DISCLAIMER: Gee, do I own Gilmore Girls? Yep, sure I do! That's why Rory is
STILL with bag-boy and our little Jess left Stars Hollow!!! Please…if it
was up to me, Rory and Jess would be having smoochies and Bean would be
cast out into the cold!! So, don't own, so don't sue!
A/N: Hey guys! I got this part done sooner than I thought - I just can't seem to stop working on this fic! :D
I'm, like, in obsessed writer over-time mode. I sat down last night and churned out page after page! It's kinda sad cause I can write so well on this one, and my poor little Roswell fic is getting less attention :(
Anyway, I hope you guys like this part!! Also, the song in this part is by Lifehouse, one of my fave bands. Their cd is just so great - I love writing while it's playing in the background. The song is called 'Sick, Cycle Carousel', hence the name of this chapter. I just thought the words felt really good with how the characters were feeling at the time.
Also, I just fixed all my typo's. evidently, I DID have all the italics and bold thingy's wrong :(
***
PART 02 ~
Moving silently through the dark house, Lorelai Gilmore tiptoed through the front foyer, breezing past the living room toward the kitchen, hoping that, on a off chance, there might be some coffee sitting around. Not seeing any, she pouted slightly.
"Not even prayer can control the coffee gods," she mused out loud.
"Is there a reason you're sneaking around the kitchen in the dark?"
Jumping slightly, Lorelai whirled around and hit the light switch, staring sullenly at her daughter. "I thought we agreed after the horrible, ugly knife incident that sneaking up on mommy is never a good idea."
"It was a butter knife," Rory returned, her body slightly stiff as she stood in the doorway.
"But the scare still remains till this day."
"If I remember correctly, your finger went un-harmed."
"Inside scars, honey, inside. I would think, after getting to know your Grandmother, you would've realized that the internal scars are much more paralyzing," she commented. "Has that woman not taught you anything?"
"Mom-"
"I mean, her glares alone are enough to bring Jason and Freddie and any other homicidal nightmarish killer to their knees."
"Mom," Rory repeated, stopping her rant. Coming into the kitchen, she sat down at the table. "You still haven't answered why you were in here."
"Oh, just seeing in the coffee fairies had stopped by for their nightly visit." Looking at her closely, Lorelai decided to just keep up the light banter rather than broach the subject directly.
"They've been slacking lately," Rory agreed.
"Yes, with their union lays off and vacations to go fishing, we, the customer, have been deprived." Looking down at the tabletop, Rory kept silent and Lorelai took note, setting down herself. "So, what about you?"
"What about me?" she questioned, looking back up.
"It's after midnight and you have school tomorrow. Why up so late?"
Shrugging, Rory looked back down and answered, "reading…doing some thinking…" Her voice sounded drained and her mother flinched some, feeling the slight tension rolling off her.
Nodding, Lorelai waited a beat then added, "and the great knowledge obtained from this thinking was…" It was almost as if she holding her breath, waiting for the answer.
"You know, this would be the part where any other mother would realize it's late and their daughter needs her beauty sleep," Rory stated suddenly, wanting to change the subject.
"Are you suggesting that I am a 'any other mother'? I am insulted, I am offended. I am insulted AND offended. Super mom does not appreciate this."
"Super mom?"
"In some circles, yes. Now spill," Lorelai commanded. "Why the late watch?"
Sighing deeply, Rory seemed to consider the idea for a few moments before standing up and just saying, "it's late and I'm sleepy."
Watching her walk off, Lorelai sighed herself and slumped down in her chair some, closing her eyes when she heard her daughters' bedroom door shut, slightly harder than necessary. Rubbing her temples, she continued to sit there for a few more minutes before standing up and shuffling up the stairs, throwing herself down on the bed dramatically, too tired mentally and physically to worry about changing her clothes.
***
If shame had face
I think it would kinda look like mine
If it had a home, would it be my eyes?
Would you believe me if I said I'm tired of this?
