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 10
Present Day
Rory left the diner without her mother. Luke and Lorelai were starting to get all lovey-dovey and it made Rory nauseous. And there was still the strange feeling they were hiding something from her. But was it really possible to have any kind of secret in Stars Hollow? Patty knew the hottest news before it even happened. If something was going on between her parents, everyone would know. Rory convinced herself that it was all in her head. It wasn't a forced smile, but a tired one. They didn't hesitate to kiss, they savored the moment. Yeah. That was it. Tired and savoring.
Rory was half way to Patty's studio when she heard her best friend calling her. She stopped and turned around as she waited for the small Korean girl to catch up with her.
"You're home early!" Lane smiled as she hugged Rory.
"Yeah," Rory laughed. "I missed this town. Three weeks is way too long to be away from home."
"I wish I could say the same, but sadly, I can't. Rumor is you brought someone along with you."
"I swear, news travels faster than light around here."
"We need excitement in our lives. Quit stalling and spill."
"I can't. Too many people around. I haven't even told my mom who he is."
"So it is a he. Is it…"
"No," Rory interrupted, knowing who Lane was thinking about.
"Are you two…"
"Not anymore. But it's ok. It's like Dad says: if life wants you to be with a person, nothing would stop you from being together."
"Smart man your father. Hey, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Is there something going on between your parents? Did they have a fight or something?"
"No." The word lingered on Rory's lips. Whatever she convinced herself into believing earlier was thrown out the window. She wasn't the only one that noticed it.
"Oh, ok. It's just Luke's been kinda cranky lately."
Rory let out a sigh of relief. "Jesus Lane. You scared me. He's always cranky. You know that."
"Not as cranky as he's been for the past few weeks. Just the other day, he literally threw a guy out of the diner. Seriously, flat on his butt. And I think he burned something yesterday."
"No!"
"Yeah. I saw black smoke coming from the kitchen and I thought your mom was trying to make herself breakfast again, but then Luke walked out grumbling something about hating the world. And I think he beat up the toaster. I'm not sure if there's a connection, but when I saw it at the beginning of my shift it looked perfectly fine, but after Luke had one of his temper tantrums there was a big dent in the side if it the size of a really angry diner owner's fist. He was really upset and Lorelai doesn't show up at the diner as much anymore."
Rory sat down on a nearby bench. "I don't believe it."
"Rory, are you sure Luke and Lorelai are ok?"
"That's what I'd like to know."
1984
Luke stepped out into the quad and looked around for Lorelai. She had gotten a ride to school from him this morning and she forgot one of her books. Being the gentleman he was, Luke decided to return it. He headed to where she usually hung out with Sookie, Sarah, Gypsy, and Lulu. As he got closer to their hang out area, he noticed some guys with the girls. They were talking to Lorelai. She was laughing at what one of the guys was saying. It was obvious they were flirting with her and it irritated Luke more than anything.
For the first time, he felt an unbearable pang of jealousy. He clenched his fists and his jaw tightened. Who were those guys? What were they trying to pull? It was obvious they were just trying to make a move on Lorelai, but she wasn't exactly fending them off. In fact, she seemed to be enjoying the attention. And...was she flirting back? The anger rose in Luke. He could feel the heat rising in him. His blood was boiling and his temper was about to get the best of him.
What was he doing? What was he thinking? She obviously didn't think of him in any other way than as a friend. Besides, he was probably way out of her league any way. She probably dated guys that drove fancy, new cars and paid with credit cards all the time. He wasn't one of those guys. Hell, he was no where near that. He drove a truck that his father bought before he was even born. He was constantly working on the damn thing. He didn't have a credit card. He worked at his father's hardware store for Christ's sake.
Whatever feeling he did or didn't have for Lorelai were pointless. She wouldn't be interested in him in a million years. That realization pissed Luke off even more. He ruined something great with Rachel for a girl that he had no chance of getting.
Lorelai looked up and away from her adoring fan club and noticed Luke across the quad. She smiled and waved him over. She was surprised when he shook his head and walked in the other direction. What was that about?
Lorelai looked for Luke in the halls after school. She had to talk to him. She had to find out why he had ignored her in the halls and didn't show up for their customary lunch. When she couldn't find in the school building, she searched for him in the parking lot. Sure enough, he was heading to his car.
"Luke!" she called. He didn't stop. He didn't even look back. He just kept walking. What was with him? Lorelai jogged to catch up with Luke. "Luke. Luke. Hey, I'm talking to you. Luke. Come on. Turn around. I know you can hear me. I'm right behind…"
Luke stopped when he got to his car and quickly turned around to face her. He looked angry. "What?" he growled.
Lorelai was taken back by his angry tone. "I…I…"
"You what? Spit it out already."
"I saw you at break and when I waved you over, you totally gave me the cold shoulder."
"The world doesn't revolve around you Lorelai." Ok. Now he was down right being annoying.
"Hey. What's your problem?"
