The Games People Play
10. Friendships and more...
The morning after the ball..
"So I hear you and Luke had a good time last night?"
Rory commented when her mom came downstairs.
"Yeah, we did," Lorelai answered, pouring herself some coffee.
"A really good time," Rory emphasized.
"What are you talking about little missy?"
"You and Luke kissing on the dance floor."
"Luke and I are just friends," Lorelai insisted for what felt like the zillionth time.
"So what's the excuse this time? You fell on his face?" asked Rory.
"Maybe I gave him a quick peck," Lorelai conceded.
"More like a three minute pash."
"Who was timing?"
"That was just Louise's rough estimate."
"You call Louise a reliable witness?"
"Mom you can't just keep going around kissing Luke!" Rory complained.
"He doesn't seem to mind!" Lorelai retorted.
"Not even when you pretend nothing happened?"
"We don't analyze it! This is not Dawson's Creek."
"You should at least talk to him."
"We talk all the time!"
"You know what I mean"
"I don't need my teenage daughter telling me how to run my lovelife!" Lorelai said angrily.
"Cos you do such a good job on your own?" Rory countered sarcastically.
"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that."
"Fine! I'm going to Lane's. See you later," Rory walked out the door.
Upset over her mini-fight with Rory, and the fact that the coffee was cold, Lorelai got dressed and headed to Luke's.
Luke was cool to her and didn't engage in any of their usual banter over her coffee, leaving Lorelai confused about the status of their relationship. She'd thought they'd had a good talk last night and that they were friends.
"Hey, Luke, my buddy, what's up?" Lorelai stood directly in front of him, demanding an answer.
"I...nothing." Luke began, "Lorelai, what are you doing Saturday night?" he blurted out.
"At the moment it's a toss up between George Clooney and Ben Affleck," Lorelai paused, "unless you give me another option."
"Well, a couple of friends of mine run this bar on the way to Hartford..." Luke began.
"Friends of yours?" Lorelai interrupted.
"Yes, I do have friends outside of this town."
"Of course, you've just never mentioned them."
"Can I finish what I was trying to say now?"
"Knock yourself out."
Luke took a deep breath, "I was wondering if you wanted to go with me?"
"What like a date?" Lorelai asked.
"No, not a date."
"Good, cos that would be way too scary."
"And we're just friends."
"Right."
"So you want to go?" Luke asked again.
"Sure. I'll pick you up."
"Around eight?"
"It's a non-date," Lorelai confirmed, picking up her coffee, "see ya."
Satisfied, she went home and made up with Rory.
Saturday night....
Lorelai came downstairs wearing a tight back knee length skirt, knee high boots and a sheer button down shirt.
"I see the wonderbra's back in business," Rory commented, looking up from the couch.
"Leaving now!" Lorelai grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
"You look good," Rory called out to her.
Lorelai stopped and turned back to Rory, "is it too much for a non-date?"
"I think you and Luke are about to define the etiquette for a non-date tonight, seeing as how you insist on calling it that."
"It's not a date!" Lorelai insisted, "I just get a little insight into the secret life of Luke."
"Whatever you say," Rory humoured her mother, "have a good time and don't hurry home. Lane's staying over so you don't have to worry about me."
"And what will you two be doing tonight?" asked Lorelai.
"Ah, studying?" Rory suggested.
"Just the two of you?" Lorelai said suspiciously.
"Well, Tristan and Henry might drop by," Rory replied casually.
"Drop by all the way from Hartford? What, so you can study their lips?" Lorelai shot back as she headed for the door again.
"Okay you can go now!" Rory threw a cushion after her.
"So how's it going with Tristan?" Lane asked Rory while the two girls waited for the guys to arrive.
"The actual Tristan and I part is great. It's the rest of the school that gets on my nerves," Rory answered.
"You made couple of the week?"
"Well, Tristan did. People now know who I am, but only as his girlfriend. Like I'm not a person in my own right. None of his friends call me Rory, it's always 'cutie,' 'sexy,' or 'babe' or a couple of others which I won't repeat."
Lane nodded sympathetically.
"I'm just 'Tris' girl,'" Rory continued, "which is freaking my mom out cos it sounds like 'Chris' girl,' which is what she was."
"Have you talked to him about it?"
"Sort of. He's being sweet and making a big effort to call me Rory. I guess it's not that much of a problem."
"As long as you're happy."
"Well the boy can kiss," Rory said with a grin.
Lane feigned disapproval at this comment and they both laughed.
"I am happy with him," Rory said seriously.
"Good, cos I think he's here now."
They opened the front door and Tristan immediately swept Rory into a long kiss.
Lane just motioned for Henry to move past them.
"Guys?" she called, "we're gonna order pizza, what do you want?"
"Mmmm," Rory removed her lips from Tristan's for a couple of seconds, "whatever you want."
"Okay, double anchovies and spinach it is!" Lane said, reaching for the phone. It started ringing as soon as she picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Rory? It's Paris."
"Hi Paris, I'll just get Rory for you," Lane said, "break it up, you've got a phone call."
"Hello?" Rory said, squirming as Tristan kissed her neck.
"Hi Rory, it's about those articles you were editing for the Franklin."
"Let me guess, you need them tonight?"
"Yes, I'm on my way right now."
"Paris, it's Saturday night."
