First off, sorry for how long it's been. I've actually had a lot of time, just limited ideas. I know where the story's going, just having a bit of trouble getting there, so please, bare with me people!
A couple of you asked if the rules of the divorce or marriage were true; they aren't, sorry! I meant to mention that before the last chapter, but it kinda slipped my mind. I made them up for the convenience of this story. So feel free to marry in CT and get a divorce within a year.. If that really suits you, that is.
Anyway, thanks for all the reviews! And sorry for how long it takes me to update. I spend like ages fixing it and trying to decide if its okay, then end up not fixing anything... I'm a perfectionist, it's a burden, really.
And now I'm done, thanks again!
CHAPTER FOUR : Coffee As My Hostage
The morning, and reality by extension, came entirely too quickly for Lorelai, who was completely content with laying in Luke's bed until everything was all straightened out. But she couldn't. She had to get up, she had to fix things, she had to go to work... she had to stop thinking of everything to do.
She managed somehow to get home without being bombarded with questions, sympathies, or even stares from curious neighbors, which was a relief, though incredibly nerve-wracking. Where was everyone?
As she made her way up to her bedroom, she let the thoughts of her neighbors whereabouts slip her mind, momentarily at least, while she debated going back to sleep, or actually going to work.
She optioned for the latter, and got showered and dressed before hopping into her Jeep and spending the day at the Dragonfly. It being later in the afternoon, she felt the eyes of all the townies watching her, especially as she drove by the Diner, which, not surprisingly, was packed. She stepped on the gas and drove away, praying for a busy day so she could forget everything momentarily.
"Ah, if it isn't the newlywed, back from the honeymoon already? My, my, aren't we looking absolutely charming to-day," droned Michel as she walked up to the desk.
" Answer the phone, Michel, or you're fired," she said, ignoring him and grabbing the mail before she headed to the kitchen.
"But I wanted to give you the honor of answering as 'Mrs. Lucas Danes', instead of just Ms. Gilmore. You want to let everyone know of your marriage, no?" she heard his thick accent all the way down the hall.
" Coffee, now, please, Sookie?" She didn't see Sookie anywhere, just a busy kitchen staff rushing in and out. " Who am I talking to?"
" Lorelai!" Sookie burst out of the walk-in freezer, arms full of random objects for cooking.
"What are you doing here? I didn't expect you back so soon... How is everything? Do these desserts look okay? I'm practicing for tonight's dinner, you know.. And all those vegans, you never can tell with their dinners. Something's always wrong... so I thought atleast they could have fancy desserts. So picky... I don't see how anyone can be so damn selective when it comes to eating. Ah, well.. How are you? Did I ask you that?"
" I'm good, fine. Tired. Lacking caffeine, but this should help some," she replied with a fake smile as she sipped the coffee she poured for herself.
"How's Luke?" She noticed the lack of sincerity behind the smile, but decided not to press it.
" Good, I guess... I don't know. I don't know what to say or do. How to act. This whole thing sucks. What do I tell people? I'm on a date and I add last minute, oh by the way, I'm married? Married, Sook. I'm married. I have a husband. ME! Miss I-can't-keep-a-boyfriend-for-over-a-month. And now I've got a husband that I'm divorcing in a year. I don't wanna be a divorcee, and not that it matters, but what are my parents going to say! They're gonna freak. They'll have top lawyers suing all of Stars Hallow for the sake of their own reputation... I wanted a real wedding. One that was planned and where I picked out a dress, where I got cold feet the night before and matching rings. One that was real and to someone I loved, who I wasn't gonna divorce in record speed. God, it's just so... overwhelming? I can't think anymore.. I'm gonna go do some paperwork."
"Alright hun. But... just a suggestion? Maybe your parents could do something? If anyone can find the best lawyer, it's them... and I know you don't wanna hear it, but it-"
" Don't say it could be worse..."
"Okay, I won't. But Luke doesn't want you upset. He'll do anything to make you happy, you know that. He really does care for you Lorelai."
She just nodded and headed to her office, coffee pot in hand. " I'm taking this with me."
" Understandable."
The diner was packed all day, but not to Luke's advantage. He thought keeping busy would be good, but he couldn't avoid the stares, the whispers, and most annoying of all, the questions.
