❝REESE WITHERSPOON❞
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⋆𐙚₊˚⊹ chapter thirty,
Gilmore Girls — Season Two

August 27th, 2001

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[ LUCY'S POV ]

     TODAY WAS OUR FIRST DAY BACK TO SCHOOL after the summer, and I was running on very little sleep and a lot of coffee. Dad poured me another cup just as I was about to leave the diner for school, and I thanked him profusely as I stepped away.

     Walking back into school after time off is always daunting, especially when I know I'm just one year closer to graduating. This time next year, I'll be going into my final year where college is the only thing that matters, and it's a scary thought honestly.

     But I'm walking back to school feeling a lot better than when I left. I'm walking back in with my head held high, and a smile on my face which only widens when I see my best friend.

     I'm immediately rushing over to her and throwing my arms around her. "Oh, my God! Hi!" We begin to frantically jump and laugh in each other's arms like deranged girls— which we kinda are— and many people walk by and stare, but I really don't care.

     Addy has been on holiday for the past month with her family— something she always does— and the only communication we've had is on the phone every weekend and the occasional postcard. She's been detailing her entire holiday to me on paper, and it looks more than exciting. I've had a few holidays in my life— usually boat trips— but none of them compare to the holidays that Addy and her family go on.

     These holidays are the only family thing that Addy enjoys. She still argues with her mother, but at least she's in a foreign country with the sun, and she can escape to the beach. Her family holiday also means that her brother comes along with them, and she does not get along with him either. Basically, she has to suffer with her family, but at least she's got the sunshine.

"I've missed you," Addy whines, giving me one final squeeze before she pulls away. "You look different. You look older somehow."

"Older?" I laugh. "Addy, you've been gone a month. I'm not older."

Addy pats my cheek twice. "You look happier."

"Yeah?"

I think Ive been happier, probably because things are going perfectly well in my life right now. I'm starting school again, me and Dad are doing well, the diner is perfect, and I'm back together with Tristan. Everything is good. Everything is perfect.

And now my best friend is here, and I'm relieved to see her.

"Your brother gone back to school?" I ask, and Addy grins wickedly. I'm assuming the answer is yes.

"Oh, yes. Thank God. He and my mom drank margaritas together while I cried on the beach," Addy admits, and I look over at her with concern on my face. "Don't worry, it was luxurious."

I smile awkwardly. "Oh," I whisper. "Uh, well if it was luxurious, that's okay."

     The second me and Addy step into school, she's bombarded by Nathan who picks her up and spins her around. Dramatic, no? I roll my eyes and move past them, allowing them to have their beloved moment. I move towards my locker, and when they eventually join me, Nathan hugs me too.

     Addy throws her arm around me. "Well, here's to another year, girly."

     "Hey, I was thinking you could come over tonight if you wanted?" I suggest, curling my arm around Addy's middle as we walk down the hall. "Perhaps, we can watch Legally Blonde?"

     Addy gasps. "Yes. Absolutely yes."

     "Nathan, you wanna come too?" I ask.

     "I think I might leave you girls to get acquainted with Reese Witherspoon," he chuckles, stepping towards his locker.

     We follow behind him. "I've been dying to watch this film since it came out," Addy gushes. "I mean, when you say you want to be a lawyer, I imagine you being as badass as Reese Witherspoon."

     I laugh, finding that I probably won't be like Elle Woods but who knows? I could wear pink and be badass in court. "Hmm. Maybe."

     "Do you think Luke will watch it with us?"

     I grimace at the idea. "Dad? Are you kidding? He'd cut his own ears off then watch it."

     "Well, doesn't he want to see who his daughter will become?" Add sighs, leaning back against the locker next to Nathan's. "Seriously, after this film, I might quit dance and follow you all the way to Stanford."

     I chuckle, secretly loving that idea, but Addy is truly born to dance. "Yeah, sure."

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     MY FIRST DAY ENDS WITH MISS PATTY RUSHING TO ME in a frenzy. She waves her arms around frantically, and nearly crashes into me. Before I have the chance to say hello, Patty grabs onto my shoulders and asks, "Have you heard the news?"

     "Uh, wh—"

     "You Danes' are difficult to get ahold of," Patty sighs, and she tries to catch her breath. It seems she was running to tell me this glorious news. "If I tell you, will you let your father know?"

