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.

AN3: I am trying to update on a daily basis since this story just wants to be written but please be patient if over the weekend nothing comes up. I wrote this chapter during my Research Methodology class last night. And now that I have my own laptop, I'll write more during my classes.

Reviewers: Smile1: Thanks for the honest response. I didn't really like the middle either. It's all I could come up with. Chinkybrowneyes: I really did put dividers in my story. I swear I did. Stupid deleted them. (pouts). I'll try again. Blueyed18: I'm ready too. I can't wait for this week's ep. I doubt my story will reach that point by Wednesday though. Sorry. Gilmoreaddict: Here's more for you to read. Amina.m: Read on. Ella Kelly: You people have got to stop reading my mind. Tinkerbell79: I'm glad you like it. Beautymarked: I prefer Rory with Logan too. I just couldn't stand Dean. Skater: I did, here it is. Queen Jennifer: So I randomly went to your homepage. Wow. You have some fantastic stuff. My best friend got me hooked on the Ceres books. Anyway thanks for reviewing. Lovelock79: I can't wait to see how this works out too. ;)

Chapter 7: Wait For It

Rory pulled the doors to the Sterling Memorial Library and whispered "Sanctuary" before being knocked into from behind by another student. The books in her arms cascaded to the floor but thankfully her cup of coffee remained firmly attached to her hand. She muttered a sorry over her shoulder and bent to retrieve her books. Another pair of hands joined hers on the floor gathering books and papers together. Rory blew her hair out of her eyes and looked up to thank whoever was helping her. The words stopped short in her throat as she recognized the brown eyes staring back at her. Logan didn't speak but handed the pile of books he'd gathered back to Rory and stood up quickly. He gently grasped her elbow and helped Rory pick herself up off the floor. Once she was firmly on her feet Logan caught her eyes with his one final time and turned towards a little used section of the library. Rory watched bewildered as Logan disappeared in the opposite direction. Her elbow tingled from where Logan had touched her. Even through her heavy coat and thick sweater her skin buzzed from the contact. It had been exactly two and a half weeks since the last time Logan had touched her. Rory shivered as she remembered the feel of his fingers on her back as he zipped up her dress. Resolutely shaking her head, Rory tried desperately to dismiss the feelings roiling around in her heart and headed towards the history section on the third floor. It was always quiet there.

Logan dropped into the first seat he could find when he rounded the corner out of the library foyer. His heart thumped loudly in his chest and he tried to breathe evenly to combat the sudden urge to hyperventilate. For three days Logan had questioned if Rory was worth it. Then when he had gotten to the point of actually waiting in the alcove outside her dorm to watch her walk by he knew he was past the point of no return. Logan had become addicted to her. The withdrawal was draining all his energy. The incident moments ago had actually been an accident. He'd gone to the library in hopes that it would calm him down. It was quiet, slightly shadowed and if he happened to catch a glimpse of Rory it would help settle his nerves. He hadn't counted on running into her, literally. Logan ran his thumb across his fingertips remembering the feel of her jacketed elbow in his hand. She was probably furious with him right now. She had made it perfectly clear that he was being shunned. The one bright spot in all this was that, according to Finn, Rory missed him as much as he missed her. That little tidbit of information had to mean something, right? It was an opportunity, a chance, and a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe Rory would relent and all their problems would be solved. Logan looked down at his hands, one of which was still shaking. He probably shouldn't be reacting like this. He was stronger than this, he was Logan Huntzberger. He didn't have to chase after girls much less grovel to get them back. Logan shook his head ruefully, maybe it was time to change who he was, just a little. Logan pushed himself out of the chair and headed upstairs. While he was here, he might as well study, some.

I should be furious, a very loud voice said in the recesses of Rory's mind. He knew to stay away from me and yet here he is, right when I needed him. Oh, shut up, another much quieter voice, answered. It was an accident. I'm sure he didn't mean to run into us. He's smart enough to have figured out that would be a recipe for disaster. Rory shook her head to quell the thoughts that were disturbing her. She was a little ticked at him. Ticked that he couldn't even apologize for knocking her down, say hi, or even smile at her. It was so unlike him to not react. She wanted him to react, to say something, anything that would give her a reason to talk to her. The sound of his voice was something that her mind couldn't quite recreate. Rory plopped down into a plush couch in a shadowy corner of the library. She'd found this little retreat last year. No one ever came in this little corner so she'd claimed it as her own. She settled her books onto the coffee table in front of her. She was fully prepared to study this time. Even though she knew her thoughts would franticly run towards Logan knowing that he was in the building. She sighed leafing through her notes; it certainly didn't help knowing that he was in here, even though it was a big building. Let's buckle down, Gilmore, Rory thought to herself, big final tomorrow. Rory bent her head over her notebook and began a valiant struggle to study.

On the far side of the third floor, Logan pulled books out of his bag set them gently on the table trying to not disturb the other people in the room. He looked down at the book in his hand and found the bust of Plato staring back up at him. Philosophy? I don't take philosophy, he thought. I've already done that I think. He flipped the cover over and in the top left corner was a neatly written Rory Gilmore. Shit. It just figures that something like this would happen and he couldn't even blame Finn or Colin for this one. The only logical thing to do was to give it back to her, she probably needed it. How to find her was the problem. Since smelling her out was not an option as he wasn't part bloodhound, Logan reached for his phone and started to walk out of the room. Hopefully she would hear him out before she hung up on him.

