Title: There's gonna be trouble, make that a double (Chapter three of Tea
and Sympathy)
Author: Gluglug
Spoiler Warning/Timing: Third Season, future fic based on spoilers
Rating: PG
Summary: The double date begins.
Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all characters are property of The Dubba Dubba Dubba WB, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Amy Sherman- Palladino. They don't belong to me, just borrowing.
It was Saturday night and Lorelai headed to Luke's. The plan was to meet Alex there while Luke closed up early and then they would head to the bowling alley. Lisa was teaching an early evening yoga class and was going to meet them at the alley at nine.
As she walked, she remembered her phone conversation with Alex when they discussed the date. He hadn't been on a double date since his grad school days at Wharton. He used to organize bowling parties for his dot-company and always led the winning team, so he was happy.
One comment bugged her, though. "I knew you were going to suggest a double date sooner or later." What did he mean by that? Two months into the relationship and he could already predict what she would say? Predictable was a patented Gilmore trait that she was desperately trying to shake. She walked into the diner and Luke was doing his usual end of the day receipt tally. Alex had yet to arrive.
Luke looked up and when he heard the door open. She was wearing her blue corduroy shearling jacket and scarf over a purple v-neck sweater with a pair of faded jeans and high heeled black boots. Luke always thought purple was a good color on her - it complemented her pale complexion and bright blue eyes. For a second, he forgot all about Lisa.
"Hey, Lorelai. Your boyfriend's not here yet."
"I have eyes, Luke. Hey, do you have any coffee left?"
"Of course, I saved a pot just for you. I know you can't bowl without caffeine." He poured her a cup and she took a stool near the register. She took a sip and looked at him.
"Luke, am I predictable?"
"Well, you come into the diner almost every morning, the first word out of your mouth is always coffee, you annoy me with your nonsensical stories and schemes, and you're almost always with Rory, so yeah, I'd say you're predictable." He was smirking at her but his tone was affectionate.
"I hate being predictable."
"Being predictable isn't so bad - it can also mean you're reliable, that people can depend on you."
"But it can also mean stuck in a rut, set in your ways, old and boring..."
"You mean, like me."
"Well, now that you mention it..I'm kidding, Luke. You're predictable, but in a good way. Although you really surprised me when you started dating Lisa."
Luke wondered when she would mention her. "Why, you can't picture me with a girlfriend?"
"No, no. I've seen you with Rachel, I know that you are capable of a relationship with a member of the opposite sex, I guess I just didn't picture you with her."
"Who did you picture me with?"
"I don't know, but I never pictured you with a bubbly little blond."
"She's not bubbly, she's friendly. I hate the word "bubbly" so please don't use it again and Lorelai, be nice to her tonight. I'd actually like to not be single again after the date."
"Of course I'll be nice, and you'd better be nice to Alex. I'm planning to put you two together on a team so you can do the male, he-man bonding thing."
"How thoughtful of you. Hey, I assumed you'd want it to be a couple vs. couple thing."
"Oh, we'll do that, too. I have it all planned out - the first game will be you and Lisa against me and Alex. The second game will be girls vs. boys, and the last game we'll switch dates."
Luke looked at her skeptically. "Switch dates? Interesting."
"So I'm not so predictable, then? Although I'm gonna be on every winning team!"
"Little miss competitive wants to win every game? Now I get it. Face it Lorelai, you are predictable." She and Luke laughed.
They didn't know that they were being watched. Alex drove up a few minutes earlier but when he saw Luke and Lorelai through the window he watched them with fascination. Their body language spoke volumes and he had a feeling that they had been a couple at one time or another.
Alex never asked Lorelai straight on what the deal was, but he sensed a lingering attraction. He tried to shake his doubts as he walked into the diner. He really liked Lorelai and wanted to keep seeing her. He hoped his doubts would be laid to rest that night, among other things. Lorelai had been holding out on him. When he learned that she had Rory as a teenager, he assumed that she was easy. But Lorelai told him that she wanted to go slow - she told him that she really liked him and didn't want to rush.
