AN: Thanks for all the reviews! I am glad you guys like it so far! Anyways, let me know what you think:) The long AN is on my blog.

Chapter 11

Rory pulled the tank top on over her bathing suit and looked in the mirror. A jean skirt, tank top and flip flops looked perfect for the party.

"Lucas!" She called, applying lip gloss.

Lucas walked into the room, stopping when he saw her. She looked hot. This wasn't his best friend who was missing a front tooth in first grade.

She glanced up and saw him standing there. Flashing him a smile, she said, "Hey! Ready yet?"

"Uhh…" 'When did I lose the ability to speak?'

She smirked. "Eloquent vocabulary there. What was your verbal score on the SAT's again?"

Rolling his eyes Lucas walked across the room to swing an arm over her shoulders. "Funny Gilmore. Really."

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah, Nathan and Haley said they'll meet us there." He told her, allowing her to walk in front of him.

"Great, come on."

He shook his head watching as she walked ahead. It was going to be a long night.

-GG-OTH-

Haley and Nathan were sitting on the sand, looking out at the waves.

"How much longer?" She asked, breaking their silence.

Nathan looked confused. "Until what?"

Haley shot him a look of frustration. She knew she wasn't the only one who saw the chemistry between Lucas and Rory. Currently, Rory was standing with her back to Lucas. He was tickling her sides as she struggled to get away. They were both laughing.

"Until those two finally admit what everyone else can see."

Nathan nodded. Until Rory had showed up he thought that Lucas was having some sort of a girl problem. He assumed Rory would be able to help him out. Little did he know the exact extent of the situation.

He shook his head. "I have no idea."

He looked around, watching as people helped themselves to the food and drinks. They had a bonfire going and were grilling. Nathan and Haley arrived two hours ago. They were early to set everything up. Their friends began to arrive about an hour after that. Since their arrival, Lucas and Rory had been inseparable.

"They'll figure it out." He told the brunette next to him. He turned to face her. "I don't really want to talk about them anymore."

"Um, ok." She said, glancing around.

"Haley," Nathan whispered, causing her to look at him.

"Yeah?"

"Would you go out to dinner with me?" He asked her. His voice was calm but on the inside he was freaking out.

She smiled. "I'd love to."

Leaning in, Nathan went to kiss her, but a movement to his left caused him to pull back. "Damn! What are they doing here?"

Haley blinked, shocked by the sudden change. She had been expecting his warm lips on hers, not for him to pull back and curse. "What?"

Nathan pointed. "See those three guys?"

Haley nodded, and he continued. "The blonde is Rory's boyfriend. The other two are his friends."

"Uh…" She felt guilty. It wasn't like she knew that the Australian she invited was Rory's boyfriend's friend. How was a girl to know these things?

"I wonder how they found out about the party."

"Nathan… I kinda invited them."

"What? Why? How? When?" He asked, firing the questions off quickly.

She quickly explained to him about the encounter with the Aussie at the liquor store. Nathan shook his head and watched as Logan walked up to Rory. All he knew was his brother was not going to be happy about the other guy's presence.

-GG-OTH-

"Lu-cas! Stop it!" Rory gasped, laughing uncontrollably.

Lucas responded by tickling her harder. "Nope!"

"Pllleeeeaaaseee? Mercy!" She begged, gasping for breath.

Lucas opened his mouth to reply, but suddenly tensed up and let his arms drop.

Rory turned around, surprised he had actually given up on tickling her. "What's wrong?" She asked, following his gaze. "Oh."

She saw Finn, Colin, and Logan. Finn and Colin were talking to a few girls, while Logan was making his way towards them.

"You didn't tell me you invited him." Lucas said, staring as the other blonde headed his way.

"I didn't." She quietly replied, looking between the two. Their gazes showed that there was obviously no love lost.

"Hey Logan." She said, once he was within hearing distance.

Logan narrowed his eyes at the man he had just watched hold his girl friend. "Hey Ace." He leaned to kiss her, but she moved her head so the kiss landed on her cheek.

"What are you doing here?" She asked him, not meeting his eyes.

"You don't want me here?" He asked her.

She shook her head. "I didn't say that. I just wanted to know why you're here."

Logan looked at Lucas who was standing with his arms crossed over his chest and his face guarded. His eyes were narrowed.

"Can we talk somewhere without your guard dog?" Logan asked her, jabbing a thumb in Lucas' direction.

Rory looked between the two guys, realizing that there would be a fight soon if she didn't separate them. Lucas really couldn't stand Logan, and apparently the feeling was mutual.

She grabbed Logans hand and led him away from the group.

"Talk." She said, crossing her arms once they were a ways down the beach.

"What is your problem?" Logan asked her, staring at her in confusion.

"You are!"

"What the hell did I do? You haven't answered my calls in days. I'm supposed to be your boyfriend, yet you spend all your time with Lucas!" He spat, growing angry.

"He's my best friend!" She yelled. "You knew I wanted to spend time alone with him, yet you still came here."

Logan sighed and took a deep breath. He was getting angry and he knew that if he got angry nothing would be solved. "Ok, I get that. But why can't you spend any time with me? All I'm asking for is a little of your time here Ace."

Rory looked down, feeling ashamed. She hadn't looked at it from his point of view. He did fly all the way down here, just to spend time with her. He could have been in another country, enjoying drinks and partying, yet here he was, in front of her, pleading for some of her time.

"I'm sorry." She said, grabbing his hands. "Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow what?" He asked, caressing her hands with his.

Rory smiled up at him. "Tomorrow we'll spend the whole day together. Is that okay?"

Logan smiled at her and pulled her against him in a hug. "That's better than okay."

They stood in the embrace for a few minutes before beginning to walk back to the party, hand in hand.

Rory turned to Logan once they arrived back. "I'm going to spend some time with Lucas tonight since I'll be with you tomorrow, okay?"

Logan smiled and nodded, kissing her. "I love you, Ace."

Rory's eyes flew wide and she bit her lip. "I gotta go."

She hurried away, leaving Logan to watch after her.

-GG-OTH-

"I've been looking for you." Lucas told her ten minutes later, sinking onto the sand beside her. He handed her a bottle of Corona, taking a drink from his own.

She shrugged.

"What did he do?" He questioned her, lying on his side to watch her.

"Nothing… except act like the perfect boyfriend. He loves me. He wants to dote on me. He follows me here… it's just… things aren't right." She sighed, looking into Lucas' eyes. "I don't feel it when I'm with him… I should… I just…" Her voice trailed off as she looked into the distance, not focusing on anything in particular.

"You don't feel what?" Lucas questioned her, entwining their fingers together.

She felt her eyes fill up with tears. "This." She whispered, pressing her lips to his. The kiss was soft, tender, and filled with promise, even though it just lasted a second. "Oh, God… I need to… go." She said, tears trickling down her face now. She stood up and ran away.