Puppet Master
Rory looked at her reflection in the mirror. It was amazing that Logan had managed to pick out the right sizes – with almost stalker-ish precision. Although, the most mind boggling aspect was where he planned on taking her dressed in faded blue jeans and a black blouse with pink polka dots. Sure, she looked nice in them, but not nearly nice enough to frequent any high-society places that she was sure that Logan typically frequented. Mentally she shrugged; he had to have something in mind when he left the clothes for her.
Her gaze landed on the ring that adorned her neck. Impulsively, she undid the chain and slipped the ring off of it. After a couple of minutes of reflection, she slid it onto her ring finger. Logan was sure to flip when he saw it and it would be worth the explanations she would have to dish out to see the look on his face when he caught a glimpse of her hand. She knew that when he left the note, he fully expected her to wear it on the chain, but it was fun to one-up him occasionally.
With a final touch up to her hair and make up, she decided she was presentable. Deciding to skip her purse, she reached for a small paperback and exited the suite. She knew he was picking her up, but she wanted to avoid Paris' inevitable interrogation when Logan came to the door, so she plopped herself down directly outside the door, extended her legs and started to read.
She was twenty pages into the book when a shadow fell on the page she was reading. It distracted her, and she glanced up. "Hey," she said.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Reading? What did it look like?"
"And why would you be doing that in the middle of the hallway?"
"Can you think of a better place to read?"
"As a matter of fact yes. Did it never occur to you that you are probably in people's way?"
"It occurred to me, but then I thought that if Yale students can't watch where they're going, they probably deserve whatever happens when they trip over my feet. Evolution in action!"
He shook his head. "There's something that doesn't compute with your logic, but I can't figure out what it is."
She giggled, and really looked at him for the first time. Abruptly, she stopped laughing as she took in his very un-Logan-like apparel. He wore pair of just-baggy-enough jeans and a plain white tee-shirt underneath a black leather jacket that fit him perfectly.
When her once-over reached his face, he had one eyebrow raised. "Like what you see, Ace?"
"Wipe that smirk off your face, Huntzberger. I was just surprised to see you looking normal for once."
"Normal?"
"Like a normal college kid," she elaborated.
"Now, we can't have that, can we? Would you prefer I go back and change?"
"No, this is fine."
"I'm glad I have your seal of approval." With that he offered her a hand up. She quickly clasped his hand and he pulled her up. When she was fully standing, she stuffed the paperback in her back pocket in a very Jess-like manner. Only when she finished stowing her book did she notice that Logan was still holding her hand, and staring at it as if it were some kind of incurable disease. Belatedly, she realized she had given him the hand that the ring was on and the ring was what held his attention so raptly.
"What?" she asked merrily. "You told me to wear it."
At her mildly teasing tone, he regained his composure. "Yes, yes. Of course I did. Alright, let's go, if we don't get there quickly we might have to wait."
Rory was dancing around internally. She had managed to get under his impenetrable composure. She rocked! "What, you mean you didn't get us a reservation? I'm disappointed."
"Yes, well, this isn't the kind of place they give out reservations."
"It isn't?" Rory enquired. "Hmm, how quaint!"
Logan laughed. "Don't pass judgment until we get there at least, please. I'm hoping you'll have fun!"
"Well, we're here," Logan announced, fifteen minutes later.
"A bowling alley?" Rory asked dubiously.
"Yes, a bowling alley!" Logan laughed.
"And what, may I ask are we doing at a bowling alley?" Rory's face had taken on a disgusted look.
"Going bowling." Logan informed her primly. "What else do you do at a bowling alley?" He ducked the slap Rory had aimed at the back of his head.
"Gilmore girls do not bowl."
Logan didn't look the least bit put out by her lack of enthusiasm at the prospect. "Says who?"
"The great and trusty manual of all things Gilmore. Chapter three, section eight, line two: Gilmore girls do not play sports."
"You're don't know what you're missing out on, Ace."
She turned on him. "You bowl?" she asked, momentarily putting aside her dislike for physical activity.
"Yes, I bowl. I have since I was big enough to hold a bowling ball. Grandfather insisted I take up a sport."
"Of course," said Rory flippantly, "but shouldn't a gentleman such as yourself be playing some 'respectable' sport, like golf or polo?"
"Bah, golf is boring."
"I'll grant you that, but bowling? Smoky atmosphere, cheap beer and raucous noise? I'm sorry I just can't picture you bowling."
"Well, then, you're in for a treat, Ace. You can see it for yourself, because we are going bowling."