     I nod. "Uh, yes."

     "The wedding is off," Patty reveals, and for some reason, I forget who is getting married until Patty clarifies, "Lorelai and Max."

     My eyes widen, quite surprised, but I imagine my dad will be pleased. "Really?"

     "Yes. Please let your father know, honey." Patty walks away, and I move quickly towards the diner across the street to inform Dad. Despite how happy I imagine my dad will be, I do hope that Lorelai is okay.

     I push open the door to the diner, and I already know my dad knows. He's practically dancing around the diner, and I've not seen him this happy since... well, forever. He hasn't noticed me yet, but I've certainly noticed the shift in his behaviour as he moves around, offering free coffee to everyone.

     When his eyes land on me, he steps over with a huge— and slightly terrifying— smile on his face. "Lucy!" He wraps me into the tightest, bone-crushing hug. "Good day at school? Yeah. Well, coffee is on the house, okay?"

     Dad is already walking away before I get to speak. I already get coffee on the house so, to me, it's not all that exciting. However, the business is booming, likely due to the freebies my dad is giving people.

     I follow after him, and ask, "Have you heard the news?"

     "What news?"

     I scoff. "Don't play dumb with me."

     He turns back to me, and there's still a hint of his previous smile there. Of course he knows. I mean, he's over the freaking moon on the day that Lorelai has announced there will be no wedding. It's no coincidence.

     "I'm just happy, kid." He ruffles my hair, and I scowl at him.

     "Right. Sure." I grin at him. "So, Addy is coming over. Hope you don't mind. Love you, bye!" Before he can object— not that he would— I rush upstairs to leave my dad in his happy buzz about Lorelai not being engaged anymore.

After showering and changing, I'm surprised by Tristan— not Addy, who I expected to see— and he's immediately walking over to me with a sad smile on his face. "Hey," I offer, opening my arms to him. He closes his arms around me, his head bowing down to rest against my shoulder. "Everything okay? I didn't know you were coming over."

     "Your dad let me up." He lifts his head, his arms still around my middle. "He seems happy."

     "Lorelai isn't getting married anymore," I tell him, and his eyes widen in surprise. "So, he's happier than usual. Good for me, though."

"Yeah," he sighs.

I feel him tense in my arms, and I reach my hands up to delicately stroke his face. "What's wrong? Bad first day?"

"I guess." He shrugs it off like it means nothing, but I know something is going on, and I'm sure he'll tell me, just not yet.

Addy is coming over in an hour, Tristan is now laying on my bed throwing a baseball in the air, and I'm busy myself in my books. While Dad may be in jolly mood, he still checks on me and Tristan every ten minutes. Of course, we aren't doing anything remotely romantic so he has nothing to be worried about, but I am definitely worrying about Tristan.

He's so quiet, so reserved, and I just want to help him with whatever's going on.

I lift my legs onto his lap once he sits up, and he immediately places his arms across my legs. "Tristan," I whisper. "Talk to me. Please."

"I did something..." He stares down at his hands that circle my ankles. "It was dumb and reckless, and I'm probably going to get suspended, but I don't know... I was just having a hard day and—"

"You're going to get suspended after your first day?" I ask, completely surprised because he genuinely doesn't seem like the type. "What happened?"

I don't want to get mad, not at him, but he's a hard worker. He shouldn't be getting suspended. He's smart. How is he getting suspended? What the hell did he do? Actually, the question I should ask is, "What did your friends make you do?"

"Duncan and Bowman thought—"

     I scoff, shaking my head because I knew he'd mention them. I haven't met these boys— I don't exactly want to— but I know they're trouble.

"Babe, listen—"

"Tristan, they're not a good influence. I mean, it's the first day and you're getting suspended?" I move my legs off his lap, and I lean back against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest. "Look, I know it's not my place to judge who your friends are but school is important. You have all the time in the world to meet other Bowman's and Duncan's."

"I know," he replies, his voice down.

"I'm sorry," I whisper. God, I feel awful.

"No, you're right." Tristan looks over at me, his hand slipping into mine. "You're always right. I just..." He shrugs. "I just can't stand school sometimes, and I needed a break today. I keep messing up on assignments and— God, I screwed up those exams I did in May. It's just..."

"Too much sometimes?" I interrupt, and Tristan hums. I squeeze his hand, reassuring him. "I said I'd help if you need anything."

