Title: Pulling Strings

Author: Kathea

Rating: PG13 or it will be at some point

Spoilers: "But not as cute as a Pushkin"

Summary: Since both Rory and Logan come from money they are used to seeing strings pulled. They never thought their friends would use it against them.

Disclaimer: I don't own this or anything related to Gilmore Girls or the WB. Like you didn't already know that.

AN: This is the first GG fic I've written. I'm trying to stay true to character but we'll see how that goes. Reviews are welcomed and treasured unless of course you say nasty things and then I'll just have to hunt you down and duct tape you to the train tracks.

AN2: I'm taking a lot of liberties here. I can't remember when the show left off as far as seasons. So this is set before Christmas. Also, I refer to the "Marty debacle" in this and probably subsequent chapters. This is the imaginary scene when Marty admits that he likes Rory and Rory, being herself, is confused and says the normal line about just wanting to be friends. I'm sure you'll all understand.

Reviewers:

Lilly: Thank you. I hope it will be an interesting story. I got your review first, btw. Megliz716: I hope it's going to be a good story. Smile1: I agree with all your comments so you don't have to worry about waking up taped to train tracks. We don't really know enough about Logan like we do Rory to give good background to write a story. We need to see more or I need to at least. Plus, humor is always my thing. I appreciate your supportive comments. Screaming Truth: I'm keeping you in the dark on purpose. It'll be so much funnier if you don't know ahead of time or at least in my head it's funnier. Coffegrl: Here's your update. Kati: It sounded like something Lorelai would say, plus I love Alias too. New episode tonight!

Chapter 2: What do you know about this?

Rory slouched down into her chair at her desk in the Yale Daily News office. Her overstuffed messenger bag had spilled over on the floor. Doyle was being, well Doyle. He wanted to do a super issue before the winter break which meant most people had double the articles to do. And then to top all this off, the freshman who covered the society aka parties section of the paper had come down with mono and was going to be out for a while. Rory still wasn't quite sure how that assignment had gotten foisted off on her. Alpha Delta was having its annual charity ball, which of course Rory was obliged to attend. She sighed again and rested her head back against the wall behind her and closed eyes. The newsroom was blessedly quiet; maybe just a little nap would get her through the day.

Then she noticed it, that subtle presence, the feeling, the smell of it. Someone was holding coffee in front of her. She felt the steam whisper across her cheeks and inhaled deeply without opening her eyes.

"I'm putting you up for sainthood, whoever you are." Rory said reverently.

"That's kind of you Ace but I don't think they'd take me." Logan said cheekily. Rory's eye popped open and she snatched the cup of coffee out of his hand. "How has your day been my little cream puff?" Rory couldn't help but laugh. Logan just couldn't pull off the lovesick look, there was always a smirk hovering at the edges of his mouth.

"Very long, muffin." Rory answered in turn. Logan returned her grin.

"I have to give you kudos for that little stunt you just pulled. It was very convincing. Colin and Finn wanted to give you an award."

"They always were so nice to me." Rory said smiling.

"Yes, well, they have their moments." Logan said and sat on the corner of Rory's desk. People started to pile into the newsroom then. Morning classes were out and slave driver Doyle, insisted that people be at their desks working while not in class. Logan hopped off the desk and turned to walk away.

"What no good bye kiss, pumpkin?" Rory quipped. Logan walked back to Rory and squatted down next to her until he was at eye level. His lips were barely brushing hers but she could feel every nerve pulsing like it was on fire.

"You are trying to ruin my reputation, aren't you?" Logan said his voice seductively quiet.

Rory took a deep breath, his closeness unnerving her more than she would willingly admit. "You'll never know, will you?"

"I have my ways." Logan said and stood up abruptly. "See you later Ace." He disappeared out the door and Rory let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding. Her head dropped to her desk.

She could admit that she was naïve when it came to men. Paris had told her so several times after the Marty debacle. She did have a point, when it came to men Rory was completely oblivious. Oblivious to when the liked her, when they were leaving her, and when they were using her. There were plenty of examples in Rory's past to support that hypothesis. Logan definitely had some good qualities. He was gorgeous in that way that only some men can pull off. He was intelligent and he knew how to use that to his advantage. While those two attributes were, Rory admitted, the main reasons why she was attracted to him, she just couldn't handle the way he lived so wildly. The thought of living with such a strong "devil may care" attitude, scared the crap out of her. It was a bit strange considering whose daughter she was but Rory loved an orderly, sedate life. True, according to Freud, she was flirting with anal retentiveness but she was comforted by the fact the Paris had an all out love affair with anal retentiveness. It wasn't that she didn't want to live a full life or have the requisite "college experience", she just wanted to remember her college experience. And after Dean, Rory figured that it would be a good idea to stick to the whole think-things-through plan instead of the jump-in-with-eyes-closed plan.

Rory looked dejectedly at her computer screen. The curser was blinking malevolently at her from the blank page. Doyle was blathering on about comma splices and split infinitives. Rory would say, if pressed, that Paris had mellowed Doyle out a bit. Every now and then you could catch him just staring at Paris' desk. Stifling a giggle, Rory turned to her computer and started to type quickly. The sooner she started, the sooner she could go home.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch…..

Paris was diligently gluing small beads to a white lampshade when a knock on the door startled her and the beads went flying across the floor. Whoever had disturbed her craft time was going to pay a severe price. The faces that greeted her were vaguely familiar but she couldn't place them.

"Who are you and what do you want? You have 30 seconds before I slam this door in your face." Paris said angrily.

"You must be Paris." Finn said with a smile. "Such a lovely girl." Paris only cocked her hands on her hips and bared her teeth at Finn's comment.

