Title: The ultimate curve ball

Author: Joy

A/N: Cupid's Bride- I left you a present in the story. See if you can find it.

18. Logan's fall out

Logan walked into the common room faced with a very pensive looking Paris. "Chin up Huntzberger. She just saved you and your parents a ton of money."

"What are you talking about?" Logan asked.

She smirked, "You would have nearly lost her and tried to be the boyfriend to keep her. You would have fought your parents to be with her, you would have married her on principle...but somewhere along the way you would cheat on her...granted probably unintentionally... and somewhere along the way she would find out. No Gilmore would ever stand for that. The lawyer fees would have been huge... Now the Gilmores and the Huntzbergers can remain friends without any embarrassing incidents."

Logan wanted to yell at her but kept an even tone, "I could have been faithful."

Paris tilted her head to the side, "Why'd you stop seeing her then? If you could have been faithful why did you stop calling?"

There was silence.

"That's what I thought."

"No, its not what you thought," Logan yelled. "I wanted to be with her so bad it hurt and that scared me. I haven't been sleeping with anybody else. I know that is shocking but its true. I was trying to figure out a way of apologizing for my freak out when TRISTAN showed back up on the scene. You can call my sister to verify it if you want."

"Doesn't change the fact that you were leaving the door open so you could be with other girls," Paris said calmly. "You weren't going to ask to be the boyfriend."

Logan stared at her a moment knowing what she said was true. "I might have," he lied.

"No Logan...you weren't," Paris stated firmly. "Problem is you come running when another guy comes to close...Even if she had dumped Tristan, should wouldn't have trusted you. Tristan she can trust."

Logan swallowed the bile crawling up his throat as they heard through the door Rory laugh and say, "Yes Tristan...come back to campus. It's important...Yes...that important. No I can't tell you on the phone. This is definitely a face to face kind of message."

Logan's face fell further. He knew what she was gonna tell Tristan.

Paris touched Logan's arm as he went to leave, "Be happy for her."

"Right."

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Logan went home and sat on his sofa with a thud. Colin and Finn looked on sympathetically. "I guess it didn't go well, mate?" Finn asked.

"To put it nicely," Logan hissed.

"They'll be someone new..." Colin began.

"Someone new..." Logan growled. "I didn't want someone new...I wanted Ace."

Finn shook his head, "Then you went about this the wrong way."

Logan laughed bitterly, "I stood on the dance floor of her grandparents renewal ceremony with her in my arms and told her that she was special...and that's why I hadn't asked her out. I wasn't the commitment kind...I'm not the commitment kind because of this...this feeling. I should never have dated her. I should have kept her at arms length."

Finn sat on the coffee table in front of one of his oldest dearest friends. "No man...You couldn't have done that if you tried. You loved being with her too much to pass up the chance to know her...to be with her. You just should have made it permanent when you had the chance. After my birthday party you should have just jumped in."

"That's ridiculous," Colin began to say. "We're too young for that crud."

"No..." Finn shook his head. "It's not ridiculous...and it's not crud. The lot of us are afraid of getting hurt. We have emotional absent parents with fake marriages that were business deals...It's stupid but true. Rory's right...not just about you Logan but about all of us. We are going to end up looking at the girls our parents decide are the best match for us and we'll have affairs with our young secretaries."

"I resent that," Colin stated. "I intend on being a bachelor for years."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"I mean why don't you want to be with one girl?" Finn asked Colin.

"Why don't you?" he snapped at the Aussie.

"Because all the girls we hang with are after our names or our trust-funds... We all loved Rory because she's real... There are lots of girls here that could be real with us if we put ourselves out there. I mean look at this Tristan guy...he's just like us but he settled down... Because of that he is walking away with the best girl we all know."

"You are far too sober," Colin teased tense about the direction the conversation had taken.

"Maybe... but I suddenly feel the need to talk to a Filipino girl in my psych class that told me I would be a half decent guy if I would stop hitting on her and start talking to her," Finn answered. "I'll see you later," he said departed from his friends who were just standing there.

"Did Finn just leave us to go try to get a girlfriend?" Logan asked spontaneously.

"Actually, I think he did," Colin answered.

"That's not right," the blonde responded.

"You aren't kidding. I suppose he needs someone as 'exotic' as he is," the cynic snipped.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Logan sat for a long time looking at the beer Colin had handed him upon Finn's departure. "Ya think I will ever have another chance with Rory?" he asked.

His friend looked at him sadly, "No man...I don't think so. That guy doesn't seem all that likely to give Rory up."

"I really screwed up this time, didn't I?" Logan asked quietly.

"If it were any other girl I would have said no. But its reporter girl...so yeah...you did," Colin replied honestly.

Huntz groaned, "I'm going for a walk..."

"Want company?"

"That's okay... but thanks."

