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His only way out: Part Eight

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Lorelai's hotel room-

Lorelai slammed the door shut as she walked into her room.  Thoughts of humiliation and anger swamped her mind. She didn't want to cry, the crying routine was getting old and draining and it seemed that it didn't solve anything anyway. She slowly made her way to the bed and pulled her bag from underneath it. She opened it and took out her pyjamas after little search. She zippered up the bag and shoved it forcefully under the bed, trying to release some pent up frustration. She kicked her shoes off before standing up and walking over to the window. She stared out onto the quiet road and down at Luke's truck. She quickly looked up and focused on her own reflection in the glass not wanting to think about, him.

She stood there completely still, deep in thought. She closed her eyes and slumped her head towards the ground knowing that she might have really screwed up. Almost a minute later there was a knock at the door. She looked back up at the window and kept silent. It was only then that she realized she was crying. She looked at the reflection of the door, hoping he wouldn't come in.

"Lorelai?" Luke knocked again.

She took a deep breath. "Go away, I don't wanna talk to you."

"Lorelai, I'm sorry, can I come in?"

She remained silent and watched the door in the window as it slowly began to open. She crossed her arms and looked down at the floor. He walked in cautiously and as soon as he saw the way she was standing, the way her head slumped towards the ground, he was sure he had hurt her. He felt like he was up a creek with no paddle. He was struggling. He wasn't the type to run after a woman. He didn't know what to say, and apologizing again seemed lame and completely worthless. He walked towards her and still she kept silent. It was making him extremely nervous. Lorelai always had something to say.

"Lorelai?" he prompted again. She lifted her head slowly and looked at him. His eyes widened slightly after seeing the look on her face.

She stood up taller and faced his body, "What do you want?"

He took a deep breath, "I just wanted to tell you that I didn't mean what I said in there."

There was a pause before she replied. "Oh yeah? How do I know you're not lying, huh?"

"I know you don't have any reason to believe me, but, I don't know, you left the diner like that the other night, how the hell was I supposed to take that?! Then you come here and . . . " he stopped, feeling stupid.

"What? And what?!" she said impatiently.

"And then you come here and tell me possibly the only thing I've ever wanted to hear! Ever in my life!" He added for emphasis.

Lorelai took a step back. "Well you didn't exactly start doing cartwheels when I told you what I was feeling! Did you?! You called me a liar Luke!"

"Either did you! It wasn't really spot on fairy tale stuff when I told you!"

"That's because I didn't have the slightest idea in the world you would say something like that to me! And what would you know about fairy tales?!" There was silence and Lorelai faced the window again, breathing heavily.

"But you didn't have to leave the way you did! You know how bad I felt that night?!" A tear ran down her cheek as the words came from his mouth.

"Oh what? So this is my fault?! I screwed everything up, is that what you're saying?!"

"I never said that, Lorelai, and you know it." Luke walked behind her and she folded her arms tighter.

"You still implied it." She said in a soft but firm voice.

He sighed and sat down on the bed, "I don't know what to do Lorelai." 

She closed her eyes shut and shook her head from side to side. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

Luke lifted his head and she half turned around. "I couldn't."

"Why not?"

He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "I didn't think you'd listen."

Lorelai looked confused, "So what made last night any different?"

"Rachel."

"What? Did she say something about me?"

 Luke put his face in his hands momentarily and sighed. "It wasn't the first time."

"What do you mean it wasn't the first time? When did she talk about me before?"

Luke's mind had to get over the fact that nothing could be kept a secret anymore and he was having a hard time doing it. "Are you sure you want to hear all of this?" He held onto false hope that he could keep it secret.

"Luke." She said with her answer apparent.

"Rachel left last time she visited because of you."

"But why? I didn't do anything."

"She told me to not wait too long to tell you that," he paused, "that I wanted more than a friendship . . ."

"Oh," was all she could say. "That was a long time ago."

"You're telling me."

"Why didn't you tell me then?"

He paused before answering, "Well, you had Max."

Those words hit her like a ton of bricks and she began to imagine how Luke felt. She grew silent and she put a hand over one side of her face.

"Lorelai?" He wondered why she went silent.   

She started to feel a little bad about the whole interrogation. "I'm sorry."

He sighed. "Don't be sorry."

"No, I mean, I'm sorry for running when you tried to tell me about . . . I didn't know."

"It's okay." They both looked to the floor. After several moments Luke stood up which made Lorelai lift her head. He looked around. "So what now?"

Lorelai wiped her eyes. "I don't know."

Luke was feeling nervous now, they were standing around avoiding eye contact and not saying anything. Lorelai unfolded her arms and suddenly felt very small. She looked to the side before diverting her eyes up to his. She took a step forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. Luke immediately surrounded her and held her tight, feeling relieved. She breathed up against his neck, sending shivers up his spine. All he wanted to do was kiss her.

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AN: I'm so sorry this update took so long. I had trouble with my computer and I lost recent files, including this chapter, which meant an entire re-write. But here's where the 'time' issue came into play. I decided during the re-write that I wasn't happy with what I had re-done, so I had to think, which sent me into a crazy writers-block mode.

Anyway, the chapter is here and there will be R rated content next chapter, I promise. Thanks again for the reviews and keep them coming, I want your thoughts. I'm feeling so uninspired it's not funny. 

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and holiday season!