Chapter 2:
Soon, Rory knew it was time for her to go in, and she wiggled with excitement. She couldn't wait, but she knew her mom always hated letting her go on the first days of school.
"Mom, I should go in," said Rory, tapping Lorelai, with a mixture of giddiness and the impatient attitude she was famous for on first-days. "I know I'm still early but it's always better to be in the room early the first day so I can pick the best seat."
Lorelai smiled at her cute and eager daughter. "Yes, I know. I wouldn't want you to get the seat in front of a big kid or worse between chattermouths!" She laughed good-naturedly, and kissed her daughter on the forehead, "Be good. I love you sweetie. I'll be waiting for you halfway between here and the inn, like you asked." Lorelai had to compromise with the stubborn eight-year-old about walking. Rory, of course, wanted her independence, but Lorelai was a little freaked about her kid just strolling home from school. They met each other halfway, literally. Lorelai smiled down on the little girl- her little girl- that was hanging on to her thigh.
Rory kissed and her hugged her mom, "Bye mom! I'm so excited!" Smiling Rory skipped into school as her mother watched her with a bittersweet smile.
Excitedly Rory went into her classroom and sat down in a desk in the front row. With a buzz she'd later get from the coffee addiction she'd inherit, Rory watched other kids coming into the room. She was satisfied to see no one she knew who talked a lot, smelled badly or would in general distract her from learning was sitting nearby. Suddenly she jumped when she heard a voice from her other side, "Do you mind if I sit here?" It was the girl the black-haired girl she met earlier, Lane. Rory smiled, "Oh, of course not. Sit here." The two girls shared a shy smile and Rory was glad to share her desk with someone who was nice and most of all, at having made a new friend.
Meanwhile Lorelai walked around town, a little aimlessly. She couldn't believe how fast Rory was growing up; it seemed like yesterday when she was still changing her diapers in the small shed of theirs. Lorelai didn't know where to go, she still had an hour until work and she didn't feel like going back there to talk to Sookie. She'd be too excited about Rory and not understand Lorelai's gloomy mood. Suddenly she found herself in front of Luke's diner. She had been there a couple times, the coffee was excellent and the owner's mood seemed always to be bad; he wasn't one for small talk. She sighed and trudged on, back to the Jeep, and back to the Inn.
School let out after an exciting first day for Rory and Lane, who had gotten past the "what's your favorite color?" foundations of their newly planted relationship, and began warming up to each other a bit, which was quite the feat for two very shy little girls. Finally, Rory took a big gulp and, with all the courage she could muster, asked Lane if she wanted to walk the part of the way home from school with her. Lane, happily, agreed. They gathered their bags, full with phonics spellers and math workbooks and crayons, and set off.
The two bubbling girls discussed their teacher (yay) the boredom they had when the spelling words were handed out (nay) and the fact that they were each other's first real friend (double yay). They were mid-step crossing the street when suddenly, Rory tripped on the curb and fell.
She started crying, and Lane ran inside the nearest store screaming for help. The store said "Williams Hardware," as Lane could read. She thought hardware stores sold hammers, but the man at the counter had a burger in his hands. Lane, breathlessly and rapidly spat out the situation: "My-friend-just-fell-and-she's-hurt-and-help-us-and-she's-crying-and-pleaseā¦" Lane was near tears in fear.
Gingerly, the man behind the counter stepped out, a look of concern and sympathy on his face. The boisterous lady at the counter chuckled and laughed heartily. "Luke's never nice to kids!" she muttered to another woman, who smiled, and responded, "Patty, maybe he's havin' a good day. You never know with him, you know?"
The man behind the counter, who Lane assumed was Luke, stooped down and looked her in the eye. "What's wrong?" he asked, with a hint of concern. Lane took a deep breath, and pointed outside to Rory, who was teary-eyed and sitting with her bloody and skinned knee on the sidewalk.
Luke took Lane's clammy hand as they headed outside to bandage up Rory. He brought her a glass of cold water, and a towel for her wound. Rory, eternally grateful, smiled at this mysterious man clad in plaid and smiled, her face soaked with tears. "Thank you," she said, over and over again. He just smiled, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners, glad to be of help to such sweet girls and break out of his trademark grumpiness. "Anytime," he replied, and headed back inside.
