Chapter 8: Fireworks

The next two weeks went much the same. Jess went back to the inn with Rory and Lorelai on Mondays and Wednesdays. Where they read by the pond and ate peanut butter sandwiches. On Tuesday and Thursdays, Rory went to the diner for the afternoon with Jess and Luke. Where she and Jess were sampling their way through Luke's menu. Fridays were reserved to be spent with their respective guardians. The first Saturday, June 22, the foursome was going to go to the lake again; however, they ended up spending their day at the inn. Lorelai had to fill in for an absent maid again, and since Luke had already taken the day off Mia twisted his arm to look at a few small handyman jobs she had around the inn. The inn's current handy man was nothing short of a buffoon; there was bet going around he was Kirk in a disguise. The last time this mystery man tried fixing something he ending costing the inn five hundred dollars in extra damage. So Rory and Jess ran around the inn helping and reading out loud to the busy adults. That night they all sat together and watched another movie picked out by the girls. It wasn't until the following Saturday that any thing truly significant happened.

Luke, Jess, Lorelai, and Rory had planned another movie night this time at Luke's apartment. Jess and Rory had already parked themselves on the floor in front of the TV debating what book they should read next. They were almost finished with 20000 League Under the Sea.

Luke proceeded to sit on the far end of the couch and waited for Lorelai, who had excused herself to use the bathroom, to start the movie.

As she came walking out she proclaimed, "I love these shoes, but I really hate what they do to my feet. It's like Chinese water torture," as she dramatically fell onto the couch.

"Give them here," Luke stated simply.

"You want my shoes?" Lorelai questioned his request with a funny look on her face, "Got a big date tomorrow night?"

"I was going to offer you a foot rub, but I think I changed my mind."

"No! Please. I'm sorry," Lorelai quickly apologized slipping her feet into his lap.

Luke wasn't quite sure what had complied him to offer Lorelai a foot rub. Perhaps it was because he knew how hard she worked and just wanted to help. Or that he remembered his father offering his mother such luxuries after she had a hard day. Or maybe he was completely selfish and just wanted to be closer to this beautiful woman anyway possible. Whatever the reason, his internal confliction would have to wait until later, seeing that the woman's feet in question were already in his lap. So he did what any man would do in this situation, thought about sports.

The evening seemed to be going quite well, just a normal movie night. Luke had made everyone incredible meal, Jess and Rory were discussing books; Lorelai was on the couch immensely enjoying the foot rub she was receiving from a handsome man (WHAT!). Before she could stop herself she let an inappropriate moan considering the company and the activity planned for the night (Dirty…)

The kids looked over at Lorelai, but didn't really take much notice. However, for the adults the atmosphere in the room had changed dramatically.

Lorelai quickly removed her feet from Luke's lap muttering a thank you still unable to look at his shocked face, "Baby, why don't you start the movie?" She directed to Rory.

For the next two hours Luke and Lorelai struggled to concentrate on the movie, while Jess and Rory exchanged quips on the floor.

After the movie, Luke and Jess drove the girls back to the inn and as Rory and Jess said goodnight, Luke finally spoke up, "Look I'm sorry about the whole foot rub thing," apologizing for something he had no control over.

"Definitely nothing to be story about," Lorelai slipped out before her better judgment or at least her mom instincts (rules) stopped her.

Quite shock Luke finally looked Lorelai in the face. There was a moment where it seemed electricity was shooting between their locked eyes.

"Mom?" Rory asked interrupting the unofficial starring contest, "I'm tired; can we go in?"

"Yeah baby let's go in," Lorelai answered Rory and then turned quickly and offered a quiet goodnight to Luke and Jess.

"Night," was the only thing that escaped from Luke lips.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lorelai lay in bed thinking about her last date, not that this night was a date she remembered herself. It was over a year ago, one of the waiters (let's call him Chad) from the inn had taken her out a couple days after her birthday to help her celebrate turning twenty-one. They went to three bars where everyone offered to buy the birthday girl a drink; needless to say, by the end of the night Lorelai was a little tipsy. Oh hell, she was drunk. Her date turned out to be less than a gentleman and slobbered kisses all over her face when he dropped her off at the inn. When he grabbed her ass she jumped out of the car, yelling goodnight as she literally ran to the safety of her cottage. She hated that guys' automatically thought she would sleep with them because she had a baby at sixteen. She wasn't a slut. That night she cried herself to sleep silently thanking Mia for taking Rory for the night. Later that week, Chad, the waiter, quit or was fired; Lorelai never knew which. Before that her last date must have been with Chris, while she was pregnant. She looked over at her sleeping daughter and knew she won't trade a million amazing dates for the opportunity to watch her grow up. However, she could shake a nagging feeling that Luke was different; he wasn't just a crush. Lorelai didn't fall asleep for while, so much for Saturday being the day of pre-rest.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

July 2:

That Tuesday after swim class Rory and Jess were upside in the apartment still arguing about the next book they should read. Rory wanted to read The Secret Garden, but Jess thought it sounded way to girly. He thought their next book should be The Hobbit, which Rory wasn't so sure about.

