Chapter 11. Ground rules

Kiera put her phone away and saw Finn.

"Hey, mate." She said in a mock Australian accent. "Food not arrived yet?"

"Yes, I think Luke was just about to bring it out."

"Well, let's go inside then. I'm hungry." Kiera started towards the door but Finn caught her arm.

"No, Luke will keep it warm for you. I need to talk to you. Can we take a walk?"

"Sure, I guess. Let's walk down to the lake." This is very odd. He seems almost a bit nervous. Kiera thought.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Kiera asked as she sat down on the wood pier and put her feet in the water. Finn folded his legs and sat down, facing her.

"I want to keep seeing you." He stated. Kiera looked up with a crooked smile.

"Well… we go to the same school, have mutual friends and hang out all the time, so I think that's a given."

"No, I mean dating. I want us to date."

Kiera started. Where the hell did this come from?

"Wow, hmm, I didn't see that one coming… Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I mean, it wouldn't be anything relationship like. We're still both free agents. I just want to hang out with you more one on one."

"Meaning you want to sleep with me again." Kiera concluded, her eyes narrowing.

"Well yes, that too. But I want to do the whole dating thing, diners, movies, hang out."

"Are you crazy? You would get bored in two weeks!" Kiera stated and laughed.

Finn scowled at her. "No I wouldn't. That's what so attracting about you. You have the wit. You don't bore me because you constantly challenge me."

"That's a very nice compliment but I'm still not sure that we should date at all. I like you and all but I think it would be better for my mental health if we didn't." why am I saying something that's so opposite of what I really want?

"Yes, cause that has worked out so splendid for us in the past. You know, what's really bad for both our mental health is this constant wavering back and forth between accepting the attraction we feel for each other and just go with it, and on the other hand trying to deny this because we might get hurt and we should act responsibly. I hate responsibly! If it's one thing that really bores me to tears, it's acting responsibly." Finn was agitated. Kiera had never seen him agitated before. It dawned on her that this really was getting to him too. Maybe it wouldn't be a catastrophe to do some dating.

"I suppose, seeing as how we should keep this casual, that you have some ground rules in mind."

"As a matter of fact, I do." Finn said and started to check the rules off on his fingers.

"No exclusivity on either end. If one of us wants to go on a date with someone else, that's fine. No hurt feelings or blame games. We'll part as friends. And last, but certainly not least; when one or both of us wants to stop seeing the other there won't be a fuss. We let go gracefully, it's part of the remain friends plan."

Kiera looked at him for a while, her head cocked to the side. "That sounds like it's leaning heavily towards your way of doing things. I'll have to think about if I can accept those terms."

"Oh, I think you can." Finn smiled and sounded as if she already had.

"We'll see. I'll give you my answer when I get back from New Zeeland. 'til then we're just friends. So chill." At the last statement she got a mischievous look in her eyes and before Finn had time to react she had grabbed him and pulled him with her into the water. They both came up laughing and splashing each other playfully.

"We should get back to the diner." Kiera finally said. "I'm hungry."

"Yeah, let's go. Do you think Loralai has some dry clothes I could borrow?"

"No, probably not." Kiera smirked and started walking.

"What! So I'm going to stay soaking wet?" Finn exclaimed and hurried after her.

"Oh, relax! I'm sure Luke has something you can borrow."

"Plaid flannel?" Finn asked as if the very thought was just too absurd. Kiera laughed, threw her arm around his shoulders and planted a loud kiss on his wet cheek and they started walking back towards Luke's.

Logan, Rory and Loralai were waiting for them outside the diner, food bags in hand.

"What happened to you?" Loralai asked as they saw the dripping couple coming towards them.

"Oh, you know, Finn needed to chill out." Kiera answered off handily.

"Then why are you soaked thru as well? Couldn't you just have pushed him in?"

"Didn't think about that. This seemed the most appropriate course of action." Kiera answered looking a little sheepish.

Finn snorted behind her. "Appropriate course of action my ass."

"We should probably get you home and changed." Rory said. She was fighting very hard not to laugh at the sight before her. Logan had long since given up that fight and was doubled over from laughing behind her.

"Changed into what?" Loralai pointed out. "There's no man's clothing in our house."

"No. I actually didn't think about that either until it was too late." Kiera confessed.

Loralai rolled her eyes. "Kids! You guys go home. I'll ask Luke for some clothes."

"Does he have anything that isn't flannel?" Finn asked.

"Hey, beggars can't be choosers." Loralai went back into the diner and the four started walking towards the Gilmore house.

"So, Rory and I were thinking that we should all go bar-hopping in Hartford next weekend. Give you a proper send off." Logan said and looked at Kiera. He had finally managed to control his laughing fit.

"Sounds good. Who's we?"

"Us, Lane, Colin, Steph, Paris, Julia, Rosemary… the usual gang."

"I'm in. I just have to check when exactly I'm leaving. Shouldn't be until Tuesday at the earliest though."

"Great. Then it's a go." Rory said and opened the door to the house.

"You don't lock the door when you leave the house?" Logan asked, looking horror-struck.

"What?" Rory asked as if she hadn't heard him. Kiera shook her head.

"Just let it go, Logan. They will never change anyway."

"What are we doing tonight then?" Finn asked as he came out of Rory's room, finally changed. Logan shrugged his shoulders

"Take out and CSI-marathon." Rory said. "You're welcome to stay if you want to."

"Yeah, why not? Sounds like a good time and definitely good company."

A/N short and kind of boring, I know. will probably pick up where I left off. just give me time, it will get more interesting again..I hope.I have I plotline, I just need to get there. Inspiration is welcome. Review please! If you don't like what you read or it leaves you indifferent, then what's the point of me writing it? I need to KNOW!