A/n: Okay, I couldn't wait to update, so I wrote this as soon as the last chapter was posted. Please review now, it's very important that you do!
Oh Yeah- blueyed18 – I nearly peed myself at your comment, so thanks for that! (Don't worry; the kitty will be caged by the end of this chapter- hint hint!)
Here it goes…
They'd made it back to her dorm room without ripping each other apart- that is to say in the animalistic sense. He could tell she was a bit unsettled shall we say, about the whole Jill coming to visit for no reason thing. He could tell by the way she held back when he kissed her, just brushing her lips he could tell she was mad. Usually her anger fueled what they had going on, but not today, not when it involved another woman.
But Jill was like a sister to him, she didn't really mean anything to him. Well, that was a lie. She did mean a lot; she was one of his closest and oldest friends. Hell, she knew a lot of stuff about him that could pretty much ruin any reputation he had going. But he never felt romantically interested in her, and he could tell that was bothering Rory.
Rory studied him; his usually smirking face was almost a façade today, not so free and rebellious. He seemed tense, not like his usual "let's-run-wild" attitude. He was definitely thinking about Jill, how could he not? She was beautiful and blonde with legs that went up to her own shoulders. Okay so maybe that's exaggerating, but they might as well have been that long with the way Logan looked at Jill. It was almost the same way he looked at herself, with tender, love filled eyes.
Little did she know it was a different kind of love he felt for Jill, one that wasn't filled with passion or lust. It was simply that brotherly love, one that came with being friends for so long. The same kind of love he felt for Stephanie, only this was more refined.
He tried to kiss her again, but she blatantly turned her head away from him and maneuvered to the couch. He sighed as he plunked down beside her, resting a weary arm across her shoulders. She shrugged away his arm, pushing him to the other side of the couch.
"Rory what's wrong?" he asked. He actually had the audacity to ask her what was wrong. He was blinder than she thought.
"Oh nothing. Just the way you were looking at Jill is all," she snapped at him. Her arms had settled across her chest, pinned there. She didn't want to have them flailing around just yet.
"Looking at Jill? How was I looking at Jill?" he asked, throwing his own arms in the air. He stood up to face her, not touching her just yet, she needed some space right now.
"The same way you look at me Logan. The same tender, loving, passionate eyes that you seem to have for me! I thought we were passed this, that you were just mine now," she whined, letting her shoulders cave. A quiet sob shook her shoulders and she had to look away as tears pricked at her eyes.
"Rory," he smiled, a loving smile at her while grabbing her elbows and pulling her stubborn body towards him. Her arms dropped to her sides and he grabbed her hips, linking his thumbs through her belt loops. "I do not love Jill like I love you. She's like a sister to me, past, history. She's my baggage, but not my romantic baggage. I've never had those kinds of feelings for her. I've never had these kinds of feelings for anyone but you."
She could tell his words were genuine and nothing was a lie. She could tell he was honest and she saw in his eyes what she'd wanted all along. He was finally letting go of his past for her, but she wouldn't let herself admit it. Instead she grabbed his hands from her hips and pushed him away.
"I want to believe you Logan, I do. I want us to be together, to get passed anything that stands in our way, but…" she paused, wiping away the tears that began to fall down her cheeks. She needed to gather herself before she continued. "But I don't want to meet anymore of these women from your past. I knew that when I met you, you were surrounded with these women, at least half of them you'd slept with," he tried to interject but she put a silencing finger to his lips, "Don't Logan, let me finish. I knew about them, but every time I see you with another girl, friend or not, I just, I get jealous and angry and want to rip that girl to shreds. I'm not a violent person Logan, but it seems when I'm around you I get these…feelings and I don't know what to do anymore," she stopped then to sit down. She felt weak and tired.
He looked at her drained body, the sorrow that pricked behind her eyes. He'd been the one to put that there, but he couldn't have been the one to make her lose such faith in him. This was his chance now, to make every thing right, to give her perspective. She had to know he wasn't going to up and leave her, she had to know that he'd changed and it was all for her.
"Rory, I'm not like your other boyfriends, I'm not trying to hurt you. I told you in the beginning I wasn't good at the whole boyfriend thing. I told you I sucked at the whole making feelings known, but what I don't suck at, is knowing that I'm not going to leave you. I'm not going anywhere Rory, not today, not tomorrow. And I'm trying to prove to you that I'm here for you one hundred percent. Why can't you trust that I love you and not Jill?" he was pleading with her now, but if that was the only way to get through to her stubbornness then he'd try it.
She sighed, turning to face him now. A smile crept across her lips and the tears that stained her face stopped now. "I do trust you, and I do love you. I guess to quote John Lennon 'I'm just a jealous guy' err, girl!" her smile brightened and they laughed together.
