AN: Warning: I'm an Aussie, so everyone cast your minds back a bit to where
I'm at. We've only just met Jess. Nothing against him, but for the sake of
this fic, just say he's being a good boy and staying out of everyone's way.
Feel free to make suggestions! I like to think I'm a big girl so I can take
it, but I'm really shy about posting my fics and would appreciate
encouraging feedback (but if you think it really sux save me from myself
and let me know). Anyway, hope you enjoy!
The Games People Play
1. Anyone for tennis?
"Morning. It's bright. Need coffee." Lorelai mumbled as she stumbled into Luke's one Saturday morning with Rory and Lane in tow.
Luke replied by bursting out laughing.
"Did Halloween come early this year?" He asked.
Lorelai was wearing a short white skirt, white tennis shoes and a tight pink and white striped polo shirt with '69' stamped on the top left hand pocket. It was also on the back in bigger numbers under the word 'sporty.' Her hair was in two dark pigtails.
"We're playing tennis." She informed him, "but first I need coffee."
"Tennis. Right." Luke looked to Rory, who was dressed in short gym shorts and a tank top, "Why?"
"Because I need to practice. Chilton has a tennis tournament next weekend."
"I didn't know you played tennis."
"She doesn't." Lane responded, looking miserable in baggy shorts and an oversized tee shirt. "Who in their right mind would?"
"I need an extra-curricular sporting activity to put on my Harvard application," Rory explained, "and being such an amazing friend, Lane has agreed to practice with me."
"Anything to get away from my mother for the day. Although I don't think she believed me when I told her I'd be getting exercise."
"So neither of you have ever played?" Luke asked as he poured them coffee, "you're just gonna go out there and try to whack a ball around and expect to be ready for a competition next week?"
"That's what they've got me for!" Lorelai exclaimed.
"Mum used to play" Rory explained.
"Yes, one of the joys of high society. Tennis lessons from the age of eight."
Luke snorted, "You played tennis?"
"Why is that so hard to believe?"
"Well you're not exactly the most athletic person in the world." Luke said diplomatically.
"Or the most co-ordinated." Rory added helpfully as her pager beeped.
Luke muttered something about the blind leading the blind.
"You think you could do any better?" Lorelai challenged.
"As the matter of fact, I used to play tennis in high school too."
"Oh really?"
"Oh no!" Rory interrupted their banter, "Dean can't come, he has to work." She looked disappointed as she responded to the page. "What are we going to do now? We've got an uneven number."
"I don't have to play" Lane said hopefully
"Luke can play!" Lorelai suggested brightly.
"Oh no" he said
"Could you teach me, Luke?" Rory asked, "please?"
"Sorry Rory, but I have to run the diner" Luke answered, glad to have found an excuse.
Rory and Lorelai both made puppy dog eyes at him
"Please Lukey?"
"Jess can take care of it for the day."
"You deserve a Saturday off."
"If I ever had a Saturday off do you think I would spend it playing tennis at your country club?"
"Please, I'll be your best friend?"
"Me too."
"Me three."
Luke sighed as the three females ganged up on him. He finally gave in.
"Okay, okay. Someone has to save you from yourselves out there. Just try not to embarrass me too much hey?"
"When have I ever embarrassed you?" Lorelai asked.
Luke just gave her a look.
"Go get changed." Rory ordered Luke, "you can't play tennis in flannel."
"Ooh we get to see Luke out of flannel! It's a special day!" Lorelai teased.
"You're mocking my clothes? Did you look in the mirror this morning?" Luke leaned closer and spoke more softly "And does your daughter know what the number on your top means?'
"Luke Danes you have a dirty mind!"
"You're the one in the shirt."
"It's um, the year I was born?" she tried.
Luke just smirked and went upstairs to change.
90 minutes later...
"Damn" Luke muttered as his serve bounced out.
"That's how not to do it" Lorelai called helpfully to Rory.
"Well I don't see you doing much better!"
