Tact: "an understanding of how to avoid giving offense and of how to keep or win goodwill." –New Webster's Dictionary-
"So Rory, what's going on between you and this fine bartender here?" Finn asked casually.
Rory sighed, she should have known the long drive to New York wasn't going to be one filled with sunshine and daisies but she had hoped that the brigadiers in the back seat of her car would have at least made an effort. It was pretty obvious she wasn't going to be that lucky.
"Finn, his name is Marty. Get that straight or get out of the car." Rory replied, glaring at Finn in the rearview mirror.
"Come now Finn, we all know that Ace is very sensitive about labels. Play nice or else she'll continue to assume that we have an elitist attitude." Logan interjected.
"We do have an elitist attitude and if we said we didn't, we'd be lying." Colin replied seriously.
Logan nodded grinning, "Very true, Colin, very true indeed."
Making eye contact with Rory through the mirror, he winked. Causing Rory to feel the usual annoyance she felt around him begin to surface, "You know in this day and age, an elitist attitude is frowned upon and is often viewed as a very undesirable characteristic in a person." Rory countered.
"Says the girl who wore a tiara while partying at her grandparents' mansion. Who incidentally had hired several servers and bartenders to work that night if I'm not mistaken." Logan quipped.
"That wasn't my idea!"
Logan added: "Yes well, your idea or not, that party seemed fairly elitist to me. I don't recall seeing Marty there."
"You weren't serving were you?" Colin asked innocently.
"Alright, enough." Rory exclaimed, pulling the car over to the side of the road. She whipped around facing the three grinning gentlemen and said, "Marty is my friend and like I already told you once…" Rory continued, pointing at Logan, "I don't like people who hurt my friends. So you will all either be nice or get out. We're not that far from Yale you can still walk back. Do I make myself clear?"
The three nodded and for a moment looked like chastened boys. Rory satisfied, turned back to the road and pulled the car out.
Logan watched as she kept her eyes on the road, but placed her hand on Marty's arm, giving it a squeeze. Then Marty gave her a smile as he placed his hand over hers and held it for a moment.
Finn also observing the same actions, glanced over as his friend who now had a pinched look on his face, said, "So Rory, my dear, you never answered my question."
Rory realizing her hope that the rest of the ride was going to be a smooth one was all an illusion, sighed and asked, "What question was that?"
"What's going on between you and the bar… I mean Marty."
Glancing at Finn in the mirror she saw he was smiling mischievously at her, she replied, "Finn, I don't really think that's any of your business."
"What a convenient answer." Finn retorted, "Come now Marty, let us in on the juice, is this eligible bachelorette now off the market?"
Marty looked over his shoulder and replied, "No we're uh just friends."
"But you'd like it to be more?" Colin asked.
Rory sighed loudly in exasperation, "Colin! Finn! Quit it."
"Okay boys, you're frustrating Ace and she's driving, so let's save the witty questions for later." Logan said cutting in.
Finn smirked, "We're just trying to help you."
"Finn." Logan said with a tone of warning.
Colin also turning a grin towards Logan added, "He's speaking the truth, Logan."
Logan turned his glare to Colin and said in a low voice, "Colin."
Rory unsure of exactly what had just happened couldn't help but enjoy the moment. The tables now appeared to be turned against Logan and that thought caused her to smile to herself. Unfortunately it was a smile Logan caught, "Hey Gilmore, I was just trying to help you, so I wouldn't sit there smirking, because I can just as well let these two continue."
"Oh can we? Can we please?" Finn asked excitedly.
"No, no, I'm grateful." Rory said quickly.
"Argh you take all the fun out of things." Finn said dejectedly. "How else am I supposed to amuse my self?"
"By sitting quietly?" Rory asked hopefully.
Logan smiled and said, "Nice try Ace. But if that's what you think he'll do then you don't know Finn."
"Oh! Oh! I know tell me about your fiery branded friend Paris." Finn said excitedly.
"Uh Finn, I think you're too young for her." Logan said slyly.
Rory glanced over at Marty as they both smiled knowingly.
However, Finn sat there confused, "What is that suppose to mean?"
"Finn, my dear Finn, for all your knowledge, you sure don't keep up with the campus gossip." Colin replied.
Finn turned to Colin, "you know what they're talking about?"
"Yes sir."
"Well for bloody's sake someone tell me." Finn exclaimed.
Logan said: "The lovely Paris Gellar, was none other then the late Professor Asher Fleming's latest and last paramour."
"Oh really." Finn replied, his eyes gleaming. "Interesting."
Rory seeing Finn's expression, felt a sense of dread, "Um why is it that instead of being disgusted by this news Finn seems pleased?"
Logan smiled, "Ah Ace, how observant."
"I believe we have just sweetened the pot for our dear friend Finn." Colin added.
Rory glanced at Marty who looked equally confused, shrugged his shoulders. Both their confusion was cleared when Finn declared, "That's brilliant! Now my conquest of dear Paris will be that much greater."
"Oh no, you're not saying what I think you're saying?" Rory asked hesitantly.
"Unfortunately he is." Logan answered.
Rory said, "Finn, I would carefully reconsider what you're implying. You don't know Paris Gellar."
"No she's right. Paris will eat you alive." Marty added.
Finn grinned, "Oh how I'm looking forward to that."
Rory saw Finn beaming diabolically, turned towards Marty: "What have we just done?"
"You'll see soon enough, dear Miss Gilmore." Finn replied.
And with those words Rory thought she heard the rumble of distant thunder.
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