Denial: "An assertion that something is not true. A refusal to acknowledge, disavowal." -New Webster's Dictionary-
Lane felt the rush of adrenaline as she ran off the stage with the rest of her band mates. She couldn't believe it; they had just played their first big gig, in front of a decent sized audience.
"That was amazing!" She exclaimed to the rest of the band.
"Yep. I'd have to say we rocked the house." Zach said, nodding in agreement.
Brian, huffing slightly wheezed: "I know, I almost had an asthma attack out there."
"Dude, good thing you didn't, it would have totally ruined the moment." Zach replied.
Lane continued, "We did it. Our first big gig and we didn't suck."
"This my friends is just the beginning." Gil added as he threw his hair back, "I'm going to find my wife!"
"Yeah I'm going to see what my folks thought. We Rocked!" Brian chipped in as he followed Gil out to the front, just as Rory and Marty appeared backstage, "Lane that was amazing!" She said hugging her.
"Thanks Rory! It felt amazing being up there. I mean you could feel the energy of the crowd and I was in heaven!"
"Yeah you guys were really great. Strong drum beat." Marty added giving her a thumb up.
Lane smiled, "Thanks Marty."
"I'd have to concur." Logan interrupted as he walked up to the group. "I thought Rory was dragging us to some mediocre school band type thing, but you were actually good."
"Let's get the facts straight mister, I didn't do any dragging. And besides what do you know about music?" Rory asked in disbelief.
"Now, now Ace, you of all people should know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover." Logan replied smugly.
"Hmm, we'll see about that."
"Sounds to me like a challenge."
"Everything must sound like a challenge to you Logan." Rory answered smirking.
"Ouch Ace that hurts. And all I've ever been is nice to you." Logan retorted, feigning pain.
Lane watched the two trading quips and smiled to her self, now this guy seemed like a Rory worthy guy, she just had to figure out a way to get her best friend to realize it.
"Alright you guys, we…" Lane said indicating to herself and Zach, "Have to start packing up for the next band, so I'll meet you out there?"
Rory smiled and nodded, "We'll stick around."
"Good, cause I'm way too jazzed up to leave and we need to hang out." Lane replied.
"Well come on Ace." Logan said taking a hold of Rory's hand and leading her back out to the club, "let's go and I'll wow you with my musical prowess." Rory rolled her eyes as Logan dragged her along. Before the two disappeared out of sight, she turned back around and called out: "I'll see you guys out there."
Lane glanced over at Marty who remained standing beside her uncomfortably and seeing the look on his face as he watched the other couple leave, made her realize that there was once again more than one guy vying for Rory's attention. Lane sighed and said, "Thanks so much for coming Marty."
Marty smiled sadly, "yeah no problem. It was fun. I guess I'm going to get going."
"But didn't you come with Rory?"
"Yeah, but I think I can find my way back, looks like she'll be here for a while." Marty said quietly.
"Well really, thanks for coming."
"Okay, see you around then."
"Okay bye Marty, it was nice meeting you." Lane called out as she watched him walk out the side door.
After Marty's exit, Lane turned back towards Zach, "We have to celebrate. Go out, go crazy, something."
"Yeah sure, but first we need to socialize." Zach replied.
"Socialize?"
"You know hang with the fans, the groupies." He answered, pointing to a group of girls waiting at the side of the stage.
Lane looked at him in shock, "you're kidding right?"
"What? No, it's part of the gig."
"Zach please tell me you're kidding." Lane replied, her voice rising slightly.
Zach shrugged, "No, that's what I always do after any gig."
"Right, but that was before you and I started dating, now that we are dating you can't just go and make out with a bunch of girls after every show and expect me to be okay with it."
"Who said anything about making out, I'm just going to go hang out. I got to live up to the happening lead singer image. Lane, chill out all right? You're not acting very rock and roll. I'd say you're acting the opposite of rock and roll." He said, gesturing with his hands, looking for words, "you know all jealous and stuff."
Lane crossed her arms over her chest, "so you're choosing the groupies over me?"
"Lane. You're confusing me. I don't know what you're talking about. Choosing what?"
Lane couldn't believe what she was hearing, "alright Zach, you have just ruined one of the best nights of my life. I can't be around you right now." She said as she stomped off.
Zach stood confused as he watched Lane leave, muttered to himself: "What just happened?"
Lane was in shock over the conversation she just had with Zach, scanning the crowd she found her best friend chatting with Logan. Walking up to them she said, "sorry to interrupt need to steal her for a moment, I'm having a bad, girl freak out moment." As she took Rory's arm, pulling her across the room.