"Correction, you are going bowling. I am going home." She turned on her heal, but Logan caught her arm and spun her back around.
"Come on, Ace. Live a little. Experience everything once, right?"
He could see her wavering a bit and went in for the kill. "There'll be pizza."
"Pizza?"
"And junk food."
She was still teetering somewhere in the middle.
"And coffee."
"Fine, but you owe me."
Rory held her bowling shoes between two fingers and well away from her body. "You expect me to wear these things?"
"Hey, it's all part of the experience."
"Let me guess, I'm not to disrupt the integrity of the event?"
"I wasn't going to go that far, but yes. Now put on the shoes."
Rory complied, but muttered darkly under her breath – something about an almost blasphemous lack of fashion in the current bowling industry. Logan just laughed appreciatively.
When Rory finished tying the laces, she picked up her bright pink bowling ball and turned to Logan. "So, how do I do this?"
Logan looked at her. "You weren't kidding, were you? You've never gone bowling?"
"No, I've never gone bowling. The only sport I've ever played is golf."
Logan's face scrunched up as he tried to imagine Rory playing golf. "Golf?"
"My grandfather taught me. I needed to play a sport for Chilton."
"That explains it then."
"You should've seen the hat I had to wear."
Rory just stood there, holding the ball awkwardly. Eventually, Logan took pity on her. He walked to her side and placed himself directly behind her. He put his hands on hers and carefully guided her as she bowled. When she let go of the ball, Logan disengaged himself from her and she found herself wishing he hadn't, but still recovering from the tingly feeling that came over her every time he touched her.
Two games later, Rory and Logan were finishing up their large pizza. Much to her surprise, Rory had enjoyed herself a lot and said as much to Logan.
"I can't believe how much fun this is."
"Now maybe you'll believe me when I say you shouldn't condemn something before you try it?"
"Maybe." She laughed.
They took back their shoes and quickly gathered up their belongings. Impulsively, Rory grabbed Logan's hand as they walked to the exit. In that moment, they looked at each other, and quite unfortunately, stopped looking where they were going. Rory was jostled by someone moving in the other direction, and she quickly looked up.
"Hey Steph."
"Ror."
"Whatcha doing here?"
"Oh, just hanging out," as she said it, Stephanie made a pointed glance in the direction of the counter. Logan and Rory followed her gaze. Abruptly, Rory began laughing.
The other two looked at her. "What?"
"Colin?! Bowling?!" Slowly, the other two seemed to see what had made Rory so giggly. Colin, an even more prim and fastidious individual than Logan, in a bowling alley? The juxtaposition was exquisite.
Colin walked over, un-amused.
Rory looked questioningly at Stephanie, who shrugged. "I just thought I'd do both at the same time." This seemingly enigmatic comment satisfied Rory.
"Have a good time," she said, nodding at Colin and Stephanie before dragging Logan away.
When they were outside, Logan looked at her questioningly. "Both at the same time?"
"I told her to put her happiness first and punish him later. I assume she's trying to be happy and punish him at the same time."
Logan just laughed.
When they arrived at her door, he turned to face her. "I had a great time, Ace."
"Me too," Rory said shyly. "I would never have believed bowling could be so much fun."
"I was talking about the company. I had a great time with you Ace."
"Calm down," said Rory, stifling a giggle. "That's what I meant too."
He leaned down, gave her a quick kiss and pulled away.
"Don't think you can get away with that, buddy," Rory warned. "I want a better kiss than that!"
With a smirk, Logan complied. A minute later, he pulled away, breathless. "I'll see you tomorrow, Ace."
"Bye Logan!"
AN: So, they actually went on a date. I can just hear what you guys are going to say: 'Logan, bowling? That's OOC!' Well, I'm sorry about that. I just couldn't picture Rory enjoying the kind of first date I picture Logan going on and I think that he would know that too. Anyway, I think that bowling would be a great first date, but I'm sure you all have your own opinions about that. (I must confess, I don't have a lot of experience dating…don't tell anyone, but I've never been on a date before…so this is all right out of my imagination).
I'm planning on delving a bit more into the Stephanie/Colin relationship; it just didn't fit in this chapter. So far I've just written when Rory and/or Logan are in the scene, but what do you guys think about some Stephanie scenes? Or maybe Colin scenes? Or Finn…or Lane…or Paris…or Kirk? Okay, I admit, a Kirk scene probably wouldn't ever happen, but I hope you all would be willing to try the others out…
Thanks for all of the reviews! - Rebecca