Chapter 18

The Group

Rory stood in the dressing room admiring herself in the mirror. She had to admit, Stephanie had a knack for picking out dresses. The simple black floor-length dress fit snugly revealing her curves. It had a simple sheen to it that made her eyes pop and he cheeks glow. Stephanie had said she did not need a ball gown for tonight, rather an elegant dress. Rory was actually glad she got to spend a night away from the taffeta that seemed to be continually following her and Logan.

"Rory, I found another dress, I think this one is perfect." Stephanie shouted through the dressing room door.

"I like this one though Steph!" Rory yelled back.

"Seriously, try this one; I think it will look amazing on you."

Rory sighed and accepted the dress. She inspected the gown and decided it was not too terrible and she could give it a shot. If it was not right she was definitely going to get the black one.

Rory stripped out of the first dress and slowly placed the more revealing dress of Stephanie liking on. She stood staring wide eyed at her reflection. The low cut blood-red dress revealed more skin than Rory would usually dare to show in public. The front of the dress v-necked to her mid-chest revealing more than just a little cleavage. She slowly turned to admire the back of the dress, or rather, the lack of back. The dress was cut dangerously low. An inch or two more and it would reveal her backside.

"I am not coming out wearing this!" Rory yelled out to Steph.

"Oh come on Rory, let me see it!" Stephanie shouted.

"Seriously, I won't be wearing this anyway, so why even bother?"

"Fine, you won't wear it, but please just let me see it." Stephanie said again.

Not wanting to hear her complain, Rory hesitantly exited the confines of her changing room.

"Are you happy now?" Rory said crossing her arms in front of her.

Steph did not respond, but her jaw dropping said enough for Rory.

"Yeah, it is way too revealing for me." Rory said.

"No, Rory, it makes you look…amazing." Steph said in complete shock. She had never really seen Rory as Logan's type, but now she was starting to see what he saw in her. Rory was beautiful; there was no doubt about it, and this dress, as sexy as it was, made this more mature Rory look stunning.

"I really think you need to consider this as an option." Steph said to her.

"Yeah right, if I make one wrong move my ass or chest will be completely exposed for the world to see." Rory said, not swaying.

"Nonsense, we just use a little strategically placed tape and you will have no worries." Steph said smirking.

"Steph, I don't think this dress is going to work, seriously." Rory said.

"Come on Rory, you only live once, wear the dress. And look, it is on sale, it is only 200!"

Rory sighed, the other dress was 500, and she really could not afford it, but it was an amazing dress and she would have paid it…but Stephanie was right too. She always played the good girl, and the black dress fit this stereotype. The red dress was so different from anything else she had ever worn and she would love to see the look on Logan's face when she came out with it on.

"You know what Stephanie? I think I am going to do it." Rory said with a grin. "Just don't forget the tape!"

"Yay! Rory, you are going to drive Logan crazy." Stephanie said laughing.

After another few hours of non-stop shopping, Rory found herself buying a pair of three inch black strappy heels to accompany the daring dress, a few books from the book-store next door and a small satin bag that matched the shoes.

"Rory, lets head back to the apartment and get ready, I think we are leaving at 7, so we won't have much time." Steph said glancing at the clock that was dangerously close to 6pm.

Stephanie and Rory entered the apartment to the sounds of the three men playing video games.

"It's about time the two of you came back." Finn shouted over the noise of screeching tires from the TV.

"We thought that we were going to have to leave without you." Colin said in agreement.

"Come on now, give the girls a break. They were shopping in New York City, what do you expect?" Logan said smiling at Rory.

"Blah Blah Blah, we don't have much time. Come on Rory, let's go get ready." Stephanie said grabbing Rory's hand and dragging her into the bathroom adjoined to her room.

Stephanie helped Rory put her hair up in a fashionable twist and she did Rory's make-up in a smoldering-temptress look that made Rory almost unrecognizable. Finally Rory added the dress and she had to admit, she looked good. Her outfit screamed sex and her makeup totally transformed Rory into a more confident version of herself.

Stephanie had chosen a black dress that was similar to the one Rory contemplated picking out, with one subtle difference, her dress had cost over 2,000. Rory could not even imagine spending that kind of money on a dress, especially one that you would probably only wear once or twice.

Stephanie emerged from first to a room of three smartly dressed men. They were pleasantly surprised by their female companion's attire.

"Okay men…prepare yourselves." Stephanie said looking directly at Logan. "Get out here Gilmore!" She shouted towards the closed door.

Ever so slowly Rory opened the door. She noticed her hands were shaking as she took a deep breath and prepared herself for her grand entrance.

"Rory, what are you waiting for, these guys are getting impatient." Stephanie said.

Rory shakily entered the living room to a room filled with what could only be described as ogling men. Logan could not tear his eyes away from his girlfriend's body. She looked utterly unrecognizable. He could not believe that this was the same innocent Rory that he was falling in love with.

Finn was of course the first to speak. "If things don't work out with you and Logan tonight, I would be proud to take you home with me." He said to Rory.

