Disclaimer: I do not own nor do I have any association with the Gilmore Girls or any of its characters. Dreaming about them is a totally different thing...

Chapter 5

After the little scene at the lake, Luke walked Lorelai home, both completely drenched. Before leaving, Luke made Lorelai promise to think about going back to school. Now, back in the pottery shed with a sleeping Rory, Lorelai paced around in her little living space, contemplating whether or not to pick up the phone and call her father. She kept hearing her his voice saying, "To get somewhere in life, Lorelai, you need to get an education. Knowledge is power."

The most intimidating thing about Richard Gilmore wasn't the fact that he stood over six feet tall or wore a business suit everyday of his life, it was knowing he was a very intelligent man. The Yale graduate told each and every one of his friends, colleagues, and even those he disliked that his daughter was Yale bound. He bragged about how smart and witty she was, a true Gilmore. Lorelai watched as that dream slipped away the day she told him she was pregnant. She at least needed to graduate high school. That way, maybe she wouldn't be such a disappointment to him.

"Gilmore residence," the maid greeted.

"Hi, is Mr. Gilmore in?" Lorelai asked.

"Yes he is. May I ask who's calling?"

"Uh, his daughter, Lorelai Gilmore."

"Please hold Miss Gilmore."

Lorelai waited nervously for her father. It wasn't long before she heard his voice on the other end. "Lorelai?" Richard asked, hoping this wasn't just a cruel joke.

"Hi Daddy," Lorelai greeted.

"Oh thank God, it is you. Your mother and I miss you and the baby dearly, Lorelai. Are you alright? How's Rory? Where are you? Are you coming home?"

"Dad, calm down. I'm fine, Rory's fine, we're fine. And... and we're not coming home. I need a favor. I need you to send transfer papers to Stars Hollow High so I can go to school." Richard said nothing. "Dad?"

"I wish you would come home," he said softly.

"I can't. Not now. It's too soon." She could tell he wanted to know why. "I couldn't take it. The pressure, Christopher, Mom…"

"I'll send the papers immediately," Richard interrupted, fearing his name would be next.

"Thank you Daddy." There was a long silence before Lorelai spoke again. "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm doing what I can."

"That's good. I just need time. We'll visit soon, but just not yet. So can you please not send a SWAT team to drag us home?"

"I won't."

"Ok. Well, I have to go."

"Oh. Ok. Take care."

"I will. Bye Dad."

"Goodbye Lorelai." Richard slowly put the receiver down and leaned back in his chair. He covered his mouth with his hand as he sat in silence in his study. Before he knew it, he was crying.


The next day, Luke left his house as quickly as possible to avoid his father. In a town like Stars Hollow, news traveled as fast as light. People knew the new gossip within five seconds from when it happened. Luke skipped breakfast that morning and told his sister he'd be waiting in the car for her. He groaned was people stopped to stare and whisper when they saw him. Because of the fast traveling gossip in Stars Hollow, it tended to be embellished. He could only imagine what they had turned an innocent swim in the rain into. Things weren't any easier at school either. Luke had always been known as a ladies man when he was unattached, but what were they to think of Lorelai? They didn't know her and he didn't want them to think of her in a way that wasn't appropriate. Luke felt the need to protect her. She shouldn't have a bad reputation with people she didn't know. He'd start with his friends.

"Nothing happened," Luke stated again.

"Come on Luke. Why won't you tell us what happened?" Andrew asked.

"Because nothing happened."

"That's not what I heard," Jackson remarked.

"Well, then you heard wrong. Lorelai is a nice, sweet girl and nothing happened. It was an innocent swim."

"Not from where I was standing," Kevin laughed.

"You stay out of this. You only make things worse."

"Hey, I'm just saying that from what I saw, your 'innocent swim' was about to turn naughty."

"Then you need to get your eyes checked because you're imagining things."

"You can ask Sarah. She saw what I saw."

"That's right, Sarah was there," Andrew said.

"Do you think she told Rachel?" Jackson asked.

"I'm pretty sure she did," Kevin replied.

"How do you know?" Luke asked.

"Because they're headed this way." Kevin pointed behind Luke.

"Ah jeez." Luke stood as Rachel and Sarah approached them. "Hey R…"

"We need to talk," Rachel interrupted.

"Can we talk here?"

"Why?"

"So there are witnesses."

"Luke, let's go."

It was worth a try, he thought to himself. They walked across the quad to be alone. They sat on the bench and Luke faced Rachel. "Rachel, nothing happened," he stated instantly. "She's new in town and I promised her I'd show her around town. It was an innocent swim in the rain."

"It's never an innocent swim in the rain Luke. How would you feel if someone told you I went swimming in the rain with Trent Doose? Or Bootsy?

"I'd wonder what the hell you were thinking going out with those dumbasses." Rachel gave him a serious look. "I was feeling down and she thought it'd cheer me up to just…swim."

"What did you have to feel down about?"

