A/N: From the mind of a deranged college student (that's me, if you had any doubts), I bring you an update... I takes place in the forrest! Also, if you're name is Daisy Darvis, I apologize in advance. Huge thanks for the reviews and all your love, it always makes a rainy day better. So please feed my review-addiction and leave a nice comment, a suggestion, an idea for a story, some constructive critique (meanies make me cry!), etc. I think the world of all you guys who waste time reading my little brain-burps, so thank you for that. Now, onwards and upwards
Little red riding hood
Rory cursed Stephanie under her breath for the millionth time. She loved Stephanie, she really did, but right now she wanted to wring her neck for suggesting this horrible idea. Here she was, cramped into Colin's SUV on her way to spend the weekend with the guy who wouldn't accept he was no longer her boyfriend, a guy she had slept with on accident after breaking up with her boyfriend, they guy who tormented her through high school and a few of their friends. Just another lovely Friday afternoon.
"Why the sad face, Ace" Logan asked, looking mighty proud of himself for rhyming.
"I just don't like camping" she muttered from the backseat, where she was squeezed in next to Stephanie, Colin and Reagan.
"No one likes camping" Colin said. He was mashed up against the window.
"Correction, chicks don't like camping" Finn said from the driver's seat. "That just happens to include you, Colin."
"Shut up Finn" Colin yelled and smacked the seat.
"You want me to crash your car" Finn yelled back.
"Ladies, please" Stephanie said, the only one who actually seemed to be enjoying herself, which made sense, Rory thought, as she was the one who was forcing them on this idiotic camping trip."Let's try to keep things cordial."
"Not my fault Finn's a complete bitch" Colin said, hitting the driver's seat again, making Finn swerve dramatically and Colin smack his head into the window.
"Having fun back there" Logan laughed.
"Can we take a break" Rory asked.
"No" came Finn's sour reply.
"Finn, chill… Let's pull over at the next gas station" Logan said.
"Steph, can I talk to you for a second" Rory asked. She had made sure Finn and Logan were outside. Finn was chainsmoking like a ninety year old cat lady and Logan was drinking cheap vodka straight from the bottle. Both of them were such classy guys. Colin was sleeping in the car and Reagan was on the phone with Robert, who was driving the second car full of people who were lucky enough to be going camping.
"Sure, what's up?"
"If I tell you something, you have to promise me you won't tell anyone else."
"Sure, I can do that" Stephanie said with a smile.
"Steph, promise!"
"Sheesh, I promise. What's going on?"
"I slept with Finn!"
"You did what?"
A couple standing nearby turned to look at them and Rory shushed Stephanie. "Not so loud!"
"When did this happen?"
"Last week, at Tristan's welcome back party."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. It just sort of happened."
"Um okay… Was it bad? Because Finn has been pissed off ever since that party."
"No. Yes. No... Where not talking about that! He asked me if I was done with Logan."
"Are you?"
"Yes." Rory closed her eyes, trying not to cry yet again. "I think so. I don't know. I broke up with him, but he doesn't seem to accept it."
"Okay then what?"
"I told him I wasn't sure. I was so mad about all those bridesmaids and then he asked me to go out with him."
Stephanie's eyes widened and her expression resembled that of a fish. "What?"
"Yeah, I know…"
"What did you say?"
"That it was a bad idea."
"Because of Logan?"
Stephanie hit the nail right on the head. She didn't know. A part of her liked Finn, a lot. He was funny, smart and really hot, but he was also a flaky womanizer with a possible drinking problem and severe mood swings. And Rory liked safety, stability, having someone to rely on. Finn didn't really meet any of those demands. "I don't know. I just… It was stupid and now everything's messed up and I feel so bad."
"Sweetie" Stephanie said in a soft tone and pulled Rory in for a hug. "Logan is a total douche, what he did to you… I could just kill him. And Finn too, for putting you in this situation."
"I didn't want to hurt his feelings, but… I can't do something like this again." She felt a tear slide down her cheek.
"No don't cry. Ror. We'll figure it out, I promise. I'm sorry for making you come, I wish you'd said something."
"Yeah me too" Rory said with a small smile. "But you were so excited and it's your birthday and… I didn't know what to say. I didn't know Finn was still angry."
"Oh sweetie, he really is" Stephanie assured her. "That's actually why I suggested this trip."
"What?"
"Yeah, because things were weird between everyone so I thought that some time away from the city, together, would do us all some good. Obviously, I was wrong. I'm really sorry, this must be so uncomfortable for you."
"Pretty much" Rory said, aware that Finn and Colin had entered the small store to pay for gas and probably buy more booze.
Colin noticed them standing between the chocolate bars talking in hushed tones. "What's up."
"Girl stuff, Colin" Stephanie said in a dismissive tone.
Finn joined them a moment later with a new pack of smokes. "God Finn, you smell like an Irish pub" Stephanie said, waving her hand.
"Makes me feel home" he muttered and put on his sunglasses. "What's going on?"
"Rory and I were just talking" Stephanie answered with a shrug.
"Yeah? Did Rory have something interesting to tell?"
"That's really none of your business, Finn" Stephanie said and crossed her arms,
"Am I missing something here" Colin asked with a confused look between Stephanie and Finn.
