Kiss with Open Eyes
Chapter 10: Write the Answers on Cheap Paper Napkins
Disclaimer: You know it's not mine.
Summary: Stars Hollow was a lovely town, everything about it fascinated her. Especially the man in the backwards baseball cap, standing behind the counter at Luke's diner. She wasn't sure what it was exactly, but it was definitely something.
A/N: Hey guys, what's up?
Nothing much here. It's 2:15 in the morning, so as always I'm pretty bored, and that's why I'm writing this. I swear if I ever went on sleeping pills, you guys would never get updates. But yeah, anyway…
Tom: Don't worry, Lorelai will not be pregnant. I have already written my pregnant Lorelai story, remember? I don't need to write another… It gets old after a while, don't you think?
Thanks for the lovely review, keep 'em coming?
Also, spoilers are in the A/N below… There's another warning down there, but yeah… just incase.
"Luke! Coffee! Now! Ooh, and put it in an I.V." She said with a smile, as she flung her purse over to the stool beside her.
"No more coffee." He stated simply.
Her face fell, and her expression was blank. "What?"
"Wow, you should have seen your face." He laughed.
"Not funny, Mister."
"I thought it was pretty funny."
"Your lucky I haven't had any coffee this morning, or I would have gone full-out Karate Kid on you."
He rolled his eyes. "It's in the storage room." He told her, as he went behind the curtain. She got up and followed him.
"As soon as I get some caffeine in me, you're going to regret what you just did back there." She said, following him around the room.
"I bet." He said.
He stopped, and started opening some boxes. She stood close to him, and looked around the room.
"Hey Luke?"
"What?"
"Have you ever had sex back here?"
"What?" He asked, looking up at her like she was crazy.
"I bet you have." She accused him.
"The health inspectors must love you." He said, sarcastically.
"Yeah, I bet having sex in the storage room goes against about 500 health regulations." She said, looking around the room.
"Yup." He said, getting some coffee bags out of the boxes.
"But who cares about health regulations, right?" She asked.
He looked up at her, strangely, and then continued what he was doing.
"Imagine if Taylor caught you back here." She laughed.
"Gross." He commented.
"Imagine this… Cover story for the Stars Hollow Gazette, Taylor Walks in on Steamy Storage Room Sex… or, or… Health Department Shuts Down Local Diner because of Horny Dinner Owner… or… hmm… I'll think about it, and get back to you, OK?"
"Can't wait." He said.
"One of my best friends from high school, Jenny Soroka, had sex in the school elevator… that's the closest I've ever heard to sex in a storage room. At least, the storage room is bigger… and you have less of a chance of getting caught… plus, I think there were cameras in the elevator." Lorelai said.
"Lorelai." He said, in that tone that told her he wanted her to stop talking.
"Oh, Oh, and did you hear about those kids from that town in Massachusetts? They got caught having sex in one of those short buses." Lorelai said.
He rolled his eyes at her, and stood up. They were closer than they thought, but Luke started to walk back towards the diner.
"Wait." She said, grabbing his arm and pulling him back towards her. She hadn't meant to pull him this close to her, but it wasn't if she minded.
"What?" He asked, trying not to notice their closeness.
"Is it the hazulnutty kind?" She asked.
He looked down at one of the bags, and nodded. "Yeah."
"Good." She nodded, just noticing how blue his eyes were.
"OK." He said, starting to pull away again.
"Wait." She repeated.
"What?" He asked, again.
"You've never had sex in here?" She asked, not even sure what she was doing. She was yelling at herself to let him go, but her hands were listening, and she grabbed onto his shirt, keeping him close to her.
"Lorelai." He groaned.
"Is that a no?" She asked.
"That's gross. I have an apartment right upstairs… Why would I have sex in here?" He asked, playing along with her for the sake of it. Plus, she had a tight hold on his shirt, and he had a feeling he wasn't going anywhere until he answered her.
"Do you want to?" She asked seductively.
"What?" He asked, his voice shaking.
"I'll try anything once." She smiled.
He blinked a few times, as if it would help him understand her and what she was doing. But, he was still just as clueless.
"What are you doing, Lorelai?" He asked.
"Well Luke, I'm trying to have sex with you." She said, simply, while batting her eyelashes at him.
"Are you drunk?" He asked, laughing at her.
