Title
: Over The Hurdles and Through The HoopsDisclaimer
: Everyone knows ASP owns the show and its characters, not me. But if I did…ha, well, I guess that's what writing fan fiction is for.A/N
: I think this is going to be my first on-going Luke and Lorelai fiction. Guess we'll see…She felt his hand rest on her hip and watched his feet step toward her. Looking up was something she couldn't manage. It was all going so fast. The things he said, the look he gave her...how could this have happened?
"Lorelai," he whispered. Now she didn't have a choice; she looked up.
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She couldn't speak, she couldn't think, all she could do was feel. The moment came rushing toward her at full force and she was powerless to stop it. But she didn't want to stop it, she wanted it to crash into her and knock her to her feet so she could feel...whatever this was, and take it in for all it was worth.
She swallowed hard and rested her hand on his shoulder, the other on the side of his face. She wanted him to feel the same emotion that she had felt. Cupping his chin, she moved in slowly and gently grazed his lips with hers.
Her pounding heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest as she came to her conclusion. The power, the emotion...it all made sense now. Love. Love at full force, crashing into her, the way she had wanted.
She pulled away and stared into his unsure eyes. Why was he looking at her that way? She felt his hand detach from her hip and brush against her cheek.
"Why are you crying?"
"What?"
He held his hand out in front of her, showing her the tear drops that had left his fingers damp.
She felt her face, "I don't...I don't know."
"Did I do something wrong?"
Lorelai stared at him, feeling her high slowly wear off and reality rushing in to take its vacancy.
"No," she breathed. "Everything's...perfect."
Luke wrapped his arm around Lorelai and rested his hand on the small of her back, before gently pulling her closer. "That's good."
"Yea," she sighed. Reality. It clocked in at record time with 1.3 seconds. She watched his smile mimic hers as it slowly faded away.
She stepped backward and wiped her eyes quickly, letting Luke's hand drift down to his side. He suddenly felt all to vulnerable, but before he knew what he was doing, he had taken a step forward.
Lorelai avoided eye contact, wrapping her arms defensively around her waist as she shook her head.
"Hey, what is it?" Luke asked, calmly.
"
This is crazy," she whispered to herself."Whoa, what?"
She tucked her hair behind her ears, "This...it's...it's insane!"
"What's insane? I pour my heart out to you, you kiss me, then you start crying and call this insane?"
She looked up and bit her lip. How was she supposed to talk her way out of this one?
"Luke, I know that this...this seems right. But I don't think it is." She could practically see the knifes flying into his heart. "I don't mean ever, I just meant not now. I'm dealing with so much, and the stress is unbelievable."
"I can help you through it," Luke stammered. "I can be there for you. I mean, you know, I've been there for you before so, it's not like it's a change, and…" Luke paused, searching for the words. "We can be a team, it'll-"
"Luke," she whispered, tears filling her eyes. Was there a possibility that this could be more painful for her than it was for him? "I don't want to mess up what we have. Our friendship - it means so much to me. You mean so much to me, and my track record with relationships isn't the best, and I don't want to ruin...us."
He stared at his shoes, unable to believe what was going on. He'd finally gotten what he had hoped to get for so many years, and in the same night, had it stolen away.
"Fine," he answered dryly. "Whatever excuse makes you feel better."
Lorelai frowned, "Luke-"
"No. I'm not going to let you do this, Lorelai. I'm not going to let you sabotage this before it even starts." She stared at him, unsure what to say. "I'm going to leave now, and I'm going to forget that cliché crap you just spewed-"
"Hey-" Lorelai interjected.
He raised his voice in an effort to drown hers out, "And then I'm going to come see you tomorrow. Don't make this decision now. I want to give you time, and space, and I want you to think about it. Okay?"
Lorelai nodded.
He sighed heavily, "Good. Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
Lorelai nodded again, "I uh, I guess you will."
Luke swallowed and shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to leave. Finally, he threw her one last look before clearing his throat and making a quiet exit down the steps of the Inn. Watching him leave, Lorelai sighed and let her body relax against the front door. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
A/N
: Let me know what you think.