Chapter 1 : Ain't It Funny

"Did you ask Luke to come over and hook this thing up?" Rory Gilmore asked her mom.

The doorbell rang, and Lorelai grinned. "One step ahead of ya, hun."

She went over to the front door and opened it in one quick motion. She ushered Luke in and pointed at the computer next to Rory.

Rory greeted Luke and he gave her a half-smile.

"That thing is more stubborn than I am," Lorelai exclaimed.

"Not possible," Luke muttered, bending down to see what he had to work with.

Luke Danes owned Luke's, a diner just down the street. The Gilmore girls ate pretty much every meal there, and almost all of Stars Hollow believed that Luke had a crush on Lorelai, and vice versa. Lorelai and Luke themselves continually denied it, but there was no denying the energy that always seemed to surround the two when they were together.

"Hey, mister, be nice."

Luke hooked up the computer and turned it on to make sure it worked. He messed with some of the settings, then he turned to Lorelai. "There you go."

"Why thank you. I appreciate it oh so very much," she replied in a slight accent. "How ever will I thank you?" She looked at him and batted her eyelashes.

"Stop it."

"No fun," Lorelai pouted.

"That's what this is for." Luke tapped the computer. "Well," he continued after a moment, "I should get back to the diner. Make sure Jess didn't burn it down."

"We'll see you later. Thanks Luke."

He nodded, letting himself out.

Rory immediately sat down at the computer, using the mouse to browse around.

"This is much better than mine," she announced, totally engrossed in what she was doing.

"Well, have fun with it. I'll be back, I'm going to Doose's."

"Alright," Rory responded, not looking up. "I'll be here."

Lorelai left, and Rory connected to the internet. She made a screenname after giving it some thought, and surfed around for a few minutes.

She didn't know where to look, or what else to check out, so finally she just went into a chatroom.

ShYSHyGrrL: any guys want to chat with a 14/f im me

Flirt10481: are there even any guys here? press 111

Jdog2052: 111

Squirle11: 111

Flirt10481: Jdog2052 and Squirle11 IM me

Rory sighed. 'This is boring.' She got out of the chatroom and was about to click out of the pop up window listing all of the available chats, when something caught her eye. There was a literature section of chats, and she scrolled through the short list until she came to 'Oliver Twist'. She entered the chat.

The same little welcome message came up, and right away messages appeared on the screen. Apparently someone had asked what everyone's favorite part of the book was, because everyone started listing various things that had happened.

Rory smiled, sending her own favorite scene.

Someone IM'd her. She jumped instantaneously.

NYer02: hey

CoffeeJunkie02: Hey

NYer02: whats up?

CoffeeJunkie02: Nothing much.

NYer02: cool

Lorelai let herself into the house and walked over to Rory. "Hey sweets."

"Hey."

"Whatcha doin'?"

"Talking to some guy."

"Who?"

"I don't know...Just some guy."

"Oh. Well, carry on then."

Rory turned back to the computer as Lorelai disappeared into the kitchen. He had just asked her name. She panicked. You're not supposed to give people your real name and stuff over the internet, are you? She thought for a second before responding.

CoffeeJunkie02: Cathy. Cathy Coffee.

NYer02: is that right

CoffeeJunkie02: You don't believe me?

NYer02: no, i do

Rory grinned. She asked him his name, but he told her he didn't give his name out to just anyone. She bit her lip, trying to come up with a witty reply.

CoffeeJunkie02: Oh, but I told you mine.

NYer02: you are not Cathy Coffee. I know Cathy Coffee.

CoffeeJunkie02: I am insulted. You don't believe me.

NYer02: don't take it personally. I have to go now. bye, Cathy.

CoffeeJunkie02: Bye.

* * * * *

"Jess! Get down here and help!" Luke called up the stairs.

Jess glanced toward the apartment door. He type a few last words on his laptop and clicked offline, pushing the small computer under his bed for safe-keeping.

He went downstairs and grabbed the full coffeepot, going around and refilling everyone's cup.

Luke raised an eyebrow in surprise. Jess frowned.

"What?"

"Why are you down here?"

"Uh, because you told me to help."

"I know, but I usually have to ask you at least five times until you finally decided to come down."

"I can go back upstairs if you want."

"No."

Jess shrugged. "Your call."