"Where's the misses, Luke?" He ignored Bootsy as he moved to an older couples table. Atleast they wouldn't question him.
But he saw Kirk join the couple at their table, and quickly returned behind the counter, motioning for Lane to take orders. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help but wonder whether Lorelai would come in. Every time the bell rang, which was frequently, he'd look up, only to be disappointed to see Taylor, Ms. Patty, Babette and Morey, everyone who wasn't her. He hoped she wasn't avoiding him.
It was 9:30. It was 9:30, and she was starving. A voice inside was telling her to get up, just go to the diner, get a burger, have some coffee. But the other side told her to go to the kitchen. Make some coffee and have a poptart or five.
Coffee and Luke, or Poptarts and Couch? The choice was obvious.
She got up and walked to the door, turned around and headed straight to the kitchen. I'll have a burger tomorrow. She went through the cabinets, found a box of poptarts and went to fill the coffee pot. She was at a loss.
She picked up the phone.
"Hello?"She heard her daughters voice.
" Rory?"
" Mom?"
" There's no coffee." Lorelai whined.
" In all of Connecticut?"
"Maybe... or possibly just in our house."
"Mom, go to Luke's."
" I can't."
" You know you can."
"No, really. It's closed."
" Since when has that stopped you?"
" Always. I abide by all rules. I need coffee."
"Then go to Luke's. How many cups has he given you today? You might still be able to swing one. You have even more pull now as a wife, right?"
" Um, maybe. I don't know..." she answered nerviously. She couldn't tell Rory she hadn't been to Luke's today. It would sound like she was avoiding him.
" So how many?"
"How many what?"
"How many cups, Cathy Coffee?"
"All together?"
" How many cups did Luke give you today, all together, yes."
"Not a lot."
"How many is not a lot?"
"None."
" None! He didn't- ...you didn't go to Luke's today, did you?"
" No," she answered pitifully.
"Don't avoid him."
" I'm not avoiding him."
" Then why are you at home with no coffee and no food?"
" I'm not hungry."
" I bet you haven't eaten all day. And those poptarts don't count. You told me last week they expired two months ago."
"Did not!" she checked the box though, and immediately threw it in the trash can.
" I can hear your stomach growling from here. Go to Luke's. Call me tomorrow and let me know how it went. Tell him hi for me, and get some new poptarts. I wanna come home to a mom that's not dead and rotting... Though now that you have Luke, you'll have someone to take your body to the morgue before it smells. See, there's a method to Kirk's madness."
"How very Hamlet of you.. Yes, I know the origin. And if I had Luke feeding me, I wouldn't need him to take me to the morgue."
"True, so go eat."
" Fine. But only because it keeps me alive."
" Good reasoning."
She hung up and grabbed her coat, fully intent on going to Luke's. But as she got closer, her legs got heavier, and her mind questioned her movement. By the time she got to Doose's, she couldn't remember a good reason for walking the exta ten steps to Luke's. And it technically was closed.
She turned quickly and entered Doose's, grabbing a basket and heading straight to Aisle 4. She loaded her basket up, then walked to the counter, grabbing 3 boxes of poptarts and some tater tots. She unloaded her items and waited patiently for Taylor to ring her up.
"Lorelai! Didn't expect to see you in here anytime soon, what with your new arrangements. Did you two sort anything out yet?"
" I thought you were sorting it?" she questioned.
" Well, I certainly did try, but there's not too much else we can do, is there? I meant did you and Luke arrange any sort of deals, are you going to continue to date, or are you going to attend counseling, there are all sorts of ways this marriage could play out..."
" Uh, I didn't really think about it, Taylor."
" I see," he responded, raising an eyebrow disapprovingly.
"Avoiding him, ay?"
" What? No.. Not at all."
"So you're cleaning out the coffee isle for no apparent reason? I'd expect your husband to supply you with enough."
"Yeah, well... I, uh, wanted to annoy him. It's sort of a joke, you know how he hates my coffee addiction. I figured I'd uh, hide all these in his cabinets upstairs, as a little surprise later. You know me, the ultimate prankster..." she rambled as he bagged her endless coffee supply.
She threw him some money, then walked as fast as she could back home, never looking back.
So yeah, that's it for now. Kinda short, I know,but it's just a filler chapter. I'm already working on the next part. It should be up sometime this week, given that people are still reading this.