I think I should once again point out that English isn't my first language, so it's not exactly easy for me to write (though I love it!)
If you find any mistakes, typos or anything, please please point them out to me. I really want to improve and I need the feedback!
Enjoy! :)
•
"Are you comfortable?" Luke asked as they had taken their seats.
"Sure," Lorelai replied casually and immediately took a handful popcorn out of the bag they'd bought.
"Hey, don't you wanna wait until the movie?" Luke started but Lorelai had already shoved the popcorn into her mouth. "Nevermind."
"Can't wait til the movie!" Lorelai said while chewing. "Don't you find it tempting?"
"What exactly?" Luke asked carefully.
"Well, the popcorn bag sitting in front of you."
"Oh, that. No, not at all."
"Also you took a small bag," Lorelai noted. "I took a big one, now it looks like I was eating like a harvester."
"We could have taken a big one to share as well," Luke replied with a shrug. "And ... you are eating like a harvester."
"Yeah, yeah." Lorelai waved it off. The truth was that she didn't want to share a bag with Luke. She didn't want to accidentally touch his hand, knowing how much she'd like that to happen on purpose. She wasn't allowed to feel like that, thus she didn't want to challenge it.
"Oh, I get it," Luke chuckled. "You don't share food."
"Share food? What a preposterous thought!" Lorelai gasped and pretended to be shocked. "Seriously now, I wouldn't look so - let's say healthy - if I shared my food."
"You look just fine," Luke complimented her with a small smile and Lorelai felt heat creep into her cheeks once again.
Goddammit, Lorelai. Pull yourself together.
"Thank you," she replied casually, though her tongue was burning to ask what exactly he had meant with "just fine". Did he mean beautiful? Sexy? Or simply pretty?
Not that again! You don't need his acknowledgement, you've got Chris for that!
"Have you watched Twilight Zone?" Luke suddenly asked. "The series, I mean."
"Of course, I love it!" Lorelai said. "I wouldn't have agreed to watch the movie with you otherwise."
"Oh. Okay, sorry, I figured ... Rachel used to do that."
"Do what?"
"Tell me she wanted to go fishing with me, for instance, knowing that I loved it but also knowing she would hate it. Or watch a series with me that I wanted to watch, even though she didn't like Star Trek. For example."
"For example, yeah, yeah." Lorelai grinned. "No, don't worry, I don't do that. So, you like to go fishing?"
"Yes," Luke muttered.
"Hey, no need to be embarrassed. We all have hobbies, I liked to go horse back riding, for example."
"You do?" Luke smiled at her.
"I did," Lorelai said bitterly. "I did, until my mother realised what an unfemale sport it was and how dirty horses are. Now I'm not allowed to go anymore. In the beginning, when she forbade me to ride, she used to smell my clothes everytime I got home."
"What?" Luke asked in shock.
"Yeah. My mom is awesome, isn't she?"
"Most definitely," Luke sighed. "So you haven't ridden a horse in how long?"
"Hm, about four years," Lorelai said and Luke leaned in, smiling at her mischievously.
"Would you like to do it again?"
"Of course, why are you asking?" Lorelai asked with big eyes.
But Luke didn't get the chance to answer right away, as the movie started.
•
"It was nice today."
"Yeah, indeed."
They stood in front of the theatre, awkwardly looking at each other.
"So ... soon again?"
"Definitely." Lorelai smiled at him broadly.
"Thanks again for the cap. It's awesome."
Lorelai grinned at him. "So ... what did you want to say before? About riding?"
"Nothing, Lorelai. I was only asking if you'd still like to ride horses and you said yes. That's all."
Lorelai didn't believe him but she decided not to think about it more.
"Shall I ... bring you home?" Luke asked after a while of silence but Lorelai shook her head.
"It'd be dangerous. My mother can't see us together."
"You're right." Luke sighed. "So - are you walking home now or are you taking the bus?"
"Taking a cab," Lorelai replied. "It's only a five minute drive but my mother would kill me if she knew I had taken the bus. And walking there is too dangerous, as it's already dark."
"Taking a taxi is also dangerous," Luke challenged her. "The driver could be a rapist or a murderer."
"Of course he could be," Lorelai replied casually. "But it's not that common. Mostly they're quite nice and just want to talk. I've already made friends with Pedro, so if I call the cab corporation and ask for Pedro, they'll most likely send him. And don't worry, he's like sixty years old and he has a family."