Rory glanced back at Logan, shrugging her shoulders she mouthed "sorry." At which he just grinned back at her.
"Lane what is going on?"
"Arghh Zach is an insensitive jerk and I'm an idiot to have fallen for him." Lane answered in frustration.
"Okay, breathe, calm down and tell me what happened."
"Zach is going to go make out with his groupies!"
"What! But you two are dating."
"I know! That's what I said, but he doesn't seem to understand that concept." Lane said angrily.
"Alright, this isn't making any sense, tell me exactly what happened."
"Well, I said we should go celebrate and he said sure, but first he had to socialize with his fans and not just any fans, the group of barely dressed women, those kind of fans, the skanky groupies. Socialize with his fans, what does that mean? It means making out that's what it means."
Rory tried to calm her friend down, "come on Lane. Socializing doesn't always mean making out."
"In Zach terms that's exactly what it means."
"Yes maybe that's what it meant before he started dating you but I'm sure that's not what it means now. He's so in to you, I'm sure even the groupies can tell."
"Really?" Lane asked, "Then what else does socializing mean?"
"Maybe he was just going to sign some autographs. You know drum up some support, so they'll come to your next gig."
Lane stopped her pacing and looked hopefully at Rory said, "Do you think that's what he means?"
"Yes Lane, I do. There is no way he meant making out. I'm 100 percent sure."
"So maybe I overreacted then?" Lane asked sheepishly.
Rory replied reassuringly, "Well, you had every right to."
"Maybe I should go find Zach." Lane said as she glanced around the club looking for him. However, her eyes landed on Logan who was staring in their direction, causing Lane to remember the other thing she wanted to ask her friend about. "So Rory, what's going on with your entourage of men, or more precisely the very cute blond one, Logan?" Lane asked slyly, nodding her head towards the boy in questions.
Rory glanced over her shoulder at Logan who at that moment chose to wink at her and turned back to her friend replied, "what! Nothing's going on, especially with Logan. They just decided to tag along tonight."
"Come on Rory, I need to live vicariously through you, especially with my weird Zach problems and that boy of yours is gorgeous! I saw you two chatting earlier and there is definitely something going on." Lane countered, hands on her hips.
"Seriously Lane, if something was going on, I'd tell you and at this moment there is definitely nothing further away from something going on, okay?"
Lane nodded, "Alright, so you wouldn't be upset if some pretty leggy blond started talking to him then huh?"
"What?" She asked, her head whipping in the direction of Logan, to see a very Paris Hilton like girl giggling with Logan, who was smiling back indulgently.
"That doesn't bother you right?" Lane asked innocently.
Rory glancing at the two for one more moment, turned back to her friend, her arms crossed against her chest, "nope, doesn't bother me at all. That's pretty typical Logan Huntzberger behaviour."
"Oh okay than." Lane replied, watching her friend fidget in her spot. "Hmm, so it really doesn't bother you then?"
"Lane! Didn't I already answer that question?"
"Okay so now she's touching his arm and leaning in to whisper something in his ear."
Rory glared at her friend, "I really don't need the play by play."
"Sorry just thought you might want to know."
"Argh! Lane!"
"Alright, alright, sorry!" Lane said, backing away a little. "I will stop badgering you since you were very helpful with my temporary trek into the land of insanity with Zach. But let me just say we will talk further about this. Alright I'm going to go mend the fences with the boy, I'll see you later okay?"
"For sure." Rory replied.
Lane left Rory and started back towards the backstage when she was stopped by hand on her arm. Glancing up she found Colin in her path, "Oh hey Colin." Lane said with a somewhat forced smile, remembering their odd first encounter. There was something about him and what it was she hadn't figured out yet. "Thanks for coming out tonight."
"No problem, you and the band were great." Colin replied, taking the opportunity to have a closer look at Lane, continued, "Let me buy you a drink to celebrate?"
"Oh thanks for the offer, but I have to fix some things with my boyfriend. Next time okay?"
Colin noted the mention of the boyfriend and silently thought 'strike one for Colin', but the wheels in his head had already begun turning, it was time for Plan B. "Alright I'll hold you to that."
Lane smiled again, "you do that." She said as she began to walk off.
"Wait Lane, I have a proposition for you." Colin said as he stopped her again.
Startled, Lane turned to look at Colin curiously, "a proposition?"
"Yes, a proposition concerning your dear friend Miss Rory Gilmore and my misguided friend Mr. Logan Huntzberger."
Intrigued Lane asked, "And what about Rory and Logan?"
