Title: Bowling for Dummies (Chapter four of Tea and Sympathy)
Author: Gluglug
Spoiler Warning/Timing: Third Season, future fic based on spoilers
Rating: PG
Summary: Let's bowl!
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.
"Lucky number thirteen?" Luke repeated. "Well, Lisa and I have lane number fourteen, so maybe that means the luck is on our side."
Lorelai looked at him. "Not for long, we're going to be switching sides all night. And it doesn't matter what lane I'm in, I plan to prove I'm the best amateur bowler in the state of Connecticut!"
She said to Alex sweetly, "Honey, why don't you go pick out two bowling balls for us? Get me an orange one - it'll clash nicely with my sweater. I swear between these ugly shoes and the orange balls for chicks, bowling alleys were definitely designed by straight guys with no fashion sense."
Alex looked at Luke. "Hey, man - wanna come with?"
Luke nodded and they headed to the bowling ball rack, he wanted to get away from Lorelai's rants for a couple of minutes.
"What did you mean by switching sides?" Lisa asked Lorelai.
"Oh, Luke didn't tell you the plan? We're playing three games tonight. The first game is you and Luke versus me and Alex. The second is us girls against the guys, and the last game we switch dates. I bet you and I will make a great team."
"Switch dates?" At first Lisa didn't think this was such a great idea, she sensed something going on between Luke and Lorelai. She knew they had a shared history but wasn't sure just how much they had shared. But Alex was cute, she wouldn't mind being his partner for a game.
"Yeah, but don't worry, I plan to return Luke to you after I win. He'll be your consolation prize."
"I wouldn't bet on you winning. I was the captain of my sorority's bowling team. But it's been a while, yoga's my primary fitness choice these days. And bowling can ruin a manicure."
"Agreed. Hey, you sure you're name isn't really Elle Woods?"
Lisa laughed at Lorelai's "Legally Blonde" joke as Luke and Alex returned with four bowling balls.
Luke wondered what they were laughing about, he hoped Lorelai wasn't telling Lisa stories about him. He set the balls down on the carousel. "What did I miss?"
Lorelai knew that wary look and teased him. "Oh, I was just telling Lisa about the time you dressed up as Frank'N Furter at the Stars Hollow midnight screening of the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show.' You should've seen Luke's legs in fishnets and heels."
Luke turned thirteen shades of red. "Lisa, don't listen to her. Lorelai's a pathological liar and that's the least of her psychological problems."
Lisa looked disappointed. "So it's not true?"
"No, I never dressed up like that."
"Too bad, I'd love to see you in fishnets and heels." She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss.
Lorelai felt uncomfortable watching them play kissy face, so she turned to the carousel to try out her orange bowling ball.
"Alex, this is the perfect ball for me, it feels like it was made for my hand."
"Um, I think that's the one Luke picked out for Lisa. That's your ball."
Lorelai felt embarrassed. "Oh sorry, I didn't realize." She picked up the other orange ball. "This one's just as good." The truth was it felt a little too lightweight for her but she didn't want to hurt Alex's feelings.
Lorelai turned around and called over to Luke and Lisa who were still kissing. She felt like throwing her bowling ball at them but fought the urge.
"Hey, you both realize you can't bowl with your lips attached like that?"
Lisa heard Lorelai and pulled away from Luke. "Yeah, let the games begin!"
A waitress appeared and asked if they wanted any food or drinks. Luke ordered an iced tea pitcher and two veggie burgers. Alex ordered two pepperoni pizza slices and pitcher of lite beer.
They began to bowl. Lorelai and Alex won the first game easily. Lorelai got several strikes in a row and Alex wasn't too shabby either. Lisa bowled pretty well - after a slow start, she got two strikes and several spares. But Luke wasn't having any fun, he'd always been a bad bowler.
Luke bowled three gutter balls in a row but managed to knock down some pins towards the end. He wasn't the competitive type, but he was having his butt kicked by two women and he was embarrassed. After the game ended, he sat with his face in his hands.
He heard Lorelai's scolding voice. "You're not going to start crying, are you sissy boy? I can't believe you were ever known as Butch Danes!" Luke looked up and glared at her.
Lisa sat down next to him, took his hand and gave him some words of encouragement. "Luke, don't worry, you're just getting warmed up. Why don't you take a break and eat your burger. I ate mine and while it's not as good as the kind you make, you'll need your energy."
Luke nodded at her and walked over to the food. Lorelai was touched by the tender, almost maternal way Lisa handled Luke. She immediately regretted being mean to him.
She sat next to him and took a bite of her pizza. "Hey, Butch."
"I told you never to call me that."
"Sorry, I just wanted to apologize. I got into the competitive spirit and sometimes I go overboard. I know you're not a sissy. I mean you lack bowling skills, but there are worse things.."
He stopped glaring at her and sighed. "You know, I may suck at this game, but I'm not having such a bad time. Lisa's great, huh?"
