Post by Pukkina on Jun 1, 2006 18:49:08 GMT -5
Chapter One
Lisa tried to let herself move past that night. It hadn’t been easy...but she could do it. Jackson had marred her forever, but in a way he’d made her stronger. Physically and emotionally. She didn’t jump at the shadows anymore, and she knew she could beat any attackers she might ever get. But she still had a slight fear of men.
She couldn’t bear to enter her father’s house anymore, knowing that she had once killed a man there, however much it was in self-defense. Not Jackson, he lived to go to jail. Oh no, it was the assassin waiting to slit her father’s throat. She killed him. Unfortunately, there wasn’t two deaths to hold her responsible for, she’d have loved to have killed Jackson. But she hadn’t.
Lisa knew she needed to get away from Miami. She was beginning to feel the city limits closing in on her, she felt unsafe. And that fear was increased when she discovered that Jackson had escaped from jail.
He was angry, and she would peg him as the kind of guy who’d be big on revenge.
So, one night in late June, Lisa logged on to her laptop and looked for a town far, far away...where Jack would never think to find her.
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“Rory, sweetie, stop reading.”
“No.”
“Dork.”
Rory sighed and set down her book. “Thanks, Mom. You’re nice.”
Lorelai smiled. “Ah, well, whatever it takes. Why are you reading that garbage anyway?”
“Okay, Trunchbull,” Rory chuckled. “It’s not garbage. I need to have it read for class tomorrow.”
“I see,” Lorelai nodded and rose from the couch, flashing a flirtatious grin at her nineteen-year-old daughter. “Are you staying here tonight or going back to Yale? I have a date.”
“With Luke?” Rory beamed, standing up and stretching.
“No, with Kirk,” Lorelai said sarcastically. “How many guys do you think I’m sleeping with?”
“Oh, Mom, I saw the way you were looking at Taylor in the square yesterday,” Rory giggled. Lorelai swatted her on the arm.
“Taylor, Taylor, wherefore art thou, Taylor?” Lorelai feigned a medieval accent and passionate love.
“But I am staying here,” Rory got back on topic. “If that’s alright.”
“No, I hate you,” Lorelai joked. Rory rolled her eyes. Her mother never could be serious.
“Where are you and Luke going tonight?” Rory ignored her mother’s jab.
“Well, I’m trying to finagle him into going to the town meeting,” Lorelai sighed. “But after that, he’s making us something back at the diner and then...then the fun will start.” Lorelai winked as she headed upstairs.
“Mom, happy as I am for you guys, I beg you, please don’t keep me posted on you guys’ sex life,” Rory laughed.
“Well, at least its not Kirk.”
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Lisa frowned at the sign. Stars Hollow, population...
She squinted at the number. Yes, she was definitely seeing it right. Wow, she’d really picked a small town...but that was a good thing, she supposed.
She sighed and hoisted her large duffel bag over her shoulder and dragging her rolling suitcase. She’d brought the mere necessities but figured she could buy more stuff here. For now, she needed to find a hotel to stay at until she could rent or buy a house of her own.
Lisa walked down the street until she came upon a quaint inn, its sign illuminated by the street lamps. The Dragonfly Inn.
She smiled despite her anxiety. It was cute, she’d give it that. Nothing like the Lux, but still...it gave her a sense of warmth.
Her heels clicked on the floorboards of the porch as she opened the door. Time for a first impression and an opportunity to make some friends in this speck of a town.
The man working the front desk was dark-skinned and had a heavy French accent which stood out as he jabbered angrily to the man across from him.
“No, sir, if you wanted zat room, you would have to have booked it tree weeks ago,” he snapped. Lisa bit her lip.
“I want that room,” the man across from him grumbled.
“Taylor, you live right in ze town,” the man argued.
“Michel, give me that room or I will shut down this inn, I mean it,” the man threatened. Lisa sighed and intervened.
“Excuse me, sir, but if they don’t have the room, they don’t have the room,” she said politely. The overweight and balding man standing in front of her whirled around.
“This really isn’t any of your business,” he said shortly, and turned back to speak to Michel. Lisa placed a strong hand on his shoulder.