"So?"
"So...never mind." Rory sighed, she didn't want to offend Paris by accusing her of not having a life.
"Great, I'll see you in about 20 minutes."
"Great," Rory echoed dryly.
"Paris is coming?" Tristan asked, "what is wrong with that girl?"
"Be nice!" Rory warned.
"Anything for you," Tristan leant in to kiss her again.
"You're making me nauseous," Lane complained.
Rory pulled away, "sorry."
"I'm not," Tristan hugged her from behind as they followed Lane and Henry to the kitchen. Rory loved the way he was always finding some way to touch her. Lane was right, they were at the nausea-inducing early stage of their relationship.
Lane called for pizza. "What? You're kidding? Okay, thanks."
She hung up in disgust. The pizza guy had informed her that there was a 75 minute wait, "apparently it's a really busy night," Lane explained with a shrug.
"I can't wait that long!" Rory's stomach growled. She grabbed the phoned and dialled a familiar number.
"Hey Jess can you make pizza?"
"20 minutes," Rory said triumphantly hanging up the phone a minute later.
"Jess to the rescue huh?" Tristan said.
"Aw you're so cute when you're jealous," Rory teased him.
Paris arrived at the same time as Jess with the pizza so Rory invited both of them to stay for dinner, seeing as how Jess had made 5 pizzas when they couldn't decide on the toppings.
Jess agreed straight away, but Paris maintained that she had to go.
"I don't want to be a fifth wheel," she told Rory.
"Jess has already shamelessly taken that position. Just have something to eat," Rory insisted.
"Okay, there's no one at home anyway."
When they arrived Luke led Lorelai straight to the bar.
"Hey Luke, what can I get you?" the bartender greeted him.
"Hey James, just a couple of beers for now thanks," Luke replied.
"Sure thing. Who's your friend?" James asked of Lorelai.
"This is Lorelai. Lorelai, James," Luke introduced them.
"How'd you manage to pick up such a classy lady dressed like you do?" James asked Luke, who was wearing his usual uniform.
"Luke!" Before he could answer a petite redhead ran up and launched herself into his arms, "we never see you anymore!" she scolded.
"Hey Kel," he hugged her back, "Kelly Stanfield, I'd like you to meet Lorelai Gilmore."
"Hi," was all Lorelai said. She was a little hurt that Luke appeared to have a whole part of his life she knew nothing about.
"Wow, Luke's never showed up with a girl before, must be special," Kelly winked at Lorelai.
"You make me sound completely hopeless!" Luke protested.
"If the shoe fits...." Kelly turned to the bartender, "James, where's my darling hubby?" she asked.
"Out back last I saw," he replied.
"Charlie and Kelly own this place," Luke explained to Lorelai.
"Oh, I really like it," Lorelai told Kelly. She did like the bar. It wasn't ultra trendy, but it had a friendly feel to it with comfortable couches scattered around. Music was pumping at a level that conversation could still be held, creating a great atmosphere.
"Thanks," Kelly said brightly, before waving a man over, "Charlie, look who's here!"
Lorelai got on well with Luke's friends. They got on the topic of worst customers when Kelly and Charlie told the story of a bucks night gone wrong at the bar and Lorelai talked about some annoying guests at the inn. And then Luke...
"Well there's this tall brunette who comes in everyday..." he began.
"Hey!" Lorelai could see where this was heading.
"What does she do?" Kelly asked with a smile.
"That's part of the problem, she's unpredictable. She steals my clothes,"
"Borrows!" Lorelai interrupted.
"-doesn't stay on her side of the counter, drinks more coffee than humanly possible,"
"But I'm always good entertainment value!"
Kelly and Charlie laughed.
"Gotta get back to work now," Charlie said regretfully, "it was great to see you again Luke."
"Yeah, we expect it to happen more often!" Kelly chimed in, "good to meet you Lorelai."
"Yeah, you too."
"You're friends are really nice," Lorelai said to Luke once they were alone.
"Well they're no country clubbers."
"And that's a very good thing! Do they think we're...you know?" she asked, wondering if everyone but themselves thought of her and Luke as a couple.
"They may have jumped to that conclusion."
"Did they jump or were they pushed?"
"You mind?"
"Nah."
"Wanna play pool?" Luke suggested, eyeing a table in the corner.
"Sure!"
"Can you play?" Luke thought that if Lorelai played pool the way she bowled he should protect the table.
"We're about to find out!" she replied brightly.
Back at the Gilmore house..
"Who wants to play scruples?" Lane asked after they polished off the pizza.
"Yes! I rule at this game," Paris said.
"There is no winner at this game," Jess pointed out, "it's subjective, based on your personal morality."
"I have great morality," Paris informed him.
The six of them sat in a circle on the living room floor.
"Okay, first question," Lane pulled a card from the box, "you find a bag with $1000 cash on the street. What do you do?"
"Go shopping!" Rory joked.
"That would never happen," Henry protested.
"That's not the point," Lane said, "so would you give it to the police?" she prompted.
"Yes," Paris answered immediately, "easy."
"You wouldn't even be tempted to keep some of it?" asked Lane.
"Why are you asking the rich kid?" said Jess.
"Fine, what would you do?"
"Well if there's that much cash lying on the street it's obviously not honest money. Some dumb criminal lost it," he said.