"Rory," Luke called walking through the door.

"Yeah," Rory answered from her current position on the floor.

"Someone downstairs is looking for you," Luke explained before he went back to the diner.

"Who knows I'm here?" Rory asked Jess as they got up.

"How should I know?" Jess shrugged as they descended.

"Rory!" a young Asian girl yelled as soon as Rory passed through the curtain.

"Lane!" Rory yelled even louder.

So there the girls stood hugs each other and jumping around the middle of the diner.

"How did you know I was here?" Rory asked once they had calmed down a little.

"I called the inn and your mom must been on break or something because she told me you'd be here, and you are," Lane exclaimed wrapping her friend in another hug.

"How are you here?" Rory asked.

"Mama Kim gave me thirty minutes; for some reason she seems ok with Luke's," Lane explained a little confused herself.

Just then Rory remembered Jess, who had been keeping his distance since the hugging started, and beckoned him over. "Lane, I would like you to meet Jess," Rory introduced the two, "Jess, this is Lane." The two starred at each other for a bit as if challenging each other.

"So…" Rory continued unable to stand the silence any longer, "Lane why don't you tell us about church camp?" looking pleadingly at both of them.

"Fine," they both answered sitting at the closest open table.

Luke came over just as they sat down with a plate of chili fries and three milk shakes. The three started eating and slowly easing their way into conversation.

After they had talked for a while, Jess and Lane seemed to come to some kind of silent agreement. Partially because they had discovered a few common interests, but more importantly they both truly cared about their mutual best friend, Rory.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the fourth of July, it seemed the entire town had taken the day off and was at the lake. There was a large open-aired tent where the town's folk could put their favorite summer treats they brought to share, including Miss Patty's fabulous punch. It was one giant potluck barbeque like only Stars Hollow could put together. Taylor was in the center of the tent directing where the food should be put and at what temperature it needed to be kept; he was a professional grocer after all. Near the food was a fleet of grills all in top working shape. The people of the town spread out around the lake: some had practically brought their living room furniture, while others had lawn or camping furniture, and a majority just had a blanket or towel of some sort.

Stars Hollow newest foursome had an addition member on this holiday. Lorelai and Luke were relaxing on their blanket in basically the same place they were two and a half weeks ago, while Jess, Rory, and Lane were getting a snack from the tented area.

When they came back Rory asked, "Mom can we go out in one the boats?"

Lorelai looked up from the magazine she was flipping through, "Are you sure?" a little surprised by the request.

"Do any of you even know how to row?" Luke interjected.

A collective "No" arose from the group. "But how hard could it be?" Jess questioned.

"If you want to try it go ahead," Lorelai gave permission to the bright-eyed group while sinking back into the blanket.

And with that the kids were off to try their hand at boat orienteering leaving the adults the their respective reading material. After about twenty minutes Lorelai was finished her magazine. "Do you want to trade?"

Luke looked up from his book. "What?"

"I finished my magazine, and I'm bored now. So I thought we could trade!" Lorelai explained her theory.

"But I'm not finished with the book, and I truly doubt I would have any interesting your magazine," Luke reasoned.

"So you already know the ten best ways to turn a woman on!" Lorelai stated.

"What?" Luke coughed out unable to believe what she had just asked him.

"Cosmo has some great tips," Lorelai tried again enjoying watching him squirm, "It helps lots of people."

"I can hold my own," Luke fired back.

Lorelai was taken back by this direct challenge and was actually silenced, if only for a minute. When she looked up to speak she caught him staring at her, not in a creepy I'm going to get you way, but in a, you absolutely mesmerize me kind of way. Lorelai found herself starring back at him with the same intensity realizing for the first time that his eyes were amazing shade of blue-gray. After another moment they both seemed to lean in at the same time.

"Lorelai! Luke!" Lane yelled running up from the dock interrupting whatever was going to happen next, "Jess got hurt."

Before she could say anything else or even explain where he was or what had happened Luke was running in the direction she had came from.

