The Enchanting Forester
CHAPTER ONE

Genre: Drama
Pairings: Dean/Shane
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Louise, Paris, Madeline, Rory, Dean, Mrs. Kim, Jess and all other recognizable "Gilmore Girls" characters belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions, and the WB. There is no profit from the copyrighted characters or infringement intended.

Louise Grant will never forget the first time she set her eyes on Dean Forester. He was Rory Gilmore's date at a Chilton dance. When she saw him her mouth dropped open. Everyone has a mental image of the perfect mate. The one she just saw exceeded her expectations. He was tall, with an athletic build. Floppy hair that worked on him and piercing blue green eyes. Louise was smitten. Now where in the world did the new girl, Rory Gilmore, find him?

Louise knew that Rory Gilmore was a very talented girl, and she had brutal study habits that landed her at the top of the class to the displeasure of Paris Gellar. Rory was on the fringe of their little circle. Which consisted of her, Paris and Madeline Lynn. Louise liked Rory. Louise also noticed that Rory used her little girl lost look to great advantage. Everyone treated her like a princess, and extolled how brilliant she was. Louise liked boys and she liked her social life. Her grades were above average. To even get into Chilton you had to be quite sharp. Money helped, but admittance to Chilton could not be bought. So Louise knew that she was no slouch and could pull a B plus out of a D when she had to.

For two years Dean was Rory's boyfriend. Louise accepted it and thought Rory was a lucky girl, she had Dean, and Louise could not see any reason for her to break up with him. From what she could see, Dean was thoughtful, polite, and also quite charming when he chose to be.

Early into their senior year Paris pulled her and Madeline aside.

"Guess what?"

"I don't know, Paris, is the sky blue or something? Come on."

"Louise, you're no fun, but anyway I was just talking to Rory and found out Dean broke up with her."

"You're kidding Paris, what happened?"

"I am not sure, Louise."

"Paris, I don't believe the little princess did something wrong, and Dean broke up with her. Are you sure that she did not break up with Dean?"

Louise went through the day wondering what happened. If Dean was available she wanted her chance at him. Rory did not seem very emotional about the break up. Louise knew that if a boy friend of two years broke up with her she would be a mess. Rory was going around like nothing happened to her. Louise knew she needed to talk to Rory. Her chance came during Gym. "Rory can I speak to you for a minute?"

"Sure, Louise, what's up?"

Louise hesitated. She was about to ask a pretty direct personal question. "Did you and Dean break up?"

"Yes we did. It was time for me to move on."

"What do you mean move on? He broke up with you."

Rory smiled, "Yes, but it was for the best. I needed to grow as a person, and try different things."

Louise was thinking to herself. There is something I am missing. She is way too blasé about this. "Well Rory I am sorry to hear it. Do you think there is a chance the two of you will get back together?"

"No," she said confidently, "I am sure Dean is moving on also."

"Well I guess you would know best Rory, but I am still sorry to hear about it."

"Everything's fine, Louise, come on we'll be late."

STARS HOLLOW

Louise gave Madeline a lame excuse why they could not hang out on Saturday. She had it figured out. She was going to go to Stars Hollow and see if she could run into Dean. She had wanted him for over two years. It could be the reason she had never formed a real close relationship with any boy. Her friends just put it down to her being a big flirt, which she was. Even Madeline had a couple of semi serious relationships, Paris was hopeless She could be beautiful at times, but when Paris opened her mouth every boy fled. Stars Hollow was noted for its antique shops, Louise decided to go antique shopping on Saturday. She was almost eighteen and her parents did not keep a close watch on her. Not that they needed to. After breakfast Louise told her parents she was going shopping and would be back around five p.m. and if not she would call.

Her father looked up from the newspaper he was reading and vaguely waved his hand. "Have a good time honey."

Louise walked out to her red Mustang convertible. If the day warmed up like the weather guessers promised, she could take the top down. Louise lived slightly west of Hartford and figured it would take her about forty minutes to make the drive to Stars Hollow. Louise had been to Stars Hollow before, but she had not really paid any attention to it. When she arrived, Louise noticed that the shops were mostly centered around the large town common. Louise parked her car and decided to walk around. She knew that Dean worked in some sort of market, but she did not want to run into Dean right away. Plus, she was genuinely curious about the town.

Louise wandered about window shopping. She thought to herself that Stars Hollow was a pretty neat town. Louise wandered into one store where she was met by an oriental lady who told her that Lane was not home. Louise looked at her, "Lane? No I came here to look around for some antiques."

"Aren't you young to be buying antiques? You break you buy." The woman turned on her heel, and walked away. Lane? That is Rory's best friend, Louise remembered and then realized she had just stumbled into her mother's shop. Louise had met Lane a couple of times, but really did not pay attention to her.

