It seemed like the friendship between Luke and Lorelai was completely over.
Slowly Luke had understood why Lorelai and Jill had reacted like they had, but therefore he had needed a talk with Liz, who had slowly explained what their reactions had meant.
Afterwards he tried to call Jill, who rejected him.
He didn't dare to call Lorelai, after all her mother had told him to stay away from her.
Well.
Maybe it was for the better.
He went to the Gilmores, cooked their food, and went home right afterwards.
Until he asked Suzie for a job in the diner and Suzie accepted, telling him he could start in the new year.
He was nervous as he told Emily, who seemed rather indifferent though.
"I accepted a full time job," was his reason and Emily nodded, almost understanding.
"I respect that you want to help your sister," was her answer and Luke released the breath he had been holding.
"I come from a family in which we help each other, no matter what. Yes, my sister's in trouble, but we're there for her."
"Very noble. My daughter first has to learn how to help other people," Emily answered and Luke pretended as if he hadn't heard that.
He didn't want to talk about Lorelai.
He wanted to forget her.
Sadly Jill didn't talk to him anymore, the only one who did was Michelle, who sat down next to him in English, as the holidays were over.
"You hurt our Jillie, you know that?" she said and Luke nodded.
"You probably don't care but I'm not seeing Lorelai anymore."
"You're right, we don't care," Michelle replied. "And I don't know Lorelai, but I think you hurt her a lot, too. Jill told us everything. Maybe you should talk to her."
"I can't. It's very complicated," Luke sighed and Michelle shrugged.
"If you love her, you should fight for her."
"Her parents wouldn't accept me, Michelle," Luke said quietly. "Do you remember the way you talked about Emily Gilmore? The woman that Sarah's aunt worked for? She's Lorelai's mother."
"Oh," Michelle just said.
"Yeah. I want to fight for her but I can't. Her mother would behead me, no kidding."
"Oh, Luke," Michelle sighed. "Where I come from, we at least face the person we are hurting and explain why we do it. You should tell her that it's because of her ... noble background."
"I should," Luke muttered. "But I can't go there anymore. I work at the diner now."
"Full time?"
"Almost."
"How do you do that?"
"I go there in the evening and on the weekends. All together I work 38 hours a week and I earn enough for my sister's future rent."
"And when do you study?" Michelle asked and Luke shrugged.
"I don't. It's okay, maybe I'll drop out anyway."
Michelle shook her head. "That's not good."
"No, it's fine. I've already talked to some professors and they understand my situation. They also said it would be better for me to delay my studies."
Michelle sighed. "If you say so. But do you even want that?"
Luke shifted in his seat. "No. I don't want that but what else should I do? I also don't want to lose either Jill nor Lorelai and it still happened."
"Maybe it's not too late for Lorelai," Michelle pointed out. "Jill though ... yeah, you've lost her."
"I'm an ass," Luke groaned and hid his face in his palms.
Michelle chuckled, patting his shoulder. "Yes, you are."
•
Luke had no clue how to talk to Lorelai. He didn't even know how to contact her!
But that day in January, he suddenly knew how.
He was going to school by bus, staring out of the window, as he spotted some girls riding a parcours on their horses.
Horses.
All of a sudden he realised what he had planned originally - to take her out riding - was still an option.
He didn't think much, he got off the bus right at the next stop and walked across the street, to the bus stop that would take him back to Stars Hollow.
Screw school. This was much more important.
And back in Stars Hollow he visited Frank, his late mother's best friend.
"Hi," he said as he entered the stables. "Remember me?"
"Luke! Of course I do! How couldn't I, you look exactly like Will!"
"I guess so," Luke replied. "Hey, Frank, are you still giving riding lessons?"
"I do, why?" Frank grinned at Luke. "Mostly I train little girls though. You wouldn't fit into my riding group."
"I know and I'm not asking for myself. Well, kind of, but not only. I have this friend, Lorelai, she has been riding some years ago but her mother forbade her to and she misses it a lot."
"Aha," Frank replied. "So you want me to offer her a riding lesson?"
"That would be so cool. You don't have to do anything, like give her a horse, I'll be doing that. I'll take Athena. And I just need your official paper and stamp and all, so I can write a voucher to her."
Frank laughed. "This friend Lorelai ... is she special?"
"See for yourself if she comes here," Luke mumbled and got inside the building.
He, Liz and his mother had spent a lot of time here. Liz and Kate had loved to ride, while Luke had only watched. He had never wanted to ride, but he had enjoyed watching. He liked those animals, yet had a lot of respect for them.
Now he knew it was time to finally get on a horse's back.
•
Lorelai came home from school, groaning in frustration and throwing her school bag into a corner. "I hate Spanish," she said loudly. No one answered.
Lorelai sighed and picked up her bag again, about to walk upstairs, as she spotted an envelope with her name on. It was lying next to the telephone, on top of other letters and invoice.
It was addressed to Miss Lorelai Victoria Gilmore without an address.
Someone had dropped it here, someone who knew where she lived.
Lorelai grinned. Maybe Chris had sent her a love letter?