None of them were doing very well. Luke was taking a while to get his skills back on track, as was Lorelai, who couldn't keep the ball in the court. Rory was trying hard, but Lane couldn't even get the ball over the net and had no interest in learning how.
"I'm taking a break guys" Lane called. Rory followed her outside the court while Lorelai and Luke continued to argue down the other end of the court.
"Thanks for coming with me today." Rory said to Lane.
"You owe me" her best friend warned as a two young guys approached them.
"Mary, Mary what a pleasant surprise."
Rory grimaced at the sight of Tristan, but Lane smiled as she recognised his friend.
"Henry, hi!"
"Hi Lane, hi Rory. You play tennis?"
"Not exactly. You?" Lane replied.
"We're on the Chilton team together," Henry explained. "Want to go grab a drink?' he asked Lane. She nodded eagerly.
"You can start paying me back now." Lane whispered to Rory. "See you later."
"What are you doing here Mary? Entering the tournament next weekend?'
"As the matter of fact I am" Rory replied coldly, "If you'll excuse me I need to practice."
Rory turned her back on Tristan and returned to the court.
"Who's the spunk?' her mother asked.
"That's evil Tristan"
"You never told me evil Tristan was cute evil Tristan!"
Rory rolled her eyes, "it's evil Tristan, you have to save me."
"Introduce me. I'll scare him off."
"Tristan, this is my Mom and our friend Luke."
"Pleased to meet you Ms Gilmore." Tristan said politely.
"Call me Lorelai dammit."
"Uh, sure Lorelai. How's the practice going?" Tristan asked nervously.
"Fine" Rory relied.
"It would be better if she had a teacher who could actually play." Lorelai said.
"Don't start again," Luke warned her.
"I could practice with you, if you like. Give you a few tips." Tristan offered.
"That's a lovely offer." Lorelai said.
"Mom!" Rory hissed, "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"What's wrong?"
"Some help! You're sending me to play with evil Tristan!"
"So?"
"It's Evil Tristan!"
"He seems very polite."
"It's an act. I don't know what he's up to."
"You're paranoid. He's cute too. And I'm sure he'll do a better job of coaching you then either Luke or I am. Think of Harvard."
"Okay, but you have to promise to rescue me in an hour, MAXIMUM."
Rory and Tristan moved to another court and Lorelai and Luke went back onto theirs.
"I'll give you a game." Lorelai challenged him.
"You're on." Luke replied, watching appreciatively the way Lorelai's skirt bounced as she strode to the other side of the court. There had to be some benefit to this.
After a couple of games their skills began to return. They were pretty evenly matched and both had a competitive streak that was emerging.
A couple of courts over, Rory was surprised. Tristan was turning out to be a pretty decent coach. He was very patient and hadn't mocked her once.
"Bend your knee more as you hit the backhand." He instructed and gently lobbed her a ball, which she awkwardly returned.
"Maybe you want to try a double handed grip." Tristan suggested, vaulting over the net to her side.
Rory rolled her eyes "Mr Cool can't walk around the net like everyone else?"
He ignored her snide comment. "Use both hands, you'll have more power and control."
Rory put both hands on the racquet handle.
"You're not holding a baseball bat."
"When have I ever held a baseball bat?"
"Right hand first, line up the V of your finger and thumb with the side of the racquet. Then put you left hand above it." Tristan guided Rory's hands into position. He pulled a ball out of his pocket and dropped it in front of them. He then quickly wrapped her arms around Rory and they swung.
"Perfect."
"Hey, that was a pretty good shot!" Rory exclaimed proudly, heart pounding as Tristan released her.
"Felt good huh?" Tristan smiled at her, talking about more than just the shot.
"Yeah." Rory smiled back.
"You want me to help you again?" Tristan asked hopefully.
"I think I can manage." Rory replied lightly.
"Suit yourself."
Tristan threw her the ball, which Rory hit cleanly over then net.
"Nice work. Wanna take a break?' Tristan suggested.
"Sure."
"Tristan, why are you being so nice?" Rory asked as they sat and sipped bottled water.