Well, here we go now one more time/b
***
Turning onto her side, Rory listened as her mother retreated up the stairs, her footfalls heavy. Feeling a twinge of guilt at making her mother upset, she pushed it down, remember how she had more than likely been a part of why Luke had let Jess move back to New York.
Luke hadn't come straight out and said it yet, but there was a certain look in his eyes, whenever Lorelai's name was mentioned, that made Rory even more positive that their argument was much bigger than usual. Luke prided himself on the fact that you take care of family; protect them, no matter what. And something big had to happen to make him send Jess away.
***
Cause I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how
Low I could get down to the ground
And I tried to earn my way
Well, I tried to change this mind
You better believe that I am trying to beat this
***
Glancing at the book laying on her stand, Rory smiled softly and reached for it, setting herself up against the headboard. Reaching for her lamp, she stopped and decided against it, rather pulling up her shade and letting the moonlight filter in, giving her more than enough light to read by.
Pausing to stare at the moon, she smiled again and opened the book, finding page one and starting to read.
***
So when will this end, it goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around, I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this for good
***
Stuffing his hands into his coat pockets, Jess walked down the sidewalk, ignoring the people he passed, making some of them wonder why someone his age was wondering around this late. Pulling his jean coat a little more closer to his body, he glanced upward at the moon casually, but getting snagged by it.
Her couldn't stop the thought before it entered his mind and shortly found himself wondering what she was doing, if maybe she was looking up at it too. Snorting, he shook his head and looked back downward, trudging along. The last thing he needed was to drive himself insane by thinking up all those freakin' what ifs'.
***
I never thought I'd end up here
Never thought I'd be standing where I am
Guess I kinda thought that it would be easier than this
I guess I was wrong now, one more time
***
What if she broke up with bag-boy?
What if she missed him?
What if she felt the same way about him as he did her..?
Grunting, Jess shoved all those thoughts away and forcefully tugged open the door to his apartment building, take the stairs 2 at a time, listening to his footfalls, making the noise drive all his thoughts away.
***
Cause I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how
Low I could get down to the ground
And I tried to earn my way
I tried to change this mind
You better believe that I am trying to beat this
***
Reaching his apartment, he dug out the key and turned the lock, barging in and kicking the door shut behind him. A second later another door in the house opened and Liz, his darling mother, nearly screeched, "Jess, some of us are sleeping for Christ's sake!"
Ignoring the 'us' in her speech, he merely shrugged and headed for the kitchen, pulling out a bowl and some cereal.
Coming out into the room and searching around, she added, "and Luke called."
Pausing, Jess opened the cereal box and said out loud, "huh," while trying to keep his voice neutral and un-interested.
"Where's my lighter," she muttered, already finding the box of cigarettes. "Did you steal it again," she accused.
"Quit," he bit off, pouring the cereal into a bowl, leaving the box opened on the counter before heading for the refrigerator. "What did he want?"
"Who," she asked, finding some matches and lighting up her cigarette before taking a long drag.
Getting frustrated, Jess demanded, "your brother, the one who called. What did he want?"
Waving the cigarette around, she told him, "I don't know, somethin' about calling to see how everything was going. Said he delivered your message or something along those lines. I don't know what the hell he was talking about."
Shutting the fridge, Jess in haled deeply, the smell of smoke invading his senses, pulling at his craving for a cigarette. He hadn't smoked again since the night of the accident and now, after hearing what Luke said, he was in serious need of one.
"Is that all he said?" he asked, realizing that he voice was gruff and scratchy.
Eyeing him, Liz muttered, "What's it to you?"
Rolling his eyes, Jess shot back, "nothing I guess, I just lived with the guy for 7 months. Why should I care if he called and left me a message?" Shaking his head, he stormed off, heading for his room.
"What about this mess?" Liz exclaimed, gesturing to the counter top and his un-finished bowl of cereal.
