"Okay, your daughter or your coffee," said Luke with Rory in one hand and a pot of coffee in the other.
Lorelai didn't answer. She looked from the pot of coffee to Rory, and then back to the coffee.
"Mom, you shouldn't have to think about this. The fact that you are is just wrong."
Lorelai twisted her mouth and burrowed her eyebrows in concentration. Her eyes were lingering on the coffee.
"MOM, I'm your only daughter!"
"Oh ok, I pick Rory," she answered dejectedly.
"Gee, thanks Ma."
"You'll be doing the laundry for a week, you know that, don't you?" said Lorelai, putting her arm around her daughter.
"Hey kittens," said Sookie, walking into the dinner and taking a stool next to them.
"What can I get you?" Luke asked her.
"Nothing just yet, thanks Lu . . ." Sookie paused as she spotted Lorelai making eye movements towards the coffee pot behind the counter. "On second thoughts, I'll have a coffee."
Lorelai subtly nudged Sookie's thigh with her elbow.
"Make it and extra large cup."
Another nudge.
"Two please. I'm really thirsty."
"You're doing this for her, aren't you?" Luke confronted her. Sookie leaned back from Luke's wrath.
"N. .nno I'm not, I was just . . .well, you see . . .I was going to . . .tea please," Sookie relented.
"I gotta get some tougher friends," said Lorelai shaking her head as Luke set out to make the tea.
"Sorry, sweetie," Sookie apologised.
"Not your fault. Luke's being particularly mean today. His cap must be on too tight."
"You know I have ears," said Luke.
"Well they obviously don't work, otherwise you would be hearing the pleading of a desperate lady in need of coffee."
"Oh, is that what that was?"
"Luke, c'mon. Do it for me?" Rory pleaded.
Lorelai gave a fierce nod of her head in agreement. "I'm the one that has to
put up with her when she goes home."
"Heyyy," Lorelai said in objection.
"Okay, but this is the last cup I'm giving you today," said Luke, placing Sookie's tea down and reaching for the coffee.
Lorelai clapped her hands giddily.
"And all is right with the world," she said taking the first chug.
"I love you Luke," said Rory.
*Right words, wrong Gilmore* Luke thought to himself.
"And how are we on this beautiful morning?" Tristan asked leaning up against the locker next to Rory's.
"What's so beautiful about it? It's cold and raining and smells like Streptococcus . . ."
"Aah, the ever-cynical Rory."
"Rory?"
"Sorry, I mean Mary," Tristan corrected.
"You do like to test my patience, don't you?"
"I try my bestest," he said with a shrug of the shoulders.
"Is bestest a word?" Rory asked doubtfully.
"Sure it is."
"Isn't it good, better, best?"
"Then best, bester, bestest," Tristan reassured her.
"Ahh, of course. What was I thinking?"
"Well, I could tell you what I was thinking, but then you'd blush like a ten year old before walking away from me . . .again."
Rory started to feel the red seep into her cheeks.
"Oh, and we have a winner, ladies and gentlemen," he said turning around and pretending to announce it to the world.
He turned back to see a look of seething dislike on Rory's face.
"Sorry," he said quietly.
The look of dislike was quickly replaced by a look of confusion.
"What?" said Tristan.
"You said sorry."
"So I did, and may I congratulate you on being the first to acknowledge this historical moment."
"Are we friends?"
"Pardon me? Did I hear the F word?" said Tristan with mock horror.
"Tristan, I'm serious. Are we friends?" she repeated.
He looked into her eyes, which looked so blue and serious. He smiled at her and sighed to himself.
"Yeah, we're friends," he finally answered, brushing a stray hair away from her face. "And as friends," he pushed on, " I'd like you to accompany me in a friendly walk through the mall after school."
"The mall?"
"Yeah, well I have to buy a present for my cousin's wedding. I thought maybe you could help me pick one out."
"And just what would I get out of this deal?"
"Quality time with yours truly of course," he said. Then seeing this argument wasn't going to win her over, "And I'll take you to Barnes and Nobles and buy you a book."
He could see Rory considering this and arguing the pros and cons in her head.
"And coffee," he added as a last effort.
"Deal," she said slamming her locker shut. "I'll meet you here after school."
At lunchtime Tristan saw her at her usual table, eating alone, with her head buried in some outrageously thick book. At the end of English class he had invited her to come sit with him and his friends at lunchtime. She had cringed and refused, saying thanks all the same. He hadn't been hurt. He'd more or less expected her not to want to sit in the presence of his friends and didn't blame her for preferring the solitude.
"So where to first?" said Rory as they entered through the glass doors of the mall.
"I dunno, what do you get for people who are getting married?"
"You mean you don't know?"
Truthfully, his mom always bought the presents on behalf of their family. And while she didn't ask Tristan to buy the gift, he had thought it would be the perfect excuse to spend more time with Rory.
"Yeah, well I've never had to buy a gift on behalf of our family before," he admitted. "I'm not sure what's appropriate."
"Something expensive, I guess," she said, considering his family's financial status. Had it been from her family it would probably be a stale box of poptarts and a coffee machine to which there would be no instructions, hence the giving away of the godly device in the first place.
They went to an antique store, a jewellery store, a homewares store, and then a GAP store for a break.
"Hey, how about crystal?" Rory suggested. "My Grandma always says you can never have too much crystal."
"There's that place near the drugstore that sells crystal," Tristan said, taking Rory's hand to lead her in the direction. Although Rory was surprised by the touch of his warm soft hands and the feeling it evoked in her, that wasn't the reason she didn't move.
"What's wrong?" Tristan asked.
Rory looked longingly at the Starbucks that was just visible behind the palm trees that lined the centre of the mall.
Tristan followed her gaze and smile.
"Ok, Mary, we'll get you your coffee."
Rory squealed in delight and led the way over, Tristan ogling at the pace she set.
AN: Ahhh, I have to go to work so I must end it here for now! The next instalment will be coming soon to a cinema near you. Spoiler: In the next part I plan to get rid of Dean. Muahahahahaha! Oh yeah, feedback would be really good right now. Let me know if u have any ideas. This is my first fanfic so be kind!!