Lorelai jumped a little when she heard the door open and saw Alex. She ran to the door and gave him a kiss. "Hello, Mr. Keaton."
Luke felt uncomfortable watching them play kissy face. He came from behind the counter once Lorelai removed her face from Alex's.
He held out his hand. "Hi Alex, good to see you again, but I thought your last name was Cohen."
Alex shook Luke's hand. "Good to see you, Luke. My name is Cohen, but we both loved "Family Ties" growing up and Lorelai likes to call me "Alex P. Keaton." It's one of our little 80s jokes."
Luke deadpanned, "Well, I guess you should be happy she doesn't call you Trebek."
Alex laughed, "Lorelai, your friend has a sense of humor after all."
Lorelai forced a laugh and noticed Luke's strained expression. "Well, Alex, now that you're here, we should go. Luke's girlfriend is meeting us there."
Luke nodded. "Yeah, she teaches yoga class in Harford at 7, so it's easier for her to go straight from her studio to the bowling alley."
Alex joked. "Yoga, huh? I'm thinking of taking a class - I hear it's a great way to meet women."
Lorelai punched him playfully in the arm. "Stop with the funny, please. Luke, we're going outside - if you get lost, look for Alex's car, he drives a red Ford SUV - it's hard to miss."
"Don't worry, I can find my way. I'll lock up and I'll meet you there." Luke rolled his eyes at them as the left.
So this was the guy she thinks was so great? Luke hated SUVs, especially red ones. As far as he was concerned, they were gas guzzling yuppie mobiles. He would bet on the diner that Alex was one of those people who yapped on their cell phones while driving. It was going to be a long night.
As he drove to the bowling alley trailing behind the SUV, he looked forward to meeting Lisa there. She always had that post yoga glow after class. He wondered if that glow was anything like a post-sex afterglow. They had some hot and heavy make-out sessions in the past few weeks, but he hadn't wanted to rush things. Luke hoped that Lisa would be in the mood tonight, it had been too long since he'd last had sex. He had the apartment to himself and a new mattress to break in. It was fortunate timing that Jess had decided to go see his mom for the weekend.
A few minutes later, Luke watched Alex's SUV pull into the parking lot of Litchfield Lanes and he pulled his pick-up in the adjacent space. Luke rolled his eyes when he saw Alex yapping on his cell phone as he and Lorelai exited. He hadn't even gone around to the other side to open the car door for her.
Luke joined them. He fell in step with Lorelai while Alex argued with his business partner over entertainment options for their coffee house.
"I don't want Jewel like folk singers - I want Culture Club cover bands!"
Lorelai groaned. "He's arguing about what kind of music they should play in the coffee house. I agree with Mark, his business partner, folksingers and coffee houses are like macaroni and cheese, bagels and lox."
"Coffee and donuts?" Luke offered. "A Culture Club cover band? Who'd want to see that?"
"Alex. Although the Boy George wannabe was classic in the "Wedding Singer."
"Didn't see it."
"Ah that's right, I keep forgetting I'm talking to the pop culturally illiterate."
"Hey, I made that Trebek comment."
"Just your feeble attempt at trying to fit in with the cool kids." Her words belied her affectionate tone, and she patted the back of his flannel shirt.
Alex got off his cell phone and Lorelai caught up with him. The three of them entered the alley. Luke was relieved to see Lisa sitting near the shoe rental waiting for him. She was wearing a fitted long sleeved pink t-shirt with black boot cut pants. It showed off her curvy but toned figure. He smiled and put his arms around her and decided to give her a big wet kiss.
"Wow, Luke. Someone is glad to see me."
"It's just that I haven't seen you in three days, Lisa, I've missed you. And you always look so great after yoga."
"Thanks. Class went well tonight, I have some new students, so it was rewarding."
Lorelai and Alex approached them. "Hey, enough with the lovey dovey stuff."
Luke remembered that he was on a double date, so he had to be civil and polite.
"Lisa, this is Alex Cohen and you remember Lorelai Gilmore, from the diner."