"Oh, I'm just sucking up to you cos I think your mom's hot."
Rory squirted her water at him, "Idiot" she laughed, "but thank you for the lesson."
"I've been good hey?" Tristan fished for even more compliments.
"Well, don't feel bad, everyone has an off day once in a while."
This time Tristan squirted water her, sparking a full on water fight. Rory jumped up and ran away down the pathway to a small grass patch where Lane and Henry were sitting chatting.
"Truce." Rory said to Tristan, gesturing to Lane and Henry, who had their backs to them.
Tristan nodded mischievously and he and Rory ran up and squirted their friends.
Meanwhile, it was five-all in Lorelai and Luke's game. Lorelai was grabbing a drink when she heard a voice call out.
"Lorelai Gilmore, I thought it was you." Lorelai pulled a face at Luke before turning around to face the woman.
"Becky, hi, long time no see."
"Don't see you around here very often. How have you been."
"Fine, fine. You?"
"Oh, you know, Todd and I are in the process of renovating at the moment, you wouldn't believe the problems we're having with the builders."
"I can't imagine." Lorelai replied dryly.
"Anyway, I don't want to disturb your game, but we really should catch up properly some time. I heard about your broken engagement, you should have dinner with Todd and I sometime, we'll invite Sam Autumn, he just got divorced you know."
Lorelai looked horrified, "oh, I really don't want to be set up with anyone, Becky."
"Oh, it'll be fun."
"No, really, I-"
"Why not?"
"I'm seeing someone already." Lorelai blurted out desperately.
"Oh, really?" Becky looked at Luke who was practicing his service action at the other end of the court; "He's pretty cute, if you go for the rugged type."
"Yep, well, no blind dates for me!" Lorelai laughed nervously.
"Well you'll have to bring him to dinner! How's tonight?"
"I don't think-"
"Great. Gotta run now. See you here at 8! Can't wait to meet your new man!"
Becky raced off about thirty metres to greet two other women. She pointed to Lorelai, who waved sarcastically.
"So much for class" she murmured.
Lorelai walked to Luke's side of the court and put her arms around his neck.
"What the-" he asked.
"Put your arms around my waist." She ordered.
"Why?"
"Because they're watching!"
"Who's watching?"
"Come on!" Lorelai insisted.
Luke sighed and rested his arms around her waist, still keeping about a foot between them.
"What's going on?" Luke asked resignedly, stealing a look at Becky and her friends.
"THAT is Becky Marshall-Holmes."
"So?"
"So she is, at this moment, spreading the news that you, the 'rugged type' are my latest victim. You have to pretend to be my boyfriend for dinner with her and her husband tonight."
"Okay."
"Okay? That was too easy!"
"Well I could ask why it matters what these people think of you or why I should go along with it, but I know you'll have some crazy response that will make prefect sense to you only. So I'll make you a deal. If you win this set I'll do it."
"Really?"
"You gotta win first."
"Thank you Lukey!" she smacked a kiss on his cheek before bounding back to her own side of the court. "I'm gonna kick your ass!"
Rory, Lane, Tristan and Henry collapsed on the grass, exhausted and soaking wet after their waterfight.
"That was fun." Rory said.
"It was." Tristan smiled back at her, took a deep breath, and decided to push his luck, "do you want to do something tonight? The four of us?"
"Yeah, that's be great." Henry agreed.
"Uh," Lane looked at Rory. She really wanted to spend more time with Henry, but knew how her best friend felt about Tristan.
"I have to check with my mum." Rory said quickly. "Lane, come for a walk with me."
"Back soon!" They told the guys.
"I really like Henry" Lane told Rory as they walked, "and I wouldn't even have to lie to my mom to go out with him. But if you don't want to..."
"You two could go by yourselves." Rory suggested.
"I don't know if my mom would be that liberal. Besides I think it'd be a little uncomfortable, us being on our own."
"You were on your own just before." Rory pointed out.
"But that wasn't like a date. Besides, you said yourself you were having fun."