Louise found a set of brass candle holders that were three hundred dollars. A good gift for her parents. Louise hunted down Mrs. Kim and asked her to wrap them. Mrs. Kim looked at her suspiciously and bluntly remarked, "You cannot afford. Three hundred dollars."

Louise smiled and put her American express platinum card on the counter, "Yes I can."

Mrs. Kim looked at the card, "Where did you get this?"

"It is mine."

"Young girl should not have credit card like this. Prove it is yours."

Louise took out her driver's license and presented it to Ms Kim.

"That does not prove anything, this could be your mothers card and her name is Louise."

"Actually, ma'am, her name is Louise also, but that is my card." Louise was tempted to walk out, but Mrs. Kim had pissed her off. Louise then wrote down her mother's cell number, "Go ahead and call."

Mrs. Kim picked up her phone and dialed the number, "Hello, Mrs. Grant, this is Mrs. Kim. Your daughter says she had her own credit card and is trying to buy a very expensive set of candle holders."

"How much are they? Three hundred dollars. Yes, okay, thank you"

Mrs. Kim looked at Louise with narrowed eyes. "You stay away from Lane. You are spoiled. Your mother said as long as you don't go over one thousand dollars, you can get what you want."

Louise smiled at Mrs Kim with what people told her was her enigmatic smile. The one where you could not tell if she was a devil or an angel. "Please wrap it."

Louise left the antique shop and found her car to drop the packages off. It was a shame Louise thought. Her parents were involved in everything, but her. They treated her with sort of a benevolent neglect. As long as she had passing grades and the cops did not bring her home, Louise was home free. Her father was a CEO of one of the largest insurance companies in the world. She heard once what he made a year and the figure was staggering. As much as they lived the good life. Her parents lived well within the means of her father's salary.

She was getting hungry. From Rory she had heard that Luke's diner was the place to go. After walking for awhile she found it. Now her dilemma was; does she go in and risk being seen by Rory or go find another eatery? She decided to risk it and entered and sat at a table in the corner. A dark haired boy about her age approached the table. From the minute he opened his mouth she could tell he was surly.

"You couldn't have sat closer could you?"

"I could have, but I like this table. I'll take a tuna salad sandwich and a glass of ice tea."

"You know the service is better at the counter."

"Probably, but I want to look out the window."

"Jess, stop lollygagging, your behind on your orders," Luke barked out.

Louise looked over at the counter and saw a man who had to be the famous Luke Danes. Rory spoke about him all the time.

"Yeah, yeah, hold your horses, I'll be there in a minute."

"Now, Jess, not tomorrow."

About a half hour later, Jess came by her table and literally threw the sandwich on the table, and placed her ice tea down so hard it spilled over the sandwich. He just turned and walked away. What a jerk, Louise thought. She finished and looked at the bill. Louise walked up to the register. Luke was behind it. "Good sandwich, but the service sucked, I doubt I will ever come here again."

Luke shook his head knowingly. "Okay, $6.95."

Louise put down a five and two singles and stood there with her hand out. Luke looked up, "A nickel?

"Yes, please, I am not leaving that jerk anything."

Luke suppressed a snicker as he placed the nickel in her hand, and Louise walked out. Jess shot her a dirty look as she left.

A DATE FOR THE WRONG REASONS

Louise came upon Doose's market. This is where Dean worked if she remembered correctly. Did she dare go in? Why not? Louise figured she could grab a couple of bottle of cold waters for her ride home. That would be a good story if Dean was working and was inquisitive.

Louise realized that Dean's opinion of her would be largely based upon what Rory had told him. Louise walked in and slowly looked around. No Dean. She walked toward the rear of the store where the coolers were located. Suddenly Dean appeared from a door in the rear carrying a stack of cookie boxes. Louise doubled around the aisle and came in from the front. She walked up to Dean who was blocking the aisle while stacking shelves. "Excuse me, may I pass?"

Dean looked down at her. "Sure, go ahead," as he stepped out of the way.

He stood up, and Louise caught her breath. God he is gorgeous. Even with an apron, torn jeans, and a ratty tee shirt. Still gorgeous! He literally took her breath away

"Thank you," and she walked past Dean who did not show any sign of recognition. She felt a tap on her shoulder. Louise turned and Dean was standing there. "Don't you go to school with Rory Gilmore?"

"Yes I do."

Dean looked at her for a moment She was about the same height as Rory, with blonde hair, and she did the pair of faded jeans she was wearing justice. Unlike Rory, Dean could tell she was very athletic. She moved like a cat.

"What brings you to Stars Hollow?"

Louise hoped her acting skills were good. "Oh, you're Dean, Rory's boyfriend. How are you?"

"Yes or should I say ex-boyfriend."

