Everything seemed to be happening so fast. Just that morning he was pining over his lost love alone in the gazebo, then was pushed into coming to the party, met the most amazing girl who he felt such magic with, and now was hanging off the side of a balcony two stories up. Life works in mysterious ways.
Luke heard Lorelai and her mother leave the bedroom and walk back downstairs before he decided that the coast was clear. He slowly pulled himself back up and rested on the edge to catch his breath. He'll admit he was scared there for a second when her mother walked in, and if it weren't for Lorelai's quick thinking they'd both be in trouble. Luke didn't want to find out what kind of trouble these rich people could get him into.
He just couldn't stop thinking of her. She wasn't like the girls he dated before. They were like really good friends you got along with and made-out with when you felt like it. She was different. Everything about her was like new experience and he never felt this way about any of his other girlfriends, even Anna. He loved the way her eyes slowly closed when they kissed and how her soft hair framed her face. She was the most beautiful person on the Earth, Luke felt. He had to see her again, and she wanted to see him too. He heard what she said right before she left. She must like him.
Luke realized he had been sitting on the edge of the balcony for about five minutes just thinking about her. He had to get back downstairs and talk to Jackson about everything that happened. He started to walk back towards the bedroom when he heard chatter in the hallway. They weren't heading towards the bedroom but it meant that he couldn't go out the front door.
He walked back out on the balcony and looked around. There were no drainpipes for him to climb down and the walls were completely flat with bricks. There was nothing to hold on to. However, the tree in front of him had plenty of branches for him to climb down, even though he may have to jump. It was better than risking going out the door and having someone catch him coming out of a girl's bedroom. That would look pretty bad.
Luke surveyed the best branch to jump onto and stood on the edge. He could see a window directly below the balcony with light shining through and would have to be very careful and work really fast if he didn't want to be caught. If someone saw him they might think he was trying to rob the place and he would end up in jail, which would be even worse than getting caught coming out of the girl's bedroom. It was bad enough that his breastplate was thrown over before for someone to see.
Luke steadied himself on the ledge with the branch locked on target. He pulled back his arms and jumped, hitting the branch with full force but not cracking it, although he was sure one of his ribs did. He used all his strength to pull himself up and climb slowly down the steady branches. Hidden amongst the tree branches, Luke looked into the window and saw her, his lovely Lorelai, standing with her parents and two other parents. And a boy. It must have been the boy she was talking about before, the one her parents wanted her to marry, the one that her mother mentioned only seconds ago, the one she wanted nothing to do with. Christopher. He was dressed up as a prince in royal purple uniform with a small, but probably expensive, crown on his head. Luke bore his eyes into the back of the kid's head, hoping that he would explode, but it didn't last very long because he couldn't keep his eyes off Lorelai for more than a second. She was glowing among all the people in the room, an angel among mortals, and he just couldn't help but stare at her beauty. He was only a mortal after all. He then realized that the Christopher boy was looking out the window squinting in his general direction, probably feeling Luke's eyes on the back of his head. Luke sat still, trying to blend in with the tree, and waited. Christopher's attention was drawn back to Emily as she announced what Luke assumed was dinner. His Lorelai disappeared among the wealthy behinds of the other guests as Christopher escorted her out. Luke couldn't help but feel a little jealous, wishing she were wrapping her arm around his. As the people cleared out, Luke quickly and quietly landed like a cat and grabbed his breastplate before heading in the general direction of the loud music of the pool house. He had to find Jackson. Now.
…………………………………………..
Inside, Lorelai found herself in the middle of her nightmare for the evening. She was supposed to be making small talk with Chris as the parents talked amongst themselves, although Emily was watching Lorelai and not really paying attention while the fathers talked about banking and golf. She, the usual chatterbox, couldn't think of anything to talk about. At least there was a tray of food next to her to make it a little more comforting.
"So, uh, this is a great party your parents put together." Chris started as Lorelai stuck some kind of cracker thing in her mouth.
