Here's another chapter for a treat! :)
Chapter 3
"So how likely is it that they will let us out of next Friday's dinner?" Rory asked as the three of them stood outside the Gilmore Mansion.
"Can pigs fly?" Hannah joked.
"Impossible then." Rory said.
"I'll try but if they say no, we'll have your party on the Saturday ok?" Lorelai said.
Rory and Hannah nodded and then rang the doorbell. The maid let them in. They went into the living room for drinks and then went to the dining room for dinner.
"So Rory, I hear you enjoyed your golfing day with your grandfather?" Emily smiled, looking pointedly at Lorelai.
"Yeh it was fun." Rory smiled politely. "Would have been more fun if Hannah had come."
Hannah gave her a sister a small smile and then was pleased to see the uncomfortable look on their Grandma's face. "It's cool. I'm learning another sport." She grinned.
"What sport is that?" Richard asked.
"Baseball." Hannah said.
"Danger Will Robinson! Abort, abort!" Lorelai warned.
"Baseball? You know how to play baseball?" Emily asked shocked.
"Nope, that's why I'm learning." Hannah joked.
"Hannah.." Lorelai gave her a look.
"Who do you know who plays baseball then?" Emily asked.
"Luke." Hannah said.
"Luke? Who's Luke?" Emily asked. "Your boyfriend?"
Hannah stifled a laugh and she looked across at her mom who was trying to smother her smirk as well. Even Rory was smiling. "No, Grandma. That would be kind of wrong." She smirked. "He's my boss."
"Your boss? You have a job?" Richard asked.
"Yeh. At Luke's. We eat there practically everyday." Hannah said.
"A restaurant?" Emily asked.
"Nope. A diner." Hannah said.
Lorelai cringed and waited for it.
"You work in a diner?" Emily asked aghast. "That's not hygienic! Lorelai, how could you let her work in a filthy diner?" She exclaimed.
Lorelai sighed. "She wanted to work there, mom."
"It's not filthy. It's great. Luke cooks great food and the town love it." Hannah said loyally.
"Even so, that's not really a proper job." Richard said trying to calm everyone down.
Hannah frowned. "It is to me."
"Hannah, darling, you go to Chilton now. You don't need to work at a diner." Emily said.
"Well it's not up to you." Hannah said annoyed.
"Hannah!" Emily said shocked.
"Well it's not! And you don't even know Luke! It's a great place and I like working with Luke." Hannah said fiercely loyal.
The rest of the dinner was eaten in silence awkwardly. The subject of the next dinner didn't even come up as Lorelai knew the answer would be no after today. Soon it was time to leave and Hannah left without saying goodbye.
"Really Lorelai, you need to teach that daughter of yours some manners." Emily scolded.
"I'm sorry mom but I think she has a right to be angry." Lorelai said.
"Why? Just because of that job of hers. I only spoke the truth." Emily said.
"Yeh and also insulted her choice in working there and insulted Luke's. Hannah loves working there and she gets very loyal. If you tried to know her at all, you'd know that." Lorelai said.
"Lorelai!" Emily exclaimed.
"We have to go. Bye mom. Bye dad." She said.
"Bye." Rory said awkwardly and followed her mom out.
On Monday at school, Hannah and Rory started getting weird looks. They had no idea why.
"What's going on?" Rory said.
"No idea." Hannah said. She then spotted Tristan coming towards them. "And the day just keeps getting better..." She muttered.
"Happy birthday." He smirked.
"It's not our birthday." Rory said annoyed.
"No but it will be on Friday the 8th of October..." He started to read off an invitation.
"What is that?" Hannah said snatching it off him. She read it. "Oh my god..." She said showing it to Rory. "I'm going to kill her! There's no way I'm going to one of their stupid parties!" She said annoyed and stormed off.
"So I'm guessing you didn't know..." Tristan said.
"Well worked out Sherlock." Rory said.
"She's not happy about it." Tristan remarked.
Rory shot him a look. "What do you want Tristan?"
"I just thought she'd want a party." He said.
"Not one that's held by our grandparents." Rory said.
"Why?" He asked genuinely interested.
Rory sighed. "They don't particularly treat her that great. Well our Grandma anyway. She reminds them of our mom." She said, not even knowing why she was telling Tristan this.
"So I'm guessing your mom doesn't have the best relationship with them then?" He said.
"Are you kidding?" Rory said. "Mom moved out when she had us. She was only 16. Hannah's a lot like mom and I guess she reminds them of her."
"Wow." Tristan said, surprised by the story.
Rory shot him a look. "Just do me a favour. If you really do like Hannah, although you have a funny way of showing it, don't joke about this party. This is like her worst nightmare. If you're going just to joke, don't." She said and then she shut her locker and walked off.
