AN: okay, a little trory action in this chapter!

I don't know what rating to give this, but it contains a tiny bit of language, sexual references and some kissing. Nothing bad, just letting you know.

Disc: characters not mine, I'm jus borrowing for a lil while



The Games People Play

5. Coffee, Kisses and BUSTED!



"Mom, I need to borrow your wonderbra!" Rory burst into Lorelai's room wrapped in a robe.

"What?"

"I have this great dress to wear tonight, but it need cleavage to hold it up. Ergo borrowing wonderbra." Rory explained.

"But those things are sexist and degrading to women, insinuating that we must all have huge, perfectly shaped breasts to be attractive to men. What makes you think I would submit to this crass invention and own one?"

"Mom, who do you think does the laundry around here? Although I haven't seen it around for a while, not since you first started dating Max."

"Hey! That was a low blow, picking on the lack of action my wonderbra has seen recently."

"It must be feeling rejected. I'm offering to take it out for a night, so it's not offended that you apparently like the other bras better."

"It shouldn't feel too rejected, it's not the only undergarment that hasn't made an appearance for a while." Lorelai muttered sadly as she retrieved the bra for Rory.

"Thanks Mom!" Rory made a grab for the bra, but Lorelai held it back.

"Now, young lady, you do realise that the wonderbra is a very dangerous weapon, use of which is not to be taken lightly."

"I won't, I promise." Rory said solemnly, holding out her hands.

"It's to stay firmly attached all night." Lorelai insisted as she handed the bra to her daughter, who immediately took off to her room.

Fifteen minutes later Rory emerged.

"Wow, honey. You look gorgeous."

"Thank you." Rory spun around, showing off her black knee length strapless dress, suitably propped up by the wonderbra.

"You can tell me where you're really going now."

"I did."

"You expect me to believe you went to all that effort for a Chilton event?"

"Well the dress was just begging to be borrowed. I couldn't disappoint it.

"So when do you have to return it? I wonder if it'd fit me." Lorelai mused.

"Forget it! Bye mom."

"You're so cruel! Bye Sweets, have a good time, be home by... Who am I kidding giving you a curfew, I trust you. Be home when ever."

"Thanks mom!" Rory pulled on a cardigan and raced out the door.

Lorelai sank into the couch. What was she gonna do now? Saturday night and home alone. How sad. She thought about calling Sookie, but remembered that it was her and Jackson's anniversary so they had a special night planned.

"Hmph." Lorelai pulled herself off the couch and headed for Luke's.



"Oh my gosh, you look so nice!" Lane exclaimed, as Rory arrived at her house "quick, don't let my mother see you."

Lane was wearing a big coat to hide her outfit. "Bye mom, I'm going to the country club again."

"You spend so much time at this club. It's properly supervised, yes?"

"Yes mama."

"No boys?"

"No mama," Lane crossed her fingers, "I'm going with Rory. Bye."

They made a quick escape to Rory's car. Once inside Lane removed her jacket.

"Wow, you look really nice too," Rory complimented.

"Thanks, I'm so excited," Lane looked nervously at her house, "now drive before she changes her mind!"



Rory caught herself scanning the room for Tristan as she and Lane entered the function room at the club and scolded herself, 'I don't care if he's here. Just because he was nice to me when we played tennis doesn't mean he isn't evil.'

"I'm gonna go talk to Henry okay?" Lane took off and Rory was left wondered what she was doing here. She wished she'd brought a book, but it hadn't fit in her purse. Luckily the presentations began, giving her something to do. She clapped politely as the winners were announced.

"And the runners up for the mixed doubles, Tristan DuGrey and Rory Gilmore."

'uh oh' Rory thought as Tristan appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her hand, pulling her on stage. Tristan accepted the trophy, "I just want to congratulate Henry and Paris for a great competition," he said, "I also want thank Chilton and the Hartford Country Club for hosting the tournament, and my partner Rory."