Stephanie said no at the same time as Finn said yes and Colin just stared at them. "You two make my head hurt. I'm going back to the car."
Finn narrowed his eyes at Rory but didn't say anything. "Your turn to drive, Steph" he called over his shoulder as he walked away.
Rory didn't think the car ride could be any more uncomfortable, but she was proven wrong when Finn squeezed himself into the backseat of the car with her, Colin and Reagan, while Stephanie took the wheel and Logan gave her directions.
Rory couldn't help notice that Reagan was smiling a lot, now that she was almost sitting on top of Finn. It really bothered her. Reagan was nice; she was Robert's cousin and unlike Robert, she actually had a functioning brain. She was an art history major, like Stephanie, and definitely a pretty girl, which was probably why Finn seemed interested. She also had firetruck red hair.
"Gilmore, you look constipated" Colin said and yanked her out of a daydream, where she was pushing Reagan out of the moving car.
"She's sitting next to you, Colin" Logan laughed. "Hey Ace, let me know if you wanna sit up in front with us."
Rory thought about that. What would be weirdest? Sitting here in the back with a guy she just might be crushing on, who was now hitting on someone else, or sitting up in front with an ex that refused to accept that he was an ex. "I'm fine" she muttered and closed her eyes. "How long till we get there?"
"Another hour or so" Stephanie said in an apologetic tone. "But I brought you some coffee." Stephanie nudged her head in the direction of the coffee cups in the centre of the car.
Rory took the cup, sighed and turned on her ipod. She wasn't sure how she was going to survive this weekend; Logan kept leering at her, Finn was apparently determined to make the weekend hell for her and oh yeah, Tristan would be joining them. Certainly, this wouldn't be weird at all.
"Should we wake her?"
"We could draw on her face?"
"Colin go be a twelve year old girl somewhere else."
Rory groggily opened an eye, not really sure what was going on around her. She felt like she had been dozed with tranquilizer and was definitely not ready to join the world of the living just yet. Someone sighed, although she wasn't sure who.
"Steph, put out a blanket or something, I'll carry her." Rory scrunched her nose; that sounded like Finn.
"Oh Finn, won't you be my knight in shining Armani too?" Rory recognized that voice as Stephanie's.
"Just go get a blanket" he said and Rory felt herself being picked up. She finally opened both eyes and looked around. "Where are we?"
"Country side" Finn said, almost dropping her on the blanket Stephanie had placed for her. "Enjoy."
Stephanie sat down next to her on the blanket. "Progress, I think."
"What was in that coffee you gave me" Rory asked.
"Um… Just some Baileys. And Scotch… And some more Baileys. But you looked like you needed it."
"Gee thanks, Steph" Rory muttered, whipping some dried drool from her chin.
"Sorry but I was afraid you were gonna burn a hole in Logan's seat and…" Stephanie bit her lip.
"What?"
"Well…" She made face. "Bad news is always better delivered by a friend, right? Instead of discovering for yourself."
Rory sighed; she had a feeling where this was going. "Just tell me."
"Reagan and Finn pretty much dry humped each other five minutes after you fell asleep.
Rory tried to keep her best face on and shrugged a little. "It's fine, Steph. I don't even like him like that." Wow, second lie in one day, Rory thought. She'd have to work on that.
"Lorelai Leigh Gilmore, you are such a nasty little liar" Stephanie said with a smile. "You so like him!"
"I don't want to like him."
"Don't blame you, it sucks…"
"Okay now you have to tell me."
"When I first met the boys, I kinda crushed a little on Finn. A little" she added, when Rory began to laugh. "He was hot and dangerous and had an accent, come on, what's a fifteen year old girl to do?" She looked at Rory. "Or a twenty one year old?"
"Don't tease…"
"Yeah well… Long story short I was completely in love with him and…" She sighed. "It didn't really end well."
"What happened?"
"Finn was my first in a lot of ways."
"Steph! No way!"
"What? It's not like it's hard to believe he would sleep with me, is it?"
"Were you together?"
"For a little while I thought we were, but Finn isn't really the monogamous guy, is he? So I got my heart broken."
"Aww Steph, I feel so bad now."
She smiled. "Don't, I think I needed to grow up a little, I always imagined I'd meet this handsome and exciting foreign prince or something. And he never pretended we were anything that we weren't, he didn't promise me anything, and I suppose…" Stephanie got a faraway look in her eyes. "For a first time it really wasn't bad."
"Yeah but…" Rory made a face. "It was Finn."
"So? It can be good even though it isn't your married ex" Stephanie teased and bumped Rory's shoulder.
Rory fake-gasped at her. "I told you that in secrecy!"
"And I haven't told anyone, but that doesn't mean I can't tease you."
"Hey girls" Reagan interrupted them and plopped down next to Rory on the blanket. "The boys are putting up the tents now and Robert said they were about half an hour away."
"Sounds good" Stephanie said. "So, you and Finn, huh?"
Reagan shrugged, but couldn't hide a smile. "I don't know, he's hot."
"Don't we know it" Stephanie said and bit her lip, as Rory gave her a warning look.
"It's nothing serious, but… I like him, he's fun. This was a great idea, Steph."
Rory wished she could agree.