Tristan stood there thinking.
At 4:03am on Friday, Lorelai went to Hannah's room. "Come on, birthday girl." She whispered.
"Hey.." Hannah smiled. She got out of her bed and followed her mom down to Rory's room. This had been a tradition since they were born.
They all snuggled up on Rory's bed.
"I can't believe you two have grown so much. I still remember all those years ago. 16 years. I was lying in hospital." She smiled.
"In labour..." Rory said.
"Cussing like a sailor." Hannah smirked.
"That's right!" Lorelai grinned. "Hannah came first. I remember when her head came out."
"Ok. Night." Hannah said closing her eyes.
"And then Rory..." Lorelai grinned.
"Yeh I'm going back to sleep as well." Rory said closing her eyes.
The next morning, Hannah and Rory went into the diner with Lane.
"I still don't get why you have to go to school on your birthday!" Lane said.
"Me too!" Hannah said.
"We've got a Latin test. That's why." Rory said.
"Urghh more tests..." Hannah groaned.
They sat at the counter. Luke came over to them. "Wrong seats." He said.
"Since when were there right seats?" Hannah asked.
"Since the stupid cake I baked for you and the stupid balloons I blew up for you are at that table over there." He said pointing to a table.
"Aw you blew up balloons for us?" Rory smiled.
"Yep." He said gruffly.
"Aw Luke, you big softy!" Hannah grinned.
"3 seconds and they're gone." He said.
"We're going." Rory said.
Hannah grinned and followed her. They started eating the cake and then left for school shortly after, dreading the evening.
That evening was a bad as they thought. Hannah watched as Emily showed Rory off like a prized possession. She could see how awkward Rory was as well and felt for her sister. She wandered out into the foyer just as Tristan came in. "Great.." She muttered.
"Hey.." He said. "Coming to welcome me?" He smirked.
"You wish." She snorted. "I need to go."
"No wait. Please." He said.
Hannah turned back surprised by the genuine tone of his voice. "What?"
"I got you something." Tristan said handing her a small bag. "Birthday present."
"You got me a birthday present?" She said surprised.
"Well it's sort of mandatory to bring presents for a birthday party." He said.
"Oh, so an obligation then." Hannah said.
"Yeh. And no. I wanted you to have this. I wanted to get you something." He said.
Hannah looked inside the bag and was shocked. She took out a beautiful silver necklace. "Tristan..." She said quietly.
"I thought it would suit you." He shrugged.
Hannah gave him a small smile. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." He said.
Suddenly Hannah saw Rory rush past them and up the stairs. "Sorry I should go after her..." She said.
"It's fine. Go." He said and he watched her run upstairs after Rory.
She found her in their mom's old room. "What's going on?" She asked.
"I just shouted at Grandma." Rory muttered.
"What?" Hannah said surprised.
"I just shouted at Grandma. She wanted me to make a speech. I said I didn't want to and she went on about how I was the hostess and how it was my duty to make a speech. I just snapped. I shouted at her about how it wasn't just my party, how it was yours as well but that she didn't seem to take any notice of you and then I told her to do a speech as it's her party, her guests." Rory said. "Urghh, I've never shouted at her before." She groaned putting her head in her hands.
"Wow.." Hannah said stunned. "You know I didn't care about being left out..." She said.
"Yeh keep telling yourself that." Rory said.
"What? I don't care." She protested.
"Han, I would care." Rory said. "I know it hurts you."
Hannah sighed. She shrugged. "I've got mom and you. That's all the family I need."
Later that evening, they said goodbye and Rory tried to apologise for her outburst but Emily wouldn't listen. "We're having a party tomorrow at home. You and Grandpa should come." Rory suggested hopefully.
"Well that's very sweet of you but I'm afraid your grandfather and I have plans." She said sweetly.
"Oh. Ok." Rory said disappointed.
Hannah frowned. "What plans?"
"Just plans." Emily said.
"Plans that you couldn't change so you could come to your granddaughters' birthday party?" Hannah said annoyed. "Look I know you hate me but Rory invited you. You like Rory. You think she's perfect. She wants you to come! So just come!" Hannah exclaimed. "Come on, let's go." She said and her and Rory left.
Emily stood there stunned. "She thinks I hate her?"
"Well have you given her any reason not to think that?" Lorelai said.
"What's that meant to mean?" Emily said.
"Do you take any interest in Hannah at all? Do you ask her questions about her life or school?" Lorelai pointed out.
"I ask about school!" Emily said.
"No, you ask Rory about school." Lorelai corrected her. "Just admit it, she reminds you of me, doesn't she?"