Rory was startled when she heard her name but smiled politely and remained onstage clapping as Paris and Henry collected their trophy.

As the four left the stage, Tristan slung his arm around Rory's bare shoulder, "looking hot tonight Mary. Save me a dance later, okay?" he said before melting into the crowd.

Rory sighed and turned around to talk to face Paris.

"I don't care what's going on between you two," Paris said coldly, "now the presentation's over I can go home."

"But you'll be missing the party, isn't that supposedly the best part?"

"Yeah, well what would I know? What would you know about it for that matter?"

"I'm here aren't I? I'm wearing a dress. I think you should stay, Paris. Live a little." Rory encouraged.

"What do you care?" Paris challenged.

"Oh, don't worry, I don't, it was just a suggestion."

Paris checked her watch, "well, maybe I'll stay a little while."



Lorelai sat down at the counter at Luke's

"What can I get you?" he asked.

"Burger and fries and coffee, thanks."

"I thought I told you no more burgers."

"Oh that was Lorelai, I'm her evil twin, I can have as many burgers as I want."

"Nice try. But no burger."

"But you say no coffee every day and that never stops me."

"No burger." Luke remained firm as he wiped down the counter.

"I promise I'll never sit on you again."

"Nope. You'll thank me when you don't weigh 200 pounds in 10 years time."

"Fine, just the fries." Lorelai gave in.

"Cos fries are so much better for you." Luke said sarcastically.

"They're made out of potato, which is a vegetable, which is good for you. And that healthy coating of lard makes them tasty as well!" she replied brightly.

Lorelai spent the next few hours eating her way through three plates of fries and drinking five cups of coffee, chatting to Luke sporadically as he served everyone else. Finally all the other customers had left and he was about to close up.

"Bye Luke." Jess finished working and headed straight for the door,

"Where are you going?" Luke asked.

"Out."

"When will you be home?"

"Later."

"Okay."

"Love the communication you guys got going there." Lorelai said.

"In case you haven't noticed I'm closing. The coffee pot is turned off."

"You're gonna kick me out? Make me go home all alone?" Lorelai pouted.

Luke shrugged, "I don't mind if you want to stay. Don't know what you're gonna do though."

"Wanna play poker again?"

"Sure." Luke agreed.

[AN: Warning - I don't actually know how to play poker. I was half taught by a seven year old once, but that's the extent of my skills so those who can actually play, use your imagination]

"So, are we done with the country club thing now?" Luke asked as he dealt. Lorelai thought she detected a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"I guess so. You won't have to pretend to be madly in love with me any more."

"Oh good, cos that was getting really hard."

'so much for disappointment, he couldn't be happier.' Lorelai thought.

"Well it can't have been as hard as it was for me," she responded angrily.

"Let's just play." Luke said.

"Fine."

They played a few rounds without conversation.

"This is boring," Lorelai finally said, having gotten over her earlier sulking, "Can we play for something more than matches?"

"What, play for money?"

"No, not money. Something interesting."

"Like strip poker?" Luke raised his eyebrows.

"That would make it more interesting. Although I was thinking along the lines of coffee."

"We can't play for coffee. What's in it for me?"

"Well for each game I win, you owe me coffee and for each game you win I owe you something."

"Okay." Luke agreed.

"Great! Get that coffee pot back on, mister."

"You haven't won anything yet." Luke reminded her, but nevertheless turned around to start the coffee.

"So what do you want from me?" Lorelai asked.

"Kisses."

"What? Kisses?"

'oh crap, did I say that out loud?' Luke asked himself, "erm.." he stood frozen, his back to Lorelai, trying to think of a way to take it back.

"If that's what you want, kisses it is," Lorelai declared, pretending as though it wasn't anything out of the ordinary for Luke to ask her to kiss him, "now get dealing."



Rory was actually having a good time at the party, but when the music turned slow and people started playing a spin the bottle she opted out and left the room, walking past several couples, including Henry and Lane slow dancing. She felt slightly envious of the couples, even though she didn't regret breaking up with Dean, it would be nice to have someone to hold. She wondered where Tristan was, he had, after all promised her a dance. 'I did not just think that,' Rory shook her head.



