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Chapter 15
Rory woke up early the next morning. She glanced across at April who was still asleep on the trundle bed. She suddenly smelt lovely smells coming through from the kitchen. She got up quietly so that she didn't wake April and opened the door, entering the kitchen. She found Luke making pancakes on the cooker. "Morning." She said.
"Oh. Morning." He said. "I didn't wake you, did I?" He asked worried.
"Oh no, I woke up early." Rory assured him.
He nodded. He watched as she grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. "Are you ok?" He asked. He saw her look up confused. "You know, after what happened yesterday." He said.
Rory glanced down at her coffee and then back up at him. "I wasn't the one that those guys scared..." She said quietly.
"It wasn't your fault." Luke said.
Rory sighed. "I feel like..." She started.
"It wasn't your fault." He repeated firmly, keeping her gaze. "Ok?" He said.
Rory gave him a small smile. "Ok." She said quietly.
"I think you should move." He suddenly said.
"What?" Rory's head shot up.
"Apartments." He clarified. "I think you should move apartments."
Rory frowned. "Why?"
"Do I really need to answer that?" Luke said surprised. "It's not safe."
"I've been staying there for months and Paris has been staying there for longer than that and there's only been one incident." Rory said stubbornly. "It was scary, yeah, and I'm sorry April got caught up in it but one event like that shouldn't mean I should move. If I move, they win."
"Rory..." Luke sighed.
"No! I don't need to move! It's fine. And it's not like I'm living there by myself. And Paris knows krav maga!" Rory said.
"It's not safe. I don't like the idea of you living there anymore." Luke tried to say.
"I don't care!" Rory said angrily. "It's not your place to tell me what to do. I know you're about to marry mom but that doesn't give you the right to dictate my life. You're not my dad!"
Luke was stunned by her outburst. He took a deep breath. "No. I'm not your dad. But I'm still allowed to care." He said gruffly.
"Well stop caring!" Rory exclaimed. "I'm staying. End of!"
They heard movement in the hallway and they saw Tristan hovering awkwardly by the doorway.
"Can you believe this? He wants me to move because of one incident! One incident! It's stupid!" Rory exclaimed.
"He kind of has a point..." Tristan said hesitantly.
"What?" Rory narrowed her eyes.
"It's not safe. How do you know it won't happen again?" Tristan said cautiously.
"Because it's really unlikely things happen twice!" Rory exclaimed. "If I move, they win. I won't let them win!" She said. "And when did you two start agreeing on things anyway?" She carried on angrily.
"Why does that matter?" Tristan said frustrated.
"You're supposed to be on my side!" Rory exclaimed.
"I am! I just don't want my girlfriend getting hurt. You and April were lucky yesterday because I..." He stopped when Rory interrupted him.
"Oh yeah, that's right! I can't do anything myself without my knight in shining armour. I can't handle situations like that alone because I'm just a weak girl!" She said angrily.
"That's not what I was saying and you know it! I'm sorry that I love you and just want you to be safe!" Tristan exclaimed frustrated, not realising what he had said.
"Rory.." Luke tried.
"No. I don't want to hear it! Why do you both suddenly think you know what's best for me? You think just because you're both agreeing on something that I should listen to you? Well just because you happen to agree on something doesn't make me forget how you've treated my boyfriends in the past! You've hated them! You wouldn't even give them a chance. Even Jess! It's not your place! It's neither of your places to tell me where to live. I'm getting out of here." She said angrily pushing past Tristan and then Lorelai on the way outside.
"Ok, what have I missed?" Lorelai asked confused.
Luke sighed. "I brought up her moving apartments.." He said.
Lorelai sighed. "And I'm guessing she didn't take it too well..."
"You could say that." Luke said quietly. "She told me just because I was marrying you doesn't mean I could dictate her life..."
"Oh Luke, she didn't mean it. She's probably still shaken about what's happened." She tried to reassure him.
"Then why won't she move?" Luke exclaimed.
"It's called the Gilmore pride." Lorelai sighed. "She got it from me. And the stubbornness."
"Should I go after her?" Tristan asked.
"I'd leave it a bit. Let her calm down first." Lorelai advised.
Meanwhile, Rory hadn't got very far and was just pacing around outside, kicking tufts of grass up as she did. She slowed down after a moment and started to calm down a bit. As she took a few deep breaths, something caught her eye from inside the garage so she slowly walked towards it. She glanced at Luke's boat and then went towards the item that had caught her eye. She felt her breath hitch in her throat when she realised she was looking at a beautiful bookcase. She ran her hand over the smooth wood and her fingers slowed down as she felt them go over some carved writing. Rory. She felt a presence behind her. "You made this for me?" She asked quietly as she looked around to find Luke standing there awkwardly, his hands in his pockets.
"I figured you'd need another bookcase seeing as you keep acquiring new books. Your room's overflowing with them as it is and when your room gets bigger..." He said.
"Gets bigger?" Rory asked confused.