Lorelai and Rory came into the diner a few minutes later and walked over.

"Hey."

Luke nodded. "Hey."

He got two cups out for the girls and Jess filled them with coffee.

"Hey," Rory said to Jess.

He gave her a little nod, very much like Luke had done just moments before.

"What are you up to today?"

"I think I'm gonna get back online. Check out some more websites."

"Huh. Luke said he had hooked up your computer. I have some stuff I can send you that you'd probably like."

"You've got the internet?"

"Yeah. What's your e-mail?"

Rory started to answer, when Lorelai started tugging on her daughter's arm excitedly.

"Ror," she exclaimed.

"Huh, what?"

"Hurry, into position! Luke said we could play bagel hockey!"

"Ooh."

"Do I want to know?" Jess asked Luke.

"No."

Jess nodded, making himself useful by handing out the meals as Caesar made them.

"So tell me about this guy you met."

"Guy?"

Lorelai glanced at Luke. "Rory met a guy online."

"Yeah, but it's nothing special. He was in the same chatroom I was in, and he sent me an instant message. I only talked to him for a minute, then he said he had to go."

"So? What's his name?"

"He didn't answer when I asked."

"Where's he from? Someplace cool like Paris or something?"

Rory grinned. "We didn't get into specifics, but he has 'New York' in his screen name, so I'm guessing New York."

"Hm. That's not too far from here."

"Good observation, Luke," Lorelai replied.

Luke smirked at Lorelai. "What I meant was," he said, glancing at Rory, "don't go giving out your address or anything, because--"

"If he's Prince Charming, well, he can just find our place on his own, now can't he?" Lorelai finished for Luke. She turned to him. "Was that what you were going to say?"

"Not even close."

"Hey, Mom, check out this website I found!"

Lorelai walked over. "Does Mommy get a turn on the--" she stopped in mid-sentence, leaving her questions unanswered. "Huh. There really is a misspatty.net?"

"Looks like it." Rory paused. "Well, I'm getting a little bored. I think I'm going to get off. Do you want--"

She was cut off by the sound of the instant message that had popped up on the screen.

NYer02: Cathy?

CoffeeJunkie02: hey

NYer02: so i see you're still on. care to chat?"

CoffeeJunkie02: sure

"Aw," Lorelai whined, reading the IM over her daughter's shoulder, "You were about to let me on."

Rory smiled apologetically. "Sorry. But there's no school, and Lane and Dean are out of town, and I'm really bored."

"We have a TV..."

"Mom, give me ten more minutes? Please?" Rory begged.

"Okay, but make it fast."

"Make it a fast ten minutes?"

"Yes."

Rory laughed. "I'll try."

Lorelai kissed her on top of her head and stood up, stretching. "Well I'll be upstairs if you need me."

"Uh huh," Rory said distractedly.

Lorelai smiled, heading upstairs.

NYer02: okay. What do you want to talk about?"

NYer02: hello?

NYer02: you there?

Rory bit her lip. 'Oops', she typed. 'Sorry about that. I was talking to my mom.'

NYer02: that's okay. so how old are you?

CoffeeJunkie02: 17, you?

NYer02: same.

CoffeeJunkie02: cool.

NYer02: so you like Oliver Twist?

CoffeeJunkie02: yeah

NYer02: so...your turn

CoffeeJunkie02: My turn?

NYer02: to ask a question.

CoffeeJunkie02: Oh. Have you decided I'm trustworthy enough to know your name yet?

NYer02: it's Dodger

CoffeeJunkie02: what a coincidence. hi Dodger, I'm Cathy.

NYer02: pleasure to meet you.

CoffeeJunkie02: likewise.

Jess waited for 'Cathy' to say something else. She asked if he lived in New York. Instead of explaining his current living arrangement with this complete stranger, he just said yes.

NYer02: what about you?

CoffeeJunkie02: no, I don't live in NY.

NYer02: then where do you live?

Rory bit her lip, staring at the computer screen. She contemplated on making up a place, or just not answering at all, but she finally just typed 'I'd rather not say' and changed the subject. He didn't seem to mind at all. They started talking about books they had both read and found that they had a lot in common. But the conversation ended all too soon when Lorelai came downstairs and imitated a buzzer, saying "Time's up, kiddo."

* * * *