I had a day off work today - yay for bank holidays! - and planned on bumming around the house in my PJs and having a good old-fashioned day-long writing session. It turned out to be more like, 1 hour. In my sundress. While listening to Kings of Leon's newish album. But because lola1701 is hooked, I'm updating in 2 parts. Hope you don't mind!
Disclaimer; i don't own GG
"Do I look alright?" Aubrey asked as she stepped into the living room. Rory muted the 16 & Pregnant marathon on MTV, and turned away from Dr. Drew to check Aubrey's outfit. She was clad in tight black skinny jeans, paired with a white-and-green floral silk, sleeveless top. Her feet slid into six-inch wedges and her hair styled with sleek, 30s-style waves.
For something that wasn't supposed to be a date, she was sure dressed like it was one.
"You look fantastic," Rory said, "Finn is crazy if he doesn't make a move!"
Aubrey's lips pulled into a funny smile and she motioned at Rory. "I like your outfit, too."
Rory looked down at her faded True Religion skinnies and tugged at her heather gray tee. The scuffed black flats she wore on her feet did nothing to add glamor to her outfit. Decidedly not a date. But she felt severely under-dressed compared to Aubrey. She let out a deep sigh, "Let me just dab on some lipstick and mascara and we can go..."
Wallet. Keys. Phone. Tickets. Wallet. Keys. Phone. Tickets. It was the mantra Finn had been repeating for the last 20 minutes as he waited for Logan to emerge from his bedroom. He was nervous - hence the mantra - but prepared; ready for what the night would bring, hopeful and confident that things would turn out the way he wanted them to.
Logan, on the other hand, was a wreck. The poor boy couldn't decide between khakis or black slacks, a shirt or a polo. Finn suggested jeans, but Logan gave him a look that made him leave the room. "30 minutes max, or I'm leaving without you!" Finn warned, as he shut the door behind him.
Finally, with just 2 minutes to spare, Logan came out of his room. Khakis and a navy polo. Boat shoes. It was classic Logan.
He gave Finn a questioning look and Finn's eyebrows shot up in amusement. "You look fine, Logan. Let's go!"
"Are you sure?" he asked nervously, "You don't sound serious."
Finn rolled his eyes, but he couldn't deny that this slightly less self-assured Logan was charming. "When do I ever sound serious, mate?" he joked and checked that he had his wallet, keys, phone, and tickets one last time.
The 2-block walk to the City Theater was quiet. Aubrey was lost in thought and Rory couldn't shake the uncomfortable, nagging feeling that something was up. Maybe it was twisted fate. Oh, how her love life was one series of unfortunate and self-destructive events, while the timid, late-bloomer Aubrey was embarking on something with someone who had all the potential to become her One True Love.
Was she jealous? No, she felt nothing but brotherly love towards Finn, and really, at this point, she thought it best to figure out herself before adding someone else in the mix, but still... somewhere, deep down, it should've been her.
The conversation between the boys was non-existent. Finn had taken a few jabs in the elevator and Logan shot back, but as soon as they stepped out in to the brisk New York night, the mood changed.
Logan knew he was taking a big risk. Surprising her like this, after how he acted and what he'd said... Just not yesterday, but in London, too. If he hadn't been so wishy-washy and so damn scared, he wouldn't have had to fake a chance meeting at a local movie theater. He probably should talk with Mitchum about what he'd learned from Finn. About the call, about his being here, about the approval that Mitchum supposedly granted. But it didn't matter. He wanted her, needed her, and it didn't matter (anymore) what Mitchum, or anyone else thought.
A shrink would probably feed him some lame bullshit about needing to find himself first but he didn't care.
There was electricity in the air as Finn and Logan approached. She hadn't noticed him, at first, considering she was giving a panicky Aubrey a calming pep-talk. Suddenly, though, she felt a pair of eyes on her, traveling slowly from her faded jeans, t-shirt, and stopping at her chestnut-colored hair. Rory turned her head, slowly, and stared straight into Logan's approving eyes.
That look made her heart jump. After all, what girl wouldn't want looks of approval from a guy who looked downright sexy in khakis and a polo? But that initial reaction faded just as quickly as it came as his electrifying smile seemed to burn her. Her eyes narrowed to slits, her lips pulled tight, leaving a threatening line of red lips on her face. She wanted to bolt, but Aubrey grabbed her arm.
Logan made a mental note to thank Aubrey for that later. Logan knew Rory and expected this reaction, but he knew - even from a considerable distance - that he'd seen a spark in her eyes.
"You alright there, mate?" Finn asked softly, but he kept his eyes on Aubrey.
"I could ask you the same," Logan chuckled lightly and flashed a winning smile as he approached the girls. "Ladies."
Rory's eyes met his briefly - searchingly - before she turned and snapped, "What are you doing here, Logan?"
"I...", he couldn't speak. There was so much he wanted to say, but he couldn't find the right words. The silence between them drowned out the buzz of the crowded square and it was deafening. "I'm sorry," he said after a few tense moments. "I'm...sorry."
