A/N: Thank you guys for reviewing, I didn't think you would... You're so great!
Alicia Jo - I thought it would be better if Finn realized his feelings before Rory because, well, of this next chapter. Thanks for reviewing and enjoy chapter 7!
ReeseAnn - Well, I think I've accomplished my mission. I wanted you guys to feel sorry for Logan! Thank you for the review and here's chapter 7!
Trory-addicted - Thank you so much, I thought it was sweet too!
megliz716 - Thanks for reviewing, hope you like this chapter!
Smile1 - short and to the point: thank you!
BellaLou - Wow thank you! And thanks for not threatening me, hehe. I'm glad you like my story and I hope you like this chapter... I have a feeling you will... (hint!)
Problem Child1 - I'm glad you like this story! I wanted to think something absurd for Kirk to do cause I think he's just so hilarious sometimes so the picture thing just came to me, good that you enjoyed it. Oh, and thanks for reviewing!
Ok so I finally got some Logan supporters! Please don't be mad at me after reading this chapter!
CoffeeGilryMe - thanks for reviewing! I'll think about your suggestion for the endings.
Jen - I guess Rory is kinda making this a habit, but who knows...
Rorganfan - You're a Logan fan? Never would have guessed. Lol.
Again, thank you so much and please review this chapter too! I can't wait to know your feelings on this!
Chapter 7: Sleepless in Atlantic City
A few weeks passed and things were as normal as they could be. The weekend was never mentioned between them and nobody pressured anybody for answers and the five friends managed to hang out without letting it get too weird. Of course certain jokes or comments, that wouldn't have meant anything in the past, were now avoided. Right now Logan, Finn, Colin and Stephanie were talking about a certain road trip.
"When do we leave?" Colin asked.
"I think we should leave Friday night and come back Sunday night. This way we can enjoy the whole Saturday, and Sunday during the day," Finn answered.
"This Friday?" Stephanie asked.
"What? Got a date? We've been planning this for days Steph!" Logan said.
"No, I don't have a date, I was just... confirming."
"Confirming?"
"Yes," she said and standing up she grabbed her cell phone, "excuse me for a second."
The three guys looked at each other and said in unison, "she's got a date."
Stephanie went into Logan's room to make the call but not before saying "I heard that!" Not long after Rory came into the room, the guys were looking at a map.
"What you doing?" she asked.
"Looking at a map," Colin answered slowly.
"That's pretty obvious," Rory said.
"So what exactly do you want to know?"
Rory sighed, "never mind."
The three gave a small laugh.
"Oh, she gives up so easily!" Finn teased.
"I'm just not in the mood, Finn."
"Is something wrong?" Logan asked.
"Nah, just college stuff. I'm a little stressed out, that's all."
The boys exchanged looks.
"What?" Rory asked a little afraid.
"How do you feel about a road trip this weekend?" Finn asked her.
"A road trip? Sounds fun."
"We leave Friday night, though. Think you can get out of your dinner thing?"
"I might, I just have to talk to my mom. Where are we going?"
"Do you like to gamble?" Logan asked raising his left eyebrow.
"Gamble?"
"We're going to Atlantic City, baby!" Finn exclaimed.
"Atlantic City, New Jersey?"
"That would be the one," Logan replied.
"Oh, so I should just call my mom and tell her 'hey mom, tell grandma I can't make it Friday cause I'm going to Atlantic City with the guys.'"
"And Stephanie," Finn complemented. Rory stared at him and he just asked "what?"
"I don't think so."
"Oh, come on Ace! You just said you were a little stressed out. What's better to relieve the stress than a little gambling?"
"Would you like me to list them alphabetically?"
"Ace!"
"I'm just not a gambling kind of person."
"Have you ever gambled?" Finn asked.
"No."
"Then how the bloody hell would you know?" she was going to speak but he cut her short, "ah, ah, no speaking. You're coming. Tell your mother whatever you want to say. Lie if you want, but I wouldn't advise that, nothing's better than telling the truth," Finn was silent for a second, just the time it took for everybody in the room to realize that what he had just said applied to other things in their lives, but pretending that he hadn't noticed, "besides, I don't think she would mind. You can tell Lorelai the truth and she'll make up some story for your grandmother. Come on Rory! It'll be fun!"
Rory thought a little, "Fine."
