Puppet Master

The phone rang shrilly in Rory's ear. She rolled over with a groan and reached blindly for the phone. Finding it, she pressed the call button and leisurely put it to her ear.

"Whoever this is better have a damn good reason for waking me up at," here she gingerly opened her left eye to sneak a peak at the glaring red numbers on her clock, "9:47?!" She shot straight out of bed. "Oh my god! I have class in thirteen minutes!"

"Calm down Ace," came the irritatingly nonchalant voice on the other end. "It's Sunday."

Rory took a moment to mentally review her schedule. She sighed, although that quickly turned into a groan. "Why, then, did you insist on waking me up so early on my one day to sleep in?"

"Sorry Ace. Almost ten is not so early where I come from. Anyway, I was calling to see if you might possibly want to go on a date tonight?"

"Well, it would depend on who was asking," Rory replied coyly.

"What do you mean? I'm asking." It was obvious that Logan was not used to being rebuffed by girls; especially those ones with whom he had come to a tentative previous arrangement.

"Dang it. Well, I'm not sure I have time for you. If it had been Finn, then I probably could have penciled him in, but Huntzberger? I'm sorry, your name doesn't have enough pull with me." Finally Logan caught the slight teasing tone in her voice.

"Rory," he growled.

"What-y?" she singsong-ed back at him.

Her tone irritated him. "I'll pick you up at 7:00. Dress casual." In his irritation, he became painfully abrupt, his cockiness surfacing as he hung up the phone without another word. Rory heard the click and smirked down at the phone. It was good to know that she could push some of his buttons.

Logan glared at the phone as he set it down. Why had he let her mild teasing rile him up? He felt like a chauvinistic prick. He could tease her, but she could tease him? Alright, he had overreacted, but he hoped that he could make up for it tonight.

"So, Logan," Finn bounded into the room, "there's a party tonight at Steph's dorm. You coming? I hear there's gonna be some real babes there! Yum-yum!" Finn licked his lips.

Logan made a face. "Finn, that is absolutely disgusting. After knowing you for so long, I guess I should be used to it, but you need to learn that girls aren't just pieces of meat."

Finn looked at Logan like he had grown another head. "Logan? Where do you come off lecturing me? You, Mr. Player Extraordinaire?"

Logan looked indignant. "Excuse me. I have never treated girls like you do!"

Finn was ready to retort when his face lit up with understanding. "Sure you keep telling yourself that. Maybe you'll even be able to convince Rory." He smirked.

"What?! Finn are you drunk?"

"Most unfortunately, not yet. It's so obvious, Logan. You, mate, are trying to play up the good boy image to impress Rory. Personally, I don't think you stand much chance of having her buy it. She's too smart for you."

Logan looked shocked, but recovered quickly. "Ha! Shows how much you know! We're going on a date tonight."

"Hey, I never said she wouldn't date you! I just think she will see through the various fronts you put up! But I could be wrong." Finn shrugged and exited the room before Logan could reply.

As much as Logan hated to admit it, Finn had given him something to think about. He had already known that Rory was not a girl that would be impressed by money and influence. What he hadn't counted on was that she might see through him, through his walls and try to get to know the real Logan. The Logan that was kept hidden. The Logan whose insecurities were covered up by measured nonchalance. The Logan he had never truly allowed himself to be.

Yes, tonight would be interesting.

Rory was ready early for once. In a series of lucky coincidences, Paris had left early for a date with Doyle, letting Rory finish both her paper for Western Religions and her article for the newspaper without interruptions. She had managed to find all the pieces for her casual ensemble hung up neatly in her closet, which negated the need for the extra ten minutes she usually gave herself for frantic searching underneath the bed and in between the couch cushions for her shoes, purse, earrings, etc. So at ten minutes before seven, she sat down to watch CNN and wait.

When Logan hadn't showed up twenty minutes later, she was beginning to get worried. She decided to give him five more minutes. Right when she was about to give up and go slip into some soft pajamas and curl up with a good book, there was a knock on the door. She opened it with a mock scowl on her face. "I thought you were standing me up."

"No! No, Colin just had an emergency and it delayed me."

"Do I even want to know?"

"Probably not." He grandly offered her his arm, which she took with a giggle.

"So, where are we going?" Rory had to admit that she was curious.

"Well, I thought we'd start with some friendly drinks at the Pub and see where things go from there."

"You want to get me intoxicated? And here I thought you were a gentleman."

He heard her slightly teasing tone and made an effort to answer her lightly. "Not at all."

Before he could continue, Rory interrupted hurriedly, "You're not a gentleman?"

"Hey, don't twist my words around!"

Rory chuckled lightly. "Alright, set me straight."

"What I meant was I don't want to get you drunk and take advantage of that. I just thought that the pub would offer a friendly atmosphere to get to know each other, as it were."

"Very well, I admit you have a valid point, and although I'm sure you know all about me, lead on!"

AN: How boring! I know. I'm just trying to get a sense of direction, familiarize myself with where this is going. I hope it isn't disappointing everyone too badly. Thank you everyone for the kind reviews of the last chapter. When I reread it myself, it seemed almost rushed a little, but that's the way it goes.

I really want to hear what you think about this chapter. Please?!

Love ya! -Rebecca