"I'm not hungry anymore!" Jess shot back before slamming the bedroom door roughly. Cursing, he flopped down on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. Luke had given Rory the book with his note in it. Running a hand through his hair, he reached down with his free one, rooting under the bed.
Feeling the box with the tip of his fingers, he snatched it up and got a cigarette out. Pulling his mothers lighter out and lighting the end, Jess took a long drag and closed his eyes, savoring the taste. His nerves ebbed some and he took another hit, letting it out slowly, wishing that everything else in his life would just float away like the smoke.
Float away and leave him alone.
***
So where will this end, it goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around, I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this sick cycle carousel
This is a sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
This is a sick cycle, yeah…
***
Coming out of the room dressed for school and her backpack already in place, Rory walked into the kitchen and spotted her mom at the coffee machine, staring down into the pot wearily.
"I'm off," she announced finally, still feeling awkward after their conversation last night.
"Wait," Lorelai called out. "I'm making coffee. At least I think I am. Me and the machine had a little disagreement involving the threat of a sledge hammer, but I think we've moved on."
"I'm ok," Rory finally mumbled, shifting her backpack some.
"But you can't start a day without coffee, it's like the 11 commandment. Thou shall not start a day without thy's coffee."
"I'll grab some on the way."
"From where? We've assessed the competition and still declared Luke's the best. It's just plain wrong to buy it any where else."
Refusing to meet her eyes, Rory looked downward and finally admitted, "Luke's is open."
"Open," Lorelai repeated, her voice slightly off. "Really? When did it re- open?"
"Last night…when Luke got back from fishing."
"Huh, Luke is back? You knew Luke was back last night?"
"Yes."
"Yet you didn't tell me? Huh," Lorelai added, reaching for her purse. "Well, then by all means, you go have coffee at Luke's."
"You have no right to be mad," Rory said suddenly, making her mother stop cold. "After what you did to me, you have no right!"
"Excuse me," she said, turning around. "What I did to you?"
"You made Luke send Jess away just because you disliked him." Ending the conversation, Rory turned and went through the back door, leaving Lorelai in the kitchen alone.
***
Picking up the phone, Luke dialed the now familiar number and waited, about ready to give up when the line was picked up.
"Yeah?"
Hearing the grunt, Luke said, "where you been?"
He could practically hear the eye roll before Jess replied, "nice to hear from you too uncle Luke."
"I've been calling for the last few days - didn't your mom give you the message?"
"Liz said something about it a day or three ago."
Shaking his head at Jess's annoying attitude, Luke added, "and did it ever occur to you to call me back?"
Again, he could sense Jess's shrug. "Thought might have crossed my mind."
"Look, Mr. Cool, I just wanted to let you know that I did what you asked, alright? Not that you deserved the favor."
There was a long pause on the other end before Jess said finally, "you gonna make me ask?"
Crossing his arms, Luke just grunted. He heard Jess sigh, but continued to keep silent.
"Did she like it?" he finally muttered, almost too low for him to even hear.
Contemplating it for a moment, Luke finally sighed himself and told his nephew, "I think you should give her a call."
Jess laughed bitterly on the other end and bit out, "oh yeah, that'll go over well."
"She doesn't blame you for the wreck Jess. In fact, she's been going around all of town trying to convince everyone else that it wasn't your fault, but hers," he admitted.
"It wasn't Rory's fault," Jess told him sternly. "If they're gonna blame anyone, it should be me."
"And what about what Rory thinks?"
"It doesn't matter. She's better off with it this way."
"Look, I should probably be staying out of this, in fact, I know I should, but I'm gonna shed some light on this for you: she misses you, and you miss her."
Again, there was long pause. Finally, Jess spoke up, his voice slightly off, like he was trying to act cool but failing. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Frustrated that his advice was being tossed back into his face, Luke tossed out, "fine, play the jerk card, but just remember that you messed this up on your own." Hanging up the phone, he sighed and shook his head.