"Nope." She answered, trying to make herself stop smiling. She looked down at her hand, that was holding onto his shirt. Her fingers were starting to hurt because she was holding onto him so tightly. It was then she noticed something.
She wasn't wearing her wedding ring.
But she couldn't remember taking it off. Where was it? Where'd it go? And before she could finish her next thought, she was pined against the wall, with Luke's knee in between her legs, and his lips on hers.
And all she could do was kiss him back.
"Mom! Mom! Mom, wake up!"
Lorelai awoke to the sound of Rory's voice, and a shaky bed. "What?" She asked, squinting her eyes at the bright room, trying to focus on her daughter.
"It's late, you've been sleeping forever, I thought you were dead." Rory said.
Lorelai sat up, still trying to get used to the brightness of her room. A dream. That was all just a dream? It seemed so real, even more real than dreams usually seem.
"What time is it?" Lorelai asked, yawning.
"12:30." Rory replied.
"12:30? God, I have to get up." Lorelai said, standing up, and holding on to her daughter until she could balance on her own.
"Take a shower, and put on your flippy skirt… and let's go to The Chateau for lunch." Rory said, smiling.
"The Chateau? Really?" Lorelai asked.
"You love The Chateau." Rory said.
"I know, I know… I'm just not in that kind of mood."
"What kind of mood?"
"I don't know… The Chateau kind of mood. Let's go to Luke's." Lorelai smiled. "Luke's has better coffee… and free entertainment."
"True." Rory nodded. "OK, take a shower, and we'll go to Luke's."
"Kay."
"What can I get you?" Luke asked the girls.
"French toast… and bacon… and uh, more French toast… with lots of syrup." Lorelai said. "And coffee, of course."
"Of course." He said, rolling his eyes.
"And hey, do you have any more jelly donuts?"
"You want a jelly donut, too?" He asked, in disgust.
"Well, the French toast won't be done for like 10 minutes." Lorelai said.
"But… But, you're a woman." He said.
"Well, yes, my husband seems to like me better that way." She quipped, but regretted it once it came out of her mouth. God, they just became friends again, and already she was saying things that she probably shouldn't be saying. She didn't want things to be awkward. She wanted things to be normal, like it had never happened.
"Aren't women supposed to? I don't… sniff food and start doing jumping jacks?" Luke asked, and she sighed, silently thanking him for not making this awkward.
"Huh, must have missed that memo." She said to Rory.
"It probably came with the one that says we're supposed to do laundry once a week." Rory said.
"Must have." Lorelai said, and then looked up at Luke, and blinked a few times.
"I'll get you your damn donut." He said, in defeat.
"Why thank you, kind sir." Lorelai smiled.
"Don't call me kind sir." He growled.
"What you're too cool to be called kind sir?" Lorelai smiled. "He's too cool for us, Rory."
"I bet he wears his sunglasses at night." Rory quipped.
Lorelai laughed, and then looked up at Luke, who looked frustrated.
"Luke?" Lorelai asked.
"That donut coming anytime soon?"
He rolled his eyes, and went to go get her a donut.
"He loves us." Rory laughed.
"Definitely." Lorelai said, watching him go and get her a donut. She couldn't get that dream out her mind, as she watched him. She felt sort of weird, watching him like that, and dreaming about him.
She didn't want him to catch her staring, so she turned her attention back to Rory.
"So, any plans for tonight?" Lorelai asked.
"Nope, I had my last final yesterday, so I don't need to study or anything."
"Goody, we can do something fun."
"Like what?"
"I'll think of something."
"I'm so full." Rory said, holding her stomach.
"I shouldn't have had that extra side of bacon." Lorelai whined.
"Let's sit." Rory said, already going to sit on the bench, in the square.
"Good idea." Lorelai said, also sitting down.
"Sitting is good." Rory said.
"Very good." Lorelai replied, looking around the square, and watching the people. Just then, a Korean girl came over to them, and started putting a flier up on the telephone post beside them.
"Bible Study… Starting on Tuesday, June 6th… 4 to 6." Lorelai read out loud. "Huh, sounds like fun." She said, sarcastically, but not meaning for the girl to hear her.
"Tell me about it." The girl said, causing Lorelai to jump a little.
"Excuse me?"
"It's bad enough I have to put up all this fliers… but that I actually have to go to this… that's like… child abuse."
"You don't like it?" Lorelai asked, making conversation.
