Summary: Post-BNACAP. Rory doesn't want to get hurt again and Logan doesn't want commitment. They're in a safely defined friendship with Rory playing his matchmaker, but will they risk this for what they really want…each other?

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Gilmore Girls; they are property of the WB, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Hofflund-Polone and Dorothy Drank Here Productions.

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews. As for where this story is going… Well the pairing is definitely R/L and I like the build-up to a relationship, so there is going to be obstacles,misunderstandings, denials and stubbornness from both sides. Both of them will get jealous at times, but whether or not they actually cop to being jealous is another issue.I'm pretty proud of myself because I actually feel like this is one fic that I'll see through to completion. I worked out the entire plot and everything. And I changed the story summary so it conveys more of the actual storyline. Now on to the story...(p.s. it should be obvious by now that I like super-long scenes, you have to love the drawn out R/L sexual tension and verbal foreplay).

Chapter 2: Alcohol-Induced Moments of Brilliance

"Do you recall that time Finn peed in the bushes outside the Dean's office while the administration was meeting in there? I think the Dean's secretary was especially impressed by the show." Logan chortled, as he regaled the table, which consisted of Rory, Finn, Colin, Stephanie, Rosemary and some other LDBers, with embarrassing tales of their exploits.

"When nature calls, you must answer." Finn rowdily proclaimed. "Besides, those hydrangea looked a wee bit undernourished."

"That's not the only thing that was wee, Finnegan." Colin quipped.

"Do not cast aspersions on my endowment, Colin. For everyone's information, I am a superior specimen of manhood."

"That's a little too much information, Finn." Rosemary added, looking particularly uninterested, not to mention disgusted.

"Don't fret, darling. You'll see it for yourself later tonight." Finn winked.

As Finn carried on the narrative, Logan glimpsed briefly at Rory, who was laughing at his bickering two best friends. He leaned over slightly to whisper in her ear. "Tell me this is more fun than researching Jung and Freud."

"Must you always prove your point?" Rory grimaced in mock exasperation. "It's tiring, Huntzberger."

"Really? Most girls appreciate my persistence."

"It's just…annoying. Doesn't enhance your personality at all."

"So you're saying my personality is so first-rate, it needs no improvement."

"Now there's creative license and there's delusional, you're firmly in the latter category."

Logan chuckled and rested his arm on the back of her chair comfortably. Rory was always ready with a clever retort; that was one of the things he really liked about her. Huh? He wasn't ready to dwell further on that thought and was about to continue the banter, when a whiff of perfume and a hand on his shoulder diverted his attention.

"Hi Logan." An accented voice greeted him.

"Hey Cassandra. How are you this evening?" He amiably replied, noticing that Rory had turned back to the main conversation. He ignored the sudden pang of disappointment and focused on the blonde.

"I'm better now. I enjoyed our date last week." She continued, not removing her hand from him.

"Me too. We should do it again sometime." He grinned charmingly. "How about I give you a call?"

"I'll be waiting. Bye Logan." She strutted away in full-on seduction mode, hips and hair swaying as if she were on a catwalk, not in a college pub.

"So, where were we, Ace?" Logan directed back to Rory.

"I don't know about you, but Colin was explaining how he was dared to sit through an entire economics lecture sans pants. Fascinating stuff." Rory glanced at him and evaded eye contact. She was even more irritated by him, but she couldn't put a finger on why exactly. Was it that he had ignored her in favor of a waking, talking Barbie? Quite possibly. Actually no, scratch that. That couldn't be it. Not even close. She was just aggravated by his typical sleazy, womanizing ways. Yes, that sounded better.

Logan couldn't decipher if she was being droll or was simply pissed. Why she would be pissed, he didn't know. Although he considered himself well-versed in the language of the opposite sex, he wasn't exactly a master and Rory definitely needed an entire dictionary to explain her behavior at times. The way she ran hot and cold was frustrating not to mention baffling. "Not the most inventive dare, but it was damn hilarious."

"So you managed to snag another date with Miss Argentina, huh?" The words were out before Rory could stop them.

"Excuse me?"

"The blonde that was here not even two seconds ago... Come on, the harem of ladies at your beck and call can't be that enormous that you get them confused." It seemed she couldn't hold back the snark tonight.

"You mean Cassandra?"

"If that's her name, then yes. Cassandra."

"There was mention of a date in the future, as for specifics, well those are undecided. If you want, I'll keep you informed if and when I hammer down more concrete details. I'll let you know the time, day, location…" His lips quirked up in a teasing smirk.

She rolled her eyes in frustration. What a stupid, arrogant assface. "Great. Don't forget to run your wardrobe choice by me too. Choosing the wrong shoes can really make the difference between a dud and a soul mate."

He chuckled at lack of a better response. He knew that now was not the time for one of his goading comments. In the mood Rory seemed to be in, she was liable to bite his head off. "What's your problem?"

She shook her head, avoiding his penetrating stare. "Nothing."

"Are you drunk?" A slightly amused smile appeared on his face. He had seen Rory drunk before and she was unpredictable each time.

She indignantly straightened her posture and glared at him. "No, I only had like four drinks."

"Actually, you've had about six. Finn's been making sure you're properly provided for. And some people's alcohol tolerance is lower than others."

"My tolerance is just fine, thank you." She was feeling thirsty all of a sudden and picked up her glass.

"Just checking. Are you jealous?" He studied her reaction closely, not really sure why he was so interested.

Rory swallowed her drink quickly. "What! No!"