Logan shook his head as if he were clearing his thoughts and finally spoke. "Ace…wow." Was all he could say.

Rory let out a little laugh. "You act as though you have never seen a dress before."

"Well not one like that…on you." Logan said with an appraising voice.

"Come on guys, it is just a dress. Now would you please all close your mouths and get your coats, I am hungry." Rory said laughing.

"I think it would be a sin to cover that dress up with a coat." Finn said as Logan helped Rory into her coat.

"Well I am not going to freeze to death just so you can gawk at me." Rory said pouting.

Rory was filled with a whole new sort of confidence. Although she would never wear something like this again, for one night it was fun to play the smoldering temptress and have the guys ogle her. Sure it took some getting used to, but she had to admit, she really liked all the attention.

"So where are we going anyway?" Rory asked as they slid into the limo that was waiting for them outside.

"Well I guess we can tell you now." Logan said smiling. "We are going out to a restaurant called Alain Ducasse at the Essex House. It is a very nice French restaurant where they serve some of the best food in New York. Luckily I could get us a table under my father's name." Logan said with a smile.

"Well it sounds quite fancy." Rory said, looking forward to the contrast in dining from Luke's.

"Oh trust me, it is quite fancy." Colin said to Rory. "I can't believe we even got in. My step-mom has been harassing my dad for months to get them a table there."

"Yes, apparently the Huntzberger name will get you anywhere." Steph said.

"Hey now, it is not my fault that I was born into a privileged family!" Logan said. "As Spiderman said, with great power comes great responsibility…I am using my power for the good of my friends, so you all should really be thanking me."

"Oh silly me, what was I thinking Peter Parker?" Rory said, punching him in the arm.

"Does that make you the MJ that I have been pinning over?" Logan asked her.

"Do I have to die my hair red?" Rory asked innocently.

"Nah, it would clash with your sexy dress." Logan said in a voice dripping in innuendo.

"Ah come on guys, do we have to leave?" Colin asked feigning disgust.

With that said, Rory grabbed Logan and leaned in for a steamy kiss. She pulled away from a very shocked looking Logan. The rest of the group just whistled in response while Rory and Logan sat like grinning fools.

"I think I am liking this new sexified Rory." Logan said to her.

"I am quite enjoying it too…but don't get used to it. You will have to play innocent schoolboy tomorrow to make up for it. The glasses this morning were a nice start." Rory said laughing.

"Wow, I did not know you were into role-playing Gilmore. Are you sure you like this one Logan? It sounds like she is just my type." Finn said to his friend.

"I don't know what has taken over her. What did you do to her today Steph?" Logan said smirking.

"I only dressed her!" Stephanie said innocently.

"As much as I enjoy you all talking about my sexuality, I do believe we arrived at the restaurant." Rory said glancing out the window.

"Right, well I do suppose we can continue this conversation later tonight." Logan whispered to Rory, sending chills down her spine.

The dinner was fairly uneventful. The five friends chatted over 80 meals and bottles of wine. By the time they finished their dissert they were all fairly inebriated.

"I don't want to go back to the hotel!" Finn shouted as they stumbled back to the limo.

"I agree. I think we should go to a jazz club or something." Colin volunteered.

"Urgh, no thank you." Rory said, drunk enough to convey her true feelings of jazz.

"Okay then Ace, what would you like to do." Logan asked his girlfriend.

"Hmm." Rory thought in silence for a moment until her features lit up and she came up with a plan for the remaining portion of the night. She knocked on the window of the limo and Frank answered Rory's call.

"What can I do for you ma'am?" He asked.

Rory whispered something to Frank, he nodded and they were on their way.

"Secrets Rory?" Stephanie asked.

"Oh trust me, it will be fun." Rory said with a gleam in her eye.

After a few minutes driving the limo pulled up to the curb in front of a very dodgy looking bar.

"Right, well maybe the hotel sounds good." Stephanie said glancing at the bar.

"No wait, just come in, if you don't like it we can leave." Rory said hoping the inside was not as sketchy as the outside. She had only seen the place in passing earlier that day when she was shopping with Stephanie. Ordinarily she would not have been interested in the sign in the window, but she was drunk enough to actually want to give it a shot.

"Did I just see what I think I saw?" Finn asked Rory.

"I believe you did Finn." Rory said excitedly.

"YES, I LOVE Karaoke!" Finn yelled excitedly. "Why did you not think of this Logan?"

"Probably because nobody wants to hear you sing…ever." Logan responded to Finn.

Rory lead the way to the bar and luckily the dive establishment seemed to not care about the ages of the group and just looked relieved to have a few actual customers.

Rory walked up to the bartender and picked up a three-ring-binder and brought it over to the high-top table the group had selected.

"What do you have there Ace?" Logan asked her.

"It's the book of song choices we have. I thought you may want to start us out because you are in fact a Huntzberger." Rory said, mocking his earlier comments.

"You are hilarious Ace, but trust me, you don't want me singing." Logan said to her.