"Like it? I hate it! I'd rather poke myself in the eye with a fork, and listen to the J.C Chasez CD on repeat until I die."
"Wow, it must really suck."
"Did I mention my mother teaches it?"
"Ouch."
"Yeah." The girl nodded. "My name is Lane, by the way."
"Lorelai." Lorelai smiled. "And this is my daughter, Rory."
"Oh, do you go to Stars Hollow High? I've never seen you around."
"No, I live in Hartford. I go to private school."
"Private school? I'm sorry."
"No, I like it." Rory said.
"Oh, OK." Lane said, looking at her strangely.
Lorelai began to zone out again, and scan the square. When she saw Sookie by the gazebo, she stood up.
"I'll be right back, OK? I just got to talk to Sookie."
"OK." Rory said, even though her mother was practically half way across the square.
"Sookie." Lorelai called.
Sookie turned around and looked surprised to see her. "Lorelai?" She asked, as if it was a question.
"Can we talk?" Lorelai asked.
"Uh, sure… I'll be right back Pattie." Sookie told Pattie, who she was talking to before Lorelai had interrupted. Sookie followed Lorelai to a place in the square where there was no one around.
Lorelai turned around to talk, but Sookie beat her to it.
"Look, I'm sorry OK?" Sookie said.
"What?"
"I'm sorry about what I said last week… it's just… it's surprising and I-"
"I know." Lorelai said, with a sigh. "Don't be sorry… You were right… but I just, I can't tell Christopher, OK? I know you think I should… and I know I shouldn't lie and keep secrets… but I can't tell him. It would be really bad. I just can't, OK?"
"It's your life, Lorelai. You can do whatever you want… you don't have to ask for my opinion… you don't have to defend yourself to me."
"I know… I just… I don't want you to think less of me because of this… I- I just can't tell him, Sookie. You have no idea how bad it would be."
"It's your decision." Sookie shrugged.
"I know… I just wanted to make sure we could… still be… friends." Lorelai asked.
She felt like Sookie was studying her. She felt like she was studying her, to see if she really wanted to be her friend, and it made her really nervous.
"Of course we're still friends." Sookie laughed at her, like she was crazy for thinking any different. But was she crazy? There were definitely going to be some issues that would have get solved. Could they stay friends?
Could her and Luke stay friends? They definitely had a lot more issues to work through. And would things be awkward? Of course things would be awkward. But could they get through it? And was it even worth the effort?
They hadn't even known for more than six months, and already she knew that it was.
"Good." Lorelai smiled. "And look, I'm sorry."
"It's OK."
"I really messed up, huh?"
"It'll be OK."
"I don't know." Lorelai said.
"Look, you can talk to me, you know? I mean, sometimes I might say the wrong thing… or I don't know… but I'm here… So… you wanna talk?"
"Thanks."
Sookie smiled.
"I had this weird dream about him." Lorelai said.
"Luke?"
"Yeah… I went into the diner, and I followed him into the storage room, and I was trying to get in his pants… and I, I wasn't wearing my wedding ring." Lorelai stopped, and looked at Sookie to see what her reaction was.
"Wow."
"I know."
"Last year, at the winter carnival, there was this lady who interrupted dreams… It was really cool, you know? Except she did tell me that when I dreamt about forgetting to put the blueberries in the tarts, it meant I was going to go on a skiing trip sometime soon… I don't even know how to ski."
Lorelai laughed. This is why she liked Sookie so much. She could always make her laugh.
"Maybe it just means you feel guilty?" Sookie suggested.
But Lorelai didn't think that was it.
"Maybe… Maybe you have feelings for Luke?"
"No." She said, a little too quickly.
"He is a nice guy… nice, firm butt." Sookie said, providing Lorelai with hand gestures and everything.
"We're just friends." Lorelai said, trying to get Sookie to believe it… and maybe she was trying to get herself to believe it, too.
"But… Well, do you want to be more than… than just friends?"
"Luke." She heard herself moan against his mouth.
"Shh." She heard him say, as his slid his hand under her shirt, and up back, causing her to have goose bumps. He started kissing her neck and along her collarbone, and she moaned. God, he was really good at that.
"What are you doing?" She asked him.
"I'm trying to have sex with you." He replied, mocking her earlier words.
She smiled, and ran her fingers through his hair, as he continued kissing her neck. "What about your apartment upstairs?" She asked, thinking about what he said before.