"Yeah well, it was all Emily's doing. She lives for this kind of stuff because she really has nothing else to do all day except order people around. And when she's not doing that she's making my life as hard as possible, so at least the pressure's off me a little tonight."
"Well good thing you didn't make dinner then or else you would have been stabbed to death by the little toothpicks by now." He joked.
"Well the night is still young…" She could see her mother watching them with a bit of a smug smile on her face. Lorelai had to get out of there and lose Chris. She had to see Luke again.
"Hey, so, do you want to head out to the party in the pool house? It's got to be better than this snooze fest." Lorelai asked. It would be easy to lose him in the mosh pit of the pool house.
"Sure, sounds great. Our parents are hovering anyway."
She pulled him out the door before Emily could distract them with some other line of questioning and went straight to the pool house. It was packed with all the kids from Chilton in the various costumes and that was when she tactically let go of his hand. It really wasn't that hard to lose him among all the other kids, but she made an effort to get far ahead of him. Luckily some of the giggly girls who had a crush on him asked to dance and, being a gentleman, he couldn't say no. What a stroke of luck.
Lorelai scanned the room looking for Sookie, finding her exactly where she thought she would, near the food table. She looked like she had been dancing up a storm.
"Whoa there, Sook. How's the night been? Where's Jackson?"
"Oh it's been so much fun! Jackson and I have been dancing since he got here and I think he went to go pee. I hope you don't mind if he actually doesn't go in the bathroom." Sookie replied as she fanned herself with a paper napkin.
"Whatever make Emily unhappy." She paused, wondering if she should continue. "Um, I was just wondering, do you know a guy named Luke?"
"Luke? As in Luke Danes?" Sookie asked wide-eyed.
"Uh, I guess, I don't know."
"Did he speak to you?"
"Yeah…"
"As in more than ten words?"
"Yeah, Sook. Why what's wrong with him?" There couldn't be anything wrong with him though because he felt so right! She thought.
"No, there's nothing wrong wrong with him. He just broke up with this girl who really broke his heart and he just hasn't been that sociable since. In fact I haven't seen him all night. Why what did you two talk about?" She added with a sly smile.
"We didn't really talk that much." Because we were kissing most of the time. "I was just wondering who he was because he seemed nice enough." She couldn't tell Sookie the truth because by the end of the night everyone at the party would know, which meant Emily.
"Yeah, he is really nice. His mother died long ago and his sister ran away with some boyfriend a few months back, leaving him with his sick father to run the shop he has in Stars Hollow. You two would be great together, actually." Lorelai internally agreed. She was falling for him all over again.
"So, he lives in Stars Hollow?" Her parents wouldn't like that, but so what.
"Next time you come over to my place I'll show you his shop. Emily and Richard will never know." She winked at Lorelai.
"Believe me, they will. They're Gilmores." She didn't think they would find out if she lied to them, but it probably wouldn't last that long. I don't care, I'll find a way.
………………………………..
Jackson had found himself a nice quiet area on the other side of the pool house to go to the bathroom, because heaven knew he wasn't going to use the one in the pool house. Just as he was finishing he heard someone coming his way and quickly zipped up his pants and hid. If one of the adults caught him peeing on the bushes it would probably be the last thing he ever did.
"Jackson? Is that you Jackson?" It was Luke. Jackson was so happy he could have peed his pants again.
"Dude, there you are! I was wondering where you ran off to. Sookie and I have been dancing the night away, and you should just see Tom…"
"No, I'm fine. I'm great actually." Luke said with all honesty. Jackson knew something was up with his friend, and he knew it had to do with a girl.
"See! I told you this party was a great idea! So, who's the hot babe that broke through your icy exterior?"
"Actually, I was wondering what you could tell me about her. Her name is Lorelai?"
"Lorelai Gilmore?! Dude, this is her party, her house! Man, you are on fire! She's one hot babe and from what I hear she's pretty much taken by that Christopher guy. She and Sookie are best friends and I've talked to her a few times." Jackson said. He was amazed Luke, of all people, got with such a girl like her.