"So now that we've cleared up the whole 'I love you' thing…again, what do you say to a rousing match of Super Mario Brothers?" he asked in full seriousness. She laughed again. It was just like him to want to play video games after they'd had a break down, but that's what she loved about him – he was playful in the most desperate of times.
Nodding her head she took his hand and they left her dorm room and hurried over to his own room. Finn was sprawled across the couch playing his own video game, while Colin sat in the corner reading a book. They didn't even acknowledge their room-mates arrival, but continued on their own tasks.
They tiptoed across the room and came up behind the couch. Counting in their heads they reached three, grabbed the game control from Finn and knocked him off the couch. He landed with a loud 'thud' but simply rubbed his ass and left the area mumbling about inconsiderate room-mates and their over achieving reporters. The couple thought nothing of it, and sat themselves comfortably side by side and took to a game of Super Mario Brother's.
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She was getting more anxious now; she was just moments away from his dorm-room, the one he shared with Colin and Finn. If he wasn't happy to see her, she'd make up some excuse like she'd come to visit the other boneheads. That would get her in the dorm-room easily enough. Hopefully that bright witted lady of Logan's was nowhere near and the two fools he called best friends were locked away in their rooms.
The excitement was killing her, she could barely wait to knock on his door and throw her arms around him whispering sweet nothings in his ear. And after they shared a kiss, most delicate, yet passionate, she'd say those three feared, yet magical words and he'd say them right back to her without another thought. Sigh!
She was right in front of his dorm now, too thrilled to even listen to the chatter emanating from behind the door. She knocked furiously, placing her most tender smile on her lips which seemed to falter as a not so pleased Colin answered the door. One look at her and his face brightened giving her a cheery "Hello, long time no see," embracing her in a hug that was meant for long time friends.
Finn left his spot on the couch beside Rory, where they were currently in a battle of Mario V.S. Evil Louigie – Rory currently losing, and all but ran to the door, hugging the beautiful girl.
"Now you are a sight for sore eyes love, what brings you here from New York?" his accent was slightly slurred as he'd just polished off his fifth beer in the last hour.
"I came to see you guys. I'd already seen Logan but thought, why am I leaving out my favourite boneheads in Connecticut!" she replied easily. She glanced over to Rory who was tucked closely to Logan's side as they both approached her with a smile, Rory's uneasy but Logan's welcoming.
"Hello again Jill," he paused looking her up and down. She still wore the tight jeans and Kelly green sweater from earlier that morning. "Come in, have a drink, play a video game?" he offered taking the short pea coat she wore and hanging it on a chair.
"How about a scotch on the rocks, but make it a double," she smiled, a smile Rory envied. The girl had the most long, beautiful blonde hair that seemed natural enough. Her fingernails were well manicured, unlike her own bitten nails, and Jill's shoes were cuter than even her mother had. They were blue and green ballet flats with tiny swirls of yellow. She couldn't help but stare at her own shoes which were plain, black knee high boots, but was quite proud of the pencil skirt she wore. She'd taken it from her mother's closet just last Friday and couldn't help but adore it.
"I love your shoes Jill, where'd you get them?" Rory asked, trying to make this girl feel welcome. It was the best she could do knowing she was Logan's long time friend and all.
"Paris in this cute little boutique, Christian Louboutin, his shoes are to die for!" she said snootily. Rory merely smiled and grabbed at Logan's hand.
"Wow, that's awesome, they really are adorable," she said a bit more shyly now. Colin and Finn looked from one another noticing Rory's odd behavior. Sure she was usually not as outgoing as them, but never allowed anyone to make her feel inferior like Jill was doing right now. It wasn't what she was saying but the way she said it and her obvious distaste for Logan's new girlfriend.
"I don't think Jill likes Rory much," Finn whispered to Colin.
"No kidding," Colin replied while handing Jill the scotch on rocks she'd asked for.
"Thanks Colin, baby. You always were the best at pouring scotch. Finn is usually too drunk to pour it and Logan can't ever seem to give me enough," she smiled broadly before taking a deep sip from the crystal tumbler, and then sat down on a stool at the counter.
"So Jill, what have you been up to in New York all this time? We haven't seen you in quite a few months," Finn asked curiously.
She smiled nervously before setting her drink down and approaching Finn provocatively. Everyone was a bit startled and confused by this new Jill and waited with baited breath for her reply.
"I've been modeling," she said swinging a leg over Finn's hip and burying her face in the crook of is neck. They all stood uncomfortably, except for Finn who was happy to be seduced by any pretty thing with a chest.
Jill dragged her hands up and down Finn's arms, watching his lips curl into a smile. Her thoughts ran to Logan, hoping that this was making him jealous when in fact he was just slightly surprised. He smiled at Finn who had wrapped his arms around Jill now and winked playfully at Rory.