"Well Tristan was acting strangely human. I don't want to push my luck."
"I think he's got a really big thing for your Rory."
"He does not!"
"Are you worried you might start to like him?"
"Never! Besides I have a boyfriend... In fact, I should really call Dean. He was probably counting on us doing something together tonight cos I didn't get to see him today. In fact, I'll do that right now."
Rory pulled out her phone.
"Hi Dean."
"Hi Ror, you just caught me on my break. How's tennis?"
"Oh, it's fine. How's work?"
"The usual. What's up?"
"I was just seeing what you had planned for tonight."
"Oh, I'd actually arranged to meet up with some friends from school. Were you counting on us doing something together?"
"Oh, no. I was just checking. Actually, Lane and I met up with some friends here too, we'll probably hang out with them tonight."
Rory smiled as Lane jumped up and down with excitement as she said this.
"Okay, I better go. I'll catch you later."
"Yup, bye Dean."
"Bye Rory."
"Thank you!" Lane exclaimed as Rory put away the phone. "We are now officially even once more."
"You will remember all I do for you." Rory warned, "and if Tristan makes one wrong move I'm out of there."
"Sure thing. I understand. I can't believe I'm finally going out with a great guy I really like!" Lane linked arms with Rory as they did an about face and headed back to the guys.
"I'm happy for you." Rory said.
"Wait." Lane spun them around again, "don't you need to ask you mom?"
"Nah, she'll be fine, That was just an excuse to get out of it if necessary."
"Oh, nice work."
They made plans to meet up with the guys that night before catching the end of Lorelai and Luke's game.
The score was six-all nine-all in the tie break. Lorelai was playing for keeps. And it wasn't because she cared when the society set tbought of her. Deep down she wanted to go out on a date and have a good time. And she wanted to do it with Luke. Of course she could never tell him this. Instead she wacked the ball back, grunting as she did.
"What's with the sound effects?" Luke called, after narrowly failing to chase down the shot.
"New technique. That's 9-10. Bring it on."
Luke grunted himself as he slammed a serve down the centre.
"Fault." Lorelai called.
"No way."
"Uh-huh."
"You are such a cheater!"
"You think you can see from all the way down there?"
"Play two."
"Okay, fine."
Luke slowed his serve down and it bounced clearly in the box.
Lorelai returned it cleanly and rushed the net.
Luke lobbed it back over her head.
Lorelai ran back and barely managed to get the ball back in play.
This was Luke's big chance. His mind was racing. If he blew this she would win. She would never let him forget it. And he would have to go out to dinner with her. All of a sudden, he wasn't sure he wanted to win. This was his chance to go on a date without having to ask her. Luke pictured he and Lorelai sitting down to a candlelit dinner. His concentration wavered for a split second; his shot hit the net tape and bounced up... and down back on his side of the net. Lorelai threw her arms up in triumph before jogging up to shake is hand.
"Good game, Coffee man."
"Good game." He replied, with mixed feelings. They headed off the court to greet Rory and Lane.
"Did you witness my stunning victory?" Lorelai asked.
"That was pretty intense." Rory commented.
"He never had me worried, kiddo." Her mother bragged.
"Just wait for the rematch." Luke muttered as the four headed out of the club.
"I can't believe you're going out with cute Tristan instead of Dean!" Lorelai exclaimed in the car on the way home.
"One," Rory corrected her mother; "I am not 'going out' with him. It's just a group of friends. Only Tristan and I aren't friends." Rory wrinkled her nose, "It's all about Lane and Henry. Anyway, two, he is not cute Tristan, he's evil Tristan, but if you really think of him that way he did say you were hot."
"He did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too, of course it's only cos you're realated to moi!"
"Moving on then. Number three?" prompted Lorelai.
"Okay, three, it is not instead of Dean. Dean and I are separate people. We are allowed to spend our Saturday nights with individual friends occasionally."
"Only Tristan's not your friend." Lane reminded helpfully.
Rory changed the subject, "So what do you have planned for tonight, Mom?"