She picked it up and sprinted upstairs, hoping that her mother hadn't seen it yet.
With shaking hands she tore the envelope open and held her breath as she pulled something very official looking out of it.
It looked like a voucher and there was a big Invitation in golden letters on top of it. And as she opened the voucher, her eyes went wide.
A beautiful horse was pictured on the inside and someone had written, in a beautiful handwriting,
If you're ready to talk to me, come to Frank's stable (address on the back) on Monday at 5. If you aren't ready, just don't come.
But If you come, don't worry about the costs. It's all on me.
The riding I mean. I want to go horse back riding with you.
Lorelai laughed quietly.
I need to speak to you and I'm sorry to use those beautiful creatures as attraction to lure you here.
Anyway, see you. Or not, it's up to you.
Lorelai looked up.
He hadn't written his name but she knew it was Luke. She knew, because she hadn't talked about horses with anyone else.
And the stable was in Stars Hollow.
Lorelai bit her lip. He had fucked up, sure, but at the same time she missed him. She missed his humour, his gentle eyes, his gentle touches. She missed his smile. The way he listened when she was ranting.
And then she missed his lips on hers ...
"Ugh," Lorelai groaned and threw herself on her bed. Now that was it. He needed to know the whole truth. Everything.
And Chris ... she needed to talk to Chris.
She got up again and checked her calendar, noticing that she was free on Monday at five. He had known, because Monday at five had usually been their study hour.
She smiled and drew a little heart into the free square on Monday.
Then she frowned and pulled away. Had she just -
Lorelai swallowed hard. Wow.
She really needed to rethink her life choices.
Especially Chris.
•
Luke was nervous.
The last days he had been riding almost non stop, just to be good enough to go for a ride with Lorelai.
Frank had trained him every day and told him that he was a natural, Luke himself thought it was because the years of watching his sister and mother riding her horse.
On Monday at five he stood in front of the stable, praying that she would come. And when she arrived at five after five, his heart stood still.
She had tamed her hair, it was less curly and thus seemed even longer.
She was wearing white britches, a blue jacket, ridingboots and a helmet was dangling from her arm. She was smiling at him and exactly this smile almost took his breath.
And then she was wearing make up. She was never wearing make up, so why now?
"Hi," she greeted him cheerfully. "I had to go to the basement at night to get these babies without my parents noticing." She pointed at her boots and helmet. "Are we good to go?"
"Yes," Luke breathed and stepped forth, wrapping his arms around the younger girl. "I'm so sorry. So, so sorry, Lorelai."
"Let's talk later," Lorelai replied quietly. "I want you to explain yourself."
"I will," Luke promised and led her into the stable. "Frank is a former friend of my mother," he explained. "My mom owned a horse and she and my sister used to go riding almost every day. Come with me." He led her to the stall in which her former horse was. "That's Athena, your horse for today."
"Aww, she's so cute," Lorelai gushed and reached forward to pat Athena's white muzzle. "And I love the name! Is she called after the city in Greece?"
"She's called after the Greek goddess," Luke replied. "Almost every horse here is."
"That's fun, who did that?" Lorelai asked and opened the stall, stepping inside.
"Frank's wife and my mom did," Luke said with a light smile. "Mom was obsessed with Greek and Norse mythology. My horse is called Sleipnir. That's a horse that was ridden by Odin."
"You surprise me," Lorelai giggled and turned away from Athena, looking at him. "Do you want to know where my name comes from?"
Luke smiled lightly. "My mom would have loved your name," he said quietly. "I remember there was a ballad she told me about, a siren kind of woman sitting on this rock, luring sailors into death. She was the Lorelei."
"Yes," Lorelai said quietly. "That's what I do apparently, luring men into death."
Luke laughed. "You're stupid. Come, let's saddle Athena and Sleipnir."
•
They were riding in silence.
Luke could see how much she enjoyed it though and it made him happy.
"Athena was my mother's," he told her after they had been quiet for some time.
"What?" Lorelai said. "This horse belonged to your mom?"
"Mhm. She was her everything."
"And you're letting me ride on her? Why?" Lorelai replied and Luke couldn't hold it back.
"Because you are my everything."
Oops.
"Luke ..."
"I'm sorry," Luke said quickly. "That just slipped. I'm sorry."
"It's ... okay. You wanted to talk to me anyway and after all you've already told me what you feel for me ..."
"Yeah. See, that girl I was with before Christmas, that was Jill. She is ... was a friend of mine. We're no friends anymore."
Lorelai gasped. "Because of me?"
"No, because of me. I never told her about you, not really. She never knew my heart was already beating for someone else. She tried to seduce me and I let her." Luke watched Lorelai as he spoke and sensed a hint of pain on her face. "No ... nothing happened between us. It would have, if you hadn't surprised us that day in the diner. We got along very well and I ... I used her. To forget you."
"Oh, Luke," Lorelai sighed again.
"I know. It wasn't okay. I told her everything and now she's gone."
"And what do you want to tell me now?" Lorelai asked. "You hurt me too, Luke. You told me you loved me and then you didn't give me time to answer. Didn't return my calls, nothing."
