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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It was a typical Sunday morning in Stars Hollow, with the sun casting a warm glow over the town square. Alessia sat on the front porch, observing the slow trickle of people heading to their favorite spots for breakfast. The distinct aroma of coffee wafted from Luke's Diner, beckoning her.
She could hear Lorelai's voice inside, chatting animatedly with Rory about the latest Chilton drama, even on a weekend. The warmth between them was palpable, a stark contrast to the silence that enveloped Alessia.
"Mom, do you want to grab breakfast at Luke's?" Alessia called, hoping for a rare family outing.
"Sorry, hon, Rory and I are catching up on our movie marathon plans. Maybe later?" Lorelai responded, her tone dismissive yet unaware of the impact.
Alessia sighed and grabbed her bag. "I'll be at Luke's if you need me," she said, more to herself than anyone else.
As she walked to the diner, Alessia's thoughts swirled with a mix of frustration and resignation. The sound of laughter and chatter from inside Luke's broke her reverie. She pushed open the door, the familiar jingle signaling her arrival.
"Morning, Alessia," Luke greeted gruffly from behind the counter. "Your usual?"
"Please," she replied, sliding onto a stool. "Make it extra strong. Apparently, I need to stay alert for my family's movie plans."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "You know, all that coffee's gonna stunt your growth or something."
Alessia smirked. "Better than feeling invisible, right?"
As she waited for her coffee, the door to the apartment above the diner creaked open, and Jess sauntered down, looking disheveled but undeniably confident. He gave Alessia a nod and a sly grin before settling into a booth in the corner.
"Your nephew here," Alessia observed.
Luke glanced over his shoulder and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, lucky me. At least he's not causing trouble—yet."
Alessia chuckled, appreciating Luke's grumpy demeanor. "You're such a ray of sunshine, Luke. Ever thought of joining a scrapbooking club?"
"Scrapbooking's for the faint of heart," Luke shot back, handing her a steaming cup of coffee.
As Alessia took a sip, savoring the rich flavor, the bell above the door jingled again. Lorelai and Rory entered, their presence filling the diner with an infectious energy.
"Hey, Luke! Coffee, coffee, coffee!" Lorelai chanted, practically dancing to the counter.
"Morning, Luke. Hi, Alessia," Rory greeted, her smile genuine.
Alessia forced a smile. "Hey, Rory. Mom."
Lorelai's attention shifted immediately to Jess. "Well, if it isn't Stars Hollow's own James Dean," she quipped, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Jess smirked, his eyes darting briefly to Alessia before focusing on Lorelai. "Morning, Lorelai. Rory. Alessia."
"Don't you have anything better to do than lounge around here?" Lorelai teased.
"Not really," Jess replied nonchalantly, the hint of a challenge in his voice.
"Jess, play nice," Luke warned, his tone gruff but not unkind.
Alessia observed the interaction, feeling the familiar pang of being on the periphery. Her eyes met Jess's for a brief moment, a silent understanding passing between them. She quickly looked away, focusing on her coffee.
"So, what's the plan for today?" Rory asked, breaking the silence.
"Lots of nothing," Lorelai declared. "Movies, junk food, and maybe some existential conversations."
"Sounds perfect," Rory agreed.
Jess leaned against the counter near Rory, his smile widening. "Movies and junk food? Sounds like you need some company."
Rory blushed slightly, glancing away. "We've got it covered, thanks."
"Sure about that? I'm an expert at movie marathons," Jess said, his tone playful.
Rory tried to hide her smile, feeling a twinge of guilt about Dean. "I think we'll manage, but thanks for the offer."
Jess chuckled, clearly enjoying her flustered reaction. "Suit yourself."
Alessia stirred her coffee, the feeling of being left out growing stronger. "I think I'll head out," she said abruptly, standing up.
"Leaving so soon?" Lorelai asked, finally noticing her.
"Yeah, I've got some stuff to do," Alessia replied, her tone clipped.
"Okay, have fun!" Lorelai said, turning back to Rory and Jess.
As Alessia walked out, she couldn't shake the feeling of being overshadowed by her sister's closeness with their mother. She paused outside the diner, taking a deep breath. Maybe one day, she thought, things would be different.
For now, she'd find her own way to shine, even if it meant navigating the shadows of the Gilmore family dynamic.
