Summer in stars Hollow- Rachel comes to town…
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's Note: For the sake of my story, Lorelai and Rachel became good friends somehow.
~*~Monday morning~*~
"Rachel!" Lorelai exclaimed excitedly as she greeted Rachel with a hug.
"Hey Lorelai!" Rachel smiled and returned the hug.
"How was your trip?"
"Boring, but it was worth it."
"Where were you?" Lorelai asked curiously.
"Rome."
"Oh cool. Do you want to go out for lunch with me and Luke?"
"Um, okay." She agreed.
"Alright, we'll take you're bags up and Luke should be here soon."
"Okay." Rachel said as she followed Lorelai up the stairs.
~*~
Luke walked into the inn and went up to the front desk. "Michel, Where's Lorelai?"
"Lorelai and the crazy photographer are in the kitchen. Follow me." Michel replied snappishly as he went to the kitchen, Luke followed.
"Lorelai, the disgusting plaid man is here."
"Thank you Michel, you can go back to the desk and be bitter now." Lorelai smiled.
"Alright, where do you two want to go?" Asked Luke.
Lorelai and Rachel smiled and looked at Luke, "The diner!" they said in unison.
"Ugh."
"Caveman Luke strikes again. How 'bout we grab some food from the diner, and eat in the gazebo?" Lorelai suggested.
Luke sighed, "Alright."
~*~
"So what are you doing here?" Luke asked curiously as they sat in the Gazebo.
"I'm actually glad you asked, I'm here taking pictures for an article a friend of mine is doing."
"So why are you taking pictures in Stars Hollow?" Lorelai asked.
"Because I know you guys and I need some really unique things that I know I'd find here."
"So you came to take pictures of Lorelai and Rory eating?"
Lorelai smacked him playfully. "Not nice."
Rachel rolled her eyes *this is going to work perfectly* "Not likely." she smiled.
"So what are you really taking pictures of?" Lorelai asked.
"Uh, just some people in town."
"You're being general." Luke glared at her.
"Yes, I am." Rachel smiled.
"Well you wanna tell me what the article is about." Luke asked.
Rachel smiled, "Friends and stuff."
"And stuff huh. I'd ask but I don't think I want to know."
"Come on Luke, this is gonna be fun and you know it."
"No, fun isn't the word I'd use to describe it."
"But you know you'll enjoy it." Rachel grinned.
"Yeah, cuz I always enjoy being tortured by crazy women." Luke said in a tone that they couldn't tell if he was joking or not.
Lorelai smiled, "I wondered why I haven't been kicked out of the diner yet."
"No, that's because I enjoy making a profit."
Lorelai stuck out her tongue, "Well I'm glad I'm useful."
"Well yeah. Business isn't going to be as good for the rest of the summer with Rory gone."
"Where's Rory?" Rachel asked.
Lorelai pouted, "She left me all by myself for the entire summer while she's off at smart kids camp, getting paid to take college courses and scouting out campuses."
"What's so bad about that?" Rachel asked.
"Now she hasn't got a partner n crime."
"She's my bestest friend and coffee drinking partner too."
Rachel smiled, "You two are the coolest mother and daughter."
Lorelai grinned, "I know." she said as she looked at her watch, "Oh man, I've gotta go. If I'm gone too long the power gets to Michel's head." Lorelai pouted, "See you after work."
"Bye Lorelai."
"Later."
Lorelai reluctantly got up and went back to the inn.
~*~
Luke and Rachel went back into the diner and sat down. "So Luke, you're still a pansy."
Luke grunted, "You're going to give me hell until I tell her aren't you?"
"I just want the two of you to be happy."
"You know, they say Ignorance is bliss."
Rachel frowned, "Luke, you've gotta tell her, you have no idea how she'd react."
"Exactly, and I can't afford for her to react badly." Luke argued.
"But what if she's in love with you too but is waiting for you to say something?"
"Knowing Lorelai, if she's in love with anyone she's going to say something. If I told her I love her, either way she felt, she'd probably run away from it all."
"Luke, you didn't make any sense. Just risk it, I promise it's a worthwhile investment."
"What if she runs? What am I supposed to do then?"
Rachel sighed, "Stop playing 'what if'. What if she met someone and got engaged, what would you do? Does it matter?"
Luke shook his head, "Been there, done that."
