Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls. If I did, believe me, it would have turned ou quite differently.
A/N: Attention, this is not a drill! Yes, you've actually received an update on this story and I swear: Chat GPT hasn't replace me (yet!); I just got my shit together and finished a chapter that had been 80% written for a year. Oh well...
Apologies aside, how are you all doing? I swear most of you probably don't even remember what this story is about anymore, but maybe, just maybe some of you still want to read what I have to write. Tell me in the comments. Here comes the new chapter!
CHAPTER 17 - CROSSING LINES
Logan strolled around the campus, contemplating how people managed to wake up so early. Mornings were definitely not his strong suit. He paused to grab breakfast, eagerly awaiting the moment when she would arrive.
"Hi, Logan."
He snapped back to the present, finding a girl with long, caramel-colored hair beside him. He couldn't recall her name, but he couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment when he realized she wasn't Rory.
With a sly smile, the girl placed her hands on his chest, then traced them down to the waistband of his jeans. All this, right out in the open.
Logan swiftly retrieved her hand and attempted to regain control of the situation.
"Hey. What's up?" he asked politely, though his gaze remained fixed on the coffee cart.
The girl, however, blinked her heavily made-up eye, her lips curving into a sly smile. "Better now that I've found you."
She didn't have a shy bone in her trim little body. Her voice purred with promise, and she pressed closer, making her intentions quite clear.
Logan used to be up for such encounters without a second thought, but today was different. His mind was filled with thoughts of the girl who had just entered the coffee line.
He looked at the girl before him, trying to find a way to politely get rid of her. "Listen, why don't we talk later?"
But that seemed to anger her even more. "What's going on with you?"
Logan had a sinking feeling that he'd come to the right conclusion.
"Stephanie's been queuing up for quite some time now, but I'm wondering when you're going to call me."
Panicking, he decided to put the blame on Stephanie. This excuse had worked before; she'd probably be angry anyway.
"Seriously? You should discuss it with her because she didn't give me the correct schedule."
The girl's irritation was evident. "I'm discussing it with you. Can't we just go to your place for a few hours after class?"
Logan pretended to be clueless. Lately, he'd been making excuses to skip his usual "obligations." He didn't know how long his arrangement with Rory would last, so he didn't want any drama to get in his way for as long as he could enjoy having her.
"Nah, not right now. Sorry, babe, but I have to get to class."
She raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "Since when do you care about getting to class on time?"
"Since now."
He didn't, but he needed to end this conversation. Logan nodded and moved past her.
She blinked, frowning in disbelief. "Really?"
Logan didn't look back. Instead, he walked toward the coffee cart, where Rory was just about to get her hands on her first coffee of the day.
He moved closer to her and whispered a soft "good morning" in her ear, causing her heart to pound painfully.
Rory couldn't help but feel it had to be him. Despite the passage of time, Logan still had the same effect on her.
"Paying for coffee with a credit card? Where are the coins?" he teased.
Rory shrugged. "Didn't feel like holding up the line today."
"People really change, huh?" Logan remarked, scanning the area.
Rory couldn't help but notice the real reason for his presence. He was there to check her out.
"Al has the flu," Rory explained, "so I'll be taking class notes for him today."
Logan smirked. "You're the perfect classmate, Ace."
Rory shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Does perfection even exist?"
A smile tugged at the corners of Logan's lips. "That's quite a philosophical question for eight in the morning, don't you think?"
"Is this what constitutes philosophical discussions now? That's really sad."
His tentative smile widened into a full-blown grin. "Don't worry, Ace. We can dive much deeper into philosophy in class today."
Rory's question came out as a barely audible squeak. "Excuse me?"
"I'll be your classmate today. Look, I'm even holding a book."
"Wow! And you didn't even get allergies this time. People really can change."
"True. You'll see that class with me can be a lot more fun than with Hal. Like everything else," he said, raising his brows suggestively.
Rory tried to hold back her smile, but it was impossible. They shared a great grin, and she turned to Logan, who was also wearing a broad smile.