"Well, I'm sure you may have observed the obvious chemistry between the two. They practically ooze sexual tension."
Lane nodded as Colin continued, "well in my observations of the interaction of the two, I've noticed that while they are two very intelligent people, they are both shockingly naïve or absurdly stubborn when it comes to the way of love. In this case, they seem to be living in a world of denial regarding their feelings for one another, therefore I propose that you and I remedy this situation."
"You and I?" Lane asked confused, Colin's proposition seemed to be coming out of left field and made her wonder how she could possibly be involved.
"Yes, me and you. When it comes to Logan, I can confidently say that I am one of the people in this world that know him best, occasionally even better than he knows himself and you being Rory's best friend, I assume can claim the same. So there are no two people better to aid in securing their romantic happiness then the two people who know them best- us."
Lane still startled by the whole conversation, looked up and studied Colin, who was looking back at her expectantly and asked somewhat suspiciously, "Why would you be willing to go through all this trouble to get them together?"
"If you've ever met any of Logan's previous so called girlfriends or more precisely flings, you would know the answer to that question. Rory's different, she's a Logan equal and not many people can say that and I just don't want him to let her get away."
Lane couldn't help but be touched by his answer, which made her silently contemplate Colin's proposal. She thought about Rory's pass relationships- Dean, good for her the first time around, debatable the second time. Jess was the bad boy and his impact on her was also debatable. Rory definitely needed someone new. So then there was Logan. Lane could tell that while Rory didn't want to admit it, she really seemed to have developed some feelings towards him- whether it was hate or love, well that is still to be determined. Lane thought back to the stories Rory told of her adventures with him and remembered how her friend had seemed to come alive recalling them and Lane decided that that wasn't a bad thing.
Colin watching the indecision play across her face added, "And I can vouch for Logan as well. While he may seem arrogant and conceited and he is." Colin said grinning, "he's also good hearted and I know will treat Rory well."
"Okay, you raise some interesting points, but I don't know how I'd feel scheming against Rory."
"Scheming is such a negative word. Think of it as aiding, aiding your best friend. Logan and Rory would do great things together." Colin said with an indulgent grin. "Come on, think about how fun it would be."
Lane couldn't help but smile, thinking of the possibilities, finally she said, "Alright you have yourself a deal."
Colin gleamed in return, "Perfect."
"You've come to the right person my friend, cause when it comes to schemes and hi-jinx's, I'm your girl. Finally my years living under Mama Kim's roof will pay off!"
"I sense a story there."
"That will have to wait for another time." Grabbing a napkin, Lane asked, "do you have a pen?"
"Of course, you never know when you're going to need it to get a girl's number." Colin answered with a grin, handing her the pen.
Lane quickly jotted down her number and handed to him, "so we'll need to discuss the proper course of action, so start brain-storming. Those two are smart so we'll have to be smarter."
Colin couldn't help but smile at Lane's newfound enthusiasm for the plan. "Alright, a plan is already forming in my head as we speak."
"You're quick. I like that." Lane replied with a grin. "Okay, I got to go, but we'll talk."
"Yes we will."
Lane gave Colin a quick wave and began walking away, but turned when Colin called out, "And Lane."
"Yeah?"
"Don't forget about the drink you owe me." Colin said grinning. Lane just smiled in return as she disappeared backstage. Colin stood looking at napkin and gave himself an internal high five. In their brief conversation, Colin found himself attracted to Lane's energy, she seemed thoughtful yet playful, which made him want to get to know her that much more.
He turned to think about his plan, which he noted was pretty brilliant, he and Lane would help Logan and Rory realize their feelings for each other and therefore potentially live happily ever after. An added bonus for him was he got to work with Lane and Colin hoped that through their interactions he too might get the girl, or at least a chance with her. With that hopeful thought, he went to search for his friends.
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Rory had watched Lane walk off and bump into Colin. Curiously she had observed the encounter between them and while she couldn't hear a word they were saying, she did see Lane writing something down and handing a napkin to Colin. What was going on? She made a mental note to have a long talk with Lane later.
Turning her thoughts back to Logan, she was tempted to see what had developed between him and the blond bimbo but she refrained from overtly glancing in their direction. Instead, she tried subtly tucking a piece of hair behind her ear and peeking over her shoulder at the same time to see what was going on. What she saw rubbed her the wrong way. The blond was now leaning close to him, looking absolutely entranced with the words coming out of his mouth and he looked pretty pleased himself.