"I have a hot date." Lorelai drawled, glancing sideways at Luke.
"Sounds like we're both in for an interesting night."
To be continued…
Oops! Forgot to add a disclaimer: everyone knows they aint mine, but I don't wanna get into any trouble now!
The Games People Play
1. Anyone for tennis?
"Morning. It's bright. Need coffee." Lorelai mumbled as she stumbled into Luke's one Saturday morning with Rory and Lane in tow.
Luke replied by bursting out laughing.
"Did Halloween come early this year?" He asked.
Lorelai was wearing a short white skirt, white tennis shoes and a tight pink and white striped polo shirt with '69' stamped on the top left hand pocket. It was also on the back in bigger numbers under the word 'sporty.' Her hair was in two dark pigtails.
"We're playing tennis." She informed him, "but first I need coffee."
"Tennis. Right." Luke looked to Rory, who was dressed in short gym shorts and a tank top, "Why?"
"Because I need to practice. Chilton has a tennis tournament next weekend."
"I didn't know you played tennis."
"She doesn't." Lane responded, looking miserable in baggy shorts and an oversized tee shirt. "Who in their right mind would?"
"I need an extra-curricular sporting activity to put on my Harvard application," Rory explained, "and being such an amazing friend, Lane has agreed to practice with me."
"Anything to get away from my mother for the day. Although I don't think she believed me when I told her I'd be getting exercise."
"So neither of you have ever played?" Luke asked as he poured them coffee, "you're just gonna go out there and try to whack a ball around and expect to be ready for a competition next week?"
"That's what they've got me for!" Lorelai exclaimed.
"Mum used to play" Rory explained.
"Yes, one of the joys of high society. Tennis lessons from the age of eight."
Luke snorted, "You played tennis?"
"Why is that so hard to believe?"
"Well you're not exactly the most athletic person in the world." Luke said diplomatically.
"Or the most co-ordinated." Rory added helpfully as her pager beeped.
Luke muttered something about the blind leading the blind.
"You think you could do any better?" Lorelai challenged.
"As the matter of fact, I used to play tennis in high school too."
"Oh really?"
"Oh no!" Rory interrupted their banter, "Dean can't come, he has to work." She looked disappointed as she responded to the page. "What are we going to do now? We've got an uneven number."
"I don't have to play" Lane said hopefully
"Luke can play!" Lorelai suggested brightly.
"Oh no" he said
"Could you teach me, Luke?" Rory asked, "please?"
"Sorry Rory, but I have to run the diner" Luke answered, glad to have found an excuse.
Rory and Lorelai both made puppy dog eyes at him
"Please Lukey?"
"Jess can take care of it for the day."
"You deserve a Saturday off."
"If I ever had a Saturday off do you think I would spend it playing tennis at your country club?"
"Please, I'll be your best friend?"
"Me too."
"Me three."
Luke sighed as the three females ganged up on him. He finally gave in.
"Okay, okay. Someone has to save you from yourselves out there. Just try not to embarrass me too much hey?"
"When have I ever embarrassed you?" Lorelai asked.
Luke just gave her a look.
"Go get changed." Rory ordered Luke, "you can't play tennis in flannel."
"Ooh we get to see Luke out of flannel! It's a special day!" Lorelai teased.
"You're mocking my clothes? Did you look in the mirror this morning?" Luke leaned closer and spoke more softly "And does your daughter know what the number on your top means?'
"Luke Danes you have a dirty mind!"
"You're the one in the shirt."
"It's um, the year I was born?" she tried.
Luke just smirked and went upstairs to change.
90 minutes later...
"Damn" Luke muttered as his serve bounced out.
"That's how not to do it" Lorelai called helpfully to Rory.
"Well I don't see you doing much better!"
None of them were doing very well. Luke was taking a while to get his skills back on track, as was Lorelai, who couldn't keep the ball in the court. Rory was trying hard, but Lane couldn't even get the ball over the net and had no interest in learning how.
"I'm taking a break guys" Lane called. Rory followed her outside the court while Lorelai and Luke continued to argue down the other end of the court.
