Chapter Three: Lorelai

You know what the hardest decision in the world is?

Of course I’m sure everyone would say ‘oh yea, choosing a career path!’ or ‘deciding whether or not to keep a baby’…

But in all seriousness – they are wrong.

The hardest decision in the world is when you have to choose which doughnut you’d prefer… I mean between double chocolate and raspberry swirl with a double glaze…

You know you’ve got a sticky situation on your hands.

But the glaze does come off when you wash your hands so it doesn’t remain sticky.

Which is a very comforting thought.

Lorelai started at the two doughnuts in front of her

Chocolate, raspberry, chocolate, raspberry, chocolate, raspberry… I swear if I didn’t have enough problems already…Screw this, I’ll eat both.

Lorelai picked up both of the doughnuts and began eating – just as Luke came down the stairs,

“LORELAI!”

She jumped and turned in her seat – hiding the doughnuts behind her back – and smiled sweetly at Luke,

“Yes, Lukey?”

Luke gave her a reprimanding look, “don’t call me that. And did I not just say 5 minutes ago that you were NOT allowed any more doughnuts?”

Oooooh so that’s what he was saying – well, how am I expected to pay attention to his rants? Its much more fun looking at the little vain on his forehead when it starts to throb...

“Yes, but you see … uh…”

She looked around the diner, where she saw Jess and Rory still studying,

“These are for THEM – not for me! I got them out for them and took the beautiful doughnuts over, but when I got all the way over there they said they didn’t want them – so by this time my hands had been all over them and I didn’t think it was hygienic to put them back for other people to eat them – I thought it would be better in the long term future if I just ate them! For the good of humanity – I mean who wants to eat an already touched doughnut – not me, no siree! Hey that rhymed! You know I could be a really good poet? I just never show it! There I go again – man, I must be talented – do you think I could get a book deal? I mean you never know, all the people that are writing these days you surely would think that I could maybe – “

“Lorelai.”

“Yes?”

“Stop.”

Lorelai pouted, “mean.”

Luke rolled his eyes, “fine, you can eat the doughnuts – but don’t expect me to look after you when you become dependent on sugar and can’t get a hit – cos I sure as hell won’t be giving you any more!”

A snicker came from behind them, they both turned to see jess laughing.

You know, I think it may just be legal to kill someone if you hate them as much as I hate jess…

Luke was the first to speak, “what are you laughing at?”

Jess pulled his most ‘innocent’ face while looking pointedly at Lorelai,

“Nothing!”

Luke sighed, “Whatever,” and went behind the counter to clean up.

Damn, that kid is annoying. He does everything in his power to get under my skin and give me the heebie jeebies...

Lorelai’s eyes narrowed

Gee, even the first time I met him he was a downright pain in the ass! He stole my beer, he accused me of hassling him and butting in and… and…

Her eyes drifted to the cap wielding man in front of her

And… stuff.

Not that I’d ever…

Because, you know he and I are…

Well…

..

..

ACK! This kid is unbelievable!

I can’t believe he’d even suggest that…

That…

Well, this is highly unlike me – lost for words.

Lorelai spun around in her chair so she was facing the two teens – the doughnuts lay forgotten.

And now he’s got his hooks into Rory.

Ohhh don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to diner boy.

Being all cute... and funny and... Smart with Rory.

She is just the sort of person who you’d loooooove to corrupt.

Well, not on my watch, buster!

She got up off her chair and marched her way over to Rory – who was laughing at something jess had said,

“Sweets, we have to go now!” she ordered while glaring at jess,

“Aw, but Mz Gilmore! I was just starting to understand…” he trailed off meaningfully while Lorelai narrowed her eyes at him,

“Yes. Me too. Come on, Rory.”

Stupid rasselfrassingsuckatashinglittle…whyIoughta…

“Mom, we’ve got to finish this tonight,” Rory’s eyes flickered to meet jess’ “he needs me.”

Lorelai’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline

That little… why he…

He’s brainwashed her.

That’s the only explanation.

“Rory, you are coming with me now. You have school tomorrow.”

Rory looked at her as if she were a mad woman,

“Mom, why are you getting so uptight about this? It’s just a lesson!”

“Well, that’s what it starts off as, isn’t it!?”

Rory shot up and stood in front of her mother,

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means, Rory that I know this situation a whole lot better than you do – trust me on this one – you need to go home NOW!”

“Well, if it’s alright with you- I’d rather make my own choices in life- and I want to stay!”

“I am your mother. You will do as I say!”

“Yea? Well right now you aren’t acting like my mother – my mother would never tell me how to live my life!”

“I am NOT trying to tell you how to live your life – I am only telling you to go home now before you’ll do something you’ll regret!”

“Mom! What am I going to regret? Oh my gosh, I read him Othello – what ever will I do? Cue the swooning, now!”

Lorelai grabbed her daughters shoulders and heaved her from Jess’s view,

“Rory. I know boys like him – I used to date them. You have to trust me on this one.”

Rory’s eyes narrowed,

“Well, maybe I’m not as careless as you were…”

Lorelai froze

What did she just say?

.. She would never...

How did we get like this?

She looked at jess,

This is his entire fault.

She took one last, shocked look at her daughter.

Then turned and walked out of the diner, without another word.

Luke ran after her…