"I'll try anything once." He replied, a smile playing on his lips. He pulled away, and stood up in front of her, with his hands on her hips, playing with the hem of her shirt. Her hands were around his neck, and she smiled at him.
"This won't make me forgive you." She told him.
"What?"
"The coffee, Luke, keep up."
"Right."
"In fact, I may never forgive you."
"Well then, why am I doing this?" He asked, jokingly pulling away from her.
She rolled her eyes at him, and pulled him back towards her. It was then she noticed her finger again. Where did that damn ring go?
"Well if you won't forgive me…" He began.
"C'mon, we totally put the X in sex." She said, smiling and playing with the collar of his shirt.
He looked at skeptically and she sighed.
"I'll think about it." She told him, and he smiled. "It depends how good this is."
He rolled his eyes.
"Well, it was a very mean thing to do." She told him, defensively and with a pout.
"So, punish me."
"Don't you ever go home?"
She awoke to a whiny, little, French voice buzzing in her ear.
"Huh?" She asked, sitting up, trying to figure out where she was. She fixed her t-shirt, and quickly realized that she was at the Inn.
It slowly came back to her. She had gone to the Inn with Sookie, and she must have fallen asleep on the couch.
"Where's Rory?" Lorelai asked Michel.
"How am I supposed to know? I do have a life." He told her.
"Of course you do." She said with an eye roll. "Where's Sookie?"
"Probably setting the kitchen on fire… or breaking her leg. Whichever comes first."
Lorelai nodded, and got up, then headed towards the kitchen.
"Where are you going?" Michel asked.
"Kitchen." She replied.
"You don't work here." He said.
"Really? I thought I did." She said, rolling her eyes at him.
"Only employees are allowed in the kitchen."
"Well, I won't tell." She said, before pushing the kitchen door open and looking for Sookie.
"Lorelai? What are you-"
"Do you know where Rory is?"
"Your not supposed to be in the kitchen." Sookie said.
"I know, but where's Rory?"
"I saw her with Lane and Dean."
"Lane and who?"
"Dean."
"Who's Dean?" Lorelai asked.
"He works at Doose's."
"Did they say where they were going?"
"Nope. They'll probably be at the soft ball game. Dean's on the team."
"What?"
"Soft ball game."
"Rory hates sports."
Sookie shrugged.
"When does it start?" Lorelai asked.
"7 I think. It's at the school. I'm going in a little while… Jackson is the 1st baseman." Sookie smiled.
Lorelai nodded. "Can I hitch a ride?"
"Yeah."
"How long was I out for?" Lorelai asked her.
"Not long. Maybe an hour." Sookie replied.
Lorelai nodded, and headed back into the lobby.
"Hey kid." Lorelai said, greeting her daughter at the softball game.
"Hey, where'd you go?"
"Why didn't you call me?" Lorelai asked, ignoring her daughter's question.
Rory looked at her mother, and held up her mother's purse.
"Oh." Lorelai said.
"Where were you?"
"I feel asleep at the Inn." Lorelai said.
"Are you sick?" Rory asked.
"No, I just barely got any sleep last night." Lorelai said.
"You woke up at 12." Rory pointed out.
"But when I feel asleep the sun was already up… I probably passed out around 7." It was true. She had been tossing and turning all night, thinking about… everything.
"I thought I heard you last night." Rory said.
"I just couldn't sleep. I'm fine… So, tell me why we are at a soft ball game." Lorelai asked.
"Well, see that guy sitting in the dugout… very tall, brown hair… See?"
"Yep." Lorelai said.
"That's why."
Lorelai nodded. "How long do these things usually take?"
"They usually just play until they get bored." Lane piped in.
"Look, there's Luke." Rory said, pointing to the field.
"Oh, yeah, it is." Lorelai said, watching him as he threw the ball. He did look really good today. Well, he looked good everyday, but…
God, Lorelai, stop it.
"So, how was your day?" Lorelai asked Rory, trying to get herself to focus on something other than Luke.
"Good. Did you know Stars Hollow has a giant slinky?" Rory asked.
"A giant slinky?"
"Yep."
"Where?"
"Go down Plum, take a right on Pear, then take your next left onto Tangerine… can't miss it." Lane said.
"You guys sure like your fruit, huh?" Lorelai asked.
Lane nodded.
"So, what guy are you here for?" Lorelai asked.