Rory's phone vibrated its way across the table toward her coffee. Not looking up, Rory reached for it and opened quickly.

"Hello? You should know you've interrupted my studying." Assuming it was her mom.

"Rory? Wait, don't hang up!" Logan's voice reached her.

"Well?" Rory replied in an exasperated tone of voice.

"Are you missing a philosophy book?" Logan asked quickly. Rory's eyes flicked over the books lined up neatly on the table. Sure enough, Philosophy was not there.

"Why do you have my book?" Rory questioned suspiciously.

"I must have grabbed it by accident earlier. Do you want me to bring it to you or leave it at your dorm?" Logan asked hoping that Rory would pick the former. He heard her sigh through the phone and could tell she was thinking over her options. Another sigh was heard before she responded.

"Bring it over, I need it now. I'm on the third floor, history section, back corner." Rory flipped her phone shut resolutely as her heart thundered. There was no one in this part of the library so they would be alone. Instantly Rory questioned the sanity of her decision. Logan had equal chances of her decking him or jumping his bones in the middle of the library. Rory stood up and sat back down again. There was no need to stand on ceremony. It was merely an accident. He would bring the book, apologize, and leave. That's all that was required. It would take all of thirty seconds then she would go back to studying. It would only be a minor hitch in her day. It was only seconds later when Logan rounded the corner and strode towards her little spot. He probably couldn't not swagger just like some girls couldn't not strut. She really shouldn't hold it against him. The warm brown sweater was just tight enough to show off his firm build and dark jeans made him look more casual than he usually appeared. Time slowed to a crawl as he approached her. Too quickly he was standing in front of her with her book held out. Without smiling Rory reached up to take it from him. Beneath the book their hands brushed and Rory snatched her hand back quickly. With careful fingers Rory reached for the book again only to find that Logan wouldn't let go of it.

"Can I have my book, please?" Rory asked spitefully.

"Of course." Logan responded smoothly. "I didn't mean to take it. I'm sorry."

Rory was carefully quiet. What exactly was he apologizing for? For taking the book, sure that was the logical answer. Or was he apologizing for the…event. No Logan didn't apologize when he didn't think he was wrong, so he must be talking about the book. Rory's shoulders slumped in disappointment. If he had apologized then she would have forgiven him without question. It would've been a perfect moment. Then she could've jumped his bones in the library. The moment had passed and Logan missed it.

"It's okay. Thanks for bringing it to me so quickly."

"I was just on the other side of the library. See you around Rory."

"Yeah."

If he had called her "Ace" but he didn't so she didn't and then Logan had disappeared around the corner of the stacks. Two voices simultaneously broke the quiet of the history section with loud "Damn it!" Rory covered her mouth quickly. She hadn't meant to say that out loud. Around the corner, Logan leaned heavily against the closest bookcase. He hadn't meant to say that out loud.

The phone was ringing incessantly in the common room and it was starting to seriously annoy one Paris Geller. Of course Rory wasn't here to answer it, she had to be studying. Reluctantly pulling herself away from Doyle, Paris stomped away from her room and snatched the phone off the hook.

"What?"

"Hello, Paris." Loralie said sweetly.

"Loralie, what can I do for you? I'm kind of busy at the moment."

"Paris, could you please remind my dearest daughter that she'll want to get a new dress for the Christmas Eve party. You and Doyle are invited, of course."

"Thank you, we'll be sure to attend. I will pass along the message to Rory. Good bye." Paris set the phone down gently. She was in a much better mood now.

Several hours later, Rory trudged through the door to her suite. Doyle was just coming out of Paris' room, fully dressed. She nodded in his general direction and pushed her way into her room. She collapsed onto her bed as her legs had suddenly forgotten how to work. She sighed as she sank into the mattress, a nap would be good just about now.

"Rory, are you awake? I need to talk with you." Paris said in her usual business-like tone from the doorway.

"Of course Paris, for you I'm always awake." Rory replied and turned her head towards the door.

"Your mother called and said that you were required to buy a new dress for the party and also that Doyle and I were invited. I need to shop as well. We'll go tomorrow." Paris turned back to her room.

"Sure Paris," Rory said her voice muffled by a pillow. "Whatever you want to do is fine with me." Rory yawned and settled into sleep.

"Logan! It's about time you got home." Finn said over the loud music playing.

"Are we having a party?"

"Of course. You know the rules, first day of finals, first floor throws the party."

"Oh right, how could I have forgotten." Logan headed off in the direction of his room.

"You're not staying, mate?" Finn asked confused.

"Nah. Just not in the mood for it tonight."

"Oh that reminds me, we have a party to attend on Christmas Eve."

"Really, who's?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gilmore." Finn said with a grin. Logan's faced paled at the announcement. Finn cackled happily at his friend's discomfort. Logan all but ran to his room and dropped unceremoniously onto his bed. Great, Logan thought, I have one week in which to fix this with Rory so that the party will not be a disaster. What do they think I am a magician? Logan grumbled as he fell asleep despite the noise the filtered through the door from the party. Tomorrow was another day, after all.

AN: I hope everyone liked this chapter better. It flowed much more quickly from my head to my fingers. Stay tuned another chapter to come on Friday.