The Incredible Rising Lorelai

By Gigi

Author’s Note: This takes place after Lorelai sinks into Luke, crying in The Incredible Sinking Lorelais

A/N 2: Lorelai’s POV. Lorelai and Jason are not together in this

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, except for the ones I make up. They belong to ASP and the WB.

Chapter 25: All That Jazz

A/N: Hey guys! I’m on chapter 25 already! Wow! Rest assured you will get an extremely long chapter today in celebration for this milestone! Thank you to all who have stuck by me, especially my beautiful beat (beta for all you old fashioned people) and buddy, OkGoPrettyMuchRules! My five best friends helped me write the next couple chapters, so thank you!

A/N2: I am introducing some new characters in this chapter: Gigi (not Christopher’s daughter), Michaela, and Ali. These characters are mine, modeled after real people, and I did not steal them from AS-P.

“Well I think that was a very successful outing, don’t you?” I laugh as Liz and I walk out of the mall with so many bags we have to have a guy from JC Penny carry half of them for us.

“I certainly do!” Liz agrees. “I can’t believe you are getting all this stuff right now! I mean, you hardly look pregnant at all! How far along are you?”

“Only about two months, but I want to get them before I show some more, because then I’ll be wearing my normal clothes, which won’t properly fit and I’ll look like a pregnant slut. If Nicole sees me like that, she’ll have a field day,” I explain. Where did Nicole come from?

“Why would Nicole see you?” Liz asks, confused. Sighing, I look for my car. Oh. Crap.

“Because she is right there,” I answer, standing, mortified. Liz looks in the same direction and sees Nicole getting out of her car, which just happens to be right next to mine. Shit.

“Oh, crap…I take it that she doesn’t know about the engagement or the pregnancy?” Liz’s question requires no answer, because one look at my face answers it for her. “Oh, shit. She’s coming over…”

Sure enough, Nicole walks over to us. Before she reaches us, a startling thought occurs to me. Leaning over to Liz, I whisper, “She does know I’m pregnant…—”Liz’s face is the picture of surprise—“Yeah, I kinda told Luke I was pregnant while they were in a fight…” I trail off as Nicole approaches Liz and me.

“Hi, Lorelai,” she greets. Seriously!

“Hi, Nicole, uh, do you know Liz, Luke’s sister?” I gesture to Liz.

“Uh, not in person, I only knew you existed.”

“Well, that’s a nice way of phrasing it,” Liz says with a smile, shaking Nicole’s hand. Liz 1, Nicole 0.

“So, Nicole, what’s new?” I ask.

“Oh, well, I’m Taylor’s attorney again.” Nicole admits, her face expressing she really doesn’t want to be.

“Seriously? I’m so sorry!” I laugh. Taylor is one of the pickiest people in the world, and if I was his attorney I would kill myself to get away from his specific demands! “When is your month up?”

“Next week, thank God! So what’s new with you…other than…,” Nicole stares at my stomach. Oh. Right.

“Umm…I opened my inn!” I declare.

“That’s great!” I can completely tell she’s faking.

“And I ran into two of my exes at the grand opening,” I say with a bunch of sarcastic enthusiasm.

“Oh, fun!” Nicole replies with just as much sarcasm.

“Yeah…and, well…no that’s it!” I change my mind about telling her about the engagement. That might not be the wisest thing ever, especially when I remember her lovely reaction to the news that her then-husband impregnated me. Liz, however, had a different mindset.

“Lorelai’s engaged!” she blurts out, a grin evident on Liz’s rosy features. There cannot be a word to describe Nicole’s change of expression other than shock.

Feigning happiness, Nicole, in the midst of congratulating me, asks offhand, “Who’s the lucky guy?” Damn.

“Uh, actually, it’s…uh…L-Luke,” I stammer, bracing myself for the inevitable freak out.

“What!” Nicole demands before she can stop herself. And we’re off!

“You heard her: Luke,” Liz confirms in a pleasant tone, not at all condescending as the statement implies.

“Luke, my Luke, you’re engaged to my Luke!” The skinny blonde lawyer’s face borders on that of Kim Jung Il (A/N: For those who don’t know, Kim Jung Il is the crazy dictator dude of North Korea who actually looks crazy).

“Your Luke!” I repeat, incredulous. She did not just say that! “You’re the lawyer; you should know that a divorce means he’s no longer your Luke!” I shoot back before ushering Liz and stalking off. It feels great. Seriously, I mean I’m yay-ing in my head!

8D

“Oh, my God, Lorelai,” Liz exclaims as the door of my Jeep slams shut. We’re still in the mall parking lot, staring (okay, glaring) at Nicole, who, at the moment, stands stock still, her knee-high boots ruined as a passing car splashes her, soaking her from head to toe. “That was amazing!” Nicole is having a fit, now, and whips out her cell phone, dialing furiously. She looks determined, a maniacal gleam sparkling in her eyes. That can’t be good. Shit.

