AN: Wow, I'm sorry I'm horrible at updating lately. My weekend was busier than I expected so I didn't get much computer time as I anticipated, I'm really sorry about that. Has anyone seen the new CW commericial? It's so cute! I love the song and seeing Rory and Logan and Brooke and Lucas (even though i don't like Chad because of what he did to Sophia) Anyways I'm excited for the new season, and it's good to see some kind of recognition that Logan will in fact be present. And for all those who didn't like Jess, be happy to know he's out for good according to some interview I read BUT this season will be the last season of GG, at least with ROry in it, Alexis apparently wants out very badly but Lauren Graham is still willing to do more but who knows. Enough rambling, enjoy the chapter that introduces some furture worries of Rory.
I OWN NOTHINGGG!
Louise, Stephanie, Rory, and Madeline were all sprawled out on beach chairs, in that order, near the heated pool absorbing the sunlight that streamed in through the glass ceiling and enjoying lounging without having to feel the breezy September weather. The girls were dressed in their corresponding color bikinis and enjoying the scenery of two very built guys show off their volleyball skills in front of them.
"So Louise, what happened with you and Tristan last night?" Stephanie asked curiously. She had expected the two of them to have slept together by the way they were dancing last night.
"After grinding with him for an hour, I went to kiss him and there was nothing," Louise said disappointed.
"Really?" Rory asked surprised. It had seemed to her that the two had great chemistry.
"Yeah, took me by surprise too. I mean I thought there was really something there but when we kissed it felt like kissing someone related to, but not as disgusting. He is a great kisser, but he agreed with me there was nothing there," Louise replied nonchalant.
"Are you alright with that?" questioned Rory.
"Of course. Besides, I don't want to ruin the friendship anyways. He was an interesting thought though, he made me a little less scared to jump into a relationship, especially after Travis," Louise added.
"Who's Travis?" Rory asked before mentally scolding herself as she remembered Summer's comment about Louise not being able to hold down a guy. "Sorry you don't have to.."
Louise stopped her by holding out her hand and spoke. "Travis was my freshman year boyfriend that I thought I loved. We were pretty hot and heavy for a while, practically attached by the hip even though he went to Bloomfield High. But then Summer took a liking to him too, especially when he became quarter back of his school and she seduced him. Next thing I know, rumors are spreading that Summer slept with him and when I ask him about it, he says he did. I broke up with him and he didn't try and stop me. Summer eventually got tired of him but she rubs it in my face a lot that lost him to her. After that, my trust level for other girls and guys dropped very low. I can only trust you guys now," she said sadly. Rory could tell that she was being strong and trying not to cry, but the hurt in her voice expressed her sadness enough.
"You two really did help though. When you stuck up for me the very first day of meeting me, I let my guard down for both of you. It wasn't subtle that I didn't like you guys, but I was just trying to look out for the group you know? But I'm glad I let my guard down," she said sending a smile to Rory. Rory blinked back tears before going over to her and giving her a big hug. "I'm glad too!" she said trying her hardest not to cry.
As she took her seat back next to Steph, she spoke up. "Rory I think I should explain to you what Summer said to you," she said with a shaky voice. What she had to say was important to have this trusting thing that they were doing, but it was hard for her to relive.
"Steph, you really don't have to justify anything that she said. I didn't take anything she said to heart and I didn't believe any of it."
"No but she was right about me. I am a murderer."
"Don't talk like that Steph it was an accident," Louise said in a half scolding half comforting tone.
Stephanie just smiled in acknowledgement of her comment before turning to face Rory. "Rory when I was in 8th grade I was baby sitting my little brother who… was a year younger than me. We got in a fight and I told him to fuck off and went and got drunk because I was in my rebellious phase. He went out to go and skate board, and I went outside to call him inside. I was so drunk I ran in the middle of the street looking for him, not paying attention to any of the traffic. All of a sudden, I heard him calling out my name and saw him running towards me and I looked to my side and see a bus coming towards me," Steph said tears coming up in her eyes with her voice quavering.
"I just stood staring at it, I was too drunk to react to anything. But he wasn't, he pushed me out of the way so that I wouldn't get hit. The next thing I remember is seeing a group of people gathered around something and I get up to look, and it's my brother," Stephanie said outright sobbing, "My brother in a fucking pool of blood. The bus driver didn't swerve in time and he hit my brother, he was sent flying into the concrete after saving me and was dead on contact. I killed him Rory, I'm a murderer."