"Woah, cynicism. What's it like to have such little faith in humanity?" Rory asked him.
"So because it's illegally obtained that gives you the right to keep it?" Henry wondered.
"I didn't say that, it's just something to consider," Jess replied.
"What do you think Tristan?"
"Go to the cops."
"Cos it's the right thing to do," Paris said impatiently, "this is too obvious."
"Nah, cos the bad guys might come after me if I have their money," Tristan said.
"Maybe there's a reward for returning the money," Henry suggested
"For a grand? Wouldn't be much of a reward," said Rory.
"And you'd still be better off by keeping the cash," Jess pointed out.
"Okay, moving on," Lane passed the cards around and Rory asked the next question.
"What would you do if you fell for your best friend's boyfriend/girlfriend?"
"Rory, I have a confession to make," Jess looked into her eyes, "I'm in love with Tristan. I know this is hard for you to accept, but we never wanted to hurt you."
"How could you both do this to me?" Rory pretended to sob.
"Really, what would you do?" Paris asked when everyone stopped laughing. She opened a notebook and had a pen poised.
"What are you doing?" Jess asked her.
"Collecting data about human behaviour," she replied.
"So she can become one," Tristan whispered to Rory.
"You get over it," Lane answered, "no guy is worth sacrificing your friendship for."
"Rory?" Paris asked.
"I agree."
"Tristan?"
"Tell her the guy was sleeping with another girl," said Tristan.
"You'd do that to your friend?" Rory asked him.
"You've met his friends, right?" Paris said.
"It depends on how long they'd been together," Tristan continued, "if they were solid, then no, but if it was just casual, yeah. You step in to comfort her then make your move."
"Guys have no sense of brotherhood," Lane complained.
Jess shrugged, "all's fair in love and war right?" he winked at Rory, who handed Tristan the box of cards and the game continued.
"Okay," Tristan read, "this is the story of a boy who worked hard to save up money for a CD player. He finally had enough when his dad needed the money to go on a fishing trip. Should the boy give the money to the father?"
"No way," Jess said, "the kid worked for that money he shouldn't have to fork it over so his lazy dad can go fishing."
"Isn't that kind of selfish?" Henry asked, "think of how much the father would have done for the boy over the years. This is nothing in the scheme of things."
Lane firmly agreed with Henry that the boy should give the money to his father, "what about you Rory?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," Rory responded slowly, "I can see the arguments from both sides. Give me a minute. Tristan?"
"I can't picture there not being enough money for both a CD player and a fishing trip," everyone groaned, but he continued, "HOWEVER, in principle, the boy shouldn't have to give away his money. This is America."
"Isn't this question really about our relationship with our parents?" Jess pondered.
"No," Lane said, "that's not the point."
"I think socio-economic and cultural differences influence the answers," Paris commented, making a note in her book.
"And I think this is getting much too heavy for a Saturday night," Tristan interjected.
Rory suggested they watch a movie so they laid blankets on the floor and everyone made themselves comfortable.
Lane and Henry lay on their stomaches, heads together and discussed the soundtrack, Paris and Jess argued about the merits of adapting books into movies, and Tristan sat with his back against the couch with Rory leaning against his chest.
"Hey, you still awake?" Tristan asked Rory when the movie finished.
"Yeah," she replied, lifting up her head to see everyone else asleep.
"Hey look at that!" Rory whispered excitedly to Tristan. Paris' head was resting on Jess' stomach, "I have to take a photo! I'll have enough ammunition to last months!"
"They'll both kill you," he warned her.
"But you'll protect me."
"I'm not going up against Paris!" Tristan said.
"Wimp!" Rory snapped a picture, "are you sleepy?" she asked him.
"Nope," he replied.
"Me neither. Wanna go for a walk?"
Hand in hand, Rory lead Tristan on a tour of the deserted Stars Hollow.
"That's Luke's diner, and there's Taylor's market, and Miss Patty's dance studio, and Bootsy's newsstand, and the video store where Kirk works.Sorry, is this too ridiculously quaint for you?" she asked him.
"No, it's nice the way you know everyone. I don't even know the name of our maid, let alone the guy who works at the local store. In fact, I don't even think we have a local store."
"Poor little rich boy huh?"
"I didn't mean you should feel sorry for me, just that I like it here," Tristan said.
"Good, cos I expect to be seeing you round a lot!"
"In that case, you better show me the most romantic spots in town. That is, if they're not all haunted with memories of you and Dean?" Tristan looked concerned at the thought.
"There's always more than one way to look at things. That's not just the diner where Dean and I ate together, it's the diner where my mom first introduced me to coffee, that's not the hall where Dean and I learned to dance, it's also the hall where my parent's danced.see what I'm getting at? There are a million memories. Dean's just a small part of it," Rory assured him.
"Wow, you're so smart."
"Yeah well, what can you do?" Rory shrugged.
"And so modest! So now that I'm over that little bout of jealousy, romantic places?" Tristan asked again, pulling Rory into a hug.
"Well the gazebo's looks really pretty all lit up."
"But it's kind of public," he gave her a kiss, "I don't think we could do a lot of this there."
"Very true. Ooh, I know. Close your eyes and wait there for a sec," Rory ran off.
"Rory?" Tristan called, "where are you going? Is this gonna be really embarrassing?"