"That doesn't make me worry less," Luke admitted.
"He's okay. Actually, he was our gardener when I was a child, so I've known him for a while now. My mom only allows me to take cabs if he's the one to drive."
Luke sighed. "I see you want to calm me down. I trust you, Lorelai, and I believe you. It's just ... I don't trust men. And I know there are old creeps who see a beautiful woman like you and decide to just take what they want. Please be careful, okay?"
"Okay," Lorelai breathed, stunned by his attention, his concern and the fact he had called her a beautiful woman.
"Okay," Luke said gently and pulled into a short hug. "So, call that cab corporation and I'll wait for Pedro with you."
Lorelai smiled up at him and slipped her hand into his. "Okay, I can live with that. Walk me across the street to the next phone booth, my strong protector."
Luke cleared his throat. "Will do, Milady."
Hand in hand and in silence they crossed the street. It was obvious that there was something between them, something stronger than friendship.
But Luke didn't dare to ask her and Lorelai knew it was wrong.
They both had no idea where it would lead them.
•
Luke had waited for Pedro together with Lorelai. And when he had arrived, he had made sure that Pedro was likable (he was). He had hugged Lorelai again (tightly and maybe a little bit too long) and then he had released her and waited until the cab had taken a turn and wasn't visible anymore.
He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans and went to the bus stop, about to check the schedule.
Great, he had just missed the bus. The next one would only arrive in a little more than an hour.
He sat down on the bench, thinking about their evening.
It had been really hard for Luke, sitting so close to her in a dark room, not able to turn to her and kiss her with all his passion.
And then the baseball cap she had given to him - blue like your eyes.
Those had been her words exactly. His heart rate had sped up and he had wanted to kiss her so bad. Stupid Christopher.
His fists clenched and he decided do really do something now. He had never promised her not to woo her, or had he?
He'd invite her and he'd cook for her. He'd give her flowers and watch a movie with her. He'd dress up for her and tell her how beautiful she was until she couldn't hear it anymore.
He'd take her out and ride horses with her. No, he would give her a horse. He would start working at the stables of Mr Turner and one day ask the horse owner if one of the horses was for sale.
And if he could get one for a lower fee.
Yes.
He'd call her once he'd get home And ask her out. He would woo her and if he didn't succeed, they couldn't be friends anymore. It just hurt too much, having Lorelai so close but only as a friend.
He took off his cap and stared at it. Blue like your eyes ...
Damn, how her eyes had sparkled as he had unwrapped the present. How she had played with her hair as he had tried it on. How she had cheered when he had told her that he loved it.
I love you, Luke thought and his heart ached. How easy I can admit it. I have never told Rachel I loved her, because I didn't. I loved the thought of being in love with her but I have never felt like this with another human before. I love you, Lorelai. And we belong together. Just believe me.
Luke dug his nails into his thighs. Damn! How could he have turned into a guy pining for a girl like this? As if she was the only one? As if there was no one else for him?
He knew the answer but it scared him.
Because she's the one.
A cold shiver ran down his spine. He was so young, how could he possible have found his one and only already? He knew it was rare but it could happen.
Before Lorelai he hadn't even believed in something like the one.
But now he definitely did.
It hurt in his chest, it felt like his heart was tearing apart when he imagined that he would never have her.
But then he decided: no.
He hadn't even tried yet. He had just respected the fact that she was with Chrisdorkpher.
Luke chuckled and an elderly lady looked at him weirdly. Luke ignored her.
•
Luke had been waiting for twenty minutes now.
Fifty minutes left.
He groaned and stood up, heading to the diner opposite of the bus stop. He had realised he couldn't wait for the bus outside, since it was cold and he was hungry.
Knowing that almost an hour of waiting outside would probably kill him (or at least get him very sick), he went into the diner, immediately heading to the first free booth he spotted.
The diner was quite full, way too many people for his liking.
He studied the menu and when the waitress arrived, he ordered a salad with chicken breast and a small glass of water.
The waitress looked at him weirdly (great, another woman who thought he was weird) but didn't say a word.
And while he was waiting for his food, he stared outside the window.
Until someone let herself fall down opposite of him.
