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Thanks to my Beta Lourenda for making sure all my homophones are correct : )
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The girls used every second of the three hours they had to get ready. They helped each other do their hair and makeup making sure none of them looked identical.
Rory's dress was blue so she had light blue eyes shadow with dark blue eye liner. Steph's dress was pink so she opted for a light pink shimmer powder, and Paris's dress was black so she skipped the eye shadow all together and just wore light eyeliner.
"It really does amaze me how they got the sizes perfect." Paris stated as she slipped her shoes on.
"I know! I mean size all depends on the brand. A size two in one brand isn't always a size two in another." Steph added as she finished putting ringlets in her hair.
Rory smoothed the imaginary wrinkles in her dress then looked in the mirror. Her hair was half up with curls falling loosely. "Do you think he'll end up with another girl tonight?" Rory asked quietly.
Steph was caught off guard by her question. She wanted to assure Rory that Logan liked her and tell her there was no chance that another girl would go home with Logan but she couldn't.
"I don't know." Steph shrugged "But I'd like to think that even Logan wouldn't do that."
Rory slightly nodded "I hope your right."
Rory was feeling a little better about the situation. She had come to terms with the fact that it took two people to have sex and she was the one who had pushed it. She also knew that she had told Logan she wouldn't turn all 'Wedding Crashers' on him but seeing him bring another girl into his room tonight would probably break her heart.
"C'mon Ror, the men await." Steph smiled trying to brighten her friends spirits.
"Well, we can't have that, now can we?"
"Let's get this show on the road!" Paris said as she opened the door and walked down the hallway to the living room.
All three guys were standing in their tuxedos holding a single rose.
Paris and Steph 'awed' and hugged their respective date while Rory just walked over and gave Logan a weak smile.
"Thanks." She said quietly as she took the flower he was offering her.
"No problem." He assured her.
The other four people in the room watched quietly at the interaction hoping the awkwardness between the two would dissolve quickly or it would be one very long night.
Colin linked arms with Paris as Finn pulled Steph close to him and slung his arm over her shoulder.
"Finny, don't mess up my hair." Steph warned teasingly.
"That's not what you said last night." He growled lowly in her ear causing her to blush.
Rory smiled at the two, Steph really did like Finn and from the looks of it Finn really did like Steph as well.
Paris and Colin didn't seem to have the same chemistry as Steph and Finn. Even Paris had commented that she thought they would probably be better off as friends, with the occasional benefit.
"Shall we?" Logan asked hesitantly offering his arm to Rory.
He was trying really, really trying to break the tension between them. Even if he no longer had a chance with Rory romantically he still hoped they could at least be friends.
His attempt at breaking the ice did not go unnoticed by Rory and she willingly linked her arm with his. "We shall."
He glanced over at her, clearly surprised that she had obliged to his offer and he gave her a warm smile. This was giving him hope, hope that she didn't hate him completely.
They walked down a stone path that lead them straight to a huge building. Walking through the large doors Rory's mouth dropped open, the ballroom they had just entered was absolutely stunning.
"It's beautiful." Rory whispered to herself.
"It was built by the founders of the LDB. Once they all became successful and made their own money, not living off of parent's and trust funds they decided to contribute something to the future generations." Logan explained.
"If you ask me they completely outdid themselves." Rory said still looking around completely amazed by the lavish building.
Everything was marble and had large pillars holding up the elevated ceilings. There was a gigantic chandelier hanging in the middle of the ballroom. The LDB had decorated everything in black and gold.
"Does black and gold have a specific meaning?" Rory asked.
"Nope, whoever organizes the event gets to choose. This time is was Seth and Robert."
"They did a fabulous job."
"Yes, they did. I personally think they are trying to show Colin, Finn and I up, as we were in charge of the last event."
Logan watched as Rory's eyes lit up as she took in the room. Her smile grew every time she learned more about the organization that had put this all together. She truly had the spirit of a reporter, he had to give her that.
"Let's take our seats. It's almost time for the speeches." Logan said guiding her by the small of her back to their table.
Logan expected Rory to flinch and feel uncomfortable at his touch but she appeared to be just the opposite. She looked at ease as his hand stayed firmly on her back, which surprised him.
Pulling out a chair for her she took a seat and he sat next to her. They were the first to arrive at the table and there was a awkward silence and Rory decided that she had had enough of this weird tension.
"I don't hate you." she stated.
"That's good to know." Logan smiled letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"It's just, every time you look at me it's like you think I am going to lash out and go crazy." She smiled at him.
"I didn't mean…." Logan quickly tried to assure her.
"Don't worry about it, I just thought you should know."
"Well, thank you." he told at her gratefully.
She would never know how much the words 'I don't hate you' would mean to him.
Rory was about to say something else but Colin and Paris had made their way to the table. "Hey Ror, what do you think of all this?" Colin asked.
"It's…amazing."
"The LDB never does anything half way." He smirked.
"Logan mentioned speeches, what are those about?"
"You know something, I really have no idea. I usually tune them out."