Rory immediately went over to her pool chair and sat next to her, pulling her into her arms and whispering soothing words to her. "You're not Stephanie. It was an accident and accidents happen all the time. You can't blame yourself," she said as Stephanie cried into her shoulder. "Are you sure you don't think differently about me?" she hiccupped.
"Of course not Steph, you're one of my closest friends and I don't leave my friends just like that. It was an accident Steph," Rory soothed. She felt Steph nod before against her chest and her cries subsided. After a couple minutes, her breathing was back to normal and hugged Rory tightly before pulling away and giving her a small smile of gratitude.
"Rory I'm really glad you came to our group," Madeline said as Rory took her seat back on her pool chair. "I am too Maddy."
"You know people think I don't know when they talk about me cause they think I'm so stupid. I'm slow I am, but I still have feelings, and you guys understand that. Thank you a lot Rory," Madeline said with a smile. Rory smiled back. "Thanks for accepting my guys. I really think that this girl's day is going really well," she said causing the other girls to nod in reply.
"It's missing one thing though," Louise said with a devilish grin.
"What?" Steph asked, not back to her normal self.
"Hot guys and wet fun!" Louise said causing the girls to roll their eyes and giggle.
"What are we going to do about it?" Madeline asked.
Before any of the girls could reply, Rory called out to the two buff guys that they had been watching. "Hey, cuties! Think you can handle the competition of four girls!" Rory asked with a smirk that could battle Logan's. All the girls mirrored the look and the guys eyed the girls before swimming over to where they were sitting.
Across the room, Logan and Colin sat wide eyed while Tristan and Finn laughed at them.
"Mate your lovely Sheila just called over those guys with your smirk!" Finn cackled. Logan just glared at him. "I don't get it, they were talking and crying and being girls but now they're calling over those guys. What kind of girl day involves guys?" he asked annoyed.
"The one that they're having obviously," Tristan said with a relaxed smile.
"Shouldn't you be worried? Louise is over there too," Colin said irritated at Tristan's easiness.
"Nah, we made out last night and found out there was no chemistry."
"But you two were all introverted with your relationship before," Logan said surprised.
"Intro what? Have you been reading again mate?" Finn asked shaking his head in confusing while watching the girls giggle and talk with the guys across the room.
Logan just rolled his eyes, waiting for Tristan's answer. All Tristan did was shrug, he couldn't help it the two felt that way, there was really no reasoning to it either. The four guys turned back to the rest of their group trying to strain their ears to hear what Rory was saying to them with her sneer.
"Can we be of assistance to you lovely ladies?" the black haired of the two asked with a smirk. "Not as cute as Logan's," Rory mumbled to Steph before Louise answered.
"We're bored, how about a nice friendly game of pool volleyball?" Louise asked with a devilish grin. The guys looked at each other with a 'too easy' look before turning back to the girls.
"Ok we're in if we get your names," the blonde of the two said.
"I'm Rory, this is Madeline, this is Steph, and that's Louise," Rory said pointing out the corresponding girls. "You are?"
"I'm Jeremy and this is Duke, pleasure the meet you," the brunette said. "Ready to lose?" Duke asked with a smirk.
"Sounds good to me!" Madeline exclaimed not catching the taunting that Duke was doing. The girls just looked at her and rolled their eyes.
"Uh, alright, let's do this," Jeremy said confused but still determined to win as he swam over back to the net followed by Duke. The girls all got up synchronized, giving the room a good look at their well trimmed bodies.
"Rory love sure does that bikini justice," Finn said as he watched Rory walk across the room to the area with the net. Logan was too busy staring at his girlfriend and shooting the two guys that she was talking to looks to be able to scold Finn.
"Something troubling you, Logan?" Tristan asked with a sneer. "Shut up," Logan mumbled trying to stop being the over protective boyfriend type and pulling his gaze away from Rory.
Rory and the girls jumped into the heated pool loving the ideal temperature. They positioned themselves into a square on the other side of the net as the guys made their way to their side with the beach ball they would be using as the volley ball. "Ladies first," said Duke throwing the ball over the net for Louise to catch.