"So are you just gonna sit there al weekend and watch us manly men work" Colin asked and sat down on a box.
"What the hell are you're talking about, Colin, you're not working" Logan said, as he walked by, carrying a tent-pole.
"I oversee" Colin said.
"Oversee this" Finn yelled and tossed him a toolbag. "Get moving, lard ass."
Colin managed to pull himself off the ground with an "oomph". "We can't all be natural fit like you, surf bum" he called bag, angry. "And I do not have a fat ass!"
"You tell him, Colin" Stephanie cheered. "I love camping."
Somehow, Finn and Logan managed to raise one of the four tents they would be sleeping in, while Colin complained about the bruise he had received when Finn had thrown the toolbag at him. Reagan had helped a little, while Stephanie and Rory had stayed on the blanket, talking quietly and shooting glances at the boys.
"Seriously, pull" Finn yelled at Logan, who was trying to raise a second tent.
"I'm pulling, dickhead!"
"Obviously not hard enough!"
"You pull" Logan yelled childishly.
"Fuck this" Finn yelled and kicked the un-raised tent. "Why am I stuck with Nancy boy over there and you? When the fuck is Tristan showing up, at least he knows how to raise a goddamn tent."
"Sorry we weren't raised in the outback by dingoes" Logan yelled back, also giving the tent a kick, just for good measure.
"Yeah well, your loss" Finn said, sitting down up against a tree. He lit a cigarette and gave Logan a look. "Because all of you are gonna freeze your dainty little asses off, while I sleep like a baby in the tent."
"Hey, birthday girl over here" Stephanie called, pointing at herself. "Obviously I get the tent."
"When the birthday girl manages to raise a tent, the birthday girl can sleep in one. Until then, it looks like the birthday girl is gonna freeze her birthday ass."
"Bitch" Stephanie muttered, making the others laugh. "I'll use my womanly wiles on Tristan when he get's here. They teach you this stuff in military school, right?"
"Yeah raising tents is right up there with discipline and how to not to look like a complete tool in dress-uniform" Finn said, putting on his sunglasses. "Wake me up when some real men show up." He tilted his head. "That didn't come out right."
An hour after Finn had declared Logan and Colin complete pussies and fallen a sleep up against a tree, Stephanie and Reagan had shared a lot of Logan's cheap vodka and Logan himself had hit on Rory four times, Robert's black Mercedes finally showed up.
"Yay, people" Stephanie called excited, while jumping up and down like a deranged cheerleader. Rory rolled her eyes as she started to hiccup.
"Party people" Robert said and hit Finn in the head with a guitar he, for some reason Rory couldn't fathom, had brought along.
"What the fuck, dudes" Tristan said, looking around. "You're drunk and only one tent is up."
"Colin will raise his tent if you take your clothes off" Finn said with his eyes still closed.
"I thought you were like outback Jack" Robert asked Finn.
"I was waiting for some actual men." He lifted his sunglasses to give Robert a look. "Obviously I waited in vain. But you have brought the lovely miss Davis, so I forgive you."
Rory noted Reagan's disappointed expression, when Finn immediately started to hit on Daisy Davis (who, like her name suggested, was about as smart as an empty garbage can). Unfortunately, Rory had a feeling that her face mirrored Reagan's.
"Finn, stop being a slut and give Tristan a hand" Logan said.
"Stop being a pussy and do it yourself" Finn countered.
"Tristan will you raise my tent" Stephanie giggled and almost threw herself on Tristan.
"Did you start the party without me" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Apparently" Rory said and yanked the giggling Stephanie off Tristan.
"I didn't get a chance to talk to you at the party last week. You left so early."
"Yeah, let's not talk about that" Rory said with furrowed brows. "How was military school?"
"It definitely met my expectations" he said rather drily. "How about you, Steph told me you're dating Logan."
"Let's put that on the list of things we're not talking about."
"Okay…. I thought you were supposed to go Harvard."
"Yeah me too, but now I'm here."
"In the woods?"
"Yeah maybe Harvard would have been a safer choice, come to think of it."
"Rory will you dance with me" Stephanie interrupted.
"No."
"Colin dance with me" she yelled instead.
"Dance with Finn" he yelled back, pretending to help Finn with another tent.
"No" Finn yelled, before Stephanie could even ask.
"I'll dance with you" Daisy Darvis giggled and both girls started to dance around the camp site, while Colin criticized Finn's work and Logan, Robert and Reagan started a game of Poker.
"Daisy asked if we were going to Canada on the ride up here" Tristan said with a smile.
"Yeah she's not really the brightest" Rory agreed and plumbed down on the blanket again.
Tristan sat down next to her. "So how've you've been, Mary?"
"I'm not really a Mary anymore" she pointed out.
"I heard. I'm deeply hurt you chose to date Logan instead of me."
"Then I'm sure it will comfort you to hear that we're not together anymore."
"Really? He left that out that little detail. What happened?"
"He pretty much slept with all his sister's bridemaids."
"Ouch."
"Yeah."
"So you're free to date now?"
Rory held up her hand. "Please."
"Okay fine. I guess that ship has sailed."
"If you want, I could give you Paris' number?"
"I'll take my chances with Miss Vanderbilt over there instead, but thanks."