"She's just like you were at that age." Emily said.
"You couldn't be more wrong and if you took the time to know her, you'd realise that. She's just as smart as Rory, she's kind, she's funny. It hurts her everytime you ignore her, mom. I see it. Hannah would deny it but I know." Lorelai said. "Now I have to go. Bye mom." She said and then left.
The next evening was in full swing and Rory and Hannah were opening presents. They opened laptops from their mom. They both launched themselves at her, thanking her. Sookie then brought out the cake and everyone sang to them. Lorelai then stood up. "I'd just like to say something. Hannah and Rory are the two most important people in my life. They're the reason my life is so great and so happy. They're the reason I get up every morning. So please, everyone, raise your glasses and let's get this party started!" She smiled.
Everyone cheered and Rory and Hannah hugged their mom. Hannah then stopped when she saw who had entered. "Rory, they came." Hannah said.
Rory turned round. "Grandma, Grandpa!" She smiled and went to hug them.
Hannah felt her mom put her hand on her shoulder. "Mom, I'm fine." Hannah said. She then saw Luke coming in. "Oh hey look! Luke made it!" She smiled.
Lorelai watched Hannah go over and greet Luke and smiled. At least Hannah could count on someone.
Later that evening, Rory was talking to her grandparents when Emily spotted Hannah chatting and laughing with a scruffy looking man wearing flannel and a baseball cap. "Rory, who's your sister with?" She asked.
Rory looked over and smiled. "That's Luke." She said.
"Luke? The diner man?" Emily said.
"Yep!" Rory smiled.
Suddenly Hannah started jumping up and down. "Oh my god, oh my god!" She exclaimed. "You've got to be kidding me! Mom, look what Luke got me!" Hannah called.
Emily watched Lorelai walk over to them and she saw her smile at the man.
"I can't believe you got these! They were sold out!" Hannah exclaimed.
"I managed to find a couple." He smiled.
"Oh my god, thank you!" Hannah beamed and gave Luke a hug, which he returned awkwardly.
Hannah then ran over to Rory. "Look!" She said showing her the tickets.
"Wow, Black Eyed Peas!" Rory said.
"Who are they?" Emily asked.
"Hannah's favourite band." Rory smiled. "Aw Luke's so sweet."
"He said he had something for you too but he didn't want to interrupt you." Hannah smiled.
"I'll catch him later." Rory said. "Looks like mom's trying to get him to make some more coffee." She grinned.
Hannah laughed and Emily followed their gaze and Lorelai jumped around the diner man like an excited puppy. He said something to her and she suddenly grinned. She could have sworn there was a spark between them.
Later that evening, most of the guests had left apart from Sookie and Luke who had stayed behind to help clear up. Lorelai went into the kitchen to help Luke. "Hey." She smiled.
"I can't believe you had a food fight." He grumbled wiping some cake off the counter.
Lorelai grinned. "It's not a party without a food fight!"
Luke rolled his eyes.
Lorelai smiled at her. "It was sweet of you for getting Hannah those tickets." She said.
"It was no big deal. She mentioned the concert a couple weeks ago." He said.
"How did you get them?" Lorelai asked.
"What?"
"The tickets." She said.
"I just found some online." He said.
Lorelai shook her head. "It was well know that the concert sold out within hours." She said. "So how?"
Luke sighed. "I know a man in that business so I asked for a favour." He admitted. "It's no big deal."
Lorelai smiled. "It is to Hannah." She said. "Thank you." She said sincerely. "And Rory loves her book."
"I thought Jane Austen was a safe bet." He said.
Lorelai laughed. "Yeh." She said.
Luke smiled and for a minute they locked eyes but suddenly Sookie came in. "We've pretty much finished the living room. Need any help in here?" She asked oblivious.
"Uh..um...yeh. Thanks Sook." Lorelai said coming out of her daze. "Thanks for helping." She said sincerely.
"No problem." Sookie smiled.
"I'm just going to see the girls." She said. She glanced at Luke who had gone back to scrubbing the surface. He glanced back and they shared a small smile. She then went down the hallway to the living room to find Hannah watching tv and Rory sat next to her reading the book Luke had bought her. She squeezed in between them. "So did you two have fun?" She asked.
"Yeh it was great." Rory smiled.
"Yeh it was a great party mom, thanks." Hannah smiled.
"Good." Lorelai smiled. Hannah went back to her tv show and Rory went back to her book. Lorelai thought back to a moment ago where she could have sworn her and Luke had been able to kiss. Had she wanted them to?
So I hope you enjoyed this birthday chapter! :) Review and let me know what you think! :)