"This is her house? Well that makes sense…" Luke realized that it was her room he went into, her picture on the wall, her balcony. How could he have been so stupid not to notice?
"Yeah and apparently her mom and dad are real nazis about everything and anything having to do with money and titles. That's why they paired her up with the Christopher guy because he's a pure breed or something. Man you are so lucky you didn't get caught!" Jackson exclaimed. Luke was just standing there, taking all the information in and comparing it to what he already knew. "You didn't get caught right?" Jackson asked a bit more worried after Luke didn't answer.
Luke laughed to himself. "Well, no, but I got pretty close."
Jackson was just amazed. "Dude, you are so on fire! I can't believe you scored with such a hottie! And a taken, rich one at that."
"Yeah, I'm one lucky tamale."
"But, you know it can't last. Her parents would skin you alive if they ever found out, and not to mention she lives here. This ain't Stars Hollow, Dorothy."
Luke couldn't explain why, but he hated Jackson at that moment for saying that. He knew they would make it work and they would find a way through it because he wasn't going to give her up without a fight.
"Don't be mad at me, man. I'm just telling you how it is so you don't get crushed again."
Knowing he meant well, Luke gave him a smile before he walked away. "Oh, I won't be needing a ride home tonight, Jackson." he called behind his shoulder.
Jackson stood there for a moment before the realization dawned on him. "Dude, you are AWESOME!"
……………………………………..
He had to see her again. If he looked into her eyes he knew he would find his answer, that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Making his way back to the pool house, he scanned the room to see if his bright angel would be there, although he could barely see anyone or hear anything over the crowds and music. As he walked through, he did see the one person he didn't want to find, the purple prince, as he was dancing with two girls that could have easily been on the cover of Playboy. Luke knew that if he was in here she wouldn't be. He was slowly backing out of the mob when he felt a tug on his hand.
"Just follow me before we're seen." The heavenly voice whispered in his ear. He didn't look back at her, but just slowly followed the pull of her hand as he walked backwards to the door between the pool house and the main house. The crowd eventually thinned and they were finally standing outside, alone. He turned around to find his angel with a little grin on her lips and loving warmth in her eyes.
"I couldn't wait till twelve." Was all she said.
Luke bent down to put a kiss on her lips and she eagerly kissed back. Their bodies quickly closed the space between them while their hands caressed each other's faces. Luke stroked her beautiful face and hair while Lorelai wrapped her arms around his torso and memorized his strong back. It was a whirlwind of passion they were stuck in and it felt as if they were spinning. Nothing mattered now except each other, and they were going to stay like that for as long as they could. Luke could feel his feet move as Lorelai backed up towards the one wall. Pinned there, she wrapped one leg around his hip and he slowly stroked her soft arms. They were kissing so passionately, and so fiercely, like they knew they only had minutes together before they were spotted and pulled apart.
That was when they heard the door open and the sounds of the party overtake the peace of the outside.
"Lorelai? Lor, are you out here?"
Damn it, Chris! She thought. She and Luke looked at each other with alarm. They were still against the wall and if they were found….
"Hey Lor, you out here? I thought I saw you come this way."
She pulled Luke to the very back of the pool house, hearing him get closer to their previous spot. She gave Luke a passionate kiss before she said, "Stay here until I get rid of him."
He pulled her back for one last kiss and then said, "We're still on for twelve." She smiled at him but heard the footsteps coming closer.
"Yeah, hey, sorry, I'm here." She put on a fake smile and turned half around the corner. She was still holding Luke's hand, not wanting to let go until the last possible second.
"I thought I saw you come this way."
"Yeah well, I was just… throwing something out. Hey, do you want to dance? We didn't really get to before." She added hastily. She had to finally let go of Luke's hand and it was almost physically painful to do so.
