CHAPTER 9
Denying Denial
Her head was going to explode. Never had she ever felt so sick. Her head was pounding, just cracking her eyelids open made her eyes want to melt, and her ears were ringing…wait. She lifted her head from the pillow and peeked threw her eyelids to the obnoxious white phone on the bedside table.
She winced as it rang again, seemingly louder each time. She let her head fall back into the pillow and blindly reached out to grab the phone.
"What?" She grumbled harshly, her pained voice muffled in the feather soft pillow.
"Good morning ma'am this is your six am wake up call." A deep voice came. "Wake up call?" She echoed in a confused voice. "I'm afraid so." She let out a whine and could almost swear she heard the man chuckle on the other end.
"I'm never drinking again," She grumbled before slamming the phone back on the receiver. She needed a nice long cold shower to wash away the pain booming in her skull. It just seemed to get worse as she clumsy stood from the bed. Her eyes narrowed and she grabbed onto the bedside table for support.
"I want a taco"
000
Colin sat at the table in the small kitchen reading his newspaper and sipping his coffee. Every so often Steph would groan and twist in the white cotton sheets. It seemed as though she fought waking up, knowing from experience what her hang over would feel like as soon as she did.
He shook his head and peered over the paper as she twisted violently then slammed her hand down against the mattress in annoyance.
"My head hurts." Her agonizing cry came from the bed. He glanced back up and chuckled. He folded the paper and set it next to his mug of coffee. "That's because you drank at least a shot from every bottle in the bar last night sweetie" He explained as he walked back to the bed.
"I don't think that's it…" She muttered and rubbed her forehead with her skinny fingers. Colin rolled his eyes. "What time did we get back to the hotel?" She asked. "Around one something, all I remember is carrying you out after running into Rory and taking a cab back." He explained and sat on the side of the bed. He picked up the aspirin he left on the bedside table and held them out for her.
"Goody" She smiled and snatched them from his fingers. She took a gulp of the water he held out with his other hand and smiled. He pressed a kiss to her lips and set his hand on her thigh. "Are you up for going to the beach today?" He asked. She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm going to shower first, getting the smell of alcohol off me will help a great deal, wanna join me?" She asked and smiled seductively.
"I would love to but I have to stop by and make sure everyone made it back to the hotel last night." He muttered. "What? Who cares if they made it back to the hotel, Finn and Rose wont be up for another three hours and Logan probably shacked up with some girl then took off back to his room so he wouldn't have the awkward conversation in the morning. You know the drill" She smiled.
"Yeah, but this time we have a newbie remember? Lil' Rory was left all alone with Logan last night after I took you home." He reminded.
"Oh Rory, how was her first Life and Death party? Did she get really drunk? Did she get lucky?" She asked giddily. He narrowed his eyes. "She did get drunk and she did meet a guy but I scared him off… for now at least." He replied.
Steph pouted. "Why would you do that?" She asked and tilted her head to the side. "Why? This is Rory! First of all she was getting drinks from random guys because of that dress you gave her, thank you very much for that by the way, and then she comes to me as im carrying your drunk ass home asking for a condom!" He exclaimed.
"Wow! Little Rory's growing up" She smiled. "Stop." He declared pointing a finger in her face. She giggled, "Colin you may see her as a little girl but she's actually quite grown up. It was her childhood, apparently living from pay check to pay check is very humbling." She rambled quietly.
"Hush." He interrupted. He closed his eyes and waved his hand in the air to quiet her. "First of all the condom was for Finn, she ran into them in the bathroom…"
"Go Rose."
"And he asked her for one." He finished. At that Steph snapped her head up to stare him down.
"Did you freak out on her?" She asked pointedly.
"No…"He muttered.
"Colin!" She warned.
"What did you expect me to do?" He grumbled.
"I expect you to let her make her own god damned choices"
He scrunched up his face in disagreement. "When she first came you said to kill Logan if he made a pass at her. Now its every guy in the Life and Death Brigade and you girls suddenly don't care anymore?" He rambled, his voice going into that 'high pitched freak out' mode.
Steph took a deep breath and set her hand on his arm to comfort him. "Colin, Rose and I just didn't want Logan to immediately think that he could use her like he did all the others. So we told Rory he was bad news dating wise, and we told Logan to keep his mitts off her until all of you met and she had a chance to show you all how unique and brilliant she is." Steph mumbled. She hugged her knees to her chest and rested her chin on top of her knee.
"She truly is humbling herself. She has a way of making you feel completely comfortable, like there's still innocence in this world." He smiled.
Steph turned her head so her cheek rested against her knee and she was facing him. "She instantly grows on you, and you don't even realize it when its happening" Steph smiled. "And you guys get mad when we try to protect you." Colin grumbled. "Some things should only go so far Colin." She shot in response.
He sighed and shot a look her way before continuing. "Anyway, Logan gave her a condom for Finn and we had a talk before I took you home." He explained.
"About?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"How we should deal with James..."
"James?"
"The guy who wanted to date Rory..." Colin hesitantly answered.
"COLIN!"
"I know I know." He grumbled and got up from the bed. Steph rolled her eyes and tossed the covers back from her body. She whimpered as she dizzily stood on two feet.
"God I need coffee" She grumbled as she steadied herself and stumbled to the kitchen after her boyfriend. "Look im just going to stop by and collect everyone." He declared as he slid on his shoes. When she didn't reply he glanced up to see her glaring disapprovingly at him.
"Remember last time? We lost Finn and three days later he returned to the hotel with one eyebrow missing; but surprisingly all of his clothes." He reminded. Steph shuttered at the memory. Rose had been in a panic then was the first to burst out laughing at the drunk's reappearance.
"Alright fine," She sighed and gripped his shirt. "I'll order room service for ten bring everyone back here." She suggested. Colin smiled and kissed her cheek in thanks. While he was slightly worried if Finn still had both his eyebrows, he was more worried if Logan had been responsible enough to help Rory back to the hotel. If not he might really have to kill the blond.
000
"Finn!"
"Finn!"