"Thanks for coming with me today." Rory said to Lane.
"You owe me" her best friend warned as a two young guys approached them.
"Mary, Mary what a pleasant surprise."
Rory grimaced at the sight of Tristan, but Lane smiled as she recognised his friend.
"Henry, hi!"
"Hi Lane, hi Rory. You play tennis?"
"Not exactly. You?" Lane replied.
"We're on the Chilton team together," Henry explained. "Want to go grab a drink?' he asked Lane. She nodded eagerly.
"You can start paying me back now." Lane whispered to Rory. "See you later."
"What are you doing here Mary? Entering the tournament next weekend?'
"As the matter of fact I am" Rory replied coldly, "If you'll excuse me I need to practice."
Rory turned her back on Tristan and returned to the court.
"Who's the spunk?' her mother asked.
"That's evil Tristan"
"You never told me evil Tristan was cute evil Tristan!"
Rory rolled her eyes, "it's evil Tristan, you have to save me."
"Introduce me. I'll scare him off."
"Tristan, this is my Mom and our friend Luke."
"Pleased to meet you Ms Gilmore." Tristan said politely.
"Call me Lorelai dammit."
"Uh, sure Lorelai. How's the practice going?" Tristan asked nervously.
"Fine" Rory relied.
"It would be better if she had a teacher who could actually play." Lorelai said.
"Don't start again," Luke warned her.
"I could practice with you, if you like. Give you a few tips." Tristan offered.
"That's a lovely offer." Lorelai said.
"Mom!" Rory hissed, "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"What's wrong?"
"Some help! You're sending me to play with evil Tristan!"
"So?"
"It's Evil Tristan!"
"He seems very polite."
"It's an act. I don't know what he's up to."
"You're paranoid. He's cute too. And I'm sure he'll do a better job of coaching you then either Luke or I am. Think of Harvard."
"Okay, but you have to promise to rescue me in an hour, MAXIMUM."
Rory and Tristan moved to another court and Lorelai and Luke went back onto theirs.
"I'll give you a game." Lorelai challenged him.
"You're on." Luke replied, watching appreciatively the way Lorelai's skirt bounced as she strode to the other side of the court. There had to be some benefit to this.
After a couple of games their skills began to return. They were pretty evenly matched and both had a competitive streak that was emerging.
A couple of courts over, Rory was surprised. Tristan was turning out to be a pretty decent coach. He was very patient and hadn't mocked her once.
"Bend your knee more as you hit the backhand." He instructed and gently lobbed her a ball, which she awkwardly returned.
"Maybe you want to try a double handed grip." Tristan suggested, vaulting over the net to her side.
Rory rolled her eyes "Mr Cool can't walk around the net like everyone else?"
He ignored her snide comment. "Use both hands, you'll have more power and control."
Rory put both hands on the racquet handle.
"You're not holding a baseball bat."
"When have I ever held a baseball bat?"
"Right hand first, line up the V of your finger and thumb with the side of the racquet. Then put you left hand above it." Tristan guided Rory's hands into position. He pulled a ball out of his pocket and dropped it in front of them. He then quickly wrapped her arms around Rory and they swung.
"Perfect."
"Hey, that was a pretty good shot!" Rory exclaimed proudly, heart pounding as Tristan released her.
"Felt good huh?" Tristan smiled at her, talking about more than just the shot.
"Yeah." Rory smiled back.
"You want me to help you again?" Tristan asked hopefully.
"I think I can manage." Rory replied lightly.
"Suit yourself."
Tristan threw her the ball, which Rory hit cleanly over then net.
"Nice work. Wanna take a break?' Tristan suggested.
"Sure."
"Tristan, why are you being so nice?" Rory asked as they sat and sipped bottled water.
"Oh, I'm just sucking up to you cos I think your mom's hot."
Rory squirted her water at him, "Idiot" she laughed, "but thank you for the lesson."
"I've been good hey?" Tristan fished for even more compliments.
