Chapter 4: Skin
Despite Lorelai's pleas and reassurances, Rory had been adamant that she would not go to the prom with Dean, vowing to spare him the shame of going with his hairless girlfriend. Plus, Rory seemed certain that not everyone in the Chilton student body would be supportive. In going to school - because she had to go - Paris, Madeline and Louise had appeared understanding; indeed, Rory's condition had shaken the sharp-tongued Paris in a way neither Gilmore had seen before.
All the same, Lorelai worked behind-the-scenes to ensure that Rory got this high school experience. Lorelai had never gone to her own prom, though that had been due to a very different set of extenuating circumstances. She didn't want that to also befall her daughter, though admittedly, pregnancy now seemed like a lame excuse to skip out on a pretty dress, when compared to breast cancer. So, Lorelai schemed, working late some nights at her sewing machine. Slipping Dean a $20 bill in the town square along with some printed directions to Chilton. And asking one more, small request from Luke...
It was quarter to seven, and Rory was sitting on the living room couch in a fancy party dress, still a little confused. It seemed like a waste to be attending some high-society gala for her grandparents on a Friday night, in lieu of their traditional weekly dinner. All the more strange because her mother had suggested it, forgoing even a token attempt to try and bunt out of anything having to do with her parents, as she usually did. But maybe Lorelai was trying to distract her - after all, the Chilton prom was tonight.
All at once, there was a knock at the door, and Lorelai rushed to answer it. Curious, Rory followed.
She gaped when she saw who was on the other side. There was Dean... and Luke!... dressed in tuxedos, complete with white gloves. Dean was holding a pair of tickets in one hand, and a rose in the other. Both wore baseball caps, Luke his signature blue one.
"Dean? Luke? What are you doing here?" Rory gawked.
"I'm your prom date for tonight," Dean beamed. "And Luke here's the driver." He jerked a thumb in Luke's direction, even as Luke scowled, though it was clearly forced.
Rory whirled on her mother. "There is no gala at the country club, is there? You tricked me!" Lorelai grinned impishly in answer.
"There's something else," Luke turned the girls' attention back to them. Then he and Dean locked eyes, slowly counting down.
The caps came off, and Rory's hands flew to her mouth. In the next instant, she and her mother burst into shocked tears, even as Rory tentatively reached out a finger to lightly touch. For this morning, where Dean's hair had been, where Luke's hair had been... softly she touched just... skin.
Luke smiled kindly down at the angelic girl whom he loved as a daughter. "My truck's at the curb. Not a limo, exactly, but..."
The wind got knocked out of him as Rory threw her arms around him, and also kissed Dean. "Let's go!"
And so Rory and Dean went dancing, around and around without any cares, and Rory's very first true love held her close.
And for a moment... she wasn't scared.