"Christopher," Lorelai groaned into the phone, sitting down on the couch and folding her legs under her.

Whatever blissfully heated mood had been set with Luke just minutes earlier was now ice-cold. She sighed into the receiver and wasn't quite sure if it was because Luke had given her a half-hearted wave on the way out, or Christopher was on the other end of the phone talking a mile a minute and finishing with, "Can you put that bright kid of ours on the phone?"

She interjected, "Hey, do still strap one of those shiny white gold time-telling thingies to your wrist everyday?"

"Yeah of course," He said matter-of-factly, "Still the same Rolex dad gave me for my 16th birthday, why?"

Lorelai rolled her eyes, "Want to check it for me? See if it still works?"

She heard a rustling in the background and a moment later he muttered into the phone, "Shit, the time difference."

Her patience was waning as he littered off a flurry of excuses, innuendos, and jokes. The wine and beer she had consumed throughout the evening, the little touches, and the one almost kiss with Luke had left her utterly exhausted. She glanced at the clock on the VCR, the bright green letters told her it was close to midnight and had to be up early to do this all over again.

"She'll be home from school by 3:30 tomorrow, you can try again then."

After they exchanged goodbyes, Lorelai flung the phone onto the couch cushion next to her and then slowly rose, willing her legs to take her up the staircase, into the bathroom for an abbreviated nighttime routine and then straight to bed.

Lorelai loitered outside of Stars Hollow Elementary the next afternoon still dressed in her business appropriate slim fitting black pencil skirt that hit her just above the knee, a lavender silk button down blouse tucked in, and a pair of high heeled pointy toed sling-backs that made her legs look great but pinched her toes if she stood in them too long.

She glanced around the schoolyard at the other mothers and caretakers lining up to pick up their children at the end of the school day and noticed some not-so-subtle glares and side eyes.

Being a young mother, she was used to the condescending looks from other mothers who always looked fresh out of a Better Homes & Garden's editorial, the borderline offensive innuendos from single dads…or what she hoped were single dads. She just hoped that for Rory's sake, she'd remain utterly clueless towards the Stepford wives and their leering husbands.

Oh, who was she kidding, her child was already reading at an almost high school level and she still hid in her bed, cuddled up to her mommy during a thunderstorm.

The bell rang, and an excited overflow of kids burst through the double doors, causing quite the stampede. Lorelai hung back, knowing all too well her little girl would be trailing the crowd, nose buried in a book, trying not to trip over her shoelaces.

"Rory!" She exclaimed a few moments later when said child emerged, said nose buried in the pages of Emma.

Rory looked up at the exclamation and rushed towards her mother who enveloped her in a big hug and then handed her a Luke's bag with a donut inside.

"Extra sprinkles!"

Digging her hand into the white paper bag, Rory retrieved her after school snack, inspecting it closely as she and her mom made the short walk back to the Crap Shack.

She looked over at her mother with a knowing look, "You stole the sprinkles from behind the counter again, didn't you."

Lorelai rushed her daughter down Oak Street as they approached Maple, hoping they hadn't missed Christopher's call. She was annoyed with him but she knew Rory would be thrilled to get to talk to her dad.

"That was one time!"

Rory bit into the donut and had to admit, the extra sprinkles really did make all the difference, "No, remember a few months ago when he wouldn't let you add extra sprinkles to your own donut? You went behind the counter when he was taking Taylor's order but then when he turned around and caught you, you chased Luke around the diner with the container. After that day, sprinkle privileges were revoked."

Lorelai looked down dejectedly, "Fine, ok, I bribed Kirk."

A few minutes later, the girls marched into the house and Lorelai helped Rory out of her backpack, setting it down on the floor heavily, "God, kid, how do you lift this?"

Crinkling up the empty bag, Rory shoved it into the trashcan and went to wash up in the small downstairs bathroom, "You get used to it!"

Lorelai picked up the phone and held it against one ear to to check for any voicemails, "Yeah well you won't be saying that when you're graduating high school with a hunchback," she muttered when the monotone voice on the other end informed her there were none.

"Are we going to the diner tonight?" Rory asked as she came out of the bathroom, walking over to her discarded backpack and digging out her homework folder, pencil case, and math textbook.