She returned a couple of minutes later and led him to the bridge, "okay, stop," Rory stood on tiptoe and covered his eyes with her hands, "this is where Luke pushed Jess into the creek."
"How romantic."
"Wait for it." Rory released her hands to reveal the bridge lined with candles.
"Okay, I take that back, I will never again accuse you of being unromantic."
"Good boy." Rory pulled his head to hers and they shared a long kiss.
Meanwhile, at the bar....
"You do know how to play," Luke commented as Lorelai broke, sinking a ball in the process.
"Yeah, I was gonna try and hustle ya, but we'll make it a fair bet. Best of three?" she suggested.
"You're on."
Luke and Lorelai got competitive. As Lorelai had won their tennis match and Luke had won bowling, this was seen as the decider. They weren't exactly pool sharks but both knew how to play and had some limited experience.
It was one game each when Charlie and Kelly interrupted them.
"Sorry guys, we're closing now," Kelly said.
"Aw, and I was just about to kick his butt!" Lorelai complained.
"In your dreams!" retorted Luke.
"You guys can stay if you like," Charlie offered.
"No..." Luke started.
"Really, it's okay. I trust you not to clean out the bar," Charlie told Luke, "just leave by the back door, it'll lock automatically."
(AN: I do realise there are probably laws about this kind of thing!)
Lorelai and Luke thanked Kelly and Charlie and said goodbye.
Mid-way through the third game things were fairly equal when Luke sunk two balls in a row. Lorelai began to play dirty. As Luke was lining up for his next shot, she walked causally behind him and slapped his butt as he leant over to hit the ball.
"Lorelai! You can't do that!" distracted, Luke missed even hitting the white ball, "I want a do-over! Go stand over there!" He pointed to the opposite side of the table.
Grinning mischievously, Lorelai went to the other side of the table, stood directly opposite the ball Luke was aiming for and leant over the table provocatively, ensuring he got an eyeful.
Distracted once more, Luke stood up, "you are such a cheater!" he accused.
"What did I do?" she challenged, "I didn't touch you."
"You know what you did!"
"Do I?" Luke groaned, she had him. He couldn't spell it out without sounding like a perve.
"Take your shot," she told him. Luke scowled, there was no way he was gonna get this shot in now, so instead of attempting it, he nudged the white ball ever so slightly, tapping it into an impossible position for Lorelai's next shot.
"Hey!" she protested. Not liking her chances with a left-hand shot, Lorelai had to lean right over the table to even reach the white ball. She was stretched out as far as possible, all but lying on the table. Her shot missed completely and Lorelai dropped her forehead to the table in disgust, bumping another ball in the process.
"Look what you did now," Luke complained.
Lorelai rolled over, disturbing several more balls in the process, "what say we call it a tie?" she suggested.
"You're the one who messed everything up!" Luke protested, leaning over Lorelai who was still lying on her back on the table.
She reached up and pulled him down as well.
"Now I'm not the only one who messed things up!"
Luke had fallen half on top of Lorelai. Their faces were inches apart and Luke suddenly felt very hot and short of breath. He looked into Lorelai's eyes and before they could register what was going on they were kissing each other hungrily. Lorelai knocked Luke's baseball cap off and began unbuttoning his flannel shirt.
"Wait," Luke broke away and got off the pool table, "we can't do this. We're just friends right?"
"Right," Lorelai confirmed.
She sat on the edge of the table with Luke standing between her legs, "so how do we keep ending up like this?" she asked.
"I dunno, you just keep kissing me, what am I supposed to do?" Luke asked, resting his hands on her thighs.
"I kiss you? You kiss me! This is all your fault!" she said, playing with his collar.
"My fault? Where does fault come into this anyway?" Luke's hands ran up her thighs to hold her hips.
"You're right, no fault, alllllll good." Lorelai gave him a lingering kiss.
"mmm," Luke lifted her off the table and pulled her to him as they kissed.
This time Lorelai stopped them, "but we should go," she said regretfully, slipping her hands into the back pockets of his jeans.
Luke's mind agreed, friends shouldn't cross this line but his body was screaming the opposite as they stood with their arms around each other.
"Okay, we'll call it a night then."
They cleaned up the pool table and shared a tense drive home, both lost in their own thoughts.
"Uh, thanks," Luke said when Lorelai pulled up in front of the diner.
"Goodnight Luke," Lorelai leaned over and gave him a brief, soft kiss.
"Bye," Luke mumbled as he jumped out of the car.
Regretfully, Lorelai headed home alone.
The phone was ringing as Lorelai walked in the door. She stepped over Rory and her friends, all fast asleep on the living room floor, to answer it.
"Hello? Luke?" Lorelai couldn't think of who else would be calling at this time of night, "don't worry, he's here," she said before he could ask the question.
"It's alright that Jess is there?" he confirmed.
"Yep, you may as well come over too. Rory's having a giant slumber party but didn't invite any friends for me."
"Why don't you come over here?" Luke suggested in a low voice.
He didn't need to ask her twice. All honourable, friendly intentions flew out the window.
"I'll be right there." Lorelai left a note for Rory, telling her (and her friends) to meet at Luke's for breakfast tomorrow and then skipped out the door, both happy and nervous....
TBC...
Keep the reviews coming!