The guys were cheering her when Stephanie came back into the common room.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Rory's coming with us," Colin answered.
Stephanie joined in the cheering.
"Did you reschedule?" Logan asked Stephanie.
"Yeah, we're going out next week," then as if realizing what she had just said she gasped. The guys just laughed at her.
As soon as she got to her dorm, Rory took her phone to call her mother.
"Lorelai Gilmore, wanton sex goddess with a very bad man between her thighs."
"Uh, mom, did you just quote Bridget Jones' Diary?"
"Yeah, I love that line. I've always wanted to use it but I never had a bad man between my thighs when people called me before."
"I do so hope you don't have one right now either."
"I guess you'll never know," her mother answered giggling.
"Have you noticed how we can never have one normal mother daughter conversation?"
"Whose fault is that?"
"I'm going to say it's the sex goddess', but I could be wrong..."
"Whatever... kind of disturbing that you'd call your own mother a sex goddess though."
"And the fact that you answered the phone the way you did is not so disturbing?"
"You think?"
"Ok, this could go on for hours, and it's not the reason I called. I need a favor."
"Guess what? So do I! Freaky!"
"Freaky that we both need favors?"
"It's that mother daughter thing. I was just going to call you too!"
"I can see how that can be freaky. Anyway, I can't make it Friday night."
"Now that's really freaky! Neither can I!"
"What? But I was going to ask you to cover for me!"
"So was I! Feel the freakiness?"
"Oh, stop it mom, it's not freaky."
"Fine. Why can't you go?"
"Um, I'm going on a road trip," that came out as a half question.
"A road trip? Where to?"
"New Jersey."
"Specifically?"
"Well, um, specifically, Atlantic City."
"Wow! May I ask who you're going with?"
"Logan, Finn, Colin and Stephanie."
"Huh, so you're not going to dinner at your grandparents' because you're going to Atlantic City with your ex-boyfriend and your current crush. Interesting."
"Colin and Stephanie are going too!" Rory said. Lorelai chose not to tease her daughter about the fact that she didn't deny that Finn was her current crush.
"Sorry, Kid, but I can't cover for you since I'm not going either."
"Why aren't you going?"
"It's my anniversary with Luke!"
"Oh." Rory knew that was good reason. She saw that Atlantic City was not going to happen.
"I'm sorry sweetie," Lorelai said, a little disappointed that she couldn't help her daughter.
"That's ok, mom. I'm not really one to gamble. I was just going for the fun of the trip."
"Maybe some other time."
"Yeah, some other time."
"I love you sweets!"
"I love you too mom."
Rory hung up the phone disappointed. She really wanted to go, not because of the casinos, but because of the fun of spending a weekend in the company of her friends. But it wasn't going to happen so she took her phone again and dialed Logan and Finn's dorm room number.
"Yes?" It was Finn.
"Hey, Finn, its Rory."
"Hey babe, what's up?"
"Not Atlantic City."
"Uh?"
"I just spoke to my mother. I can't go with you guys."
"Your mom didn't let you?"
"No, it's not that. It's just that she's not going to dinner cause it's her anniversary with Luke, so I have to cover for her."
"That sucks!"
"I know, sorry. But hey, have fun!"
"It won't be as fun without you there," Finn said sweetly. Rory's heart raced a bit and she felt butterflies in her stomach when she heard him say that and smiled.
"Thank you, Finn."
"I mean it, Rory."
"I know you do."
They were silent for a moment.
"Oh! I know what we could do!" Finn exclaimed.
"What?"
"Do you think you could leave a bit earlier, like 8 or 8:30?"
"I think... why?"
"We could pick you up there."
"Oh, no, Finn, it's really not necessary. It would only delay you guys. I'll go some other time."
"No, come on! I'm sure the guys won't mind. We'll be there at 8:15. Is that good?"
Rory smiled again. She was glad Finn had found a solution. She was even more glad cause it seemed like he really wanted her there. She wanted to be there too.
"Fine, I'll talk to my grandmother, she won't mind it. At least I hope she doesn't."
"Ok, then. See you Friday!"
"Or before that. We do go to the same school, Finn," Rory said laughing.
"Oh yeah, I forgot. See you later then."
"See you."
Friday night came and Rory was very punctual to dinner since she was going to have to convince Emily to let her leave early to go to Atlantic City.
"Hey, Grandma," she said when she went into the living room and saw Emily.
