Part 11: The Concert:

The drive back to Boston was quiet. Rory didn't feel like talking and Chris had silently accepted it. Gigi kept quiet seeing as she was watching Finding Nemo on the mini DVD player that her dad had bought. They arrived in Boston and Chris parked in front of his house. Rory got out and Chris after her. He unbuckled Gigi and let her run around the lawn while he helped Rory with the bags.

"You going back to Yale?"

"Yep."

"You going to the concert tonight?"

"Yep."

"Are you giving me the cold shoulder cause I told you to call you're Mom?"

"Nope."

"Good, another answer other than yep. What's up Rory?"

"Nothing, I just want to go to my dorm, get some sleep and go to the concert."

"Did Logan say something to upset you?"

"No, of course not, and if he did I would sic Paris on him, not my daddy." Chris laughed.

"It's pretty sad that Paris can strike fear into Logan and not me."

"It's sad that Paris gets laid more than you, dad." Rory laughed.

"Low blow, Ror, I have a kid."

"You have two." Rory said kissing his cheek. "Thank you for inviting me to New York, dad, I appreciate it."

"It was no problem Ror. Thanks for taking care of Gigi."

"My pleasure, anything to be in her life." Rory unlocked her trunk and put her bag in it and closed it. Gigi ran over to her and hugged her legs.

"Is Rory leaving?"

"Yes I'm leaving but I'll see you soon okay?"

"Okay." Rory picked her up and kissed both her cheeks then put her back down. She turned to her father and kissed his cheek again.

"See you on Tuesday?"

"Wouldn't miss it." Chris said hugging her. Rory smiled as they let go and walked towards her car. She started her car and drove off towards New Haven.

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Rory walked into her dorm room and went straight to her room. Paris had left a note on the white board that her and Doyle had gone out for a while and would be back before the concert. She unpacked her things and set out the clothes that she was going to change into and laid on her bed. She closed her eyes and reached into her pocket fingering the velvet box. He shouldn't have given it to her. Curiosity always got the best of her. She was Pandora with the box. The cat that was killed. There was a reason behind her wanting to become a reporter, curiosity being one of them. She took out the box from her jacket pocket and sighed. It was best if she just hid it and forget about it till Tuesday, because on Tuesday she was going to have to open it. On Tuesday she would have to face the reality of the situation. She was marrying Logan Huntzberger against her will. She opened the drawer of her night stand, threw the ring box in and violently slammed it shut. If only she could run. Mexico.

She smiled and closed her eyes imagining the white sands and clear waters of Cancun. The loud music of night clubs and little old lady peddlers wanting to braid your hair. Rory imagined herself haggling for necklaces and purses that were hand embroidered. She imagined herself lying down on the beach letting the sun beat down on her. Not a care in the world. Then someone knocked. Rory opened her eyes and turned around and saw that it was already five. She sat up and frowned. She must have fallen asleep. She got up and opened the door to her room to find Paris.

"Hey, how was New York?" Paris asked.

"It was fine. I went shopping, had lunch with Tristan, all that good stuff."

"Sounds fun."

"It was. What about you?"

"Me and Doyle stayed in most of the time." Rory nodded. "We just came back from dinner, we brought you something."

"I'll eat in the car. Thanks, Paris." Paris nodded and walked away to get dressed. Rory shut her door and went into her bathroom. She turned on the water letting it warm up and stripped down. She tested the water with her foot and adjusted it to the right temperature. She got in and sighed pleasantly as the water hit her back. She washed her body with the cucumber melon body wash and her hair with lavender smelling shampoo. She got out wrapping a towel around herself. She put on her underclothes and started getting dressed for her best friend's concert.

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Logan, Finn, Colin, and Stephanie all piled into Logan's black SUV and drove towards The Hot Rod. The guys dressed in the clothes that Rory had picked out for them and Steph wore a tight purple Grecian inspired dress that end mid thigh, while one sleeve was long the other was off the shoulder leaving her right side almost bare. She wore black tights and black Gucci peep toe heels.

"So, who's playing?" Colin asked form the backseat.

"Hep Alien. Ace's best friend is their drummer." Logan answered pulling up at the club. A line was forming and was already around the corner. He parked a block away and they got out.

"And why are we here again?" Colin asked as they walked towards the building.

"'Cause Rory volunteered Logan to do a review. Now shut up, relax and enjoy yourself." Steph ordered patting Colin's cheek.

"Yeah mate. We're lucky Reporter girl invited us at all."

"She's lucky she likes us at all." Steph said. They waited near the door where a line of people were still waiting to get in. Logan checked his watch. Five minutes to seven. They were actually early. A miracle in itself with their group.

"Paris, it looks fine." They heard Rory say as she walked closer to the club.

"It's not, too short. I think it's too short."

"It's fine, Paris. Not too short." Doyle said wrapping his arm around her. Paris rolled her eyes at her boyfriend. Logan smiled when Rory came into view. She looked sexy as hell. She was wearing a grey pinstripe corset that zipped in the front pushing up her cleavage, a short red mini skirt with fishnet tights making her legs look a lot longer than they were and knee high boots added height. Her makeup was scarce, clear lip gloss, blue eye shadow accentuating her eyes and bringing out the blue in them and her hair was in a complicated twist with two strands on either side of her face.