Lane looked up from Henry's shoulder, "okay, she just left the room."

"I'll go find Tristan. Are you sure this isn't gonna piss her off?" Henry asked.

"Sometimes a best friend knows you better than you know yourself," Lane said mysteriously, "trust me, one day she'll thank me. And if she does get pissed off I'll just blame it all on you!"

"Thanks alot," Henry complained.

Lane just kissed him on the cheek, "hurry up," she said.



Meanwhile, Rory wandered down the hall until she found the door to someone's office open.

"Hello?" she called. There was no one there so she went in, sat down on the couch and turned a lamp on to look around for a bookshelf. 'who wouldn't have a bookshelf in their office?'

As she sat back on the couch she found a book wedged between the cushions. 'Mills and Boon, great.' Well it was better than nothing. Rory opened to a random page and began to read, laughing softly to herself.

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything." A deep voice startled Rory.

"Tristan, you scared me." (everybody start smiling now!)

He entered the room, closing the door after him, "we've got to stop meeting like this, Mary. What are you doing hiding out in here?"

"I'm not hiding out, I enjoy my own company. Besides, this stupid dress keeps falling down so it's best if I don't move too much." Rory tugged at the top of Madeleine's dress.

"Need a hand?" Tristan offered.

Rory ignored his question, "what are you doing here anyway, Tristan? You do know they're playing spin the bottle in there, don't you? Thought that would have been something you'd be right into."

"I'm being more particular about who I kiss these days."

"There's a first time for everything."

Tristan sat down next to her, "so watcha reading that's so amusing?"

"Nothing." Rory shoved it back under the cushions, but Tristan quickly retrieved it.

"Mills and Boon huh? Think you might learn something?"

"Go away Tristan." Rory crossed her arms.

"Hey, I'm sorry, no more mocking, I promise," Tristan crossed his heart, "please let me stay."

"Why? Because you enjoy my company or because you've kissed nearly every girl out there already?" Rory asked.

"A little of both." Tristan confessed, but he smiled so cutely that Rory couldn't refuse.

"Okay, I suppose you're better than a romance novel."

"I put romance novels to shame, baby!"



"So what sort of kisses are we talking here?" Lorelai asked as she lost another game. Luke owed her four cups of coffee, but she owed him twice as many kisses. "Like a peck on the cheek, or french or what?"

"I hadn't thought about it."

"I'll tell you what. You can trade three normal kisses in for one with tongue."

"How many do I have to trade in for sex?" Luke asked.

Lorelai's mouth dropped open. Her jaw moved but no sound came back.

Luke laughed, "relax, I'm only joking. I made you speechless though!" he said proudly.

"A feat usually only achieved by coffee. Very impressive." Lorelai conceded once she found her voice.

"Hmm, I gotta try that more often." Luke pondered.

"I wanna start claiming my coffee," said Lorelai.

"Okay, but I wanna claim a kiss first. Before you start tasting like coffee."

"I always taste like coffee. But sure, what sort?"

"Just a normal kiss."

"Come here then." Lorelai tried to act nonchalant, but her heart was pounding as she leaned over the counter and pulled Luke's head to hers. She licked her lips and brought them to meet his in a soft kiss that was over far too soon to satisfy either of them.

Their foreheads rested against each other for a split-second until Lorelai let out a deep breath, "okay, coffee now."

"Sure," Luke acted cool, but as he turned around to pour her coffee he couldn't resist smiling, 'why didn't I think of this game sooner?' he thought.



"You want to play truth or dare?" Tristan asked Rory.

"I don't think I trust you enough for that," Rory replied suspiciously.

"Well what are we gonna do then?"

"If you don't want to be here you know where the door is."

"I didn't mean it like that. Hey you still owe me a dance you know."

