A/N: I am soooooooo sorry that it's been ages since I've updated. Being a senior in high school has been killing me, the workload is crazy and applying to colleges takes up so much time. I hope I haven't lost any readers by not updating quickly enough, I really just want people to enjoy what I've written. Thank you so much for the reviews, they overwhelm me and really make me smile so much. Thank you.

I'm not sure if I accomplished the quite Rory-Logan-Gilmore banter I was going for, I think the hiatus has affected me (1 day!!!!!) and I hope the chapter didn't suffer because of it. Sorry if this chapter doesn't hold up to par, and sorry again for not updating! Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Never fails to surprise

"I'm sorry, did you want that?" Logan smiled sweetly at Marty, and looked down at the piece of pizza that they both held on to. Marty glared back at Logan, determined not to get into a fight with him. The entire evening, Logan had been all politeness, and it was driving Marty up the wall. He knew Logan was putting on a show for Rory, showing her that he really didn't treat Marty like a jerk, and Marty was pissed.

Marty dropped his hand and said through clenched teeth, "Be my guest." He glanced over at Rory who remained oblivious to the entire exchange. She was absorbed in her textbook, trying to find the answer to a particularly hard question that Logan had asked. Marty groaned, "Come on Ror, the professor is never going to ask about that. Can we move on?"

When Rory looked up annoyed, Marty knew he had made the wrong move. "Who cares if the professor asks it Marty? I want to know! College isn't all about the tests; it's about acquiring the knowledge too."

Marty sighed and tried to avoid looking at Logan, who was giving him a huge, cheesy pizza filled grin. He'd had enough; this was not the evening he'd expected. And on top of everything, no one was giving him a straight answer about this so called "engagement". Rory wasn't wearing a ring, but he saw a jewelry box on the table, and he didn't think he needed all three guesses to know what was inside. Grabbing his books and shoving them into his bag, Marty got up from the floor. "Ror, I think I'm going to head out for now. Logan, it's been a pleasure."

Rory's head popped up as Marty walked towards the door, alarmed. "Why? We've barely gotten through the material. Why are you leaving?"

Marty sighed. "Nothing personal Rory, this just isn't the best studying environment for me. I'll do better upstairs." He closed the door behind him.

Rory scrambled up from the floor and looked accusingly down at Logan. "What did you do to him Logan?" She asked.

"Why do you automatically assume that I did something?" Logan asked innocently, his hands in the air.

Rory gave him a look and quickly headed for the door, to find Marty, leaving Logan behind to contemplate the turn of events. He was very confused. It wasn't as if he was trying to win the girl, so why did he care that he had upset her? Because Logan knew for sure that Rory was not his type. The only reason he kept up with this charade was because it was so much fun to get a rise out of the girl. Not only that, but she was one of the few who could keep him interested in what was underneath her good looks for very long - and she did have very good looks. He enjoyed their sparring matches; her wit was hard to keep up with, but he was pretty confident that he had yet to lose to her. All in all, he enjoyed being around her and having her as a friend. This whole engagement game in his mind was a pretty good scheme to keep the girl nearby, especially since beforehand she'd seemed pretty keen to slip away. Logan didn't want her to slip away; he wanted to get to know her better, maybe even have his friends get to know her better as well. He thought his friends would like her as well; hell, they'd seemed to at the LDB event. But even with all this in account, it didn't explain why he now hoped beyond anything that she wasn't really mad at him for upsetting Marty. When she had given him that look, that glare, his whole chest had tightened, as if afraid she was going to blow up at him. He usually took things in stride. Why would upsetting one girl make him so nervous?

Woah, slow down there, Logan thought to himself. You're working yourself up over absolutely nothing. This is supposed to be fun, remember? Nothing happened, Ace will go upstairs to talk to the bartender and find out that he completely overreacted and then we can just go back to playing our game. Nothing serious, just fun.

Logan got up from his position on the floor, and walked over to the couch, kicking off his shoes as he went. He lay down with a book from the coffee table to wait for Rory.

By the time Rory came back, she found Logan fast asleep on her couch. She had to smile, he did make a very cute picture with his mussed up hair and boyish features. Even in sleep his face showed signs of mischievousness. His mouth was twisted into a smirk, and his eyes were crinkled at the edges, as if he knew that he was getting the better of her, even while he was unconscious. Rory sat on the edge of the coffee table and glanced at the book that rested on Logan's chest. Pride and Prejudice. Of course she knew he had gotten it from the table, but she was still shocked that he had picked up this book over the numerous other books and magazines that covered the entire table. Would he ever fail to surprise her?

