Helping hand chapter 2

I glanced around the empty diner, smiling slightly.

"Hey, Uncle Luke?" I called out, and he appeared like lightning from the back room, his face set in a glare.

"How many times have I told you not to call me that?" he fumed.

"Well, I just can't help it, I feel so close to you," I grinned, wiping away an imaginary tear, and he rolled his eyes.

"Ahh, jeez. What do you need?"

"I cherish family so much."

"Jess," he said warningly, and I shrugged.

"Well, Lorelai left this afternoon to go out of town."

"Yeah, some inn conference. She mentioned that. Since when do you care about Lorelai's whereabouts?"

"I don't really. There's a certain request, though, for some delivered food tonight."

"Oh, Rory needs food?" he asked, and I nodded.

"Did she mention what she wants?"

"Burgers, fries, pie," I recited, already reaching out to pack the last few slices of pie from the display case into a paper box.

"You going to eat there? Maybe she can squeeze in a few minutes of tutoring after supper," Luke suggested, and I grinned, hoping it wasn't too wolfish.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

"I'll pack 2 of everything then," he nodded, and I raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"We're talking about Rory."

"I am not promoting unhealthy eating. She will get a normal-sized portion, not a Lorelai portion. If that girl is going to kill her arteries, at least let it be in small increments!" he raged, disappearing into the back room to start the food, and I grinned. There would be at least 4 portions to lug over, I knew. He was a softie.

"Having a bit of a fun night?" Kirk asked, and I rolled my eyes, pulling a paperback out of my back pocket, ignoring him.

"What'll you two be doing?" he continued, and I looked at him over the top of my book.

"Kirk, I'm busy."

"I'd just like to know if you two will be viewing any motion pictures. As you know, I am an employee of the Stars Hollow Video Rental Club, and am the host of the Black White and Read theatre's movie nights. I consider myself a movie aficionado, if you will."

"Huh."

"Yes, it's a bit overwhelming; I understand that you can't formulate a response quite yet."

"This town has a Video Rental Club?" I finally asked, not even bothering to mask my amusement. This was Kirk, after all.

"Well, technically, I'm the only member."

"Ahh," I nodded, "Makes more sense now."

"I foresee some great participation though. Many folks around town have stated their interest in joining."

"I'm sure."

"So…" he said, and I sighed, tucking my book back into my pocket, sensing that I wouldn't be able to read until he left.

"So what, Kirk?"

"So, would you like to join the Video Rental Club? Or perhaps reserve some seats for the next Black, White and Read movie night?"

"No, Kirk."

"Why not? They're a blast!"

I looked at him skeptically, shaking my head silently, and he flailed his hands in what he probably deemed as excitement, but was simply creepy.

"Honestly- fun for the whole family! We're showing some true classics in the next few weeks, you'd really enjoy it."

"Leave now and I'll give you a free danish tomorrow morning."

"Bye!" he muttered, hurriedly grabbing his bag, filled with god knows what, and exiting the diner. I breathed a sigh of relief, disappearing upstairs to take a few more things.

I surveyed my bookshelf, picking out a Beat anthology I thought she'd like, as well as the history of punk book that she'd commented on. I come bearing gifts, I thought with a smile, tucking them into a Luke's Diner bag that was crumpled on the counter. I shrugged on my jacket, going back downstairs to see Luke setting two full containers on the counter.

"Food's ready," he said, and I nodded, tucking them into the bag beside the two books for easier carrying.

"Going to leave now?" he asked, and I nodded once more, scanning the diner for a moment.

"No one left, I'll probably just close early."

"Wise choice," I replied, taking the bag and heading towards the door.

"Jess!" he barked, and I turned around in alarm.

"What?"

"When will you be home?"

"Later."

"Later when?"

"Later later," I responded in annoyance, opening the door and sliding through it, Luke still standing with his arms crossed over his chest, probably steaming under his baseball cap.

"No later than eleven or I'll come over there and drag you home myself!" he shouted, and I smiled, setting off down the quiet streets of Stars Hollow. By eleven, he'd be fast asleep.

After a few minutes of brisk walking, I was in front of her house, standing on the porch. I knocked, startled when the door swung open within a matter of seconds.

"Eager?" I grinned, and she rolled her eyes.

"No, hungry. Come on, slowpoke," she replied, grabbing the bag from me and hurrying into the kitchen. I paused for a moment, admiring once more. Even with her hair pulled back in a sloppy bun, wearing sweatpants and a long sleeved shirt, she looked radiant.

A small part of me was hoping it wasn't just the food she was so excited to see.

I shook the thought out of my head, following her into the kitchen, taking my coat off along the way and tossing it on the couch.

"You're eating with me?" she asked in shock, and I put on a face of mock hurt.

"Well, not anymore!"

"No, it's okay," she backtracked, "I was just surprised. I thought you'd have to rush back to the diner."

"Luke's closing early. No one left there, so no reason to stay open an extra hour for no customers."

"Even Kirk left already?"

"I may have bribed him with pastries."

"Smart man," she grinned, taking two plates from the cupboard and handing one to me.

We dished the food onto plates, only the sound of our chewing hanging in the air for a few minutes.

"Is it really hard to do things with that?" I asked, pointing to her cast, and she shrugged.

"You get used to it."

"Meaning, your mom helps you non-stop," I smiled, and she laughed quietly.

"Yeah, I suppose you could say that."

"How's the food?" I asked, swirling a fry in salt-and-pepper dip, as she continued her burger with enthusiasm, mumbling something incomprehensible.

"I'll take that as positive?"

She nodded, swallowing and finally answering.

"Really good. Thanks."

We finished up our meals, before her eyes settled on the pie, opening the box excitedly.

"Apple AND pecan? Score!" she grinned, placing the plates from our burgers and fries in the sink and getting two smaller ones for the pie.

"Preference?" she asked, and I shook my head.

"I'm actually pretty full," I smiled, knowing she wanted both pieces.

"Sure?"

"Positive."

"I don't want to eat it if you're going to want it later."

"I really don't want it, I swear."

She paused for a moment, contemplating, before sliding both pieces onto her plate with a childlike beam.

"You're the best."

She stood for a moment, fork poised over the pie, looking at me.

"What?" I asked, and she smiled.

"Nothing goes better with pie than movies."

"No?"

"It's a proven fact."

"Well, as long as there's concrete evidence," I smiled, trying to hide the amusement in my voice. I hoped I was a bit slyer than she was being now.

"Many years has been spent unraveling the pie-movie experience, and it has been decided that they are both crucial for a perfect pie and movie experience."

"Well, lets stop talking and start picking movies, then."

"You're not busy?"

"Well, I'm going to have to tell my hoodlum friends they can stop chewing gum for tonight, we don't need the wrappers for Doose's Market Destruction until tomorrow night."

"I'll get the phone if you need it," she giggled.

"Probably need to call Luke's flannel supplier, tell him not to make the delivery until later on."

"Jess," she laughed, plopping down on the couch after setting the plate on the coffee table.

"Reschedule my seminar on Delinquent Behavior 101," I said with a dramatic sigh.

"Those poor boys will never have a role model now," she said sadly, and I nodded.

"Well, I guess they'll just have to wait. Iron their polo shirts and crease their khakis, waiting for the day where they can give it all up for an obscene, filthy Metallica t-shirt."

"I hate that shirt," she replied, wrinkling her button nose in disgust and I laughed.

"Be quiet and pick a movie, if you're going to make me miss all these important commitments."

"Yes, sir," she grinned, standing up to rifle through their collection.

Seems like I had taken temporary precedence over pie. Pie, meet Jess. Your new competition, I thought with a chuckle.