"Do you have any idea how to play volley ball?" Madeline asked Rory who was positioned in the back with her.
"Uh, just don't let the ball hit the water and make it go over the net… I think," she replied. She wasn't into sports what so ever, dancing was the extent of the exercise she did. Madeline just nodded in agreement before Louise served the ball and Jeremy immediately hit up back to the girl's side, heading straight towards Madeline. Madeline just stared at it blankly before Rory dove for it and hit it back up, surprising herself and Tristan.
"She just hit the ball!" Tristan exclaimed surprised.
"Yea that's what you do in volleyball," Colin deadpanned.
"No you don't understand. Rory is the most unathletic person I have ever encountered," Tristan replied.
"Didn't seem that way on the dance floor last night mate," Finn said with a smirk.
"Madeline, you're supposed to hit the ball sweetie," Stephanie said before she served.
"I couldn't, Rory told me not to let the ball hit the water and my hands are wet from the water so I couldn't hit it!" Madeline replied trying to justify herself. Louise sighed. "Ok Madeline you can let it hit the water only if the water is on your hands ok? Other than that, don't let it hit the water." Madeline nodded and put a determined look on her face.
The match went on for another 15 minutes until it was game point with the guys in the lead and the girls only one point behind.
The four guys across the room were still watching interested as their friends or girlfriends played volleyball like professionals. Logan had already threatened to cut Finn off from alcohol three times because of his comments on the way Rory's body looked, or how nice she looked when she jumped, or how hot she looked 'wet'. The last comment had even prompted all three guys to slap him across the head consecutively, knowing that his use of wet had a double meaning.
"Mates you three make me wonder why I put up with you arses!" Finn exclaimed rubbing the back of his head.
"You put up with us because if you don't you wouldn't have any friends. We put up with you because if we don't we'd be held responsible for letting a psycho out into the world unsupervised," Colin said, still watching Steph closely. Finn just made a face at him causing Tristan to laugh before Logan hushed him, "Rory's about to serve!"
Rory nervously served the ball, not wanting to make a fool out of herself… again. The first time she had served the ball it went flying out of the pool and knocked over the glass of lemonade a woman was sipping on pool side. From there, it had ricocheted off of the table the glass was on to the woman's face, breaking her extremely fragile sunglasses. Rory thanked god that they were only playing with a beach ball, who knows what would have happened if it were a real volleyball.
Her serve flew successfully over the net and was missed by an inch by Duke who dove for it. The girls clapped and cheered, knowing that they had caught up now and it was tied at game point. Steph caught the ball and served it successfully, it was hit by Jeremy and sent flying right back at her, she was about to hit it when she head a familiar male voice call out. "You got it Steph!" She quickly whipped her head around to see who had said that, only to whip it back around once she heard the ball make a spatter into the water. "Damnit!" she yelled splashing around, they hadn't lost yet, but now the guys had control of the ball to serve and make points with.
"Oy mate, you got the little lady riled up," Finn said as Stephanie rippled the water, throwing her arms around like she was having a tantrum.
"Good job idiot, now they know we're here," Logan grumbled to Colin.
"Can you blame me for trying to support my girlfriend?" Colin replied irritated, knowing they would be in for it if they had spotted them.
"Yeah, Ace is there playing too Colin but you don't hear me saying 'Yeah Ace that a girl, kick their ass!'," Logan scolded. Unfortunately, he had said the last part a little too loud and the sound of a beach ball slapping the water echoed through the room. All the guys' attention turned to the girls to find Rory's eyes squinted scanning the room before landing on the four of them while Steph flailed around once again in anger.
"Good job smart ass," mumbled Tristan trying to shield his face from Rory who was sending them a glare.
"I'm really sorry guys," Rory said tearing her gaze away from the very familiar figures across the room. "But listen, Tristan, Logan, Finn, and Colin are all across the room watching us. I'm guessing they didn't trust us out all on our own on our girls' day," Rory said with a hint of anger.
"I knew I heard Colin's voice!" Steph exclaimed about to turn to her head to look but before she could, Rory stopped her.
"No don't!" Rory yelled grabbing her arm. "Just pretend we don't know their there and let them get a taste of what they deserve," Rory plotted with a smirk.
