Disclaimer: I do not own it.
A/N: Sorry this is late! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! You guys rock. Please review!
Chapter Six: Ace...Not Squiggy
"Why are you going to this party?" Paris demanded, her voice infuriated and disgusted.
"Because Robert asked me,"
"If Robert asked you to jump off a cliff would you do it?"
"It depends, how high is it? Do I get to wear a parachute? Is there water below?"
"You're impossible,"
"I'm going because Robert asked me, just like what I said before,"
"I thought snooze boy was a no-go,"
"Snooze boy?"
"What? Did you like Farmer Boy better?" Rory smiled.
"He's nice and he seems to really like me,"
"Don't you really like Logan?" Rory stopped what she as doing, her lip gloss inches away from her purse. She regained her composure and dropped the gloss in, zipping it up. She turned to Paris, all emotion exempt from her face.
"What?"
"Don't use your debate face on me. I taught you it! I'm not blind Rory, you like him,"
"I don't,"
"You do. I know that he helped you on my article. I recognized his style," Rory cocked her eyebrow, a smirk appearing on her face much like one of Logan's.
"You recognized his writing style?"
"Yes, and stop smirking like that, it's creepy," Rory stepped in front of the mirror, her hands running over her hair.
"Up or down?"
"What?"
"My hair Paris. Keep up Gellar," She teased, looking at her friend in the mirror.
"Down, I read in Cosmo that guys like it down,"
"Since when do you read Cosmo?"
"My life coach Roger told I me I had to get more in touch with my feminine side,"
"Ah, so you read Cosmo," Paris nodded, sitting down on the couch.
"There, now you're ready to go to your stupid party,"
"Wow, Cosmo really hasn't worked on your attitude,"
"I'm only on my first issue," Rory smoothed her hair and then turned to Paris.
"Okay, I'm ready,"
"Thanks for the play by play,"
"Anytime Paris. Bye, adn read some more Cosmo, it's good for you,"
"Why are you here?" Colin asked Logan, a drink in hand.
"Tiffany wanted me to go," Colin looked at Tiffany who was currently chatting up a group of football players, and shook his head.
"She never swayed you before,"
"It sounded like a good party,"
"It's Robert's party. You hate Robert,"
"I do not hate Robert,"
"Yes you do, you've hated him since 4th grade when he threw your sandwich in the sandbox,"
"That was a good sandwich,"
"My point is that you don't like Robert,"
"I do not hate Robert,"
"You have made many drunken proclamations challenging that very statement," Logan rolled his eyes, looking around him. His eyes rested on Rory, who was holding a conversation with Robert. His jaw clenched as he saw Robert casually touch her arm.
"I don't hate Robert, I just can't stand him," Colin followed Logan's gaze and frowned.
"I see you've found Reporter Girl,"
"Why is she talking so much with Robert?"
"Maybe he invited her as his date?"
"He threw the party, he doesn't get a date,"
"He's changing things up,"
"That's stupid," Colin smirked.
"Jealous much?" Logan looked at his friend and shook his head, a smile playing on his lips.
"I'm going to go greet the host,"
"Play nice!" Colin called out as Logan made his way to Robert adn Rory. He smiled at Robert when he arrived, outstretching his hand.
"Hi Robert," The other man looked at Logan and then his hand, a smile on his face.
"Hello Logan, you can put the formalities away, this isn't one of your parent's society parties," Logan smiled back, the expression forced.
"Sorry, manners are something that don't just disappear. You know what I mean, right Ace?" Rory looked at Logan and smiled politely.
"Yes,"
"So Ace, who are you here with?" Rory was about to speak but Robert answered for her.
"I invited her,"
"Really? That's interesting,"
"Yeah, I had such a good time last time we went out that I decided to invite her again. Right Squiggy?" He looked down at Rory who bristled at the sound of Robert's asinine nickname. Logan on the other hand held back laughter, his eyes twinkling.
"Yes, you did have a good time, I definitely saw that,"
"I'm going to go get some punch," Rory declared, wanting to get as far away from Robert adn Logan as possible. Rory turned to walk away but Robert stopped her, his hand resting on the small of her back.
"I'll go Squiggy," She stiffened at his touch, the unwanted extremity glued to her back. She hated him touching her because she realized that she really wasn't anything special to Robert. She was just a shiny trophy to dangle in front of Logan, a prize that he only wanted for the prestige. She moved away from his touch and nodded.
"Okay, thanks Robert," He walked off, leaving Rory adn Logan alone. Logan looked at Rory, a smile on his face.
"What is it?" She said, putting her hands on her hips.
"Nothing, Squiggy," Rory sighed, tossing her hair over her shoulder absentmindedly.
"I feel like a character on Sponge Bob," Logan smiled, recognition coming to his face.
"Squigward! That's why it sounded so familiar,"
"I don't know why he gave me a nickname,"
"I gave you a nickname,"
"You didn't give me a name that resembles a sea creature with tentacles," Logan smiled, looking out at the dance floor.
"Ace, may I have this dance?" She looked at him and smiled, nodding. He put his hand on the small of her back and led her to the dance floor. He was happy to feel that she didn't flinch away from his touch like she had with Robert. A slow song came on and he smiled at her, putting his arms smoothly around her waist.