Lorelai extended her hand. "Lisa, it's nice to officially meet you. For some reason, Luke's been trying to keep us away from each other. But tonight, you and I are gonna be the best of friends."
Luke was embarrassed and Lisa was a little taken aback by Lorelai's aggressive approach. But she was a lawyer and could think on her feet. She also noticed that Lorelai's date was very cute, he reminded her of Ben Affleck, her favorite actor. She shook Lorelai's hand.
"It's good to finally meet you too. I understand that you and Luke have known each other a long time, I'm gonna be grilling you for all the dirt."
Alex took notice of Lisa, he thought she was really cute. She reminded him of Reese Witherspoon, his favorite actress. He extended his hand to her once she let go of Lorelai's.
"Hi, I'm Alex. It's nice to meet you, Lisa. Has anyone ever told you that you look like Reese Witherspoon?"
"Well, no, but thank you. I just loved her in Legally Blonde and I'm also a lawyer. Has anyone ever told you that you look like Ben Affleck?"
"Well, yeah. Except I'm better looking and I'm not marrying J. Lo." Lisa and Alex laughed.
Luke and Lorelai looked sideways at each other. What the hell was going on with their dates?
The four of them sat down and removed their shoes. Lorelai sat down next to Lisa. She noticed that Lisa had small feet, she wore a size six. Lorelai hated her big feet, she wore a size ten. Of course Lorelai was several inches taller than her but she felt embarrassed asking for such a large shoe size. Lisa had just given the attendant her shoes when Luke noticed Lorelai was stalling and decided it was her turn to be embarrassed.
Luke said in a really loud voice to the shoe attendant, "Oh sir, we need one more pair, a woman's SIZE TEN!" He very well knew Lorelai's shoe size, having had fixed both her ice-skates and her vintage shoe at the dance marathon. Lorelai shot Luke a dirty look as she approached the counter to hand in her shoes. As she put on the bowling shoes, she regretted the fact he knew her so well.
Once they got their assignment, the foursome headed to their lane. Lorelai wondered if this was a bad sign. "Lucky number thirteen."
TBC
Author: Gluglug
Spoiler Warning/Timing: Third Season, future fic based on spoilers
Rating: PG
Summary: The double date begins.
Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all characters are property of The Dubba Dubba Dubba WB, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Amy Sherman- Palladino. They don't belong to me, just borrowing.
It was Saturday night and Lorelai headed to Luke's. The plan was to meet Alex there while Luke closed up early and then they would head to the bowling alley. Lisa was teaching an early evening yoga class and was going to meet them at the alley at nine.
As she walked, she remembered her phone conversation with Alex when they discussed the date. He hadn't been on a double date since his grad school days at Wharton. He used to organize bowling parties for his dot-company and always led the winning team, so he was happy.
One comment bugged her, though. "I knew you were going to suggest a double date sooner or later." What did he mean by that? Two months into the relationship and he could already predict what she would say? Predictable was a patented Gilmore trait that she was desperately trying to shake. She walked into the diner and Luke was doing his usual end of the day receipt tally. Alex had yet to arrive.
Luke looked up and when he heard the door open. She was wearing her blue corduroy shearling jacket and scarf over a purple v-neck sweater with a pair of faded jeans and high heeled black boots. Luke always thought purple was a good color on her - it complemented her pale complexion and bright blue eyes. For a second, he forgot all about Lisa.
"Hey, Lorelai. Your boyfriend's not here yet."
"I have eyes, Luke. Hey, do you have any coffee left?"
"Of course, I saved a pot just for you. I know you can't bowl without caffeine." He poured her a cup and she took a stool near the register. She took a sip and looked at him.
"Luke, am I predictable?"
"Well, you come into the diner almost every morning, the first word out of your mouth is always coffee, you annoy me with your nonsensical stories and schemes, and you're almost always with Rory, so yeah, I'd say you're predictable." He was smirking at her but his tone was affectionate.
"I hate being predictable."
"Being predictable isn't so bad - it can also mean you're reliable, that people can depend on you."