"I was thinking pizza, one with extra pepperoni, one with extra cheese, and just for fun, one with the works. We've never ordered the works, what do you think that entails? It just seems like such a fun phrase to use," Lorelai pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge and plopped into a seat at the kitchen table next to her daughter who had already pulled her thinking cap on, "Ooh! We should try to order a burger at the diner with the works too, and maybe fries with the works—"

Rory looked up at her worksheet in confusion, "What if Luke puts something yucky like…broccoli or, carrots or…salad on it?"

Lorelai looked like a deer in headlights at the prospect, "On another thought, Luke's burgers are perfect just as they are."

By the time the rolling credits of The Breakfast Club played later that night, Lorelai had all but given up on Christopher calling to speak to Rory.

Looking over to her right, Rory lay curled up, her face innocent and sweet. Lorelai was so grateful she had learned from the countless other times Christopher would flake out on them, forget to call, and show up late. She had learned that it was better to just not tell Rory, better for it to be a surprise, or better to come right from the horse's mouth. She was tired of being Christopher's mouthpiece to her daughter.

With a resigned sigh, she gently woke her daughter up and ushered her into the downstairs bathroom to get ready for bed. After Rory was bathed, brushed, and tucked into bed, dressed in nightgown with smiley faces plastered all over it, Lorelai sat down next to her daughter and smoothed her hair soothingly as she drifted off to dreamland.

Leaning down to kiss her forehead she whispered, "I love you, sweets."

She just wished Rory's father would step up and do the same.

4 days.

Lorelai hadn't set foot in the diner in 4 long days.

Luke tried to rack his brain to try and figure out the longest stretch of time Lorelai had spent outside the diner but failed to pinpoint a day in particular she hadn't breezed in begging for coffee in the almost 2 years he had known her.

Taylor stood hovering near the cash register, holding his cash just out of Luke's reach, "Is that a yes, Luke?"

"What are you yammering on about now, Taylor?"

Luke reached over to grab the $6 from his outstretched hand and placed the cash in the register, fishing out a few coins and practically tossing them back at the bane of his existence.

"As you well know, the Stars Hollow Fall Festival is coming up in the next 2 weeks." Taylor looked at Luke for confirmation before continuing, when he was met with a blank stare he continued, "Now, I know it's a week earlier than last year but I think with some capable help from some strong young men like yourself we can really make this one for the books, hey?"

Luke shoved the register drawer closed and folded his arms across his chest, "I'm not helpin' you set up some loony over the top fall-themed festival. We don't need a reminder that it's October, Taylor. The air is crisp, apples are in season, pumpkins with creepy carved faces start appearing on people's doorsteps, parents let their kids run rampant, high on sugar and sticking their jam hands everywhere…" Luke let all of his pent up frustration come out in the form of a patented Luke Danes rant. And it felt good.

"Luke," Taylor argued, "Festivals are good for the town, they bring tourists, and those tourists eat in fine establishments like this one, they buy their very well-priced candy at Doose's, look out onto our historic town square in all it's twinkly lit glory, and then they buy a souvenir from one of our well respected porcelain shops."

Luke rolled his eyes and walked out from behind the counter to take an order from a couple who just walked in, and Taylor followed 2 steps behind him, "You can't turn your back on this town."

"Who said anything about turning my back on the town?"

Luke scribbled down the omelet and pancakes order on his pad and marched back behind the counter to refill the coffee carafe.

"You know," Taylor said conspiratorially, and idea forming in his head, "I'm not the only one who gets a thrill out of town events. Lots of other townspeople attend regularly, old and young, men and women…"

Luke studied the man in front of him. Lorelai never did miss a town event. Not even last year's Boo's Cruise, the creepy haunted hay ride that Taylor set up last Halloween. He had convinced Kirk and Bootsie to dress up and scare the residents of Stars Hollow. Suffice to say, those two bozos were the ones running down the street in fear at the end of the night. But that might've also had something to do with Lorelai's high heeled boot flying at their heads.

"Don't say thrill like that, it's creepy."

Taylor sighed, "Will you at least agree to hang a sign in the window?"

"Yeah, fine, whatever," he said with a flippant sigh and a wave of his arm.

Lorelai walked into the kitchen on her morning break and rushed right over to the coffee machine…that was suspiciously empty.

"Ugh, no coffee Sook?"

Perched at the stove and cooking up what looked like a dozen omelets at a time, Sookie hollered back, "Sorry sweetie we must be fresh out!" She expertly flipped and plated a few more breakfast for the waiters to rush back out into the dining room.