"You and me! You said we were on a break. I didn't know that meant you were dumping me!"

"I didn't dump you. Being on a break is taking time apart from someone to see what you really want from a relationship."

"And what do you want Rachel?"

"I want the truth."

"I'm telling you the truth. Nothing happed. Wait, you don't think…" Rachel looked into Luke's eyes, confirming what he thought. "Oh Rachel. No. Lorelai and I…we're just…she…"

"Listen to yourself Luke. You can't even say it."

"I barely know her. We're friends."

"No, we are friends. I know you have a thing for her."

"No I don't."

"Then why are you the only person that knows her?"

"Kevin and Sarah…"

"Met her. They can't even remember her name, but you know her better than anyone else. Come on Luke, we both knew this was going to happen eventually. If not this girl, it'd be someone else. I love you Luke, but we can't ignore this. We want different things and no matter how hard we try, it's not gonna work out for us."

"I know. It's just…" Luke sighed. "I wanted it to work."

"So did I." She smiled as they both stood.

Luke hugged Rachel, forcing a smile as they pulled apart. "I did love you, you know that right?"

"I know did." Rachel took a deep breath. "You did. Goodbye Luke." She put her hands on his face and brought him in for a kiss for the last time before walking away.


Richard wasted no time in transferring his daughter to Stars Hollow High. He pulled some strings and got her enrolled that morning so she could start classes that same day. So, after receiving a call from her father, Lorelai left Rory with Mia, did some quick shopping, and headed to school just before noon. She sauntered onto the school grounds with a big smile across her face.

Because she was the new kid in town, the only person she knew was Luke. Well, she'd met Kevin and Sarah last night, but it was a rather awkward moment. She felt comfortable around Luke. She knew there was an attraction between them, but unlike the other men she'd met, he didn't act on it. He was being a true gentleman. Although it bugged the hell out of her, she admired his nobility and respect for her.

As she walked onto campus, she spotted Luke sitting on a bench with a skinny, dirty-blonde haired girl. They stood up and hugged. Luke smiled at the girl when they pulled apart. But when they kissed, Lorelai had seen enough. She turned around quickly, ready to run away, but bumped into a girl and accidentally knocked her books out of her hands.

"Oh man. I'm so sorry," Lorelai apologized as she helped the girl gather her things. "I didn't see you there."

"It's ok," the girl said. "I'm kinda prone to accidents." The girl looked up at Lorelai. "I've never seen you around. Are you new?"

"Yeah, it's my first day."

"Really? That's cool! I'm Sookie St. James." Sookie extended her hand to Lorelai.

Lorelai shook her hand. "I'm Lorelai Gilmore."

"Lorelai Gilmore. I tell you, that name sounds familiar. Hm." Sookie thought for a minute, trying to remember where she'd heard the name. "Oh well. It doesn't matter. Hey, would you like to hang out with me? I'm not the most popular person around here, but I'm someone."

"Sure."

"Great! Yay! A new friend! Oh crap."

"What?"

"I forgot my home ec. notes at home. Wanna come with me to get them from someone? I can introduce you to people."

"Ok," Lorelai laughed.

"Ok, this way." They walked over to a large group that seemed to be surrounding someone. Eager to know what was going on, Sookie asked one of the guys. "Hey Kirk."

"Yes?" Kirk asked. "Oh, hi Sookie."

"What's going on?"

"Rachel dumped Luke."

"You're kidding me."

"Nope. She found out about Luke and that girl and she cut him loose no more than five minutes ago. He looks like he just got hit my a train."

"Poor Luke. I thought it was just an innocent swim."

"It was," Lorelai interrupted, feeling really guilty.

Sookie and Kirk looked at Lorelai awkwardly. "Let's see if we can get to the bottom of this. You coming Kirk?"

"Yes. This was as close as my brother would let me get to Luke. He thinks I'll say something wrong. You make one mistake…"

"Let's go Kirk." Sookie, Lorelai, and Kirk made their way through the crowd. "By the way, Kirk this is Lorelai Gilmore. Lorelai, Kirk Gleason."

"Gleason? Your brother wouldn't happen to be Kevin would it?" Lorelai asked.

"One of them. Do you know him?" Kirk asked.

"You can say that."


"Come on man," Jackson Mellville said to his bummed out buddy. "Cheer up."

"She's just a girl," Andrew, another of the guys, added.

"That's my cousin asshole," Sarah snapped at Andrew, shooting him a deadly glare.

Kevin took a seat next to Luke, who was slumped forward with his face buried in his hands. "It's not the end of the world Luke," he said. "You knew this was bound to happen sooner or later."

"A break is taking time to think about what you want from a relationship," Luke said without looking up. "We weren't broken up."

"Well, you are now," Kirk blurted out.

"Kirk, I thought I told you to stay in the back!" Kevin scolded. Luke shook his head and got up. "Where you going?"

"I appreciate the support, but I need some time to myself right now," Luke said, refusing to look at the group.