Rory smiled. "You're a lot nicer now."
"Well, you're a lot less virginal."
Tristan and Finn managed to raise the remaining three tents and Colin got started on the food (which meant calling Domino's). Stephanie had passed out on the blanket and Reagan and Daisy were braiding each other's hair. Rory yawned and decided to get her things from the car and make herself comfortable. She walked over to the car and noticed Finn sorting through all the bags to find his own.
"Nice weather" Rory said, trying to make smalltalk.
"Piss off, Gilmore" Finn muttered and started to walk back towards the tents with his bag.
"What? What's your problem" Rory hissed, trying to keep her voice down so the others wouldn't hear.
"You! You're my problem, us, this, this is my fucking problem" he sneered back at her, also keeping his voice down.
"I'm trying to be friendly!"
"I don't want to be your fucking friend." He ran a hand through his already messy hair. "I don't want us to be friends, I don't care about your shit with Logan, I don't want to know that you have girly pink feelings for him and I don't want to be friends!"
"So you're just gonna ignore me?"
"Yes! That's exactly what I'm going to do until you get your fucking head straight and wake up and realize that I'm not the bad guy here."
"I'm sorry if my girly pink feelings are inconvenient for you" Rory lashed back.
He rolled his eyes. "Stop being such a fucking victim! Stop being so stupid, just stop! Figure out what you want, we can talk then."
"So if I don't want you, that's it?"
"Yeah. Because you're not the only one who's hurt, but you're just too selfish to see that. So until you open your eyes and stop being such a fucking coward, I'm taking myself out of this sick love triangle or whatever the hell it is." He stalked off after that, leaving behind a crying Rory. How was she supposed to react to something like that? She wasn't trying to be intentional mean; it was just difficult for her to figure out her feelings. She had been with Logan for a long time (or at least what amounted to a long time in Logan-time) and she felt like she had the right to be angry and upset and just a little bit messed up.
"Hey Rory, you need…" Tristan stopped when he noticed her face. "You okay?"
"Yeah, just the camping. I'm not really into it."
"You sure? You know Finn's full of shit, if he said something…"
"I'm fine" she said, wiping away a tear. "Just tired. Which tent is the girls'?"
"That one" he said and pointed to the one in the middle. "You can share with Steph, Colin and Robert has just tucked her in nice and safely."
"Thanks Tristan."
"Hey Rory" he grabbed her arm as she tried to walk past him. "I know I was horrible to you and I'm really sorry. So if there is anything, you can tell me. I promise I won't judge or tell anyone else or something like that."
"Maybe some other time."
Rory woke up in the early morning to the sounds of Stephanie moving around. The tent was damp and smelled disgusting and Rory was starting to seriously hate Stephanie for suggesting this trip in the first place and then demanding they all went.
She debated whether or not to get up and leave the tent and when Stephanie started snoring she figured she might as well get an early start (although she wasn't sure what exactly she was supposed to do in the middle of nowhere an early Saturday morning).
She clumsily exited the tent, feeling the chill of the morning on her bare legs and looking around. Robert had apparently been left next to the fire last night and Colin's head was visible from one of the tents.
"Morning" a gruff voice greeted her.
"Hey. You're up early."
Tristan shrugged. "We got up at six everyday in military school, it kinda stuck. So, ready to talk?"
"I don't know, it's pretty pathetic" Rory said, sitting down on the blanket.
"Hey I got shipped of the military school after breaking into someone's safe. Hit me with your best shot."
"Yeah that was pretty pathetic" Rory agreed with a smile.
He sat down next to her on the blanket. "Look at that over there." He pointed at Robert. "Twenty four, changed major four times, is about to be expelled and I'm pretty sure one of his eyebrows got zinged last night. That's pathetic. You're just having a rough time."
"Thanks for the perspective." They sat together for a little while without talking. "So, what's up with you and Stephanie?"
"Nothing, I'm afraid" Tristan said.
"You like her?"
"I have been in love with Stephanie for three years and never even told her I think she's pretty." He sighed. "Guess I'm pretty pathetic too."
"You do know that Steph and Colin…."
"Will make some incredibly ugly babies in a couple of years? Yeah I know. She's already planned the wedding. Hope you look good in orange tulle, by the way."
"I'm sorry, Tristan."
"Don't worry. As long as she's happy, that's all that really matters to me. Even if she's happy with a complete douche who wears flip flops to the shower and think the Illuminati was behind the JFK assassination."
"Really?"
Tristan rolled his eyes. "Unfortunately so. But enough about my sad pathetic love life, let's talk about your sad pathetic love life. Finn, huh?"
"How did you know?"
"It's pretty obvious."
"Great, just what I need."
"Well, I think pretty much everyone here, except us, are too drunk to notice anything, so don't feel bad. No wait, you should feel bad, because Finn is a pretty horrible person…"
"Just so you know, this isn't helping…"
"I'm just teasing you. I suppose he's not so bad. And hey, you managed to rope Logan Huntzberger into a relationship, so nothing is impossible."
"And then he preceded to sleep with all his sister's friends."
"Okay well, Finn's sister is in Australia, and she's like fifteen, so all her friends are in Australia and also fifteen, so that's something you won't have to worry about."
