Lorelai sighed as she pushed through the glass door to the diner. Lunch break was usually a welcome haven for her, and today doubly so - sure, she loved her inn to bits, it was her baby (besides Lorelai, of course) and she'd invested all her time and energy into it. But sometimes moody tenants and electrical shortages got to her head.
"Excuse me if I scream," she said to Luke.
"Bad day?" he asked, already preparing her coffee.
"You can say that again," rolling her eyes, Lorelai slumped on her bar stool, burying her face in her hands. Minutes later, as the caffeine entered her system, she was chirpy again.
"Well," she began, "I talked to Rory about Jess. I think it's...okay - if they're together and all, I mean. I was kinda freaked out at first, but, hey! I'm the mum, after all," she winked.
"...I had a talk to Jess too," Luke replied, picking his words carefully, "I think it's great that he's with Rory. She could be a good influence on him...but..." he looked into Lorelai's eyes, troubled, "They're just kids! Rory especially so. I don't want Jess to - to...I don't know, make a bad impression on her."
Lorelai looked up, startled. The idea of serious, studious, smart and mature Rory being influenced by Jess the wrong way was hilarious. She grabbed her stomach as she started guffawing mercilessly. Customers in the diner looked up, shocked and appalled. A few left. Luke buried his head in his hands. If he was lucky, he only made Lorelai laugh and snort this derisively once a week. If not, well...let's just say the tips jar was getting emptier by the day.
Wiping tears from her eyes, Lorelai said, "I never knew you had such a low opinion of Rory!"
Luke grimaced. He disliked it when Lorelai teased him like that, "Well, glad to see she's safe from the 'terrible clutches' of Jess."
"Don't worry, Luke. She is. In fact, I'm glad that she's finally over Dean. And I think I'd rather it be Jess than any other guy. I mean, at least I know who Rory's future uncle-in-law might be!"
Luke eyed Lorelai warily, "If that wasn't one of the worst jokes I've ever heard..." he began.
- - - - - - - - -
"Hey!" Rory heard a low, husky voice at the same time strong tan hands covered her eyes, "Guess who?" His breath was a tickle in her ear.
"Hi Tristan..." she said, sounding more excited than she intended.
He didn't remove his hands, "Well, I made the reservations. Friday, seven thirty at 'Choo's' right around the corner. I'll pick you up from your house if you like."
"That...that would be nice, Tristan."
He removed his hands, and by the time she opened her eyes, he was gone.
- - - - - - - - -
"Rory!"
Rory looked up, surprised. Lorelai had just brought her home from school, and now she was in her room, studying (she had a lot to catch up on - her concentration wasn't exactly 100 in class) Through the lacy curtain and her window she could vaguely make out the figure of Jess, waving, a big grin plastered to his face. Laughing inwardly, she thought, "This is unusual."
She walked out to the front door, "Hi Jess," she said, smiling already. It had been two days since the awkward meeting at Luke's diner, but it was all water under the bridge now.
"You'll never guess what happened!" he said, still grinning.
"What?" she asked, playing along.
"Well, seeing how we've never actually been formally out or anything..." Rory thought about it. It was true. She and Jess had not actually been on a real date.
"I got us reservations to eat dinner!"
"Really?!" Rory asked, surprised, "Where is it?"
"It's a surprise, but it's a really fancy and good restaurant," he smiled, obviously happy.
"Jess - that's so sweet of you! But how...how did you get the money to pay...?"
"Don't you worry bout that, missy," he grinned cheekily.
"When are we going?"
"Two days...I already asked your Mum and she agreed to drive us there..."
"That will be great Jess! I'd love to go," Rory couldn't stop smiling, even after Jess left, until she caught a look at her homework diary and realised that it was Wednesday that day.
