Title: Three's a Crowd, Chapter 2
Author: Gluglug
Spoiler Warning/Timing: Late Fourth Season (post "Girls in Bikinis, blah blah)
Rating: PG - 13
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.
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The following Monday morning, Lorelai entered the diner, laptop in hand, and walked up to the counter.
Luke put up his hands. "No, you are not using my fax line today. My back hurts and I'm not in the mood to limbo."
"I don't need your fax line Mr. Grouchy. Why does your back hurt?" Lorelai asked.
"I don't know, but it's been bothering me ever since my meltdown in Litchfield."
"Is that like my 'Meltdown in the Park?' Maybe we can get Baz to write a series of meltdown musicals. It could be a trilogy if we use the meltdown my mother had at the Danbury mall!"
"Coffee?"
"You have to ask? So besides your back hurting, how's the rest of you holding up?"
"Okay, I guess." Luke replied as he poured her a cup.
"How did your talk with Nicole go?"
"Not bad. Um, we're getting a divorce. She's gonna pull some strings to expedite it."
"One of the advantages of divorcing a lawyer, I guess." Lorelai shrugged, as she opened her laptop. "I don't know if I should say I'm sorry or congratulations."
"Either is fine with me." Luke sighed, wanting to change the subject. "So, why did you bring that thing in here if you're not going online?"
"I'm writing a press release for the Inn's opening to send to the travel magazines. We can't afford to hire a publicist and I'm a decent writer so...hey, do you think the phrase 'rustic charm' is overused?"
"When it applies to buildings that have outdated plumbing and toxic mold, yes. Why not just be straightforward?"
"PR is all about spin, baby. I'm trying to balance the Weston heritage of the Dragonfly with Sookie's and my hip sensibility. It's not as easy as it sounds."
"Well, I'm sure the muse will strike and you'll write something good. Can I get you anything else?"
"A muse would be great. Can I get a roller-skating one like Olivia Newton John in Xanadu? That's an underrated classic. How many movies have Gene Kelly rollerskating to ELO? Wait, let me call Baz - he can use rollerskating as his theme for our musical!"
"You and Baz will have to take it outside." Luke smirked. "Hey, I have to go upstairs for a minute, you'll be here when I get back?"
Lorelai nodded. "Unless I'm in Xanadu."
Luke disappeared in the back just as Lorelai's cell phone rang. Since Luke was gone for a minute she decided to tempt fate and answer it. Her caller ID said JStiles. It certainly wasn't the star of "The Prince & Me."
"Hey Jason."
"Lorelai. How is the new owner of my apartment key?"
"Fine. I'm at Luke's writing a press release for the Inn. What are you up to?"
"Oh, I just got out of the dullest meeting ever with your father and our new client, Mr. Sutton. But he's our biggest account yet, so I hid my yawns well."
"Good boy. So what else is new?"
"I just wanted to say that I missed not spending the entire weekend with you and I was hoping you were free for dinner tonight. You could come early and use the key."
"Dude, you are way too fixated on that key. I think it's time to cut the cord."
"Probably, I tend to get attached to inanimate objects. But I'm more attached to its more animated owner. So what do you say?"
Just then, Luke came down the stairs when he heard Lorelai chatting on her cell phone he stopped to eavesdrop. Something about the tone of her voice indicated that she was talking to some guy.
"Jason, tonight would be great. I'll come by your place around 7ish and I'll use the key, just to make you happy."
"Sounds dirty. I'll see you then."
"Bye, Jason." Lorelai giggled, shut her phone and put it back in her bag just as Luke appeared with an envelope in his hand.
"Were you just on your cell phone?" Luke asked accusatorily.
"Moi, use my cell phone in your establishment?" Lorelai asked innocently, doing her best Miss Piggy.
"I thought I heard your voice."
"Well, it's probably the one in your head that sounds just like me."
"Anyway, I have something for you." Luke placed the envelope in front of her.