"But it can also mean stuck in a rut, set in your ways, old and boring..."
"You mean, like me."
"Well, now that you mention it..I'm kidding, Luke. You're predictable, but in a good way. Although you really surprised me when you started dating Lisa."
Luke wondered when she would mention her. "Why, you can't picture me with a girlfriend?"
"No, no. I've seen you with Rachel, I know that you are capable of a relationship with a member of the opposite sex, I guess I just didn't picture you with her."
"Who did you picture me with?"
"I don't know, but I never pictured you with a bubbly little blond."
"She's not bubbly, she's friendly. I hate the word "bubbly" so please don't use it again and Lorelai, be nice to her tonight. I'd actually like to not be single again after the date."
"Of course I'll be nice, and you'd better be nice to Alex. I'm planning to put you two together on a team so you can do the male, he-man bonding thing."
"How thoughtful of you. Hey, I assumed you'd want it to be a couple vs. couple thing."
"Oh, we'll do that, too. I have it all planned out - the first game will be you and Lisa against me and Alex. The second game will be girls vs. boys, and the last game we'll switch dates."
Luke looked at her skeptically. "Switch dates? Interesting."
"So I'm not so predictable, then? Although I'm gonna be on every winning team!"
"Little miss competitive wants to win every game? Now I get it. Face it Lorelai, you are predictable." She and Luke laughed.
They didn't know that they were being watched. Alex drove up a few minutes earlier but when he saw Luke and Lorelai through the window he watched them with fascination. Their body language spoke volumes and he had a feeling that they had been a couple at one time or another.
Alex never asked Lorelai straight on what the deal was, but he sensed a lingering attraction. He tried to shake his doubts as he walked into the diner. He really liked Lorelai and wanted to keep seeing her. He hoped his doubts would be laid to rest that night, among other things. Lorelai had been holding out on him. When he learned that she had Rory as a teenager, he assumed that she was easy. But Lorelai told him that she wanted to go slow - she told him that she really liked him and didn't want to rush.
Lorelai jumped a little when she heard the door open and saw Alex. She ran to the door and gave him a kiss. "Hello, Mr. Keaton."
Luke felt uncomfortable watching them play kissy face. He came from behind the counter once Lorelai removed her face from Alex's.
He held out his hand. "Hi Alex, good to see you again, but I thought your last name was Cohen."
Alex shook Luke's hand. "Good to see you, Luke. My name is Cohen, but we both loved "Family Ties" growing up and Lorelai likes to call me "Alex P. Keaton." It's one of our little 80s jokes."
Luke deadpanned, "Well, I guess you should be happy she doesn't call you Trebek."
Alex laughed, "Lorelai, your friend has a sense of humor after all."
Lorelai forced a laugh and noticed Luke's strained expression. "Well, Alex, now that you're here, we should go. Luke's girlfriend is meeting us there."
Luke nodded. "Yeah, she teaches yoga class in Harford at 7, so it's easier for her to go straight from her studio to the bowling alley."
Alex joked. "Yoga, huh? I'm thinking of taking a class - I hear it's a great way to meet women."
Lorelai punched him playfully in the arm. "Stop with the funny, please. Luke, we're going outside - if you get lost, look for Alex's car, he drives a red Ford SUV - it's hard to miss."
"Don't worry, I can find my way. I'll lock up and I'll meet you there." Luke rolled his eyes at them as the left.
So this was the guy she thinks was so great? Luke hated SUVs, especially red ones. As far as he was concerned, they were gas guzzling yuppie mobiles. He would bet on the diner that Alex was one of those people who yapped on their cell phones while driving. It was going to be a long night.
As he drove to the bowling alley trailing behind the SUV, he looked forward to meeting Lisa there. She always had that post yoga glow after class. He wondered if that glow was anything like a post-sex afterglow. They had some hot and heavy make-out sessions in the past few weeks, but he hadn't wanted to rush things. Luke hoped that Lisa would be in the mood tonight, it had been too long since he'd last had sex. He had the apartment to himself and a new mattress to break in. It was fortunate timing that Jess had decided to go see his mom for the weekend.
