, aren't you?"
He scratched his brow, "no, but these guys won't be too appreciative of me, if you saw the way to there".
"And where is there?" she pressed, folding her arms.
"Well, if I told you, that'd defeat the purpose of this conversation about blindfolding you, wouldn't it?" he smirked.
"Come on, you're not serious," she replied, eyeing him, "stop fooling around and drive – my adventurous mood won't last forever".
"You want adventure?" he asked, smiling at her.
"No," she answered quickly, "you want me to have an adventure. I've been suckered into this because I want answers".
"And because you want an adventure," he continued for her.
She shrugged, "fine, we'll just sit here then".
He leaned back, "fine by me".
The pair sat silently, looking out their own respective windows. Rory was becoming increasingly intrigued by his tomfoolery, even if she didn't believe it – entirely.
"You think there are wolves out here?" Logan asked quietly, starring out his window.
"Give me the stupid blindfold," she groaned through gritted teeth.
"I knew you'd come 'round," he said smirking, tapping on the glove-box in front of her.
He started the engine and revved the powerful motor a few times. Rory shook her head and opened the glove-box, producing a black piece of cloth with which she tied comfortable around her head.
"Thanks, Rory," his voice floated, "I knew you'd be a good sport about this".
"Did I have a choice?" she teased.
"Touché," he replied, "but no one is making you do this, but you".
She mused momentarily about what he had said.
"I'm just trying to open your eyes to things, Ace," he smirked.
"You have a funny way of doing it," she mocked, vividly imaging his smile and subsequent pleasure in the pun.
"Can we play 'Twenty Questions', now?" she whined. Her mind was swimming with uncertainty. There were things she absolutely had to know – she wanted the question that was 'Logan' to be answered.
"Within reason," he mumbled, "I suppose".
"Why did you kiss me?" she asked, cocking her head in what she felt was his direction but her eyes were completely blocked from any view.
"Why did you feel a need to rebuke me the day I spoke to your friend, the barman?" he asked casually.
"Because you were mean to him!" she recoiled.
"I know you've got a high sense of morality, but no normal person would have attacked me simply because I spoke to your friend in a way that you felt was 'unfair' or 'condescending'," he retorted, "you spoke out against me because I represent something you hate, but you're not sure why – you feel like you should hate me but for some reason, you don't".
"That's still dodging the question," she replied softly.
"No, Rory," he answered quickly, "that's your answer and you're well aware of it".
She blushed but quickly thought of a way to regain the upper-hand, "what about my grandparents? How do they know you? How could you treat them the way you did?" she spluttered.
"My parents graduated after your grandparents, they met somewhere in-between," he answered, "and I treat people the way they treat me".
"My grandparents invited you into their home; they even fed you – technically, that almost makes you their adopted child," she rejoined.
He chuckled, "perhaps, but realistically, I think they feared my father as opposed to me-"
"That brings me to another point," she interrupted.
"I see this bombardment has no end in sight," he mocked.
"As I was saying," she raised her voice, "my next point is: who are you parents?"
"Mom and Dad," he answered, smirking.
"Very 'ha ha' funny – were you a writer on 'Becker'? Or are your jokes usually this bad?" she teased.
"My dad is a big-time multi-millionaire; my mom is his trophy wife," Logan answered coolly.
"Trophy wife? That's hardly politically correct..." Rory scolded.
"It's not something I agree with," he began, "but sometimes you have to accept the world you're a part of- either that or make your own".
"What do you mean?" she asked floatily.
"You'll see in- oooh, say, half an hour's time," he replied, smirking contentedly.
"I suddenly don't want to know..." Rory trailed.
Her phone beeped and sang wildly, springing her purse to life, "excuse me," she said, lifting the blindfold slightly open her purse and withdraw her cell-phone.
"Hello," she answered, pulling the blindfold down again.
"Rory? It's Dean," replied Dean, somewhat hesitantly.
"Oh... hi," she continued, "I'm- err... well I'm sorry about what-"
"Just let me talk for a second," he bumbled, "I have a reason for calling..."
"O-kay..." she trailed, "what's up?"
"I really wanted to tell you today... but that jerk- that guy you were with just- he got under my skin," Dean continued.
"He has a tendency to do that," Rory replied smirking and speaking at Logan, but talking to Dean.
"Yeah- well you see... this isn't easy to-" he paused, "I'm not supposed to let this out".
"What's the problem? You can tell me," she urged, somewhat confused by Dean's seeming semi-panicked state.
"We can't- well I guess it's obvious..." he trailed, "but that's not the reason... there's- Lindsay's had a few changes occur recently".
"What?" Rory asked flatly.
"She's pregnant Rory... she's pregnant and I'm going to be a dad- a father... and I can't not fulfil my duties as a dad because- just because I love you... the fates have thrown me a curve ball and I- there's nothing I can do about it..." he finished, swallowing.
"I- I understand," Rory replied softly.
"I'm sorry Rory, but you gotta- you have to understand that I don't have a choice here... I can't walk away from this... Lindsay and I have smoothed things out and- and it's- this is something we have to do together," he continued shakily.
Rory swallowed, "I ho- I hope it works out o-kay..." she mumbled, quivering and fighting back tears.
"I love you Rory," Dean whispered and hung up.
She snapped the phone shut.
Logan had remained silent and observant throughout the brief, but evidently emotionally critical, conversation. She felt his hand lay at rest on her shoulder, rubbing her gently.
"It'll be okay, Ace," he whispered softly.
"You don't even know," she sniffed.
"Did you love him?" he asked frankly, still rubbing her softly, to calm her.
"I'm ready for my adventure," she sniffed.
He smirked, nodded and thought better of pursuing the conversation further. He watched, calmly, as a tear rolled down her cheek from underneath the blindfold.
With his index finger, he brushed her soft skin lightly, and wiped away her tears. She did not say anything, but she did not need to.
A/N: Awww? Anywho... updating soon, got to get as many chapters out as possible. I'm writing quickly, excuse any errors, please :) Cheers all!