"Rose go back to bed. Daddy's tired." Finn grumbled and waved his hand backwards to the red head's soundly sleeping body. She let out a low moan as his fingers ran up her naked back.
"Finn it's the door." She muttered sleepily. "Hu?"
"The door…Colin's at the…never mind" She groaned and took in a deep breath as she forced herself to sit up in bed. Wrapping the thing white sheet around her body she stood only to be dragged right back down as the sheet tightened behind her. She whimpered and stood again, turning around to see her sheet was caught underneath Finn's naked body. She grasped the sheet in her fist and managed to pull the corner out from under him.
"Finn! You comatose in there or something?" Colin yelled threw the wooden door. Rose rolled her eyes and replied a dry, "yes" before walking to the door.
Colin was just about to knock on the door once again when it opened from underneath his fist. He looked the girl up and down before muttering, "Wow you okay? You look like you went threw hell."
Rose immediately turned and headed back to the kitchen. Colin shut the door behind him and followed, groaning when he noticed Finn laid naked sprawled out on the king seized bed.
"If you went threw five rounds with Finn last night you'd look exactly how I look." She grumbled as she pushed the coffee pot into the maker.
"Wow get that image out of my head." He grumbled. Rose laughed and gripped the sheet tighter in her fist. "Get lucky last night?" She asked. "I did in fact. Im going over to Logan's next to make sure he didn't get lucky." He informed. She raised her eyebrows and nodded.
"Ahh I see. So who's got breakfast?" She asked as he turned to leave. "Steph's ordering it now. Come in pajamas we're all going to be fairly casual and immensely hung over." He called as he walked out the room.
000
Logan was already on his third cup of coffee when Colin burst into his room. He yelled a loud "Ah Ha!" making both of them wince and curse at the pounding in their heads.
"Dude what is wrong with you? You still drunk?" He asked as Colin shut the door behind him. "No. I was just sure you'd be enough of a jerk to sleep with some random girl after I told you to take care of Rory." He corrected.
"Oh god! Rory!" Logan gasped, his hand flew to his mouth and he gave his friend a wide-eyed stare. "You forgot Rory at the bar!" Colin yelled, fear striking threw him. Logan gasped then dropped his hand and gave him a casual look. "No" he muttered. Colin's shoulders slumped as he let loose a sigh. "Don't joke. We're in a foreign country. Little girls like Rory get stolen and sold on the black market, human trafficking and all that." He muttered.
"Well she is a people person" Logan smirked. "Seriously how can you joke?" Colin groaned as he walked to the table. "Relax have some coffee." Logan chuckled and set a cup in front of him before going back to grab the pot.
"When you left she and I had a few more drinks at the bar and then we shared a cab back to the hotel. There was just one problem." He muttered. Colin looked up at him as he filled the mug. "James?" He asked.
"James already left the party, but she got six phone numbers and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, so she's still in her dress." He grumbled.
"Well at least she'll know she never took it off last night. And Rory's not the type to call a phone number she can't match a face to." He muttered. "True. Oh hey, you forgot to pick up Steph's coat so I grabbed it when I got Rory's."
"Oh thanks man Steph would have killed me. Last time we went dancing her shoes were killing her feet, so when we stopped at a table for some drinks I told her to take them off. She of course got drunk and I was in such a hurry to get her home I didn't realize we'd left her shoes behind…"Colin grumbled and closed his eyes at the painful memory. "She made me go shoe shopping with her the next day and buy the same style in every color…"
Logan let out a laugh as he walked back to the kitchen, holding out the shopping queen's jacket. "Well no worries here, you won't have to buy her five more Burberry jackets." He muttered. "Its Burberry? Seriously? You really saved my life then, or rather my credit card," He muttered with a laugh.
Logan chuckled. "Think we should head over to Rory's?" He asked. "I feel bad waking her up, something tells me this is the first time she ever drank that much." Colin sighed.
"I think she'll be up." Logan muttered with a smile. "Lets hope so; you stand in front of me when she opens the door so you get the full wrath okay." Colin smirked.
"Is that any way to talk to a guy who just saved you hundreds of dollars?" He asked in fake hurt. "Yeah your right, why don't we just use the key card Finn made and pop in and yell surprise." Colin suggested fingering the plastic card he took from Finn's room. He set the card on the table and pushed it towards Logan.
"Well I don't know about the yelling part but the key card part is pretty smart." He smirked as he sipped his coffee. "I wonder what her hung over face will look like" Colin laughed. "Something tells me it'll be just as beautiful as always." Logan smiled down into his mug.
"Whoa." Colin muttered. Logan turned his head and gave him a questioning look. "What?" He asked with a laugh. "What's with the goony eyed look?" A smile broke its way onto his friend's face. Logan glanced to the side and quickly raised his drink back to his lips, trying to hide his smile.
"I don't know what you're talking about" He muttered against the ceramic. "Riiiggght." Colin smirked as Logan took another long sip of his coffee finishing it off before he placed it in the sink.
"Lets go, Steph probably already has breakfast." He muttered and grabbed the key card before quickly walking out the door. Colin chuckled and followed after the blond. Steph was right; you never realized how much she grew on you.
000
To their surprise Rory opened the door on their first knock. She was wrapped in a fluffy white bathrobe and her hair was still dripping wet. All of her make up was off and she had dark circles under her drooping tired eyes.
"How was your night?" Logan asked teasingly. "Great" She grumbled and turned heading directly for the coffee. "Does anybody know where I can get a order of four tacos, a burrito, and some seasoned curly fries here in Thailand?" She asked.
"You've got quite the pallet." Logan teased.
"It's what my mom orders from all the ethnic fast food joints around Stars Hollow when she has a hangover. I keep telling her to order pancakes at Lukes, but usually she doesn't want him knowing she drank that much." She ranted.
"Well we don't have tacos or curly fries but Steph's ordering breakfast, plenty of pancakes and waffles. Come join us, we also have aspirin appetizers" Colin suggested.
"Seasoned." She replied and finished her mug of coffee. "What?" Colin asked. "The curly fries, they were seasoned" she explained. "After a hang over? Really?" He asked with a disgusted look. "I wouldn't question the brilliance of Lorelai Gilmore if I were you." She smirked and set her mug in the sink.
