Summary: (LL) There's a new woman in town. Her mission? Make Luke Danes fall in love with her. Her obstacle? Lorelai Gilmore, who keeps sabotaging her efforts at persuing Luke. NOT that she's doing it on purpose...
Notes: It's official, I'm the queen of randomness. No, really, I am. I have not the faintest idea where this came from. The summary just popped into my head, and I thought to myself, "Hey, that doesn't sounds like a half bad idea!" And thus, this fic was born. Like most of my fics, this one probably won't exceed five chapters or so.
Setting: Season two.
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Gilmore Girls. Oy with the poodles already! Do you have to keep rubbing it in?!
Accidentally in Love
-Lorelai's POV-
"But seriously! Culs de sac? Who really says that?" I ranted to my daughter, Rory, as we entered Luke's.
"I seem to recall having this conversation once before," Rory commented as she plopped down into a chair at a table for two and grabbed a menu. I followed suite. We do this every time, even though we could probably recite the entire thing from memory.
Well, except the salad section. Because I, personally, just love the thought of chewing on some nice green leaves, with a creamy sauce and juicy tomatoes.
Not.
"Hey, who's that?" Rory whispered to me, leaning forward a little and jerking her head toward the counter.
I glanced in that direction to find a woman that, from where I was sitting, appeared to be around my age, blonde, and about twenty-five pounds lighter than I. Not that I was insecure about my weight. I was perfectly fine. She was the one that looked like she needed to be joining Kate Moss in rehab.
"I don't know. I've never seen her before," I returned, still whispering, as the diner wasn't at its noisiest, and people in this town have extraordinary hearing. Especially when you don't want them to.
"What can I get you two this morning?" Luke Danes, resident diner owner, asked as he stopped beside our table, clad in his usual flannel shirt and backwards baseball cap.
"Coffee," I said, grinning.
"Blueberry pancakes!" Rory shot out.
"French toast."
"With bacon."
"And sausage!"
"Oh, and donut!"
"Me too!"
"And coffee, of course." Rory finished our impromptu verbal tennis match.
Luke just stood there, staring. I'm pretty sure he was going into shock from the amount of calories we had just blurted out. Luke is the kind of guy who actually does like salads. And carrot sticks. And, horror of all horrors, veggie burgers.
"And we're not going to suddenly change our minds to oatmeal and orange juice, so you should probably start writing this down, burger boy," I joked, as he still had yet to touch pen to paper.
"You know, no matter how many times I hear you order, the complete lack of healthiness never ceases to amaze me," Luke said, as he shook his head at us and finally scribbled our order down on the pad.
"Well, maybe we'll go crazy one of these days and order an apple with our smorgasbord," I said, putting the menu back in its place.
"That'd be the day," Luke muttered, walking away. I heard him shout the order to Caesar and then turned back to Rory.
"So, anything interesting happening today?"
"Nope. Just school, The Franklin, and then back home."
"And here, I thought you'd at least be solving world hunger."
"Sorry to be such a disappointment."
"Ah, I'll get over it."
Just then, the bell over the door rang out, and Babette and Miss Patty came walking through, heads tucked close together as they chatted about the latest gossip. Apparently, there was more than usual, since they usually just shared it all on their normal street corner by Miss Patty's dance studio.
An idea struck me as I watched them.
Luckily, they took the table right next to us. That way, I could casually start up a conversation without seeming too eager.
"Hey, Babette. Miss Patty," I said with a smile.
They turned to me.
"Well, hey there, Suga! I didn't see ya," Babette said to me, before turning her attention to Rory. "How's that fancy-schmancy school of yours treatin' ya, Rory?"
"It's hard, but I like it," Rory answered.
"That's good."
"So..." I started, in a tone that let them know I was about to ask something confidential. That was sure to get them hooked. "Who's that woman up there at the counter?"
Miss Patty glanced up there, and, with a knowing nod, turned back to me.
"That is Alli Hemmerton. She's 32 and single."
Babette, not to be out done, threw in, "She lived here for a few years, a long time ago. The rumor is that she went out with Luke for a few months in high school."
I didn't know why, but I suddenly got a slightly twisty feeling in my stomach. Maybe I hungrier than I thought.
"However, we're still not exactly sure what she's doing here..." Miss Patty trailed off, with a glance at the blonde woman, and a hungry look in her eye. I could tell that this was going to be the town gossip chain's new project. Or competition.
"Suicide on a plate," Luke announced as he set my extraordinarily wonderful looking breakfast down in front of me.
"Uh, Luke?" I asked as he placed Rory's plate before her.
"Hmm?"
"Where's the coffee?"
"I'm about to get it."
"You're supposed to bring the coffee first. I need the caffeine!"
Rory nodded in agreement.
"I told you, I'm about to go get it."
"Yeah. You see, but now our food is going to get cold while we wait."
"The longer you pester me, the colder it's going to get."
"But if you would've brought it first, then it wouldn't be cold at all!"
"Okay, I will bring it out first next time! Now, will you just let me get the damn coffee?" Luke exclaimed.
"Yes, please," I said, with a flirtatious smile.
When I turned back to Rory, she wore an amused smile.
"What?" I questioned.
"You're shameless."
"It's a gift."
Luke re-appeared, carrying two mugs of coffee.
"My savior!" I cheered, taking a gulp after he handed it to me. Rory did the same, and we both set them down on the table at the same time, letting out satisfied sighs.
Luke just shook his head, a slightly disgusted look on his face.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that the blonde woman - Alli - had turned around and was watching us. Or Luke. I think she was watching Luke.
Again, I felt a stab of something in my stomach. And again, I blamed it on hunger.
After all, it couldn't be jealousy. I had no reason whatsoever to be jealous of her. I had no holds on Luke. We were just friends. And even if we were more, I wouldn't have any reason to be envious. Skeletons aren't Luke's type.
Still, I couldn't shake the feeling of being slightly unsettled. That feeling, however, annoyed the crap out of me, so I drowned it out with French toast and coffee.
TBC...
Note: So, what do you think? Yes, no, maybe? Let me know!