Rory, not knowing exactly what compelled her to do it walked over to the chatting couple and linked her arm through Logan's and grabbed a hold of his hand, "Logan! I'm so sorry I took so long. Don't be mad." Smiling and glancing at the leggy blond, she extended her hand, "Hi I'm Rory Gilmore."
The blond looking startled shook Rory's hand and replied, "Sam Portland."
"Nice to meet you. Thanks for keeping my guy busy. My best friend was having boyfriend problems and needed my help and you know how long that can go right? I was worried that he might have gotten impatient and left and that would have been very bad." Rory said smiling at Logan, who was looking amusingly at Rory, and than turned her attention back to the blond.
"Umm so you two are together?" She asked, looking both dumbfounded and disappointed.
"Yep, going on a year and a half." Rory answered beaming.
"Oh okay then. Right… um… Bye." Sam answered taking one last look at Logan before turning a slight glare towards Rory and walked off.
Rory smiled as she watched the blond walk off. She than turned back towards Logan, who still had the amused look on his face, smirking he asked, "so what was that about?"
"Oh just returning the favor." She replied, not overly amused by his smug expression.
"Favor?"
"You know when you saved me at my grandparent's party."
"Uh huh. Who said I needed saving? That girl was in the process of giving me her number and possibly more and might I add she was one good looking girl."
"Oh sorry! I thought you looked cornered. I was just trying to help you out." Rory replied in mock remorse.
Logan grinned and took a step closer towards Rory, who instinctively took a step back and found her back against a table, "hmm if I didn't know better I'd say you were jealous."
"Jealous?" Rory replied, "what? Me… of you and her? I don't think so. I was just trying to help."
He leaned in closer to her and that was when she realized she was still holding his hand as he brought their hands up and pressed hers to his chest, "Are you sure about that Ace?"
Rory's eyes widened slightly, as she felt herself being cornered by his gaze, said, "Why is everyone doubting my word tonight?"
"Maybe because you seem to be in a bit of denial." He said seriously. And maybe myself as well he thought, remembering Finn's earlier words.
"Denial? Over what?"
He shrugged, "I think you know the answer to that."
"I'm fairly intuitive but I have no idea what you're talking about." Rory replied trying unsuccessfully to put some distance between herself and Logan.
"Well then, I don't feel as if I am at liberty to reveal that information." He answered as he tucked a small piece of Rory's hair behind her ear.
Rory tried to assess the situation before her clearly. Logan was standing inches away from her and she couldn't help but feel her heart beating a little faster. What the hell is going on? She thought. If she didn't know better she'd say that he was about to kiss her.
Just at that moment, Finn interrupted frantically, "Logan, we need to leave now!"
Logan dropped his chin to his chest, shaking his head at Finn's bad timing and said, "What's the hurry?"
"It seems I may have flirted a little over zealously with that man's girlfriend." He said, subtly gesturing towards a very big hell's angel type man, who was surrounded by a group of similarly built gentlemen.
Logan nodded in agreement, "I'd say leaving is a good idea. Where's Colin?"
"I'm here." He said appearing behind them. "I take it we have to make another fast retreat due to Finn's uncontrollable behaviour?"
"Right as always Colin." Logan answered in agreement. "We better get going Ace."
"Wait I need to find Marty." Rory said.
"Marty left already Rory." Lane replied, as she too appeared with Zach in tow.
Rory turning to her friend in surprise said, "Good timing Lane. Sorry we have to leave."
"Yeah I know. I saw the earlier developments between Finn and biker. You guys better get out of here, that group is not looking so happy."
Rory quickly hugged Lane and whispered, "I see everything is okay."
"Yeah everything's fine. What about you?"
"I'll call you later." Rory said, glancing over at Logan.
"Alright we're out of here." Logan said, grabbing Rory's hand as the four made their move towards the door.
Once out of the club, and into Rory's car, Finn let out a sigh of relief, "ah we gentlemen always know how to make a classy exit."
Colin snorted, "thanks to you as always Finn."
"Hey I was just trying to get a little action." Finn retorted.
Colin shot back: "Next time pick the girl that doesn't have the boyfriend huh?"
"Now aren't you being a little hypocritical?"
Colin turned to glare at Finn, who just smirked in triumph.
"Gentlemen, let's have some peace, I don't want things getting ugly in here. We all know Ace needs to concentrate on her driving." Logan pitched in, grinning at Rory.
Rory just shook her head, "is every evening this eventful with you three?"
"Well that's for you to find out Ace." Logan replied.
Rory turned her head back towards the road to Yale, but she couldn't help but contemplate Logan's offer.
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A/N: Thank so much for the reviews, as they make me feel all warm and fuzzy. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.