"Okay…" Colin laughed, "You coming or not kid?"
"Is there more coffee over there? Because I already went threw all off mine." She grumbled. Logan glanced from the empty coffee pot to Colin who mouthed a 'wow'
"Well?" She snapped. "Yes! Yes, there will be coffee!" Logan replied and stepped out of the way when she twisted on her heals.
"Well let's go then! Ill get dressed." She said as she made her way to the closet. "It's casual, everyone looks half dead in whatever they fell asleep in last night and we'll be lucky if Finn's dressed at all." Colin explained. "Even better, I don't think I can even walk straight yet." She groaned then quickly walked past them and out the door.
"She does look great..." Logan muttered. Colin rolled his eyes and turned, leaving the girls apartment close on the brunettes tail.
000
Rory followed the sent of blueberry waffles to the boys room. The door was left half open and Rose and Steph were already sitting at the table stuffing their faces with pancakes, while Finn leaned up against the counter downing a glass of water.
"Who's got coffee?" Rory asked as soon as she got threw the door.
"Over here" Rose called holding her mug over her head. Rory lifted the cup from her friend's thin fingers, took several long sips, then placed it back just as quickly. Rose glanced up and pouted at her empty mug before setting it back down on the table. Logan and Colin entered the room shortly after, both making themselves a plate stacked with pancakes before joining the girls at the table.
"I think I'm gonna die." Steph groaned and laid her head down against the table. "You can have some more aspirin in a couple hours" Colin promised and ran his fingers threw her messy blonde curls. "Ohh aspirin." Rory moaned. "Ill get some. Anyone else?" He glanced up and chuckled as everyone's hands went up including Steph's.
"Steph this is why I don't want you drinking alone. Not only do you get so wasted you pass out before you can make it home, you forget how much aspirin you take in the morning and end up taking more and more. You're going to kill yourself one of these days," He grumbled.
"If you're alive enough to lecture in the morning you obviously didn't drink enough to have a good time last night" She grumbled. Colin rolled his eyes and disappeared into the bathroom to find the aspirin.
"Yeah mate, lighten up. You're being a kill joy," Finn grumbled as he refilled Rose's cup with coffee. "Kill joy? Are any of you guys enjoying yourselves right now? Because I can tell you, standing here making fun of your hung over asses, I am." He declared as he returned with the bottle.
"Shut up and hit me." Rose groaned and held out her hand. Colin rolled his eyes and passed two pills to everyone, ignoring Steph when she held out her own hand.
"Fine, enjoy slowly killing yourself." He grumbled. "Come on Colin you like to have just as much fun as we do. You can't be mad." Finn whined. "Sit down, shut up, and let the pancakes and waffles soak up the alcohol rotting your insides." Colin demanded.
Finn pouted but did as he was told, taking a seat beside Rose. She giggled and ruffled his hair. "So ace, what's your first hangover feel like?" Logan smirked. "Hell." She grumbled. The group chuckled. "Yeah, it gets better" Steph sighed. "Really? Because im feeling so bad right now, its past the point where I can never imagine feeling the same ever again" She grumbled.
"That too shall pass." Colin nodded.
"I don't understand just how standing up can make your head feel lighter, like when you get a cold and you feel like your heads full of cotton, but a thousand times worse." She rambled.
They nodded in unison. "You'll get used to it, soon that'll be the part of your hangover you'll look forward to." Finn added. "Ahh really?" She gasped. "Have you thrown up yet?" Colin asked. "No." She muttered. "Good, cus some of the stuff you drank last night tastes a lot better going down than coming up" Rose informed.
"Great." Rory sighed, "I don't even know what that was too." She added with a shrug. "What?" Colin deadpanned. Steph cleared her throat and drew her fingers across her neck subtly. "What?" She echoed confused as she looked between Colin and Steph.
Then it hit her. "Ohh…" she gasped then looked back at Colin. "Sorry Colin, I didn't think." She muttered. "Its not thinking that winds girls like you up in the hospital from the Date Rape drug!" He growled. "Im sorry, next time I'll make sure I get the drinks straight from the bartender" She promised. "This was a bad idea, we shouldn't have brought you to the bar" He rambled. "Colin, every life and death party is going to have alcohol, but not every guy who offers us drinks is a bad person." Steph declared as she set her hand on his chest in efforts to calm him. "But you don't know them, guys are horrible people, back me up here Logan!" He demanded.
The blond glanced up from his plate and nodded. "Oh yeah, we're pigs" He said in mock seriousness. Colin sighed as the girls laughed. "You have to take this seriously." He whined. "Colin we will! Look just take a breath okay. We'll all be careful but you have to relax and have fun, schools starting really soon and I want you all to myself for the next week before you start cheating on me with those lawyer books again."Steph declared. He rolled his eyes and grumbled something under his breath. Steph reached behind his head and grabbed his hair forcing him to look at her. "Okay?" She repeated. "Oww okay" He winced. She pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "Okay" She said in a 'that's that' tone and let him loose.
"I wish I was still asleep." Rory groaned.
"There's nothing like being startled awake by a pounding at your door" Rose grumbled as she slumped down against the table.
"You think that's bad?" Rory gasped as she poured syrup over her pancakes at the counter. "I was woken up from my first real hangover by the shrill telephone beside my bed with a call from the front desk!" She grumbled.
Logan stiffened in his chair and stared down into his mug of coffee. A small smile spread across his lips as he felt the boys glaring at him knowingly.
"What! What did they want?" Rose asked in shock. "It was my six am wake up call! Did we ask for those? Because I don't remember ever wanting to even know there was a six in the morning." She grumbled.
"You didn't!" Colin grumbled. Rory glanced over to Colin and followed his questioning gaze to the sheepish Logan. He chuckled and fingered his glass. "Actually Ace, that was me." He confessed. He could feel himself shrink under the girl's shocked and angry glare.
"What?" Rory muttered. "It was a joke…six am wake up call? Come on that's at least a little funny…"He laughed to himself. When he realized his friends were still glaring daggers at him he quieted. "…No?" He asked.
