3. A Handshake and Impressions

Rory stood there watching Jess go past the cops, with a look of question in her eyes: "Why had he chosen to behave that way that night?" She knew he had moody tendencies but she never expected him to lose his temper over her not wanting to have sex with him. Was he upset with her for not having sex with him, or was there something else bothering him that night? Whatever it was, there was no reason for him to act that way with her in that room in Kyle's house. Nothing would justify his actions, nothing could. She sighed as she wiped the tears welling in her eyes. She had never been this unhappy or perplexed about a relationship in her life. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when a voice said: "I don't think that guy is worth the tears". Rory turned back to look at the guy who had uttered those words. She recognized him as the guy who was with Maria Stewart, one of the easy and conceited girls at Stars Hollow High. She glanced at the guy who was pretty cute in a preppy Tristan Dugrey look-alike sort-of-way, but, his smirk and what he had just said which was being judgmental about the relationship she had with her boyfriend really made her angry at him.

"What do you know about my boyfriend? Plus, knowing your girlfriend, I say you should refrain from passing judgment on other people's relationships," Rory started to walk down Kyle's steps in a huff, but Logan had followed her outside.

"For the record, the girl is not my girlfriend. She is more of a one night stand," Logan defended himself.

"Oh, and that makes your relationship status so much better," Rory spat.

Logan was surprised Rory Gilmore was not as vulnerable, naive and docile as he had earlier witnessed. She was a bit of a spitfire, and he kind of liked her feistiness - being used to the god-like treatment from other girls, Rory's stance was different. It was amazing to meet a girl who did not worship the ground he walked on.

"Look, I admit my track record with women has been short of being pristine, but I would never treat anyone the way that guy treated you… if your ex didn't pummel him, I would have done it myself." Logan retorted, hoping that his words would get Rory to calm down but it appeared to have made her even more enraged.

"Unbelievable, you arrogant ass, you eavesdropped on a very private conversation I had with my boyfriend. And how the hell do you know that Dean was my ex? You're a little rich kid who thinks he is entitled to fix the world." She really was exasperated, everything was falling apart. First, Jess was surlier than usual, then he yelled at her at something she was still very sensitive about. Then he and her ex got into a fight which caused some property damage and now this strange, rich-looking kid knew about her. She found that disturbing and a tad creepy.

"Hey, don't judge me… it's not my fault that my date is friends with your ex's current girlfriend. Your ex spoke of you like he's still in love with you. He practically gushed when he explained that he knew my name because of your love of journalism. Besides, there was no need to eavesdrop on your conversation with whatever the jerk's name is… he practically screamed and I bet everyone all the way up to Hartford heard what he said. Just so you know, my date uttered your name, Rory Gilmore. And, sorry to say but she kind of hates you."

"Oh, that's news to me! The girl has hated me since 9th grade, and quite frankly, I really don't care. I got into Yale, and she probably got into the bar near Yale. Dean is not still in love with me, we're just friends." Rory uttered sarcastically, although she was surprised to feel that her anger had dissipated.

Logan laughed. "That's where I met her tonight, and was somehow dragged into this very interesting party where, might I add, a coffee table and a fence were damaged."

"What a beautiful and promising relationship," Rory laughed along with him, unaware of the fact that just a few minutes ago she was practically yelling at this guy. Now she was laughing with him in unison, and she found herself, if only momentarily, forgetting her past frustration.

When the laughter had subsided Logan said, "So I guess we will be seeing each other again since I go to Yale, and you are starting next year. There will be plenty of guys there who will make you forget that loser." Although Logan felt a tiny twinge of sadness at the thought of her and other guys, he didn't know why she seemed to bring too much drama for his taste, and, Logan Huntzberger did not do drama.

"Um, Yale is a big school and if I see you I'll duck and hide. Jess and I aren't breaking up. I'm sure he had a logical explanation as to why he was behaving that way tonight. I am sure that he will apologize and everything will be fine again." Rory defended Jess, even though she was getting sick and tired of Jess' lame excuses, and she doubted if Jess would apologize for tonight. However, Logan didn't need to know that.

"So you'll forgive him just like that… you won't give him any of those fiery attitudes you've been giving me?" Logan asked, amazed.

"Well, I won't weakly give in, but I'll forgive him. You don't know anything about me and Jess. So, please, don't judge," Rory was on the verge of tears again since some of what Logan said had hit a nerve - at how servile she had been lately towards Jess, that she had given up Dean for Jess and against her mother's advice.

She looked so sad that Logan decided to drop the subject for now. "So, why are you going to avoid me at Yale?"

