Title: The ultimate curve ball

Author: Joy

A/N: This chapter is a little harsher toward Logan...but I make it up next chapter. Oh and the misunderstanding about the line in the ending of the last chapter over Rory needing to stand without Tristan... That was to say she had to stand up to Logan by herself, without Tristan there. It was the only way Rory would know that she could stand up to people in her life like Logan.

17. Exit Logan stage left

It's a funny thing that happens to privileged youth. There is an air of entitlement that surrounds them that they aren't even aware of. They are so used to everything being easy or made easy by money. The one area that money truly had no place was the human heart. If a person's affection could be bought, then it was never true affection. This basic reality was beginning to impress itself on the Limo Boys and none were too thrilled with the realization.

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"What just happened?" Logan muttered.

"Tristan took her from you...just like I said he would," Paris gloated.

Logan looked at Paris in shock, "How is that possible? He has been here a few hours."

Paris shook her head, "But absence makes the heart grow founder...and they have been absent from each other for four years. You can't even begin to imagine what Rory meant to Tristan back then. All he had to do was prove to her he meant it and all of your feeble attempts at romance would pale in comparison. Actually thanks for being such an ass Logan. Tristan probably would have wooed her slowly from afar. But you were being you and that just inspired greatness in my childhood friend."

Logan stared at Rory's closed door while Finn and Colin stared at their friend. "This can't be happening," he whispered.

"Why? Because you're Logan Huntzberger?" Paris snarled. "Get over yourself. You got dumped. She traded you in for a better model... How does it feel to be replaced? I'm sure there are girls all over campus cheering silently."

"You are really enjoying this aren't you?" Logan growled at her.

She smirked, "Yeah...I really am."

Paris stood toe to toe with Logan, "You screwed up... You knew she wasn't like any other girl. You knew that she could handle you and all that you have to deal with. You knew you cared about her. And you knew you were jealous of every other guy that came within inches of her. So you played the part of the boyfriend...then ran for the hills once you knew you had her. You can't burn a girl like Rory and expect her to be off the market for long. Hell, every guy that she ever dated was in love with her even after it ended. Dean got married to another girl and he was still in love with Rory. Jess moved to California and then showed up a year later to take her to New York because he was in love with her. Tristan was sent to military school and carried a torch for her all this time." Her smiled turned wicked, "So if you at all think that you are going to get over that gnawing feeling in your gut any time soon, think again. You are part of a very select group of men that have loved and lost Miss Lorelai Leigh Gilmore. Oh wait...one of those guys just caught the prize."

"I can wait. This can't last forever...not with him there. I can wait," Logan stated not thinking how stupid his statement really was.

"You can't wait longer than the next girl that walks by Logan...you'll just always know you screwed up the best thing in your life because you couldn't control your trouser snake."

"I can wait," he reiterated.

Colin shook his head dumbfounded at what he was seeing. "Logan..."

Finn put a hand on Colin's shoulder and gave him a 'butt out' look.

Paris tilted her head, "You don't get this...she has agreed to go to North Carolina with him...after a few hours of seeing him. She is going to meet his friends, see his life, experience the culture...She is also going to look for an internship, one that if you had been smart you would have aided her to get near you. However I bet Tristan has the contacts to get one lined up already... Whether she realizes it or not, Rory will be spending the summer in North Carolina. I will imagine that in the fall Rory may or may not return. Duke is a very attractive place Ivy League school and Tristan would be there. If she returns, he will be in tow." Paris stepped back, "He can give her everything you can't and more. He can give her 'your world' and hers...she won't have to chose. He will fit. You never will."

Finn took in the words Paris had spoken... She was right. Logan wouldn't fit in Rory's world because he would never 'lower' himself to try. Finn suddenly felt unbelievably sad for his friend's lack of flexibility. He lost something precious because he was unwilling to change. Finn sighed to himself knowing that he had an opportunity that he was scared to take and after this evening he didn't think he would see himself a man anymore if he didn't try, no matter what his partners in crime thought. He had met the girls his family was interested in him marrying. They were dull, airheads that never had an original thought in their heads. He chose to reject that fate.

Logan ignored Paris completely and knocked on Rory's door, "Ace...I would like to talk to you."

"Sure...whatever," she responded.

"We'll see you back at the room," Colin offered while Finn and he carried some of the food.

"Yeah," Logan answered.

Paris sat on the sofa alone and waited until it was over.

