Let us suppose that:
Lorelai owns the diner. She is not the world's biggest hazard in the kitchen.
Rory is Lorelai's daughter and yes she goes to Chilton.
Lorelai and Rory live in their big house, the diner apartment is an office.
Luke is the new resident in town. He's a carpenter.
Things are exactly the same as for the rest of the people of stars hollow.
Pattie and Babette are still Babette and Miss Pattie.
Taylor is still annoying as always.
Sookie and Jackson are together.
Basically this is somewhere in the first season.
Disclaimer: in my own little imaginary world I own the Gilmore girls and this wonderful creation, but since this is real life, I do not own any of the characters I'm using for this crazy fiction.
New guy Luke
CHAPTER 3
"Hey mom"
"Hey kid..."
"What's wrong?"
"Why you ask?"
"Oh... I don't know... maybe because you have the same face you had when the willy wonka tape was damaged..."
"I do not have wonka face..."
"Oh... I think you do... what's wrong...?"
"Nothing, leave it... I don't feel like talking"
"Oookey... so I'm gonna go home, I'm meeting Lane later I'm helping her study"
"Ok, just don't come home too late"
"Bye mom"
I was in the kitchen cleaning when I heard the bell jingle "we're closed" I called
"Ok... sorry" I heard a man's voice, it was him, nice of him to show up after 3 days... I thought as I did my way out of the kitchen
"Hey" I said coming from the kitchen to find him half way out the door
"Hey" he looked at me
"Come on in"
"You said you were closed, I don't want to keep you..."
"No, come on in, you're freezing"
"Thanks"
"Here, have a sit, I'll get you some tea to warm you up"
"That would be good"
"So, how was your day" I asked while making the tea
"Ok" he said putting one of the chairs down
Not very chatty obviously, it's not like I want him to tell me his life's story just how was your day and I get a dry ok
"Here you go" I said placing the hot mug on the counter
"Thanks"
"I'll be in the back..."
I hate it when someone can't say more then 2 words... what is wrong with him?
I continued to wrap everything up in the kitchen and when I came back to the front I found him leaving again "you leaving?"
"Yeah, thanks for the tea"
"You don't have to leave yet, its pretty cold out there"
"I don't want to be in your way..."
"You're not, close the door"
"Ok" as he went back to the counter and sat I looked at him, he looked tired, something in his eyes was sad, I didn't know what it was "you want some more tea?"
"If it's not too much to ask..."
"No, that's ok"
I placed 2 mugs on the counter one with tea and the other with coffee, of course, and went to sit next to him. He took a sip and asked "why aren't you home yet?"
"Sorry?"
"Its late, shouldn't you be at home?"
"I have to close here"
"You need some help?"
"No, I'm sure you're tired yourself, I'm use to it, it's no big deal"
"Ok..."
"So, how are the shelves coming?"
"Oh, it's almost ready"
"Ok good... so, is this a full serves kinda business you have?"
"Full serves?"
"I mean, can you hang them for me? Well actually not for me, for Rory..."
"Oh... sure if you want me to..."
"That would be very helpful..."
"Ok, then, I'll bring them tomorrow"
"Great, thanks... so... I haven't seen you in a while"
"I was busy..."
"Oh... ok... don't work too hard though"
"Don't worry... I'm fine"
"You don't look fine, you look tired"
"Well, I worked all day..."
"Oh crap look at the time, I have to go..."
"Ok... so I'll see you tomorrow"
"Yeah..."
"Do you want me to walk you home? It's really late"
"You sure you don't mind?"
"I offered..."
"Ok, let's go"
It's just the new guy... why are you acting like he's George Clooney?
"So..." I said but didn't know what to say next
"So..." he echoed
"How was your day?"
"It was ok... I worked on some stuff"
"Rory's shelves"
"Yes, that too"
"Did you eat? Cause you didn't come to the diner"
"Yeah, I ate"
"Did you go to Al's? Cause you know, my food is better..."
"No, no Al's that place is too weird... I brought food from my place"
"Oh... I'm sure that wasn't as good as mine too"
"You're not the only one who can make a sandwich"
"Hey... take that back..." I slapped my hand gently against his arm
"Sorry, but it's true"
"Fine... it's your loss anyway..."
"So, how long have you lived here?"
"Since Rory was a baby"
"That's a long time"
"Yes... but I love this town. It's a little weird but I've known the people here for so long that I got use to the huge amount of craziness"
"Huge amount I believe is an understatement"
"Yeah... I know how you feel... when I was new, it took me a while to figure how their minds work... it wasn't long before I saw that I wasn't so different then them..."
"So I should be afraid of you too"
"No... I'm normal around normal people"
"Ok..."
"So, thanks for walking me"
"You're welcome"
"Do you want to come inside?"
"No... I think I should go..."
"Ok..."
"Good night Lorelai"
"Night Luke"
I couldn't sleep that night, I don't know why, it's like his ignoring all the signals... clearly he's not interested... I mean if he did he would probably make a move by now... but he didn't make a move... he did just the opposite, when I try to get close he takes 3 steps back, I offer him to watch a movie with me and my daughter and says he has to leave and doesn't come to the diner the next day, I come to his work to bring him something to eat and he doesn't show up for 3 days and tonight... well... even a blind man could see that like him... maybe he's gay... God... he's like a big mystery, even Rory and her smart friends from Chilton couldn't figure him out so why am I even trying...