"I'm having déjà vu. Are you loaning me more money?"
"No, I'm paying YOU back. For the bail." Luke lowered his voice.
Lorelai opened the envelope and saw a check made out to her for $300.
"Luke, you didn't have to pay me back. Besides, I still owe you $29, 700."
"Just take it, okay? Think of it as a "thank you" for coming to get me the other night."
"Okay, your welcome." She put the check in her purse.
"Hey, maybe we should spend some of this money on some kind of wallowing ritual."
"A wallowing ritual?" Luke asked.
"You know eating pints of Ben & Jerry's, renting movies like "Steel Magnolias." When Rory broke up with Dean the first time, I introduced her to the wonderful world of wallowing. I figured that with your, um, new status, you might be in the mood to wallow."
"I wouldn't be caught dead watching "Steel Magnolias" and I don't eat ice cream, but I might be up for some good old-fashioned wallowing."
"Well in your honor we could get Tofutti and rent some baseball movies, we'll call it wallow lite."
"Sounds good, are you free tonight?" Luke asked, knowing very well she wasn't.
"Tonight?" Lorelai repeated. "Oh, um, I'd love to but I've got plans already."
"You have a date?" Luke crossed his arms in front of him.
"What makes you think I have a date? Wait, were you eavesdropping on my conversation?"
"You mean the cell phone conversation that supposedly was a product of my imagination?" Luke smirked.
"Luke, you suck. Fine, I do have a date." Lorelai relented.
"Someone you just met?"
"What's with the interrogation, Luke?"
"I'm not interrogating you, Lorelai. It's just that you've been privy to the details of my personal life, I thought maybe you'd like to share. I mean we're friends, right, isn't this what friends do?"
"Yes, Luke, we're friends. Fine, I'll tell you about Jason. What do you want to know?"
"How long have you known him?"
"Since I was 14, we met at summer camp. Christopher and I hated him."
"But you don't hate him now."
"No, he's a good guy – he's funny, you'd like him. And he works with my dad, he likes him a lot."
"How long have you been seeing him, I'm assuming you haven't been secretly dating him for the last twenty odd years?"
Lorelai squirmed, embarrassed that she had never mentioned Jason to Luke before. He was right, she practically demanded to know every detail of his relationship with Nicole but he knew nothing about her private life.
"Um, we've been seeing each other for a few months. He just gave me the key to his place."
Lorelai wasn't sure why she let that slip out.
Luke nodded. "I see, sounds serious."
"I guess it is, I haven't really thought about the serious-ness level."
"Well just make sure that you and he are on the same page, commitment wise. If I learned anything from my so called marriage, both parties need to have the same level of expectation, otherwise it won't work."
"You are the relationship sage, aren't you?"
"Well divorce will do that to you."
The word divorce made Lorelai feel bad again for Luke. "Hey, do you want me to cancel my plans with Jason tonight?"
"Why?"
"So we can wallow it up, Luke style."
"No, it's okay. Go have fun with, um, Jason."
"Wait a minute. Do you want to come out with us tonight?"
"Huh? Lorelai, I don't want to be a third wheel."
"No, I'll call Jason and tell him that I forgot that I already made plans with you and rather than blow you off, I'll bring you along."
"Lorelai, I'm sure the last thing he wants to see on a date with you is me."
"Oh don't be silly. You guys will get along great. We'll take in a movie, something light, it'll be fun."
"I don't know about this." Luke shook his head. But on the other hand, he was curious to see who this guy was. He wondered if Jason was the jerk speeding in the Audi that morning.
"Listen, I'll talk to Jason and let you know the plans." Lorelai turned off her laptop. "I gotta get going, I'll call you later."
Lorelai left the diner and got back into her jeep. As she drove to the Dragonfly she tried to ignore the little voice inside her head that was telling her that bringing Luke on her date with Jason was not a good idea. It wasn't a bad idea, she told herself, she was going to be a good girlfriend and a good friend at the same time. What was wrong with that?