“Actually it is,” she snapped loudly. “Because the longer you stand there being the world’s biggest arsehole, the longer I have to wait. And the longer I have to wait the crankier I get because I just got off the plane and currently need a room. So why don’t you just leave him alone and go harangue some other innocent hotel worker, okay?”
The man, Taylor, looked shocked but backed off, muttering, “This hotel sucks.” Lisa felt her stomach dropped as she realized she’d almost had a repeat of when she met Jackson. No, no, no, she told her mind to stop thinking.
“Miss?” the man at the desk said cautiously. “Can I help you?”
“Yeah,” Lisa shook her head and walked up to the desk. “Yeah, um, I need a room.”
“For how long?” he typed into the computer.
“I’m not sure,” she smiled weakly. “Until I can find a house.”
He stopped. “You new in Stars Hollow?”
“Uh...yeah,” she shrugged. “I’m from...” she paused. Best not to tell everything about herself yet. She didn’t know who would be working for Jackson. Paranoid! Stop being so paranoid. “Miami.”
“Name?”
“Lisa Reisert.”
“I see,” he began typing again and then reached behind him for a key. “Here you are, room 15. Enjoy.”
“Thanks, I will,” she smiled her people-pleaser smile at him and began mounting the stairs.
“Oh, and miss?” Lisa turned.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
Lisa smiled. Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as she thought.
Chapter Two
“So...why did Taylor want a room?” Lorelai asked, flustered.
“I don’t know. He was just trying to be difficult, I think,” Michel grumbled. Sookie darted past them suddenly, holding a tray of hot cookies. She shouted back to them as she entered the lobby.
“No. His house has bugs.”
“Bugs?” Lorelai frowned, almost amused. “Like...fleas?”
“No. Roaches,” Sookie called back, laughing. “Yes, neat freak Taylor Doose has roaches, believe it or not.”
“Wow,” Lorelai laughed as Luke entered the inn. He kissed her on the cheek as his arm encircled her waist.
“Hey,” she greeted him. “You ready to go?”
He nodded. “Yeah.” Then he caught the mischievous look on her face and scowled. “Lorelai, no! We are not going to those waste of time-”
“Please? Do it for me?” Lorelai pouted.
“Why do you like them so much anyway?”
“They’re fun,” she giggled. Luke sighed.
“If we go, no french fries.”
Lorelai gasped and pondered this. “No french fries?”
“Yup. It’s Taylor or french fries.”
She sighed and punched him on the arm. “Fine. I surrender. The fatty potatoes are calling me.”
Luke grinned as they walked hand in hand to the diner. When they arrived he stepped behind the counter and began throwing hamburgers on the grill. Lorelai sat humming and tapping her fingers on the counter as the door opened with the bells chiming. She turned to see a pretty woman with curly auburn hair enter. She looked about her age, and completely exhausted. She smiled at Lorelai.
“Hi,” she said shyly, gesturing to the barstool next to Lorelai. “Can I sit here?”
“Sure,” Lorelai beamed, then put on a dramatic sad air. “My boyfriend left me to make out with the hamburger patties.”
“Lorelai,” Luke poked his head out behind the grill warningly. Then he saw the other woman and smiled in greeting. “Hey.”
“Hi,” she smiled back, then turned back to Lorelai. “Is the food good here? I was staying at this inn a few blocks down but I looked at the menu and saw absolutely no junkfood. The place looked nice but I need my fat calorie fix.”
Lorelai smiled in recognition. “Oh, that’d be my inn! The Dragonfly? I own it. Sookie’s kind of a health nut at times.”
“Oh,” the woman blushed. “It’s a nice inn, I just-”
“No, no, don’t worry,” Lorelai laughed, placing a hand on her arm. The woman flinched. Lorelai frowned but kept talking. “I’m a junkfood junkie as well. Luke’s is the best place for you, my friend.”
“Good,” the woman smiled and stuck out a hand. “Lisa Reisert.”
“Lorelai Gilmore,” Lorelai nodded and shook the woman’s tiny hand. “You new around here?”
