"Okay."
"I'm starving."
"You're always starving."
"I know."
"And you stay thin."
"I'm not that thin."
"Whatever."Luke teases.
"Oh so hey, did you hear what they're making?"
"Who's they?" He asks.
"I don't know, whoever the people are that make things."
"Okay, what are these people making?"
"Some kind of phone you can carry around with you."
"Huh?"
"Yeah, I saw some rich lady at the Inn using one, they called it a cell phone or something, it looked big, but really cool."
"New Technology is a waste of time."
"What!? Are you crazy, next thing you know you'll tell me you've never used a computer before."
He just looks at her.
"Oh come on!"
"Never!"
"Really?"
"Yes. Let it go."
"Sorry. Just hard to believe."
"Why is that?"
"I don't know."
"I hate technology."
"Why?"
"It's going to screw us all over one day."
"Aw, I don't think so, it seems interesting."
"Interesting?"
"Yes."
"Okay, whatever you say."
"Give it a chance."
"You're not going to start breaking into a song and dance now are you?"
"Maybe."
"Let me know, I'll leave."
"Up to you."
"You're lucky I'm hungry."
"Yeah right."
Meanwhile at the hardware store, Rory is helping William with customers.
"Mr. Danes, look! Here comes somebody."
"Alright pipsqueak, you ready?"
"Yeah!"
When the man comes in, Rory walks over to him.
"Hi, can I help you find anything?"
"You're a little young to be working here."
"I'm helping out ."
"That's nice. I don't need help."
"Let her help Taylor."William says.
"I just don't see how a three year old can help and this is against the law having children help."
"She is five."
Taylor gets a smug look on his face.
"Well la de da."
"You always have to be so obnoxious Taylor?"
"I would like to see your working papers." He says to the little girl.
"What's a working paper?"
"You're teaching her to back talk too I see Will."
He rolls his eyes and backs Rory up a bit. "Go knit a sweater Taylor, you don't need anything from my store. Anything you try to build, paint or fix is going to fall down or chip apart."
"That is not true."
"It is and we both know it is."
"I need lightbulbs."
"Mhm."
"I do."
"Get one for your head too."
Taylor sees a box, and grabs it.
"You know, you may want to start treating your customers with a little more respect if you plan to remain open."
"My customers are just fine."
He pays and leaves in a huff. Rory scrunches up her nose and spins around.
"That old man has an attitude problem."
Will laughs. "He sure does."
"I don't like him."
"Eh. That's just Mr. Dosey
"He is mean."
Will laughs.
"You want to help count screw drivers?"
"Yeah!"
"Alright munchkin, lets go."
They head over to the extra box of screwdrivers.
"What do we do with them?"
"We can count how many we stock the shelf with."
"Huh?"
"Just means how many we hang up and how many we keep in the storage room."
"Can I see the storage room?"
"Sure."
He leads her back in the room.
Back at the restaurant...
"How's your pizza?"
"Good. Your salad?"Lorelai asks.
"Good."
"I can't believe you got salad."
"I like salad."
"Eat a slice of pizza."
"Nah, I'm good."
"Oh come on, why not?"
"Not in the mood, don't like pizza that much."
"How can you not like pizza? That's like...not liking puppies."
"You eat puppies often?" He jokes.
"Ha ha."
"Kidding. I just don't like it."
"I barely eat anything green"
"I've noticed."
"Unless it's in candy form."
Luke shakes his head.
"Of course."
"Been that way for five years."
"You don't like anything else?"
"Sure..I mean, I do but...you learn to live on certain things after a while and now I love certain things and forgot about what other, more expensive foods taste like."
"Got it. you got a lot of secrets Gilmore."
"I do."
"Feel free to share any time."
"You got some secrets too Danes?"
"I do." He says.
"You tell me yours, I'll tell you mine."
"Ha, maybe one day." She promises.
She smiles at him and he smiles back.
"Deal."
They finish their lunch and then head back to the store. Rory tells them about how much fun she had, helping count and stock things. Lorelai thanks William and they head home.
Luke and Lorelai hang out a few times every week and become closer, telling each other things and opening up more to one another. They are still friends and nothing else.
It's about 2 months later, Rory is at school, Lorelai has the day off work and so does Luke, they are hanging out at his house, in his room, watching a movie.
"So, does Rory like school?"
"She does, now shhh..."
'I asked a question."
"And we are watching a movie."
"So?"
"So, we are watching a movie."
"Then turn it off."
"Why?"
"I don't know...I don't say this often, but to talk."
She laughs. "Fine."
She pauses the movie and then looks at him.
"Talk."
"How's your week?"
"Good."
"That's good."
She nods.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, Chris called."
"Rory's dad?"
'Yeah."
"What did he want?"
"To say that he may try to come for Christmas."
"Wow."
"I know. I didn't tell Rory. Don't want to get her hopes up."
"That girl deserves more."
Lorelai sighs. "I give her what he doesn't."
"At least she has you." Luke says and stares at her.
She smiles.
Luke is still staring when Lorelai becomes a bit uncomfortable.
"What? Do I have something in my teeth?"
"No, its just...I..."
"Whjat?"
"I have been wanting to..." He leans in and kisses her sweetly.
Lorelai is shocked, but doesn't pull away.
She leans into him, putting a hand behind his neck and kisses back.
They continue kissing for a few minutes, and then Lorelai is the first one to pull away.
"What was that?"
"A kiss." He says dumbly.
"I know...but.."
He rubs his hands nervously on his legs and then stands.
"Maybe I should..you should...I uh..."
"What is it Luke?"
"I've been wanting to kiss you since I met you." He blurts out.
"What?"
He nods.
"Really?"
He just nods again, paces a little and sits back down next to her.
"Do you think you and I..you would..uh...do you..would you...want to go out on a date with me some time?" He finally gets enough courage to ask.
She smiles at his nervousness.
"I would love to."
"Yeah?"
"Sure. Why not?"
"But, you said you couldn't date because of Rory."
"Only to guys I don't like."
He laughs. "So, really?"
"I said yes, right?"