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Finn found where his classmate lived and approached the door thoughtfully. He was not here to talk the girl into bed, or get drunk, or dazzle her with his wealth. He was here to see if he could get her to open her world enough to invite him in. Small Freud doll in hand, Finn took his first step toward a real relationship... He knocked.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Logan walked around campus a bit. It was as if Fate was taunting him. Whoever was in charge was undoubtedly incredibly happy at screwing him over...Even as he thought it, Logan knew it wasn't true. Nothing short of a miracle would kick his butt enough for him to grow up. Rory was his miracle. Rory was his curveball...but he had failed in the last inning...just like her dad always did.

Logan surveyed his surroundings and found grand irony staring him in the face. He passed a window and saw Marty talking to some brunette with a sweet smile. Logan shook his head, wasn't that just life. Further on he saw his best friend with what looked like a Freud doll trying to charm the girl he had talked about earlier. The girl was smiling as she took the doll from Finn and motioned him to wait a moment. Logan paused to take in the scene. Finn looked all lit up inside as the girl returned with a purse and coat, obviously going out with him. As he watched Logan made note the happy couple were not headed to the pub. Logan felt an ache in his chest. It wasn't fair.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Eventually Logan found himself over at Bradford College and looked into the window of his former girl. She was talking animatedly on the phone packing. She was going to another state with another guy. It hurt so badly. He watched in morbid fascination as she turned to the door as Tristan walked in.

Through the window Logan could see Rory hang up the phone and walk to the other man slowly. She wrapped her arms about his neck and spoke to him. Tristan tilted his head in apparent question. Rory said something else to him as his eyes got wide. He smiled brightly and picked her up by the waist before spinning her round. Logan figured Tristan just found out that Rory had kicked him to the curb. He looked away as the couple held each other close and slow danced together while kissing.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Tristan took a deep breath holding his beautiful Mary in his arms. She had gotten rid of the player formerly known as Logan. She had done it on her own, without him there. Tristan swelled with pride for his girl. Rory was the most precious thing in the world to him and now she was his. When he took her home it would be as his girlfriend. The thought overwhelmed him. Life couldn't get much better.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Logan walked away kicking a rock in front of him. He heard a small, 'Ow,' from the direction he kicked the rock. Logan hurried over to a girl lying on a blanket staring up at the stars. "I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there."

"It's okay. Truthfully it just startled me." The girl regarded him with curiosity, "You okay? You look a little lost," she stated.

Logan vaguely recognized her as one of the Yalies that was there by choice. "Yeah...I'm fine... Actually no...I'm not fine. I'm not fine at all."

"Want to sit? I'm a psych grad student. I'm allowed to hear your problems and say, 'Really...how interesting? Tell me about your mother.'"

Logan laughed out right, "I might take you up on that."

"Viola," she said with out-stretched hand.

"Logan," he responded. "Parents' Shakespeare fans?"

"Yes actually. I have a sister named Bianca and a brother, god help him, named Lysander. My mother wanted to torture her parents."

"Twelfth night, Taming of the Shrew and A midsummer's night dream...very nice arrangement."

"Yes and ironically we all prefer Romeo and Juliet."

Logan smiled, "It is a classic."

"Yeah and Claire Danes makes a great Juliet," Viola stated.

They stared at one another for a moment. Logan suddenly felt very peaceful. This girl was obviously smart, witty, and had no clue who he was. He decided not to charm her...just talk to her.

After a little while of silently staring at stars Viola asked, "So are you okay now?"

"Do you believe in fate?" Logan inquired.

"Why?"

"Because when I walked out of my apartment I was wondering if I was ever gonna meet a girl that I could have a conversation with about something other than bank accounts, nail polish, jewelry, or the latest fashion."

"Society boy?" she said with a chuckle.

He nodded, "Unfortunately yes."

She smirked at him, "Ah...then I have the solution for you."

"What solution would that be?"

"Fail."

"I'm sorry?" Logan questioned.

"Society pages are all about the right image...the latest gossip. It is actually terribly simple to gain your life if you are willing to take a risk- Just walk away. Life is soooo much easier without their restraints," Viola stated.

"Speaking from experience?" he asked

"Do you think my name was an accident?"

Logan smiled at her again, "Logan Huntzberger...attempting to break away socialite. And you are?"

"Viola Morehead...successfully broken away southern bell."
"Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," Logan nudged.

"Agreed."

TBC...

A/N: Alright folks...if you can't tell...its almost over. You get a final chapter and an epilogue and we are done. If you want to begin to beg for a sequel be my guest, but none of it is written and that is my rule...I have to have most of it written before I post.

The icky phone call is over. REVIEW for me because I have to call back in 48 hours to make sure the person did their job. PLEASE REVIEW...It makes my life soooo much better.