"I just need you right now, if that's okay?"

I settle my head on his shoulder. "That's definitely okay," I reply, resting our intertwined hands on my lap.

We stay there together, just holding each other in silence while we wait for Addy to show up. If being here for him is what he wants, I'll sit with him all damn day. I wish I could keep him right here with me, in this bed, in this apartment with me. I've got him for as long as he'll keep me.

I rest a leg around Tristan's, cuddling into his side. "Hey, in the future, what do you want the most?" I ask, trying to move this conversation onto a lighter topic.

"Flying cars," he replies, and I laugh loudly.

"Like in Back to the Future?"

"Yes, exactly like that." Hearing him laugh is the sweetest sound, and I'm so relieved he sounds genuinely happy right now. "But... on a more serious note, I just want to make something of my life, you know? Do something nobody expects— do something I can be proud of."

"Like what?" I question.

"Write a book," he replies quickly, and I smile knowingly. "Become an author. Go to a school that I love. Get a super cool apartment with a pool table and a freaking bar." I laugh, grinning wildly at him as he talks passionately about his future. "But way more importantly, I want to have somebody alongside me. I want to wake up to the same person every single day."

"Hmm," I hum. "The same person, huh? What's she like?"

"She's beautiful," Tristan replies, smiling down at me— admiring me. "And she's got the most gorgeous eyes. They're blue— cornflower blue— and I love looking at them." He looks me directly in the eyes, and I stare back at him. "She has the sweetest smile, and the softest hair. She's tall, nearly as tall as me, but she's extraordinary, and I love her very, very much."

"Wow," I say, entirely breathless. "She sounds... great."

"She is," Tristan whispers, his nose brushing against mine. "She's the one."

My eyes widen. "The one?"

"The one I'm gonna marry," he confirms, and I feel my heart somersault and beat rapidly. There's no hesitation in his voice, no stutter. He's entirely serious. "The one I'm gonna have kids with. The one I'm gonna grow old with. She's the one."

I raise a brow, my mouth open in surprise. "Oh, yeah?"

Tristan grins, and he leans in to push his lips against mine briefly. "The real question is... will she say yes?"

I swallow the overwhelming feeling in my throat, and Tristan chuckles at my red face. I feel so embarrassed, but so ridiculously loved.

"I think you're in luck," I reply, and Tristan places his hand upon my thigh. "But... when will you ask?"

"When you least expect it."

This conversation has barrelled down a very real, very scary path, but I don't wish to retreat. I'm running down this path, and I'm meeting him right at the end with open arms. He thinks I'm his one true love, but he's mine. I believe he'll be the one for me at the end of the day, and I wish I could tell him that but my stupid mouth won't open because I'm still reeling from this.

He wants to marry me. He wants to have children with me. He wants to grow old with me. It sounds unbelievable.

To be sixteen and this in love, I mean, am I in over my head? Am I insane to believe Tristan will be my one true love? Maybe, but I don't care.

"You're going to be a lawyer," he speaks softly, and my eyes flutter to a close.

"And you'll be a writer."

He pushes a kiss against the top of my head, and I hum in delight.

     And then before either of us can say another word, Addy comes bursting through the door with a DVD in her hand. "I had to rob this copy off Kirk," Addy exaggerates. "He rented the last copy, so I fought him for it?"

     "Literally or figuratively?"

     "Figuratively." She peels her coat off, hanging it up beside the door. "I offered him a slice of pie at Weston's. He's so easy."

     "Aren't you inspiring?" I chuckle.

     "Also, hi Tristan." She peers over at my boyfriend, offering him a wave.

     "Hi, Addy."

     Addy moves to slide the DVD into the player, and then she hops into my bed, snatching the remote and sliding right in between me and Tristan, separating us, and I shake my head and scoff. How dare she.

     I glance over at Tristan, and he winks at me. "Now, Tristan, are you ready to see your girl's future?"

     "Reese Witherspoon is Lucy's future?"

     "Yes. A hot, kickass lawyer," Addy remarks, and I lean my head into her shoulder. "Now, stay quiet. If either of you speak, I'll hurt you."

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authors note:

kinda crappy chapter.. i rlly didn't have any ideas for this chapter

but next chapter you'll meet a very important person... think ima upload it tonight