10. Friendships and more...
The morning after the ball..
"So I hear you and Luke had a good time last night?"
Rory commented when her mom came downstairs.
"Yeah, we did," Lorelai answered, pouring herself some coffee.
"A really good time," Rory emphasized.
"What are you talking about little missy?"
"You and Luke kissing on the dance floor."
"Luke and I are just friends," Lorelai insisted for what felt like the zillionth time.
"So what's the excuse this time? You fell on his face?" asked Rory.
"Maybe I gave him a quick peck," Lorelai conceded.
"More like a three minute pash."
"Who was timing?"
"That was just Louise's rough estimate."
"You call Louise a reliable witness?"
"Mom you can't just keep going around kissing Luke!" Rory complained.
"He doesn't seem to mind!" Lorelai retorted.
"Not even when you pretend nothing happened?"
"We don't analyze it! This is not Dawson's Creek."
"You should at least talk to him."
"We talk all the time!"
"You know what I mean"
"I don't need my teenage daughter telling me how to run my lovelife!" Lorelai said angrily.
"Cos you do such a good job on your own?" Rory countered sarcastically.
"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that."
"Fine! I'm going to Lane's. See you later," Rory walked out the door.
Upset over her mini-fight with Rory, and the fact that the coffee was cold, Lorelai got dressed and headed to Luke's.
Luke was cool to her and didn't engage in any of their usual banter over her coffee, leaving Lorelai confused about the status of their relationship. She'd thought they'd had a good talk last night and that they were friends.
"Hey, Luke, my buddy, what's up?" Lorelai stood directly in front of him, demanding an answer.
"I...nothing." Luke began, "Lorelai, what are you doing Saturday night?" he blurted out.
"At the moment it's a toss up between George Clooney and Ben Affleck," Lorelai paused, "unless you give me another option."
"Well, a couple of friends of mine run this bar on the way to Hartford..." Luke began.
"Friends of yours?" Lorelai interrupted.
"Yes, I do have friends outside of this town."
"Of course, you've just never mentioned them."
"Can I finish what I was trying to say now?"
"Knock yourself out."
Luke took a deep breath, "I was wondering if you wanted to go with me?"
"What like a date?" Lorelai asked.
"No, not a date."
"Good, cos that would be way too scary."
"And we're just friends."
"Right."
"So you want to go?" Luke asked again.
"Sure. I'll pick you up."
"Around eight?"
"It's a non-date," Lorelai confirmed, picking up her coffee, "see ya."
Satisfied, she went home and made up with Rory.
Saturday night....
Lorelai came downstairs wearing a tight back knee length skirt, knee high boots and a sheer button down shirt.
"I see the wonderbra's back in business," Rory commented, looking up from the couch.
"Leaving now!" Lorelai grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
"You look good," Rory called out to her.
Lorelai stopped and turned back to Rory, "is it too much for a non-date?"
"I think you and Luke are about to define the etiquette for a non-date tonight, seeing as how you insist on calling it that."
"It's not a date!" Lorelai insisted, "I just get a little insight into the secret life of Luke."
"Whatever you say," Rory humoured her mother, "have a good time and don't hurry home. Lane's staying over so you don't have to worry about me."
"And what will you two be doing tonight?" asked Lorelai.
"Ah, studying?" Rory suggested.
"Just the two of you?" Lorelai said suspiciously.
"Well, Tristan and Henry might drop by," Rory replied casually.
"Drop by all the way from Hartford? What, so you can study their lips?" Lorelai shot back as she headed for the door again.
"Okay you can go now!" Rory threw a cushion after her.
"So how's it going with Tristan?" Lane asked Rory while the two girls waited for the guys to arrive.
"The actual Tristan and I part is great. It's the rest of the school that gets on my nerves," Rory answered.
"You made couple of the week?"
"Well, Tristan did. People now know who I am, but only as his girlfriend. Like I'm not a person in my own right. None of his friends call me Rory, it's always 'cutie,' 'sexy,' or 'babe' or a couple of others which I won't repeat."
Lane nodded sympathetically.
"I'm just 'Tris' girl,'" Rory continued, "which is freaking my mom out cos it sounds like 'Chris' girl,' which is what she was."
"Have you talked to him about it?"
"Sort of. He's being sweet and making a big effort to call me Rory. I guess it's not that much of a problem."
"As long as you're happy."
"Well the boy can kiss," Rory said with a grin.
Lane feigned disapproval at this comment and they both laughed.
"I am happy with him," Rory said seriously.
"Good, cos I think he's here now."
They opened the front door and Tristan immediately swept Rory into a long kiss.
Lane just motioned for Henry to move past them.
"Guys?" she called, "we're gonna order pizza, what do you want?"
"Mmmm," Rory removed her lips from Tristan's for a couple of seconds, "whatever you want."
"Okay, double anchovies and spinach it is!" Lane said, reaching for the phone. It started ringing as soon as she picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Rory? It's Paris."
"Hi Paris, I'll just get Rory for you," Lane said, "break it up, you've got a phone call."
"Hello?" Rory said, squirming as Tristan kissed her neck.
"Hi Rory, it's about those articles you were editing for the Franklin."
"Let me guess, you need them tonight?"
"Yes, I'm on my way right now."
"Paris, it's Saturday night."