8D

“Lucas, the town square waits!” I yell from the bedroom into the bathroom. “Come on! I already convinced you to go to this with me; don’t make me do it again!” I chastise, adding a silent dirty to my last comment. “And leave the lumberjack look behind today!”

“I hate you, very much!” Luke yells back.

“Aw, thanks hon, now come out here!” I want him to see my ensemble: my hair (which I straightened…took a good fifteen minutes!) half up, half down, a pink satin cami with little sparkles near the spaghetti straps, my off-shoulder maroon sweater that cuts way low so you can see the cami, a pair of Sevens I got for my birthday, my black stilettos, and white gold hoop earrings.

“You’re mean!” comes from the bathroom.

“Luke, if you don’t come out right now, no more baseball for a month!” I threaten him like he is a petulant three-year old, and what do you know? As I dab on my lip gloss (Juicy Tubes), out Luke comes in a dashing navy blue shirt and leather jacket. “Good boy.”

“This is demeaning!” he declares, his mouth forms in what can only be a pout.

“Wow, Luke Danes pouting! I have got to get a camera!” I tease, knowing it makes him crazy when I belittle him. “How do I look?” I ask, twirling for him.

“Great, now let’s get this over with!” Luke commands.

8D

A/N: Guess what lyrics these are.

Don’t wish. Don’t start!

Wishing only wounds the heart…

I wasn’t born for the rose and the pearl…

There’s a girl I know…

He loves her so.

I’m not…that girl

Clapping. More clapping. We’re in the town square at the Stars Hollow Talent Search, and everybody is clapping for like ten minutes for this fourteen year old Indian girl in all black (in all black should be a clue) with an incredible voice. I’m not denying that I am clapping also. I’m just saying that everybody—including me—is clapping too much.

Taylor approaches the podium. “Thank you…uh…what’s your name?” he whispers.

“Gigi!” the Indian girl replies, smiling at the audience, her dark, liquid-like brown eyes sparkling as much as her braces.

“Thank you, Gigi, for that beautiful song!” Taylor offers, and Gigi walks off to more applause. “Next up: a talented young lady who has offered to show off some soccer skills! Please welcome Ali!”

A girl about Gigi’s age, give or take a year or two, in a blue and white soccer uniform and black cleats walks out on stage with a soccer ball under her arm. Setting the ball on the floor of the town Gazebo, she rests her foot in a very Mia Hamm-ish style, waiting. One second…ten seconds…forty-five sec—

Get a Clue blares in the background and Ali’s off, she kicks the ball above her head and head butts it about five times before balancing it on her nose like a seal. To much applause, she bounces the soccer ball off her shoulder and kicks it onto her knee, where she alternates legs to keep the ball in midair. This keeps going for another minute or two when, as her grand finale, she kicks the ball extremely high and turns around before catching it.

Ali, never overwhelmed by crowds clapping, smiles a confident smile with her eyes laughing in delight. She takes a bow and walks off the stage.

“Wasn’t that something?” Taylor asks when he gets up to the podium again. “Our final act this evening is a monologue performed by an extraordinary actress. Give a nice welcoming round of applause for Michaela!”

Michaela, a few years older than the previous two, keeps us entertained as we laugh at her hilarious lemonade-selling monologue.

“Lemonade! Get your nice cold lemonade! It’s only 25 cents! Hey kid, you look thirsty. Why don’t you go ask your mom for a quarter and buy some lemonade?” She crouches down, acting like she’s talking to a little boy, and then hops up and down on one foot. “Ouch! You don’t have to stomp on my foot! You could just say no!” She hops over to the table with a bunch of paper cups on it and pretends to knock it over. “Oh, man!” Michaela’s long blond hair sweeps forward as she bends over to pick up the cups.

The lights go out.

Cheering. Lots and lots of cheering. I have to say, it was a very good talent show!

8D

Later, at Luke’s everybody is giving their views on the Talent Search when Miss Patty walks in.

“Everybody, gather ‘round please!” Miss Patty announces. “I know the results of the Stars Hollow Talent Search was supposed to be revealed at the next town meeting, but the judges came to a decision sooner than expected! Drum roll please!” She motions to Kirk, who starts beating on the table. “It’s a three-way tie! Gigi, Michaela, and Ali all won!”

This news registers with overwhelming applause and cheering. Babette and Miss Patty usher the three girls, who are beaming, to the counter.

Gigi, Michaela, and Ali sit by me, because of course I’m harassing Luke, and they want to watch. I turn to Ali and greet her. “Hey, I’m Lorelai. Great job tonight!”

“Thanks! I was so worried the music wouldn’t start!” she replied, relieved it did. “This is Gigi and Michaela.”

“Hey!” I smile at the three girls.

“Hi,” Gigi says shyly.

“Hello!” Michaela says. “What’s your name, again? I didn’t hear when you said it just now.”

“Lorelai.”