"Well, don't feel bad, everyone has an off day once in a while."
This time Tristan squirted water her, sparking a full on water fight. Rory jumped up and ran away down the pathway to a small grass patch where Lane and Henry were sitting chatting.
"Truce." Rory said to Tristan, gesturing to Lane and Henry, who had their backs to them.
Tristan nodded mischievously and he and Rory ran up and squirted their friends.
Meanwhile, it was five-all in Lorelai and Luke's game. Lorelai was grabbing a drink when she heard a voice call out.
"Lorelai Gilmore, I thought it was you." Lorelai pulled a face at Luke before turning around to face the woman.
"Becky, hi, long time no see."
"Don't see you around here very often. How have you been."
"Fine, fine. You?"
"Oh, you know, Todd and I are in the process of renovating at the moment, you wouldn't believe the problems we're having with the builders."
"I can't imagine." Lorelai replied dryly.
"Anyway, I don't want to disturb your game, but we really should catch up properly some time. I heard about your broken engagement, you should have dinner with Todd and I sometime, we'll invite Sam Autumn, he just got divorced you know."
Lorelai looked horrified, "oh, I really don't want to be set up with anyone, Becky."
"Oh, it'll be fun."
"No, really, I-"
"Why not?"
"I'm seeing someone already." Lorelai blurted out desperately.
"Oh, really?" Becky looked at Luke who was practicing his service action at the other end of the court; "He's pretty cute, if you go for the rugged type."
"Yep, well, no blind dates for me!" Lorelai laughed nervously.
"Well you'll have to bring him to dinner! How's tonight?"
"I don't think-"
"Great. Gotta run now. See you here at 8! Can't wait to meet your new man!"
Becky raced off about thirty metres to greet two other women. She pointed to Lorelai, who waved sarcastically.
"So much for class" she murmured.
Lorelai walked to Luke's side of the court and put her arms around his neck.
"What the-" he asked.
"Put your arms around my waist." She ordered.
"Why?"
"Because they're watching!"
"Who's watching?"
"Come on!" Lorelai insisted.
Luke sighed and rested his arms around her waist, still keeping about a foot between them.
"What's going on?" Luke asked resignedly, stealing a look at Becky and her friends.
"THAT is Becky Marshall-Holmes."
"So?"
"So she is, at this moment, spreading the news that you, the 'rugged type' are my latest victim. You have to pretend to be my boyfriend for dinner with her and her husband tonight."
"Okay."
"Okay? That was too easy!"
"Well I could ask why it matters what these people think of you or why I should go along with it, but I know you'll have some crazy response that will make prefect sense to you only. So I'll make you a deal. If you win this set I'll do it."
"Really?"
"You gotta win first."
"Thank you Lukey!" she smacked a kiss on his cheek before bounding back to her own side of the court. "I'm gonna kick your ass!"
Rory, Lane, Tristan and Henry collapsed on the grass, exhausted and soaking wet after their waterfight.
"That was fun." Rory said.
"It was." Tristan smiled back at her, took a deep breath, and decided to push his luck, "do you want to do something tonight? The four of us?"
"Yeah, that's be great." Henry agreed.
"Uh," Lane looked at Rory. She really wanted to spend more time with Henry, but knew how her best friend felt about Tristan.
"I have to check with my mum." Rory said quickly. "Lane, come for a walk with me."
"Back soon!" They told the guys.
"I really like Henry" Lane told Rory as they walked, "and I wouldn't even have to lie to my mom to go out with him. But if you don't want to..."
"You two could go by yourselves." Rory suggested.
"I don't know if my mom would be that liberal. Besides I think it'd be a little uncomfortable, us being on our own."
"You were on your own just before." Rory pointed out.
"But that wasn't like a date. Besides, you said yourself you were having fun."
"Well Tristan was acting strangely human. I don't want to push my luck."
"I think he's got a really big thing for your Rory."
"He does not!"
"Are you worried you might start to like him?"