Lorelai groaned and searched for the grounds to start a fresh batch, "You know I'm nothing without my jolt!"

"You didn't stop at Luke's this morning? Usually his brew keeps you caffeinated until lunchtime."

"No, not today," she said in a distracted tone, staring at the percolator and willing it to work faster.

Sookie handed off the last of the prepared plates into a waiters arms and walked over to meet her friend at the coffee station. She took in Lorelai's unfocused demeanor and leaned to get her attention, "Ok, spill."

The red light came on the machine signifying it had finished brewing, and Lorelai quickly snatched the carafe and filled a mug to the brim muttering, "That's what I'm not trying to do here."

Sookie shook her head and replied, "What's with you?"

Lorelai shrugged, gulping down a few sips, "Nothing."

Sookie studied her face and pointed a finger at her knowingly, "I know that look."

"What look?"

Sookie replied in a loud whisper, "You did something slutty!"

Lorelai practically spit out her coffee at the accusation, "What?"

"So how'd it finally happen?"

"Not following this insane train of thought here, Sook."

"Oh, come on Lorelai. You've been marching in here distracted and un-caffinated for close to a week now."

"And that equals slutty?"

"Well, ok did you have a dirty dream that threw you off your routine or something?"

Lorelai shook her head and downed the rest of her coffee before continuing on, "Strictly PG dreams over here."

"So why are you avoiding Luke's?"

Lorelai looked like she was a deer in headlights. Her eyes widened and she tried to play it cool. She knew nothing happened with him. Sure, something almost, kind of, was seconds from maybe happening a few nights ago. God, she wished it did. At least then she thought she might be able to settle the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach each time she'd passed by, but never entered, the diner this week.

Lorelai sighed and placed the mug in the bin full of dirty dishes below one of the stainless steel workstations, "I'm not avoiding Luke."

Sookie smirked, "I didn't ask why you were avoiding Luke, I asked why you were avoiding Luke's. The diner."

She felt a crimson blush flood her cheeks and cleared her throat, "Uh, yes, I'm familiar with the establishment."

"So?"

"I've been busy."

Sookie chuckled, "You're never too busy for Luke's. The diner or the man."

Lorelai rolled her eyes, "As a matter of fact, I have been busy. I'm planning for Rory's birthday party next week."

"Oooh! How can I help!"

Truth be told, after moving into the Crap Shack a few months ago, the budget she was working with for Rory's 10th birthday party this year was shoestring at best. Not that previous years had her throwing extravagant Emily Gilmore-approved affairs but they'd always had the Inn as a backdrop, Lorelai's crafty decorations, Mia's unexpected additions, and Sookie's confections to delight the group of kids and their parents.

She wanted her little girl's day to be just as special as always, and after much back and forth she and Rory had finally decided on a theme. Rory's birthday parties always had a theme. Shoestring budget or not, Lorelai was going to throw her little girl the best tea party Stars Hollow had ever seen.

Lorelai's eyes sparkled, "The pro/con lists have officially declared Alice in Wonderland as the theme du jour this year for Rory Gilmore's 10th birthday party."

Sookie clapped her hands in joy, dropping the Luke subject completely as she spun around the kitchen and started listing off all of the tea sandwiches, appetizers, sugary treats, and giant birthday cake she was going to prepare for the little girl.

Grateful for Sookie's about-face regarding the subject of Luke, she excitedly threw herself into party-planning mode, only guzzling down a half dozen more mugs of the delicious-albeit-weak brew in the Independence Inn's kitchen.

Rory ran her hand along the delicate baby blue fabric embroidered with tiny white flowers that made up her special birthday outfit sprawled across her mother's sewing table. Lorelai was adding a white satin ribbon along the bottom ruffle of the skirt and smoothing out the material lovingly, "You like it?"

"Oh, mom it's beautiful! I really get to wear this?"

Lorelai smiled and snipped the excess thread, "Does it say Alice?"

"Even better! It says Rory."

That made Lorelai's grin widen, "Definitely better."

"Hey, you know what would make this party-planning night even better?"

"What's that kid?"

Rory bounced excitedly on her heels, "A giant Luke's burger! And extra extra fries. Oooh and pie. Mom, we haven't had Luke's pie in so long. I don't even know how we're still standing!"

Lorelai folded the completed garment neatly and placed it next to her sewing machine, not meeting her daughter's eyes, "Uh, really? You know, I think it's Al's Salute to the Philippines night. Maybe we should give that a try?"

