Title: Hollow-een
Author: Bent137
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Summary: When the Gilmores host a Halloween party, some friends show up to watch movies and engage in some tricks. But when the newer horror flicks turn out to bark worse than they bite, they decide to entertain themselves with real ghost stories.
Author's Notes: Halloween- Gilmore Girls style. Loosely based on the Dawson's Creek episode "Four Scary Stories." The first and last chapters are the longest; the others are fairly short; sorry, that's just the way it's gonna be. Each chapter, except the first and the last, are about a different character. Muchos gracias to Gracie for being my beta.
Spoilers: Will reference characters and events not found in Season One or Season Two.
All Hollow's Afternoon
Rory stepped off of the bus to find Lane waiting for her, just as they'd planned. "Luke's?" Lane asked her friend.
"Sure," Rory replied. They began walking the short distance to the diner. "So, did you find out about band practice tonight?" Rory asked as they crossed the street.
"Yes, and it won't be a problem, everyone but Dave had already made plans."
"Oh," Rory said, "poor Dave."
"Yeah, I know. Hey, did you ask Dean?" Lane asked as they entered Luke's.
"Yeah, his mom recruited him to take Clara around. So he won't be coming."
"Oh," Lane said, as she slid into a booth and set some books she'd been carrying on the table. "So, I told my mom you would be helping me study for my Algebra test tonight, that way I can come to the party. I do need help though so could we study this afternoon?"
"Sounds good," Rory said from across the table, "let's get started." An hour and a half and two plates of cheese fries later, Lane had finally grasped the concepts she was to be tested on. "Just in time to get going," Rory said as she checked her watch. "Get your stuff together and I'll go pay okay?"
"Sure," Lane said as she shuffled her papers together.
Rory stood up and walked up to the cash register just as Luke was handing another patron their change. "Hey," he said, "leaving already?"
"Sure am," Rory said. "Shouldn't you be closing up?"
"Why?" Luke asked as he rung her up. "Nine twenty-nine, Rory."
Rory pulled a ten dollar bill from her pocket and handed it to him, "For mom's party."
"What party?" he questioned as he handed her the change.
"The one you agreed to two weeks ago," Jess interjected as he came downstairs.
"I agreed?" Luke questioned skeptically.
"Yeah, you said something about it angering Taylor that you closed when all the businesses in town will be open for that stupid Safe Treats thing the town does."
"Oh yeah," Luke said. "Well, I'd better start closing then." Luke came out from behind the counter and headed towards one of the two groups of people still in the diner aside from Rory and Lane.
Rory turned from watching Luke and looked at Jess. "Safe Treats is not dumb. You would be amazed at how many psychos there are out there."
Jess leaned against the back counter and crossed his arms over his chest, "Rory, this is Stars Hollow, nothing that bad happens here."
"Are you calling the town dull and boring?"
"No, I'm just saying, well, everyone's 'too pure to be pink,' you know?" Jess responded using air quotes.
"Oh yeah, you want to see not pure? Wait until tonight's party. We'll put you to shame!"
"Well, good thing I won't be there, huh?"
"What?" Rory asked. "Why not?"
"I've got plans with Shane, she should be here..." The bell on the front door interrupted him, and he amended, "Well, there she is now."
Rory turned around, sure enough Shane had walked in. A movement to her right caught her attention just as Luke said, "We're closed." He turned and saw it was Shane and just rolled his eyes.
The movement Rory had seen, however, was Lane waving and tapping her watch. "I've got to go," Rory said over her shoulder to Jess before she walked towards Lane. On the way, Shane brushed past her, knocking against Rory's shoulder. Rory turned and watched as Shane walked up to Jess and kissed him over the counter. Rory turned away and picked up her bag.
"Why were you talking to that freaky girl?" Shane asked Jess.
Lane and Rory paused at the door long enough to hear his answer. "Just making small talk with the customers," he responded easily. Rory's head dropped in a slight nod as she and Lane walked out of the diner.
Lane and Rory were walking towards the Gilmores' when they saw Dave walking towards them. He waved and said, "Lane, hi!"
"Hey Dave," Lane said with a grin, "you remember Rory right?"
"Yeah sure," he replied, "nice to see you again." He turned back to Lane, "So, what are your big plans tonight?"
"Rory's mom is throwing her annual Halloween party."
"Oh?" Dave questioned. "What's that like?"
"Oh it's fun," Lane said. "Her friend Sookie makes all this food, she's a chef, and we watch horror movies."
"Plus we take a break and enjoy the town festival for a few hours before returning to watch great horror flicks into the wee hours of the morning," Rory interjected.
"And usually there's some kind of debauchery," Lane added.
"Well, that sounds like fun," Dave said.
"So, what are your big plans for tonight?" Rory asked.
"No big plans," Dave said, "my parents went to some charity event in Hartford so I figured I would just watch TV, maybe go to that festival."
"Oh, well, have fun," Rory said. Turning to Lane, she added, "We better get going."
"Oh, yeah, have fun, see you later," Lane said.
"Yeah, okay, I'll give you a call tomorrow," Dave said nodding.
"Sure, okay," Lane said. They had begun to go their separate ways when Rory glanced at Lane and then Dave pointedly. Lane nodded at her.
Rory turned around. "Hey Dave?" she called.
He turned, "Yeah?"
