Chapter 15

"I can't believe Luke finally asked you out," Sookie said, shaking her head as she stirred the foods she was cooking.

"I kind of asked him out first, remember."

"I know, but it didn't work out, and now...Ooh! You're going on a date with Luke!"

"A little louder, I don't think Michel heard you, Sook."

"Oh, sorry," Sookie laughed. She put a hand on Lorelai's arm. "You're going to tell me everything, right?"

"Everything, definitely," Lorelai agreed.

"Great. What are you going to wear?"

"Um...I don't know yet."

"Is he going to dress up?"

Lorelai grinned at her friend. She looked so amused by this whole situation, it was funny.

"I don't know. Honey, I think you should get back to your cooking. I'll call you later."

"Ow!" Sookie ran to the sink, turning on the cold water full blast and putting her hands under the running water. "I'll talk to you later," she addressed Lorelai with a sheepish grin.

"Bye," Lorelai laughed, exiting the kitchen.

Luke, and everyone else in the diner for that matter, looked up as Jess came into the diner. He was yelling, well arguing, with Rory.

"What's the matter with them?" Miss Patty whispered to Luke.

He handed her a cup of coffee and frowned. "I don't know. Rory--are you okay? Jess, what's the matter?"

They both started talking at the same time, and Luke held up his hand for them to be quiet.

"Upstairs."

Rory followed Jess to the upstairs apartment. Luke told Caesar he was going upstairs, and everyone started whispering amongst themselves about the little scene that had just taken place.

Luke threw open the door and found Rory sitting on his bed, with Jess across the room picking up a book from the bookshelf and silently thumbing through it.

"Who wants to go first?" Luke asked.

When Jess didn't answer, Rory spoke up. "Jess is going back to New York. Again."

"Jess--"

"I never liked it here anyway," Jess declared. "Everyone always in your business--"

"Why are you leaving this time?" Luke asked.

Jess shrugged, looking quickly at Rory then back at his book.

Luke turned to Rory. "Rory?"

"He got mad because I'm mad."

"What are you mad about?"

"That's what I'd like to know," Jess said through gritted teeth, looking up from his book. Luke held up a hand to silence him.

"Rory?"

Her face turned pink. "He's got a girlfriend," she muttered. "And he didn't even bother to tell me."

"Jess?"

"Who said--oh." A look of realization came across Jess's face and he almost laughed. "Lorelai told you I had a girlfriend."

"As a matter of face she did. I'm glad someone did," Rory replied pointedly.

"Even if it's not true?" he smirked.

"What?"

Luke watched them silently, feeling somewhat awkward, like he was eavesdropping or something.

"I don't have a girlfriend."

"I...uh, oh," Rory stammered. "Well, look at the time. I've got to go."

"Rory!"

He was too late. Rory had already flew down the stairs.

* * * *

"Ror? You home?"

Lorelai hung up her coat, walking into the hallway. The house was quiet. She said 'Hm...' and poked her head in Rory's room. She was sitting on her bed, staring off into space, with a dazed look on her face.

"Hey sweets."

Rory jumped at the sound of the voice. "Oh, hey. Did you just get home?"

"Yeah. Are you alright? I know this Jess thing has gotten you--"

"There is no girlfriend."

"What?"

"I blew up at Jess when he said he was leaving and I felt so stupid for being mad all this time when he told me he didn't have a girlfriend, that I..."

"You what?"

"I just ran out of there. I feel so dumb, I'm never going to be able to talk to him again."

"Of course you'll be able to talk to him."

"Eventually," Rory relented.

"Eventually is now. I invited him and Luke over."

Rory groaned. "Tell me you didn't."

"Okay, I didn't."

"You did?"

"I did."

"Okay, well you can call them back and--"

"No, see, Luke and I aren't staying."

"I don't get it."

Lorelai told Rory about how Luke called her up and asked her out. She left out the part about her asking him out first. Rory beamed.

"This is great! You deserve this, Mom."

"What, Luke?"

"A date. With a normal guy that you already know and like--"

"Alright," Lorelai said, laughing. "Stop there, please."

Rory gave her mother a hug.

"I still don't see why you invited Jess, if you and Luke aren't staying," she murmured into Lorelai's shoulder.

"You don't, huh?"

"But, well...Jess is a lowlife!" Rory said lamely. She would have said anything to get her out of this--being alone with Jess--but it was inevitable.

Lorelai burst out laughing, digging into her purse. She handed a small bottle to Rory.

"Then keep this pepper spray with you at all times and remember--just say no."

The doorbell rang and Rory looked pleadingly at Lorelai as they walked over to the front door. Lorelai threw it open and greeted Jess and Luke with a smile.

"Hey."

"Hey," Jess responded, walking into the house past Lorelai and standing next to Rory.

Luke nodded at Lorelai. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah, sure. Just hold on a sec."

Lorelai turned to Rory. She gave her a knowing smile, planting a kiss on her forehead. With a quick hug, she said goodbye, and they were off.

Rory watched the door close before her. She kept staring, as if willing it to open, but of course it didn't. Jess suggested they go into the living room and Rory reluctantly agreed, leading the way.

Jess, noticing by her quietness that she was embarrassed about what happened earlier, decided not to say anything. He grabbed the TV remote and started channel surfing, hoping she would relax a little.

Rory stole a glance at Jess and looked at him as if seeing him for the first time. She smiled, leaning back and watched TV.

"Where are we going?" Lorelai asked.

"Where do you want to go?" Luke returned, glancing at her before turning back to the road.

"Hm. Al's Pancake World?"

"What about this place?"

He pulled into a parking lot of some random restaurant and Lorelai shrugged.

"As long as it has food."

They got out and walked to the front doors in companionable silence. Neither of them spoke until they were seated at a cozy little table-for-two in the back of the restaurant.

"This is kind of nice."

Luke looked up from his menu. "What is?"

"This. This restaurant, this night, being on a date where there's absolutely no strings attached, nothing expected to happen...Am I sounding totally crazy?"

Luke, who had tensed at the word 'date' and frowned a little at her declaration, nodded. "Uh, yeah. It's...nice."

Oblivious to Luke's sudden discomfort, and maybe even disappointment, Lorelai picked up her menu and proceeded to look it over.

As the end credits to Gilligan's Island rolled across the screen, Rory looked over at Jess. Her had his head on his arm, and was fast asleep. Or so she thought.

Rory stood up and went to turn off the TV, seeing as how Jess was laying on the remote. She turned around and jumped back nearly a foot, her heard racing. He stood before her, clearing awake and, well, not sleeping, obviously.

"Hey."

"Uh, hi."

A silence settled over them again, and Rory bit her lip.

"Look, Jess, I'm sorry about--"

"I know."

"Oh, good."

Silence.

"So, uh...What do you want to do now?"

Jess looked around and the empty house and smiled, catching her eye. Rory began to feel nervous, and her palms started to sweat. She swallowed, licking her lips.

"Well?" she asked finally.

"You want to read?" he asked.

Rory relaxed, breathing a sigh of relief. She laughed, gesturing to her room. "I'd love to," she grinned.

He smiled back, disappearing into her room. Rory laughed at herself, shaking her head and following after him.