"So?"
"So...never mind." Rory sighed, she didn't want to offend Paris by accusing her of not having a life.
"Great, I'll see you in about 20 minutes."
"Great," Rory echoed dryly.
"Paris is coming?" Tristan asked, "what is wrong with that girl?"
"Be nice!" Rory warned.
"Anything for you," Tristan leant in to kiss her again.
"You're making me nauseous," Lane complained.
Rory pulled away, "sorry."
"I'm not," Tristan hugged her from behind as they followed Lane and Henry to the kitchen. Rory loved the way he was always finding some way to touch her. Lane was right, they were at the nausea-inducing early stage of their relationship.
Lane called for pizza. "What? You're kidding? Okay, thanks."
She hung up in disgust. The pizza guy had informed her that there was a 75 minute wait, "apparently it's a really busy night," Lane explained with a shrug.
"I can't wait that long!" Rory's stomach growled. She grabbed the phoned and dialled a familiar number.
"Hey Jess can you make pizza?"
"20 minutes," Rory said triumphantly hanging up the phone a minute later.
"Jess to the rescue huh?" Tristan said.
"Aw you're so cute when you're jealous," Rory teased him.
Paris arrived at the same time as Jess with the pizza so Rory invited both of them to stay for dinner, seeing as how Jess had made 5 pizzas when they couldn't decide on the toppings.
Jess agreed straight away, but Paris maintained that she had to go.
"I don't want to be a fifth wheel," she told Rory.
"Jess has already shamelessly taken that position. Just have something to eat," Rory insisted.
"Okay, there's no one at home anyway."
When they arrived Luke led Lorelai straight to the bar.
"Hey Luke, what can I get you?" the bartender greeted him.
"Hey James, just a couple of beers for now thanks," Luke replied.
"Sure thing. Who's your friend?" James asked of Lorelai.
"This is Lorelai. Lorelai, James," Luke introduced them.
"How'd you manage to pick up such a classy lady dressed like you do?" James asked Luke, who was wearing his usual uniform.
"Luke!" Before he could answer a petite redhead ran up and launched herself into his arms, "we never see you anymore!" she scolded.
"Hey Kel," he hugged her back, "Kelly Stanfield, I'd like you to meet Lorelai Gilmore."
"Hi," was all Lorelai said. She was a little hurt that Luke appeared to have a whole part of his life she knew nothing about.
"Wow, Luke's never showed up with a girl before, must be special," Kelly winked at Lorelai.
"You make me sound completely hopeless!" Luke protested.
"If the shoe fits...." Kelly turned to the bartender, "James, where's my darling hubby?" she asked.
"Out back last I saw," he replied.
"Charlie and Kelly own this place," Luke explained to Lorelai.
"Oh, I really like it," Lorelai told Kelly. She did like the bar. It wasn't ultra trendy, but it had a friendly feel to it with comfortable couches scattered around. Music was pumping at a level that conversation could still be held, creating a great atmosphere.
"Thanks," Kelly said brightly, before waving a man over, "Charlie, look who's here!"
Lorelai got on well with Luke's friends. They got on the topic of worst customers when Kelly and Charlie told the story of a bucks night gone wrong at the bar and Lorelai talked about some annoying guests at the inn. And then Luke...
"Well there's this tall brunette who comes in everyday..." he began.
"Hey!" Lorelai could see where this was heading.
"What does she do?" Kelly asked with a smile.
"That's part of the problem, she's unpredictable. She steals my clothes,"
"Borrows!" Lorelai interrupted.
"-doesn't stay on her side of the counter, drinks more coffee than humanly possible,"
"But I'm always good entertainment value!"
Kelly and Charlie laughed.
"Gotta get back to work now," Charlie said regretfully, "it was great to see you again Luke."
"Yeah, we expect it to happen more often!" Kelly chimed in, "good to meet you Lorelai."
"Yeah, you too."
"You're friends are really nice," Lorelai said to Luke once they were alone.
"Well they're no country clubbers."
"And that's a very good thing! Do they think we're...you know?" she asked, wondering if everyone but themselves thought of her and Luke as a couple.
"They may have jumped to that conclusion."
"Did they jump or were they pushed?"
"You mind?"
"Nah."
"Wanna play pool?" Luke suggested, eyeing a table in the corner.
"Sure!"
"Can you play?" Luke thought that if Lorelai played pool the way she bowled he should protect the table.
"We're about to find out!" she replied brightly.
Back at the Gilmore house..
"Who wants to play scruples?" Lane asked after they polished off the pizza.
"Yes! I rule at this game," Paris said.
"There is no winner at this game," Jess pointed out, "it's subjective, based on your personal morality."
"I have great morality," Paris informed him.
The six of them sat in a circle on the living room floor.
"Okay, first question," Lane pulled a card from the box, "you find a bag with $1000 cash on the street. What do you do?"
"Go shopping!" Rory joked.
"That would never happen," Henry protested.
"That's not the point," Lane said, "so would you give it to the police?" she prompted.
"Yes," Paris answered immediately, "easy."
"You wouldn't even be tempted to keep some of it?" asked Lane.
"Why are you asking the rich kid?" said Jess.
"Fine, what would you do?"
"Well if there's that much cash lying on the street it's obviously not honest money. Some dumb criminal lost it," he said.