"I can't believe you! Six in the morning!" She yelled. "Okay first of all it was ten in the morning when I called your room…" He defended. "Logan! I thought I was going to die when I woke up. I almost threw the phone across the room it hurt my head so much!" She whined.
"Im sorry it was a joke." He laughed. She let out a low scoff and grabbed the box of powdered sugar. She sprinkled some over her pancakes then turned, scoffing when an idea popped into her head.
Logan turned to look at his friends and shrugged his shoulders chuckling gently. "I was just having some f…"before he could finish a snow of white powder showered him from above. He jumped slightly in shock and held up his hands, but the damage had already been done.
He let out a breath, sending a puff of white powder from his lips. His eyes stayed closed as the powder faded in the air and his friends burst into laughter. He sighed and slightly nodded his head up and down, clumps of the sugar falling into his lap from the top of his head.
"I get the feeling you're upset." He muttered. "That was mean!" she whined with a pout but quickly smirked, "But I feel much better now." The group watched as Logan sat still and Rory picked up her plate and boldly sat next to him. She cut her pancake with her fork and smiled warmly at him as she took a bite of her pancakes and pulled the fork from between her lips. Logan finally opened his eyes and gave her a sidelong glance with a tight smile.
"You two are so cute together, to bad we got rid of the dirty sex mattress" Rose commented. Both Rory and Logan turned their heads to glare at her. "What?" She asked.
"Okay who's joining us at the beach?" Steph asked clapping her hands together to affectively change the topic. Rory winced. "Ohh Steph, that's loud." She groaned "Sorry. Are you coming? Please come, show all those boys that bikini we made you buy." Steph smirked.
"Ahh so you did get their help like I suggested Ace." He smirked turning to smile suggestively at her. "You want some syrup to go with your powdered sugar?" She asked with a glare. He chuckled but turned back in his seat, he knew better to try and call her bluff.
She turned back to her pancakes and looked to steph. "When I can feel my body again I'll go to the beach with you." She promised. "You should see the water hun it's gorgeous you can see right threw it and the sands white and soft." She smiled. "You don't have to talk it up I'll be out there." Rory sighed. "Promise?" Steph smiled giddily. "I promise." She nodded.
"You might want to put on some sun block though Casper." Rose suggested. Rory nodded. "It was on the check list." She smiled proudly. "You and your organization" Rose sighed.
"Don't mock my lists" Rory pouted. "Of course not sweetie, come on lets get changed, give the boys some time to clean up." She suggested, as she looked Logan up and down. "Wait I'm coming with." Steph said and took one last quick bite of her waffle before placing her fork back on the plate and taking off behind the girls.
"Powdered sugar?" Colin offered with a smile. Finn smirked and held out the bag for him to take. Logan narrowed his eyes and glared at his friends.
000
Rory sighed as she rubbed the sun block against her skin. "Rose will you get my back?" She called. "Sure love" Rose replied and grabbed the bottle. "You like the suit? I think it looks great on you." She smiled. "Im just not used to it…my last bathing suit was a one piece…I think I wore it in the tub with a rubber ducky." She laughed.
"Girl you have got to get more used to showing off your beautiful body!" Rose laughed and swatted her bottom. Rory squeaked and looked back laughing at her friends white handprint on her black suit. "Woops" Rose laughed and rubbed the suit trying to get rid of the sun block hand print when a quiet 'click' caught her attention. "Did you hear something?" she asked and glanced around the room.
"Ohhh I have perfect timing."
The girls turned and looked up to see Logan and Finn standing by the door. Logan's arm was twisted around his back and an innocent smile was plastered on his face.
"Logan. What do you have?" Rory asked.
"Nothing." He muttered.
"Logan" She warned.
"You're quite photogenic." He smirked.
"LOGAN!" She yelled.
They watched as he handed Finn the camera. "I love this camera." Finn groaned. "Finn!" Rory whined. "Relax you'll get used to them being pervs." Rose laughed. "I don't want to get used to them being pervs!" Rory whined.
"They're so clear and perfect!" Finn groaned as he flipped threw the shots. Logan laughed. "Its Kodak moments like these that inspired me to get the best one on the market." He smirked.
Rory whimpered. "Make them stop." Rose waved them away. "Go away boys we'll be ready in a minute." She declared. "We'll be waiting." Finn called and continued to flip threw the pictures.
"Relax, you know they wont show those to anyone." She laughed. "How can you be so calm about this?" Rory asked as she walked over to her suitcase. "I date finn. Its not the first time I've gotten my picture taken." She smirked. "He does that to you?" She asked with a giggle.
"Oh yeah, I've been ambushed in the shower, he's taken pictures of me in lingerie, relaxing in the tub, finally Steph and I just broke down and took naked pictures of ourselves and gave 'em to the boys." She smirked.
"Wow" Rory gapped. "Yup. We got em done at a place that specializes in that sort of thing, it was great Ror. You should do it!"
"Umm no" She laughed. "Yeah come on, they make you feel so good about your body, they can make wallet seized ones or blow it up so you can frame it and put it above your bed."
"Sorry Rose, I will not add a naked picture of me to the décor in our apartment, but to make it up to you I will go out in this bikini." She rambled. "Fine. I'm just saying they really, really, appreciated it." She smirked.
"Ohh geez"
000
She loved the beach. The light breeze felt wonderful on her skin and the sand was soft and smooth. She couldn't help but squish and play with it between her toes as she sat half underneath the colorful umbrella.
She was immersed in her book, every once and a while pulling up to take in Colin and Steph's calm, settled, life style as they lay contently on their beach towels facing each other, every so often closing the gap between them for a short lived yet tender kiss. She then looked to where the waves broke against the sand mirroring Rose and Finn's restless enjoyment of life as the two wrestled and splashed water at the other playfully.
Her gaze traveled around the beach to the other couples who had come out of hiding from the safety of their dark hotel rooms, venturing into the light with dark circles under their eyes and pained looks as the sun rose higher in the sky. Then there were the few who had been there since last night, having passed out into a drunken coma where they stood.
