Author: Lorraine
A/N: Thank you, to all who reviewed. Your words of encouragement can be an inspiration.
Tease
My mind keeps coming back to what happened a few minutes ago. It's still hard to believe that such a weight has been lifted off my chest. Around me I see people giving me odd looks, but I don't blame them. Even in Stars Hollow it is uncommon to see a person as happy as me. I skip across the street to Luke's knowing full well that mom is there waiting for me.
"Mommy dearest, have you forgotten to get me coffee?"
"Of course not- why are you wet?"
"No reason, it just took me a few seconds to figure out how to turn off the water. Unfortunately, not before I turned it up higher than it had any right to go."
Looking at her now, I can see that she's using all her self control to keep from laughing. Even in my aloof state, I can't figure out what's so funny.
"What?"
"Your hair looks like it's been through a meat grinder!"
Yup, she's lost it, any second now she's going to need a paper bag. I'm still standing when Luke comes up to get my order and to see what's going on. Immediately I start to blush, and already it seems as if he knows, but he couldn't, could he?
"Go upstairs and get something out of Jess's closet before you catch a cold."
Classic Luke- gruff with a hint of caring. But now that I am half way up the stairs, it becomes obvious that in order to get something out of his closet, I need to go in his room. Opening the door to the apartment, I am shocked to see how clean it is. Then again, Mom and I haven't cleaned in weeks, months if you count vacuuming. Carefully I walk toward his door, something about it is unnerving. As soon as I open his door, I feel the wind being knocked out of me.
It's clean? His multitudes of books and CD's are meticulously stacked and ordered, only his cloths are slightly rumpled. But then I see the walls, standard white has been covered with posters, anywhere from The Clash, to Tool, to The Distillers. It's perfect. Standing there, I begin to notice the shivers that wrack my body, quickly I unbutton my blouse and skirt, kick off my shoes, and strip off my hose. Never had it occurred to me that I would be standing in Jess's room in my underwear. Carelessly I walk over to the dresser and search for a shirt, quickly coming to an 'A Perfect Circle' one. Pulling it over my head, I become increasingly aware of the size and smell of the shirt. It comes down to my mid-thigh and smells like his fabric softener.
Behind me I hear a soft clearing of throat, without turning around I already know it's him.
"Got any pants that won't make me look like I'm shrinking?"
I hear him laugh and am surprised to feel the pride that seeps through my bones. He walks past me and opens the bottom drawer, pulling out worn gray and black flannel pants. He hands them to me and without a second thought, I pull them on. I straighten up and for the first time it hits me, Jess probably saw me in my underwear, and I'm not embarrassed. I smile sweetly before giving him a bruising kiss. Just before it begins to get lengthy, I pull away and smirk before turning around and start my way to the stairs that lead back to the diner. As I open the door, I distinctly hear him.
"Tease."