--
Staring up at the diner, Lorelai nervously ringed her hands together and walked up to it, pulling the door open and stepping in. Spotting Luke behind the counter with the phone to his ear, she took in a deep breath and strolled up to it, waiting for him to stop speaking.
"…You messed this up on your own," he was saying, his voice slightly angry. Wondering who he was talking to, Lorelai guessed it was Jess and took that as a plus - maybe he was finally starting to get that the wreck was his fault.
A second later Luke hung up, shaking his head. He continued to stare at the wall for a few more moments before turning around, taking one look at her and freezing.
Feeling her cheeks turn red, Lorelai smiled faintly. "Hey."
Luke, looking away, simply grunted in reply.
"So…you're back," she added lamely.
"Looks that way."
"Have any luck fishing?"
"What do you want Lorelai?" Luke questioned suddenly, still not looking at her.
Shocked into silence, she glanced down before stumbling out, "um, I just wanted to, uh, say that I'm sorry." Looking back up at his face, she told him, "I'm sorry, Luke."
Luke paused to look at her face, and she smiled, but it quickly left her face when he turned and walked away, not saying anything. Confused, she followed him.
"Ok, was I just thinking that silently, or did actual words come out of my mouth?"
"What do you want me to say?" he asked, his voice starting to sound like it did when he was on the phone.
"How about 'I'm sorry too Lorelai. Lets share this moment over a hot steaming cup of Joe'." When he just seemed to get more upset, she paused and said softly, "Luke…"
"You know what, I'm kinda busy tonight, so…" Trailing off, he picked up a rag and walked away, going over to wipe off a tabletop.
"Yeah…busy," she repeated, looking down before hurrying out of the diner, not seeing that Luke watched her walk away from the window.
***
TBC…
Ok, don't be mad at me for ending the part like this, but I agree with all the spoilers I've read - I can't see Luke just giving in and forgiving Lorelai yet…but have no fear, I do want them together. Also, I don't know if I wrote Luke ok in this part, having him advising Jess to call Rory, but I figured they needed an adult on their side. Anyway, so here's the next part, so please review and let me know what you think!!!! :D
A/N: Hey guys! I got this part done sooner than I thought - I just can't seem to stop working on this fic! :D
I'm, like, in obsessed writer over-time mode. I sat down last night and churned out page after page! It's kinda sad cause I can write so well on this one, and my poor little Roswell fic is getting less attention :(
Anyway, I hope you guys like this part!! Also, the song in this part is by Lifehouse, one of my fave bands. Their cd is just so great - I love writing while it's playing in the background. The song is called 'Sick, Cycle Carousel', hence the name of this chapter. I just thought the words felt really good with how the characters were feeling at the time.
Also, I just fixed all my typo's. evidently, I DID have all the italics and bold thingy's wrong :(
***
PART 02 ~
Moving silently through the dark house, Lorelai Gilmore tiptoed through the front foyer, breezing past the living room toward the kitchen, hoping that, on a off chance, there might be some coffee sitting around. Not seeing any, she pouted slightly.
"Not even prayer can control the coffee gods," she mused out loud.
"Is there a reason you're sneaking around the kitchen in the dark?"
Jumping slightly, Lorelai whirled around and hit the light switch, staring sullenly at her daughter. "I thought we agreed after the horrible, ugly knife incident that sneaking up on mommy is never a good idea."
"It was a butter knife," Rory returned, her body slightly stiff as she stood in the doorway.
"But the scare still remains till this day."
"If I remember correctly, your finger went un-harmed."
"Inside scars, honey, inside. I would think, after getting to know your Grandmother, you would've realized that the internal scars are much more paralyzing," she commented. "Has that woman not taught you anything?"
"Mom-"
"I mean, her glares alone are enough to bring Jason and Freddie and any other homicidal nightmarish killer to their knees."
"Mom," Rory repeated, stopping her rant. Coming into the kitchen, she sat down at the table. "You still haven't answered why you were in here."