"You clean up nice, Ace." Logan smirked. Rory rolled her eyes.

"So do you."

"It's too short." Paris complained. Logan looked over to Paris who was in a denim mini skirt and a green halter top. She had on sandals making her look casual with her hair down, while Doyle wore a blue botton down shirt and jeans.

"Nice to see you out of your tie, Doyle."

"You're not ruining an evening with my girlfriend, Huntzberger, so don't even try."

"ARE YOU TOUCHING MY DRUMS, WHAT IS THE RULE?! Rory smiled and went towards the alley they were standing near. Logan held her back

"You sure you should be going down there all alone?"

"Come with me then." She said slapping his hands away. She made her way down the alley where a short Korean girl in a black Dickies skirt with a studded belt and white AC/DC shirt was yelling at her band mates.

"NO TOUCHING THE DRUMS!"

"How do you expect them to get them inside without touching them?" Rory watched Lane huff.

"He's got a point, Kim." Rory said. Lane turned around and squealed as she ran towards Rory. Rory ran over to her and they hugged.

"I didn't think you would make it."

"Of course I was going to come, jeez Lane; it's your first gig of the year!" Rory laughed. Lane heard a cymbal crashed and she sent a withering glare in Brian's direction.

"If I've told you once I told you twice, quit touching them. I'll get them in a minute!"

"Zach messed with your stool."

"YOU WHAT?!" Lane went over to her stool as Zach tried to explain. Rory shook her head.

"I'll see you inside, Lane." Lane waved her off as she was too busy yelling at Zach. Rory shook her head. Lane never changed. She saw Logan, Finn, Colin and Steph staring at her. She shrugged

"We've known each other since Pre-K and even though we saw each other two weeks ago and talked two hours ago, we give each other a greeting as if we haven't seen each other in a year. I was raised that way." She said leading them towards the door. Paris and Doyle were talking to a man with a green Mohawk, tight leather pants and no shirt. He had lots of tattoos and piercings. He smiled at Rory.

"Rory."

"Cam." She was about to hug him, but he held up a hand.

"Let's see the hands." Rory rolled her eyes holding them up. "Hey, you never know. It hurt like a bitch when you got stuck."

"You shouldn't have been teasing me!"

"You shouldn't have been mocking me!"

"There was no mocking!" Rory protested.

"There was mocking pretended to be talking to your boyfriend."

"You teased me first, Cam! You antagonized me!"

"You and your big words!"

"You and your small words!" Cam smiled and brought her into a hug. She turned towards the group of people next to her.

"Cam, this is Logan, Colin, Finn and Stephanie. Guys, this is Cam. He owns this place."

"Nice to meet you." Logan said sticking out his hand.

"Yeah, same here." Cam said shaking it. "Okay, I need tickets." Logan handed him the four of his while Rory handed him the three of hers.

"Okay, go on in and no drinking, I have Josh under strict orders. I don't want to get closed down."

"Did you get me coffee?"

"In the back, serve yourself. Josh says he's a bartender, not a waiter. Coffee isn't a part of his job description." Rory rolled her eyes as she led them into the empty club.

"There's no one here." Logan pointed out.

"Ever the reporter. Cam lets everyone in a half an hour before the concert." Rory led them up the stairs to the balcony and towards a red round table. She set down her purse and Paris and Doyle sat down along with Logan, Finn, Colin and Steph. They looked down and saw that they had the perfect view of the stage. Rory looked down at the bartender and smiled.

"Rory, Rory, Rory, what are you doing out so late?" He shouted up at her. Rory rolled her eyes.

"Be a dear and get me and my friends some coffee." She shouted back.

"I'm a bartender, not a waiter."

"If you do Paris will make it worth your while!" She teased. Josh gave a look of horror

"Dream on." Paris muttered. Rory laughed.

"Try again!"

"Well, how 'bout a date with Lane?" Rory said. She knew Josh had a huge crush on the petite drummer. Josh gave a silly grin and rushed towards the back. Rory shook her head and sat down.

"You shouldn't have done that." Paris said. Rory looked at her.

"Done what?"

"String him along like that. You know Lane can't stand him."

"Lane likes him just the same, but she has a weird way of showing it." Rory said.

"She hates him."

"No she doesn't, trust me. He's all she ever talks about after one of their gigs." Rory heard the kitchen door close and Josh walk up the stairs. He walked over to them and set down the cups.

"Do you guys have a designated driver?" He asked.

"I thought you were under strict orders."

"Two of you are at least 21, right?" Rory rolled her eyes.

"Just the coffee, Josh, I want everyone sober tonight." She heard Finn groan. Josh smiled and went back down to the bar to get ready for the night.

"Why does everyone have to be sober, love?" Finn asked with a sad note to his voice.

"Because I paid for the tickets and I say what happens when."

"You're just trying to ruin our fun." Colin said.