"Cause you're a little annoying and you're prying into my life. Plus, I don't think we have much in common. You hook up with high school seniors at bars. I've had two long and meaningful relationships. You seemed to party mostly, and I mostly read. So there is no way we would gel as friends."

"Hey, I read sometimes, and since you're here now… I see that you like a good party every once in awhile. So, I have a different relationship style from you, but that is no reason for you to snub me. And, may I remind you that you and your boyfriend were the drama of the evening?" Logan retorted with a smirk which Rory found to be annoying yet kind of cute at the same time.

"I remember," Rory said after sighing in frustration. "But I feel kind of weird talking and arguing with you when I don't even know your name, and yet you know my name from Dean, Lindsey, and Maria… that I'm Rory Gilmore. And contrary to what those girls might have said I'm not a snob. Just because I have attended Chilton and just because my grandparents happen to be rich. But so what… I wanted a better education so I can get into Harvard, and then, later I decided that I wanted to go to Yale. Plus, I've sort of became friends with Paris, Madeline, and Louise." Rory did not realize that she had just rambled and she could not believe that she had confessed all that to a total stranger.

"Hey, I know how you feel about such persons because there are those who tend to judge me because of my last name as well. By the way, I'm Logan Huntzberger." He took out his hand and Rory felt a spark during their handshake that she hadn't felt before. They quietly locked eyes for a moment and Rory suddenly lost her train of thought. His dark brown eyes were so gorgeous and very expressive that she got lost in them easily. Logan was mesmerized - he had never seen a pair of eyes with a shade of blue so alluring like sapphires.

The sound of vomiting suddenly interrupted the moment between Rory and Logan. Rory turned her eyes and was surprised to see Lane vomiting in the bushes. "Um, Logan, I have to go help my friend. She probably had too much to drink."

Surprised, Logan followed Rory but she was too concerned with Lane to ask any question.

"Lane, are you okay?" Rory asked with concern as she tried to help her up.

"Yeah, I think… I threw up… something that I ate… last year. But… that's… not true. I practically… told my mother… that I'm a drummer… in a rock band, and… I love Dave… not Young Chu." Words and vomit came out of Lane's mouth at the same time.

"Oh, Lane, lets get you home before Mrs. Kim finds another reason to ground you."

"May I give you a ride?" Logan offered.

"I know… I'm drunk but… you don't go to my school. I don't… my date did… but Rory and I… were just getting acquainted," an incoherent and drunk Lane stuttered.

"Yeah, he goes to Yale, come on, Lane." Logan and Rory both hoisted Lane and walked her to Logan's Porsche.

"Wow, my mom… is going to freak out… even more when… she finds out I… went home in a Porsche."

"Lane, come on, the most important thing is that you came home safely."

"I doubt... that I will be safe… with my mom. I… will not be allowed to… leave the house again."

"I'm sure it won't be that bad," Rory reassured Lane.

"And, Lane about the vomiting. There are two ways to deal with it. One way is my friend Finn's way which is drinking more alcohol and then he makes a hangover-killer Bloody Mary."

"Logan, first of all, alcohol is what got her in trouble, and, second of all, Mrs. Kim doesn't have any alcohol."

"Except for some holy stuff but I don't know where it is," Lane piped in.

"Well, then, there is the second way which is putting baking soda in water, it helps with the vomiting. Taking a cold shower also helps. And don't drink too much coffee... it will get you even more dehydrated."

"Thanks, um, Logan."

He smiled at her.

"You really know about hangovers."

"Hey, when you're friends with Finn who's drunk half the time, you pick up on this stuff, plus I drink a lot as well."

"Somehow I'm not surprised" Rory smiled at him.

"Wow, you guys sound like a couple," Lane sleepily said.

"Lane, don't let the alcohol impair your judgment," Rory glanced at Logan. She only knew the guy for approximately an hour - he was a complex enigma. There was a part of him that could be annoying and nosy, and yet, there was another part of him that was intriguing and surprisingly compassionate. Every minute she had spent with him, Logan had unraveled some part of himself, little by little. Rory has a feeling that there was a lot more to Logan than meets the eye, and, that this wouldn't be the last encounter she and Logan would have.

Author's Notes: Someone commented that it was out of character for Lindsey to be friends with a person like Maria. But, most often, we tend to befriend those who are different from us. Since we do not know enough about Lindsey and she was the girlfriend of Dean at this point in time, I chose her to be the logical person to be friends with Maria who would sort of give Logan a glimpse of Rory. I can't image Maria being friends with Lane, Dave or Dean.

Happy Holidays to everybody, and, may 2009 be a better year for all of us!