Rory looked at her mother incredulously, "Are you really turning down pie right now?"

With a sigh, Lorelai stood up and paced the room a bit, "I'm not turning it down, I just need some time...away from the pie."

Rory furrowed her brow in confusion, the pieces not quite adding up, "Time away from the pie?"

"Yeah you know, just, a little, time. Perspective and all."

"What kind of perspective do you need about pie other than it tastes good?"

"Well," Lorelai inwardly groaned, feeling this conversation go off the rails quickly, "Uhm, you, see, me and pie, we had a good thing going. I knew how it made me feel, it knew how it felt about me. At least I think it knew how it felt about me? But then, you know, I saw it…differently one night and now I just need time to process and see if those feelings I had about, uhm, pie, are fleeting or…not."

Rory stood there, wide-eyed, "You really sound like you could use some pie."

15 minutes later, Rory excitedly skipped down Maple Street approaching Main, twirling on the sidewalk, her mother a few paces behind, walking rather begrudgingly towards Luke's Diner. While her metaphor about pie had fallen, deservingly, flat on its face, she knew in her heart of hearts that there was no reason to deny herself of all that is Luke's.

She told herself that nothing had happened the other night, and it's true, nothing happened. Nothing almost happened. She wished so badly that nothing happened.

Luke folded and unfolded his rag against the spotless counter. It was nearing the end of the dinner rush, yet another dinner rush without Lorelai. He tried not to think too much into it, he knew Fall was busy season at the Inn, Rory's birthday was approaching, he was sure there was a shoe sale or two that she had penciled in, but still. Not once had she entered the diner in almost a week.

"Nothing happened," he assured himself. Sure, it almost did. But the universe, also known as Lorelai's phone, was sure to interrupt whatever moment they did, no, definitely didn't have.

With a resigned sigh, he tossed the rag back down and tended to one of the last tables in the diner that evening.

The bells jingled.

The little hairs on the back of his neck stood on high alert. She was there. His back was turned to the door, her foot hadn't yet crossed the threshold, and…she was there. Hiding the small smile that dared quirk the corners of his lips, he continued to clear the dishes on the table in front of him.

"Luke!" The little voice drawing out the syllables in his name was like music to his ears.

He turned to walk behind the counter to dispose of the dishes in the bin underneath and met Rory's smiling face with a smile, "Hey, Rory."

Lorelai walked in a moment later, eyes darting around the near-empty diner before meeting his. She smiled, it didn't meet her eyes, but she smiled, taking a seat at the table Rory had claimed. She listened patiently as her daughter rattled on about how long it had been since they'd been away, issuing apologies, put her order in politely, filled him in about school and gushed about her upcoming birthday party.

Tucking a curl behind her ear, she observed her daughter animatedly fill Luke in on the happenings he had missed out on this past week. He smiled, it was small but significant. His full attention was on her daughter. His eyebrows raised and he let out a small chuckle when she told him about the revenge she and Lane got on a school bully, gave her an encouraging nod when she spoke of how many books she was reading at one time, and grumbled but gave in to her pleas for extra fries.

Luke cleared his throat when he walked out of the kitchen minutes later with their dinner plates on his arms, setting them down carefully in front of the girls. He noticed how Lorelai hadn't said a word other than nodding hello to him when she walked in. She wouldn't meet his gaze, kept her eyes darting around the diner, or fixing them to her daughter.

Taking her cue, he spun around to continue the clean up when a small hand stopped him. "Can you sit for a little while, Luke?"

Shoving his hands in his front pockets and rocking back on his heels, "Uh, I don't know," he paused, looking over at Lorelai for some kind of hint, but her eyes were drawn to her plate, dragging a French fry through a pool of ketchup.

Rory widened her eyes and let her lower lip cower a touch, giving him her best Rory Face, "Luke should stay, right mom?"

Lorelai looked up from her plate, French fry in hand and finally met Luke's eyes, a flicker of question in them. She gave him a small smile, it didn't quite meet her eyes, and nodded, "Yeah, please, sit."

He looked around at the empty diner and realized there was nothing else he could claim to have to do, so with a quick nod he pulled a chair over between Rory and Lorelai and sat down, drumming his hands against the table.

Lorelai approached the cash register to settle her bill, Rory had run off to the bathroom so it was just her and Luke in the empty diner, "Uh, hey, Luke?"