She giggled as one particular guy she'd been watching twitched in promise to soon arise. She rose her hand over her eyes to shield away the sun as he turned his head from one side to the other.
"Who are we looking at?"
She must have jumped a foot when his warm breath whispered into her ear. Her hand slammed into her chest and she gasped, turning her head quickly to stare straight ahead. He smirked, enjoying her startled expression and their sudden closeness.
"Logan. You scared me." She muttered refusing to turn her head to look him in the eye. "Anyone ever say you're a very jumpy person?" he asked. "You should see me on fourth of July, im a nut case." She rambled. "Compared to every day?" He asked with a surprised chuckle. "Did you want something?" She asked pointedly.
"Yes, I wanted to know who you were eyeing Ace. Do you know that guy?" He asked and narrowed his eyes trying to get a better look at the college guy passed out on the sand.
"He's been there since twelve when we first came out, he's moved a couple times so I think he'll wake up any minute, I just want to see his face when he realizes he's on the beach and he's going to be sun burned like a lobster." She muttered.
Logan laughed and smiled, "Sadist" He teased. "No, no." She defended but he quickly interrupted her, "You don't have to defend yourself Ace, embrace the kinkiness!" He teased, making a fist in front of her and laughing when she rolled her eyes and leaned her head back against the chair in defeat.
"Well Im glad he's not one of the guys you met at the party there Ace because around twelve thirty I put a dollar and forty five cents in coins on his chest."
"You didn't!" She gasped.
"I put a nickel on his forehead." He added then chuckled at her shocked face. "Poor guy" She muttered. "Poor guy? A few seconds ago you were watching, waiting until he woke up from his black out and now it's poor guy?" He laughed.
"I was just watching you're purposely torturing the guy!" She declared.
"Look he's waking up!" He pointed over to the man. Rory immediately turned and stared intently as he blinked his eyes open. He gave a pained groan before letting his hand fall to his forehead. He let out a sharp cry as he touched the burning nickel and immediately sat up, forcing another pain filled cry from the badly burned frat boy. "Aww" Rory pouted as he cringed, it looked painful even from far away.
"Who put coins on me!" He yelled to no one in particular as the change slid off of his torso and the white circles shown clearly in his red burned skin.
Rory bit into her lip to keep from laughing, but Logan had no problem reveling in the boy's pain. He rolled onto his back, laughing hysterically. "Logan shut up!" She whispered harshly and lightly smacked him.
"Come on Ace, You have to admit that was pretty funny," He said threw his laughter. "Bad, bad, person" She scolded with a giggle. He laughed and forced himself to sit back upright. The brunette grumbled and winced painfully as he walked right by them.
"Wow. Tough luck man. Children these days" Logan said sympathetically. The fellow life and death brigadier grunted in reply before storming back to his hotel.
"You are a child!" Rory laughed. "You got to have some fun on these things Ace. Have you even gotten in the water yet?" He asked. "No, Kafka and I are fine right here thank you." She muttered and drummed her fingernails on the cover of her book.
"Aww come on, the waters great you'll love it." He smirked as he stood up. "No, really, I'm okay here…I like the breeze and the dry clothing…" She muttered watching as he shook his head, stood, then held out his arms to her.
"Logan I…" She muttered only to gasp as she was lifted from the chair. "Logan!" She gasped as he leaned her against his chest. Her mouth hung open to protest even though nothing came out, he had one arm under her back, and the other under her knees.
"There's no way im gonna let you come home just to dive right back into those books and be able to say you never experienced the water hitting your shins as the sand engulfed your feet. When you sink into the sand you're forced you to stop and taken in your beautiful surroundings. Come on Ace. Look around, look at the horizon, at the blue water, take in each sunrise and sunset just as you watched your friends a moment ago." He declared, stopping as he wadded into the water to his upper thighs.
She glanced around noticing how the water surrounded them on all sides.
"You can say we play around, goof off to much on these trips, that we should be working hard and tunnel visioning our way to our careers, but that's not actually living Ace. The members of this group, they all have something big, prearranged; an ordained life ready to kick in the second they graduate. We're forced to take control immediately, while others get to find their own way threw life and accomplish what they dream of. What upsets me the most is people who have the gift of this freedom, the life that we so want, and yet they don't live it. Life is short, you only have so long to have these experiences Ace, weather you die or, I don't know, are forced into owning and managing thirteen companies just because of your last name. So you can hit the books twenty-four seven, or you can come out here, smell the salty ocean and watch the sunset with friends and the people you love. What's it gonna be?"
She stared up into his eyes. How did she never notice how expressive his eyes were? He met her gaze then raised his eyebrows awaiting her answer. He smiled warmly as he felt her fingers brush against the back of his neck. His eyes fell closed as her finger nails racked threw his short blond locks scratching soothingly against his scalp.
His eyes popped open as she let out a playful giggle. He gave her a confused look as she continued to brush threw his hair. "You still have powdered sugar in your hair." She laughed.
His eyes slowly clothed again as he let out a sigh. She giggled but her enjoyment was short lived. He opened his eyes in a narrow slit and gave her that tight smile. She glanced up into his eyes and bit down on her nail giving him an innocent childlike smile.
"Logan?" She muttered "That look worries me…Lo…" Suddenly his arms went out from underneath her; she let out a loud yelp before hitting the water. She came up sputtering, her arms flailing as she tried to steady herself against the pull of the waves.
"Oh you're dead!" She yelled. She watched as he laughed and dove into the water swimming underneath it in effort to escape her. She pushed herself up, trying her best to run after him. She groaned as her dress she had worn over her suit dragged against the water and clung around her legs making her trip. She let out a low grunt and made a snap decision.
Logan twisted in the water giving one last push with his arms as he brought himself back up to the surface. He let out the breath he had been holding and wiped the excess water from his eyes. He laughed as he glanced around, ready for Rory to pounce him in revenge.
He looked around but she was nowhere to be found. Had she gone back to the shore? The only person in the water with him was a girl bending over and fishing threw the water. She crossed her arms in front of her and gripped the edge of her clothing, pulling it from her legs and stomach in one swift motion. Water droplets flew from the soaking wet clothing as she lifted it over her head. He tilted his head to the side and stared.