Lorelei agreed. "Yeah, she's sweet and she really seems to care for you. I take it back, she's not bubbly. I'm looking forward to bonding with her during the next game."
"Hey, just don't tell her any more embarrassing stories about me, ok?"
Lorelai looked over at Alex sipping his beer as Lisa drank her iced tea. They seemed to be having a "getting to know you" chat.
"I can't promise, but I'll try to behave. And look at our dates, they seem to be getting along, too."
After Luke and Lorelai finished their food, it was time for round two. Lisa joined Lorelai on lane thirteen and Alex joined Luke on the other. The ladies beat the guys, although the game was a little closer this time and they won by nine points. Luke's losing streak continued, although he managed to hit more pins this time and not as many gutter balls.
Alex was pissed. "Geez, this the first time I can remember losing at bowling. When I worked at my internet company, I organized company bowling parties. I always won, even when we had those tech losers on the team."
Luke was tired of Alex's condescension. "So you're saying I'm worse than a bunch of geeks?"
Seeing Luke's expression, he backed off. Alex didn't want to get into a confrontation. "No, man, I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted to beat Lorelai, she's even more competitive than I am. Bowling's not your game, is it?"
Luke was starting not to hate Alex so much. "I won't win any trophies - that's for sure. And you're right about Lorelai, she's about as competitive as they come. You should've seen her at the dance marathon."
"Yeah, she told me all about it, even the part about you fixing her shoe."
Lorelai saw Luke and Alex talking. It was nice to see them getting along, sort of.
"Hey loser boys, Lisa and I are going to the ladies room to freshen up, we'll be back in a few. And Luke, when I get back, I want to see a major attitude adjustment, we are gonna win that last game!"
Alex laughed. "They're going in there to gossip about us." He paused. "Hey Luke, I want to ask you a question, if I'm out of line, just tell me."
Luke had a feeling he knew what was coming. "What do you want to know?"
"Did you ever date Lorelai?"
"Why, do you need pointers or something?"
"So you did?"
"I was joking. No, we've never dated. She just spends a lot of time in my diner, drinking coffee. We've become friends over the years."
"Well once I open my place, maybe she'll be drinking my coffee all the time instead of yours."
Luke wasn't about to stoop to a coffee pissing contest. "Never happen, unless you plan to open your place on her front lawn."
Alex laughed, a little uncomfortably. He realized he was trying to start a pissing contest and decided to stop when he noticed that Luke didn't seem threatened. That bothered him.
Just then, the ladies returned.
"Good Luck, with the next game, man." Alex shook Luke's hand.
Luke grimaced. "I'll need it."
Author: Gluglug
Spoiler Warning/Timing: Third Season, future fic based on spoilers
Rating: PG
Summary: Let's bowl!
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.
"Lucky number thirteen?" Luke repeated. "Well, Lisa and I have lane number fourteen, so maybe that means the luck is on our side."
Lorelai looked at him. "Not for long, we're going to be switching sides all night. And it doesn't matter what lane I'm in, I plan to prove I'm the best amateur bowler in the state of Connecticut!"
She said to Alex sweetly, "Honey, why don't you go pick out two bowling balls for us? Get me an orange one - it'll clash nicely with my sweater. I swear between these ugly shoes and the orange balls for chicks, bowling alleys were definitely designed by straight guys with no fashion sense."
Alex looked at Luke. "Hey, man - wanna come with?"
Luke nodded and they headed to the bowling ball rack, he wanted to get away from Lorelai's rants for a couple of minutes.
"What did you mean by switching sides?" Lisa asked Lorelai.
"Oh, Luke didn't tell you the plan? We're playing three games tonight. The first game is you and Luke versus me and Alex. The second is us girls against the guys, and the last game we switch dates. I bet you and I will make a great team."
"Switch dates?" At first Lisa didn't think this was such a great idea, she sensed something going on between Luke and Lorelai. She knew they had a shared history but wasn't sure just how much they had shared. But Alex was cute, she wouldn't mind being his partner for a game.
"Yeah, but don't worry, I plan to return Luke to you after I win. He'll be your consolation prize."
"I wouldn't bet on you winning. I was the captain of my sorority's bowling team. But it's been a while, yoga's my primary fitness choice these days. And bowling can ruin a manicure."
"Agreed. Hey, you sure you're name isn't really Elle Woods?"
Lisa laughed at Lorelai's "Legally Blonde" joke as Luke and Alex returned with four bowling balls.
Luke wondered what they were laughing about, he hoped Lorelai wasn't telling Lisa stories about him. He set the balls down on the carousel. "What did I miss?"
Lorelai knew that wary look and teased him. "Oh, I was just telling Lisa about the time you dressed up as Frank'N Furter at the Stars Hollow midnight screening of the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show.' You should've seen Luke's legs in fishnets and heels."
Luke turned thirteen shades of red. "Lisa, don't listen to her. Lorelai's a pathological liar and that's the least of her psychological problems."
Lisa looked disappointed. "So it's not true?"
"No, I never dressed up like that."