"Woah, cynicism. What's it like to have such little faith in humanity?" Rory asked him.
"So because it's illegally obtained that gives you the right to keep it?" Henry wondered.
"I didn't say that, it's just something to consider," Jess replied.
"What do you think Tristan?"
"Go to the cops."
"Cos it's the right thing to do," Paris said impatiently, "this is too obvious."
"Nah, cos the bad guys might come after me if I have their money," Tristan said.
"Maybe there's a reward for returning the money," Henry suggested
"For a grand? Wouldn't be much of a reward," said Rory.
"And you'd still be better off by keeping the cash," Jess pointed out.
"Okay, moving on," Lane passed the cards around and Rory asked the next question.
"What would you do if you fell for your best friend's boyfriend/girlfriend?"
"Rory, I have a confession to make," Jess looked into her eyes, "I'm in love with Tristan. I know this is hard for you to accept, but we never wanted to hurt you."
"How could you both do this to me?" Rory pretended to sob.
"Really, what would you do?" Paris asked when everyone stopped laughing. She opened a notebook and had a pen poised.
"What are you doing?" Jess asked her.
"Collecting data about human behaviour," she replied.
"So she can become one," Tristan whispered to Rory.
"You get over it," Lane answered, "no guy is worth sacrificing your friendship for."
"Rory?" Paris asked.
"I agree."
"Tristan?"
"Tell her the guy was sleeping with another girl," said Tristan.
"You'd do that to your friend?" Rory asked him.
"You've met his friends, right?" Paris said.
"It depends on how long they'd been together," Tristan continued, "if they were solid, then no, but if it was just casual, yeah. You step in to comfort her then make your move."
"Guys have no sense of brotherhood," Lane complained.
Jess shrugged, "all's fair in love and war right?" he winked at Rory, who handed Tristan the box of cards and the game continued.
"Okay," Tristan read, "this is the story of a boy who worked hard to save up money for a CD player. He finally had enough when his dad needed the money to go on a fishing trip. Should the boy give the money to the father?"
"No way," Jess said, "the kid worked for that money he shouldn't have to fork it over so his lazy dad can go fishing."
"Isn't that kind of selfish?" Henry asked, "think of how much the father would have done for the boy over the years. This is nothing in the scheme of things."
Lane firmly agreed with Henry that the boy should give the money to his father, "what about you Rory?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," Rory responded slowly, "I can see the arguments from both sides. Give me a minute. Tristan?"
"I can't picture there not being enough money for both a CD player and a fishing trip," everyone groaned, but he continued, "HOWEVER, in principle, the boy shouldn't have to give away his money. This is America."
"Isn't this question really about our relationship with our parents?" Jess pondered.
"No," Lane said, "that's not the point."
"I think socio-economic and cultural differences influence the answers," Paris commented, making a note in her book.
"And I think this is getting much too heavy for a Saturday night," Tristan interjected.
Rory suggested they watch a movie so they laid blankets on the floor and everyone made themselves comfortable.
Lane and Henry lay on their stomaches, heads together and discussed the soundtrack, Paris and Jess argued about the merits of adapting books into movies, and Tristan sat with his back against the couch with Rory leaning against his chest.
"Hey, you still awake?" Tristan asked Rory when the movie finished.
"Yeah," she replied, lifting up her head to see everyone else asleep.
"Hey look at that!" Rory whispered excitedly to Tristan. Paris' head was resting on Jess' stomach, "I have to take a photo! I'll have enough ammunition to last months!"
"They'll both kill you," he warned her.
"But you'll protect me."
"I'm not going up against Paris!" Tristan said.
"Wimp!" Rory snapped a picture, "are you sleepy?" she asked him.
"Nope," he replied.
"Me neither. Wanna go for a walk?"
Hand in hand, Rory lead Tristan on a tour of the deserted Stars Hollow.
"That's Luke's diner, and there's Taylor's market, and Miss Patty's dance studio, and Bootsy's newsstand, and the video store where Kirk works.Sorry, is this too ridiculously quaint for you?" she asked him.
"No, it's nice the way you know everyone. I don't even know the name of our maid, let alone the guy who works at the local store. In fact, I don't even think we have a local store."
"Poor little rich boy huh?"
"I didn't mean you should feel sorry for me, just that I like it here," Tristan said.
"Good, cos I expect to be seeing you round a lot!"
"In that case, you better show me the most romantic spots in town. That is, if they're not all haunted with memories of you and Dean?" Tristan looked concerned at the thought.
"There's always more than one way to look at things. That's not just the diner where Dean and I ate together, it's the diner where my mom first introduced me to coffee, that's not the hall where Dean and I learned to dance, it's also the hall where my parent's danced.see what I'm getting at? There are a million memories. Dean's just a small part of it," Rory assured him.
"Wow, you're so smart."
"Yeah well, what can you do?" Rory shrugged.
"And so modest! So now that I'm over that little bout of jealousy, romantic places?" Tristan asked again, pulling Rory into a hug.
"Well the gazebo's looks really pretty all lit up."
"But it's kind of public," he gave her a kiss, "I don't think we could do a lot of this there."
"Very true. Ooh, I know. Close your eyes and wait there for a sec," Rory ran off.
"Rory?" Tristan called, "where are you going? Is this gonna be really embarrassing?"