"Hey, they put on a good song for us," Rory didn't respond, instead she just draped her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes; the stunning brown contrasting against her blue.
"Watch your hands Huntzberger," She warned with a smile, "You're spoken for,"
"She's not here," He said, his eyes sparkling.
"But she's a few feet away,"
"Ugh, that's just a mere technicality,"
"You're a pig,"
"You're no fun,"
"I'm just looking out for you,"
"Well thank you," Rory smiled, moving her body closer to his.
"You're welcome," There was a lull n their conversation, both of them just savoring the moment.
"Robert's back," Logan finally said, a smirk on his face.
"I should go back,"
"No, stay," His grip tightened around her waist and she looked up at him, surprised.
"He has my drink,"
"I promise you that it will be just as good after this song has ended,"
"But-"
"Just blame me Ace, I made you stay," Rory's mind was countering that statement, but she merely nodded. Her back was to Robert but she could still feel his gaze, as intense as ever. She placed her chin on Logan's shoulder, wanting more than anything for Robert to just disappear. The song ended sooner than she had expected and before she knew it Logan had removed his arms from her waist. Her arms were still around his neck and he smiled at her.
"Ace, I know I'm irresistible but in order for you to get that punch you're going to have to let go of me," Rory retracted her arms immediately, a blush creeping up on her cheeks.
"Sorry,"
"I didn't mind,"
"Uh, Rory I have your drink," She turned to Robert, hoping that he hadn't heard their conversation, but she was pretty sure that he had.
"Thanks Robert,"
"Thanks for keeping her busy Logan," Robert said, his voice showing no lack of confidence.
"Anytime Robert,"
"Shouldn't you be with Tiffany? You know, your girlfriend?" Logan was surprised by Robert's bluntness, but he recovered quickly, his voice cold.
"Thanks for reminding me Robert, I should be off. Bye Rory, Robert," Logan walked to find Tiffany and found her intimate in a corner with a football player. They were just talking but Logan could tell it was more. He sighed, walking up to them.
"Tiff," His girlfriend looked at him, her eyes glassy.
"Logan!" She jumped up, putting her arms around him. He saw the guy she was with become aggravated adn that told him everything he needed to know. Tiffany was the same, she was exactly how she had always been, easily amused but also easily bored. She always needed change, adn Logan was about to give her some.
"Tiffany, we need to talk,"
"Okay, let's talk!" Logan led her to a secluded corner and then began. He could see her change as he spoke, her going from confused to realization to anger. He saw the tears fall yet he felt no pity for her. He knew that she was already unfaithful to him, and he didn't want anything to do with her.
"You said you loved me,"
"I'm sorry Tiff,"
"No you're not,"
"Tiff-"
"There's someone else isn't there?"
"No -"
"That Mory girl,"
"Rory, her name's Rory and the answer is no. I am not having an affair with her," Tiffany shook her head, walking off, her stride showing white hot furry. She walked up to Rory and slapped her hard across the face. She went for a second hit but Logan stopped her, pulling her away. She turned to him, wrapping his arms around her.
"Logan, I love you," She cried, her breath reeking of alcohol/
"Stop,"
"Logan-"
"STOP IT!" Tiffany pulled away from him and slapped him hard against the face several times before she finally stopped. She stormed off, the football player from when he had found her going after her. He was embaressed that there had been a scene, but relieved that his dealing with Tiffany were finally over. Rory immediately came to him. her left cheek red and inflamed.
"Ace-"
"Are you okay?" She asked, her hand going to his face. Her touch hurt but it hurt even more when she removed it.
"I'm fine. How are you?"
"I've had worse,"
"Really?" Rory smiled, nodding.
"Yeah, my Dean's wife hit pretty hard," Logan smiled, shaking his head.
"You just keep surprising me. Do you want to leave. You're going to want to put ice on your cheek sooner rather than later,"
"Yeah, I just need to say bye to Robert,"
"Okay, I'll be waiting here," Rory quickly said good bye, walking off before Robert could even talk. Her and Logan walked out, both of them knowing what had just happened, and unsure about what came next. They got to Rory's dorm quickly and stood outside the door.
"Thanks for walking me home. I feel very Mandy Moore in A Walk To Remember right now,"
"Minus the cancer," Rory smiled.
"Yeah, minus the cancer,"
"I'm really sorry about Tiffany,"
"That's okay, I hadn't been slapped in a while," Logan smiled.
"Alright, you better get inside before Paris forms a search party,"
"Bye Logan,"
"Bye Rory," She walked into her room and closed to door, replaying the events of the night in her head. Logan had broken up with Tiffany, Logan was now single. She was single and Logan was single, she did not know where to go next. She wished that he would just take the jump, make the next step. There was a knock on the door and Rory opened it, praying that it wasn't Robert.
"Logan-" He silenced her with a kiss, his arms wrapping around him. She kissed him back, her mind racing. Logan was kissing her, and she had to admit that she liked it. After a few moments he pulled away, his breath ragged and labored.
"Okay, bye Rory," She nodded, still shocked from what had just happened.
"Bye,"
A/N: I hope that you liked it! PLEASE REVIEW!