Lane pointed out a blonde boy, sitting on the bench. "Todd." She said.
Lorelai nodded, and glanced over at Luke again, but quickly turned back to Rory. "So… You'll have to show me this slinky sometime." Lorelai said, trying to make conversation.
"OK." Rory nodded, eating some popcorn. "Popcorn?" She asked.
"Yes, please." Lorelai said, already digging into the popcorn. She looked at the field again, and watched as Luke threw the ball again. Man, he was really good at that. She watched as him and Andrew started fighting about something, but she couldn't hear exactly what they were saying. Luke looked adorable when he argued.
She really had to stop thinking like that.
Luke was just Luke.
Sure, he was gorgeous… and he was a really good kisser from what she could remember, and also good at those other things. But she was married. No matter how good of a kisser or any of those other things… he was, it didn't matter. No matter how adorable or gorgeous he was, she was married, and she had to remember that.
She didn't have feelings for Luke. They were just friends.
But maybe Sookie was right. Maybe she wanted more than just a friendship with Luke.
But she was married.
She was married, and that potential more than just friends relationship she could have with Luke, would have to wait.
Yes. It would have to wait.
But, hey, she could still admire him while she waited, right?
"C'mon." Lane said.
"Where are we going?" Rory asked.
"The game will be over soon."
"How can you tell?" Rory asked.
"I've lived here my whole life… I can tell."
"OK, I'll be back, Mom." Rory said to her mother before she got up and left.
Lorelai watched the rest of the game, and the rest of the bickering, and after a few minutes, the game was over.
People started to get up from their seats, and head back towards their cars, or to meet their relatives that were playing in the game. Lorelai saw Luke in the dugout, gathering his stuff, and decided to go say hi.
She walked up to him from behind, and he hadn't noticed she was there yet. She thought about smacking his ass, because after all… it was baseball, right? At least she had an excuse. But of course, she didn't do it because, well… how awkward would that be?
"So, uh, nice game?" Lorelai said.
"Oh hey."
"Hey… I tried to think of some clever baseball term thingy… but hey, God knows I know absolutely nothing about baseball… and yeah." She said, stopping herself once she realized how much she was babbling.
"Where's Rory?"
"With Dean."
"Dean?" He asked, and by his tone, she could tell that Dean wasn't exactly his favorite person.
"What do you know about him?" Lorelai asked.
"Not much." He shrugged.
"Well, it sounded like you know something." Lorelai said.
"I don't." He told her.
"Kay… but if you did, would you tell me?"
"Yeah." He said, getting a little annoyed.
"OK, sorry… I just wanted to know if I should, you know, watch out for this kid or something… He could be some crazy, 40 year old guy, pretending to be a softball playing, teenager for all I know."
He looked at her strangely. "Because creepy 40 year olds come to Stars Hollow, so they can pretend to be teenagers?"
"Well, you never know."
"Yeah."
"They let Kirk live here." She pointed out.
"True."
"You can never be too careful."
"Well, Rory's a good kid." Luke said.
"Oh I know, believe me, I know that Rory is a good kid. She's such a good kid that she'd get a fake I.D just so she could vote…or adopt one of those little, starving kids… And once, she grounded herself for a week because she forgot to turn in her library book. I mean, seriously… can you imagine? Grounding yourself for a week because of a library book? She sat in her room all day, telling me what a horrible person she is because nobody got to ready the Iliad that week."
"Then, I think she'd be able to tell if Dean was a 40 year old guy pretending to be a teenager."
"You're right, thanks."
"No problem." He told her.
She sat on the bench in the dugout, and began tapping her fingers along the wood. He continued stuffing things into his bag, and she stayed silent for a few minutes, watching him. She kept thinking about that dream. It just seemed so real, she couldn't get it out of her head. It felt weird, to be watching him, and thinking about that dream. She felt really stupid. If he ever found out about that dream, he'd think she was so weird. Not like he'd ever find out about it, though. She sighed, and watched him so more.
"We'll be OK, right?" She asked him.
"What?" He questioned.
"I don't want things to be awkward." She told him.
"Well, me either." He said.
"But, won't they be? I mean… we… we… you know."
"Yeah." He said, with a sigh.
"So… what do we do?" She asked.
"I don't know, Lorelai." He said, a little bit frustrated.
"OK." She said, looking down at her feet. "I haven't told Christopher." She told him. Way to make things less awkward, Lorelai.