“Hi, Lorelai!” Michaela, Gigi, and Ali say simultaneously.

“I take it you guys know each other?” I ask.

“Yeah, we’re best friends,” Gigi starts.

“We’ve known each other for years,” Ali continues.

“And we have three other best friends, too!” Michaela declares.

“Morgan,” Gigi lists.

“Hadas,” Ali adds.

“And Stacie,” Michaela finishes.

“Michaela’s the oldest,” Gigi announces.

“She’s sixteen, going on seventeen!” Ali declares.

“Like the Sound of Music!” Michaela pipes in.

“And Morgan is the youngest.”

“She’s thirteen. So am I, but I’m like six months older than her!” Ali offers.

“Gigi just turned fourteen two weeks ago.” Michaela shoots Gigi a knowing smile, who mouthed shut up.

“Stacie turned fourteen nine days before I did.” Gigi casts a glance around the diner.

“And Hadas is about six months older than both of them!” Ali finishes.

“And now, what’s your story?” Michaela asks.

“Well, since we are talking about age, I’m thirty-six, and I have a twenty year old daughter also named Lorelai, but we call her Rory to keep things simple,” I begin, taking note of the fact that all three girls had done the math. “She goes to Yale, and this,” I say, gesturing to Luke. “This is Luke, diner owner, town grump, and my fiancée.”

“Wait,” Gigi interrupts.

“You’re not married?” Ali inquires.

“Uh, no, I’m not…” I answer.

“Where’s Rory’s father?” Michaela pries.

“Oh, um…he has his own kid.”

“Really? What’s the kid’s name?” Gigi’s eyes are wide with curiosity. Boy, will she be surprised.

“Actually, her name is Gigi!” I declare, watching the girls’ faces light up with shock.

“You’re kidding!” Ali exclaims.

“No, I’m not! Her real name is Georgia, but her nickname is Gigi.”

“That’s hysterical!” Michaela bursts into giggle fits.

“Who is Rory’s father?” Gigi asks.

“Uh, Christopher Hayden…” I reply.

“You’re kidding!” Ali repeats.

“What? I’m not kidding!” All three girls burst out laughing. “Whoa, what am I missing, here?”

“We…We…” Michaela struggles through laughter. “We know him!”

“What?”

“He’s Stacie’s neighbor!” Gigi explains, grinning like mad.

“He’s the biggest idiot we know…beside the brunette dumb blonde at soccer camp!” Ali adds and she and Gigi giggle at the inside joke.

“Yeah, he is pretty dense. He never thinks. I begin to think if he even has the ability…” I trail off.

“Who, me?” Luke comes up behind me.

“Uh! Were you eavesdropping?” I smack Luke on the shoulder.

“No! I just happened to overhear that last statement. You think I’m dense?” he teases, obviously knowing I’m talking about Christopher.

“Of course I do,” I say sarcastically. Turning back to the three girls, I ask, “So where are you staying?”

“Uh…” Michaela eyes the others. “We were going to stay at my aunt’s house, but she went out of town and forgot to tell us.”

“We show up on her doorstep to find a note on the door,” Gigi continues.

“And it is from her husband: We went out of town. Find somewhere else to stay. Love Aunt Annette and Uncle Mark,” Ali concludes.

“I don’t know about you, but I’ve never heard of such a loving gesture in my life,” I respond, sarcastic. “With a letter like that, they actually come close to rivaling my parents. –Hey! I have a great idea!”

“What?” the girls and Luke say simultaneously.

“Why don’t you stay with us?” I propose.

“Seriously?” Michaela asks, incredulous that I would do such a nice gesture to people I just met.

“Yeah! Rory’s at Yale, so there is her room, the couch, and Luke can bring one of his sleeping bags with him when he gets off work! What do you say?” I wait for an answer.

“Sure!” Gigi says. “But only if it’s okay with you, Luke.”

“It’s okay!” I interject before Luke has a chance to speak. Besides, he would say yes, anyhow.

“Well, I wouldn’t mind…Michaela?” Ali looks toward her best friend.

“Hey, as long as there’s a roof over my head and a pillow under it, I’m fine!” Michaela laughs.

“Yay!” I clap my hands together. “Okay, let’s go get your stuff; where is it?” The three girls point to their duffel bags at the entrance of the diner. “Great. Hey, Luke, we’re going! See you back home!” I call out.

“Okay,” Luke replies, preoccupied with a customer.

“Now, that’s no way to say goodbye to your fiancée!” I pout and walk over to Luke. “Kiss!” I demand. Luke chuckles and gives me a peck on the lips. “Bye!” I repeat, and Luke, catching on, gives me another tiny kiss. “Come on!” I usher the girls back home.

A/N: Okay, so I know you hate the fact that I put a cliffhanger right at the beginning of the chapter but hey, I need some drama! I hope you like this very long chapter! 2,600 words, baby! Woot, woot! Reviews make me happy, so make me delirious with happiness and review! (Dirty!)