The next day I worked like crazy, did everything I could to keep busy. I didn't care if he shows up or not. I needed to go back to the way things were before Sookie put crazy ideas in my head...
I came home that night, exhausted, to find Rory sitting on the couch talking to none other then the guy I've been trying to push out of my head all day
"Hey kid"
"Mom... hey..."
"Luke... what are you doing here?"
"The shelves... I told you I'd bring them today"
"Oh, that's right..."
"I hope its no problem that I came here without asking you first"
"Well, no... that's ok..."
"Mom, come see, I'm gonna put the books here later" she said in excitement and took my hand
"That's great honey" I said looking at the hanged shelves
"Yeah, and he gave me another idea too..."
"He did? What idea?"
"He said he could build me this drawer that would feet under my bed and it would be easier to reach the books that way"
"That's nice of him..."
"It's a good idea mom, don't you think?"
"Yeah, it is... so, why don't you start using those shelves now while I talk to Luke"
"Ok"
I went to the living room to find him standing there awkwardly, looking at the pictures on the fireplace "hey"
"Oh, hey... nice pictures"
"Yes... I've got one happy kid in there"
"She's a good kid"
"Yes, she is... So, the drawer thing..."
"Yes, the other day at the diner I heard you talk about how the books are under the bed..."
"Oh... so, thank you for coming and doing this..."
"Sure"
"You want to stay for a little while?"
"I really have to go..."
"Ok, let me just get my purse" I said and went to get the money "here"
"Thanks" he said reaching for the money "so, good night"
"Hey Luke" I said quietly
"Ha?" he asked turning to face me
"You forgot your toolbox"
"Oh..." he smiled and reached for it passing me and brushing his hand against mine "sorry"
"You sure you don't want to stay, let me get you something to drink"
"No, really, that's ok, I need to go" he said and started walking to out of the living room
"Why are you like this?" I asked frustrated
"Excuse me?" he asked clueless
"What is wrong with you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Every time I try to do something nice for you, you just put a big wall, I only offered you something to drink and you're running away like I have some kind of a disease"
"I am not..."
"Then why... tell me why didn't you come to the diner for 3 days after I came to bring you a sandwich to work?"
"Lorelai..."
"No, seriously, I'm a nice person, I did it because I'm nice"
"I'm sorry, but I was busy"
"Oh... don't give me that"
"What do you want me to say, I just met you..."
"What does that mean?"
"I thanked you for the tea, and the sandwich"
"And that's supposed to make me feel better?"
"I don't know... what do you want me to say?"
"Forget it, just... never mind, thank you for the shelves, I'll see you around"
He didn't say anything, just turned and left.
The next day Chris came to the diner after lunch time, he sat at the counter and we talked and laughed. Chris has been trying so hard lately to be there for Rory, he's been coming to see her at least once a week.
As for me and him, we're friends, we realized that the minute we talk about a relationship we start fighting and everything gets messed up so we decided to be friends, for Rory's sake. I wouldn't want to fight with him and have him out of Rory' life again.
As I was laughing at Chris for not understanding the punch line of one of my jokes (it was lame, I admit) Luke walked in and sat at one of the tables
"I'll be right back" I said to Chris and went to take Luke's order
"What can I get you?" I asked avoiding his gaze
"A turkey sandwich and sparkling water" he said looking at me scribbling on my notepad
"Coming right up"
"So, you want to do something tonight?" I asked Chris
"I don't know. What did you have in mind?"
"We could order some food and get a video..."
"Yeah, that's good"
"But I have to see if Rory's not busy"
"Ok, so, when is she coming back from school anyway?"
"She should be here any minute" I said after checking my watch
"Good... can I get a refill?"
"Sure"
When Luke's order was ready I served him just when Rory came in
"Dad" she called and hugged Chris
"Hey kiddo"
"Hey"
"So how was your day?"
"Great, are we doing something tonight?"
"Yes, your mom wants to get a video and order food"
"Sounds great, but I get to pick the movie this time"
"How can I say no to you?"
"You can't"
"But I can..." I said walking behind the counter
"Mom..."
"I pick the movie" I smiled
"You picked it last time"
"But you picked it twice before me..."
"So..."
"So I get to pick tonight's movie"
"Fine..."
I smiled and looked at Luke's table but he was gone, he couldn't have finished so fast "hey, Steve?"
"Yes boss"
"Where's the guy who sat at that table?"
"Oh, he asked me to wrap it"
"That's weird, he could've just asked for a to go sandwich"
"Don't know, but he left a tip..."
"Oh, sure, nice of him to leave a tip"
That's strange I thought why didn't he stay? Why didn't he just order a to go from the start?
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"Where did you go to?"
"Ha?"
"You were gone, did you here what I said?"
"No honey, what did you say?"
"I'm hungry"
"Ok, what do you feel like?"
"A burger and chili fries..."
"Ok"
Hope you like it.
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Thanks for reading and for the great reviews.