"I can't hear the music in here," Rory said.

"You're gonna have to come up with a better excuse than that Gilmore," Tristan stood up and tried to pull her with him, but Rory wouldn't budge. She was still worried about her dress staying in place.

"Why do we have to do anything? We could just talk," she suggested.

"Sit in a dark room with an attractive girl and just talk? I've never tried that one before," Tristan pondered, stretching his arm out along the back of the couch and leaning back.

"Then is it really surprising that your relationships don't last?" Rory unconsciously moved a little closer so the back of her neck rested against his arm. His fingers started to play with her long hair.

"They don't last because I have a short attention span," explained Tristan.

"That is so sad. You should never get bored with the right person."

"I'm never bored with you," Tristan said softly. He decided to try his luck and leaned in, softly using the hand entangled in Rory's hair to bring her head to his as he kissed her tentatively, waiting for her response. To his delight she didn't push him away, but kissed him back softly.





"Why don't you give it up?" Luke asked Lorelai. She hadn't won a game for 20 minutes.

She shook her head stubbornly, "I don't care if I have to spend all night kissing you, I need another cup of coffee."

Lorelai had drunk her way through her winnings, while Luke was patiently saving his up.

Luke shrugged and dealt the cards again, "okay, just remember I gave you an out."

Lorelai didn't want an out, she figured it was a win-win situation; coffee or another chance to kiss Luke. This was a great game.

A while later Luke had finally had enough poker.

"That's it. No more playing. I'm collecting," he said.

Lorelai had managed to win the majority of games since Luke last suggested they stop.

"Hey, I was just getting on roll."

"Lorelai, it's almost midnight."

She was wide awake from the coffee, "okay, what do you want?" she asked.

"I think I'll splurge on a three pointer."

"Well you better come over here then."

"Why don't you come over here?" Luke asked from his side of the counter.

"Cos I've had so much coffee I'm not sure if I can still move."

"Not good enough, this is my winning, I say you come over here."

Lorelai dragged herself off the stool and around the counter to where Luke was waiting.

He looked sexy. 'Maybe the coffee's doing something to my brain,' she thought, shaking her head, since when was flannel a turn-on?

He looked at her.

She looked at him.

Without a word, Lorelai took a step forward and kissed him hard. His mouth opened straight away, allowing her tongue to enter. Lorelai entwined her arms around his neck and his hands on her hips pulled their bodies closer. Both were breathing heavily when they finally came up for air.

"That was worth way more than three points." Lorelai said, leaning back against the counter.

Luke just nodded and leant in for more.



Encouraged, Tristan pulled Rory closer and deepened the kiss. Still she did not protest. Her hand moved to caress his cheek. Tristan was about to go even further when the door opened slowly.

"Rory are you- Oops! Sorry!" Lane called, pulling the door closed again.

Rory jumped up and followed her best friend outside, leaving Tristan on the couch hanging his head.

"I'm so sorry," Lane said, "but it's getting late, I have to get home."

"No problem, really. I'll be one sec."

Rory's head was still spinning as she ducked her head in the door to say goodbye to Tristan, "I have to take Lane home," she explained.

"Sure, I'll, uh, see you at school," Tristan stood up and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Yep, see ya," Rory waved self-consciously. What just happened there?



As their tongues duelled, Luke lifted Lorelai up onto the counter and she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him with her as she lay back.

The door opening interrupted them. Both leapt up, the empty coffeepot falling off the counter and crashing to the floor as they did.

"Sorry guys, I'll, uh, just go up to bed now," Jess smirked and left both Luke and Lorelai looking extremely embarrassed.

"Well I guess that's game over," Lorelai said ruefully and looked at the mess on the floor, "you need a hand cleaning up?"

"Nah, that's fine."

"Okay, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then." Lorelai fled home. What was she doing?





TBC….

2 chapters posted in 2 days.. me is proud! Pls review for my efforts!! This chap kinda took off in a different direction all by itself, I'm just going with the flow! =)