"Gross!"

"Get a room!"

The Gilmores threw popcorn at the screen.

"I have come to a conclusion." Lorelai stated loftily, grabbing a handful of buttered popcorn as the film reached a particularly sappy, violin-musicked point.

"And what would that be?"

"Opposites attract."

"The world trembles with the immensity of your previously unheard-of conclusion."

"I mean," continued Lorelai, "the more completely dissimilar you are to someone, the more attraction there seems to be. Look at those two." She pointed to the two entwined people on the screen.

"The classic example: Darcy and Elizabeth. 1 point for me."

"Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford. 1 for me!"

"Jeannie and the Major."

"Ooh, obscure. Okay, double points. Angelina and Billy Bob. Pop culture reference, 50 points!"

"Hey!" Rory protested, laughing.

"Sorry honey, umpire rules ‘fair call’."

"Fine. Ah, I've got one!"

"Well, don't keep us in suspense. And it had better be good, missy."

"You and Luke. Game, set and match." Rory grinned.

Lorelai was temporarily rendered speechless for possibly the first time in her existence.

"I shall ignore that for the sake of your physical well-being," Lorelai replied eventually. "Kid's getting too smart for her shoes," she muttered, settling back.

Rory grinned again. Teasing her mom about Luke was worth it just for the look on her face. Reaching into the bowl for more popcorn, she sat back to enjoy the movie.

***

"I was famous in a past life," announced Lorelai.

"What, a cabaret girl at the Moulin Rouge?" Rory guessed.

"No, though who could resist ostrich feathers and sequins?"

"Ah yes, the bold appeal of the burlesque. Mata Hari?"

"Nope, although, who could pass up belly dancing?"

"Barbra Streisand?"

"No, although ... no!"

Laughing, the two entered Luke's diner. As usual, Luke was working away behind the counter.

Luke, grumpy as always, came around to their table by the window.

"What’ll it be? Something artery-clogging like usual?"

"I’ll have a cherry danish thanks Luke," Rory jumped in before Lorelai could give her 10-minute long order.

"Actually, I think I might try something light," said Lorelai. "Just a piece of toast, thanks Lukey!" She beamed at Luke.

There was a surprised pause.

"With butter?"

"Nope."

"No scrambled eggs, pancakes, french toast, croissants, muffins, milkshakes or ice-cream on the side?" Luke asked suspiciously.

"Absolutely not! That would be plain unhealthy!" Lorelai’s voice had taken on a high pitch that could have been deadly to household insects. "I’m following your excellent example! Aren’t you pleased?" Her voice had the false sincerity of a high school cheerleader.

Luke muttered something unintelligible about his sanity, and left.

"Mom? What was that?"

Lorelai smiled.

"Just being my unpredictable self. Besides, it keeps him on his toes."

"But you forgot to order coffee!"

Lorelai’s eyes widened in horror and scooted towards the counter, shouting "Luke! Luke! Luuuke!" in a manner much like a fire engine siren, earning her many bewildered stares from the other patrons present.

Rory laughed. Jess would have enjoyed that, she thought. Speaking of Jess … Rory looked around, but he wasn't there. She frowned, puzzled.

"Looking for me?" A familiar voice sounded close to her, making her jump.

Rory spun around.

"God! Jess!"

He smirked.

"What?" Rory asked, testily.

"Your expression just then. It was … classic. Straight from a B-Grade horror movie."

"I’m so glad my brush with heart failure entertained you," Rory answered pertly.

"You’re getting histrionic."

"Am not!"

Jess raised an eyebrow.

"Besides, you’re not exactly Mr Cool yourself, you’re wearing an apron that says ‘I’m just here to serve you. Coffee, that is!’"

Jess looked surly.

"Taylor’s idea."

"Ah. Makes customers more comfortable, I’m guessing?"

"Supposedly more comfortable. Personally, I don’t see it."

"Is Luke wearing one?"

"Yup. His says ‘Chef. Just ask me how!’" They grinned at each other.

"One of the first debates that Luke ever lost against Taylor."

"Truly."

"Jess!" Luke called from behind the counter.

"Gotta go. Catch ya later."

"Okay." Rory was oddly disappointed to see him go.

***

The phone rang at a particularly jarring pitch and Rory winced. The fluoro orange thing was one of Lorelai’s ‘finds’. Racing over, she picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Rory!"

"Lane, hey!"

"I have got the biggest piece of news for you! My mom’s going to be gone for the whole weekend!"

"Teaching at Korean bible camp?"

"Yeah. Great news huh? You have to come over and help me reorganize my CDs."