He chose to ignore how she sounded offended at his accusation and continued. "Then what is it?"

"I'm just amazed at your taste in women."

"Pretty good, right?"

"Hardly, it seems your 'type' is the bleached blonde who wouldn't even be able to read a restaurant menu by herself." Even she was surprised at how catty she came off. She wouldn't be surprised if Logan thought she was suffering from a severe case of PMS.

"Hey, some menus are deliberately vague, and I don't only date blondes. I think of myself as an equal opportunist." He attempted to joke. "Seriously Ace, what's your problem?"

She sighed and played with her straw in her drink. "Nothing, I just think you could do a lot better."

"Really."

She visibly balked at his smug countenance. "Yes. I mean at least date girls who are smart, opinionated and well-informed. We're at Yale, surely girls with a modicum of intelligence aren't hard to find."

"Did you ever think maybe I enjoy dating girls like Cassandra?"

"Maybe you do. It just reinforces the initial notion I had of you."

"And what's that?"

"That you're some rich playboy, more interested in getting into a girl's pants than having a meaningful relationship."

"Not everything has to be serious and meaningful. Life isn't Dawson's Creek."

"Fortunately. I'd hate to be spouting annoying, histrionic platitudes every five seconds."

"Are you sure you're not drunk?"

"Maybe I am." She admitted and went on defensively. "But I'm still perfectly coherent." And she wasn't nearly done with her dissection of his love life. "Aren't you sick of dating girls who care more about having the latest Louis Vuitton handbag than you? Or who are more interested in your bank account and society parties than your personality and feelings?"

He didn't answer her question. "I'm insulted, Ace. There are far more exciting perks to dating me." His lascivious tone left no room to mistake what kind of perks he was alluding to. Seeing that she was momentarily caught off guard, he turned the tables. "What type of girls do you suggest I date then? Girls like you?" He quirked an eyebrow at her the pinkish blush that appeared on her cheeks and waited for her reply.

"No…I mean sure, if you assume I fit those characteristics I described…"

"You do. To a tee in fact."

"Fine, then I guess I do mean girls like me, but not me specifically. Other girls. Girls who don't care about your money or name…girls with attributes like me…"

"But not you?"

"No! I mean yes, other girls who aren't me. There are many of them out there."

"You mean there are many other girls out there who aren't you?" He was fascinated by the way she was rambling nonsensically and digging herself right into a hole.

"Yes, that is what I mean." Rory realized how stupid she was sounding and groaned at his annoying, know-it-all grin. "Shut up. You know what I'm trying to say, you..."

"Please don't call me a butt-faced miscreant again."

She was struck by sudden inspiration and grinned widely. She wasn't sure if it was the alcohol running through her system or her mother's influence choosing to rear its head. Right now, she wasn't exactly thinking of the consequences, she was just going to go with the scheme that popped into her brain. "I just had the most brilliant idea."

"Should I be scared?" He warily eyed her ear-to-ear smirk and sparkling baby blues. Something told him that nothing good would follow.

"Let me set you up with someone!"

He was thrown by her suggestion. "You have to be kidding." God he needed another vodka. Where was Finn?

"Sorry, I'm still as serious and dull as you think I am." She dryly stated.

"Ace, you're hardly dull. Quite the opposite actually."

"So, what do you think?"

"I don't know." Somehow, he didn't think allowing Rory to set him up with another girl was wise. It almost seemed wrong. And he wasn't sure why the hell she was so adamant on doing it.

"We're friends, right? Friends do this for each other."

"Friends…"

"Is that a foreign concept to you or something?"

"No, it's just…" He sighed. She was firing on all guns tonight and he was almost defeated. "So, you're not kidding?"

"We already went over this. Keep up, Logan. I get to pick a more acceptable girl and you can tell me what qualities you look for, aside from a C-cup and an easy reputation. Ooh, I could make lists, I like lists. Come on, it would be just like one of your dares, except not a dare...more like a project." He looked very hesitant, so she used reasoning she knew he couldn't argue against. "It'll be fun, something different. Isn't this the point of being young? Do those words sound remotely familiar, Huntzberger?"

Now she was throwing his own words back in his face? That was just unfair. Though, it was weirdly endearing that she had even bothered to remember his words of wisdom from the LDB event. "Touché, Ace. But, this is very different than jumping off a seven-story platform."

She shrugged utterly nonchalant, and leaned towards him defiantly. "Afraid of a little challenge? Think of it as an experiment of sorts, an adventure to test your limits. So, are you in?"

He studied her features; she was pouting her bottom lip and her blue eyes twinkled with eager excitement. Something told him he would regret consenting to her crazy plan, yet he couldn't find the heart to turn her down, especially not with the look she was giving him. Before he knew it, those two damning words slipped past his lips. "I'm in."

"Really? Great! We'll get started as soon as possible. Tomorrow even." Although she was smiling victoriously, she was wondering why he had actually agreed to it. She thought she'd have to do way more convincing or that Logan would immediately kill the idea. Oh well, she would just go with it. After all, what was the worst that could happen?

Preview of Next Chapter:

Colin followed him in. "Are you hiding from Rory?"

Logan took his coat from his closet and assumed an innocent expression. "No, why would I do that?"

"I don't know. Maybe you two finally gave into all that sexual tension, had hot, animalistic sex and now you're scared shitless?"

"What sexual tension?"

"For a supposed Casanova, you're an idiot." Colin informed him matter-of-factly. There was a knock on the door and Colin moved to get it.