Louise looked at him with her most innocent expression. "I am so sorry. What happened?"

"I don't want to get into it now. So what are you doing here?"

"I was going to buy some bottled waters."

"You came to Stars Hollow to buy water?"

Louise laughed, "No silly, I was shopping for antiques; so I could give my parents a gift for their anniversary."

Dean looked around to see if Taylor was looking for him or was checking him out. "What did you get them?

"Candlestick holders."

"Oh, I guess that sounds like a good gift."

"Hey, Dean, I have to do some more shopping," she lied. "What time do you get off?"

"Why? You going to tell Rory things about me?"

"We don't have that kind of relationship. I figured you could buy me a soda or something."

Dean stood quietly thinking for a moment and said, "Okay, meet me here at four o'clock."

"See you at four, Dean," she turned and walked away. So far so good. Now she had about three hours to kill. Louise walked around town. She went as far as the Independence Inn, but decided she better not go in. Finally, she bought a magazine and took a seat on a bench in the town square.

At five to four she rose and walked over to Doose's and waited for Dean to come out. Dean came out and looked at her, "You actually showed up. I did not expect that."

"Well I wanted my soda," she said with a laugh.

"Come on then, let's go." Dean started walking and she hurried to keep up with his long stride. They walked past Luke's, which surprised her.

A very attractive blonde yelled out Dean's name and came running across the street. She nodded at Louise and took Dean by the arm out of hearing range. They spoke for a few minutes and then the girl kissed Dean on the cheek and walked away.

"New girlfriend, Dean? Am I screwing you up by walking with you?"

"Actually, Louise, she is a new friend. Her name is Shane."

Louise did not think a guy like Dean would go dateless for long. She had to find out more about Shane and see what kind of threat she was to her dating Dean. She really liked Dean and had for years. Louise loved his manners, and his demeanor. She never thought that she would ever have a chance with him. Louise realized that she had one shot at him and this was it.

They stopped at an establishment called Weston's. Dean took her hand, which made her heart race, and led them to a table by the window. "Louise, I recommend the hot apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream."

"I trust your judgment, you have been here before."

Dean ordered two apple pies and two cokes. "So, Louise, why did you want to have a soda with me?"

Louise thought carefully. What she said now would be crucial to any future she had with Dean. She looked right into his eyes and answered, "Because I like you."

Dean looked back into her eyes. Dark brown, her face framed by blonde hair. There was something about her smile that he did not know if she was an angel or a devil. Either way, her smile was sexy as hell.

"You hardly know me Louise, so how do you know you like me?"

"I have been around you long enough to know what I like."

Dean looked out the window, and stared. Louise looked out to see what had captured his attention. Walking across the street was Rory and that jerk from the diner, and they were holding hands. He bent down and kissed Rory on the lips. Louise shifted her gaze from the couple to Dean. She saw hurt, and disappointment cross his face.

"I'm sorry, Dean."

He turned to her. Are you really? This makes it easy for you. What are you here for, to pickup Rory's leftovers?"

Louise flinched when he said that. She stood up. "I am going to admit I came here to find you. The reason why, is that I truly like you, for you. When I said I felt sorry, I meant it. How could I really like you and not feel for you? I am sorry I bothered you."

Dean grabbed her hand before she could walk away. "Please sit, Louise. I had no right jumping on you like that. I am sorry. You still want to go out with me even thought my heart may be somewhere else?"

"Dean," she said softly, let's go out as friends. Be my friend."

"You really want that Louise? You're a pretty girl, why don't you get a guy who is not hung up?"

"Yes I do, Dean, even if nothing ever comes out of us. I still will have made a great friend."

"Louise, do you want to attend a dance at my school next Saturday?"

"Yes I would love to. How formal will it be?"

"Guys in jacket and tie. Give me your address and I will pick you up."

Louise thought for a minute. She was going to drive, but with him picking her up they had more chances to talk. She wrote down her address and also wrote down her phone number.

"Here's my phone number, too. You forgot to ask for it, Dean."

Dean laughed, "Well, it has been a long time since I have made arrangements with a girl to go out on a date."

They finished their pies and cokes. Dean noticed that Louise was not a delicate eater. She ate that pie with relish.

"I have to go Dean."

"I'll walk you to your car."

Louise knew he would do that. It was the kind of guy he was.

They walked to the car, chatting about Dean's school. She was sure he knew all about Chilton, but she knew nothing about his school. In fact she had never attended a public school in her life. They reached the car, "Dean, call me and I will see you about six on Saturday night?"

"I'll be there."

Louise kissed him on the cheek. Take care, Dean.

Louise started her car up and began her journey home. She felt like a kid on Christmas Eve.

Dean looked at the rapidly distancing car. He liked her. There was something about her. He did not know what, but something.

TO BE CONTINUED...