He let out a low whistle at the sight of her bikini top lifting so much that the beginning curves of her breasts peeked out when she brought her arms over her head. He felt as if he had died and gone to heaven. The girl tossed the cloth to the shore and turned to glare at him. Wait, that was ACE!
He watched as she neared him, he could tell she looked annoyed but he didn't bother trying to escape her again, he could barely even move. She stopped three feet away from him; her angry look turned into a smile as she looked down at him.
"What's the matter Logan?" She asked looking down at herself. "Like what you see?" She asked running her hands down her hips. He smirked. He definitely did. He made a mental note to thank Steph and Rose for taking her to get a suit. It hugged her curves perfectly in a modest yet extremely sexy way. The top had strings that tied around her neck and back with two triangles, which pushed her chest together. The bottom fit her like boyshort panties would. He never loved the invention of the bikini more than he did now.
"That was a very bond girl moment Ace. It didn't even click in my brain that it was you until I saw that face." He smirked. "This face?" She asked with a cute pout. He smirked. "Yeah, that face" He muttered. She laughed and bent down, splashing water at him. He held up his hand to block the water from his face. He leaned back on one arm and smiled up at her.
"I told you you'd enjoy the water ace" He smirked. She smiled back at him. "It feels great"
000
"Sooo!" Steph squealed as she slammed the door of the hotel behind her. "What?" Rory asked in shock as her friend ran to her. She had left the beach to make lunch for everyone at the hotel after her swim with Logan and it had taken Steph a mere five minutes to run after her to get the dish.
"Soo what happened with you guys when you got in the water? I saw the way he looked at you when you pulled your clothes off right there in the water, very hot move by the way, you should have seen his face." She laughed.
Rory chuckled and turned back to the watermelon she was cutting up. "Please, he was just joking around with me. He was the one who dropped me in the water in the first place." She grumbled.
"What happened before that?" She asked as she popped a slice of watermelon into her mouth. "What do you mean?" She asked. "When he carried you to the water, you two stopped and talked before he put you down." Steph explained. "First of all he dropped me right into the water, not 'put me down'" She grumbled. "Whatever the point is you two stared into each others eyes for a moment like nothing could break your gaze…then all of a sudden after you felt up his hair…" "Felt up his hair?" She echoed with a questioning look.
"WAIT!" A loud yell was heard from the doorway. Rory jumped and set down the knife; she learned the hard way not to handle knives when people were popping up out of nowhere. "Wait I want to hear everything!" Rose yelled as she came scampering into the room, dripping water all over the floor from her wet bikini.
"Oh my god is everything we do under your watchful eye? Logan and I aren't even interested in each other" "Lie" they interrupted in unison. Rory sighed and continued, "So why are you guys making tiny things such big deals." She asked.
"They are big deals! You might not want to see it, but you haven't known Logan as long as we have. That look he gave you…I've never seen him look into anyone's eyes like that" Steph muttered.
"So your going to base how he feels just off one look?" She asked with a laugh. "It's not just one look Rory!" Rose challenged. "Look, I've decided to have some fun this trip. Life isn't just about books," She muttered as she continued to chop up the fruit.
Steph and Rose met each others confused gaze then turned back to Rory. "Whoa where did that come from?" Rose asked. Rory sighed and continued, "Im going to explore my options. I met this guy at the bar last night, his names James, and lets not forget about Van from the plane. At the next party I'm going to find one of the guys and get to know them. It's time I look past 'the mighty Huntzberger' and find someone who would be with me, and only me." She declared.
"Rory…you're really willing to date all these guys?" Rose asked. "Im not committing to dating all of them, im just saying I've got options, and im leaving them open" She declared
Her friends locked eyes before shrugging it off." Why are you making this, you don't even like fruit" Rose pointed out as she stole two pieces from the large bowl. "I know. I choose this because I can't screw it up." She muttered. "I thought Logan taught you how to cook." Steph muttered. "Oh yes, do you remember how that ended? I came home wearing an apron with a half naked woman on it and a gashed finger, and because of said incident we ended up burning the dish and ordering massive amounts of take out."
"Maybe that's what you should do for the bond fire tonight" Steph suggested. "Bond fire?" Rory echoed and glanced up at them. "Yup, remember beach bum night? You can wear whatever your most comfortable in, but I feel we should warn you sometimes that means naked Finn." Steph sighed. Rory shook her head and looked to Rose, "That doesn't bother you?" She asked with a laugh.
"You get used to it. I mean I went into this crazy relationship knowing he was a heavy drinker and thus a stripper but that's just what makes Finn…Finn." Rose smiled.
"Aww you really fell for him didn't you" Rory teased. "Well he spent years chasing me, starting back in high school even, and that was fun for awhile and then all of a sudden three years and twelve shots later we were making out in the coat closet, it was love at first trip-over-a-pair-of-prada-shoes" Rose reminisced.
She opened her eyes and her face fell when she saw her two friends staring at her blankly. "What a wonderful story." Rory smirked. "Well its better than Steph and Colins." Rose grumbled and playfully smacked the blonde's arm.
"Ahh enough about that already I've already gotten a lecture of Colin about drinking like if he was my father." Steph groaned.
"If he were your father you'd be sitting on his lap and pouting until he handed over his black card." Rose declared.
"Wait, don't you do that now?" Rory jumped in with a playful smirk. "Shut up!" Steph whined and tried to hold back her laughter. "Have you asked him for that pony yet?" Rose taunted. "If he says no, just pretend to cry and then throw a tantrum." Rory laughed. "You guys are mean" She pouted and buried her head in her arms.
Their laughter was interrupted when the door opened and the boys walked threw. "What's going on?" Logan asked as he walked into the kitchen and to the mini fridge. He grabbed three bottles and handed Colin and Finn one before closing it again.
"They're picking on me." Steph pouted in a child like voice. Rory laughed as Rose coughed, "tattle tail" none to subtly. Steph gasped in fake hurt and smacked Rose's arm. Rose gasped and returned her swat back until they were both blindly waving their arms and hitting each other.
