CHAPTER FIVE
David tried to stay close to Lorelai during the evening, but it was impossible. The woman knew everyone in town and they all wanted to talk to her He did enjoy watching this dynamo in action. She was definitely the queen holding court. And if she was the queen, Rory was princess number one. He discovered that Luke was just the opposite. Although he seemed to be well liked, most of the time he was alone and watching, watching Lorelai. He'd heard some talk of 'Nicole' but he never saw her appear.
Richard and Emily were used to the Stars Hollow people, and were soon ready to leave. He didn't want to leave so early but it didn't look like he would be seeing much more of Lorelai tonight He could probably get more information during the ride home. Emily and Richard reminded the girls about Friday night dinner and they were off. David knew he would have his chance then. He hoped after dinner they could spend some time together. After tonight, he was more intrigued than ever.
Lorelai and Rory had a wonderful time at their party. It just confirmed their great love and affection for all that was home. They had missed it so... Rory walked home with Lane. Mrs. Kim had allowed her out for a short time but wanted her back early. That was fine with Rory. She was tired and wanted some one-on-one with someone her own age.
Lorelai was exhilarated, wired on caffeine and life. It had been the perfect homecoming. She had thanked Sookie a million times before she made Jackson take her home. She was happy that her parents had come-and brought David. She was sorry they had left so early, well sorry that he had left so early. She really wanted to get to know him better but tonight just wasn't the time. She liked what she had seen so far and she thought she had seen some interest on his side too. She also wondered what he thought about her little town. Stars Hollow was not for everyone but it was so important to her. Her home, her life, her heart---which brought her to Luke. Her heart had leaped when she saw him tonight. What was that about? He looked so good-had he always looked that good? The hug felt so good- have to do that more often. She had thought a lot about him this summer. Wondered about his trip, Nicole, Jess-and the coffee. Lousy coffee in Europe. She hadn't really talked to him much tonight. She know she needed to and there was no time like the present. On her way to the diner, her mind was reeling several different ways. Life was so complicated. You never knew what was going to come along and change the direction completely. She thought of Chris, Max, the fire, Sookies baby, the new inn, David and now these confusing feelings about her old friend Luke. The dreams she had this summer and even last, usually weird, usually about Luke.
"Hey" Lorelai bounced into the diner.
"Hey. You don't seem very tired. That was some party-I don't think you took a breath all night. Miss Patty and Babette seemed particularly interested in the details. I can guess which ones!"
"Believe me, there were no details like that on this trip. Just me and Rory and our trusty backpacks, particularly bad coffee-and even worse food. We are mere shadows of the girls who left town a few weeks ago. The girls you keep in such good shape with your burgers and pie!! We had dreams about this place every night." Lorelai smiled thinking about those dreams--not always about the food.
"Good to know-women dream about my food. Just what every guy wants to hear...."
"I didn't mean it like that. Anyway, I bet Nicole dreams about you all the time, and never for the food. How was the trip by the way?"
"Luke? You didn't go, did you? Luke...why not? It wasn't that stupid conversation we had was it? I feel so bad...."
"Well, I just couldn't do it. You know I'm not good when it comes to the dating thing. I just didn't want to......make it seem like....I just didn't want to lead her on. Truth is, I'm not sure how I feel about her. I like her, she's great but I don't know about the future. Something keeps holding me back. Anyway, she took a friend and they seemed to have a good time. In fact, they met some guys and...."
"Say no more. Obviously, she wasn't so sure either. Sorry, my friend. She's out there you know."
"Who?"
"The one, you know, the one that will complete your package-flannel shirts and all. Maybe some flannel clad babies too."
Luke laughed at that one. "You are back. I haven't heard such fractured thinking all summer. Well, maybe Kirk sometimes. Can you imagine me with babies, even one?"
Lorelai smiled. "Of course! You would make a wonderful dad. I've seen you with Rory and even with Jess. You'd do it your own way but you would be great."
"Yeah, well, you need a woman for that. That seems to be the stumbling block for me. And I'm not getting any younger."
"None of us are, Luke. This is turning into a big pity party. Think I need coffee-and pie."
Luke laughed and brought back her desire. "So who's the guy?"
"What guy?"
"The guy at the party-with your parents-seemed to know you pretty well..."
"He works with my dad. He's staying with them for a while. We just met really."
"He seems to be into you. Hardly took his eyes off of you the whole night. Seemed your type and I would assume Gilmore approved."
"Whoa, there cowboy. Gilmore approved, since when is that a good thing? I'm sure he was watching me because I'm the only person he knew tonight. My type? Exactly what type is that?"
"You know. Suit, smart, smooth....'
"Luke, I don't think you know me at all. I like a guy who can have fun and get down and dirty when I want him too. Someone who could live here with me in my little house that always needs fixing and someone who knows his way around the kitchen. We all know I get lost in there! Mostly, he just has to love me and my ways. That's the tough part."
"My thought exactly." Luke looked at Lorelai in a new light. He knew she wouldn't take that statement the way it was meant.
Lorelai loved these late night talks in the diner. It was the perfect way to end the day. Somehow she could share her thoughts and feelings with Luke in a way she never could with anyone else. He is truly my best friend. So why can't two such great people find two equally great people to share their lives with?
Luke and Lorelai said good night. Luke locked the door after her and went upstairs. Lorelai slowly walked home and sat on her porch. Both deep in their own thoughts and later deep in their own dreams.