Rory sat there, watching Logan sleep for quite some time. She wasn't even aware of the passing time, because as she looked at him, she found so much more to discover. She took in the way he breathed, and the way he would turn from side to side trying to find a comfortable spot. She watched as his arms flailed and almost hit her in the face, causing her to stifle some giggles. Rory studies his eyelashes, and the way they fluttered against his skin. His mouth, as it opened and closed every so often. His mouth held her attention for a while, and she came pretty near to knowing all of his features by heart.

"What a freaking horrible day!"

And with that Rory's study came to an end.

The door slammed wide open with that salutation from Paris, causing Logan to jump awake startled and Rory to guiltily leap up and move away from the couch. Logan noticed, of course, but wisely decided not to comment on it at the present moment, tucking it away to use as future ammunition if ever needed.

"Hello to you too Paris," Rory said quietly, taking a few deep breaths and smoothing some wrinkles from her skirt.

"Don't give me that innocent insulted roommate act Gilmore! You're tough and I'm not going to waste my precious time healing your wounded pride." And with another door slam, Paris exited as gracefully as she entered, this time entering her own room. Perhaps she sensed that she might be the third wheel in the common room, or perhaps she didn't even notice Logan at all, as was her way. Even so, Rory was nervous about being left alone with him, still frazzled by her thought process as she had watched him sleep. Her mind was changing him from being just her sparring partner, slowly morphing him into something else, and it was making her rather uncomfortable.

During Paris's sudden appearance and exit, Logan got up and stretched. "Sorry about falling asleep on you Ace. Guess all that studying wore me out."

Rory snorted. "Sure, Pride and Prejudice will really do that to you," she said, holding up the book that had fallen to the floor when Logan had stood.

Logan smiled sheepishly, adorably, causing Rory's brain to fuzz a bit. "What can I say? I have a thing for Elizabeth. Only she doesn't generally make me fall asleep. I've just been pretty tired lately." He took a couple steps forward, positioning himself dangerously close to Rory. "You know, you remind me of Elizabeth in many ways."

Rory swallowed hard, and looked up at Logan, never breaking their eye contact. "I do?"

"Yeah. You're both stubborn and witty, and you find amusement in weird characters. But not just that, you both aren't satisfied with the norm; you're always searching for more, what's out there. You both know that there's something else out there for you, more than what's been given to you. But you're both cautious; you don't go searching for it recklessly. You wait patiently until the right moment comes along. And then you get it."

Rory stared at Logan, unsure of how to react. This guy just kept blowing her away. He seemed to have some insights about her that she doubted even Lane had. "And I suppose you're expecting me to compare you to Darcy now?" Rory countered, never backing down. Uncomfortable as she was standing so close to him, she refused to take a step back, knowing it would symbolize some kind of weakness, and a loss of this battle.

Logan grinned cockily. "Well I'm certainly not Bingley, now am I? I'm much cleverer than that."

"And equally as cocky as Darcy, I think I can safely say that."

Logan laughed. "My dear Ace, comparing me to Darcy is not necessary. He is a man I most admire, and I am fully aware of how much I am like him. Irresistible to women of all kind, full of charm, fabulously handsome and rich - "

" - And arrogant," Rory cut in.

" – and smart as anything," Logan continued as if he had not been interrupted. "And so my darling, it is late and therefore," he said as he closed her hands around the book, "I leave this book in your possession to ensure that your dreams of Darcy will lead you to pleasant dreams of me." He softly kissed Rory on the cheek and turned for the door.

Rory turned to him, hand on one hip. "You need a safety net to ensure that I'll dream of you? Not feeling so sure of yourself now that you have to stand up to Darcy, huh?"

Logan turned around and smiled pleasantly, one hand on the door. "Rory, my only competition is a novel character. My confidence has reached immeasurable heights, since I'm fairly certain that Mr. Darcy won't be coming around here to challenge me to a duel to win the fair maiden's heart. Good night!"

Rory ground her teeth in exasperation. She ran to the door and yelled after him, "Darcy would never duel!"

When she was met with only the odd looks from her neighbors, Rory smiled at them and walked back into her room. She leaned against the door and sighed. Even if it didn't make sense, she did like having the last word for once.