"Never! Besides I have a boyfriend... In fact, I should really call Dean. He was probably counting on us doing something together tonight cos I didn't get to see him today. In fact, I'll do that right now."
Rory pulled out her phone.
"Hi Dean."
"Hi Ror, you just caught me on my break. How's tennis?"
"Oh, it's fine. How's work?"
"The usual. What's up?"
"I was just seeing what you had planned for tonight."
"Oh, I'd actually arranged to meet up with some friends from school. Were you counting on us doing something together?"
"Oh, no. I was just checking. Actually, Lane and I met up with some friends here too, we'll probably hang out with them tonight."
Rory smiled as Lane jumped up and down with excitement as she said this.
"Okay, I better go. I'll catch you later."
"Yup, bye Dean."
"Bye Rory."
"Thank you!" Lane exclaimed as Rory put away the phone. "We are now officially even once more."
"You will remember all I do for you." Rory warned, "and if Tristan makes one wrong move I'm out of there."
"Sure thing. I understand. I can't believe I'm finally going out with a great guy I really like!" Lane linked arms with Rory as they did an about face and headed back to the guys.
"I'm happy for you." Rory said.
"Wait." Lane spun them around again, "don't you need to ask you mom?"
"Nah, she'll be fine, That was just an excuse to get out of it if necessary."
"Oh, nice work."
They made plans to meet up with the guys that night before catching the end of Lorelai and Luke's game.
The score was six-all nine-all in the tie break. Lorelai was playing for keeps. And it wasn't because she cared when the society set tbought of her. Deep down she wanted to go out on a date and have a good time. And she wanted to do it with Luke. Of course she could never tell him this. Instead she wacked the ball back, grunting as she did.
"What's with the sound effects?" Luke called, after narrowly failing to chase down the shot.
"New technique. That's 9-10. Bring it on."
Luke grunted himself as he slammed a serve down the centre.
"Fault." Lorelai called.
"No way."
"Uh-huh."
"You are such a cheater!"
"You think you can see from all the way down there?"
"Play two."
"Okay, fine."
Luke slowed his serve down and it bounced clearly in the box.
Lorelai returned it cleanly and rushed the net.
Luke lobbed it back over her head.
Lorelai ran back and barely managed to get the ball back in play.
This was Luke's big chance. His mind was racing. If he blew this she would win. She would never let him forget it. And he would have to go out to dinner with her. All of a sudden, he wasn't sure he wanted to win. This was his chance to go on a date without having to ask her. Luke pictured he and Lorelai sitting down to a candlelit dinner. His concentration wavered for a split second; his shot hit the net tape and bounced up... and down back on his side of the net. Lorelai threw her arms up in triumph before jogging up to shake is hand.
"Good game, Coffee man."
"Good game." He replied, with mixed feelings. They headed off the court to greet Rory and Lane.
"Did you witness my stunning victory?" Lorelai asked.
"That was pretty intense." Rory commented.
"He never had me worried, kiddo." Her mother bragged.
"Just wait for the rematch." Luke muttered as the four headed out of the club.
"I can't believe you're going out with cute Tristan instead of Dean!" Lorelai exclaimed in the car on the way home.
"One," Rory corrected her mother; "I am not 'going out' with him. It's just a group of friends. Only Tristan and I aren't friends." Rory wrinkled her nose, "It's all about Lane and Henry. Anyway, two, he is not cute Tristan, he's evil Tristan, but if you really think of him that way he did say you were hot."
"He did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too, of course it's only cos you're realated to moi!"
"Moving on then. Number three?" prompted Lorelai.
"Okay, three, it is not instead of Dean. Dean and I are separate people. We are allowed to spend our Saturday nights with individual friends occasionally."
"Only Tristan's not your friend." Lane reminded helpfully.
Rory changed the subject, "So what do you have planned for tonight, Mom?"
"I have a hot date." Lorelai drawled, glancing sideways at Luke.
"Sounds like we're both in for an interesting night."
To be continued…
Oops! Forgot to add a disclaimer: everyone knows they aint mine, but I don't wanna get into any trouble now!