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Logan walked in the room with Rory talking on the phone via earpiece with someone...someone female...and not her mother. "Becca, you are not helping. I need to pack tonight so I will just grab my bag to leave after my last class...What's the weather like? I am assuming that means I won't need a sweatshirt? Funny. A hoodie? Okay... Tristan isn't gonna expect me to go swimming is he?" Rory paused. "So when he said he lived by the beach he meant...That close? So a bathing suit is a must...I'm so pale... Fine think its funny. Well just cause Tristan never described me as having girly moments doesn't mean I'm not entitled to them."

"Ace?" Logan called.

Rory looked up at him suddenly then listened to the phone. "Oh... that's Logan...Yeah that's the one...I don't know what to call him. No, I will not be calling him that... Ex implies some sort of commitment to me... Okay...well...ex is simpler... Logan do you mind if I refer to you as an ex or will that screw up your reputation?" she asked him suddenly as she took out a hoodie to pack.

"I was hoping I could talk to you about my status if you don't mind?"

She stared at him, "Actually I do mind. You had plenty of time to get your crap together and you didn't. I'm not going to negotiate the situation. I am with Tristan now...Light layers right Becca?"

"Tristan... A guy you haven't seen in four years that for all you know has been stalking you," Logan snapped.

"That is just weak...and Becca wants me to tell you there is no reason to take pot shots at Tristan. Even when given the opportunity Tristan did not take pot shots at you...she's right you know. When we were dancing in the bar he remember what it felt like to watch me dance with someone else...he didn't want you to have to feel that so we were leaving."

Logan glared, "If he's so perfect why am I even in your room."

Rory stared at him, "You asked to come in... I want to be able to stay friends with you, Finn and Colin. You are the three stooges. You are a lot of fun and I have had my laughs with you. Just cause you and I aren't sleeping together doesn't mean I want that to stop... Yeah Becca...see you tomorrow." She hung up the phone and removed the earpiece.

Logan gazed at her in awe, "How can you expect..."

"Steph survived...I can too. Besides...We had a no strings relationship Logan. We have fun together. You can talk to me about lots of things you can't with most of the girls you date. We are on the paper together. You enjoyed my company. Has that changed in the last fifteen minutes?"

Logan just stared at her unbelieving. "You aren't this heartless."

Rory gazed back, "I am confused here Logan. We played this your way the entire time. I get something really good and solid and wonderful for me. You should be happy that the relationship is ending without me hating you or not speaking to you. This is the best possible outcome in this situation." Logan was still staring at her in wonder. He normally just stopped calling and the girls got the picture. He never did the break up thing. The one girl that held on too long, he didn't care about hurt her, so he was harsh so she would hate him. Now he was getting dumped and she was using the 'lets be friends' line on him.

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Rory sat on the edge of her bed, "No strings attached...that meant we could both let go at any time. I am safely installed into the arms of a boyfriend and you don't have to change your ways. We can still be friends... Now you want to change the rules about the game? Why?"

"You really don't believe I care about you do you?" he finally asked.

"You have never given me any reason to," she responded.

"Why not?"

She gazed at him in confusion, "Because you avoided me in all capacities for two weeks. Two weeks of being ignored. Two weeks of asking your friends to ignore me too. How else am I supposed to take that Logan?"

"But Ace...I just got a little freaked out. That's all...I...It was getting serious. I was getting serious. I don't do serious."

"Now you don't have to."

"Please don't do this...I got you an internship at any of the papers my father owns in the area. Pick one and its yours," Logan stated quietly. "Stay here this summer."

"Why Logan? So you can have me around until you get bored again?" Rory asked.

"I wasn't bored...I was scared...You're breaking my heart here."

The brunette looked at him with sadness, "I can't break what I was never in possession of Logan. I never had your heart."

"Rory."

"This is loss you are feeling. You are grieving in a way. You can deal with it. I have had the last two weeks to deal with it. I suppose that's why I'm not more upset." He was silent. She moved on her bed next to him and gave him a slight hug, "Look...I'll come by on Monday and we can all go to the pub. You'll see it won't be any big deal. By then you will have moved on to the next girl in line...there is always a new one."

"Yeah... right...bye Ace," he said in pain.

"Bye Logan," she stated closing the chapter of her life labeled 'causal relationships'.

TBC...

A/N: I told you it was harsh...and Tristan wasn't in the chapter at all. Oh the horror. BUT next chapter Logan goes through his process...I give him some hope. Not with Rory mind you, but hope nonetheless. And you Finn lovers are going to adore how I finish his line out.

Please REVIEW. I have to make an icky phone call that will get very loud very quickly. Not fun. SOOOO REVIEW to help me keep my chin up.