She knew she had to be cautious. It had been a few weeks since they'd spent any time together, especially alone. Logan was respecting her wishes according to their last conversation, and she appreciated that. But now, with him looking at her like that, maybe having a little fun wouldn't hurt.
She wasn't seeing anyone else, and a small distraction from her study marathon might be just what she needed.
After all, what harm could a little fun do?
For the first time in weeks, Rory decided to accept Stephanie's invitation to go out.
"Are you sure you're okay with being here?" Stephanie asked as they navigated through the crowded frat house.
It wasn't her ideal place to be, as she'd likely run into people she had no interest in seeing. But she wasn't going to let that stop her from enjoying time with her friend.
She genuinely liked Steph and wanted to spend some time together, even if it meant watching Logan with other girls.
Of course, upon arrival, Logan was already swarmed by fangirls competing for his attention.
It was a punch to the gut right away. She had been naive to think he'd be eager to see her. While she was studying hard in the library, he was probably enjoying himself with other girls. She wondered how many he had on the side.
It wasn't long before Stephanie noticed Rory's energy dwindling.
Steph studied her closely and linked their arms. "I promise, we won't stay long if you don't want to. There are plenty of other parties going on."
"That's okay. This party is fine," she lied. Rory didn't want to be the girl who couldn't handle a casual relationship. After all, they weren't exclusive. She was the one who had offered this arrangement.
But deep down, Rory couldn't shake that morning's memory. It was a pleasant surprise to have such a nice moment with Logan in class. Despite his laziness and lack of commitment, he was undeniably smart. If only he could give a damn.
Yet, she couldn't get too excited. Logan had always been a flirt, and she found herself hoping to run into him that night and see what happened.
She thought she was moving on from their arrangement, but it seemed like Logan had found his way back into her thoughts.
Rory just hoped that intelligence was measured proportionally, with the weight of her few poor decisions being lighter than the smart ones. If that were the case, she had to make good decisions tomorrow, because her deal with Logan was heading into a questionable direction.
A few minutes later, Logan was bored to tears. He took a swig of beer to try and dull the confusion swirling within him. The dark-haired girl with
big blue eyes perched on his lap wasn't helping matters, though. Her nimble fingers traced lazily over his chest, but that didn't give him a faint spark of desire.
A month or so ago, he would have jumped at the opportunity, but now he had zero interest in hooking up with some chick who resembled Rory.
Rory.
He wasn't imagining things; she was really there. The next second, he disentangled himself from the girl on his lap and made his way toward Rory.
She looked somewhat uneasy, but that didn't concern him. Tonight, all he wanted was to be with Rory, and nothing could make him happier.
"Look who showed up to see the best classmate she ever had. Don't let Paris in on this; I beat her twice over," he teased.
Rory's teeth grazed her lower lip, and she admitted, "I'll make sure she gets the message. You're really smart."
"Duh, I am in college. They teach you stuff here."
She couldn't hold back her smile, and he rewarded her with one of his own.
"I never thought you'd come here tonight. Isn't this a little too... Thursday for you?"
Rory shrugged, explaining, "Well, sometimes even a nerd needs a break from the Ivy League, Logan. Besides, I heard they were serving the best punch in town tonight."
Logan raised an eyebrow skeptically. "The best punch, you say? That's a bold statement. Care to prove it?"
Without giving him a clear answer, Rory dodged the challenge, saying, "Ah, but that would take all the mystery out of it, wouldn't it?"
Logan smirked and leaned closer, their faces almost touching. "Mystery, Rory, is overrated. I prefer the thrill of the chase."
"Is that so, Huntzberger? Well, you'll have to work for it."
He didn't hesitate for a second to respond. "Done."
They were in the middle of an engaging conversation when Rory tilted her head, lost in thought. She discreetly tapped her middle three fingers against her leg, concealing her thumb and pinkie in her pants.
Logan watched her curiously, finally asking, "What's on your mind?"
She shrugged, attempting a coy smile. "Thought you were too busy to notice me."