Author: Gluglug
Spoiler Warning/Timing: Late Fourth Season (post "Girls in Bikinis, blah blah)
Rating: PG - 13
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.
-------------------------------------------------------
The following Monday morning, Lorelai entered the diner, laptop in hand, and walked up to the counter.
Luke put up his hands. "No, you are not using my fax line today. My back hurts and I'm not in the mood to limbo."
"I don't need your fax line Mr. Grouchy. Why does your back hurt?" Lorelai asked.
"I don't know, but it's been bothering me ever since my meltdown in Litchfield."
"Is that like my 'Meltdown in the Park?' Maybe we can get Baz to write a series of meltdown musicals. It could be a trilogy if we use the meltdown my mother had at the Danbury mall!"
"Coffee?"
"You have to ask? So besides your back hurting, how's the rest of you holding up?"
"Okay, I guess." Luke replied as he poured her a cup.
"How did your talk with Nicole go?"
"Not bad. Um, we're getting a divorce. She's gonna pull some strings to expedite it."
"One of the advantages of divorcing a lawyer, I guess." Lorelai shrugged, as she opened her laptop. "I don't know if I should say I'm sorry or congratulations."
"Either is fine with me." Luke sighed, wanting to change the subject. "So, why did you bring that thing in here if you're not going online?"
"I'm writing a press release for the Inn's opening to send to the travel magazines. We can't afford to hire a publicist and I'm a decent writer so...hey, do you think the phrase 'rustic charm' is overused?"
"When it applies to buildings that have outdated plumbing and toxic mold, yes. Why not just be straightforward?"
"PR is all about spin, baby. I'm trying to balance the Weston heritage of the Dragonfly with Sookie's and my hip sensibility. It's not as easy as it sounds."
"Well, I'm sure the muse will strike and you'll write something good. Can I get you anything else?"
"A muse would be great. Can I get a roller-skating one like Olivia Newton John in Xanadu? That's an underrated classic. How many movies have Gene Kelly rollerskating to ELO? Wait, let me call Baz - he can use rollerskating as his theme for our musical!"
"You and Baz will have to take it outside." Luke smirked. "Hey, I have to go upstairs for a minute, you'll be here when I get back?"
Lorelai nodded. "Unless I'm in Xanadu."
Luke disappeared in the back just as Lorelai's cell phone rang. Since Luke was gone for a minute she decided to tempt fate and answer it. Her caller ID said JStiles. It certainly wasn't the star of "The Prince & Me."
"Hey Jason."
"Lorelai. How is the new owner of my apartment key?"
"Fine. I'm at Luke's writing a press release for the Inn. What are you up to?"
"Oh, I just got out of the dullest meeting ever with your father and our new client, Mr. Sutton. But he's our biggest account yet, so I hid my yawns well."
"Good boy. So what else is new?"
"I just wanted to say that I missed not spending the entire weekend with you and I was hoping you were free for dinner tonight. You could come early and use the key."
"Dude, you are way too fixated on that key. I think it's time to cut the cord."
"Probably, I tend to get attached to inanimate objects. But I'm more attached to its more animated owner. So what do you say?"
Just then, Luke came down the stairs when he heard Lorelai chatting on her cell phone he stopped to eavesdrop. Something about the tone of her voice indicated that she was talking to some guy.
"Jason, tonight would be great. I'll come by your place around 7ish and I'll use the key, just to make you happy."
"Sounds dirty. I'll see you then."
"Bye, Jason." Lorelai giggled, shut her phone and put it back in her bag just as Luke appeared with an envelope in his hand.
"Were you just on your cell phone?" Luke asked accusatorily.
"Moi, use my cell phone in your establishment?" Lorelai asked innocently, doing her best Miss Piggy.
"I thought I heard your voice."
"Well, it's probably the one in your head that sounds just like me."
"Anyway, I have something for you." Luke placed the envelope in front of her.
"I'm having déjà vu. Are you loaning me more money?"
