Lisa was curled up under the covers in her room when the phone rang. She jumped, startled, then quickly answered it.

"Hey, Liiiiisa," Lorelai greeted cheerfully.

"Hi," Lisa breathed a sigh of relief. "What's up?"

"Currently, you," Lorelai said mysteriously. "I'm in the lobby. Under your room. Get it?"

Lisa forced a laugh. "You're pun-ny. Anyway..."

"So I was just seeing if you wanted to come with me and Luke to the Founder's Day Festival tonight. It's fun! Food, games, people...oh, god, you haven't lived until you've had Miss Patty's Founder's Day punch!"

"I don't know," Lisa replied uncertainly. "I don't want to be a third wheel..."

"Well, see, that's where I have great news," Lorelai said excitedly. "I was in the pharmacy after I left you and I ran into my ex-boyfriend...well...fiancee, but whatever... named Max Medena. Long story short, he's also coming tonight, since his brother's getting married tomorrow in Star's Hollow. The rehearsal was this afternoon in town, and he lives out in Stanford."

"I'm lost," Lisa shook her head.

"So anyway, he needs a date to the nuptials tomorrow," Lorelai said quickly. "Very last minute thing. He considered asking me as a friend, he said, but since I'm with Luke it was deemed a bit inappropriate. So I told him about you...and he would love to meet you tonight, at the festival."

"Lorelai, no," Lisa refused. "You saw how the blind date thing worked out last time."

"But Max is so sweet," Lorelai whined. "Smart, funny...and cute. If it doesn't work out, I promise you can go back to the inn for the night."

Lisa sighed. "It doesn't seem right, behaving like normal when Jackson's right there, breathing down my neck."

"Well, there's nothing you can do about Jackson being in town, but he won't be at the festival," Lorelai shrugged. "Anyway, why not have fun while you let him stalk you?"

Lisa groaned.

"Fine. I'll meet you in the lobby in two hours."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lisa chewed her lips and adjusted her lilac blouse in front of the mirror. She really, really did not want to go out tonight. This was really only for the sake of Lorelai and this Max jerk, whoever he was.

She didn't expect anything to come out of it. Just a bit of conversation, that's all. She'd escort him to his brother's wedding at best, but it wasn't like they would exchange numbers after, or anything.

Finally, pulling some white heels on to coordinate with her lilac outfit, Lisa grabbed her purse and left the room. She made sure to lock the door securely behind her. No nighttime visits from Jackson, she'd make sure of that.

Lorelai was clinging to Luke's arm in the lobby. At first, Lisa saw no other man, and felt her heart sinking. She didn't know why, it wasn't like she wanted to go out. But still, it was like being stood up...

Then the man in front of the bookcase turned and smiled at her, and her heart gave out all together.

He had a thick shock of dark hair, a charming smile, and big brown eyes. Lisa gave him a weak smile back as he strolled up to Lorelai and Luke, whispered something in Lorelai's ear, and then smiled at Lisa again when Lorelai answered him.

"Hi, I'm Max Medena," he strode to Lisa and stuck out his hand awkwardly. She shook it, feeling rather tipsy.

"L-lisa Reisert," she responded.

"Pleasure," he said politely. Lisa shook her head to clear her thoughts.

Don't get attached. You saw what happened last time you got attached to a charming man you just met.

Max let Luke and Lorelai lead the way to the courtyard, and walked behind them with Lisa next to him. She felt oddly uncomfortable, but wasn't surprised. The last two times she'd been close to a man, one had been unwillingly and the other had been when she was held hostage on the plane. Cheery.

"So..um...you from around here?" Max asked conversationally. Lisa shook her head.

"Nope. Miami. I moved here...I actually moved here yesterday," Lisa laughed.

"Wow! Yesterday?" Max laughed along with her and shook his head. "For all I know you could be a serial killer or something, and here I am on a date with you! Or wait..you could be...stalking me," he shot her a suspicious look and Lisa froze.

"You're not...stalking me...are you?"

"I...I..."

"Whoah, calm down," Max lightly took her arm and felt the tremors darting up it. "I was kidding."

"I know..." she said, clapping a hand to her dizzy forehead. Lorelai turned and frowned.

"Leese? What's wrong?"

"I just..."

"You alright?"

"If I say no are you going to ask me if I'm sure?"

"No, no, that's your dad's department."

Max peered anxiously into Lisa's face. "Lisa? What's wrong?"

But Lisa didn't see Max. She saw Jackson. She pushed him away from her.

"No! Get away from me, Jackson!"

"Lisa, calm down!" Lorelai cried, trying to take her arm.

"Stay away from me! I'm not going to make the fucking call!" Lisa erupted in tears and tried to run away from the three worried adults but Lorelai and Luke succeeded in catching her. Luke held her tightly still while Lorelai rubbed soothing circles on her back.

"Lisa, sh...honey, its okay..."