"Rory, hello!"
"Sorry mom couldn't come," she was afraid to mention the trip right away.
"Yes, she called. It's her anniversary with the diner man. Well, at least you're here."
"Actually, I wanted to ask you something, grandma."
"What is it?" At the same time Richard walked into the room.
"Hello, Rory. I'm sorry I wasn't here to greet you when you arrived. I was on the phone."
"No problem grandpa," she said after hugging him.
"What's the question, Rory?" Emily asked again.
"Would it be alright if I left a little bit early, like 8:15?"
"But why?"
"My friends and I planned a road trip this weekend, I wasn't even going to go because of our dinner, but they said they'd pick me up here if I could leave early. If it's going to be a problem I can call them right now and tell them I can't go."
"You don't have to do that. Of course you can leave early, right Emily? The girl could use a little break."
"Thanks grandpa," Rory said with a smile, a little relieved.
"Fine, where are you going then?"
"Atlantic City."
"Atlantic City! Rory!" Emily exclaimed appalled.
"Oh, I'm not going for the casinos, grandma, don't worry. I'm just going for the company."
"Who's going with you?"
"Logan, Finn, Colin, and Stephanie."
"Logan's going! How is he? It's been such a long time since we've seen him!"
Rory hadn't told her grandparents about the break-up and she felt that this wasn't really the best time to.
"He's fine, thanks."
"And he's coming to pick you up then?"
"Uh, yes," Rory answered unsure of where her grandmother was going.
"Wonderful! We'll be able to talk to him when he gets here. Five minutes won't delay you too much, will it?"
"Uh, I guess not," Rory replied already thinking about the awkwardness this meeting was sure to cause, "would you mind if I made a quick phone call? I promised Logan I'd call to confirm."
"Sure! We'll be in the dining room waiting," Emily said and the couple left the room. Rory quickly grabbed her phone from inside her purse and speed dialed Logan's cell phone number.
"Yes?"
Rory looked confused at her phone. She was certain she had called Logan.
"Finn?" she asked.
"Hello, sweetheart."
"Why are you answering Logan's phone?"
"He was changing in his room so he asked me to answer it. Why? What's the matter? You sound nervous."
"Can he come to the phone now?"
"Rory, what's wrong?"
"Finn! Get Logan! Please, hurry! It's urgent!" Rory said a little impatient.
"Fine, no need to yell!" He handed the phone over to Logan a little hurt, Rory sounded too eager to talk to Logan, he confessed to himself that that made him a little jealous.
"Rory?"
"Ok so I didn't tell my grandparents we weren't together anymore," Rory said hurriedly.
"You didn't?" Logan asked. Maybe there was hope after all.
"They wouldn't understand. Anyway, the problem is that now they want to talk to you when you come pick me up."
"No problem."
"No problem? Logan!"
"I'll just pretend I'm your boyfriend. I've done it before, no big deal," he said smiling. Finn, who was listening attentively to the conversation felt his stomach turn when he heard what Logan said next, "I'll hug you when I get there, kiss you..."
She interrupted him, "you are not going to kiss me."
"On the forehead, whatever. I'll hold your hand the whole time and then we're ready to go. It won't be painful, promise."
Rory sighed. "I guess it's the only solution."
"We'll be there at 8:15."
"Ok."
She flipped her phone closed and headed to the dining room, not fully pleased with the solution. She just wasn't sure if she was unsatisfied because she would have to pretend she was still dating Logan and keep lying to her grandparents or because Finn would be watching the whole thing.
They got to the Gilmore residence at 8:15 sharp. Logan knew Emily wasn't one for honking so he made everybody get out of the car and went to ring the bell.
"Logan, my boy, it's been such a long time! How are you?" Emily greeted him cheerfully completely ignoring his friends. He said his hellos to Emily and Richard and walking up to Rory he kissed her on the cheek and hugged her. When Logan was hugging her Rory looked straight at Finn, who was watching the whole thing with a pain in his heart. He felt a little better though when Rory gave him a comforting look, a look that said that that hug meant nothing. He smiled at her, a sweet smile, a smile she didn't know Finn could give, but he always smiled at her like that, only at her. She smiled back a little shyly.
"Grandma, this is Colin and Stephanie, also from Yale. These are my grandparents, Richard and Emily," Rory introduced them. Then pointing at Finn, "I'm sure you remember Finn." They did remember him and they hugged him and treated him just like they had treated Logan, Emily even apologized, saying she hadn't seen him before.