"Yes, Colin, that's my mission in life to ruin your fun. Logan, did you bring anything to write with?" Logan felt the pointed look Doyle gave him and sighed. He pulled a small notepad from his breast pocket and a pen. Rory gave him a smile. She looked down at the stage where Lane was fixing her stool and smiled even more.

"Lane had always been the black sheep of her family." She said to no one in particular "She had started her love of Rock and Roll when she was six and went on from there. She hid her non religious CDs under floor boards in her room and a shrine to all things non mama Kim in her closet. From lava lamps to flashy clothing. Then she started playing drums in the Stars Hollow Music Store and had taken it to the next level to find a band to play in. Thus born Hep Alien. Dave was the first guitarist that they had, but he left after he got accepted to college and then they got Gil who is just the best." She turned towards them and smiled. "I'm their groupie slash friend. I introduced them in their first gig."

"What about now?" Stephanie asked.

"Now they have Cam if they're in need of gigs. They find their own. Four years of practicing finally paid off. Lane moved in with Brian and Zack last year and they find time to practice between jobs. She's happy. It's good to see her happy." She watched Lane run over up the stairs and towards their table. She grabbed Rory's coffee.

"You have a date with Josh." Lane spit out the coffee back into the cup and Rory groaned. "Did you have to put it back in the cup, Lane? I haven't even tasted it yet." Lane just stared at her.

"I have a date. With Josh. A college guy. A bartender. He's not on the Mama Kim approved list!"

"That's part of the reason you like him, Lane."

"Right, right. Do you know how hard it was to get her to like Dave and Zack for that matter?"

"Oh, shh you. You like him and I arranged it. Now, what day works for you?" Rory asked with a smile.

"I hate when you're right. You know that, right?"

"Yes, I do. Now go get me another coffee seeing as you ruined mine. Plus, it'll give you a reason to talk to Josh." Lane smiled and ran down the stairs towards the bar. Rory shook her head.

"You're good, Rory." She turned to Steph with a smile.

"All in a night's work." She saw that the club was starting to fill up. The band would start soon. Lane ran back up, careful not to spill the coffee and set it in front of her.

"Wednesday." Lane said. Rory looked up at her.

"What?"

"Wednesday is our date."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he's got extra tickets to the Metallica concert and asked me if I wanted to go."

"I didn't take you for a Metallica lover, Lane."

"I'm not, but do you see how gorgeous he is?" Rory laughed. "Now, who are you four?" Lane asked changing the topic.

"Right. Lane, this is Finn, Colin, Stephanie and Logan." Lane looked Logan up and down and sighed.

"Lane Kim. And if you hurt her, well, I have very strong friends." With that said she turned on her heel and left them. Rory shook her head and brought the cup to her lips.

"Any other friends that will threaten me, Ace?"

"Well, Cam, but he doesn't know yet so you don't have to worry about him; Paris already did her spiel; and my mom, but seeing as she had a say in the whole thing I don't think she has any objections." Logan nodded. "What about you? Any friends that are going to be threatening me?" Logan laughed.

"All in good time, Ace. All in good time."

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The band was great. Even Logan had to admit. They had good rhythm, good songs and he could see that they worked their asses off hours a day to be as good as they were. He watched from the balcony as Finn danced with some nameless red head that he had tracked down. Steph had dragged Colin to the dance floor and Paris threatened Doyle with sex if he didn't dance with her. Rory was at the bar talking to Cam and Josh laughing every once in a while. He stayed up top jotting down a note or two in his notebook. He saw Rory come up and sit next to him.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself." Logan said.

"So what do you think?"

"They're good. I can tell they work hard."

"They do."

"Is this awkward? Me being here in your place."

"Nope, but it's about to be." Logan watched as she put the box he had left in her room on the table. They both stared at it willing for it to disappear.

"How is it that one piece of jewelry can cause so much damage?" Logan asked still staring at the box. He heard Rory laugh.

"I have no idea. How did our lives go from perfect to ruined?"

"Oh, Ace, you hurt me. Marrying me ruins your life."

"I'm losing a lot by this arrangement."

"You love him, don't you?" Rory looked up at him. He was staring at her now. She sighed and leaned back in her seat.

"I…" Rory stooped and thought about it then continued. "I don't know anymore. Dean and I we've been through a lot. But this time it just doesn't seem right. I know the reason behind it, but I was willing to give us a try. We've been happy together and then this happened and…" Rory sighed. "I don't know what to do about it and the bad thing about it is I have to figure it out fast before he finds out from anyone else."

"You want to be the one to tell him?"

"I have to be because sooner or later this is going to come out in the papers. Jesus, you're father owns newspaper upon newspaper, it's bound to be in there sometime."

"Yes, bound to be." Rory reached for the box and pocketed it again. "You haven't opened it yet, have you?" Rory smiled.

"No, I haven't." Logan nodded. They lapsed in a silence and watched the band and their friends down below. Logan broke it.

"Whatever you tell him, Ace, and whenever you do it, Finn Colin, Steph and myself will be there for you. We're your friends whether you want us to be or not." Rory smiled and hugged him.

"You don't know how much that means, Logan. Thanks." She let go, got up and went down the stairs. Logan shook his head. She was making it harder for him not to fall.