“Yeah,” Lisa sighed. “Fresh off the plane.”
“Vacation?”
Lisa looked pain-stricken for a moment, but then shook her head. “I hope so. But it may end up being...being long term.”
“Um...” Lorelai tried not to press. But hey, she couldn’t help it. She was curious.
The woman chewed her lip, her eyes looking sorrowful. “I’d rather...rather not talk about it.”
“Okay,” Lorelai shrugged. “As long as you’re not on the run from the cops or something.”
“Contrary,” Lisa pointed out. “I’m on the run from someone who’s on the run from the cops.”
“Kinky,” Lorelai said bubbly.
“Lorelai,” Luke said, raising an eyebrow as he stepped out from behind the grill.
“Sorry!” she called back out. Then she leaned in to whisper conspiratorially to Lisa. “He gets excited when I mention kinky.”
Lisa laughed but something caught in her throat and it sounded choked. Luke stepped out with two plates and handed one to Lorelai. He slid the other to Lisa.
“Want it?” he offered. Lisa looked down at the hamburger and golden fries. “It was originally for me, but if you’re going to order it anyway there’s no point of keeping it cold on the counter.”
“Thanks,” Lisa smiled and began eating. “I’m Lisa Reisert.”
“Luke Danes.”
Suddenly the door was thrown open and Rory dashed in, cell phone in hand. She was gasping for air.
“Mom,” she gasped. “You left your cell at home. Guess who called?”
“No, no, no,” Lorelai begged. “No, just tell her...tell Emily I...”
“Lorelai!” Lorelai winced as her mother’s voice screeched over the phone. She sheepishly took the phone and spoke meekly.
“Yes.”
“I know, Mom.”
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“I had a date.”
“Rory had homework.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Okay. See you next week.”
She handed the phone back to Rory, stoneyfaced.
“You are going to burn in hell, my precious child,” Lorelai growled. Rory shrugged.
“Sorry, but I’d rather you get yelled at than me,” Rory beamed innocently. Lorelai narrowed her eyes but then turned to Lisa.
“This is my daughter, Rory,” Lorelai said politely. “Well, at least I think she’s my daughter. Right now I’m pegging her for the spawn of Satan.”
Lisa laughed, looking confused. “I-um-your daughter?”
Lorelai nodded and understood. “Yeah. I’m not old or anything. I had her when I was sixteen.”
“Oh, oh,” Lisa blushed again. Rory shook her hand.
“How old are you, Rory?” Lisa asked kindly.
“Nineteen,” she responded. Lisa nodded as Rory pulled up a chair next to her mother and ordered.
As soon as Lisa finished, she wiped her hands on the napkin, tossed some bills over the counter, and stood.
“Well, I have to go,” she smiled at the couple. “But it was nice talking to you.”
Luke handed back the money. “Here. First timers eat free.”
Lisa blushed. “Oh, no, I couldn’t-”
“Take it.”
She smiled weakly and repocketed the cash. Lorelai watched her as she made her way back down the street, her navy blue skirt billowing slightly in the light wind.
Lisa smiled as she shut the Inn door behind her. She was beginning to like this place. Everybody was so nice, especially that Lorelai, Rory, and Luke. Rory was nineteen, so Lorelai must be...thirty five? So three years older than herself, she must be. Lisa smiled. She hoped they’d meet again, but in a town as small as this it was very likely. And she planned to eat at that diner a lot, and since Lorelai and Luke were obviously together...that would mean Lorelai would often be there.
Lisa threw her coat on the bed and tiptoed to the window, drawing back the curtains. She sighed as she overlooked the quaint town. A few people still were walking the streets. One caught her eye and her throat emitted a tiny scream.
Tall, with dark brown hair... and a thin build.
She turned quickly away from the window. No, no...it wasn’t him, it couldn’t be...she turned back. The girl she’d met in the diner, Rory, ran up to the man...or boy...and flung her arms around his neck. Phew. Nope, definitely not Jackson. Rory’s boyfriend?”
Lisa moaned and collapsed on the bed. She wanted somebody. But why would anyone want her? She was picky. A perfectionist.
