CHAPTER 10

It was almost noon when Lorelai's cell phone rang.

"Rory?" she responded without looking at who rang her.

"Mom!" she came on the other line.

"Are you alright? Tristin came by freaking me out- ," Lorelai mumbled.

"I'm fine, mom. I just needed to clear my head," Rory said.

"Well you should've left me a note. Or called sooner. A smoke signal would've been acceptable, too. And what was trouble maker doing at my doorstep this morning?" Lorelai yammered.

"Mom, I didn't know he was headed your way. He sort of made the decision on his own," she admitted.

"Kiddo, it's not like we haven't solved anything together before. You never ran away. That's my specialty!" Lorelai exclaimed.

"Mom, does everyone know about it yet?" Rory changed the subject.

"No," Lorelai said sighing. "So are you coming home now?"

Rory turned around and faced Tristin who was trying hard not to listen into their conversation. However, when he felt Rory's eyes on him, he looked at her.

"I don't know yet," Rory said hesitatingly. "Uhm, I'll let you know what my plans are. Right now, I think I'll be hanging out with Tristin."

"Sweetie, just don't do anything you'll be regretting later," Lorelai said with a hint of desperation.

"I won't. I promise," Rory ended the conversation.

Lorelai just stared at her phone as the call ended. Frustrated, she let out a frustrated groan.

Rory closed her clamshell phone and laid it on the table. No one knows about it yet. Going back would mean she might run into Dean. Worse, she might run into Lindsey. What if everyone found out just before she got back?

"Everything back to normal in Gilmore land?" Tristin asked.

"Would I be imposing if I asked if I could stay another night? I mean, would your dad mind?" Rory asked.

"Hey, stay as long as you want. Can't say I'd turn you down as a roommate," he said. His eyes lit up with an impish twinkle. "Do you want to stay in my room? Or do you want another bedroom? Uh, scratch that. You can stay here. I'll take the room across the hall. I'll be back!" he said as he ran out of the room.

Rory found Tristin's soliloquy amusing. She had never seen anyone so happy to have company over. She did not know where Tristin went so she shrugged and picked her book from the bed and started reading.

Rory was midway through the chapter when she picked up her phone once again to dial her mom. This time it was to let her know that she would not be coming home tonight either.

Lorelai was bummed to hear back from her daughter confirming that she was staying away for another night. She sighed.

For the whole day, she had been responding to every one with a grunt or a groan. A headache seemed to be imminent at this point. Resting her forehead on her hands, she tried to focus. She regretted not sticking to her decision of letting everyone get the day off. Maybe it is not too late to call it a day and play hookie.

Picking herself from her desk chair, Lorelai walked to the kitchen.

"Sookie!" she called out.

"Just a minute!" she said as she tried to put away a pot that was too heavy for her to put on a high shelf.

Lorelai helped Sookie haul the pot onto its storage area.

"Suggestion, you might want that somewhere closer to the ground. Trust me, you'll thank me later for it," Lorelai said.

"Thank you. I will consider that later," Sookie said. "So, what's up?"

"How about taking the day off and just doing all this stuff tomorrow?" Lorelai suggested.

Sookie stared at Lorelai like she grew a third head. "Are you okay? I mean, I won't ask again but you don't seem like yourself today."

Waving her hand, Lorelai gave an excuse. "Well, I really didn't feel like pushing paper and Rory is going to be gone tonight so I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me and give the plastic a little work out."

"Ooh, I am tempted," Sookie said. "However, with Davy, and Jackson…" she trailed off.

"Been there, done that. Wait until you get a kid in college," Lorelai guffawed.

"So where'd Rory head up to?" Sookie asked.

"She's at an old friend's place. She's spending the night to catch up and stuff," Lorelai replied.

"I miss those days," Sookie reminisced. "Talking about boys, painting nails, reading the latest cosmo quiz…"

Lorelai chuckled. Picturing Rory and Tristin painting their toenails was funny. However, the thought of Rory putting into practice what the quizzes say about sex was not as hilarious.

"Well, I can come over to your place tonight after putting Davy to sleep," Sookie suggested.

"If you're up to it," Lorelai said. "It'll be nice. It will be like the old days."

After a little more small talk, Lorelai told Sookie that she was leaving for the day. Huffing, Lorelai went back into town to find something to distract her until Rory comes back.

Luke was a little upset with the little bomb Lorelai dropped on his lap several hours ago. He was torn between heading over to Dean's place and wringing his neck and staying away and having Rory and Dean deal with the problem privately.

He cussed under his breath. This was one problem that he was grateful he never had to deal with by remaining single all these years. The irony is, Rory is a hundred percent not his and yet he is involved in this drama until its resolution.

Contemplating his options, he tossed the towel he used for wiping on the countertop. He was grateful for the afternoon lull. His mind roamed through his thoughts that were not diner related. He knew he needed to do an inventory in the pantry. He also needed to run an errand at Doose's Market. Neither of the chores really appealed to him. What saved him from choosing the lesser of two evils was Lorelai walking through his Diner door.

"Hey you," Lorelai called out.

"Hey," Luke responded while automatically pouring her a cup of coffee. "So, you're here on business?"

"Hmm, no. I decided I'm bumming it until tomorrow," she said nonchalantly as she stared at the doughnuts though its glass cover.

"I don't blame you. I'd take a vacation if I were in your shoes," Luke commented.

Lorelai's stare shifted from the confection to Luke. She blurted, "Watch a movie with me. My treat."

Luke immediately looked up from the pantry to Lorelai. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, buddy. I owe you at least a date after I included you in my domestic problems, sans the invite," Lorelai babbled. "I could even cook for you."

"Cook? You don't even own a skillet!" Luke voiced out.

"You don't know that. I might have bought one between…" she stalled.

"Between never and when hell freezes over," Luke finished for her. "I'd like to take you up on that offer but you know I don't do movies."

"Well, we could get a rental and you could watch one of those Wyatt Earp movies," Lorelai bantered.

"Hmm, how about you take care of the videos and I'll get some stuff here from the diner. At least I know that I won't die of Salmonella or something," Luke said.

"Great. It's a date," Lorelai said, downing the last of her coffee and fleeting through the door.

Luke just stared at the figure that waltzed in like a blur. Women, they are nothing but trouble!