"Are you doing anything important between now and 2am?"
"Well, dinner and sleep are both high on my list, but they're negotiable, why?"
Rory grinned, "Do you want to come to the party with us? There'll be plenty of food and the more the merrier but I doubt you'll sleep."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah," Rory smiled and nudged Lane.
"Come on, it'll be fun," Lane said encouragingly.
"Alright," Dave said as he walked over to them.
"Great! We'd better get going," Rory said, and they headed to her house, Lane and Dave discussing band issues all the way there. When they got there she opened the door and called out, "Mom?"
"In here sweetie," Lorelai responded from the kitchen.
The three teens walked into the kitchen where Lorelai was talking to Sookie and Jackson, who were preparing some food. "Hey everyone. Mom, you remember Dave, right?"
"Yeah, sure," Lorelai said as she came over to them, "nice to see you again."
Dave nodded, "You too."
"Dave, this is Sookie and Jackson," Rory said. "Guys, this is Dave, he's in the band with Lane."
"It's nice to meet you," Jackson said.
"You're going to stay right?" Sookie asked.
"Yeah," Dave responded, "at least, if that's okay?"
"Of course it is," Lorelai said.
"Great!" Sookie exclaimed. "Is there anything you're allergic to?"
Before Dave could answer the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Rory said as she turned and began walking to the front door. She opened it and found Dean and Clara, who was dressed as Daphne from Scooby Doo, "Hey guys! What are you doing here? Trick-or-treating doesn't start until five."
"Well, we thought we'd get an early start so we can get the maximum amount of candy. I figured you wouldn't begrudge us early candy," Dean said.
"Plus he said Sookie might have something for us," Clara chimed in. Dean had just smiled tightly.
"Well, aren't you in luck, he was right on both counts, come on in."
Dean and Clara walked in and Rory shut the door behind them and then led them to the kitchen. "Hey Dean, hey Clara," Lorelai greeted them, "getting an early start?"
"Yep," said Clara.
Dean had noticed Dave by then and narrowed his eyes at Rory. "Who is he?"
Lorelai, sensing Dean's jealousy, spoke up again, "Clara, why don't you come on over and pick out a couple of Sookie's popcorn balls to take with you?"
"Okay," Clara said walking over.
Rory turned to Dean and lowered her voice, replying, "That's Dave"
"Oh, and what is he doing here?"
"He was invited, he had nothing better to do with his parents gone and the band not rehearsing."
"What band would that be?"
"The band Lane's been going on about for weeks?"
"Oh," Dean said as Lane walked back into the room.
"Hi Dean," Lane said.
"Lane," Dean acknowledged the girl.
Just then Clara walked up, announcing, "We have to go, it's almost five."
"Okay," Dean said glancing at Rory, "let's go."
"Come on," Rory said leading them towards the door, "I'll give you your treats."
Rory paused at the stand in the hall, where a cauldron sat, and pulled out some mini candy bars and tossed them in Clara's bag. "Thanks Rory," Clara said as she moved to where Dean had opened the door.
"You're welcome, bye, have fun."
"Bye," Dean said, leaning forward and kissing Rory.
Rory smiled and followed them out on the porch. She watched as they walked next door. They climbed those steps with another group of trick-or-treaters. Rory was about to go back inside when she spotted Luke and Jess approaching the house, with a group of trick-or-treaters not far behind them. "Luke," Rory said when he was on the porch, "go on in. Jess, can you give me a hand here real quick?"
"Sure," Jess said as Luke went inside.
Rory grabbed the cauldron and held it between herself and Jess, instructing him, "Two or three per kid."
"Got it," Jess said as the group arrived. He and Rory handed out the treats.
Once the group was gone Jess turned to go inside but Rory stopped him. "Wait, here comes another big group." Jess obediently turned back. "So," Rory started, "I thought you had plans."
"I did, but Shane got stuck babysitting her little brother so I had nothing better to do."
"Oh," Rory said as the group of kids arrived.
"Trick-or-treat!" they yelled. Rory and Jess handed out the candy and then went inside.
"Gee, we need to refill this thing already!" Rory exclaimed as she scooped out what candy bars were left and set them on the stand. "There's a bag of candy on a chair right over there, could you pick out a bag and bring it over?" Jess did as she asked and dumped it into the empty cauldron. Rory brushed the left over candy on the stand back into the cauldron.
They had begun walking towards the kitchen when Lorelai walked into the hall. "Hey guys, we're ready to start."
"Okay," Rory said with a smile. She walked into the living room.
Jess had begun following her when Lorelai nodded at him, "Jess."
He nodded back, "Ms. Gilmore."
The doorbell rang, interrupting their conversation. "I'll get that and be right in," Lorelai said as she picked up the cauldron.
"Okay," Jess said as he walked into the living room.
"Hi Jess," Lane said.
"Lane," Jess said with a nod.
"Jess, this is Dave; Dave, this is Jess," Rory said, introducing the two.
"Hi," Dave greeted him.
"Hey," Jess said before sitting next to Rory on the floor.
"Cookie?" Rory asked as she held a ghost shaped sugar cookie towards him.
"No thanks," Jess said.
Lorelai walked in then. "Okay, first up is Halloween Resurrection," she said as she put the tape in the VCR. Everyone settled into their seats to watch the movie.