And damaged.
Lisa tried to let herself move past that night. It hadn’t been easy...but she could do it. Jackson had marred her forever, but in a way he’d made her stronger. Physically and emotionally. She didn’t jump at the shadows anymore, and she knew she could beat any attackers she might ever get. But she still had a slight fear of men.
She couldn’t bear to enter her father’s house anymore, knowing that she had once killed a man there, however much it was in self-defense. Not Jackson, he lived to go to jail. Oh no, it was the assassin waiting to slit her father’s throat. She killed him. Unfortunately, there wasn’t two deaths to hold her responsible for, she’d have loved to have killed Jackson. But she hadn’t.
Lisa knew she needed to get away from Miami. She was beginning to feel the city limits closing in on her, she felt unsafe. And that fear was increased when she discovered that Jackson had escaped from jail.
He was angry, and she would peg him as the kind of guy who’d be big on revenge.
So, one night in late June, Lisa logged on to her laptop and looked for a town far, far away...where Jack would never think to find her.
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“Rory, sweetie, stop reading.”
“No.”
“Dork.”
Rory sighed and set down her book. “Thanks, Mom. You’re nice.”
Lorelai smiled. “Ah, well, whatever it takes. Why are you reading that garbage anyway?”
“Okay, Trunchbull,” Rory chuckled. “It’s not garbage. I need to have it read for class tomorrow.”
“I see,” Lorelai nodded and rose from the couch, flashing a flirtatious grin at her nineteen-year-old daughter. “Are you staying here tonight or going back to Yale? I have a date.”
“With Luke?” Rory beamed, standing up and stretching.
“No, with Kirk,” Lorelai said sarcastically. “How many guys do you think I’m sleeping with?”
“Oh, Mom, I saw the way you were looking at Taylor in the square yesterday,” Rory giggled. Lorelai swatted her on the arm.
“Taylor, Taylor, wherefore art thou, Taylor?” Lorelai feigned a medieval accent and passionate love.
“But I am staying here,” Rory got back on topic. “If that’s alright.”
“No, I hate you,” Lorelai joked. Rory rolled her eyes. Her mother never could be serious.
“Where are you and Luke going tonight?” Rory ignored her mother’s jab.
“Well, I’m trying to finagle him into going to the town meeting,” Lorelai sighed. “But after that, he’s making us something back at the diner and then...then the fun will start.” Lorelai winked as she headed upstairs.
“Mom, happy as I am for you guys, I beg you, please don’t keep me posted on you guys’ sex life,” Rory laughed.
“Well, at least its not Kirk.”
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Lisa frowned at the sign. Stars Hollow, population...
She squinted at the number. Yes, she was definitely seeing it right. Wow, she’d really picked a small town...but that was a good thing, she supposed.
She sighed and hoisted her large duffel bag over her shoulder and dragging her rolling suitcase. She’d brought the mere necessities but figured she could buy more stuff here. For now, she needed to find a hotel to stay at until she could rent or buy a house of her own.
Lisa walked down the street until she came upon a quaint inn, its sign illuminated by the street lamps. The Dragonfly Inn.
She smiled despite her anxiety. It was cute, she’d give it that. Nothing like the Lux, but still...it gave her a sense of warmth.
Her heels clicked on the floorboards of the porch as she opened the door. Time for a first impression and an opportunity to make some friends in this speck of a town.
The man working the front desk was dark-skinned and had a heavy French accent which stood out as he jabbered angrily to the man across from him.
“No, sir, if you wanted zat room, you would have to have booked it tree weeks ago,” he snapped. Lisa bit her lip.
“I want that room,” the man across from him grumbled.
“Taylor, you live right in ze town,” the man argued.
“Michel, give me that room or I will shut down this inn, I mean it,” the man threatened. Lisa sighed and intervened.
“Excuse me, sir, but if they don’t have the room, they don’t have the room,” she said politely. The overweight and balding man standing in front of her whirled around.
“This really isn’t any of your business,” he said shortly, and turned back to speak to Michel. Lisa placed a strong hand on his shoulder.