Rory laughed and turned her head to look expectantly at Logan. At first he didn't have a clue why she was looking at him but then it became clear, she wanted her answer. "Oh, um I don't know either."
"You don't know what the speeches are about, yet I am assuming that you've heard at least one at every gathering of this organization that you've ever been to."
"I listened to the one when we were initiated but after that it seemed pointless." Logan defended.
Shaking her head she laughed, "I guess I'll just have to listen and find out for myself."
"I guess you will." Logan smirked.
Both Rory and Logan found it extremely easy to fall back into their familiar banter. It was nearly impossible for Rory to feel uncomfortable around Logan, he had a relaxing aura to him.
Finn and Steph joined the table right at the exact moment the speeches started. Everyone was silent except for the speaker.
Rory was listening intently until she felt something hit her in the head. Turning around she found Stephanie pointing to a ball up napkin.
Opening the napkin she saw in Steph's handwriting: "You don't look completely awkward with Logan anymore."
Rory looked around and saw Finn trying to set a pen on fire with the candle that was on the table. Snatching it out of his hand and ignoring his pout she replied to Steph's note. "We were talking but then Paris and Colin interrupted us, He knows I don't hate him though. That's gotta be a improvement."
Throwing it back at Stephanie she earned a disapproving look from both Paris and Colin but a chuckle from Finn.
Steph motioned for the pen again, wrote something and gave the napkin back "The speeches are boring, talk to him more now."
Rory looked hesitant but tapped Logan on the shoulder to get his attention. As he looked up at her, she gestured for him to come with her. Standing up quietly Rory took his hand as she walked out into the corridor.
"I was actually listening to the speeches this time, you know." He told her.
"Liar! You were playing poker on your cell phone."
"I thought I was hiding it better than that!" He smirked.
"I wouldn't have seen it but when you stood up I saw you slip it into your pocket." She explained.
"Ah, I see. So, to what do I owe this interruption?"
"We weren't done talking." Rory said quietly.
"Ah, the inevitable talk."
Logan knew this was coming, even though she said she didn't hate him he wasn't sure that he wanted to hear her say that it was a mistake. He had finally put his heart on the line and those words were going to crush him.
"You say that like you already know what I am going to say." Rory observed as she leaned up against a pillar.
"Maybe I already do." Logan told her shortly.
"Well, then by all means enlighten me, what am I going to say?"
"Your going to say that last night was a mistake and that we let things get out of hand and that we should just forget it ever happened." He shot back bitterly.
He knew he was letting his emotions get the better of him but he had feelings for her and she was just going to cast him aside as a mistake.
"Is that what you want me to say?" she questioned.
Logan gave her a confused look "That's what you are going to say."
"No."
"No, what?"
"No, that's not what I was going to say." she rolled her eyes.
"I'm sure that it was along those lines."
Suddenly it all clicked, he thought she regretted it and that upset him. Logan Huntzberger actually had feelings for someone beyond lust. He had feelings for…her. She knew that she should come right out and tell him that she didn't think of him as a mistake but she decided to give him a taste of his own medicine.
"Your making an assumption because that's what you would have said." Rory said quietly.
"What are you talking about?"
"If you had sex with someone and it didn't mean anything to you. You would have told them that things got out of hand and that you should just forget it ever happened."
"I would no-" Logan began but Rory cut him off.
"Yes, you would have. Don't lie."
"Fine." Logan shrugged "I would have."
"Well, I'm not you."
Logan slowly looked up to reach her eyes and was shocked when he saw her smiling a little.
"I don't regret it Logan. I told you I wouldn't and I don't."
"Then why did you leave this morning?" He asked her.
Rory shrugged and took a few steps closer to him. "I was scared and I panicked. It was my first time Logan and it was with you, the king of 'get in and get out' I figured I was supposed to do the same thing, do what I hear that you do."
"I know you've seen movies, what did they do after sex?" He said trying to compare it to something she'd understand.
She wrinkled her nose "I've never watched porn."
Logan laughed, she had away about making the most awkward conversations light without even realizing it.
"I can't think of an example right now but you know how in movies and TV shows they cuddle? They have that moment where they both just lay tangled in each others arms and laugh when neither one of them know what to say?"
Rory nodded.
"Well that's what is supposed to happen, you're supposed to lay in each others arms feeling safe and comfortable and awkward all at the same time. I've never done that step, I've always been to afraid."
"I am sure no one would laugh at you because you're a closet cuddler." She said smiling.
"It's not that. It's just I've never had enough feelings for a girl to have that moment." He smiled stepping so they were inches apart "Until you."
"Me." Rory repeated. She had figured out that he liked her by herself but hearing the words come out of his mouth made them real and slightly frightening.
Logan just nodded.
"Well…That sure is…intense." Rory said searching for the right word.
"You're telling me." Logan told her.
Rory leaned in and gave him a hug, because a kiss was too much. That it, it was too much for right now. They were both slowly coming to terms with how they truly felt about each other.
Logan wrapped his arms tightly around her as she snuggled into his chest. The only thought that was flowing through Logan's mind was 'I could definitely get used to this.'
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