Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything up to Jews and Chinese Food is fair game. Past that, it's just where my mind takes over.
Teaser: When Rory and Logan's arrangement goes prematurely sour, his friends take it upon themselves to intervene. Sequel to Keeping it Casual
Story Title: Nothing A Good Friend Wouldn't Do
Chapter Title: Leaving It To The Girls
"So, tell me about your family," Colin said after taking a long sip of scotch. He was a scotch on the rocks kind of guy. It was the only thing she'd ever seen him drink, apart from wine. This was basically the most personal information she knew about this person, other than he had a lot of mothers and attended school in Switzerland. He was a great unknown to her, but then she realized, Logan was no different. She knew less about him, if that were even possible.
"My family? Why?"
He shrugged. "Just curious, you haven't really talked about yourself."
She smiled. "So, you want to know me?"
"I'd like to know you better, yes. Is that so wrong?"
"No, it's not. But I have to warn you, I'm not all that exciting."
"I wouldn't say that," he said, looking just over her shoulder. He could see Finn, and was awaiting the signal. It was hard to keep the timing just right, getting her all prepped while his tipsy friend was setting up the audience.
"Finn, you're going to have to get him over here," Stephanie rolled her eyes.
"I'm trying. He's all sulky tonight. I hate that," he complained.
"Let me try," she patted his shoulder, "You stay here where Colin is in direct view. I'll be right back with our man."
Stephanie took leave of Finn, and strolled up to Logan and Jill, who were fifty feet off to the wrong side to witness Colin's next maneuver. She pitied Jill, this poor girl who was doing her friendly duty, but was obviously not having a good time with the sullen Logan. He was beside himself, but attempting to put on airs of nothing being wrong. She leaned in to Jill's ear.
"Girls have to do everything, don't they?"
Jill giggled, causing Logan to look up. "Hey, Steph. What's up?"
"I need your help with Finn."
"Three sheets to the wind?"
"Four," she nodded, shrugging and giving an apologetic look to Jill.
"Come on, let's get a move on before this gets bad. Remember the last time Finn mixed drinking and large bodies of water?"
Jill looked between them. "What happened?"
"Let's just say he was trying to get the attention of a cute lifeguard, and we all ended up in the emergency room all night."
Jill grimaced, as Logan moved over to find his friend. Stephanie held her back and whispered the plan into her ear quickly. Jill nodded, and they followed Logan over.
"Hey, Finn, come on, let's get moving back towards land, huh?" Logan said in an upbeat fashion, not wanting to sound put out. It wasn't like this party was going well anyhow.
"LOGAN! I'm so happy to see you. I've been meaning to ask you something all evening!" Finn exclaimed, his shouting Logan's name so loud it caused Rory to jump and begin to turn away from Colin. Colin reached out to put his hand on her shoulder, to attempt to keep her from looking away. He hoped Logan would soon be facing them, because if this wasn't his chance, he was never going to get one. He saw Finn grasp hold of Logan, pulling him into a hug before swirling him around as many a good drunk does in moments of inebriated joy. Colin's grasp turned soft, and he moved his hand gently from her shoulder down to her elbow. He heard her breath hitch slightly, and he leaned in towards her, willing his eyes to stay off his friend. This must not look like a challenge.
Logan stopped still. His prior firm grip on his friend loosened, as he openly watched Colin move in to kiss Rory. The other three held their breath, exchanging looks before watching as he moved mindlessly away from the group, and off towards the canoodling pair.
Colin kissed her softly, barely brushing his lips against hers. She didn't respond to his actions, too surprised to react. By the time he was pulling away, she knew she should say something. She didn't get the chance, however.
"Rory, I need to talk to you."
"Logan," she sighed, and turned to face him.
"Do you have a problem? We're sort of in the middle of something here," Colin said, moving between Logan and Rory.
"I saw, and we'll talk later," Logan said, his tone firm.
"I'm not going anywhere with you," she said, her tone not so firm, her eyes downcast.
"Please?" his tone softer, more pleading. He knew she didn't like being bossed, and he might have been more mindful of that fact had his blind rage not have taken over his senses just moments before.
"Rory?" Colin turned to her, trying to play out his part here. A gentleman wouldn't just let her get taken away.
"I'm sorry. I'll be right back," she said, ever polite, and moved to follow Logan down the beach a ways.
Colin smiled, and turned to his friends, giving them thumbs up. Finn picked up Jill, twirling her around a bit, as she eyed the ocean fearfully.
"What is wrong with you?" she asked. Her tone was accusatory.
"I can't do this. I'm not cool with this."
"With what?"
"You dating my friends."
"You say that like this is a new occurrence. We've been seeing other people this whole time, just because we're not, you know, anymore," she looked up at him finally.
"You're right. We have been seeing other people. You've dated almost every single one of my friends. Everyone but Colin and Finn, my two best. Why is it that you've only dated my friends?"
"What?"
"My friends, why were they chosen as your escorts?"
She huffed, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"It's a pretty big coincidence."
"You seem to have taken an awfully large interest in who I've been seeing. I couldn't name one of the girls you've taken out."
"Bull."
"Fine, Jill, but you told me yourself you aren't dating Jill."