"Oh, just seeing in the coffee fairies had stopped by for their nightly visit." Looking at her closely, Lorelai decided to just keep up the light banter rather than broach the subject directly.
"They've been slacking lately," Rory agreed.
"Yes, with their union lays off and vacations to go fishing, we, the customer, have been deprived." Looking down at the tabletop, Rory kept silent and Lorelai took note, setting down herself. "So, what about you?"
"What about me?" she questioned, looking back up.
"It's after midnight and you have school tomorrow. Why up so late?"
Shrugging, Rory looked back down and answered, "reading…doing some thinking…" Her voice sounded drained and her mother flinched some, feeling the slight tension rolling off her.
Nodding, Lorelai waited a beat then added, "and the great knowledge obtained from this thinking was…" It was almost as if she holding her breath, waiting for the answer.
"You know, this would be the part where any other mother would realize it's late and their daughter needs her beauty sleep," Rory stated suddenly, wanting to change the subject.
"Are you suggesting that I am a 'any other mother'? I am insulted, I am offended. I am insulted AND offended. Super mom does not appreciate this."
"Super mom?"
"In some circles, yes. Now spill," Lorelai commanded. "Why the late watch?"
Sighing deeply, Rory seemed to consider the idea for a few moments before standing up and just saying, "it's late and I'm sleepy."
Watching her walk off, Lorelai sighed herself and slumped down in her chair some, closing her eyes when she heard her daughters' bedroom door shut, slightly harder than necessary. Rubbing her temples, she continued to sit there for a few more minutes before standing up and shuffling up the stairs, throwing herself down on the bed dramatically, too tired mentally and physically to worry about changing her clothes.
***
If shame had face
I think it would kinda look like mine
If it had a home, would it be my eyes?
Would you believe me if I said I'm tired of this?
Well, here we go now one more time/b
***
Turning onto her side, Rory listened as her mother retreated up the stairs, her footfalls heavy. Feeling a twinge of guilt at making her mother upset, she pushed it down, remember how she had more than likely been a part of why Luke had let Jess move back to New York.
Luke hadn't come straight out and said it yet, but there was a certain look in his eyes, whenever Lorelai's name was mentioned, that made Rory even more positive that their argument was much bigger than usual. Luke prided himself on the fact that you take care of family; protect them, no matter what. And something big had to happen to make him send Jess away.
***
Cause I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how
Low I could get down to the ground
And I tried to earn my way
Well, I tried to change this mind
You better believe that I am trying to beat this
***
Glancing at the book laying on her stand, Rory smiled softly and reached for it, setting herself up against the headboard. Reaching for her lamp, she stopped and decided against it, rather pulling up her shade and letting the moonlight filter in, giving her more than enough light to read by.
Pausing to stare at the moon, she smiled again and opened the book, finding page one and starting to read.
***
So when will this end, it goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around, I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this for good
***
Stuffing his hands into his coat pockets, Jess walked down the sidewalk, ignoring the people he passed, making some of them wonder why someone his age was wondering around this late. Pulling his jean coat a little more closer to his body, he glanced upward at the moon casually, but getting snagged by it.
Her couldn't stop the thought before it entered his mind and shortly found himself wondering what she was doing, if maybe she was looking up at it too. Snorting, he shook his head and looked back downward, trudging along. The last thing he needed was to drive himself insane by thinking up all those freakin' what ifs'.
***
I never thought I'd end up here
Never thought I'd be standing where I am
Guess I kinda thought that it would be easier than this
I guess I was wrong now, one more time
***
What if she broke up with bag-boy?
What if she missed him?
What if she felt the same way about him as he did her..?
Grunting, Jess shoved all those thoughts away and forcefully tugged open the door to his apartment building, take the stairs 2 at a time, listening to his footfalls, making the noise drive all his thoughts away.