"What my suicidal friend here is trying to say," Colin cut in. "We're friends of Logan's."

"Huntzberger?"

"The one and only." Finn said in a perky voice. Plotting always made him perky.

"And? This is supposed to be important to be because…?"

"Rory is your friend right?"

"Most of the time."

"Why don't you invite us in then? We have a proposition for you." Colin said.

Paris sighed and opened the door wide enough for the two boys to walk through and slammed it behind them. "Now what do you want?"

An hour later, Paris had a grin on her face and two new friends. Paris pulled the door open to let Finn and Colin out, to find Rory fiddling with her keys.

"Did you finish your story?" Paris asked without preamble.

"Yes, Paris." Rory huffed and looked up surprised to see Finn's cheeky grin staring back at her. "What are you doing here?" Rory asked.

"Just leaving." Colin said pushing Finn out the door in front of him. "See you later." They were gone quickly and Rory was watching Paris with suspicious eyes.

"What are you up too?" Rory asked.

"Doyle told me you got stuck with the society page. I take it you must attend the Alpha Delta ball." Paris asked ignoring Rory's question.

"Unfortunately." Rory said noticing the evasion. "What a waste of a Saturday."

"Yes, well an article is an article. You shouldn't complain." Pairs replied.

"Uh huh." Rory answered and escaped into her room. You just never knew with Paris. Sometimes she was as crazy as a loon and sometimes she could be a completely normal person. She guessed today was a crazy day. Rory flopped onto her bed, curling around her pillows. She still had to drive home for dinner tonight and then back for that stupid ball tomorrow night. All she really wanted to do was sleep. If it weren't for this assignment she could spend all Saturday sleeping. Rory wiggled until she could reach her phone.

"Mama, I don't wanna go." Rory whined into the phone.

"Oh, no you don't. You better get your little Gilmore butt here." Rory's mother said her voice ringing loudly through the phone. "You are not, repeat, not leaving me here alone with Heckle and Jeckel."

"But Mooooooooommmmmmmmm."

"No buts, young lady."

"Alright, I'll see you in an hour."

"You'd better."

Rory flipped her phone closed. It was going to be a long night. The drive to Rory's grandparents house was thankfully quick and she waited in the drive until she heard the rumble-clunk of Luke's truck come from behind her. Before the truck had even come to a stop, Lorelai was hopping out of the passenger side car and banging on the window of Rory's car.

"Child of mine, get out of the car. You are not allowed to hide in the car." Rory rolled down the window.

"Mom, don't get your panties in a wad. I'm coming." Good Lord but it was going to be a long night. Luke caught Rory's eye when she stepped out of the car and winked at her. At least with Luke here it wouldn't be too bad. For some reason he was able to tone her mother down enough to not totally antagonize Emily.

Drinks with Grandpa turned out well enough. Richard asked about what he always asks about and they went on to dinner. Emily, thankfully, avoided the subject of Rory's lack of male companion ship. Dinner finally wound to a close and Lorelai and Luke headed back to the dinner for a restorative cup of coffee and Rory headed back to school where her bed awaited.

The next morning, Rory didn't move till a quarter till one. Their dorm was clear of Doyle for the time being and the couch looked inviting, so Rory settled comfortably in front of the television until Paris strolled into their rooms at three.

"Gilmore, don't you think you should be getting ready?" Paris asked.

"Geller, why are you so suddenly interest in my journalistic activities?" Rory countered.

"I'm not." Paris huffed. "I'm just reminding you since Doyle is not here to do the job."

"Well you don't have too. How can anyone forget about four hours of torture by empty-headed socialites and their inane dates?" Rory asked sarcastically.

"Too true. Just remember, they smell fear. Oh, you should wear your red dress. It's a holiday party after all."

Rory grumbled under her breath at Paris' last statement. She was certain now that her friend was up to something. She knew, from personal experience, that Paris could be extremely devious. Well, Rory thought, I'll just have to be on the look out for something unusual occurring. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a little voice whispered that Finn and Colin had something to do with whatever was going on but another little voice said that was impossible.

Three hours later Rory still wasn't dressed. The hair and makeup were done. Shoes were on. The purse, which was just big enough to hold her smallest note pad, was by the door with her keys and phone. Currently, Rory was trying to pull the zipper up on her dress. Unfortunately, Rory was not the most flexible of people and Paris stood in the door of her room convulsed with laughter at Rory's acrobatics. There was a knock on the door and Paris went to answer it without helping Rory finish. Paris suppressed a smile when the person on the other side was none other than Logan Huntzberger. Paris had to admit he did pull off wearing a tux quite well.

"I really need some help in here. The zipper is plotting against me." Rory's voice filtered out into the common room. Rory hobbled out of her room, one hand pressed against her chest holding up the dress the other trying to reach the zipper at the small of her back. Rory hadn't looked up yet but her head shot up when she heard Paris speak to their guest.

"You go do it Limo Boy. She's your now, I've washed my hands of her."

"Logan! What are you doing here?" Rory asked surprised.

"Taking you to the charity ball. However, I'd be more than happy to help you out of that dress and stay here all night." Logan strolled over to where Rory was standing just outside her door. "Come on, turn around Ace. You don't want to be late. Doyle might find out." He finished with mock horror. On a sigh, Rory turned around and felt light hands pull the stubborn zipper up and then Logan's hands traveled across her shoulders. Rory shivered at the contact. "All done, let's go." Rory took the proffered arm and was escorted out the door with an extremely confused look on her face. She caught a glimpse of Paris just before the door shut and her friend had the most pleased look on her face. Okay something was really wrong now.