Rory was beginning to feel a little impatient. She was ready to go and she wasn't one bit comfortable holding Logan's hand while Finn was right there. Logan didn't see that she wanted to go, he was actually enjoying the situation, pretending to be Rory's boyfriend. It was as if nothing had changed. He was enjoying being close to her, holding her hand, feeling her soft skin and her warmth. Finn however wasn't ignorant of Rory's wishes, he saw them in her eyes.
"I think we should go now, what do you guys say?" Rory instantly gave him a thankful look and a smile. He just nodded his head.
They said their good-byes and walked outside, Richard and Emily watched them go. Logan was going to drive and Rory was opening the door to sit in the back with Stephanie and Colin when Logan said, "aren't you riding in the front with me, dear?"
Rory looked at him. This was going too far but she couldn't say anything since her grandparents were standing in the doorway. She just smiled and said "sure" and switched places with Finn. Nobody saw what he did but Logan saw the effect. As Rory walked past him, Finn took her hand and caressed it, only once and then let it go. Rory was startled when she felt his touch and immediately froze, looking back at Finn who was going inside the car. He didn't look at her. Logan saw what Rory did and he wasn't pleased with her. He just didn't know that Finn had done something to affect her.
They arrived at their hotel late at night, but the movement was intense. The casino was full of people and so were the streets and the boardwalk. They got adjoining rooms, the guys in one room and the girls in the other. The boys didn't even unpack, they just left their bags on their beds and went straight to the casino downstairs. They invited the girls to join them, but Stephanie said that they'd unpack first. What she really wanted was to have some time alone with Rory and find out what was going on between her and Finn. She wasn't expecting Rory to open up to her, but she was hoping that she could see something in her eyes or her reactions.
"So, was it weird for you pretending to be Logan's girlfriend tonight?" she asked straight away.
Rory looked at her, "a little."
"Why?"
"Uh, because we're not together anymore."
"Can I ask you a personal question?"
"I might not answer it, but shoot."
"Do you still like Logan?"
Rory didn't even think about it, "of course I like Logan. Just because we're not dating I'm not going to stop liking him. We're still friends."
"I didn't mean it like that and you know it."
"Steph..."
"Ok, sorry, I'm not going to push it... can I ask you another personal question?"
"I'd rather you didn't."
"I'm going to anyway. Do you like Finn? And not just as friends, don't try to fool me."
Rory blushed a little and looked down. "I don't know," she muttered.
"Ok, look, I know I'm not the best person to talk to about this, and I know I'd be one of the last people you would actually have this conversation with, but I'm here now and I want to help. Logan loves you. He does, I know it, you know it, Finn knows it, everybody knows it. He was stupid to break-up with you. Everybody knows that too. I totally understand you not forgiving him right away, I wouldn't forgive him either..."
"Look, Steph, I appreciate what you're trying to do, defending Logan, but," Stephanie interrupted her.
"I'm not defending Logan, I'm just stating a fact. Another fact is that it appears that now Finn is falling for you. Don't be embarrassed, it's getting pretty obvious. What I want to say is simply this: be careful."
"Be careful? What, with Finn?"
"With everything. Don't do anything you'd regret later. Unless you're completely sure about things, don't do anything that would not only hurt you but others too."
Rory looked at Stephanie. She was right. Rory had to be careful, it wasn't only her life, but other people were involved too, people that she really cared about and the thought of hurting either one of them was horrible. She hated being in this situation.
Minutes later, when they finished unpacking, Stephanie went down to the casino, but Rory didn't want to. She lay down in her bed and fell asleep waking up about two hours later when she heard a knock on the door. She looked at the clock, it was almost 2 am. She grunted and looked over to Stephanie's bed, she wasn't in it, so she figured she had forgotten her key. She struggled with the bed sheet but managed to stand up and walk to door still half asleep. She instantly woke up when she saw that it wasn't Stephanie but Finn who was knocking on the door.
"Finn, what are you doing here? It's 2 in the morning."
"Were you sleeping?"
"What do you think?" she said whining a bit.
"You're in Atlantic City! You shouldn't be sleeping, you should be gambling!"
"But I don't wanna gamble, I wanna sleep! I'm tired! It's 2 in the morning!"