He looked at her, still frustrated, the blood still beating against his veins. He moved close to her, and before she could protest or encourage, he pulled her to him, his lips covering hers. One hand held the back of her head, and the other snaked around to the small of her back. She grabbed hold of his arms, her fingers turning white from the pressure.
He pulled back after a moment, and she looked at him with a furrowed brow as she tried to push back farther. He held her in his arms, not allowing her much movement.
"What are you doing?"
"I told you, I don't like seeing you with other guys."
"Well, there isn't anything you can do about that," she said weakly, unable to rip her gaze from his.
"Yes, there is," he said, moving closer once again. Her look of confusion melted as her eyes closed, as always unable not to react to the feel of his lips parting hers. She wanted to ignore the nagging feeling that was building up inside of her, to let the other feeling that was brewing just south of it take over.
She was the one to pull away first this time, shaking her head. "No, we can't do this."
"What are you talking about? Who's stopping us, Colin? You didn't kiss him like you kiss me," he pointed out.
"I don't kiss anyone the way I kiss you. That's not the point."
"What is the point?" he threw his hands up in the salty air.
"The point is, just because we have great sex doesn't mean we should be together. I don't know anything about you, Logan."
"What do you want to know, ask me."
"Do you really want to be with me?"
"I really don't want to be without you."
She looked at him, saddened by the answer that he gave. So close, yet so far. "What about the others?"
"What others? There are no others," he insisted.
"You aren't ready for this. You told me before, and I believe it now. It's okay."
"Rory, stop. Don't do this."
"Tell me why you can't be in a real relationship with me. Then I'll stay," she promised, looking at him expectantly.
"You know, you aren't an open book," he evaded.
"What does that mean?"
"You didn't want a relationship either. In fact, you just broke up with someone when I met you, and you were heartbroken. You never told me what happened there."
"You never asked."
"I asked if you were okay."
"Past that. You didn't want to know, you didn't want to get into my life."
"Well, I can safely say that's impossible."
"All you do is evade any personal questions I ask you. You're doing it right now!"
He put his hand on her shoulder, feeling her slipping away again. "I've been at the paper because my dad laid down an ultimatum."
She drew back, in surprise. "What?"
"Is that the kind of stuff you want to know about me? How I have no say in my own future and I'm trying to cram a lifetime worth of good times in before I hit college graduation and begin living the life my family began a century ago?"
"Logan," she breathed, moving towards him.
"I guess you're right, you can't just evade those things," he said bitterly.
"I'm sorry," she offered sincerely.
"So am I," he said, looking at her one last time before turning and walking away. She stood there, staring after him.
XXXX
"Should we go talk to them?" Jill asked, looking at the others.
"I'll go to him," Stephanie offered. "You go to her," she looked at Jill.
"What about us?" Finn asked.
"Emotions are delicate matters, boys. Have a beer," Stephanie called over her shoulder as she went out the direction Logan had wandered off to. Jill hurried out to Rory, unsure of what exactly she was going to say to the girl. She still stood, watching now as Stephanie approached him and put an arm around his shoulder.
"They're just friends," Jill assured her.
"They all are."
"Hey, seriously. She's worried about him. You and him," she added.
Rory looked to Jill. "Aren't you here with him?"
"He's like my dorky cousin. No offense," she waved her comment off, and Rory smiled.
"You don't have to do this," Rory assured her.
"Oh, no. I do. He would want me to, if he had a brain in his head."
"No, he wouldn't. There's nothing to rectify."
"So, you aren't madly in love with him?"
Rory looked at the girl in shock, not believing those words had come out of her mouth.
"It's pretty obvious when you look at him. It's a two way street, he's crazy about you, too."
"He just wants sex," she said quietly, unsure of how open to be with this veritable stranger.
"He wouldn't keep coming back to you just for that, he's a guy, but a good one."
"He's infuriating. He wants to have me to himself, but he doesn't want a commitment. He can't have it both ways."
Jill sighed, and looked over at her idiotic friend before continuing. "Okay, there are some things you should know. But if you ever reveal that I was the one that imparted you with such wisdom, well, you'll die. Got me?"
Rory nodded, brow furrowed, but curious. "Gotcha."
XXXX
"God, you guys are such idiots," she said, slipping her arm around his shoulders.
"Thanks, Steph. And here I was worried you were concerned about me."
"You like her."
"I do."
"You won't date her."
"I can't."
"Logan," she groaned.
"What?"
"You're giving us ulcers."
"You know why."
"I think you're crazy. It's not that bad."
"It is that bad. I like her. I can't sleep or eat or read a goddamn book for thinking of her. I'm going to fail college, and then I won't have to worry about taking over for Dad."
"See, she's good for you," she giggled before he gave her a pained look.
"You can go now."
"Logan, listen to me. Did you ever think that if you just explained all this to her, she'd understand and decide that being with you is worth everything that might potentially stand in your way?"
He looked at her, taking in her words. "No."
"Well, try using your brains for once. You can't get along on just your good looks forever," she smiled.
He smiled back, and thought about her words. He looked up, noticing for the first time that Jill was talking animatedly to Rory. Rory's attention was captivated, and she stole a glance in his direction. Their eyes locked before she looked back at Jill.
"Oh, shit."