"Are you trying to talk me into a date with Finn?"
"I think you need someone a little adventurous in your life. Or, in Finn's case, someone a lot adventurous. He's not too bad, if you can look past the binge drinking and strangeness and his compulsive disorder."
"He has a compulsive disorder?" Rory gaped at Tristan.
"Oh, I thought you knew… It is physically impossible for Finn to turn down a dare. And a hot girl. But mostly a dare. He once made out with my cousin because Colin dared him too."
"So?"
"So, my cousin's name is John."
"Oh god. I have the worst taste in men" Rory bemoaned and hid her head in her arms. "I think I need professional help."
"Not gonna argue that one, you did date that Sasquatch dude. Have you talked to your mother?"
Rory shook her head. "I wouldn't know what to say."
"Hey lovebirds" Colin's voice suddenly rang through their little "camp". "Get to work on breakfast, I'm hungry."
"I suggest you finally prove you actually have something between your legs and go find your own breakfast" Tristan yelled back with a smile.
"Oh what? You want me to hunt my own breakfast?" Colin sat down and fished out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He couldn't have looked more like a city slicker in that moment, wearing expensive slacks, a pink poloshirt and sunglasses.
"You look like a twat, Colin" Finn muttered as he walked past, wearing something a little more suited for outdoor life.
"You look like a gay ranger" Colin spat.
"You're only saying that because you want to sleep with me" Finn yelled over his shoulder as he walked to the car.
"Hey, where are you going" Tristan asked.
"To stock up, unless you were actually serious about that whole "catching your own breakfast" thing, in which case I think I'm just going home" Finn answered.
"Can you even drive" Rory asked. It was still early and Finn had passed out drunk last night.
"I find your concern touching, but also unnecessary and annoying" he said and got in the car.
Rory looked at Tristan. "You have to go with him!"
"I don't wanna sit in a car with that" he said with a laugh. "You go with him!"
"No!"
"Yes! Besides, I think you're the only one who can legally drive anywhere right now. Unless you really want to try your luck with whatever sick animal Colin manages to sneak up on?"
"I hate this" Rory muttered but got up anyways and ran over to catch Finn, just as he was about to open the car door. "How about I drive and you not get arrested?"
He rolled his eyes, but handed her the keys. "What would I do without girl-scout Gilmore?"
"You'd probably be in jail" Rory muttered and got in the car as well.
The car ride had been uncomfortably silent the half hour it took to find a convenient store. Finn had stared out the window and Rory had focused on driving.
"So, what do you think people want" Rory tentatively asked once in the store. The selection wasn't exactly great, but there were bread and eggs and some juice.
"Grab some eggs and bread, I'll get some junk for the drunks" Finn said, going the opposite way of her.
They met up at the counter and Finn paid for the food, which included donuts, chocolate and some sandwiches.
"Are we really not going to talk at all this weekend" Rory questioned, as Finn loaded the car.
"We're talking now, Gilmore" he pointed out, still not looking at her.
"You're calling me Gilmore."
"So?"
"You used to call me love."
"You made it pretty clear you're not my love, so I thought it would be inappropriate."
Rory didn't even know he knew that word. "You're being really unfair."
"Is that so?" He finally turned around and crossed his arm, waiting for her to elaborate.
"My boyfriend, who I loved, cheated on me. Not once, but several times, because he thought we were broken up, which, by the way, I was also told of by his sister, in the middle of thanksgiving dinner. I loved Logan, I still do. I can't turn off my feelings and yes, it was wrong of me to…. Take advantage of you like that, but you're being unfair by demanding me to just forget about Logan right away. I should be at home wallowing with my mother and sugar enough to put me in a coma and instead I am stuck out here, in the middle of nowhere, with you, who say mean things all the time and don't respect any of my feelings! Even if they are girly and pink! Please understand that this is really hard for me! I like you, but you're a drunken idiot who throws temper tantrums like a five year old!" Rory took a deep breath.
"Are you done" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No! Also, I think I might want to go out with you, if you ever were to ask me properly and not in the middle of… you know! But I would think you would prefer if we waited until I am completely over Logan."
"Done now?"
"Yeah, I think so." Rory gave her shoes a pointed stare.
"Great. Let's get back." Finn closed the boot of the car and got into the passenger's seat.
"What? That's it?" Rory stared at him in disbelief.
"Yes. You really shouldn't expect much from a drunken idiot who throws temper tantrums like a five year old."
"That's all you got from my rant?"
"No I also got that you are apparently still very confused about your feelings for Logan, maybe because he acts like you two are still together, but did you ever stop to think that maybe he acts that way because you keep sending him confusing signals."
"I do not."
"Oh you so do" he said and threw his head back in exasperation.
"How?"
"How? Maybe like going on a camping trip with all of his friends, or still talking to him and going to the same parties and hanging out with the same people?"
"Stephanie invited me."
"Stephanie invited you because she thought you and Logan were still together."
Rory bit the inside of her lip to hold back tears. "Right, well maybe I should just stay here then, see if I can catch a bus back home."
"Please, the only thing you're gonna catch here is some outdated vd. Don't be a drama queen Gilmore, it doesn't suit you. Break up with Logan if you wanna break up with Logan, I don't even care anymore. If relationships are this hard I think I'm better off."
