Chapter 7 : Sweet Dreams

"Can I please have some more coffee?" Lorelai asked.

"No," Luke answered, going to take Taylor's order.

Lorelai snuck a glance at Luke as he walked away and went behind the counter. She picked up the coffeepot and grabbed a cup. She poured herself some coffee just as someone walked up to the counter.

"One cup of coffee, please," the man said.

"Oh, I don't, uh...I don't work--" Lorelai stopped. "Let me try that again. Sure, let me get that for you."

She pushed the cup of coffee that she had just poured for herself, over to him.

"Thank you," he said, handing her some money.

"No problem," Lorelai replied, pouring another cup of coffee for herself. She put the coffeepot back and turned around to find Luke standing before her.

"What are you doing?" he demanded.

"You were busy. I decided to get my own coffee," Lorelai told him innocently. "I even helped. I gave this nice man here," she pointed at the guy sitting in front of her, "some coffee. Here." She thrust the money into his hands.

He stared at his hands. "Where's the rest of it?"

"What?"

"This is only enough for one cup. Where's your money?"

"Here, I got it," the man said, digging back into his wallet.

"No, Luke's just joking. He'll put it on my tab, won't you Luke?"

He frowned and Lorelai smiled at him.

"So I take it you don't actually work here."

"No, I don't. If I did, I wouldn't deprive my customers coffee so they end up getting it themselves when I wasn't looking." Lorelai looked pointedly at Luke. He rolled his eyes.

"Well I've got to draw the line somewhere. Five cups of coffee in one morning is too much."

"Is it really? Thank you, Luke. I think I'll stop now." Lorelai looked at her fresh cup of coffee and immediately took a sip. Luke stared at her and she shrugged. "Oops."

"I give up. Drink what you want."

"How nice of you to let your paying customer order what they want."

"You don't pay," Luke pointed out.

"I'm special!" Lorelai exclaimed.

The man laughed, watching Lorelai and Luke before him. Luke ushered Lorelai from behind the counter. She gave a short 'hmph' and went to sit down on the stool next to the man.

"Can I have another cup of coffee, Luke?"

"I have other customers, you know."

"Please? Don't make me come back there again."

The nameless man turned to Lorelai.

"He's just trying to look out for your health. I know when my wife eats and drinks like--"

"Woah, woah, hold on there. Back it up. Luke and I aren't married," Lorelai said.

Luke's face turned red, and the man looked from him to Lorelai.

"Oh, sorry."

"We're not even dating," Lorelai added.

"My mistake."

Lorelai stole a glance at Luke and smiled at how fidgety he had just gotten.

"Time for me to get to work. Thanks for the coffee."

"Sure," Lorelai replied as he left. She turned to Luke. "That was weird."

"Yeah," he agreed quickly.

Lorelai looked down into her empty coffee cup and sighed.

Rory opened the door to Luke's and the bell jingled loudly. She glanced around for Jess, but he wasn't there. She felt like she needed to talk to him, but she wasn't sure why. Or what about, even.

She went over to Luke and he nodded at her in acknowledgment as he counted out change for someone.

"Hey Rory. Your mom just left for work a minute ago."

"Oh...okay," Rory replied. "Thanks."

Luke waited for her to say something else, since she didn't move, but she was quiet. Finally, he told her Jess was upstairs, if she wanted to go up.

"He might still be sleeping, but--"

Luke didn't even get the rest of his sentence out, before Rory hurried upstairs.

She knocked on the door and listened, but got no reply. No 'Come in', no 'Hold on', or even the sound of footsteps shuffling toward the door.

She tried the doorknob and it turned easily in her grip. She slowly pushed open the door and poked her head in. Not seeing or hearing anything or anyone, she walked into the room and closed the door behind her.

"Jess?" she called, walking over to where she found him in bed, fast asleep.

"Mm."

"Jess?" Rory sat next to him on the bed and lightly shook him.

"Rory," he said softly.

"Yeah. Hey can we talk?"

"What did you want to do today, movie?"

"What?" Rory exclaimed. "What are you--"

"I don't want to see that one."

"What the..." Rory trailed off, leaning over Jess only to discover that his eyes were closed and he was still sleeping. This could be interesting.

"Jess, I don't want to go to the movies anymore."

"What do you want to do?" he mumbled.

"I want to make out," Rory replied, trying not to laugh. Her face grew hot and she had to remind herself that she wasn't exactly actually talking to Jess. She was just curious to see how he would reply.

"What about Dean?"

"Dean? Oh, he...he told me he's gay."

"That explains it."

Rory laughed. "What do you mean?" It sure was fun talking to Jess without him knowing...

"That explains why your mom likes him and not me. She doesn't see him as a threat."

Rory grew quiet. What? Was he serious? She wondered if he was messing with her mind, if he was really asleep. She shoved him and he stirred, slowly opening his eyes.

He frowned at her, yawning. "What are you doing here? There," he asked, all too aware that they were sitting very close on the bed.

Rory scooted over a few inches and Jess looked at her expectantly.

"Was there a particular reason for this visit, or do you just enjoy watching me sleep?"

"You were talking in your sleep."

"And what did I say?"

"That my mom likes Dean more than you because Dean's gay and she doesn't see him as a threat."

Jess smirked. "I said, in my sleep, that Dean's gay?"

"Well, I said it first, but you said 'That explains it', and--"

"So you told me Dean was gay. Do you really think you should go around spreading rumors about your boyfriend being gay?"

"Wha--no. No, I didn't! I was messing with you. You wouldn't even have known I said that if I hadn't told you I said it just now."

"But you did say it. You can't take it back now."

Rory's face flushed. "I--I didn't...Dean's not gay!"

"Good to know," Jess replied. "But next time, make sure he really is before you tell me."

Rory stood up and crossed her arms over her chest. "Can we forget about Dean being gay and move on to something else?"

"Like why you were talking to me in my sleep to begin with? Go back to that 'I'm a threat' thing."

"You said my mom sees you as more of a threat than Dean."

"Threat to what?"

"I don't know, you said it!"

"Huh."

"Do you really feel like that?" she asked.

"Like what, a threat? I don't know, maybe."

"Be serious."

"Serious? Rory--"

"Do you like me?"

"Woah, where did that come from?"

"Just answer the question."

"Okay. You've got a boyfriend."

"I know."

"You have no intentions of breaking up with him."

"I know," Rory repeated quietly.

"And, therefore, how I do or don't feel toward you is irrelevant."

"I guess."

Rory swung her legs back and forth. She was sitting on a park bench next to Jess.

He glanced at her, wondering when--and how, exactly--he should tell her about their online chats. He wasn't sure now was the best time, but he knew he'd have to tell her sooner or later. And since the guilt was setting in, sooner seemed to be the better option.

"Rory, I have something I need to tell you..."