***
Cause I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how
Low I could get down to the ground
And I tried to earn my way
I tried to change this mind
You better believe that I am trying to beat this
***
Reaching his apartment, he dug out the key and turned the lock, barging in and kicking the door shut behind him. A second later another door in the house opened and Liz, his darling mother, nearly screeched, "Jess, some of us are sleeping for Christ's sake!"
Ignoring the 'us' in her speech, he merely shrugged and headed for the kitchen, pulling out a bowl and some cereal.
Coming out into the room and searching around, she added, "and Luke called."
Pausing, Jess opened the cereal box and said out loud, "huh," while trying to keep his voice neutral and un-interested.
"Where's my lighter," she muttered, already finding the box of cigarettes. "Did you steal it again," she accused.
"Quit," he bit off, pouring the cereal into a bowl, leaving the box opened on the counter before heading for the refrigerator. "What did he want?"
"Who," she asked, finding some matches and lighting up her cigarette before taking a long drag.
Getting frustrated, Jess demanded, "your brother, the one who called. What did he want?"
Waving the cigarette around, she told him, "I don't know, somethin' about calling to see how everything was going. Said he delivered your message or something along those lines. I don't know what the hell he was talking about."
Shutting the fridge, Jess in haled deeply, the smell of smoke invading his senses, pulling at his craving for a cigarette. He hadn't smoked again since the night of the accident and now, after hearing what Luke said, he was in serious need of one.
"Is that all he said?" he asked, realizing that he voice was gruff and scratchy.
Eyeing him, Liz muttered, "What's it to you?"
Rolling his eyes, Jess shot back, "nothing I guess, I just lived with the guy for 7 months. Why should I care if he called and left me a message?" Shaking his head, he stormed off, heading for his room.
"What about this mess?" Liz exclaimed, gesturing to the counter top and his un-finished bowl of cereal.
"I'm not hungry anymore!" Jess shot back before slamming the bedroom door roughly. Cursing, he flopped down on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. Luke had given Rory the book with his note in it. Running a hand through his hair, he reached down with his free one, rooting under the bed.
Feeling the box with the tip of his fingers, he snatched it up and got a cigarette out. Pulling his mothers lighter out and lighting the end, Jess took a long drag and closed his eyes, savoring the taste. His nerves ebbed some and he took another hit, letting it out slowly, wishing that everything else in his life would just float away like the smoke.
Float away and leave him alone.
***
So where will this end, it goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keep spinning around, I know that it won't stop
Till I step down from this sick cycle carousel
This is a sick cycle carousel
Sick cycle carousel
This is a sick cycle, yeah…
***
Coming out of the room dressed for school and her backpack already in place, Rory walked into the kitchen and spotted her mom at the coffee machine, staring down into the pot wearily.
"I'm off," she announced finally, still feeling awkward after their conversation last night.
"Wait," Lorelai called out. "I'm making coffee. At least I think I am. Me and the machine had a little disagreement involving the threat of a sledge hammer, but I think we've moved on."
"I'm ok," Rory finally mumbled, shifting her backpack some.
"But you can't start a day without coffee, it's like the 11 commandment. Thou shall not start a day without thy's coffee."
"I'll grab some on the way."
"From where? We've assessed the competition and still declared Luke's the best. It's just plain wrong to buy it any where else."
Refusing to meet her eyes, Rory looked downward and finally admitted, "Luke's is open."
"Open," Lorelai repeated, her voice slightly off. "Really? When did it re- open?"
"Last night…when Luke got back from fishing."
"Huh, Luke is back? You knew Luke was back last night?"
"Yes."
"Yet you didn't tell me? Huh," Lorelai added, reaching for her purse. "Well, then by all means, you go have coffee at Luke's."
"You have no right to be mad," Rory said suddenly, making her mother stop cold. "After what you did to me, you have no right!"
"Excuse me," she said, turning around. "What I did to you?"
"You made Luke send Jess away just because you disliked him." Ending the conversation, Rory turned and went through the back door, leaving Lorelai in the kitchen alone.