He was focused on getting her change, but at the sound of her voice he whipped his head back up, "Hey."

She gave him a small smile and opened her mouth to speak, but then their eyes locked and she stumbled, "Um, so Rory…"

He nodded but gave her a questioning look. This uncharacteristic silence from her was starting to unnerve him. "Uh, yeah, that's one good kid you've got there."

She shook her head to clear it, tearing her eyes off of his to look over her shoulder and then meeting his gaze again, "Yeah! Yeah, she's the best. Um, but that's not what I was asking. Or, not what I was going to ask."

"What is it?"

"Well, Rory's birthday is coming up."

The corners of his lips quirked, his eyes cast down as he counted her few dollars of change and slid them across the counter to her, "Double digits, right?"

She smiled at his bashfulness, "I can't believe I have a 10 year old. I mean my little girl, she's growing up so fast. I can't even remember what I had on last Thursday and…I mean I can remember every second of that day, 10 years ago."

Happy that her monosyllabic mood had finally passed, he pushed the drawer to the cash register closed but kept his eyes downcast, "Blue and green skirt, a white shirt with a fuzzy looking blue sweater, it's got those tiny white buttons going down the front."

She widened her eyes in surprise, "Huh?"

"Um, last Thursday. You ran in here before work. You ordered a coffee to go and you begged me to save you a piece of boysenberry pie for dessert later. Chased me down until I agreed. Then you took a superhuman gulp of coffee and spit it out when you realized I gave you decaf. Made me give you two large cups of the regular stuff to go instead."

Lorelai broke out into a huge smile, a genuine one, for the first time since she stepped into the diner that evening, "How do you do that?"

Luke shrugged like it was nothing.

Wanting to push him further on that point but knowing she only had a few fleeting moments of one-on-one time with him before Rory came back she asked, "Um, Luke? Can I ask you something?"

He lifted his eyes and looked at her from underneath his lashes, clearing his throat before responding, "Yeah."

She took a breath under his gaze, "Do you think maybe you could," She paused, "Um, help me? With something for Rory's party."

"Oh, uh, yeah, of course. What do you need?"

"Well, we're doing an Alice in Wonderland theme this year."

He nodded knowingly, "Of course."

"And I had this dream…"

Luke narrowed his eyes, something that manifested from one of Lorelai's dreams could only mean one thing. Crazy. But he let her continue.

"I had this vision really," She gestured her hands to form a large square, "A giant…donut wall greets you! Each donut is on a little peg and they're all frosted in these bright colors with extra sprinkles, obviously."

"Obviously," he replied in his best "duh" tone.

She smiled at that and continued, "Sookie's taking care of all the tea, the treats for the table and all of that. But you, are like…the donut king. I swear, you must bake those babies with some kind of super addictive drug laced in them or something. And they're Rory's favorite and you know…I just….I thought it could be really special."

Luke sighed. He wasn't worried with creating Rory's, Lorelai's, donut wall for the party. His woodworking skills would be put to good use and he could whip up the donuts sans the extra extra sprinkles to fill it up no problem. But he knew he had hold up his gruff pretense just a bit further, "I don't know…"

"Luke I know it's asking a lot of you, and if you don't have the time I totally understand. I will just buy out all the donuts you have on hand," she gestured to the case that sat on the counter, "And, I don't know, figure out a way to maybe, Scotch tape them to the wall or something."

He grimaced, "That's disgusting. And unsanitary. Just…leave the donuts to me. I got it."

She brightened, "Really?"

He nodded and gestured his head to Rory's figure that just appeared back in the dining room, miming a zip of his lips to her.

She gave him an impish smile, mouthing "Thank you."

Running his hand along the smooth wood and brushing away the layer of sawdust that had accumulated after drilling in each of the 24 pegs into the large square board, Luke looked over his work with a critical eye. He was satisfied with the white wash treatment that he had given the the wood and each of the accompanying pegs.

Lorelai had told him that 12 kids and their parents would be attending the party later that weekend, and he had measured and cut the dowels with enough room to fit 3 donuts per peg. He was more than certain that amount of donuts, paired with the amount of treats he knew Sookie was sure to be preparing, would be more than enough to feed the kids, their parents, and even the Gilmore girls' endless appetites.

The rolling door to the workshop was pushed open with a squeak, the metal gears of the track grinding in their old age, and Luke made a mental note to do something about that the next time he came by.

"Do you know what time it is?"