"I know. I'm sorry. But ... Lorelai, it's about your parents."
"My - what about Richard and Emily?" Lorelai sounded cold. Ice cold so.
"They don't want me to be with you. Generally, not as in boyfriend. They said that you are 'none of my business'. That your room is forbidden for me and so are you. That you're ... too good for me." He lowered his look. "That last thing comes from me."
"You actually avoided me because of something my parents said?" Lorelai was shocked. "Wow. Luke, that's very honourable. Yet stupid. We would have needed each other during those last three weeks."
"I know but your parents were right. I was right. You deserve someone like ... Christopher."
"Oh," Lorelai said and suddenly she looked very small. "Luke, I ... I broke up with him."
Luke stiffed in his saddle. "What?"
"It hurt too much. Being with him but knowing that I didn't want to ... knowing that I wanted to be with someone else." She smiled at him shyly.
"So you're -"
"Single, yes."
Luke didn't reply. He couldn't reply. His heart was suddenly thudding fast against his ribcage and without a warning he hopped off his horse and made Athena stop.
"What are you doing?" Lorelai asked as Luke came to stand next to the horse, reaching out his hand for her.
Lorelai took his hand and swung her leg over the horse's back, so that she was sitting in a side saddle.
Luke helped her getting off the horse through placing his hands on her waist and lifting her down.
But before her feet touched the ground, his lips were on hers.
Lorelai wrapped her arms around her friend and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss.
Finally. Finally.
She couldn't believe how right it felt. Exactly as right as half a year ago. Their kisses were just perfect.
They perfectly fit. Their lips, their tongues, their bodies ... perfect.
Lorelai leaned into him and moaned, a noise he had not expected to ever hear from her. Quickly he pushed her back, knowing that her rubbing against him could cause something that he did not want right now.
He held her back and looked her, her flushed cheeks, blue eyes, gentle smile.
"So ... What now?" he asked quietly.
"We should continue riding," she suggested. "We should go back and talk some more."
•
"I'll drive you home," Luke offered as they reached his house.
"That would be great," Lorelai replied with a gentle smile. "But don't you want me to introduce me to your family first?"
"There'll be enough time for that later," Luke said awkwardly and opened the door to his car, holding it open for her as he had done that night in August. "Get in, my beauty."
Lorelai laughed. She couldn't believe she had brought him that far ... only to crush his heart once again.
But what if not? They were allowed to date - right? They just weren't allowed to have sex. But dating shouldn't be a problem. Right?
Lorelai really wasn't sure.
But she'd tell him once they were at home and then he could decide what he wanted to do.
Theoretically a good plan.
But when they arrived at the mansion and Lorelai realised that her parents weren't at home (thinking that Lorelai had gone to Christopher, they had reserved a table at a noble restaurant), she asked him in.
And up to her - very forbidden - room.
Luke followed her, quietly and his eyes filled with fear. Oh yes, he seemed to be very scared of Emily Gilmore's fury.
"Don't worry," Lorelai said as she locked her room. "They shouldn't return until eleven or so. Usually they go for a drink afterwards. They rarely enjoy an evening without me."
"They love you," Luke said. "A lot."
Lorelai snorted. "They think they own me."
"No, they really love you. You're their only child. Maybe they can't express their love but I assure you, they do."
"Huh," Lorelai made.
"So ..." Luke now started and sat down on Lorelai's bed. "Why did you break up with Christopher?"
"Ain't it obvious?" Lorelai blushed. "Because of you."
"Wow," Luke made and cleared his throat. "But - but why? I'm nothing special."
"Oh, Luke." Lorelai was smiling as she let herself fall down next to him. "You are so very special to me. And I needed to tell you, I wanted to all the time that I'm - I'm -"
She took a deep breath.
Say it. "I lied to you." Say it, coward!
"I'm ..." Lorelai released her breath, "I'm in love with you, too."
She closed her eyes and sighed.
Great. Now he still doesn't know the truth. At least not the whole truth.
When she opened her eyes, his face was merely a few inches away. His nose was touching hers.
"Then we're on the same page," he whispered and kissed her.
A kiss that was taking her breath away. A kiss that let her forget what she had wanted to say in the beginning.
A kiss that made her pull him back on the bed, made her let him touch her. Her waist, her breast.
She moaned loudly and pulled him against herself, she parted her legs to give him a place to settle down.
He grinded against her, showing her how wanted she was.
Lorelai gasped and Luke pulled away.
"Are you - sorry - is it too early?"
Lorelai shook her head and reached for the buttons of her shirt. "No. I want you." She bit her lip. "I wanted you back in summer, I've been wanting you over the last months ... and I want you now."
Luke's eyes were big, dark and filled with loads of feelings as he watched Lorelai undress beneath him.
He couldn't believe what was happening - and he certainly wouldn't believe what was about to happen.
In more ways than one.
•
So ... I'm not sure.
Do you want me to write the intimate scene or wouldn't it fit within the story?
It wouldn't be all too mature ;)
You decide!