"Hayden I think all of us have been bad influences," Louise said with a similar expression, "I love it!"
"So what do we do?" Madeline asked.
"Just give the guys a little prize and then get their numbers," Steph said, angry that Colin was being overprotective boyfriend-ish.
The other three just nodded before their two competitors swam under the net and over to them. "Do we get anything for winning?" asked Duke suggestively.
"Follow us," Stephanie said smirking while getting out of the pool with the other girls following them, giving the guys a nice look of their behind view , which they smiled at.
"They're checking out your girlfriends," Tristan said in a teasing sing-song voice. Deep inside, he had his over protective juices flowing but he was enjoying the fact that he didn't have to worry as much and Colin and Logan had to.
"Lucky arses," Finn mumbled in anger while Colin and Logan were just about ready to run over and play knight in shining armor.
The girls reached where their towels were and dried themselves off before Louise pulled out a piece of paper and wrote all of their memorized cell phone numbers on a piece of paper, handing it to the guys. "You win our phone numbers, call us anytime you want and we'll come hang out with you guys… and stuff," Louise said with a smirk.
Duke and Jeremy looked at the paper and took it gratefully while shooting the girls a big smile. "We have to get going now, thanks for the fun," Jeremy said with a sincere grin.
"Bye. Nice meeting you," Stephanie said sweetly before going over to him and wrapping her arms around his neck, sure to press her not so clothed body against his while placing a kiss on his cheek. She repeated her action with Duke as Rory followed suit with Jeremy. The two of them first had looks of shock on their faces before the looks turned to satisfaction.
With a final not so chaste kiss on the lips from Louise and Madeline, the guys walked away waving with giant smiles on their faces. Once the two were out of earshot, the girls cackled with glee, pleased with their seductive act as they high fived each other.
Across the room, Logan and Colin were seeing red while Finn and Tristan jumped into the pool to avoid their misplaced anger.
"Who the hell do those guys think they are!" Logan yelled, not caring how loud he was being and how much attention he drew to himself.
"The guys who just got our girlfriend's phone numbers that's who!" Colin replied just as dramatically.
"Mates you two are acting like a bunch of sissys," Finn yelled shaking his head while swimming over to the other side of the pool where the girls were.
The girls were in the middle of discussing Colin and Logan's possible conversation at the moment when a familiar voice spoke from behind them and splashed water on the dry girls. "Hello loves!" Finn exclaimed with his usual smile.
"Finn what so ever could you possibly doing here?" Stephanie said with sarcasm obvious in her voice.
"No need to get snippy on the sexy Aussie kitten, it was all Logan and Colin's ideas," Finn said holding his hands up in mock surrender. The girls just shook their heads in disappointment and turned their heads to see Colin and Logan getting up and jumping into the pool, swimming to the rest of the group.
"Rory can you help me out here?" Tristan asked sticking his hand out for Rory to help pull him up. Unsuspecting, Rory stuck her hand out only to be pulled into the water with a firm tug from Tristan while she screamed in surprise.
Rory resurfaced to hear the laughter of her friends while still grasping on Tristan's arm. "You fag!" Rory yelled splashing him in the face. Rory looked up at her three girlfriends and got a smirk on her face, she turned to Tristan who mirrored the look before she grabbed Louise's and Stephanie's ankles pulling them in, while Madeline was pulled in by Tristan, all three screaming on the way down. Rory and Tristan laughed and Rory made her way over to Finn, who was standing next to the girls enjoying the show.
"Finny," Rory said sweetly with an innocent look on.
"Yes gorgeous?" He replied with a smile.
"Help your love out," Rory said sticking her hand out so that she could pull him in. Finn fell for it and soon he was flying back into the pool. The group once again erupted in laughter as Finn resurfaced and glared at Rory,
"You little minx!" Finn yelled while pulling the giggling Rory into his arms, she took his face in his hands and gave him a chaste but smacking kiss on the lips, "All better?" she asked with her big blue eyes causing Finn to groan. "Take this Sheila before I get a boner mate," Finn said practically throwing Rory into Tristan's arms.
"Gross man," Tristan said scrunching up his nose while tossing Rory up and down in his arms. At the third toss, Tristan got distracted by Stephanie and Madeline splashing water on him, so he didn't catch her and she plunged back into the water.
