…You…
TITLE: …You…
AUTHOR: Anika
FEEDBACK: Very appreciated!
CATEGORY: Luke/Lorelai
SPOILERS/TIMELINE: Continuation (sort of, I start in the episode) of 4.11 (In the Glamour and the Clangor). Now 4th season AU!
RATING: PG-13, I guess.
Luke and Lorelai avoided each other the whole day.
Rory and her mother spent the morning sitting on the couch, watching some movie neither really concentrated on, eating junk food. They had silently agreed not to talk about the scene Rory had witnessed even though she wanted to know badly. But she kept quiet. Once again she wondered why they just couldn't tell each other what they felt. Everybody's life would be much easier. Also, Rory felt bad. While she should feel with her mother, she wanted to study. She had come home to study and she was only sitting on the couch…
Luke occupied himself with work. To his own surprise, he didn't feel one tiny bit tired. Only angry and depressed. His feelings didn't change when Nicole walked into the Diner, grinning.
"Hey You." She greeted him happily.
"Hey." He answered rather grumpily.
"What's up?"
"Nothin', I'm tired." He lied.
"Ah, yes after that night." She smiled at him. Luke had to force a small smile back.
"When will you bring your stuff over?" Nicole wanted to know and sipped the coffee Luke had just put in front of her.
"Don't know, got pretty much to do." 'And I'm not sure anymore', he thought.
"Ah, ok." Nicole said. She was angry but tried to hide it.
"Have you seen Lorelai already?" the question came without any context, Luke looked at her rather surprised.
"What? What does Lorelai have to do with anything?"
"She always changes your mind!" she sounded like a 4-year-old and Luke gave a short laugh.
"What tells you I have already seen her today?" 'Seen and kissed her'.
"Oh, Luke, I am sorry but you- sometimes I don't know what's going on in your mind."
'Neither do I', Luke thought. But he knew he had to find out. He had to find out before he made a huge mistake. One way or the other.
"I'll call you before I come over later." Luke promised and Nicole smiled broadly.
Rory felt only slightly guilty when she started studying about 2 minutes after her mother had fallen asleep. She felt a little guiltier when she decided to go back to Yale. She wrote a little note for her mother and promised to call her later. She kissed her mother's forehead, put a blanket over her and left the house quietly.
Lorelai's dream was full of kisses, muffins and books that fell to the ground. It took a moment for her to wake up and realize that the phone ringing was real and not in her dream. Her eyes still half closed, she grabbed the phone. Almost like the night before…
"Hello?"she asked. There was a hint of hope in her voice. Would Luke call again?
"Lorelai!!!" it was Sookie, her voice was shrill, nervous.
"Sookie, what's the matter?" Lorelai sat up.
"Where are YOU?" Sookie asked a little angry.
"Home?" Lorelai searched her mind but why was Sookie so weird?
"Then get your ass movin' to the hotel! Here are people who want money. I don't have any. That's your job and you sit at HOME!" Lorelai hung up, jumped up from the couch, into her shoes and into the car.
"Sookie, I'm so sorry!" Lorelai looked pleadingly at her best friend, whose eyes already softened.
"Just give them the money they want." Now Lorelai realized: she had already paid the workers! Why hadn't they gotten it? After just two seconds Lorelai found out that the money never left the bank simply because there was no more money… She calmed the workers down, promising to pay them soon, very soon. They weren't pleased but finally left. Sookie came from the kitchen, smiling widely.
"Everything alright?" she asked. Lorelai forced a smile.
"Of course, girl. Get back to work." Sookie obeyed. 'As long as we still have work', Lorelai added in her mind.
On her way home, Lorelai was devastated. If she didn't pay… she couldn't do that. She couldn't ask her parents for money, no way, and she knew no people with money. The bank wouldn't give her another credit. There was nothing she could do! Lorelai felt tears stinging in her eyes. Without realizing it, she had driven to Luke's. She sat in her car, looking into the diner. Luke was just serving an elder couple. He looked sad, she had to admit. She wondered if she should go in… Lorelai needed coffee and nothing had happened anyway, right? At least she had forgotten about her money problems for a second.
Luke was rather surprised when he saw Lorelai walking into the diner. He almost never lifted his head to see who walked in but this time- Lorelai. She looked terrible. He wondered what would happen if he told her that.
"Coffee." She said as she slumped on the chair. The diner was empty except for the elder couple. It was closing time soon.
"Bad day?" Luke asked. Even though the situation seemed quite awkward, he tried to act normal.
"Bad? No, it just destroyed my life and some other's as well."
"What happened?" Luke wanted to know as he poured the coffee.
"Oh, nothin'. Just some-" as Lorelai was searching for a lie she made the big mistake of lifting her head and looking into Luke's eyes. He looked more concerned that she had thought. Also, she saw sympathy. Or was it a feeling that ran even deeper? The look in his eyes did something to her; finally, the tears that Lorelai had held inside for so long now came and released all of her sorrow.
Luke didn't even have to ask the elder couple to leave. Apparently, they were as embarrassed as Luke was himself as he took Lorelai into his arms. But he couldn't just run. It felt extremely awkward to console Lorelai after all this- whatever it had meant. Also, it seemed he wasn't exactly good at soothing because her crying became even harder.
"Lorelai…" What could he say? There was nothing to say. After all, he didn't even know why she was crying. He decided just to hold her closer, hoping it would help.
It was already late and Luke hadn't called like he had promised. Nicole was angry. She had really believed him the night before. Yes, she had cooked dinner and where was her husband? She parked the car a step away from the diner. The light was on but it looked deserted. Nicole walked towards it…
END
AN: Alright, it took me forever to write this because… well, I don't know. Lost the spirit a little bit because my VCR is making trouble and so I can't tape Gilmore Girls anymore, meaning I watch it less. Anyway, it's only one more part and then it's over. I hope to write it soon but I can't promise anything since my final exams are coming up and I haven't studied the tiniest bit (I am not even sure if I am admitted…). Well, don't want to bother you with my school problems. Wish you all a Happy New Year!!!! And please review!