"No way Logan, you are not backing out of this. Your sexy girlfriend asked you to sing, and if you don't, after she hears me I think she will change her mind about which LADB member she wants to date." Finn said to Logan.

Logan sighed as he thumbed through the pages of the book. Unfortunately the book had not been updated since the early 90s, so their selections were limited to mostly 80s monster ballads.

With a sly smile Logan took the stage and programmed his song into the monitor. Rory fidgeted in her seat, getting a little nervous of the song he had chosen.

The music started and the group groaned in unison as Logan started singing:

Now I've had the time of my life
No, I never felt like this before
Yes, I swear, it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
'cause I've had the time of my life
And I owe it all to you

I've been waiting for so long
Now I've finally found someone to stand by me
We saw the writing on the wall
As we felt this magical fantasy
Now with passion in our eyes
There's no way we could disguise it secretly
So we take each other's hand
'cause we seem to understand the urgency
Just remember

You're the one thing I can't get enough of
So I'll tell you something, this could be love because

"Oh my lord, he is horrible." Rory said laughing at Logan's attempt at singing.

"Yes, but my dear, he is singing it for you." Finn said, laughing at his best friend.

Logan stepped off the stage and brought his performance up to Rory. He finished the song kneeling in front of her in a dramatic presentation which left Rory a shade of red that matched her dress.

Once he returned his mic, Logan sat down next to Rory and delivered the worrisome news that Rory was to go next.

A very drunk Rory took the stage and began signing one of the corniest love songs of the 80s.

Lying beside you, here in the dark
Feeling your heart beat with mind
Softly you whisper, you're so sincere
How could our live be so blind
We sailed on together
We drifted apart
And here you are by my side

So now i come to you, with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what i say
So here i am with open arms

Hoping you'll see what your love means to me
Open arms

Living without you, living alone
This empty house seems so cold
Wanting to hold you, wanting you near
How much i wanted you home

But now that you've come back
Turned night into day
I need you to stay.

Rory wished she had been blessed with some sort of musical talent, but unfortunately she severely lacked in that area. Instead of attempting a valid performance, she chose to crash and burn with style.

With more confidence than she actually had, she strode up to Logan, sat on his lap and proceeded to serenade the remaining chorus to him in her very tone-death voice.

Once she finished she received a standing ovation from the crowd. She was unsure if this was because she had finally finished or if they were actually impressed with her song. She was betting it was the first of the two.

"Wow Ace, I never knew you had such talent." Logan said pinching Rory as she sat down.

"Well Logan, I tried to make you look good. I do it all for you." She said rolling her eyes.

Rory stifled a yawn as she glanced at Logan. Her full day of shopping and the late night the evening before had finally caught up to Rory and she was barely able to keep her eyes open.

"Are you going to make it Ace?" Logan whispered to her.

"I am pretty tired." Rory said to him. "What time is it anyway?"

Logan glanced at his watch and relieved her when he said it was nearly 2am. That meant the bar would be closing in a few minutes and the gang would be forced to leave.

With that, the bartender shouted his last call and asked everyone to leave. Finn, Colin and Stephanie decided to call a taxi to take them back to their hotel and they bid the couple farewell as they left the bar.

"So we will see you at school next week Mate?" Finn asked.

"Yeah, I should be back on Sunday." Logan said to him as he entered the taxi.

"It was good seeing you hot-stuff!" Finn shouted to Rory as the cab pulled away.

Rory laughed as she entered the limo with Logan and took off for the apartment.

"I had a really good time tonight Logan." Rory said to him.

"As did I Ace. And might I add, you looked gorgeous."

"Flattery will get you everywhere sir." Rory said raising her eyebrow suggestively.

"Why my dear Ace, what are you suggesting?" Logan asked feigning innocence.

"You only wish." Rory said playfully hitting him. "Besides, I am far too tired to try to seduce you tonight."

"Like you would even have to try to seduce me." Logan said seriously.

"If I were not drunk and tired I think I may fear for what my actions may turn into." Rory said letting her eyes drift shut.

"Not again Rory! I am not going to carry you up to your room again." Logan said poking the snoozing Rory.

Rory forced herself into a sitting position and sighed as she concentrated on keeping her eyes open. As soon as the limo pulled to a stop, Rory rushed out and into the apartment complex. She stripped into her pajamas and was in bed in a matter of minutes. She glanced over at the empty half of her bed and yelled.

"LOGAN?"

"Yeah Ace?" He shouted back through the apartment.

"Aren't you going to sleep in here?" She yelled back.

Logan emerged in her room with a grin standing before her in his boxers. He silently slipped into her bed whispering "as you wish."

Soon thereafter the two drifted into a sound sleep. Both slept with a grin on their faces that would stay till the morning.

Right-o. This was a longer one…I hope you all liked it. I do very much appreciate reviews, and I thank you all for giving me feedback on this story. This is my first fanfic, so I am really glad that you all like it…I guess that means I should probably continue. Anyway, let me know if you have any requests for upcoming chapters, as of now I am kinda pulling this stuff out of nowhere.