Luke put down the pencil he was holding in one hand and set it down on top of the piece of scrap wood where he was sketching out the sign to affix to the top of the board. Without even turning his head he responded, "You know I can't sleep if the sun's out. Thought all of us Danes' men were built that way. You gettin' soft in your old age?"

Lionel Danes carefully stepped over the threshold with one boot clad foot and eyed his grandson hard at work under the yellow tinged lights of the old workshop. He approached Luke and clapped his back in greeting, setting down a mug of hot tea and a plate covered with a dishtowel next to it.

Eying the mug, Luke wiped his hands on his jeans and picked it up, sipping it as he looked over the edge of the mug at his grandfather. Lionel uncovered the plate and picked up a cranberry orange muffin and took a healthy bite, chewing considerably as he looked around at Luke's handiwork that was taking up a decent amount of space on and near the workbench.

"It's God's day, son. Even us Danes' men need a break now and then. Now what are you doin' here on Sunday morning before daybreak?"

Luke placed the mug down and picked up a muffin to nibble on as well, gesturing his other hand towards the structure he had just finished and was now leaning against one wall. He then brought his hand down to point towards the wood he had finished cutting to the exact dimensions for Rory's birthday gift that was sitting stacked on top of the work bench next to him. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and spoke, "Just a few projects I'm finishing up for Rory."

Lionel looked over at Luke with a side eye, "Just for Rory?"

Redirecting his focus towards his work, Luke picked up his pencil once again and started tracing the classic Alice in Wonderland phrase, "Eat Me" in sweeping cursive on the leftover scrap wood, "Rory, and Lorelai I guess."

Lionel shook his head with a light chuckle, "And just when are you going to do somethin' about that Lucas?"

"Do what about what?"

"Oh don't go actin' all coy now."

Luke finished his tracing and held up the piece of wood for inspection, "What's coy about not knowin' what you're talking about. You want to tell me somethin' then just tell me." He stalked over to the router saw and set about cutting out the delicate letters in one solid piece. Realizing his gruffness, he softened his voice but still didn't meet his grandfather's gaze, "It's not so simple, Pops."

"From where I stand it does, Lucas. You like her, you really like her. You don't have to tell me, don't even have to say a word. I know it. Norah knows it. We've never seen you like this, and it's nice Lucas. Nice knowin' that you've got someone, or two special someones to look out for. Who'll look out for you too."

Luke took a breath and brushed the lingering sawdust off the sign he just finished cutting out, bringing it back to the workstation and grimacing as he unscrewed the cap on some bright pink paint, pouring it into a cup. He then picked up a piece of sandpaper and went to work, "Of course I like her. But she's my friend Pops, a really good friend. And she's got Rory, I don't want to get in the middle of what they have, I never want her to think I'm y'know, intruding on what they have. What we have right now, Lorelai and I, it's ok, it works," he said with a one armed shrug.

"That's some of the most lovestruck bunch of nonsense I've ever heard you say. You hit your head or somethin'?"

Luke picked up a paint brush and shook his head, using broad strokes to cover the letters in a smooth coat of bright pink paint, "Head's just fine, thanks."

"You ever think to ask Lorelai what she might want? Other than just going ahead and assuming all you'll ever be to her is a friend?"

Picking up a container of pink glitter, Luke dumped the contents over the wet paint so that it covered the letters completely, shaking his head no. "I know Lorelai, I've known her for a while now, and while y'know sometimes it seems like somethin' might happen," Luke sighed, his eyes still downcast and focused on the work in front of him, "It never does. We just kinda move on and go back to our friends thing. Lorelai's not shy, if she wanted something, she'd tell me."

"Lucas," Lionel let out a short laugh, "You think a girl as brilliant and bright as Lorelai doesn't still have moments of vulnerability? I mean I know Butch Danes never had much trouble with women fawnin' over him and everything," Luke rolled his eyes at that statement, "But she's clearly different. We've been hearing about the elusive friend and customer for a long while now but when we finally got to meet her. Well, son, it was clear as day."

Luke took in the words his grandfather was imposing on him. Was it time to make a move? See if something was really there between them? Or if it was all in his head? He didn't want to lose her friendship. Couldn't lose her friendship. She drove him crazy. But he came to like the crazy. Crave the crazy. He didn't know what he'd do if he'd actually mustered the courage, and ended up scaring her away for good, all but disappearing from his life in a giant glittery poof.

Crazy.