"Jeez, Lorelai." He said, really not wanting to hear about Christopher. Didn't she know how guilty he felt? Why did she have to go and say something like that, and make it so much worse?
"I'm sorry… I just… I'm not sure what to do."
"Well, I can't tell you what to do." He told her.
"I know." She told him, in defeat. "I wish I could just… know… you know? I wish I had all the answers… that I would just… know… what to do. I always know what to do. I mean, I can plan things… and I can fix a dress after Carol Simmons' dog got a stab at it. I can get Anotonio, the ice cream guy, to give me extra jimmies and hot fugde and not charge me for it. When Rory is flipping out about tests or projects, I can always calm her down… I can even get Paris to chill out once in awhile… but this… I just, I don't know what I'm supposed to do or say or anything… and it sucks." She said, unaware of her babbling.
"Yeah." He sighed again.
"But I really want us to be friends." She told him, looking up at him again. "I really, really, do." She added.
"OK." He nodded, as if he was confirming the deal.
She nodded, along with him. But, she couldn't help feeling that there was still so much left to say. She just wasn't sure where to begin.
"I'm sorry." He told her, and it caught her by surprise.
"What?" She asked.
"For… I don't know… putting you in this position."
At some point her mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened. He really thought this was his fault? Sookie was right. He did feel really guilty.
"Luke…" She started. "It's not your fault."
He shook his head, like he thought she was lying, but she persisted.
"Look, it was both of us. We had too much to drink… and we… we did something… that you know, we shouldn't have done… But it's not your fault. I'm the one with a kid and a husband… I should have been more responsible. Please don't feel guilty." She felt like she was begging him, but what else could she do.
He was silent, not knowing what to say, because whatever he wanted to say, he knew she'd just deny it. "OK." He said, after a while.
"So… we're good?"
"Yeah, we are." He said, feeling like this was déjà vu.
"So… about this Dean kid…"
"What were you and Luke talking about?" Sookie asked.
"I don't know… everything." Lorelai shrugged.
"So, what's going on?" Sookie asked.
"We're going to try." Lorelai told her friend.
"Try what?" Sookie asked, immediately getting the wrong idea.
"To be friends." Lorelai told her, and Sookie let out a small sigh.
"Are you sure that's the best idea?" Sookie asked, gently, not wanting to start another fight.
"Why not?" Lorelai asked.
"Well… I don't know." Sookie said, really not wanting to fight again.
"Look, I like Luke, he's a good friend." Lorelai told Sookie.
"Are you sure that's all he is?" Sookie asked, without thinking.
"Yes, Sookie." Lorelai said, a little bit annoyed. But she knew Sookie was just looking out for both of them.
"I'm sorry, I just-"
"I know, Sookie. It's fine, really."
"OK." Sookie said.
"I just… He's a nice guy, you know? I mean… You, and him, and this town… It's nice. I'm so used to only interacting with people that are on the very top step on the social ladder… and, it's nice… to get to talk to people, who couldn't care less about Missy Jenkins sleeping with her pool boy… and who don't care that the Hunztberger's invited them over for dinner last Friday and didn't use matching napkin holders… and you know… people who still have their original noses… and haven't known my parents since they were kids and played in the million dollar sand box together… and I don't know, it's just nice."
"Missy Jenkins is sleeping with her pool boy?" Sookie eyed her skeptically, and smiled.
Lorelai rolled her eyes. "C'mon, I hear they serve fried dough here."
"Yeah, and if you can guess how many times Kirk tapped the powered sugar thing… you get a free soda." Sookie said.
"Well lead the way, babe."
"Lorelai, do you know how this works?" Kirk asked.
"Umm… 5?" Lorelai asked.
"What?" Kirk asked.
"I'm supposed to guess how many times you tapped that sugar thingy when you put the powder on my dough… hmm…dirty?"
"No, we changed it last week." Kirk said.
"What? Why?"
"Well, you see… People starting catching on…" Kirk said.
"He uses a spoon, and just scoops up the sugar, instead of tapping it." Sookie explained.
"Kirk! That's cheating!" Lorelai gasped.
"It's not my fault! Taylor made me!" Kirk cried. "He bribed me with coupons."
"What for?"
"Twinkies and Ho-Hos."
"Oh, he's good."
Kirk nodded.
"So what do you have to do now, Kirk?"