Logan's gaze briefly flickered to the girl he had just ignored. She didn't seem pleased, but it wasn't his job to make her happy either.
"Never, Ace," Logan said, flashing his best smile. But she just stared blankly at him, sensing something was off.
He decided to change the topic. "Steph mentioned you might be interested in a festival in your hometown. I'd love to go with you."
Rory frowned, "You? I doubt you'd enjoy a parade in downtown Stars Hollow."
Logan snapped his fingers in realization, "A parade! I remember seeing your dorm pictures with those unique outfits. I guess I can appreciate a good parade too."
"Those outfits weren't for parades," she protested.
"I wasn't complaining. You can even send me some of those pictures if you want."
Rory waved him off, dismissively. "You're out of your mind. Don't answer that; I already know you are."
"So, am I in?"
She crossed her arms. "Can you behave?"
Logan grinned mischievously. "No."
"Then no," she replied, rolling her eyes but still considering his proposal.
"Come on, Rory. I want to know where THE Rory Gilmore used to live."
Rory's initial response had a touch of defensiveness. "I'm not heading home anytime soon, so this isn't happening."
Logan's persistence was accompanied by a hint of vulnerability. "Fine, but you owe me some of your time."
Her retort was laced with a hint of insecurity. "Me? I'm sorry, aren't you always busy?"
He defended himself with a playful hint. "I'm not the one spending all my time with new friends."
Rory's suspicion peeked through in her next question. "So, that's why you're being so nice to me? To make sure nothing's going on between me and Hal?"
Logan tried to reassure her, but uncertainty lingered in his voice. "What? I'm always nice to you."
She probed deeper, her curiosity laced with unease. "I know, but this feels different. You came to class with me, offered to visit my hometown. Seriously, what's that all about?"
His confession carried a mix of sincerity and reluctance. "I want us to hang out."
Rory couldn't help but recall their past interactions. "We do hang out."
"Not as much as before. And as far as I remember, we're still friends."
The unspoken tension in the air was palpable as they navigated their changing dynamic.
Rory finally expressed her feelings, her voice laced with hope. "Yeah, but don't you feel something changed between us... I mean, since we decided to cross that line?"
Logan acknowledged the shift in their relationship with a hint of longing. "I hoped it was a good change."
"It was."
A shiver ran through her as he drew closer, his fingers lightly traced her cheek and came to rest against her jaw. "So why do you keep avoiding me?"
She didn't want to back away, but she couldn't hold back the truth any longer. "So I can be cool about you and the other girls."
She held his gaze, and he cupped the side of her face, tracing the curve of her lower lip. "What are you talking about? There isn't another girl."
Rory snorted, incredulous.
"I'm talking about the dozens of girls glaring at us right now as we're talking. It's like you're public domain property. This is exhausting. So why bother?"
A beat of silence followed her words, and Rory feared her little outburst would send him running.
"It doesn't matter what they do. What matters is that I'd rather be here, with you," Logan said, his voice filled with sincerity.
"So, if I leave right now and you can't bed me tonight, who would you replace me with?" Rory asked.
Logan's expression grew contemplative. "Why do I feel like this is a tricky question?"
Rory admitted, her voice tinged with longing, "Because it is."
Logan responded, his skepticism giving way to a touch of hope, "You're not replaceable, Rory. If nothing happens between us, I'd still rather spend my time with you, as friends."
His words gave her some comfort. So, when he reached out to her and invited her to a cozy spot to sit down and just have fun, she couldn't say no.
Logan poured beer from the keg into two plastic cups and handed one to Rory with a charming grin. "To keep things interesting."
Rory raised her cup with a playful glint in her eye, and they clinked their cups together, taking a sip.
Logan leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "So, Rory, what guilty pleasure would we be indulging in if we were hanging out as friends somewhere else? Late-night snacks? Trashy reality TV?"
Rory chuckled, her eyes dancing. "Actually, just reading books. Lots of books. I have a secret stash of crappy romance novels hidden away."