"Is anyone going to stop them?" Rory asked after a minute of the girls fighting. "Stop them? Are you kidding? Let's throw food on them" Finn suggested as he took the seat Rose had vacated at the kitchen counter. By this time they had escalated to rolling around on the ground and sissy fighting, She knew as much as the guys were enjoying them rolling around together she had to stop them sooner of later.
Rory rolled her eyes as the guys laughed and Colin opened the fridge in search for anything they could coat the girls with. She set her knife down and wiped her hands off on a towel before tossing it in the sink and rounding the counter.
Logan watched in aww as she approached the two girls and leaned down, grabbing both by an ear. "OWW!" they yelled in unison. He smirked and sipped his beer as the two instantly stopped hitting each other and stilled in hopes of her letting them loose.
"Both of you need to calm down," She said softly.
"That really hurts!" Steph pouted in a whimper. "Don't whine," Rory admonished. "Yeah baby!" Rose grumbled then gasped as Rory pulled on her ear again. "Ahh…Oww!" she gasped in pain. "Now who's the baby!" Steph grumbled. "Hey! Enough." She said in a harsh whisper. "Now are you going to behave like adults?" She asked. "Yes" They said quietly in the small defeated voice of a child who had just been punished. "Alright then, I'm going to let you go." She said and slowly let her grip loose. Their hands went straight to rub their red ears while Rory set her hands on the back of their heads.
"Play nice now." She muttered before standing back up straight and walking back to the kitchen sink. "Wow Ace. You may not have the domestic skills of a wife but you sure can parent." He laughed. Rose quickly took a seat on Finn's lap while Steph leaned up against Colin's side until he took her into his arms. He laughed and kissed her temple. "So you come running to us when mommy punishes you?" He laughed in a teasing voice. Steph pouted and leaned further back into him giving Rory a weary look.
Logan smiled and took another long sip of his beer. She never looked more like a mother. Standing there cutting up fruit for their dinner, fruit that she wouldn't even eat. All she needed was an apron, a pie cooling on the windowsill, and some more cooking lessons and she'd be the model wife.
"What are you staring at?"
It took him awhile to figure out she was talking to him. He shook his head and smiled. "Nothing Ace. Nothing at all." He muttered and leaned over her cutting board to steal a few strawberries. He gasped as a sharp slap resounded on his wrist. He brought his fingers to his mouth and licked them staring into her eyes as she held up a wooden spoon.
"Wait for dinner" She muttered. He smiled as his eyes locked with her teasing baby blue orbs. Her face held seriousness but her eyes gave her teasing away. He just couldn't bring himself to look away.
"Wow even Logan's getting it." Colin's voice broke their mutual silence. "Yeah, I can't believe that you and I are the good kids" Finn smirked. Rory tore her eyes away and looked back down to the cutting board. She grabbed another strawberry and cut off the green stem.
Logan looked her up and down as he slowly stepped closer to her. She resisted the urge to shiver as his warmth enveloped her from behind. She shook her head and tried to focus on what Colin and Finn were talking about. Something about gold stars and only them getting dessert… She took in a sharp breath when she felt his warm breath on her neck.
Her body locked as she once again felt him press closer to her. She could feel his damp bathing suit against the outside of her thigh. She sucked in a breath as his hand grazed her upper arm. She watched it slide past her and grab the sponge on the other side of the sink before pulling back. He turned to face the sink and turned on the water, wetting the yellow square before grabbing a dirty pan waiting to be washed.
She let loose the breath she had been holding in her chest and chuckled nervously to herself. What was she thinking? She was keeping her options open, not tensing up at the mere though of Logan touching her! She let out another sigh that blew her bangs slightly off of her forehead.
"Rory are you okay?" Colin asked as he lowered his head in effort to see her face. She looked up and smiled. "Im fine. Im cutting fruit." She declared. "Yes, yes you are" He muttered and chuckled. "Looked like we lost you for a second there" He teased. "Sorry, I was listening go ahead." She said looking up at him as she continued cutting.
"Whoa Ace remember what happened last time you weren't looking at what you were doing?" Logan chided as he grasped her hand in his, moving it quickly before she brought the small knife down. She blinked blankly and looked down from her hand in his to the knife.
"Oh yeah," She muttered and quickly ripped her hand from his. "I'll pay attention to what im doing" She declared and grabbed yet another strawberry. Logan pouted slightly when she immediately pulled her hand from his. He enjoyed the feeling of her soft delicate fingers laced with his and her reaction to his touch made him sad for some reason.
"What happened last time Love?" Finn asked as he bounced Rose up and down on his lap. She rested her head back against his shoulder and answered for her. "She cut her hand while she was talking to Logan on their date" She muttered.
"It wasn't a date!" The two grunted in unison. The room fell silent after their outburst. Rory set the knife down and stood silent, what was she going to do?
She glanced around and noted the near empty ice bucket. That was her out. "I'm going to get ice." She stated in a chipper tone, she grabbed the bucket and as quickly as she could walked out of the room.
When they heard the door soundly shut Finn let out an exasperated breath. "Wow that was awkward." He muttered. Logan sighed and set down the pan and sponge. He glanced up and met Steph and Colin's awaiting gaze.
"Don't look at me like that it wasn't a date." He muttered.
"Is he in denial?" Steph asked looking up at Colin as if Logan wasn't even there. "I don't know, seems like it." He muttered looking down into her eyes.
"I am not in denial!" Logan laughed. "Are you denying being in denial?" Rose asked. "Sounds like denial to me" Steph smirked. "I think they've got you beat Mate" Finn added. Logan sighed and shook his head from side to side. He'd never win.
000
Rory took a deep breath as she narrowed her eyes trying to adjust to the dimming light. She had found a secluded spot on a large tree far enough from the craziness that she could read peacefully, but could still join the party whenever she wanted. It really was beautiful, the sun had fallen and they had lit dozens of bon fires, each had four wooden logs squaring them off for people to sit on. Sticks were laid out for roasting marshmallows and of course there was a table filled with little food, and a lot of alcohol. Women were wearing anything from summer dresses to as little as a bikini dancing around the fires and drunkenly singing out of tune to any song they could think up.