"Oh..uh.." Luke stammered, realising he'd let the cat out of the bag. "Your mom and I have been speaking. I feel like it's unfair on you to always have to share your room with April when she's here. I'm talking to Tom about expanding the house a bit. Making your room bigger as I thought you might need more room for your books. Hence the bookcase." He said gesturing to the bookcase. "And then April would get her own room as well." He said.
"Oh.." Rory said quietly.
"You can't stop me from caring about you, Rory." Luke said gruffly. "I may not be your dad but I'm going to be your step-father soon and I'm allowed to care. I've cared about you since I first met you and your mom." He said. He sighed. "Look, if you don't want to move, then fine. I won't be happy about it but as you said, it's your choice. I'll just have to live with it." He shrugged. He glanced at her. "I'm sorry." He said gruffly.
Rory glanced up at Luke, confused. "Sorry about what?"
"You were right. It wasn't my place to hate your boyfriends. Fighting with Dean, giving Jess a hard time and making it awkward for Tristan. You were right. It wasn't my place to interfere like I did. So I'm sorry." He said.
Rory sighed. "No, I'm sorry." She said quietly. "I shouldn't have shouted at you like I did. The things I said..." She said glancing at him. "I didn't mean it. Any of it. I was just...well I don't know what I was. I guess what happened yesterday affected me more than I thought it had." She said. She looked up at him. "I'm sorry." She said softly. "And thanks for..." She said gesturing to the bookcase. "And for always thinking about me."
"You don't need to thank me." Luke shrugged it off.
"I do." Rory said softly. "You're the first person my mom's had a relationship with that has actually involved me in decisions and treated me like part of the package. And I'm including my dad in that!" She said. "Max was nice but it was weird. Dad was always just after my mom and Jason, well I never really saw him anyway." She shrugged. She gave him a small smile. "I'm glad you're the one Mom's marrying."
Luke ducked his head embarrassed. "Well...I'm glad too."
"About the apartment..." Rory said.
"We don't need to talk about it again." Luke said.
"I'll think about it." Rory said quietly.
Luke looked at her in surprise. "Ok.."
"I need to talk to Paris. But...I'll think about it." She said.
Luke nodded. "Ok. Good."
"I better head back inside. There's someone else I think I need to apologise to." Rory said.
Luke nodded. "You know, he's not half bad." He said.
Rory smirked. "Wow, praise indeed." She teased.
Luke chuckled. "Yeah ok!" He said.
Rory grinned but then turned serious. "I'm glad you're getting on with him."
"Well he's loved you for years. I know how that feels so I figured I'd give him a break." Luke shrugged.
"He's what?" Rory asked surprised.
"Oh..uh..nothing." Luke said, kicking himself for revealing something he shouldn't have.
Rory smirked slightly. "Ok..." She said. "I'm going to head back in."
Luke nodded and watched her disappear. Busted! He thought.
Rory found Tristan sat on the couch so she hesitantly went to join him. "Hey.." She said.
"Calmed down yet?" Tristan asked.
Rory sighed. "I'm sorry.." She said sincerely.
Tristan sighed. "The thought of me not being there and something like that happening again. It kills me, Rory. I love you and I just want you to be safe."
Rory smiled at him. "So my ears didn't deceive me before..." She said.
"What?" Tristan asked confused.
"I seem to remember somewhere between my insane shouting earlier, my boyfriend may have told me he loved me." She said softly.
Tristan ducked his head a bit. "I've loved you ever since I met you." He admitted.
Rory looked at him. "Tristan?" She said softly.
"What?" He asked feeling his cheeks go red and not bringing himself to be able to look at her. He'd never told a girl he loved them before. He wasn't sure what to expect.
"Look at me." She said. "Please."
Tristan slowly brought his gaze up to Rory. "What?" He asked.
Rory smiled and leant forward to kiss him. "I love you too." She said softly. "I need to talk to Paris but I told Luke I'll think about moving."
Tristan relaxed his body, relieved. "Good." He said softly.
Rory smiled and snuggled up to him. "So how do you feel going on a date one day this week?" She asked.
"A date?" Tristan smirked.
"Yeah, well we haven't really had an official first date yet and we've been going out for about a month." Rory smiled turning to him. "What do you think?"
"I think...I would very much like to take you out on a date." Tristan smiled.
Rory grinned. "I can't wait. We can recreate that Lady and the Tramp moment with the meatball and I can actually make sure I bring back a meatball for my mom this time."
Tristan chuckled. "It's a good thing I love you, you crazy girl." He smirked.
Rory grinned. "Well I am very lovable." She joked.
Tristan chuckled and leant in to kiss her again.
"Ok, I swear I heard shouting earlier and now I'm interrupting something in here. How long have I been asleep?" April asked sleepily as she appeared in the living room, still in her pyjamas.
Rory laughed. "Oh so much!" She said. "Come join us." She smiled patting the seat next to her.
Hope you liked it! :) I know I keep repeating this but your support really does mean so much for me so please keep those reviews coming so I can see what you think! They really do motivate me so thank you! :)