“Actually it is,” she snapped loudly. “Because the longer you stand there being the world’s biggest arsehole, the longer I have to wait. And the longer I have to wait the crankier I get because I just got off the plane and currently need a room. So why don’t you just leave him alone and go harangue some other innocent hotel worker, okay?”
The man, Taylor, looked shocked but backed off, muttering, “This hotel sucks.” Lisa felt her stomach dropped as she realized she’d almost had a repeat of when she met Jackson. No, no, no, she told her mind to stop thinking.
“Miss?” the man at the desk said cautiously. “Can I help you?”
“Yeah,” Lisa shook her head and walked up to the desk. “Yeah, um, I need a room.”
“For how long?” he typed into the computer.
“I’m not sure,” she smiled weakly. “Until I can find a house.”
He stopped. “You new in Stars Hollow?”
“Uh...yeah,” she shrugged. “I’m from...” she paused. Best not to tell everything about herself yet. She didn’t know who would be working for Jackson. Paranoid! Stop being so paranoid. “Miami.”
“Name?”
“Lisa Reisert.”
“I see,” he began typing again and then reached behind him for a key. “Here you are, room 15. Enjoy.”
“Thanks, I will,” she smiled her people-pleaser smile at him and began mounting the stairs.
“Oh, and miss?” Lisa turned.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
Lisa smiled. Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as she thought.
Chapter Two
“So...why did Taylor want a room?” Lorelai asked, flustered.
“I don’t know. He was just trying to be difficult, I think,” Michel grumbled. Sookie darted past them suddenly, holding a tray of hot cookies. She shouted back to them as she entered the lobby.
“No. His house has bugs.”
“Bugs?” Lorelai frowned, almost amused. “Like...fleas?”
“No. Roaches,” Sookie called back, laughing. “Yes, neat freak Taylor Doose has roaches, believe it or not.”
“Wow,” Lorelai laughed as Luke entered the inn. He kissed her on the cheek as his arm encircled her waist.
“Hey,” she greeted him. “You ready to go?”
He nodded. “Yeah.” Then he caught the mischievous look on her face and scowled. “Lorelai, no! We are not going to those waste of time-”
“Please? Do it for me?” Lorelai pouted.
“Why do you like them so much anyway?”
“They’re fun,” she giggled. Luke sighed.
“If we go, no french fries.”
Lorelai gasped and pondered this. “No french fries?”
“Yup. It’s Taylor or french fries.”
She sighed and punched him on the arm. “Fine. I surrender. The fatty potatoes are calling me.”
Luke grinned as they walked hand in hand to the diner. When they arrived he stepped behind the counter and began throwing hamburgers on the grill. Lorelai sat humming and tapping her fingers on the counter as the door opened with the bells chiming. She turned to see a pretty woman with curly auburn hair enter. She looked about her age, and completely exhausted. She smiled at Lorelai.
“Hi,” she said shyly, gesturing to the barstool next to Lorelai. “Can I sit here?”
“Sure,” Lorelai beamed, then put on a dramatic sad air. “My boyfriend left me to make out with the hamburger patties.”
“Lorelai,” Luke poked his head out behind the grill warningly. Then he saw the other woman and smiled in greeting. “Hey.”
“Hi,” she smiled back, then turned back to Lorelai. “Is the food good here? I was staying at this inn a few blocks down but I looked at the menu and saw absolutely no junkfood. The place looked nice but I need my fat calorie fix.”
Lorelai smiled in recognition. “Oh, that’d be my inn! The Dragonfly? I own it. Sookie’s kind of a health nut at times.”
“Oh,” the woman blushed. “It’s a nice inn, I just-”
“No, no, don’t worry,” Lorelai laughed, placing a hand on her arm. The woman flinched. Lorelai frowned but kept talking. “I’m a junkfood junkie as well. Luke’s is the best place for you, my friend.”
“Good,” the woman smiled and stuck out a hand. “Lisa Reisert.”
“Lorelai Gilmore,” Lorelai nodded and shook the woman’s tiny hand. “You new around here?”
“Yeah,” Lisa sighed. “Fresh off the plane.”