Rory just stared at him. Just last night he had been trying to force her to choose between him and Logan and now he had just announced he didn't care anyway because he had changed his mind about his feeling. "Great" she muttered and started the car.
"I need vodka!"
Stephanie looked up from her book. She was lying on her stomach on a blanket and reading a book on the Golden Age art she needed to finish for her class. "It's eleven. Where did you go anyway?"
"There's breakfast over at the fire" Rory said, gesturing with her head as Stephanie had chosen to lie down a little away from the tents, probably for privacy.
"Awesome, I was beginning to fear Colin wasn't joking about catching rabbits." She scoffed. "As if he could even catch a turtle." She got up. "Let's get some."
"Actually, I think I might just stay here."
"Rory, I love you, but this is beginning to be a little pathetic! If you're over Logan, tell him so. He'll be pissed, but eventually that'll vane. And if you like Finn, then show him."
"Except Finn just told me he didn't want a relationship anyway."
"Obviously he's lying to save face. You're not the only around here with feelings, Gilmore" Stephanie said and walked away, leaving Rory all by her self. She felt like Tristan was her only true friend right now, which said a lot about her current situation. Logan thought they were still together, Finn didn't want to be with her now, Stephanie was obviously not interested in her problems and Robert, Colin, Reagan and Daisy couldn't care less, she figured. Which pretty much left Tristan, who was now staring very pointedly at Stephanie's ass.
"Rory, are you okay?"
Rory shook herself out of her daze to look Reagan in the eyes. "Yeah, sorry, what?"
"I just asked if you wanted a sandwich before the boys eat them all."
"Oh right. Yes please."
Reagan gave her a big smile and handed her the sandwich. "Are you sure you are alright?"
"Yeah, just… Camping's not really my thing."
Reagan gave her a sympathetic look and nodded. "Camping is…" She furrowed her brows, looking for the right word. "Well, it'll be over tomorrow…"
The rest of the day Rory spent up against a tree, reading a book and taking notes. Stephanie and Daisy had gone looking for a lake to swim in, Colin and Robert went to ogle at them in their bathing suits, Tristan and Logan were sleeping and Finn and Reagan, as the two only athletic people in their group, had gone for a run. Together! Rory was almost sure you could hear her teeth grind together.
Around dinnertime they all gathered around the fire to eat something that Colin stubbornly claimed to be his own catch but looked suspiciously like store bought fish. At first Stephanie had wanted sushi, but seeing as no one knew how to make that and there was no rice or anything else, she was outnumbered by people who just wanted something to eat fast.
The fish wasn't too bad, all things considered, and there was bread and some vegetables to go with it, although Rory stayed clear of those. Afterwards they made smores and then Robert found his guitar.
"I want Finn to sing" Stephanie squealed with glee.
"No, I'm not wasting my talent on you losers" Finn said, emptying his beer.
"Come on, Finn" Reagan chimed in. "It's Steph's birthday and you're the only one who knows how to play."
"Hey" Robert said, smacking his cousin's shoulder. "I'm a rockstar!"
"You're an idiot" Logan laughed. "Come on Finn, just sing something, or else we're gonna have to listen to Stephanie nagging us all weekend."
"Fine, give me that" he said and Robert handed him the guitar. He cleared his throat and played the first couple of chords. "Hey there little red riding hood, I don't think little big girls should go walking in these spooky old woods alone."
All the boys chimed in with amused "oooouuuu's" after that, making everyone laugh.
He had a nice voice, Rory thought. Maybe a little rusty and definitely a little drunk, but it was nice. She didn't see him auditioning for American Idol or Strictly Come Singing With the Stars or whatever all those stupid shows were called, but for a campfire, it was pretty good.
"What full lips you have, they're sure to lure someone bad. So until you get to grandma's place, I think you ought to walk with me and be safe. I'm gonna keep my sheep suit on, until I'm sure that you've been shown that I can be trusted walking with you alone" he crooned on.
Stephanie gave Rory's shoulder a knowing bump and handed her a beer. "You ok?"
Rory shrugged. It didn't exactly take a genius to figure out that Finn was aiming the song at her. She was even wearing a red coat.
"Little red riding hood, I'd like to hold you if I could, but you might think I'm the big bad wolf so I won't."
Another "oooooouuuuuu" from all the boys filled the air.
"What a big heart I have – the better to love you with. Little red riding hood, even bad wolves can be good. I'll try to keep satisfied, just to walk close by your side. Maybe you'll se things my way, before we get to grandma's place."
The song ended and they all cheered. "Finn, you're so amazing" Daisy cooed.
"Yes I am" he agreed.
"I have one" Reagan announced. Robert took charge of the guitar and started playing.
"Where does our love lie?" She sang in a clear voice. Stephanie and Daisy chimed in afterwards. "In the middle of nowhere. Will it soon pass me by? In the middle of nowhere. Baby, won't you tell me
What am I to do? I'm in the middle of nowhere. Getting nowhere with you" she sang and stopped. "I can't remember anymore" she laughed. "Sorry."
Rory wasn't. She didn't exactly appreciate the soundtrack of this trip.
"We should totally play truth or dare now" Robert suggested, putting away the guitar.