A few minutes later, Luke watched Alex's SUV pull into the parking lot of Litchfield Lanes and he pulled his pick-up in the adjacent space. Luke rolled his eyes when he saw Alex yapping on his cell phone as he and Lorelai exited. He hadn't even gone around to the other side to open the car door for her.
Luke joined them. He fell in step with Lorelai while Alex argued with his business partner over entertainment options for their coffee house.
"I don't want Jewel like folk singers - I want Culture Club cover bands!"
Lorelai groaned. "He's arguing about what kind of music they should play in the coffee house. I agree with Mark, his business partner, folksingers and coffee houses are like macaroni and cheese, bagels and lox."
"Coffee and donuts?" Luke offered. "A Culture Club cover band? Who'd want to see that?"
"Alex. Although the Boy George wannabe was classic in the "Wedding Singer."
"Didn't see it."
"Ah that's right, I keep forgetting I'm talking to the pop culturally illiterate."
"Hey, I made that Trebek comment."
"Just your feeble attempt at trying to fit in with the cool kids." Her words belied her affectionate tone, and she patted the back of his flannel shirt.
Alex got off his cell phone and Lorelai caught up with him. The three of them entered the alley. Luke was relieved to see Lisa sitting near the shoe rental waiting for him. She was wearing a fitted long sleeved pink t-shirt with black boot cut pants. It showed off her curvy but toned figure. He smiled and put his arms around her and decided to give her a big wet kiss.
"Wow, Luke. Someone is glad to see me."
"It's just that I haven't seen you in three days, Lisa, I've missed you. And you always look so great after yoga."
"Thanks. Class went well tonight, I have some new students, so it was rewarding."
Lorelai and Alex approached them. "Hey, enough with the lovey dovey stuff."
Luke remembered that he was on a double date, so he had to be civil and polite.
"Lisa, this is Alex Cohen and you remember Lorelai Gilmore, from the diner."
Lorelai extended her hand. "Lisa, it's nice to officially meet you. For some reason, Luke's been trying to keep us away from each other. But tonight, you and I are gonna be the best of friends."
Luke was embarrassed and Lisa was a little taken aback by Lorelai's aggressive approach. But she was a lawyer and could think on her feet. She also noticed that Lorelai's date was very cute, he reminded her of Ben Affleck, her favorite actor. She shook Lorelai's hand.
"It's good to finally meet you too. I understand that you and Luke have known each other a long time, I'm gonna be grilling you for all the dirt."
Alex took notice of Lisa, he thought she was really cute. She reminded him of Reese Witherspoon, his favorite actress. He extended his hand to her once she let go of Lorelai's.
"Hi, I'm Alex. It's nice to meet you, Lisa. Has anyone ever told you that you look like Reese Witherspoon?"
"Well, no, but thank you. I just loved her in Legally Blonde and I'm also a lawyer. Has anyone ever told you that you look like Ben Affleck?"
"Well, yeah. Except I'm better looking and I'm not marrying J. Lo." Lisa and Alex laughed.
Luke and Lorelai looked sideways at each other. What the hell was going on with their dates?
The four of them sat down and removed their shoes. Lorelai sat down next to Lisa. She noticed that Lisa had small feet, she wore a size six. Lorelai hated her big feet, she wore a size ten. Of course Lorelai was several inches taller than her but she felt embarrassed asking for such a large shoe size. Lisa had just given the attendant her shoes when Luke noticed Lorelai was stalling and decided it was her turn to be embarrassed.
Luke said in a really loud voice to the shoe attendant, "Oh sir, we need one more pair, a woman's SIZE TEN!" He very well knew Lorelai's shoe size, having had fixed both her ice-skates and her vintage shoe at the dance marathon. Lorelai shot Luke a dirty look as she approached the counter to hand in her shoes. As she put on the bowling shoes, she regretted the fact he knew her so well.
Once they got their assignment, the foursome headed to their lane. Lorelai wondered if this was a bad sign. "Lucky number thirteen."
TBC