Rory smiled.

"Okay. So anyway -"

Rory’s pager went off with a soft beep.

"Hang on a sec Lane." She checked the message and groaned. "Taylor, damn your obsessive-compulsive tendencies!" She picked up the phone again. "Lane, did you know there’s a town meeting?"

"When?"

"Now!"

There was a click as Lane hung up in distress. Out of her window, Rory could see Lane furiously running out of her house.

"That would probably be a good idea." She ran out of the house and started sprinting, cursing frequently as she headed towards the town hall. "Lane! Wait for me!" Lane slowed, and Rory caught up to her.

"If I don’t get there, my mom’s going to hear about it and I’ll never be left alone again! My adolescent freedoms are on the line here!" Lane half-shouted this as the pair continued running at breakneck speed.

Pavement pounded below their feet and neither of them saw the solitary figure that they were rapidly heading towards until …

"Hey! Slow down!"

"Whoa!"

"Ah!"

There was a loud crashing sound as Lane tripped over Rory who had tumbled over Jess. Slowly, Jess got up and brushed himself off. Eyeing the pitiable pair of girls on the ground, he offered a hand to Lane, who grasped it thankfully.

"Mademoiselle," he said sarcastically, offering a hand to Rory, who took hold of it. Even in her somewhat dazed state, she felt a little tingle and stole a glance at Jess.

His eyes revealed nothing.

She got to her feet and let go quickly. Standing up, she puffed a little. Gilmores were not known for their fitness abilities, after all.

"Where are you going?"

"Oh, the er…" Rory gestured vaguely, "town meeting. Yeah, Taylor called an emergency meeting this afternoon and my mom just paged me and I’m late so I really really have to go." The disturbing feeling was still in her mind.

"Okay."

"Rory," Lane said urgently, "I’ll see you there, okay? Oh, and, sorry about that Jess!" She ran off, but not before giving Rory a sly wink.

"I’ll be there soon," she called faintly after her friend.

Rory started walking, albeit a little gingerly. "Aren’t you coming?"

"Nah. Not really my type of thing." Jess was nonchalant, as always.

"Please, Jess? I don’t want to go in all by myself. People will look at me weirdly and say ‘there goes Rory Gilmore, late again’"

"Where’s Bagboy?"

"He’s … he’s … I don’t know. I haven’t seen him today."

"He hasn’t paged you?"

"Well, yeah but …" Rory trailed off.

There was momentary silence.

"Can’t blame you. Bagboy could annoy the torch off the Statue of Liberty."

"Jess!"

"Sorry, sorry," he apologized, rather insincerely.

"Come on, let’s go!" Rory cast a worried look at her watch.

"Pass."

Jess started walking, but much to Rory’s chagrin, in the opposite direction to the Town Hall, his back to her.

"Where are you going?" Rory called out after his retreating figure.

"Where do you think?"

***

"Sookie! Have you seen Rory?"

"Hey!" Sookie was a picture of excitement, dressed in pink with a matching pink bow. "No, I haven’t. I thought you two would come together. Well, anyway, I’m so excited you’re here! I heard there’s going to be a vote on Christmas celebrations and I have some great ideas. Listen to this … kris kringle."

"Dear God, Sookie, no! Remember last time?"

Sookie shook her head.

"Well, last time it took Taylor two-and-a-half excruciating hours just to get through the approved slogans for shop windows! What did we decide on? Season’s Greetings and Merry Christmas, strictly not ‘X-Mas’. I nearly throttled myself, that’s how mind-numbingly, bone-chillingly-"

"But -"

"Shush Sookie, I’m on a roll here. Where was I? Oh yes. Skull-bashingly, brain-throttlingly boring it was! To an insane mind like Taylor’s … he’s going to want a secret ballot!"

"But you’ll get to give people little presents that gradually build up to the final thing. Think of the Christmas cheer it’ll bring to Stars Hollow!" Sookie was bubbling with enthusiasm.

"I think the most important thing to think of here is my mental health. I don’t think I can stand Taylor for that long."

"Well, where’s Rory?"

"I have no idea but I’m sure she’ll turn up. It’s not like her to skip these things, even if they’re -"

"Stars Hollow town meeting no. 114 is now in progress," Taylor’s unmistakably fussy voice rang out. Lorelai buried her head in her hands. It was going to be a long night.

***

Jess sat alone on the bridge, reading a rather tattered, dog-eared book. He heard the approach of footsteps and smiled to himself, waiting for contact.

"Jess."

He looked up as if it was all a surprise to him.

"Rory."

***