"Yeah, that'd be great. Let's go." He answered happily. Lorelai almost felt bad for leading him on like that. Almost. He held out his hand and she took it hesitantly, letting him lead her back to the room she had just retreated from. She glanced back one last time to the back of the house but she couldn't see Luke in his hiding spot. All that was running through her mind as she was pulled into the room was when will it be twelve?
…………………..
Thankfully she didn't have to wait very long. She endured one dance with Chris before Emily came in and shut off the music, announcing that the party had come to a conclusion. For the first time in her life Lorelai was happy to see Emily, although she practically gagged at the look on her face when she saw the two of them dancing together. She could see her mentally bumping up the date of their wedding a few years earlier than planned.
As the people retreated from the house and returned to their expensive cars, Emily pulled Lorelai over to the door to say goodbye to all the guests. Plastering on the fake smile she had mastered over the years, the crowds started to dwindle until only the Haydens were left. Emily was crafty like that.
"The party was wonderful, Emily. I thought I wasn't going to enjoy a costume party, but I really did." Mrs. Hayden said.
"Well, I'm glad it was such a success. I hope Prince Charming here enjoyed the party as well?" Emily asked Christopher.
"It was great, thank you Mrs. Gilmore. We had lots of fun"
Gag! Lorelai thought.
"Well, I'm glad you two had so much fun." Emily said, giving Lorelai a look that said haha.
"Yeah, sure mom. It was great." She wanted nothing more than to get upstairs.
"Richard old boy, we should all have brunch tomorrow at the club. It would be just wonderful to get the families together again after such a wonderful night. My treat." Mr. Hayden declared.
"Why, that's a wonderful idea. Tomorrow at 11 o'clock then." Richard replied.
"Good then. Good night everyone, I think it's getting late enough. Thank you again for such a wonderful party." Mr. Hayden said as the three went out the door. The valet had their car waiting at the door as they waved a final goodbye. Richard and Emily waved back but Lorelai just stood back waiting for them to close the door.
"Can I go upstairs now?" Lorelai asked once the door finally shut.
"Yes, yes Lorelai. You may go. Besides, you'll need your beauty rest for tomorrow." She said. Thankfully, as she bounded up the stairs, Emily's attention was turned to the maids who were handling clean up. "Maria! Don't drag the garbage across the floor like you were back home in Mexico!"
Lorelai practically sprinted up the stairs, excitement mounting with every step, as she finally reached her room and locked the door behind her. She slowly walked her way towards the curtains, pulling them aside to see her knight in shining armor waiting for her, sitting on the edge.
She noticed for the first time how good looking he was. Before she really hadn't looked that closely, except for his eyes, which had pulled her in from the start. His lips were warm with a shy smile, his arms strong and yet soft enough to hold her tight and his body lean but muscular from what she assumed was helping his father at the shop. He was a vision of perfection, her knight in shining armor.
"I'm so glad you came." She said as he stood up and gave her an embracing hug and kiss.
As they stared into each other's eyes again, trying to understand what was happening and why to them, there was an undeniable freedom and happiness they felt being together. There was so much emotion they had for each other, they could see it in their eyes, and yet they couldn't be sure if it was real. Slowly, they leaned in for a kiss, a slow and loving kiss. It was as if they were exploring for the first time, memorizing every bend, every muscle, every wrinkle in each other, taking all the time in the world. Luke slowly stroked up and down her soft, bare arms, from her elbow up to her shoulders and back again, as Lorelai slowly snuck her hands up his shirt to feel his strong, warm back, memorizing every vertebra. Trickling his hands down her sides, he held onto her waist as she brought her hands around to feel the front of his chest. When they finally had to take a breath, slowly parting their lips, Lorelai put her forehead against his, keeping their eyes closed and trying to breathe normally again.
As the moonlight bathed them in a beautiful glow, dancing around them, it was as if they were the only two people left in the world, on a floating stone platform in the middle of the starry sky. And despite all the mayhem and despair that plagued them seconds before, they knew nothing but each other.