"Now, you have to guess how many times I flipped the dough over in the oil." Kirk said.
"Um… Four?"
"How'd you know?" Kirk asked, amazed.
"I looked at the chart." She said, pointing to the chalkboard behind him, that had a tally of how many times each person's dough was flipped over.
"Damn." Kirk said. "What kind of soda do you want?" He asked, with defeat.
"Orange?"
"Are you sure?" Kirk asked.
"Yes." Lorelai replied.
"Are you sure you don't want grape?"
"Yes, Kirk."
"Grape soda is really, really good."
"Fine, I'll have grape."
"Are you sure you don't want orange?"
"Grape is fine."
"But you said you wanted orange."
"Fine. Orange." She said, getting really frustrated.
"But grape is so good." Kirk continued.
"You know what, Kirk? I don't want soda anymore." She said.
"Score!" He said, excitedly.
"Jeez, he's annoying." Lorelai said, as they walked away.
"Oh yeah." Sookie nodded.
"Aw… they are so cute." Sookie said, pointing to Rory and Dean.
"Yeah." Lorelai said, unenthusiastically. The kid reminded her too much of Christopher. Maybe it was his chin? Something about him looked just like her husband. And hey, Rory was 16. God, she couldn't think that. Rory was good. Rory wasn't her. Rory wouldn't get pregnant.
But, maybe she'd look into some birth control for her… just incase.
"They're such lovebirds." Sookie cooed.
"What… are you a birdwatcher, now?"
Sookie laughed. "Hey, I gotta pee, I'll be right back, OK?"
"Yeah, sure." Lorelai nodded. Sookie ran off to the bathroom, and Lorelai stood there, eating her fried dough, and watching the people around her.
"Lorelai!" Jackson called.
"Oh hey Jackson, Sookie just went to the bathroom, she'll be back."
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you." He said.
"Me? OK." She said, wondering what this could be about.
"Well, Sookie's birthday is in two weeks… and I want to throw her a party… a surprise one, actually. Sookie loves surprises. One time, I blindfolded her and I-"
"Jackson. Sookie's going to be back any minute." She said.
"Oh right. So, I was wondering… if you could help me? You know, with the plans, the decorations… food, presents… distractions. I figure it won't be as obvious if you do it. Because as far as she knows, you don't even know when her birthday is."
Lorelai nodded, as the man babbled on. This would be perfect. She really wanted to stay friends with Sookie. She really wanted to get through all of this, and be her friend. She wanted to forget about all of this Luke/Christopher stuff, and the fight, and just be friends like they used to. Planning her party would be perfect.
"Of course I'll help, Jackson."
"You will? Thank God." Jackson said.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Well, I haven't figured it all out yet… I'll let you know, OK? If Sookie asks just say uh… that you're teaching me how to tango or something."
"I could just say you're selling me some vegetables, Jackson." After all, he was the produce guy.
"Right, vegetables. Good thinking."
"OK, so I'll see you later?" Lorelai asked, laughing.
"Yes, later. Bye Lorelai."
"Bye."
"He moved there from Colorado at the beginning of the year… and his dad makes stereo systems."
"Wow." Lorelai nodded, as she drove down the highway. Rory had been babbling about Dean the entire car ride, and she was sure she had already mentioned the Colorado thing, and the stereo systems at least twice before.
"Lane said he isn't seeing anybody… She said he hasn't been with anyone since he moved there."
"Well, honey… make he's…"
"Mom." Rory growled, already knowing what her mother was going to say.
"You never know." Lorelai laughed.
"It's not funny." Rory said, pouting.
"Sorry, I just wanted to get you to stop talking about him for at least a second… You're starting to sound a little stalkerish there, babe."
"No, I'm not."
Lorelai laughed.
"I think you should pull over." Rory said, frustrated.
"How come?" Lorelai laughed.
"Then, I think you really should call me a cab." Rory said, ignoring her last comment.
"You're a cab." Lorelai giggled.
"You are not funny." Rory said.
"Yes I am." Lorelai said, confidently.
Rory rolled her eyes, and turned on the radio.
"So, hey… Do you really like this Dean guy?" Lorelai asked.
Rory rolled her eyes again, not wanting to be mocked.
"Seriously." Lorelai said. "I mean… you think it's going anywhere?" She asked, praying Rory would say no, even though that was very unlikely.
"Maybe." Rory said, and Lorelai sighed.