"No, I'm paying YOU back. For the bail." Luke lowered his voice.
Lorelai opened the envelope and saw a check made out to her for $300.
"Luke, you didn't have to pay me back. Besides, I still owe you $29, 700."
"Just take it, okay? Think of it as a "thank you" for coming to get me the other night."
"Okay, your welcome." She put the check in her purse.
"Hey, maybe we should spend some of this money on some kind of wallowing ritual."
"A wallowing ritual?" Luke asked.
"You know eating pints of Ben & Jerry's, renting movies like "Steel Magnolias." When Rory broke up with Dean the first time, I introduced her to the wonderful world of wallowing. I figured that with your, um, new status, you might be in the mood to wallow."
"I wouldn't be caught dead watching "Steel Magnolias" and I don't eat ice cream, but I might be up for some good old-fashioned wallowing."
"Well in your honor we could get Tofutti and rent some baseball movies, we'll call it wallow lite."
"Sounds good, are you free tonight?" Luke asked, knowing very well she wasn't.
"Tonight?" Lorelai repeated. "Oh, um, I'd love to but I've got plans already."
"You have a date?" Luke crossed his arms in front of him.
"What makes you think I have a date? Wait, were you eavesdropping on my conversation?"
"You mean the cell phone conversation that supposedly was a product of my imagination?" Luke smirked.
"Luke, you suck. Fine, I do have a date." Lorelai relented.
"Someone you just met?"
"What's with the interrogation, Luke?"
"I'm not interrogating you, Lorelai. It's just that you've been privy to the details of my personal life, I thought maybe you'd like to share. I mean we're friends, right, isn't this what friends do?"
"Yes, Luke, we're friends. Fine, I'll tell you about Jason. What do you want to know?"
"How long have you known him?"
"Since I was 14, we met at summer camp. Christopher and I hated him."
"But you don't hate him now."
"No, he's a good guy – he's funny, you'd like him. And he works with my dad, he likes him a lot."
"How long have you been seeing him, I'm assuming you haven't been secretly dating him for the last twenty odd years?"
Lorelai squirmed, embarrassed that she had never mentioned Jason to Luke before. He was right, she practically demanded to know every detail of his relationship with Nicole but he knew nothing about her private life.
"Um, we've been seeing each other for a few months. He just gave me the key to his place."
Lorelai wasn't sure why she let that slip out.
Luke nodded. "I see, sounds serious."
"I guess it is, I haven't really thought about the serious-ness level."
"Well just make sure that you and he are on the same page, commitment wise. If I learned anything from my so called marriage, both parties need to have the same level of expectation, otherwise it won't work."
"You are the relationship sage, aren't you?"
"Well divorce will do that to you."
The word divorce made Lorelai feel bad again for Luke. "Hey, do you want me to cancel my plans with Jason tonight?"
"Why?"
"So we can wallow it up, Luke style."
"No, it's okay. Go have fun with, um, Jason."
"Wait a minute. Do you want to come out with us tonight?"
"Huh? Lorelai, I don't want to be a third wheel."
"No, I'll call Jason and tell him that I forgot that I already made plans with you and rather than blow you off, I'll bring you along."
"Lorelai, I'm sure the last thing he wants to see on a date with you is me."
"Oh don't be silly. You guys will get along great. We'll take in a movie, something light, it'll be fun."
"I don't know about this." Luke shook his head. But on the other hand, he was curious to see who this guy was. He wondered if Jason was the jerk speeding in the Audi that morning.
"Listen, I'll talk to Jason and let you know the plans." Lorelai turned off her laptop. "I gotta get going, I'll call you later."
Lorelai left the diner and got back into her jeep. As she drove to the Dragonfly she tried to ignore the little voice inside her head that was telling her that bringing Luke on her date with Jason was not a good idea. It wasn't a bad idea, she told herself, she was going to be a good girlfriend and a good friend at the same time. What was wrong with that?