“Vacation?”
Lisa looked pain-stricken for a moment, but then shook her head. “I hope so. But it may end up being...being long term.”
“Um...” Lorelai tried not to press. But hey, she couldn’t help it. She was curious.
The woman chewed her lip, her eyes looking sorrowful. “I’d rather...rather not talk about it.”
“Okay,” Lorelai shrugged. “As long as you’re not on the run from the cops or something.”
“Contrary,” Lisa pointed out. “I’m on the run from someone who’s on the run from the cops.”
“Kinky,” Lorelai said bubbly.
“Lorelai,” Luke said, raising an eyebrow as he stepped out from behind the grill.
“Sorry!” she called back out. Then she leaned in to whisper conspiratorially to Lisa. “He gets excited when I mention kinky.”
Lisa laughed but something caught in her throat and it sounded choked. Luke stepped out with two plates and handed one to Lorelai. He slid the other to Lisa.
“Want it?” he offered. Lisa looked down at the hamburger and golden fries. “It was originally for me, but if you’re going to order it anyway there’s no point of keeping it cold on the counter.”
“Thanks,” Lisa smiled and began eating. “I’m Lisa Reisert.”
“Luke Danes.”
Suddenly the door was thrown open and Rory dashed in, cell phone in hand. She was gasping for air.
“Mom,” she gasped. “You left your cell at home. Guess who called?”
“No, no, no,” Lorelai begged. “No, just tell her...tell Emily I...”
“Lorelai!” Lorelai winced as her mother’s voice screeched over the phone. She sheepishly took the phone and spoke meekly.
“Yes.”
“I know, Mom.”
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“I had a date.”
“Rory had homework.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Okay. See you next week.”
She handed the phone back to Rory, stoneyfaced.
“You are going to burn in hell, my precious child,” Lorelai growled. Rory shrugged.
“Sorry, but I’d rather you get yelled at than me,” Rory beamed innocently. Lorelai narrowed her eyes but then turned to Lisa.
“This is my daughter, Rory,” Lorelai said politely. “Well, at least I think she’s my daughter. Right now I’m pegging her for the spawn of Satan.”
Lisa laughed, looking confused. “I-um-your daughter?”
Lorelai nodded and understood. “Yeah. I’m not old or anything. I had her when I was sixteen.”
“Oh, oh,” Lisa blushed again. Rory shook her hand.
“How old are you, Rory?” Lisa asked kindly.
“Nineteen,” she responded. Lisa nodded as Rory pulled up a chair next to her mother and ordered.
As soon as Lisa finished, she wiped her hands on the napkin, tossed some bills over the counter, and stood.
“Well, I have to go,” she smiled at the couple. “But it was nice talking to you.”
Luke handed back the money. “Here. First timers eat free.”
Lisa blushed. “Oh, no, I couldn’t-”
“Take it.”
She smiled weakly and repocketed the cash. Lorelai watched her as she made her way back down the street, her navy blue skirt billowing slightly in the light wind.
Lisa smiled as she shut the Inn door behind her. She was beginning to like this place. Everybody was so nice, especially that Lorelai, Rory, and Luke. Rory was nineteen, so Lorelai must be...thirty five? So three years older than herself, she must be. Lisa smiled. She hoped they’d meet again, but in a town as small as this it was very likely. And she planned to eat at that diner a lot, and since Lorelai and Luke were obviously together...that would mean Lorelai would often be there.
Lisa threw her coat on the bed and tiptoed to the window, drawing back the curtains. She sighed as she overlooked the quaint town. A few people still were walking the streets. One caught her eye and her throat emitted a tiny scream.
Tall, with dark brown hair... and a thin build.
She turned quickly away from the window. No, no...it wasn’t him, it couldn’t be...she turned back. The girl she’d met in the diner, Rory, ran up to the man...or boy...and flung her arms around his neck. Phew. Nope, definitely not Jackson. Rory’s boyfriend?”
Lisa moaned and collapsed on the bed. She wanted somebody. But why would anyone want her? She was picky. A perfectionist.
And damaged.