Coming up for air, she came face to face with deep brown eyes and a familiar smirk. She glared at Logan. "You were spying," she said with bitterness in her voice.
"I was just worried about you Ace," he replied sincerely, the smirk quickly disappearing and being replaced with concern.
"Don't you trust me?" Rory countered.
"You know the answer to that," he said wrapping his arm around her bare upper waist and pulling her close, hoping she wouldn't push him away. Do you even know the answer to that Huntz?
"Then why would you do that?" Rory asked, not pushing him away, but still not softening her tone.
Logan sighed and ran one of his hands through his already wet and disheveled hair. "I guess I got a little jealous with the whole hot guy searching," he admitted quietly. Rory smiled inwardly, he really did care about her.
"Why's that?" Rory asked playfully, putting her arms around his neck and wrapping her legs around his waist under water as his hands traveled down to her ass, cupping it to hold her up.
"I don't know, it's just those guys could be so hot, maybe I want them for myself," he replied his smirk back in place. Rory only hit him playfully before capturing his lips with hers in a passionate kiss. Unfortunately, it was broken up by the sound of Rory's ring tone. Reluctantly, Rory pulled away and swam over to the edge of the pool and pushed herself over the edge of it, quickly running to her phone. She already knew by the ring tone who was waiting for her voice to answer.
"Hello grandma Hayden," Rory said with her best socialite voice, hushing the group.
"Hello Rory. I'd like to congratulate you on how well you handled the paparazzi and also your title as Homecoming Queen," Francine said, pride obvious in her voice.
"Thanks grandma," Rory replied blushing slightly.
"Are your friends with you? I called your mother and she told me you were all staying over night there. Can you please put me on speaker if they are there?" she asked politely. "Sure one second," she said confused. Why on earth does she want to talk to my friends?
The group all looked at her concerned before she pressed the speaker button. "Ok grandma you're on," Rory said nervously.
"Hello Tristan Theodore, Logan Garret, Finnegan Lachlan, Colin Cameron, Stephanie Ann, Louise Marie, and Madeline Elizabeth," she said greeting them all by their full names. Logan, Finn, and Colin all cringed at their over socialite middle names. Everyone looked at Colin with amusement after hearing his feminine middle name being used as he looked away. "Hello," they all said loudly enough for their voices to be heard.
"Now, you're all probably wondering what I'm speaking to you 8 for. According to your parents, you've all been spending a lot of time together Well, we, Tristan and Rory's grandparents, all wanted to meet the wonderful friends," she said. Immediately they all looked at each other troubled and prayed that this wasn't what they thought it was.
"So we would like to invite you all to a dinner at the Hayden Estate this Friday promptly at 6 pm. All of your parents will be in attendance and we'll make a couple decisions. It should be a good time," she said, sounding like she really meant it. The group sat in silence with the same thing on their mind, "Oh crap."
"Are you all there?" Francine's voice called.
"Yes sorry grandma. It sound's great, we all can't wait!" Rory said doing her best to sound exicted.
"Lovely. I can't want either darling. Dress nicely and wear the Hollenzallen tiara I gave to your mother, press might be present."
"Press. Why I thought this was a private dinner?"
"Oh it is dear but from the looks of the paper, they'll be keeping some close tags on your and they'll most likely somehow catch wind of the dinner. See you then, goodbye all of you!" Francine said before hanging up the phone leaving the 8 in silence.
"Crap," they all said in unison breaking the silence causing them all to burst out in laughter.
"We've been hanging out too much," Colin said being the first one to stop.
"Nah, just enough," Rory said. "So I guess this week will be one of mental preparation?" she asked.
"Yes, meaning lots of booze," Finn said. The others just nodded in agreement, out of the corner of her eye Rory sensed a flash and turned to see a camera man snapping pictures before hotel security showed up.
"Lots and lots," she mumbled throwing her towel around her and leading the group out of the pool and back to their rooms for privacy.
AN: Ok filler yeah, kind of .. or is it? Pay attention to Logan's thought in this chapter while he was talking to Rory in the pool. It's a simple line but it's escalate into something big next chapter... Enjoy the happiness in this chapter, because for the next couple ones it won't be so happy! that's right DRAMA! fun fun big big fun! Review!
AN