"You're too young to sit here alone and stare out of the window miserably," a female voice said and for a second he thought that Lorelai had returned. But as he looked up, he spotted a familiar face.
Pretty. Blonde. He knew her but he couldn't remember where from. "I'm sorry -"
"You dont recognise me?" the girl said. "Aw, it's okay. I don't know your name either. I'm Jill, Jill Ferguson."
"You're at my college," Luke suddenly remembered. "In my chemistry course."
"That's correct. And you are?" Jill smiled broadly.
"Luke Danes," Luke replied.
"Nice to meet you, Luke. Listen, I know it's something very unfriendly to ask, but would you mind if my friends and I sat down with you? The diner is incredibly full and you're the only person I know here - kind of. We won't annoy you, I swear."
"That's no problem, my bus is leaving in half an hour anyway," Luke replied and Jill cheered, waving her friends over to the booth.
Luke slid over to the window, making space for Jill's friends, who were all girls.
"This is Sarah," Jill pointed at a small girl with dark hair, who let herself fall down next to Jill. "And that's Michelle." She waved at a curvy girl with dark skin, who sat down next to Luke.
"I recognise you," he said to her. "Uhm ... English?"
"Correct." Michelle grinned.
"And Sarah visits the same sports course as you," Jill informed him.
"I want to become a professional tennis player," Sarah said. "You haven't noticed me before, right?"
"He's always somewhere else with his thoughts," Jill teased. "I wonder where. But I think it's cute."
Luke chuckled, trying not to show how uncomfortable he felt. "What happened to 'we won't annoy you'?"
Michelle had to laugh. "You told him that? Damn, girl! You know exactly how annoying we are!"
"I didn't want to scare him in the beginning already," Jill giggled and Luke was glad as his food arrived just that moment, thinking they'd shut up now and let him eat.
But they didn't.
After they had ordered, Sarah leaned over to table to look at his food. "Woah, aren't you a healthy fella!"
"A salad! Woah, I hope you don't mind I ordered a burger and a huuuge plate of fries," Michelle added.
"He always eats that healthy," Jill said and everyone looked at her.
"Are you stalking me?" Luke asked, not able to hide a smile.
Jill was very pretty. And she reminded him nothing of Lorelai. She was blonde and had brown eyes, which made her look really interesting. Maybe he should just forget his plan and focus on what he could have.
And really, Jill blushed. "No! I just find it very interesting that someone like you can be so lonely. You don't have any friends at the college."
"I have a friend," Luke said. "Trevor."
"Ah, Trevor, the other quiet guy," Jill said. "Yeah, you are lab partners in chemistry but you barely talk."
"My friends aren't at the college," Luke tried again. "There's - uhm - Rachel and there's Lorelai -"
"You made that name up," Michelle interrupted him.
"Yeah, like who would call her child Lorelai?" Sarah chipped in.
"A fantasy princess?" Michelle guessed and Luke sighed.
"Her name is Lorelai for real, Lorelai Gilmore."
Luke stared at his plate. He really didn't want to talk about her.
"Gilmore, ugh, like that fancy rich family in North Hartford." Sarah shook her head. "My aunt worked for them as a maid - for three days. That woman is awful."
"So I heard," Michelle agreed and then they started talking about other rich families in Hartford.
Jill's eyes had never left Luke, though.
And for some reason he spotted something like sympathy in them.
Maybe she had realised from his look that Lorelai was more than just a friend.
•
After he had paid, he quickly ran to the bus. He couldn't believe what had happened, those three girls had actually given their telephone numbers to him.
All three of them!
At home he decided to call Lorelai, but eventually ended up dialling Jill's number.
Only because you don't want Emily Gilmore to pick up the phone, he told himself. And partly it was true.
"Luke!" Jill was surprised. "Nice to hear from you so early."
"Yeah, I know. I just wanted to ask you, if you'd like to be my lab partner from tomorrow on? You're right, Trevor isn't really my friend."
"And Sophie ain't mine," Jill replied, making Luke figure that Sophie was her current partner. "Okay, I'm fine with that. Are you good at chemistry?"
"I'm really bad," Luke said. "I'm actually bad in every subject except for sports."
"Oh my, we'll be great partners then," Jill chuckled. "I'm really bad, too."
"Hm, okay. Let's try anyway."
"Oh, most definitely. I'm really glad you called, by the way."
Luke smiled. "So am I."