"How's he going to know where to go?" Lane asked Lorelai as they headed back to the scene of the injury.

"He's pretty fast and he knows this lake quite well. I wouldn't worry about it," Lorelai tried explaining while taking Lane's hand to calm the poor girl. When Lorelai and Lane arrived she saw Luke sitting on the ground next to Jess checking his facial injury while Rory was close by hugging herself trying not to cry.

"Mom," Rory ran to Lorelai when she saw her coming up, and she didn't let her go as they walked closer to the victim.

After Luke was sure Jess was going to be all right; he asked, "How did this happen?" Jess remained silent. "Jess?" Luke tried again this time using his no bullshit voice.

"You wouldn't believe it anyway," Jess started

"Try me, tough guy," Luke countered.

"A swan," Jess answered truthfully.

"Excuse me?" Luke asked thinking he hadn't heard right.

"I was attacked by a swan. Okay, you happy? A stupid swan," Jess started to rant.

"Now, how 'bout the real story?" Luke tried again finding this story a little unbelievable. He was a kid once and had taken many the stupid dare.

"That is the real story. We were hangs out by Larson's Dock putting the boat back. I was just walking by and the thing came out of nowhere and bam – beaked me right in the eye," Jess continued.

"It beaked you?" Luke asked still trying to understand just what had happened.

"You still don't believe me," Jess replied looking his uncle in the face.

"I just never heard anyone use the word beaked as a verb before," Luke tried to make a joke.

"No, no, this isn't funny. That stupid bird attacked me. He could've blinded me. It's a vicious, vicious bird, and . . .fine. Forget it," Jess started ranting again.

"Ok, calmed down," Luke saw Jess really was scared of this vicious bird, "I believe you, and it looks like your going to have a pretty mean black eye, kid."

"Really?"

"Yeah! The swelling will go down in a day or two, and the worst color should be gone in about a week. But for now why don't you guys go get some ice from Taylor and take a break," Luke explained.

With a distraction in place Jess, Rory, and Lane were off to find the ice. Luke and Lorelai walked a littler slow behind the threesome.

"How do you know so much about black eyes?" Lorelai asked; she hadn't even had such an injury.

"I've had a few in my lifetime; it happens," Luke shrugged.

Lorelai accepted his answer, "How do you think the swan got him?"

"It probably acted all peaceful and Bambi-like and then suddenly attacked like the rabbit in Monty Python."

Lorelai started laughing, "Do you think we should go try and find it?"

"And do what?" Luke asked with a confused look on his face.

"I don't know watch it. It's probably quite pretty," Lorelai tried to explain with a straight face. However, laughter got the better of both of them until they saw the kids returning with the ice for Jess's eye.

The kids sat on the blanket talking for a while before the conversation returned to Jess's injury. They started comparing greatest injures. Rory and Lane only had a few scraps, bruises, and paper cuts between them. Jess had a busted lip and few scraps and bruises of his own. Lorelai, who had been listening to their conversation on and off, as she played solitaire with some cards she brought, decided to join. She had a small scar on her knee, a couple of burns on her finger from a misadventure with the toast, and her own collection of other minor injuries. "What about you, Luke?"

"What?" Luke asked; he hadn't been paying attention to their conversation at all.

"Have you had any spectacular injuries?"

"Three black eyes, two broken noses, a broken arm, and something else I know I'm forgetting," Luke shrugged off.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!" Lorelai announce dramatically.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the afternoon and the beginning part of the evening went without incident except when Kirk attempted a somersault off the dock, but his part of his shorts stayed. Not a sight anyone wanted to see. Other than that the food was terrific and many of the adults were starting to get a good buzz from the punch. Taylor gave his yearly safety speech about the fireworks on his bullhorn and the town folks let out a collective groan. Then most settled back down, while Taylor, the mayor, the fire chief, the police chief, the one paramedic with a valid license, and Kirk went to set off the fireworks. No was quite sure what the better show was: the argument before anything got lit or the entire collection of sparklers going off in two minutes. It was the same every year.

Disclaimer and credit where credit is due: As many of you could tell I borrowed some dialogue from Swan Song (3.14) written by Daniel Palladio, but it was just so funny I could resist.

Thanks for the reviews peoples; you guys are so nice.

Sorry it took me awhile to finish this chapter; I've had four tests this week and I'm basically running on Starbuck's frappuccinos. Anyway, this is probably going to be a more common length between updates.

Tunes: I chose this song and also the named the chapter after: "Fireworks" by Plain White T's. This band is terrific.

Enjoy and please, pretty please review!