Chapter Two: Playing Dirty

Finn wasn't having fun anymore.

Since Rory had walked out the door with Robert, he'd been preoccupied.

Did she go home with him? She wouldn't do that, would she?

Logan had long since found a blonde to satisfy his interests, and didn't seem too bothered by this new development. Finn felt himself scowl.

Well it's not like she's yours. You don't even like her.

"Looks like you were having some fun with Ace earlier."

He turned towards the voice and sent a glare in Colin's direction.

"Girl's got a spine, I told you that."

Finn just shrugged. He didn't feel like talking. Maybe if he stayed silent, Colin would leave. But when he glanced back at his friend, he was simply standing with a look of conviction on his face.

"She's really getting to you, isn't she?"

Finn rolled his eyes for effect.

"I could get the tart into bed any time I want. It's just fun playing with her first."

A slow smile spread across Colin's face.

"Oh no, my dear Australian pal: the deal was you date Rory, not just sleep with her."

The darker boy's brows furrowed. He knew that'd been their exact words, but he'd assumed sleeping with her would count. He clenched his jaw in annoyance.

He was going to have to change his strategy.

He already knew that Rory wanted him, even if she wouldn't admit it, but he wasn't positive yet that she'd give in to that. Getting her to like him was a near impossibility. He knew he couldn't get to her heart with aggression, but he wasn't the candy and roses type she liked.

Finn tossed back the shot in his hand and turned towards the door, leaving a smirking Colin in his wake.

Rory snuggled deep into the her sheets, smelling Logan's cologne. Tears welled in her eyes for the second time that evening. She'd just spent twenty minutes convincing Robert she could fall asleep just fine by herself. Apparently he thought she was public property like everyone else. Robert didn't surprise her much…Logan was right, he was a jerk.

But she'd thought Finn was different.

He's not, Rory. Just because you sensed some imaginary connection with him doesn't mean it's real. How many girls has he slept with? You wouldn't be any different.

Rory wasn't sure when she'd begun to think of Finn as more than a friend. It was possible that it was just a mixture of her frustration in the pointless relationship with Logan and the lingering intoxication created by the Aussie's closeness less than an hour before.

She'd just wandered into a slight state of sleep when there was a knock at the door. It took every exhausted muscle in her body to drag herself from the couch and towards the offending noise.

Even as Finn knocked, he wasn't quite sure what he was doing. He had no clue what he would do or say when Rory answered. All he was sure of was that the bottle of vodka in his hand would help.

When the door swung open, Finn's heart stopped. There stood Rory, hair tousled and the light from her dorm highlighting select strands of glowing auburn. He didn't know what he was feeling, but it was new.

And it wasn't part of the plan.

Before he knew what he was doing, he'd reached out and pulled her forward. His left arm wrapped around her back and pulled her close, as he buried his face in her neck. The full bottle of vodka in his right hand fell against the small of her back as he pulled her closer.

There was a second in which Finn thought Rory would push him away. Her shoulders tensed up and she brought a hand against his chest. She would have, but their hips stayed apart a safe distance, and his breath was warm on her neck. She couldn't help but relax against him. She felt him mumble into her hair. Chills started at her scalp and worked their way, agonizingly slowly, down to her toes.

"I'm sorry."

Rory pulled away from him awkwardly. She could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"Maybe you should go home and get some sleep, Finn. You're acting kind of funny."

Finn just shook his head and walked past her into the common room.

"Got any shot glasses, doll?"

Reluctantly, Rory pulled out her mother's favorite shot glasses. They had little playboy bunnies on them; Rory saw the mocking in his eyes before he spoke and held up one hand.

"Say a word: the shot glasses go back on the shelf and you go home."

Finn just grinned at her and walked into her room. There was a slight jump in her stomach before Rory took a deep breath and followed.

Finn settled back into one of Rory's pillows, placing another one against the wall next to him for her to lean against. He wasn't sure why he was still there. He knew that it was in his best interest to leave; he'd known since he saw her silhouetted in her doorway and thought he was looking at an angel. But he'd made a bet, and he wasn't about to give up now. At least that's what he told himself.

When Rory settled in next to him, seemingly calm, Finn's heart started to beat a little faster. He could feel the heat from her crossed legs, resting millimeters from his kneecaps.

He filled a shot glass for her and one for himself. They locked eyes and took their first shots together. Finn relaxed a bit against the pillows and kept his eyes focused on her face.

"Truth or dare?"

Rory laughed. She wasn't exactly expecting that, but wasn't all that surprised either.

"The rules?"

"If you refuse to answer a question or do a dare, you take two shots. If you do it, the other person takes one."

Rory smirked.

"Truth."

Finn looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Why do you want Logan?"

Rory decided to be honest.

"I can't have him. I've never had a problem with that before. It drives me crazy."

She shrugged. Finn's eyes were still locked on hers, and Rory forced herself to look away as he took another shot.

"Finn, truth or dare?"

A wicked smile spread across Finn's face.

"Dare."

Determined to win, Rory pushed him a little farther.

"Take off your shirt."

Finn covered his surprise with ease and unbuttoned his shirt. Rory's eyes traveled down his chest, over the seemingly endless plains of sculpted muscles, and she swallowed her shot quickly.

The shift in the game was felt by both of them.

"Rory, truth or dare?"

Rory's response came too quickly.

"Truth."

"Oh come on, you're not going to wimp out on me, are you?"

"No! My next one will be a dare. I just need some reassurance that you're playing fair."

Finn smirked.

"Oh darling, I never play fair. In fact, I tend to play very dirty."

The gravel tones of his voice affected Rory deeper than she was willing to admit.

"Are you attracted to me?"

The question surprised her. Finn's smile widened.

She took two shots. She was starting to feel dizzy, and her throat stung.

"Finn, truth or dare."

"Truth."

Rory was nervous, but she decided to go ahead with her question.

"Why did you keep… why were you a dick earlier?"

Finn didn't want to lie, but he didn't want to tell her about the bet either.

He took two shots.

"Ah… Rory, truth or dare? And remember, you have to say dare."

Rory rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Dare."

Finn's eyes darkened and his smile disappeared.

This was his chance.

"Kiss me."