***
Picking up the phone, Luke dialed the now familiar number and waited, about ready to give up when the line was picked up.
"Yeah?"
Hearing the grunt, Luke said, "where you been?"
He could practically hear the eye roll before Jess replied, "nice to hear from you too uncle Luke."
"I've been calling for the last few days - didn't your mom give you the message?"
"Liz said something about it a day or three ago."
Shaking his head at Jess's annoying attitude, Luke added, "and did it ever occur to you to call me back?"
Again, he could sense Jess's shrug. "Thought might have crossed my mind."
"Look, Mr. Cool, I just wanted to let you know that I did what you asked, alright? Not that you deserved the favor."
There was a long pause on the other end before Jess said finally, "you gonna make me ask?"
Crossing his arms, Luke just grunted. He heard Jess sigh, but continued to keep silent.
"Did she like it?" he finally muttered, almost too low for him to even hear.
Contemplating it for a moment, Luke finally sighed himself and told his nephew, "I think you should give her a call."
Jess laughed bitterly on the other end and bit out, "oh yeah, that'll go over well."
"She doesn't blame you for the wreck Jess. In fact, she's been going around all of town trying to convince everyone else that it wasn't your fault, but hers," he admitted.
"It wasn't Rory's fault," Jess told him sternly. "If they're gonna blame anyone, it should be me."
"And what about what Rory thinks?"
"It doesn't matter. She's better off with it this way."
"Look, I should probably be staying out of this, in fact, I know I should, but I'm gonna shed some light on this for you: she misses you, and you miss her."
Again, there was long pause. Finally, Jess spoke up, his voice slightly off, like he was trying to act cool but failing. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Frustrated that his advice was being tossed back into his face, Luke tossed out, "fine, play the jerk card, but just remember that you messed this up on your own." Hanging up the phone, he sighed and shook his head.
--
Staring up at the diner, Lorelai nervously ringed her hands together and walked up to it, pulling the door open and stepping in. Spotting Luke behind the counter with the phone to his ear, she took in a deep breath and strolled up to it, waiting for him to stop speaking.
"…You messed this up on your own," he was saying, his voice slightly angry. Wondering who he was talking to, Lorelai guessed it was Jess and took that as a plus - maybe he was finally starting to get that the wreck was his fault.
A second later Luke hung up, shaking his head. He continued to stare at the wall for a few more moments before turning around, taking one look at her and freezing.
Feeling her cheeks turn red, Lorelai smiled faintly. "Hey."
Luke, looking away, simply grunted in reply.
"So…you're back," she added lamely.
"Looks that way."
"Have any luck fishing?"
"What do you want Lorelai?" Luke questioned suddenly, still not looking at her.
Shocked into silence, she glanced down before stumbling out, "um, I just wanted to, uh, say that I'm sorry." Looking back up at his face, she told him, "I'm sorry, Luke."
Luke paused to look at her face, and she smiled, but it quickly left her face when he turned and walked away, not saying anything. Confused, she followed him.
"Ok, was I just thinking that silently, or did actual words come out of my mouth?"
"What do you want me to say?" he asked, his voice starting to sound like it did when he was on the phone.
"How about 'I'm sorry too Lorelai. Lets share this moment over a hot steaming cup of Joe'." When he just seemed to get more upset, she paused and said softly, "Luke…"
"You know what, I'm kinda busy tonight, so…" Trailing off, he picked up a rag and walked away, going over to wipe off a tabletop.
"Yeah…busy," she repeated, looking down before hurrying out of the diner, not seeing that Luke watched her walk away from the window.
***
TBC…
Ok, don't be mad at me for ending the part like this, but I agree with all the spoilers I've read - I can't see Luke just giving in and forgiving Lorelai yet…but have no fear, I do want them together. Also, I don't know if I wrote Luke ok in this part, having him advising Jess to call Rory, but I figured they needed an adult on their side. Anyway, so here's the next part, so please review and let me know what you think!!!! :D