"What are you, twelve" Tristan asked.
"I think it's a great idea" Stephanie said. "And seeing as I'm the birthday girl, I decide. Hm, Reagan, truth or dare."
"Hold up just a minute, Vanderbilt" Logan said. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Truth" Reagan yelled before anyone could say anything else and thus it was that they started a game of truth and dare.
"Alright. Reagan, is it true you had a three month relationship with a psych major named Lola from Germany?"
"No" she said, much to the boys' disappointment. "It was five months and her name was Magda."
"Reagan, you are officially my new favourite person" Colin said and handed her a bear.
"Daisy, truth or dare?"
"Dare!"
"Alright, I dare you to moon the German tourists we met earlier."
"Now?"
"Tomorrow" Reagan said. "When you're sober."
"Alright." Daisy gave them all a big smile. "Robert?"
"Definitely truth!"
"Why did you really break up with Jane?"
"She had hairy breast" Robert said. "Rory, truth or dare?"
"Truth… I think…" Rory wasn't sure either was a safe choice.
"Do you like Tristan?"
"No" she said honestly, almost per reflects.
"Well gee, Gilmore, twist the knife why don't you" Tristan said with a smirk.
"Sorry" she muttered, trying not to blush too much. "Um, Colin, truth or dare?"
"Dare. I'm not afraid of you" he said.
Rory wracked her brain for something truly evil. "Okay, I dare you to make out with Logan!"
"What's the penalty" Colin asked.
"Making out with Finn" Stephanie said, almost bursting with laughter. "Great one, Rory."
"Fine, I take Finn!"
"What? No thank you, I don't want syphilis" Finn said, jumping out of the way when Colin lunged at him. "Get away from me, you mouth rapist!" Colin started chasing Finn around the camp while the others laughed.
"I think that means it's my turn" Logan announced. They could hear Colin scream in the distance and some scuffling, but none of them felt like going checking on them. "Rory, truth or dare?"
"I just went!"
"Truth or dare" Logan repeated.
"Fine, dare."
"I dare you to kiss Finn" he said and something in his eyes made Rory feel uncomfortable.
"He's not here right now" Rory pointed out.
"You can kiss me" Stephanie offered and before Rory could protest, Stephanie had leaned over and planted a wet one on her. "Better than Paris?"
"Definitely" Rory muttered, still feeling a little shocked.
"Please, elaborate" Tristan begged.
"Did we just miss Stephanie kissing Rory" Colin asked loudly, as he stumbled out behind a bush.
"Where's Finn" Robert asked.
"I don't know, he got away from me around the lake. He's deceptively fast" Colin said as he sat down.
"Maybe you're just deceptively slow, Colin" Tristan pointed out.
"Shut your pie hole, jarhead. If you're so fast, you go chase him." He looked at Rory and Stephanie. "Could you do it again?"
"No!" Both Stephanie and Rory said at the same time.
"Fine, I think I will" Tristan suddenly said and stood up.
"Will what" Robert asked.
"I'll go find Finn before he chats up those German tourists." He tipped and imaginary hat and was off.
"Logan, truth or dare" Stephanie said.
"It's not your turn" Logan replied.
"So? I'm the birthday girl, it's always my turn."
"Fine Truth."
"Are you seeing someone right now?" Stephanie gave Rory a knowing wink.
"Yes" he said, just as Rory said "no".
"What? Oh come on Rory, I thought we put that behind us" Logan said with an exasperated sigh.
"We did. Along with our relationship" she pointed out. "I'm sorry, but I don't want to be with you anymore. You treated me like crap, you broke up with me through your sister and you slept with all her friends!"
"That is not true, I slept with maybe three of them and I think you're overreacting."
"I don't care. We're through! And I'm already seeing someone else" she lied.
"What? Who?"
"None of your business. We can be friends if…"
"The hell we can! If we're not together, why did you come on this stupid camping trip?"
"Because I invited her" Stephanie said. "Rory is our friend, with or without you. To be honest, I think I prefer her without you!"
"Fine, you can have her" Logan angrily said and got up and walked away.
"I found him" Tristan announced, just as Logan almost flew past him and Finn in rage. "Did I say something?"
"Rory broke up with him. Again" Reagan said.
"Oh." Tristan looked at the spot Logan had been just a few moments before. "Should someone go talk to him?"
Everybody in the group looked at each other. "I vote Robert" Colin yelled and they all concurred, forcing Robert to get up and go look for Logan.
Finn was just about sit down, when Colin attacked him. "There! I did it" Colin yelled triumphantly
"Oh god, I feel so violated" Finn moaned, still lying on the ground.
"I'm beginning to like this camping" Tristan smirked and sat down next to Rory. "So, now that you're single, maybe we should…"
Rory held up her hand. "Hold your horses, DuGrey. Remember what we talked about?"
"Can't blame a guy for trying. Isn't that right, Finn?"
"I suppose not" Finn said and gave Tristan a calculated stare. "Although it wouldn't be very friendly to get your freak on with Logan's ex."
"Did you just say "get your freak on"?" Stephanie snorted. "You're such a dork, Finn, you just need some glasses."
"There is nothing wrong with wearing glasses" Finn grumpily stated and opened another beer. "In fact, I have it on good authority they make me look cute."