"What about Tristan?" Lorelai asked.
"What about him?" Rory asked.
"Well… you know he likes you… And I sort of thought you liked him, too." Lorelai said. "And hey, what about that Huntzberger kid?"
"Logan?" Rory asked.
"Yeah, didn't you guys go out the other week?"
"Yeah we did."
"How'd it go?" Lorelai asked.
"It was fun, but you know Logan. He's not exactly Mr. Commitment."
Exactly. She knew Logan didn't want commitment. She also knew Rory wanted commitment. She knew that they wouldn't work… at least not yet, and that's why she liked it.
She didn't like Rory with guys. She didn't want Rory to get hurt. She didn't want her to end up with a broken heart.
She didn't want Rory to end up like her.
And Dean reminded her too much of Christopher. She hadn't even met the kid, and already she hated him.
But she never liked any of Rory's boyfriends. But, c'mon, he looked like Christopher. And Rory did have her blue eyes.
God, tomorrow she was calling the doctor. Rory wasn't going to end up like her. Rory deserved more. Rory didn't deserve to be unhappy, and stuck in a completely broken marriage. Not like their marriage was ever even together. It had always been broken, but she couldn't just go to the store and get her money back. Rory didn't deserve that.
Yeah, she was calling the doctor tomorrow.
Rory shrugged. "I guess, we'll see."
"Right. We'll see."
"Oh, I'll punish you."
"Yeah?"
"Oh yeah."
"How?" He asked, continuing this little game with them.
"Well, I have many different options here… I could…" She began, sneaking her hands lower, and starting to take off his belt. But then, she stopped, and looked up at him. The expression on his face made her giggle. "Or… hm, I could…"
"Lorelai." He groaned and she giggled.
"Hey mister, where's your foam finger?" She asked. It sounded much better in her head.
"What?"
"Since when are you such a fan on storage room sex?"
He shook his head, and kissed her hard. His hands snuck up the back of her shirt again, and then he began kissing her neck.
"Thinks of all the health violations." She continued. "And, what if Taylor walks in… or Kirk?" She asked.
"I kiss you and you think of Taylor?" He asked, pulling away from Kirk.
She smiled, and pulled him back to her. "Just you." She murmured against his lips.
"Good." He said.
"How many do you think we are breaking?" She asked, wanting to annoy him just a little more.
"What?" He asked, definitely annoyed.
"Rules Luke. How many do you think we are breaking? I mean, we're about to have sex in the storage room… where the food is kept…There must be at least 100."
"I don't know." He groaned.
"And you're OK with this? All this rule breaking? I never knew you had a rebellious side." She giggled.
He stood up, and for a moment she thought he was about to change his mind. But he stepped towards her, wrapped his arms around her, and breathed heavily against her ear.
"Just… while we are doing this… keep in mind that we shouldn't be." He said, before lining kisses down her jaw.
"Got it."
A/N: So, it's not my favorite chapter, but I promise the next one will be better. This is sort of a filler one… but next chapter will be good.
No episode this week? Ugh. They give us a long, long hiatus… and then they show two episodes, and now we have to wait again? What's up with that?
SPOILERS(some are a little old, but there are a few new ones, too):
In 6.14 Emily tells Lorelai she wants to get to know her future son-in-law, and invites Luke for dinner. Lorelai doesn't mention that the wedding is postponed. Also, the Yale Daily News fires Paris and hires Rory as editor. Paris is furious and kicks Rory out of her apartment. Logan convinces her to move into his apartment… and Christopher tells Lorelai about Rory's new living situation.
6.15 is shot somewhere warm. Luke is written as 'less than perfect' in it, but he recovers quickly.
The double-life, Brokeback Mountain spoiler has to do with Richard and a double life. Rory discovers he is an alumni for the Life and Death Brigade.
Doo….doo…do…
And yeah… no huge, huge, huge spoilers…but yeah.
Anyways:
You're probably wondering what the next chapter is... So yes... here we go.
Next Chapter:
Judy's Wearing His Ring: Everyone is helping out with Sookie's party, and Lorelai has been spending a lot of time in the Hollow, doing her part. The night of the party is here, and it seems to just fly by… Before she knows it, the party's over… but she's not ready to go home yet… So where oh where will she go?
So, yeah, it is now 4:28 and I think I'm going to head up to bed… So, goodnight.
And please review!