In The Forgotten Gilmore, Alessia Gilmore grapples with adolescence in Stars Hollow, a town where gossip flows as freely as coffee at Luke's Diner. Overshadowed by her mother Lorelai's bond with twin sister Rory, Alessia finds solace in her irrevere...
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As the first period began, Alessia found herself in English class, Mrs. Carlisle droning on about the significance of symbolism in classic literature. Alessia's mind wandered, and she doodled absentmindedly in the margins of her notebook, replaying yesterday's encounter in the diner.
By lunchtime, Alessia and Isabella had settled into their usual spot in the cafeteria, the din of chatter and clattering trays providing a familiar backdrop. Isabella was mid-sentence, recounting a particularly juicy piece of gossip about Kirk's latest scheme, when Alessia's attention was drawn to the entrance.
Jess Mariano strolled in, his usual air of detached coolness making him stand out in the sea of students. He carried a book, as always, and his eyes scanned the room before he chose a table near the back, far from the noise and chaos.
Isabella nudged Alessia, noticing her a distraction. "Hey, Earth to Alessia. You seem a little lost today."
Alessia shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Just thinking about something... or someone."
Isabella's eyes widened with a knowing smirk. "Oh, I see. Our resident mystery man strikes again."
"He's just... different," Alessia admitted, her gaze lingering on Jess. "There's something about him."
Isabella laughed softly. "Different is an understatement. He's a walking puzzle."
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, and Alessia made her way to her next class. The rest of the day passed in a blur of lectures and assignments, her thoughts never straying far from Jess. By the time the final bell rang, she felt a mix of exhaustion and restless energy.
As she left school, she spotted Rory waiting by the bus stop. Alessia walked over, deciding to accompany her sister as she did every day. They exchanged small talk about their day, the usual blend of sisterly banter and mutual support.
When Rory's bus arrived, Alessia waved her off, watching as the bus disappeared down the road. She then turned and headed toward Luke's Diner, needing a break before tackling her homework.
The bell above the diner's door chimed as she entered, the comforting aroma of coffee and baked goods welcoming her. She found a seat at the counter, ordering a coffee from Luke with a tired smile.
A few minutes later, the door opened again, and Alessia glanced up to see Jess descending the stairs from the apartment above. He looked up and noticed her, a flicker of recognition passing across his face before he approached the counter.
Alessia's attention quickly shifted as Luke handed her a cup of coffee, raising an eyebrow. "You know all this coffee is going to make you die young, right?"
Alessia smirked, taking a sip. "I'll take my chances. Besides, isn't your whole business model based on caffeine addiction?"
Luke rolled his eyes, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Touché. Just don't come crying to me when you can't sleep."
She laughed softly, feeling a sense of comfort in the banter. "I'll remember that. How's business today?"
"Busy as ever," Luke replied, wiping down the counter. "Though it gets a little more interesting when certain students decide to ditch school for my diner."
Alessia grinned, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, can you blame us? The food here is way better than the cafeteria's mystery meat."
"Can't argue with that," Luke conceded, a rare chuckle escaping him. "Just don't make it a habit, okay?"
"Scout's honor," Alessia promised, her smile lingering as she took another sip of her coffee.
Throughout their exchange, Jess remained a silent observer at the other end of the counter, engrossed in his book but occasionally glancing up, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. Alessia noticed his presence but chose to focus on her conversation with Luke, enjoying the rare moments of lightheartedness.
As the afternoon turned into evening, Alessia felt a strange reluctance to leave the cozy confines of the diner. She finally gathered her things, giving Luke a wave as she headed for the door.
"See you later, Luke," she called out.
"Take care, Alessia," he replied, a genuine warmth in his voice.
As she walked home, Alessia couldn't help but feel that this was just the beginning of something unexpected.