"Just what every guy wants to hear" Tristan laughed.
"Logan says he's not coming back as long as Gilmore is here" Robert stated as he returned to the fire.
"Then he's gonna have to wait a long time" Reagan said in a determined way. "I like Rory a lot better than I like him."
"Why is he acting like this" Stephanie asked, clearly annoyed.
"Gee, maybe because his girlfriend just dumped him in front of his friends. One of which she actually went on a date with" Colin pointed out and suddenly noticed Tristan and Rory sharing a look and Finn staring at his shoes. "What?"
"Nothing" Tristan muttered.
"Yeah, and that date we went on? It was Finn's birthday party and she dumped me for Logan later in the evening" Robert said. "But you looked hot."
"Thanks" Rory said.
"That was such a weird night" Stephanie said, thinking back the party.
"I actually have a confession" Reagan said, looking at Stephanie. Rory noticed Colin started to fidget a little in his seat. "I slept with Colin after the party."
"What?" Stephanie flew out of her seat, making her beer splash all over Rory. "Why did you do that? You knew I liked him!"
"I only did it because I knew you were seeing Tristan behind his back" Reagan defended, also standing up.
"I was not!"
"Please, don't drag me into this" Tristan said.
"You slept with Stephanie" Colin asked.
"Of course not" Tristan said, but his eyes wavered.
"I thought you said" Rory started to say.
"Gilmore, now would be a good time to shut up" Tristan growled. "Listen, nothing happened!"
"Please, I saw the pictures from Christmas break" Reagan snorted.
"WHAT?" Stephanie's voice was reaching a high-pitched level.
"Wait, this is true" Colin asked, also getting up.
"I swear, it only happened once, and I was so drunk" Stephanie started.
"You were not that drunk" Tristan yelled.
Rory looked on in horror as the four people started to yell and then Robert got in the middle of it all, saying he saw Stephanie texting someone at the party and Daisy seemed completely unaware of what was happening around her. Rory almost squealed in surprise as someone pulled her into a standing position and started walking away, still holding onto her arm. "What are you doing?"
"Removing ourselves from a very ugly situation" Finn said, still walking. "We don't need to get in the middle of their shit."
"Is it true?"
"Yes."
"But I thought…."
Finn shrugged. "Sometimes, people do stupid things.
Rory looked over her shoulder to see the five of them yelling at each other.
Finn stopped in front of one of the cars. "Where is Logan?"
"I don't know" Rory replied. "Is it important right now?"
"Yes."
"Why? You two want to sit and talk about how much I suck?"
Finn rolled his eyes as he leaned up against Colin's car. "Because I don't want him to hear what I'm about to say. I lied, ok? Earlier to day… I lied. I like you, although you seem almost incapable of having a good time, shutting up or giving someone a chance once you've made up your mind."
"Is this supposed to make me…"
"Stop!" Finn gave her a heated stare. "It's my turn now! I like you, a lot, in fact. I feel like shit because Logan was lucky enough to notice you first, but there's nothing I can do about that now. I know you think I'm some kind of perpetual drunk, but I am also a very nice guy. Or, I can be. I can be nice and take you out for burgers and pizza instead of sushi and foie gras and crap like that, and I can not sleep with all my sister's friends! You just have to give me a chance."
"I'm still going to need some time to get distance from Logan."
Finn shrugged. "Fine, take your time. I'll be spending the summer at home anyway."
"Is that a threat?"
"No, that's my way of saying I'll be in Australia for the summer with my family and when we meet up in the fall, hopefully Logan will be nothing but a distant memory and you'll want to go out with me."
"What if you meet someone in the summer" Rory asked.
He gave her a smile, one of the rare real smiles Finn would sometimes display. "Then you'll just have to chase me around, I guess. But don't worry too much. I'll be spending the summer interning at my father's company. The only chicks I'll meet will be lunch lady Doris and my father's obese secretary Laris."
"So next semester, huh?"
"Next semester I am going to ask you out and you are going to say yes. Deal?"
"I guess so."
"I sweeten the pot a little for you" he said and the smile turned into a devilish grin as he fished something out of his pocket.
"Is that?"
"Colin's keys? I do believe it is! Wanna go home?"
"So bad" Rory said with a relieved sigh.
"Get your stuff, then were gone" Finn said.
"I think I might love you" Rory said as she returned to the car with her bag.
"All the birds do" Finn said in a over the top English accent and got into the car.
"Won't the others be really angry at us?"
"Really Gilmore, do you even care right now? I can tell you exactly how this is going to play out: Colin and Tristan will get into a fight, in which Colin will have his ass pretty much handed to him. Stephanie will make up with Reagan and when she gets home she'll tell everybody that Reagan slept with Robert…"
"But they're cousins…"
"Exactly" Finn said with a raised eyebrow. "Stephanie will pretend like she never slept with Tristan, leaving him brokenhearted all over again and eventually, Colin will forgive her because he knows he'll never be able to do better. Daisy will be distracted by something shiny and Robert will fall asleep."
"You're right. Please drive!"
"Your wish is my command" Finn said with a smile. "That goes for other aspects of our relationship as well…. Just so you know."
"I'll keep that in mind" Rory promised.