David tried to stay close to Lorelai during the evening, but it was impossible. The woman knew everyone in town and they all wanted to talk to her He did enjoy watching this dynamo in action. She was definitely the queen holding court. And if she was the queen, Rory was princess number one. He discovered that Luke was just the opposite. Although he seemed to be well liked, most of the time he was alone and watching, watching Lorelai. He'd heard some talk of 'Nicole' but he never saw her appear.
Richard and Emily were used to the Stars Hollow people, and were soon ready to leave. He didn't want to leave so early but it didn't look like he would be seeing much more of Lorelai tonight He could probably get more information during the ride home. Emily and Richard reminded the girls about Friday night dinner and they were off. David knew he would have his chance then. He hoped after dinner they could spend some time together. After tonight, he was more intrigued than ever.
Lorelai and Rory had a wonderful time at their party. It just confirmed their great love and affection for all that was home. They had missed it so... Rory walked home with Lane. Mrs. Kim had allowed her out for a short time but wanted her back early. That was fine with Rory. She was tired and wanted some one-on-one with someone her own age.
Lorelai was exhilarated, wired on caffeine and life. It had been the perfect homecoming. She had thanked Sookie a million times before she made Jackson take her home. She was happy that her parents had come-and brought David. She was sorry they had left so early, well sorry that he had left so early. She really wanted to get to know him better but tonight just wasn't the time. She liked what she had seen so far and she thought she had seen some interest on his side too. She also wondered what he thought about her little town. Stars Hollow was not for everyone but it was so important to her. Her home, her life, her heart---which brought her to Luke. Her heart had leaped when she saw him tonight. What was that about? He looked so good-had he always looked that good? The hug felt so good- have to do that more often. She had thought a lot about him this summer. Wondered about his trip, Nicole, Jess-and the coffee. Lousy coffee in Europe. She hadn't really talked to him much tonight. She know she needed to and there was no time like the present. On her way to the diner, her mind was reeling several different ways. Life was so complicated. You never knew what was going to come along and change the direction completely. She thought of Chris, Max, the fire, Sookies baby, the new inn, David and now these confusing feelings about her old friend Luke. The dreams she had this summer and even last, usually weird, usually about Luke.
"Hey" Lorelai bounced into the diner.
"Hey. You don't seem very tired. That was some party-I don't think you took a breath all night. Miss Patty and Babette seemed particularly interested in the details. I can guess which ones!"
"Believe me, there were no details like that on this trip. Just me and Rory and our trusty backpacks, particularly bad coffee-and even worse food. We are mere shadows of the girls who left town a few weeks ago. The girls you keep in such good shape with your burgers and pie!! We had dreams about this place every night." Lorelai smiled thinking about those dreams--not always about the food.
"Good to know-women dream about my food. Just what every guy wants to hear...."
"I didn't mean it like that. Anyway, I bet Nicole dreams about you all the time, and never for the food. How was the trip by the way?"
"Luke? You didn't go, did you? Luke...why not? It wasn't that stupid conversation we had was it? I feel so bad...."
"Well, I just couldn't do it. You know I'm not good when it comes to the dating thing. I just didn't want to......make it seem like....I just didn't want to lead her on. Truth is, I'm not sure how I feel about her. I like her, she's great but I don't know about the future. Something keeps holding me back. Anyway, she took a friend and they seemed to have a good time. In fact, they met some guys and...."
"Say no more. Obviously, she wasn't so sure either. Sorry, my friend. She's out there you know."
"Who?"
"The one, you know, the one that will complete your package-flannel shirts and all. Maybe some flannel clad babies too."
Luke laughed at that one. "You are back. I haven't heard such fractured thinking all summer. Well, maybe Kirk sometimes. Can you imagine me with babies, even one?"
Lorelai smiled. "Of course! You would make a wonderful dad. I've seen you with Rory and even with Jess. You'd do it your own way but you would be great."
"Yeah, well, you need a woman for that. That seems to be the stumbling block for me. And I'm not getting any younger."
"None of us are, Luke. This is turning into a big pity party. Think I need coffee-and pie."
Luke laughed and brought back her desire. "So who's the guy?"
"What guy?"
"The guy at the party-with your parents-seemed to know you pretty well..."
"He works with my dad. He's staying with them for a while. We just met really."
"He seems to be into you. Hardly took his eyes off of you the whole night. Seemed your type and I would assume Gilmore approved."
"Whoa, there cowboy. Gilmore approved, since when is that a good thing? I'm sure he was watching me because I'm the only person he knew tonight. My type? Exactly what type is that?"
"You know. Suit, smart, smooth....'
"Luke, I don't think you know me at all. I like a guy who can have fun and get down and dirty when I want him too. Someone who could live here with me in my little house that always needs fixing and someone who knows his way around the kitchen. We all know I get lost in there! Mostly, he just has to love me and my ways. That's the tough part."
"My thought exactly." Luke looked at Lorelai in a new light. He knew she wouldn't take that statement the way it was meant.
Lorelai loved these late night talks in the diner. It was the perfect way to end the day. Somehow she could share her thoughts and feelings with Luke in a way she never could with anyone else. He is truly my best friend. So why can't two such great people find two equally great people to share their lives with?
Luke and Lorelai said good night. Luke locked the door after her and went upstairs. Lorelai slowly walked home and sat on her porch. Both deep in their own thoughts and later deep in their own dreams.