"Too bad, I'd love to see you in fishnets and heels." She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss.
Lorelai felt uncomfortable watching them play kissy face, so she turned to the carousel to try out her orange bowling ball.
"Alex, this is the perfect ball for me, it feels like it was made for my hand."
"Um, I think that's the one Luke picked out for Lisa. That's your ball."
Lorelai felt embarrassed. "Oh sorry, I didn't realize." She picked up the other orange ball. "This one's just as good." The truth was it felt a little too lightweight for her but she didn't want to hurt Alex's feelings.
Lorelai turned around and called over to Luke and Lisa who were still kissing. She felt like throwing her bowling ball at them but fought the urge.
"Hey, you both realize you can't bowl with your lips attached like that?"
Lisa heard Lorelai and pulled away from Luke. "Yeah, let the games begin!"
A waitress appeared and asked if they wanted any food or drinks. Luke ordered an iced tea pitcher and two veggie burgers. Alex ordered two pepperoni pizza slices and pitcher of lite beer.
They began to bowl. Lorelai and Alex won the first game easily. Lorelai got several strikes in a row and Alex wasn't too shabby either. Lisa bowled pretty well - after a slow start, she got two strikes and several spares. But Luke wasn't having any fun, he'd always been a bad bowler.
Luke bowled three gutter balls in a row but managed to knock down some pins towards the end. He wasn't the competitive type, but he was having his butt kicked by two women and he was embarrassed. After the game ended, he sat with his face in his hands.
He heard Lorelai's scolding voice. "You're not going to start crying, are you sissy boy? I can't believe you were ever known as Butch Danes!" Luke looked up and glared at her.
Lisa sat down next to him, took his hand and gave him some words of encouragement. "Luke, don't worry, you're just getting warmed up. Why don't you take a break and eat your burger. I ate mine and while it's not as good as the kind you make, you'll need your energy."
Luke nodded at her and walked over to the food. Lorelai was touched by the tender, almost maternal way Lisa handled Luke. She immediately regretted being mean to him.
She sat next to him and took a bite of her pizza. "Hey, Butch."
"I told you never to call me that."
"Sorry, I just wanted to apologize. I got into the competitive spirit and sometimes I go overboard. I know you're not a sissy. I mean you lack bowling skills, but there are worse things.."
He stopped glaring at her and sighed. "You know, I may suck at this game, but I'm not having such a bad time. Lisa's great, huh?"
Lorelei agreed. "Yeah, she's sweet and she really seems to care for you. I take it back, she's not bubbly. I'm looking forward to bonding with her during the next game."
"Hey, just don't tell her any more embarrassing stories about me, ok?"
Lorelai looked over at Alex sipping his beer as Lisa drank her iced tea. They seemed to be having a "getting to know you" chat.
"I can't promise, but I'll try to behave. And look at our dates, they seem to be getting along, too."
After Luke and Lorelai finished their food, it was time for round two. Lisa joined Lorelai on lane thirteen and Alex joined Luke on the other. The ladies beat the guys, although the game was a little closer this time and they won by nine points. Luke's losing streak continued, although he managed to hit more pins this time and not as many gutter balls.
Alex was pissed. "Geez, this the first time I can remember losing at bowling. When I worked at my internet company, I organized company bowling parties. I always won, even when we had those tech losers on the team."
Luke was tired of Alex's condescension. "So you're saying I'm worse than a bunch of geeks?"
Seeing Luke's expression, he backed off. Alex didn't want to get into a confrontation. "No, man, I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted to beat Lorelai, she's even more competitive than I am. Bowling's not your game, is it?"
Luke was starting not to hate Alex so much. "I won't win any trophies - that's for sure. And you're right about Lorelai, she's about as competitive as they come. You should've seen her at the dance marathon."
"Yeah, she told me all about it, even the part about you fixing her shoe."
Lorelai saw Luke and Alex talking. It was nice to see them getting along, sort of.
"Hey loser boys, Lisa and I are going to the ladies room to freshen up, we'll be back in a few. And Luke, when I get back, I want to see a major attitude adjustment, we are gonna win that last game!"
Alex laughed. "They're going in there to gossip about us." He paused. "Hey Luke, I want to ask you a question, if I'm out of line, just tell me."
Luke had a feeling he knew what was coming. "What do you want to know?"
"Did you ever date Lorelai?"
"Why, do you need pointers or something?"
"So you did?"
"I was joking. No, we've never dated. She just spends a lot of time in my diner, drinking coffee. We've become friends over the years."
"Well once I open my place, maybe she'll be drinking my coffee all the time instead of yours."
Luke wasn't about to stoop to a coffee pissing contest. "Never happen, unless you plan to open your place on her front lawn."
Alex laughed, a little uncomfortably. He realized he was trying to start a pissing contest and decided to stop when he noticed that Luke didn't seem threatened. That bothered him.
Just then, the ladies returned.
"Good Luck, with the next game, man." Alex shook Luke's hand.
Luke grimaced. "I'll need it."