Rory's left eyebrow shot up - clearly unimpressed. "Sorry?"
He nodded slowly - what else could he do? Didn't she understand he was making an effort? Yeah, yesterday's actions didn't exactlyalleviate the tension between them. He knew he had issues. He sort of always thought that he would have a simple and easy, perfect kind of love. The girl that would tame his wild ways, that would be her. He didn't consider that his perfect girl would have a wilder side than he. That she was flawed. Of course, he was flawed, too. Neither of them was perfect, both of them had made mistakes. They'd made it difficult, but it was real.
She would just have to forgive him for being emotional, just as he would forgive her for that misstep with the Greek. It'd work out. They'd be together. Happy. Just like Finn & Aubrey.
As far as he was concerned, it was still a game, this time, just with heavier stake, and he was determined to win.
A cocky grin appeared on his face, as he regained his composure, and he cleared his throat before speaking. "I wanted to apologize for yesterday. And really, everything."
It sounded so sincere, it caught Rory off guard. "You and Finn set this up," she said slowly as it dawned.
"If I called, you would've hung up," Logan explained, "and I wanted to tell you in person."
Huh. Rory was stunned. It sounded touching and honest, but also caused some bile to rise in her throat. He was the one who practically kissed her in the cloak room, before telling her that he couldn't stand the sight of her and now, all of the sudden, he was apologizing? "You didn't want to see me. Ever. You...you couldn't even look at me!"
"I overreacted and I'm so sorry..." Logan started, but Rory shook her head. "Yeah, me too. For agreeing to join Aubrey tonight." She turned to Finn. "How could you?"
"Love..."
"Don't 'love' me!" Rory shouted and Finn was about to speak, but there was something about the way Logan looked at Rory that made Aubrey speak up.
"I'm feeling terribly parched," she spoke in her sweet Southern drawl, "Why don't we all get some drinks and something to eat?"
"That's a splendid idea, love!" Finn exclaimed, which Rory dismissed with an evil glare. But then Logan put his eyes on her.
Those big, beautiful eyes. They were the kind that went straight to her core and sent shivers up and down her spine. When he looked at her, he really looked at her.
And she couldn't just walk away.
That look meant something. This - whatever this was - wasn't over.
"Alright," she said with a shrug, "I could eat." She could practically hear the cheering inside Logan's head and she gave him a stern look. "But let me make one thing crystal clear: in no way, shape, or form is this a date!"
"No!" Aubrey squeaked, as if she suddenly realized where she was and what she was doing, "We're just friends going out to dinner."
"And seeing a movie," Finn reminded her with a cheeky grin.
"Well, yes," Aubrey swallowed and she couldn't suppress the smile that flashed across her face.
Rory had spent a considerable amount of time across Logan. In a gazebo, airplane seats, a class room setting, casually leaning over that breakfast bar. The one moment tonight reminded of her was at Jack & Jacques sandwich shop. Soup, a turkey club. Nothing fancy, just casual and relaxed. And she desperately wanted to give him to give him the cold shoulder, but she couldn't.
As they crossed the street to The Burger Bar, Logan made sure he was walking next to her. Her pace slowed, just slightly, and Aubrey and Finn kept a few steps ahead. He didn't look at her, but his deep voice was the most heartfelt she'd ever heard it.
"I just want you to know that I didn't mean it. At all."
She looked at him, forcing him to say it. "About not wanting to look at you, I mean." He wet his lips (why was she so focused on those lips?) "You are all I see, Rory."
Logan's hand brushed her arm and tiny sparks flew between them. Rory was far too proud to say that she forgave him, but in her heart she already had.
"Look," she sighed, "Let's just have fun tonight, okay?"
And that's how she found herself sitting across from him, cracking up at his story of the time he and Finn went skiing in Austria.
"Can you ski, love?" Finn asked Aubrey.
Like an old pro, she shot him a big, flirtatious grin, I've never been to Austria, but I know my way around Aspen. Daddy and I go every year."
"Wow." Finn was impressed and before Logan could ask Rory about her skiing experiences, she laughed. "Oh Logan, don't look at me like that! You know Gilmores don't exercise and skiing is..."
"...exercise!" Logan finished for her with a chuckle. Their eyes met for a split-second. "Touche, Ace. Touche."
Ace. It slipped so easily, so naturally from his lips, and she couldn't help the blush that spread across her cheeks.
"So, that's points for me then, Just Boss?"
Logan smirked at her reference to points. The game was definitely back on and he nodded approvingly. "That would be Hugo to you." Logan tugged at his blue polo and Rory rolled her eyes. "Of course."
They hadn't been drinking - a Coke for him, and a sweet tea for her - but there was definitely a buzz in the air.
And that, my dear readers, is where I have to stop because I need to go to bed. I know it seems that Rory has just forgiven Logan and I know Logan is so up and down, but they will have The Talk. And Mitchum will be back eventually and it'll all be sorted. But first: part 2 of this date ;)