Title: The Green-Eyed Monster Bites Back
Summary: Prompted by a comment in the forums, the story took off and I'm following it. Set in mid-to-late season three.
Disclaimer: If I controlled the universe, I would not stop at owning the show. I would have a button on my remote that could pop Luke out of the TV and into my living room.
A/N: The vast majority of this story was written a year – and two writing-intensive classes – ago. Please bear with the earlier chapters. I was trying out styles, deciding whether to write this in scenes or thoughts, etc. I don't want to rewrite everything to fit my current style, so please trust that the later installments will be better, as I've had a chance to mull this over and work with the best of it. Also, as always, reviews make me smile.
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Lorelai is sitting on a stool in the diner sipping from an enormous cup of coffee.
Lorelai: (yelling into the kitchen) Luke! This coffee doesn't taste right.
Jess: (emerging from the kitchen) I made it
Lorelai: Oh, that would explain it.
Jess: Yeah.
Lorelai: So where is Luke?
Jess finds a rag and starts to wipe the counter. He answers without looking up.
Jess: Getting ready.
Lorelai raises her eyebrows.
Lorelai: Getting ready for what?
Jess: You'll have to ask him that.
Lorelai: Is he going out with that lawyer woman again?
Luke: (entering from the stairs) She has a name you know.
Lorelai is just a bit startled at his sudden appearance. She is not sure she likes Nicole, but Luke certainly doesn't need to know that.
Lorelai: I know
Luke: (over-patiently) And yes, I am seeing Nicole again, not that it's any business of yours.
Lorelai jumps up from her stool, mock offended.
Lorelai: Of course it's my business. Anything that could possibly interfere with the steady flow of caffeine is my business. And you leaving him...
Lorelai gestures dismissively to Jess.
Lorelai: …in charge of the coffee supply definitely merits my attention.
Luke: I'm sorry you feel that way. Now if you'll excuse me…
Lorelai moves to stand directly in Luke's path.
Lorelai: But my coffee…
Luke: I'm sorry, Lorelai…
He gently moves her to one side.
Luke: But there are more important things in the world than making sure you have your coffee.
Lorelai sets the cup down so hard the coffee almost sloshes over the side
Lorelai: Blasphemy! Hey…
She turns so she can study him more closely.
Lorelai: That's a new shirt.
Luke shifts uncomfortably. He has been anticipating this. What does it mean, he wonders, that he's a little annoyed it took her so long to notice?
Lorelai: Those pants are new too. That's the belt I got you, but I'm sure I've never seen that jacket before… (gasping now) You went shopping!
Luke: Well…
Luke shifts again. Lorelai's talent for stating the obvious does not amuse him today.
Lorelai: (pouting dramatically) Without me!
Luke: Well, Nicole and I have been going out for a while now, and I figured I probably shouldn't wear the same thing every time.
Nicole had actually commented on that the last time they went out. Not in an obvious way, of course. Unlike some people he knows, Nicole actually has tact. Later, when he stopped to think about it, he realized the only nice clothes he owned had been bought for him – he still refuses to call them outfits.
Lorelai: Good thought. Now take the jacket off.
Luke: What?
Luke is appalled. Is he supposed to change just because Lorelai doesn't like his outf…clothes?
Lorelai: Take the jacket off. I want to see how the pants fit.
A little better, but still annoying.
Luke: What are you talking about?
Lorelai: (sighing in an exaggerated manner) You went shopping all by yourself. I want to make sure you didn't screw up.
Luke: The woman at the store said they fit well.
Lorelai rolls her eyes. Does this man know nothing?
Lorelai: Luke, Luke, Luke. You never believe what the saleslady says about your clothes. They always lie; they just want you to buy the clothes. That's right up there with 'don't shower right after a perm,' 'never say just a little off the top,' and 'always shave…
Luke is sure he does not want her to finish that sentence.
Luke: Enough! I can pick out my own clothes.
Lorelai: Uh, I hate to disagree, but I've seen your entire wardrobe. You're fine with the lumberjack look, but with anything else, you need all the help you can get. Now, take the jacket off.
Luke sighs. Lorelai is the only person in the world who could make him do this and she knows it.
Luke: You're not going to shut up until I strut around in front of you, are you?
Lorelai: Strut! Dirty!
Luke: Fine.
Jess smirks from behind the counter which he has been wiping avidly. Luke removes his jacket and hangs it over the back of a chair.
Luke: Happy now?
Lorelai: Almost, turn around.
Luke: What?
Lorelai: (she gestures in a circle) Turn around.
Lorelai watches as Luke hesitantly turns in a circle. She is startled by her awareness of just how good Luke looks in those pants. She wonders vaguely whether it is because he has picked them out for himself. A smile spreads across Lorelai's face as she realizes she is checking Luke out. Luke, the diner man, her constant coffee supplier, has been transformed by an ordinary pair of pants into a startlingly good-looking man. Great ass, she thinks to herself and the smile grows wider.
Lorelai: Just fine. The pants are just fine.
There is something different in Lorelai's voice. Luke hears, but can't decipher it. Jess knows exactly what it means, but stays silent. His smirk grows to monumental proportions.
At this point Nicole walks up to the diner and stops short, noting Lorelai's predatory expression. Jess, still wiping the counter, looks up and sees Nicole's startled face. I know, he mouths, I'm sorry. Nicole opens the door and walks in.
Nicole: (trying to keep her voice down) What's all this?
Lorelai: Luke went shopping on his own. I don't trust his judgment when it comes to anything other than flannel, so I was making sure everything fit.
Nicole: Let me guess, he said the saleswoman told him they fit just fine.
Lorelai's face tries to scowl, but she catches it in time and ends up with what looks like a stifled grin. Why has this woman interrupted her reverie? Was it really necessary for her to walk in right then, when Lorelai knows she was on the verge of something big?
Lorelai: Yup.
Nicole crosses to Luke and makes a cursory inspection.
Nicole: I think he looks just fine.
She lifts herself up just enough to kiss him lightly. She knows she is marking her territory, something she despises in other women. However, the hesitation only lasts a moment as Luke's smile and Lorelai's scowl are worth a few seconds of self-loathing.
Nicole: Shall we?
Luke: Yeah.
Luke holds the door open for Nicole, who waits on the sidewalk while Luke grumbles a few last minute instructions.
Luke: (to Jess) Turn the lights off in the storage room this time.
Jess: Yes, Uncle Luke.
Luke glances at Lorelai, pouting on her stool.
Luke: And she only gets one more cup of coffee.
Lorelai: Luke!
Now why had he felt it necessary to add that? Luke shakes his head.
Luke: Goodnight, Lorelai.
Nicole's stomach tightens as she watches the scene play out. It's the familiarity that bothers her more than anything. Sure, Luke is gruff with Lorelai, but he baits and teases her as well. Nicole has been trying for weeks to loosen him up that much. She was starting to think that maybe Luke just isn't that kind of guy. Now, watching him through the half-open door, she knows he can be.
Luke shuts the door and walks over to Nicole.
Luke: Let's go.
Nicole nods in agreement and links her arm through his. She is tempted to glance back to see Lorelai's expression, but she controls herself.
Nicole: So where are you taking me tonight?