"What?!"
"She almost got married to Rory's English Lit. Teacher. She ran away from it." Luke said sadly.
"Luke I'm sorry. I didn't know." Rachel said sympathetically.
"It's okay. God, I hated him."
"Now why do you think that was?"
"Yeah yeah, you're going to say jealousy but he was just really full of himself."
"Uh huh. I think I'll stick to jealousy."
"Why don't you go bother someone else?"
"You're more fun, but if I'm really not wanted then I'll go to the inn and talk to Lorelai."
"Fine but if she says anything about Star Trek just walk away."
Rachel laughed, "Where did she hear about that?"
"When Mia came to town. She doesn't know as much as she thinks she does, so no 'Luke as a kid' stories. Okay?"
Rachel sighed, "That's no fun. I suppose I'll just have to tell her all about 'Luke now'."
Luke grunted, "You wouldn't." he sighed, "You would. Fine if you two are at a complete lack of conversation, and knowing both of you, you won't, but if said miracle were to occur then I suppose you could share one 'Luke as a kid' story, but not a bad one. Let me know what you've said before she comes in here though."
"Alright Luke, no telling her you're in love with her and if asked I can tell her everything about the Trekkie days." Rachel smirked.
"Just get out of here." Luke shook his head as she left.
~*~
"Hey Lorelai, hey Sookie." Rachel said as she walked into the kitchen.
"Hey Rachel! What are you doing here?" Lorelai greeted.
"I got kicked out of the diner." she smiled.
"Really? How?"
"I was annoying Luke about some stuff." Rachel answered.
"Ooh, what kind of stuff?" Lorelai asked curiously.
"Just buggin' him about a chick." she smiled. Sookie, who was behind Lorelai cooking, put down her spoon and pointed to Lorelai and make hearts with her fingers, causing Rachel to laugh. Lorelai looked behind her at Sookie who had managed to turn around and pick up the spoon again, "What's funny?" she demanded.
"Nothing." Rachel said through giggles.
"Liar. Who were you bugging him about?"
"Just some chick I saw him checking out earlier."
"We are talking about the same Luke right?" Lorelai checked.
Sookie laughed, "You know Luke is constantly checking you out."
"He is not!" Lorelai said strongly.
"You don't need to get defensive." Rachel smiled.
"I'm not getting defensive! Luke is not in love with me. Sookie, we've been through this. Rachel, I don't know where you got that crazy idea but he's not in love with me."
"So do you like him?" Rachel asked.
Lorelai sighed deeply, "Maybe a little."
"Have you guys kissed?" Rachel asked curiously.
Lorelai looked at Rachel confused, "Why?"
"I need to know for the pictures." she answered.
"Uh-huh. Well, no, not each other anyway."
"But you almost did." Sookie added.
"Sookie! It wasn't even close."
"But you said you felt his breath and he looked like he was going to but then he didn't."
*hmm, I'll have to ask him about that.* Rachel thought. "Okay, well that's even better."
"So have you taken any pictures yet?" Lorelai asked.
"No, actually I haven't. I've just been waiting for the moment to come up." Rachel answered.
"What are you planning on taking pictures of?" Sookie asked curiously.
"People in love." Rachel smiled.
"You are officially NOT taking pictures of me."
"Oh come on Lor'! You and Luke are the only people in this town that I came to take pictures of!"
"Take pictures of Sookie and Jackson."
"I can't. Honestly, the article is about Friends, first kisses, and true love."
Lorelai sighed loudly and walked off. She wandered around town for what seemed like forever before she ended up at Luke's.
"Luke," she pouted, "I need coffee."
Luke had seen her pass the diner four times before coming in so he sat the mug in front of her and poured the coffee with no argument. "Bad day?"
"Not really. I've just got some stuff on my mind." she said as she took a sip of the coffee.
Rachel came into the diner and sat next to Lorelai, "I thought I'd find you here." she smiled.
Lorelai rolled her eyes, "I'll let you take your pictures but just to prove that you, and Sookie, and my mother, and Rory, and this entire town are all wrong."
Rachel grinned excitedly, "Thanks Lorelai! You won't regret it. I promise."
*I hope not.* Lorelai thought as she looked at Luke.
~*~
More coming soon…Next Chapter: Rachel's Plan goes into full swing. *muahahaha*