"Hey loner"
She glanced up and smiled as she saw Van walking up to her. He carried a candle for light and sat down on the fallen tree next to her. "You don't like the festivities?" He questioned and placed the candle down next to her so she could read better.
She shook her head and smiled, "No, I'm having fun." She answered. "Fun? All by yourself?" He asked turning so he could look into her eyes. "I've got my book." She smiled and held up her hard cover. "Do you take a book with you everywhere?" He asked with a laugh. "Yes" She answered casually. She stared at him blankly as his smile grew from ear to ear.
"What?" She asked and laughed gently at his smiling face. "You are so cute" He muttered. "Are you sure that's not just shock your feeling from learning there's a girl in the Life and Death Brigade that actually reads?" She asked with a teasing smile.
"I'm pretty sure its not shock, in fact that's something that really attracts me to you. You're different Rory, I could tell from the moment I saw you on the plane. You were reading this book threw all the music and laughter. Your face would be serious one moment, then you'd smile and nod, not once bringing your eyes off the page." He smirked. Rory stared into his eyes; she leaned back as he moved closer and closer to her. "I'm used to reading in noisy places, I used to duck out of parties just to find a place to read."
"Used to?" He laughed and glanced around. She chuckled nervously and closed her book. "I guess I still have the tendency to find my own little corner." She muttered. "I like it, secluded, dark." He muttered and raised his eyebrows comically. Rory laughed, "Makes reading hard" She replied. "I bet, but you know what its good for?" He asked leaning towards her. "What's that?" She asked tilting her head to the side as he neared. Her lips parted as he whispered against her,
"This."
Within seconds his lips met hers. Her eyes fluttered closed at the feeling. When he gently nipped on her lips she swore she had seen his brown hair flash blond, brown eyes staring at her instead of his blue orbs. She pulled back and took a deep breath, narrowing her eyes to focus on his features in the dim light.
"Something wrong?" He asked. "Ah…no. Im fine." She stuttered.
000
Logan downed his sixth, whatever was in the red plastic cups, and laughed as Finn stripped from his shirt. Thankfully he still had his pants on but others were already putting their space between themselves and the Australian.
He tossed his cup into one of the trash bags at the side of the log he sat on and smiled as Rose wobbled over to him, plopping herself down on his lap. "How are you doing Rose?" He asked with a slight laugh. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she leaned her head down on his shoulder.
"I'm drunk!" She giggled. "The best way to cure a hangover is to get drunk all over again." He teased. "Here Here!" Rose yelled happily as she leaned backwards and kicked her legs up and down, her arms swinging randomly over her head.
Logan gasped and slipped his arm further up her back to support her as she hung loosely over his lap. He pulled her back up and laughed as her arms fell back around his neck. She giggled as she pressed multiple kisses to his cheek.
"You're boyfriend is loosing his clothes Rosie" He informed. She laughed and pressed her hand to his cheek forcing him to stay with her as she continued to kiss him. "I know. I put fifty bucks on him being stark naked by eleven thirty, you want in?" She asked.
He laughed and patted her thigh. "No I don't want in" He rolled his eyes and hugged her tightly. "It's getting dark have you seen Ace lately?" He asked. "Ummm no, Rory reads cus she smart. Went down a little to do Kafka." She rambled drunkenly. "She's doing Kafka hu? Well isn't that just like our Rory" He laughed. Rose giggled and leaned back into his shoulder. He couldn't help but over hear two guys conversation as they joined the bon fire, sitting down on the log to their left.
"Hey did you hear about Van," The raven-haired boy laughed as he slapped his buddy's shoulder. He recognized them from the plane ride; they were the two he picked up in the hummer along with Van.
"What? Is he already passed out? What a light weight, the nights still young," His friend mocked. "Naw man, he only had like two beers, said he was going for that new girl. Said she was the type to like a guy better sober. When he said that I was sure she was just some tight ass, but word is they're getting down and dirty down the beach somewhere." He laughed.
Logan's jaw immediately clenched. They were talking about Rory. Ace was having sex on the beach with some guy she met two days ago. His grip tightened on the girl's waist and Rose blinked blankly.
"They have sex on the beach? Where! I only found Rum and Gin!" She gasped. "They're not talking about the drink Rose." He grumbled.
"Oh. Wow. Kinky." She muttered. Logan scoffed and stood gasping as Rose tumbled off his lap and into the sand.
"Oops, Rose you okay? Im so sorry" He laughed gently as he helped her stand. She only nodded her head then wrapped her arms around him to keep herself vertical. "You're not going to do anything stupid are you?" She asked. "Me. Stupid? Please." He fake laughed and untangled her arms from him.
"Go find your boyfriend, looks like your about to loose that bet of yours." He muttered pointing behind her to Finn who had now shed his pants as well. Rose gasped and turned glaring at him. "Finn!" She whined and stumbled towards him. Logan immediately turned and sniffed out the bar. There was no way he could get threw the rest of tonight without a near lethal dose of alcohol in his system.
Grabbing a red plastic cup he stopped at the closest keg and filled his cup to the brim. He lifted it to his lips and began chugging hoping to drown the feeling in his stomach as he thought about them having sex right down the beach. He opened his eyes and swiveled slightly on his feet before grabbing the nozzle and refilling every inch he just drank.
He jumped as a hand pressed against his shoulder then fell to his lower back. "Logan, its good to see you in the spirit of things." Amy smirked. He glanced around, "Oh I'm definitely in the spirit to drink." He grumbled. "Hmm, you sound upset about something." She pouted. "Why don't we go back to your place and talk," She suggested. He narrowed his eyes at her suggestion; it was laced with innuendo and lust.
"You know what; yeah, lets go." He said letting the nozzle drop from his hand. He wrapped his arm around the blonde's shoulders and took a big gulp of his drink. If she was going to have a good time, why should that put him down? 'Que sera sera right?'
StopDropNRoll
Im sorry you're right, his name is James I was deciding which to go with and I must have missed it once or twice when I was reading it over. Hopefully I haven't done that again. Review, but don't be too mad at me.