"I don't have a problem."
"So you're just naturally an asshole? The nice guy I've been hanging out with for the past month was a fake? You're being a jerk Lucas Danes! You ignored me in the halls. You bailed on me at lunch. Just now, you were totally blowing me off!"
"I was not blowing you off!"
"You said you were gonna give me a ride home this morning and it was obvious you were gonna leave without me. I think that constitutes as you blowing me off."
"I have to go to work," he snorted as he got into his truck.
"What about me?"
"Why don't you ask one of your boyfriends to take you home?" Lorelai staggered back, trying to understand what exactly Luke meant. And with that bitter note, Luke shook his head and pulled out of his parking spot, leaving Lorelai behind to wonder what the hell just happened.
Present Day
Luke put the check face down on Jackson's table. "Bring it up to the counter when you're ready," Luke stated emotionlessly before walking behind the counter.
Jackson looked at his bill and made sure everything was correct before going to the register to pay. "Your vegetable shipments are ready," he said, trying to make small talk.
Luke didn't look up at the other man. "Alright. Bring it after I close up tonight or before I open tomorrow. Doesn't matter to me."
"Ok."
"Here's your change."
"Thanks."
"Yeah." Jackson shoved his change into his wallet. He looked up at Luke and opened his mouth to speak, but shut it again when Luke looked up. "Something else?" Luke asked.
"No," Jackson sighed. "Hey Luke, are you ok? You and Lorelai…"
"I'm fine. Lorelai's fine. Everything's fine." Luke obviously didn't want to talk. Not to him at least.
"Ok. Well, if you need to talk, about anything…"
"I really need to get back to work."
"Alright. I'll, uh, call. About the vegetables."
"Whatever."
Jackson nodded and turned to leave just as he was about to walk out the door Andrew walked in. They stared at each other for a moment. "It's been a long time since…" Jackson paused to take a deep breath.
"Yeah. It's been…a while," Andrew stuttered. "Maybe we should keep it that way."
"Yeah. We should."
Jackson left and Andrew found a seat at the counter. Luke stared at the man that used to be one of his closest friends. Andrew looked up at Luke, but quickly looked back down at his menu. How could three friends go from being the best of friends to being complete strangers?
1984
Lorelai sat on the porch steps in front of the Danes house. She had no clue what had gotten into Luke earlier and she was determined to find out. She asked Sookie to watch Rory while she dealt with Luke. She'd let him cool off at work and then when he got home, she'd be there waiting for him. So she sat on the porch steps and waited for Luke to get home despite the bitter cold winter air. She clutched her jacket and sipped her coffee.
"Lorelai?" Liz called as she headed up the path, pushing a stroller and carrying a grocery bag.
Lorelai looked up. "Oh, hey Liz," Lorelai greeted casually.
"Uh, what are you doing?"
"Waiting for your brother."
"He's at work."
"I know. We sorta got into a fight today."
"Oh no. Really? What were you fighting about?"
"That's just it. I don't know."
"Why don't you come inside and we can talk about it." Lorelai followed Liz into the house. After putting Jess in his swing and bringing the grocery bag to the kitchen, Liz joined Lorelai in the livingroom with coffee. "So, you're fighting with my brother for unknown reasons?"
"Yeah. I saw him at break, waved him over, and he ignored me. I know he saw me. He was staring right at me. Whenever I saw him in the halls, he rushed past me. He ditched me at lunch. I saw him after school, but when I asked him what his problem was, he just barked at me."
"And you don't know why he's mad?"
"No. But before he left, he said something about asking my boyfriend for a ride home. I don't even have a boyfriend."
"Weren't Greg Stenson and his buddies talking to you earlier?"
"Yeah. I was talking to them when I saw Luke."
"Of course. I should have guessed."
"You should have guessed what?"
"Luke was jealous."
"Of what?"
"The guys you were talking to. He was jealous you were paying attention to them and not him."
"Why would he be jealous?" Liz gave her a knowing look. "You don't mean…no. No. We're…no."
"Lorelai, my brother cares about you…a lot. Since he's met you, he's actually been…pleasant. He's smiling, laughing…he's happy. I guess when he saw you, he got jealous that you could make another guy smile, laugh, and happy like you made him."
"No. Luke's happiness doesn't have anything to do with me."
"Honey, it's got everything to do with you. He might not admit it, you may not admit it, but we all know it. He has a thing for you. He's never cared about anyone like he cares about you."
"What about Rachel?"
"Even more than her. He talks about you all the time. He tells my dad how great you are and how beautiful your daughter is. If I didn't know better, I'd say he's falling in love with you."
"We're just friends Liz."
"Yeah. You keep telling yourself that."
Next time on "The Broken Road": In 1985- Lorelai is worried about Luke when he isn't at school, so she goes to his house to see him. When she finds out he's sick, she stays to take care of him. In the Present Day- Sookie questions Lorelai about her marriage. Kirk asks Luke to make things go back to the way they were.
