The boy tapped on her window. It was opened so he slipped into her room.
"Practice over?" Lorelai asked, without turning around.
"Yeah, we just finished. She glanced at her stereo.
"It's late." He hopped onto her bed and settled against the pillows.
"Mr. Willark ran over." He paused. "I miss having you there." She smiled softly. He picked up one of her many stuffed animals and hugged it to his chest. Lorelai turned around in her chair to look at him. He was tired. His eyes stung as he forced them to stay open.
"Don't fall asleep on me," Lorelai teased. He only nodded meekly. She sat down on the bed next to the boy. She lay back on the pillows.
"Alright Luke, spill it. What's wrong?" He shifted his weight onto his elbow and looked at her.
"It's nothing really." She shook her head. She always saw right through his lies. She crossed her arms and closed her eyes. He sighed, defeated. He always gave in.
"My Dad and I had a fight." Her eyes popped open. "He can't come to the game on Friday because he's going to New York." She looked at him with questioning eyes. She didn't understand, yet.
"He has a new girlfriend." He put down the fluffy white stuffed animal. "She lives in New York," said Luke. Her mouth formed a small perfect "o."
"Oh Luke," Lorelai said. He saw sadness etched across her face. He didn't like it. He didn't mean to make her upset.
"It's fine. Don't be upset. I don't want to lay this all on you," he said.
"Oh stop it. You know I don't mind." Lorelai sat up and hugged her knees. She lifted her head and looked at him.
"I've got an idea," she said. She jumped off the bed and ran to the door of her room. She paused and turned around. "Are you coming?" He groaned and sat up. "Come on!" She grabbed his arm and pulled him into the kitchen.
"I'm not hungry," said Luke.
"But it's not just any food," Lorelai exclaimed. "It's comfort food." She pulled out a carton of ice cream and placed two spoons next to the container on the counter. She dipped her spoon into the smooth creamy ice cream and took a huge bit. The boy did the same.
"I miss this," he said finally.
"What?"
"Me. You. Eating ice cream late at night out of the container, which, by the way, your mom will hate." He laughed.
"I'm sure you have plenty of other girls to do this with."
"No."
"What about Georgina? Or Stacy?" She tilted her head to side and looked at him. He swallowed his mouthful of ice cream.
"It's not the same. No matter how hard I try." He looked down. "And you know it," he mumbled. Lorelai scraped her spoon along the bottom of the container.
"Grab a pillow from the closet," Lorelai said. He nodded and stood up. He wandered down the familiar hallway and stopped at the closet door. He picked a pillow from the top shelf and shut the door with a soft click. Walking back to Lorelai's room, he searched for light under the door of her parent's room, like they always used to.
"I can't pick up the mattress," she said when he entered the room.
"I'll get it." He returned carrying the heavy mattress and dropped it on the floor. Lorelai closed her binder and tossed him sheets and a blanket. She put on a pair of pajama bottoms. They were both silent.
"I'm sorry about what happened with your dad," Lorelai said as she slipped under her covers. Buried deep under his covers he turned to look at her.
"Thanks for this."
"It's no problem. Really," she added when she saw the doubt in his eyes. "Just like old times." She smiled and threw him the fluffy white polar bear.
"Just like old times," Luke repeated. She switched of the light next to her bed. They lay in the darkness.
"Goodnight Lorelai."
"Night Luke." And they fell asleep.