Kevin noticed the two women with his younger brother. "Luke!"

"What now?" Luke turned around and froze when he saw Lorelai. "Lorelai?"

"Lorelai?" Jackson said. "This is Lorelai? The Lorelai?"

"Hot damn she's hot," Andrew stated.

"Shut up Andrew!" Luke yelled as he made his way back to the group and walked up to Lorelai. "What are you doing here?"

"Going to school, duh," Lorelai joked.

"No, I meant…"

"Sookie needed home ec. notes."

"You know Sookie?"

"Oh yeah. We're best friends now. Right Sook?" Lorelai joked as she put her arm around Sookie.

"Of course we are!" Sookie laughed. "But seriously Luke, I need those notes. You got 'em?"

"Yeah. They're in my locker," Luke replied. "Come on, I'll get them for you." Sookie, Lorelai, Kirk, Kevin, and Sarah followed Luke to his locker.

"For the record, everyone knows how you felt about Rachel. If you said it was an innocent swim, then I believe you."

"Thank you Sookie." Luke sighed and put his arm around Sookie. "Sometimes I feel like you and Kirk are the only people that understand me."

"Hey, what about me?" Kevin asked, pretending to be hurt. "Here I thought we were best friends since we were two. Hey, let's get drunk tonight."

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You're a bachelor again. Sing a whiskey lullaby."

"A what?" Lorelai asked.

"A whiskey lullaby is a stupid term they use for drowning your sorrows in alcohol until you pass out," Sarah informed.

"That can't be good."

"It's not. It's very dangerous. You can die of alcohol poisoning."

"No one's ever died of a whiskey lullaby," Kevin said.

"Yes they have!"

"All I'm saying is he needs to do something other then wallow."

"I'm not wallowing," Luke defended himself.

"Denial is the first stage of wallowing, You need to get out of the house and hang out with your boys now that you're not tied down."

"You do realize your girlfriend is standing right next to you right?"

"Look, I'm saying you need to do something other than jack off."

"Ah jeez," Luke groaned as he started to walk ahead of the group.

"What? What I say?"

"Could you be any cruder?" Sookie scolded.

Luke pulled something out of his pocket and threw it at Kevin, hitting him in shoulder. "Ah! What the hell was that for?" Kevin yelled.

"For being a little bitch!" Luke yelled back.

"That almost hit my head!"

"That's what I was aiming for! Stay away from me you friggin' perv!"

"I was joking! Jeez, Mr. Sensitivity!"

"Jackass!" When they got to the lockers, Luke gave Sookie his notes. "There you go."

"Thanks so much Luke."

"No problem."

"Hey Luke, are you going to the party?" Sarah asked. "You can bring Lorelai."

"Huh? What party?" Lorelai asked, completely out of the loop.

"Nothing," Luke said. "I'm not…"

"It's this great party," Kevin interrupted. "Every year the town has a hay ride around town that lasts all night, leaving the local barnyard completely empty. So while all the adults and little kiddies go for the hay ride, we teenagers get down on the farm. A barnyard party if you would."

"They're fun," Sookie added. "I went last year and it's just like a high school dance minus chaperones and plus alcohol."

"They're stupid," Luke stated.

"Quit being a downer. Come on guys. Let's leave the sour puss to wallow," Kevin teased. "Just think about it. And remember: lucky!" He, Kirk, Sarah, and Sookie started to walk away.

"Lorelai, you coming?" Sookie asked.

"You go ahead, I wanna talk to Luke for a minute," Lorelai replied.

"If you say so." Sookie waved to her new friend and followed the rest of the group.

"Luke, I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

"For what?" Luke asked.

"For misinforming you about 'breaks'."

"Don't worry about it."

"I didn't mean for your girlfriend to break up with you."

"It was bound to happen anyway."

"I feel guilty. Maybe I can talk to her. I'll explain that it really was just a swim. I'll have Sookie point her out."

Lorelai was going to go catch up with Sookie, but Luke grabbed her arm. "Lorelai, don't. Rachel and I would have broken up with or without the swimming incident. We couldn't make it work."

"I just feel like it's my fault."

"Well, don't. It's not."

"Are you sure? Because I'm very persuasive."

"I'm sure, but thank you anyway."

"You're welcome."

Luke let go of Lorelai's arm. "So, what do you think about that party?"

"What party?"

"The barnyard party."

"I think it sounds like fun," Lorelai laughed. "I've never been to one."

"Do you wanna go? I can take you."

"I thought you weren't going to go."

"I changed my mind. So, do you wanna go with me?"

"Uh, sure," Lorelai smiled.

"Good."


Next time on "The Broken Road": Sookie accuses Lorelai of having a thing for Luke- who quickly denies. Lorelai meets Liz Danes and her friend "Crazy Carrie" when she goes to the Danes residence to meet up with Luke for the party. When things get out of hand at the barnyard party, opportunities and temptations arise for a very drunk Lorelai and a not-so-much-more-sober Luke.