"Snapshots" Chapter One
By darthelwig - I don't own em.
-:-:-:-:-
This is intended to be a series from Luke's POV, following the series episode by episode. Mostly scenes from the diner. These are his thoughts as he observes the girls living their lives.
Season 1, episode 1
-:-:-:-:-
He saw her coming.
He knew what she wanted, what she came in for every day. That damn coffee she was addicted to.
He gave in to her too easily. She asked for it, and he couldn't help but provide it. Not just because it was a diner, and that's what he did for a living, but because it was her. He would give her any damn thing she wanted.
He poured her liquid death and watched her walk away. His eyes involuntarily went to her ass as she did. The sound of the phone snapped him out of his distracted thoughts.
He had his back to her table for only a moment, but when he turned around there was a guy standing there, talking to her. He forced himself to try and concentrate on the call. His attention kept getting pulled away.
"Who is that creep?" he wondered. He knew Lorelai wouldn't give the guy the time of day, but it still bugged him.
As predicted, she didn't let the guy stick around for long. He couldn't hear what was said, but he knew Lorelai. She always came in around this time of day to meet up with Rory, and she sure as hell wasn't gonna let that guy drool over her any longer than she had to when Rory could show up at any pleased him.
The next thing he knew, Lorelai was at the counter... holding a mug up AGAIN.
This time he was even more tempted to refuse her coffee, even if it was for her daughter. He hated to think what all that caffeine was doing to Rory.
He looked down to pour, and when he looked up the creep from earlier was now talking to Rory.
"Jeez, this guy moves fast," he thought.
He smirked as he watched Lorelai head back over there. Her protectiveness of Rory knew no bounds, and he could tell the guy had her back up now.
"Wouldn't wanna be you, buddy," he said to himself.
He got distracted for a little bit, so he didn't get to watch as closely as he would like to have, but he did get a glimpse of Lorelai's face as she sent the guy on his merry way. She looked very unamused, even through the smile she had plastered to her face. He must've been a real piece of work.
He was glad to see the creep leave the diner and take his friend with him. The guy was starting to get on his nerves.
He smiled, though, as he watched Lorelai take her seat again and start happily chatting with Rory. Everything was back the way it should be now.
Life could be good.
-:-:-:-:-
They looked down. Stressed. It was too quiet at their table. They were picking at their food. He rarely saw them pick at food, even if it WAS salad.
Something was wrong.
It bugged him. He tried to ignore it, but it bugged him. He hated seeing them anything but happy. They weren't supposed to be anything but happy.
He wanted to say something, but didn't know what to say. He had to go over there, though. Their food was ready.
He approached slowly and drew in a deep breath, readying himself to say something. Anything.
"Red meat can kill you. Enjoy," he said as he left the check at their table.
He walked away, kicking himself.
"Really? That's all you could think of? Idiot," he said to himself.
When he turned back around to check on them, they were gone.
-:-:-:-:-:-
It wasn't their normal time of day to be in, but they took their usual table near the door.
They seemed better today. He could see it even from across the room. There seemed to be less tension between them, even though they seemed kind of tired.
He wasn't prepared for the way Lorelai's jaw dropped when he got to their table. He did a double take when he saw the look on her face.
"Wow. You look nice. Really nice," she said.
"I had a meeting earlier at the bank. They like collars," he said. He was both embarrassed and pleased by her reaction to him.
"You look nice too," he said, giving her a little smile. He hated that he felt so shy, but once again, he couldn't stop himself. When it came to Lorelai Gilmore, he was helpless.
"I had a flagellation to go to," she said.
He smiled, looking down at his order pad. He honestly had no idea what she meant or how to respond to that. He struggled with that for a moment, before giving up and asking what she wanted.
Coffee. As much as he could, or would, give her. He should've known. No matter what time of day it was, it was always coffee.
He just looked at her, unamused.
"I'll have coffee also. And chili fries," Rory said.
"That's quite a refined palate you got there," he said, exasperated. He shook his head and walked away. Bad enough Lorelai was intent on drowning herself in caffeine, but she had Rory doing it too. It was just too much for one man to take. The girl was only sixteen, for crying out loud.
He brought their order, but just had to say something. He couldn't just watch Rory drink her life away.
"I can't stand it," he said. "This is so unhealthy. Rory, please. Put down that cup of coffee. You do not wanna grow up to be like your mom."
"Sorry, too late," she said, with a little smile. Lorelai's face lit up with a brilliant smile of her own as she looked at her daughter, and then up at Luke.
He gave up. There was no changing these girls.
He smiled at Lorelai, shook his head, and walked away.
"Beautiful, but cracked," he thought. "Both of em. Like mother, like daughter."