Puppet Master

Rory picked up the phone again, and hit the speed dial. "Hey Mom. Sorry about that, I just had to get rid of a couple of troublemakers…Oh, it wasn't anything too horrible, just Finn and Colin trying to get me to gossip."

Rory listened to her mother for a couple of minutes before butting in. "I'm sorry, Mom, but I really have to get ready for class…yeah, I guess I could skip, but since grandma and grandpa are paying good money for this education, I might as well get the most out of it, right? Love 'ya!"

Rory hung up and looked at the clock. Her eyes widened at the time – she hadn't realized it was that late! She ran around quickly to get ready. As she headed out the door, she fretted because there wasn't time to grab any coffee.

As she stormed down the hall, she almost bumped into somebody. "I'm sorry!" she called, not looking up to see who she nearly hit.

"Hey Ace, where's the fire?"

She looked up at the sound of Logan's voice and flashed him a tired smile. "Sorry, I'm just late for class!"

"It wouldn't be the first time that's happened, so slow down a bit!"

"I can't! McLanahan is a stickler for punctuality." Rory turned around again, and headed off at a near jog.

"Most professors are, Ace!" observed Logan as he fell in step with her. When Rory didn't say anything, he pulled a cup out from behind his back. "I brought coffee," he said, holding the cup in front of her face.

"Bless you," said Rory emphatically with a sigh of relief before she stuffed the cup to her face.

"Forgive me if I sound too curious, but what is it that has you running around like a chicken with its head cut off?"

"Thanks for that visual," commented Rory. "And if you must know, Paris woke me up at an ungodly hour this morning before your roommates came over to do their Stars Hollow-gossip-monger impression."

"They didn't bother you too much, did they?"

"Oh, it wasn't too horribly bad," said Rory. "I convinced them that you were on your way over and they made their timely escape through my bedroom window."

"Not too unusual of a circumstance for Finn and Colin, although I must say, they don't usually escape from my girlfriend's bedroom!" commented Logan nonchalantly.

Rory laughed. "Subtle!"

"Yeah, I thought so."

"So, I don't mean to pry or anything, but is there any reason you were seeking me out this morning?"

"What? I can't just come over to see my beautiful girlfriend and give her coffee?"

Rory shook her head suspiciously. "Nope!"

"Okay, the coffee was "apology coffee" for last night," he said using air quotes.

"Hey, I told you it was fine!"

"All girls say that, even when they don't mean it! You know what fine stands for, don't you?"

"Freaked out, insecure, neurotic and emotional!"

"What?"

"The Italian Job. That was what you were referring to, wasn't it?"

"No. I was going to say 'feelings inside not expressed,'" said Logan, confused.

"Oh. I like mine better!"

"Yeah well, I'm obviously not as up on pop culture references as you are!"

"That's too bad, because it could be a deal breaker. Any boyfriend of mine should be able to keep up with the pop culture references!"

"Even after I passed the overbearing mother test?"

"Come on, my mother is not overbearing! But yes, even after getting the mother's stamp of approval!"

"Well, I'll have to work on that, won't I? Maybe Finn could tutor me!"

"You think Finn could help you?"

"Well, I did catch him watching Desperate Housewives the other day!"

"Housewives is good, but I prefer the hour before them."

"What's on before them?"

"Oh, you need some serious help if you've never heard about Extreme Makeover: Home Edition!"

"Wait, wait, wait! That's the one with….oh I know this…some guy named Ty?"

Rory nodded enthusiastically. "Ty Pennington! He's so much fun!" They arrived at Rory's classroom. "Okay, here's my class!"

As she moved to enter the room, Logan grabbed her by the arm. "So I actually came over to see if you would want to be my date for the next Life and Death Brigade event?"

Rory tugged on her arm impatiently. "Logan! I really need to get to class!"

"Just say you'll go!"

"When?"

"Just say you'll go!" he urged.

"Fine! I'll go! Now can I get to class?"

"Not quite yet!"

"What is it now, Logan?" Rory demanded fiercely.

Logan leaned down and kissed her, hard. She felt her knees go weak, and was incredibly glad for his hand on her back, supporting her. Much too soon for Rory's liking, Logan pulled away.

"Have a good day, Ace!" He winked at her before turning on his heels and walking away.

After Finn and Colin found their way back to the suite, Colin seemed to regain his hangover. As they sat down to play a quick game of poker, Finn seemed to notice his friend's morose mood.

"What's wrong mate?"

"I'm fine!"

At that moment, Logan entered the room. "Freaked out, insecure, neurotic and emotional?" he questioned Colin with a devilish grin.

Finn looked at Logan, surprised. "I didn't know you'd seen the Italian Job!"

"I haven't. How is it that everyone manages to keep up with pop culture but me?"

Colin was glad that all the attention had shifted off of him. "You're too busy charming all of the girls within a hundred mile radius," he piped up. That ended up being a mistake, because Finn looked back at him and remembered the previous line of questioning.

"No really, mate, what's wrong? Is it something with the delightful Miss Stephanie?"

Colin couldn't make eye contact. His friends were much too good at reading him. He sighed, not completely comfortable at divulging this type of thing. "Yes and no."

Logan pulled a chair and spun it around, sitting down and leaning his chin on the back of it. "Well, which is it? Yes or no?"

"It's not that simple!" protested Colin.

"I've yet to find a situation that isn't that simple," said Finn.

"You live a simple life!" shot back Colin.

Finn refused to take the bait. "So what is it about Steph that intimidates you so much?"

"Hey! I'm not intimidated…just confused."

"Confused? What's confusing?" Both Logan and Finn were lost.

"I don't know what this means to her. It's like this is all a game to her. She enjoys humiliating me, but she also…" Colin trailed off, unsure how to complete the thought.

"She likes you. A lot." Finn was serious. "I mean, come on mate, she blushed!"

Logan raised his eyebrow. "That means something. And if it's not enough to convince you, just ask her."

"Yeah right. You don't just ask a girl something like that!"

"Sure you do!"

Colin looked at his friends as if they had grown three heads. "There's no talking to you when you are like this. Completely crazy if I've ever heard it," he muttered throwing his hands up in disgust as he made his escape to his bedroom.

"Poor chap!" remarked Finn.

"He's got it bad!" agreed Logan.

Finn looked askance at Logan with a smirk. "He's not the only one!"

AN: I hope you guys like this chapter. The story seems to be wrapping up quickly, so expect the end within the next few chapters or so... Although even with the end coming, I'd really like to hear what you think!