Rory was taken aback by this new Jill, this seductive, provocative Jill who had an interest for Finn. But Rory saw right through this charade, she was vying for Logan's attention and if it was up to her, she wouldn't allow it.
"Well Jill, it was lovely seeing you again, but Logan and I have to get going. We have a dinner to get to with my mother and her boyfriend Luke," she smiled and grabbed her coat from the couch while dragging Logan to the door.
He played along, smirking at her sudden jealousy, "That's right; your mom would kill us if we didn't come."
As if it were a miracle from the gods, Rory's cell phone rang and who else could it have been than her mother. "Hey mom," she answered while making her way to the door.
"Hey daughter of mine. Luke and I were wondering if you'd like to join us for dinner tonight and bring Logan along with you," Lorelai said with a smile.
"Yes mom, you already knew we were coming," Rory said, nervous now.
"No I didn't, because I just offered," Lorelai laughed then, rolling her eyes though her daughter couldn't see it.
"Well we'll see you at 7, bye mom," Rory said and with that hung up her phone. "Would you look at the time, its 5:30, and I have to go home and do that thing so we can go," Rory said to the remaining group.
"Yes, that thing for the paper, that I promised I'd help you with," Logan said. Rory gave him a look that said "smooth Logan, real smooth" and they made their way out the door.
Finn was laughing now as Jill hurried after them, but he called out first, "No need to make up excuses to go bang each other mates, you two be safe now," he waved goodbye as they left the dorm room and sat down on the couch to resume his game of Super Mario Brothers.
"Well that was interesting. So, Jill, care to go to dinner with us, spend the evening?" Colin asked, noticing the distress of the vulnerable blonde.
"Uh, no, I have to get back," she said, her eyes never leaving the door as it clicked shut. Running a hand through her hair in frustration, she downed the rest of her scotch. She graced each of the boys with a smile and grabbed her belongings. "I'll see you guys another time," and with that was out the door.
"That was odd," Colin remarked, looking about the dorm-room confused.
"Indeed, but no worries mate," Finn replied, his eyes focused on the large television in front of him. "Get over here and play with me, it's no fun beating someone who won't fight back," he struggled with the control and threw one into Colin's lap as he sat down beside his friend.
"Alright, one game. Loser buys the winner a drink at the pub," Colin shouted and started fidgeting with the controllers.
"You're on mate, you're on!"
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They scurried across the campus and into Rory's dorm-room without as much as a word. As soon as the door shut behind them she began to laugh hysterically. Logan couldn't see what was so funny, but shrugged his shoulders and began to laugh anyway.
"What's so funny?" he asked between forced chuckles.
"I wasn't sure before, but now it's totally clear. Jill has a thing for you ad she was trying to put me down and make you jealous with that whole Finn thing," she laughed again and sat down wearily on a chair near the door.
"She does not have a thing for me. I don't have a thing for her. And we've been friends for just about our entire lives," he tried convincing her.
"Boys are so stupid! How dense can you be? Hell I'd have a crush on my best friend too if he were cute and witty like you are," he gave her a seductive smirk which in turn, made her giggle, "Now don't go getting a big head buddy! I mean it, she has a thing for you whether you admit it or not. So what are you going to do about it?" Rory finished, curled up beside him.
"I guess I could just approach her and tell her I don't have those types of feelings for her," he reasoned, trying to find a less hurtful way.
"No, no, no, do you want to lose a friend? You want to come out of this as friends, not as her resenting you," Rory added with a new enthusiasm. Logan could never understand his reporter. One minute she was mad at him for having such a contact with her, the next she was making sure he wouldn't break Jill's heart. What was a guy to do?
"Of course I want her to be my friend, but I don't know what to do," he admitted while wrapping an arm around his lovely girlfriend.
"I know! We'll have her over and show her how in love we are and she'll realize it's not worth breaking us up," Rory exclaimed, like a light bulb had shone bright above her head.
"That's not a bad idea, but I think she went back to New York tonight Ace. Any other cards up your sleeves I should know about?" he was almost laughing now, attempting to suppress it by nuzzling her neck. It was incredibly sexy when she was all deep in thought, chewing on her bottom lip.
"A few, but we might need the aide of my mother to pull them off," she stood up suddenly and reached out to pull him up, "Come on lover boy, we have a plan to formulate and I'm low on coffee! Let's go to Stars Hollow now and start planning tonight!" she pulled him up on his feat. Throwing his jacket to him she dragged him outside and locked the door quickly. They had to move fast or else Jill would try and ruin what they have. Nobody stood in Rory's way of love, at least not this time!
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That's it for this chapter. Okay so the cat hasn't quite been caged, but Rory needs Lorelai's help on this one! Please Review with your thoughts! Thanks everyone!