Logan raised an eyebrow, feigning shock. "The Rory Gilmore, a crappy romance novel enthusiast? Who would've thought?"
Rory shrugged; her smile mischievous. "Hey, not everything is all about balance, right? It's like a post-credit scene of my own life."
He smirked. "You know, Rory, it's fascinating how you can't run away from being the diligent student."
Rory shot back with a grin, "Well, someone has to keep the academic world in check, Logan."
Logan chuckled, "True, true. And someone must keep the party world entertaining," he added, pointing at himself for emphasis.
Their banter and laughter resonated, creating a magnetic pull that drew the attention of those nearby. Logan's playful exchange with Rory ignited a touch of envy among some of the girls at the party, yet Logan remained completely captivated by their conversation.
As the evening unfolded, Rory couldn't deny the magnetic attraction of Logan's presence. With each passing moment, she found herself drawn closer to him, her laughter carrying warmth, her smiles growing more genuine.
Logan, too, relished the night's unfolding pleasures. It was a rare occasion where he found himself reveling in the pure joy of the moment, free from any hidden agenda. This new facet of his relationship with Rory, one built on friendship and genuine affection, held a unique charm.
Perhaps, amidst the complexities of their connection, a subtle shift was underway, paving the way for them to explore a deeper bond beyond their initial arrangement.
Logan leaned in closer, his voice becoming softer and filled with a subtle longing. "You've always been the yin to my yang, Rory. The studious bookworm to my wild adventurer."
Rory's eyes locked onto his, the air between them thick with tension. "And you're the devil on my shoulder, urging me to embrace a little more... chaos."
Logan playfully grinned, "Well, chaos can be fun, especially when it's with the right person."
Rory quirked an eyebrow "Careful, Logan, you might not be able to handle my wild side."
Their faces were inches apart now, and Logan couldn't help but feel the pull toward her. His gaze flickered to her lips, a silent invitation hanging in the air, waiting for the right sign from her.
Rory's hesitation mirrored Logan's, and for a moment, they existed in a charged space, neither willing to take that final leap. The chemistry between them was electric, but the unspoken understanding that they needed to tread carefully hung over them.
He wanted to kiss her so badly, to let their undeniable attraction take over, but he also respected Rory too much to rush things. So, he held back, waiting for her to decide if he could make the next move.
In the end, Logan made a choice. He leaned back slightly, breaking the intense moment but staying close to her. He whispered softly, "Rory, whenever you're ready..."
Rory met his gaze, a mixture of gratitude and desire in her eyes. "Thank you for understanding."
They lingered in the shared moment. He knew he had to be smart and respect her boundaries, knowing that when the time was right, their chemistry would ignite into something even more profound.
So, after Rory decided to head home, he made his way through the small party crowd and sought out Stephanie.
"Hey, did you bring the list?" Logan inquired.
"Finally!" Stephanie celebrated, a triumphant smile gracing her face as she retrieved the infamous notebook from her purse and handed it to Logan.
"Maybe these girls will stop shooting daggers at me now," she mused.
Logan couldn't resist a sly grin. "What a shame! Looks like someone might be holding you responsible for the queue delay out there. I wonder who," he said with a hint of irony, playfully teasing her.
Stephanie felt a sudden urge to punch him, but before she could react, she saw something unexpected unfold before her.
She could hardly believe her eyes.
Without any hesitation, Logan began tearing out the pages from the notebook, each one filled with an extensive list of women waiting for their turn. He looked at the discarded pages, his expression untroubled, as if they meant nothing to him. With a nonchalant gesture, he tossed them into the nearest trash bin.
The relief on Logan's face was palpable, but what truly satisfied him was seeing Stephanie's jaw practically drop to the floor in astonishment.
With a wink and a mischievous grin, Logan nonchalantly slid his hands into his pockets and strolled away, leaving Stephanie stunned and speechless in his wake.
A/N: I remember you guys asked me not to finish this story too soon. I have the last chapter written and this story is likely to have four more chapters until its end. If you're reading it, please let me know. Also, tell what you think about chapter 17 in the comments.