She returned a couple of minutes later and led him to the bridge, "okay, stop," Rory stood on tiptoe and covered his eyes with her hands, "this is where Luke pushed Jess into the creek."
"How romantic."
"Wait for it." Rory released her hands to reveal the bridge lined with candles.
"Okay, I take that back, I will never again accuse you of being unromantic."
"Good boy." Rory pulled his head to hers and they shared a long kiss.
Meanwhile, at the bar....
"You do know how to play," Luke commented as Lorelai broke, sinking a ball in the process.
"Yeah, I was gonna try and hustle ya, but we'll make it a fair bet. Best of three?" she suggested.
"You're on."
Luke and Lorelai got competitive. As Lorelai had won their tennis match and Luke had won bowling, this was seen as the decider. They weren't exactly pool sharks but both knew how to play and had some limited experience.
It was one game each when Charlie and Kelly interrupted them.
"Sorry guys, we're closing now," Kelly said.
"Aw, and I was just about to kick his butt!" Lorelai complained.
"In your dreams!" retorted Luke.
"You guys can stay if you like," Charlie offered.
"No..." Luke started.
"Really, it's okay. I trust you not to clean out the bar," Charlie told Luke, "just leave by the back door, it'll lock automatically."
(AN: I do realise there are probably laws about this kind of thing!)
Lorelai and Luke thanked Kelly and Charlie and said goodbye.
Mid-way through the third game things were fairly equal when Luke sunk two balls in a row. Lorelai began to play dirty. As Luke was lining up for his next shot, she walked causally behind him and slapped his butt as he leant over to hit the ball.
"Lorelai! You can't do that!" distracted, Luke missed even hitting the white ball, "I want a do-over! Go stand over there!" He pointed to the opposite side of the table.
Grinning mischievously, Lorelai went to the other side of the table, stood directly opposite the ball Luke was aiming for and leant over the table provocatively, ensuring he got an eyeful.
Distracted once more, Luke stood up, "you are such a cheater!" he accused.
"What did I do?" she challenged, "I didn't touch you."
"You know what you did!"
"Do I?" Luke groaned, she had him. He couldn't spell it out without sounding like a perve.
"Take your shot," she told him. Luke scowled, there was no way he was gonna get this shot in now, so instead of attempting it, he nudged the white ball ever so slightly, tapping it into an impossible position for Lorelai's next shot.
"Hey!" she protested. Not liking her chances with a left-hand shot, Lorelai had to lean right over the table to even reach the white ball. She was stretched out as far as possible, all but lying on the table. Her shot missed completely and Lorelai dropped her forehead to the table in disgust, bumping another ball in the process.
"Look what you did now," Luke complained.
Lorelai rolled over, disturbing several more balls in the process, "what say we call it a tie?" she suggested.
"You're the one who messed everything up!" Luke protested, leaning over Lorelai who was still lying on her back on the table.
She reached up and pulled him down as well.
"Now I'm not the only one who messed things up!"
Luke had fallen half on top of Lorelai. Their faces were inches apart and Luke suddenly felt very hot and short of breath. He looked into Lorelai's eyes and before they could register what was going on they were kissing each other hungrily. Lorelai knocked Luke's baseball cap off and began unbuttoning his flannel shirt.
"Wait," Luke broke away and got off the pool table, "we can't do this. We're just friends right?"
"Right," Lorelai confirmed.
She sat on the edge of the table with Luke standing between her legs, "so how do we keep ending up like this?" she asked.
"I dunno, you just keep kissing me, what am I supposed to do?" Luke asked, resting his hands on her thighs.
"I kiss you? You kiss me! This is all your fault!" she said, playing with his collar.
"My fault? Where does fault come into this anyway?" Luke's hands ran up her thighs to hold her hips.
"You're right, no fault, alllllll good." Lorelai gave him a lingering kiss.
"mmm," Luke lifted her off the table and pulled her to him as they kissed.
This time Lorelai stopped them, "but we should go," she said regretfully, slipping her hands into the back pockets of his jeans.
Luke's mind agreed, friends shouldn't cross this line but his body was screaming the opposite as they stood with their arms around each other.
"Okay, we'll call it a night then."
They cleaned up the pool table and shared a tense drive home, both lost in their own thoughts.
"Uh, thanks," Luke said when Lorelai pulled up in front of the diner.
"Goodnight Luke," Lorelai leaned over and gave him a brief, soft kiss.
"Bye," Luke mumbled as he jumped out of the car.
Regretfully, Lorelai headed home alone.
The phone was ringing as Lorelai walked in the door. She stepped over Rory and her friends, all fast asleep on the living room floor, to answer it.
"Hello? Luke?" Lorelai couldn't think of who else would be calling at this time of night, "don't worry, he's here," she said before he could ask the question.
"It's alright that Jess is there?" he confirmed.
"Yep, you may as well come over too. Rory's having a giant slumber party but didn't invite any friends for me."
"Why don't you come over here?" Luke suggested in a low voice.
He didn't need to ask her twice. All honourable, friendly intentions flew out the window.
"I'll be right there." Lorelai left a note for Rory, telling her (and her friends) to meet at Luke's for breakfast tomorrow and then skipped out the door, both happy and nervous....
TBC...
Keep the reviews coming!