"You've said that."
"And yet you're still here."
"I'm not leaving."
"Why?" she asked pretending to sob.
"I want to talk to you and I thought that now was the best time."
"2 in the morning?" Rory asked him serious.
"Everybody's downstairs and they're not coming back soon, so yeah, now is the best time."
"I don' think so, Finn, my brain is numb, I can't think, please, can't this wait until tomorrow?"
"You know it can't." Finn was serious, and Rory understood what he was talking about. They stared at each other for a while in silence but that silence said a lot. Finn gave a step forward and Rory took a step back, going inside the room. Finn grabbed her right arm, not letting her move back anymore and moved even closer to her.
"Rory..."
"Finn, don't," she barely said that. Their faces were only inches apart.
"Why not?" he asked in a whisper, his eyes locked on hers.
"It's too complicated," she said remembering her talk with Stephanie only an hour ago.
"It's not so complicated."
"Yes, it is."
"Do you like me?" he asked. He had never felt his heart race like that before.
Rory was silent for a minute. "yes," she whispered.
Finn let go of her arm and touched her face, running his fingers through her cheek. She didn't move this time.
"Then it's not so complicated. You like me, I like you, very simple."
"Finn, I can't do this..." she said shaking her head, tears falling slowly down. Finn dried those tears with his fingers and then kissed her forehead. Rory closed her eyes, wishing she was dreaming. She opened them again but Finn was still there looking her in the eye. She saw him move even closer, she felt the heat coming out of his body. She trembled when he put his hand on her back and pulled her to him, leaving no space between them. His other hand was still on her face and he was tucking a strand of hair behind her ear when she whispered, "Finn, please..." Her whole body was trembling. Finn didn't let her finish what she was going to say, he moved his hand from her face to the back of her neck and pulled her head towards his. He looked at her for a second, her eyes closed and her lips apart, she wasn't going to resist anymore. He met her lips with his own. They were soft and sweet, just how he thought they would be. Afraid she might fall, Rory held Finn's arm. He held her tighter as her lips opened wider inviting him in. Their racing hearts beat as one as their tongues battled inside their mouths. Rory ran her hand up his arm to his neck and then ran her fingers through his hair, making Finn tremble. The need for air made them pull away. Finn looked at Rory, her eyes still closed. Never had he kissed a girl like this, so passionately, yet so sweetly. He just couldn't believe this was happening to him. Suddenly he didn't blame Logan for breaking up with her anymore, even he was scared of what he was feeling, and that was their first kiss. Rory also had a lot going on inside her. She couldn't let go of Finn's arm, since she didn't trust her legs to keep her balanced, and she was desperately trying to make her heart beat just a little slower so she could stop shaking. 'How did this happen?' she thought to herself. A guy, who just a month ago was nothing to her but her boyfriend's best friend, was now a guy that could take her breath away, that could make her lose her ground, that could make her melt down with just one kiss. But what a kiss! It was perfect, it was sweet, it was gentle but it burned. She had never kissed like that, she had never kissed a guy who could make her shake the way she was, not even Logan kissed like that and he was a great kisser. Logan!
Rory suddenly opened her eyes and took a step back, startling Finn, who was still enjoying being so close to her.
"What's wrong?" he asked whispering and taking a step towards her. She took another step back.
"Please leave."
"Rory..."
"Finn, please leave," she said again.
He looked at her and he understood. She was thinking about Logan.
"I'm not going to tell him."
"Just leave, please," she said turning her back to him, trying to hide her tears.
"Ok, I'll leave," he said. She didn't see him walking towards her. His touch on her shoulder made her turn instantly to face him. He dried her tears with his fingers again.
"I'm sorry," he said, his hands on her face.
"Don't be. I don't want you to. I just want you to leave. I just want to be alone now."
"I understand." He leaned in slowly, waiting for her to move back her head, but she didn't. He gave her a soft kiss and then let her go. She had to grab hold of a chair afraid she might fall then watched as Finn left the room and closed the door behind him. She sat down on her bed, her mind going completely blank. She didn't know what to think, she didn't know what to do. She wished she had never come to this trip, but then she took the wish back. If she had never come, she wouldn't have experienced that kiss, that earth shattering kiss. She put her fingers on her lips and closed her eyes, she could still feel Finn's lips touching hers. She sighed and laid down in her bed and waited for the sleep that never came.