THE GILMORE GIRLS

S1 E12: "Double Date"

The shrill alarm pierced through the early morning silence, jolting me from sleep. I groaned, dragging myself out of bed and putting on my clothes for the day.

"Mom, Eva!" Rory's voice carried through the house, her urgency cutting through the haze of sleep.

In the kitchen, the chaos of our morning routine unfolded with practiced precision. Mom, already on her feet, reached for the coffee pot. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the room as she deftly removed the pot from the machine. I quickly slid my coffee cup into position under the spout, eager to catch the hot, steaming liquid that continued its steady drip.

Rory, meanwhile, was busy at the toaster, slotting two Pop-Tarts into place with a decisive click. The toaster hummed as it began its work, and Rory grabbed her coffee cup from the counter, savoring the comforting warmth of the freshly brewed coffee.

Mom, her movements a blend of grace and haste, placed the Pop-Tarts onto a paper towel once they popped, her eyes darting between the kitchen counter and the clock. With the coffee pot now back in its place, she handed Rory a Pop-Tart, her attention split between Rory and her own growing list of tasks. Rory took it, balancing her coffee in one hand and the Pop-Tart in the other. Rory then left to go gather her bag.

Mom on the other hand was fumbling with her shirt as she tried to tie it. I picked up my school bag, feeling the weight of it settling comfortably on my shoulder. Seeing Mom's struggle, I stepped in with my own coffee in hand, handing it to her as I as I bit into my own Pop-Tart, I took over the task of tying her shirt, the fabric feeling soft and familiar under my fingers.

With her shirt now neatly in place, Mom glanced at Rory, who came back from her room, her expression a mix of exasperation and affection. She pulled the clip from Rory's hair with a playful smirk, giving her a 'what were you thinking' look before tossing it aside with a flick of her wrist. Rory, unfazed, took a bite of her Pop-Tart, her eyes sparkling with the familiar mischief of morning.

I took back my coffee from mom. I took a long sip, the rich, bold flavor a small comfort against the rush of the day. With coffee and Pop-Tarts in hand, Mom, Rory, and I headed out the door.

~~~

The neon sign outside the bar flickered as we stepped into the lively atmosphere of Karaoke Night. We were slightly outside of Stars Hollow at this hole-in-the-wall bar. The place buzzed with laughter and chatter, the air thick with the scent of bar food and beer. Justin's hand was warm in mine, and we exchanged a quick smile as we followed our friends to a table near the stage.

Katie and Josh were already seated, sharing a plate of nachos and deep in conversation. Belle and Darren, on the other hand, were quietly sipping their drinks, exchanging the occasional awkward glance. We slid into our seats, the excitement of the night washing over us.

The guys had heard that this bar was having a Karaoke Night and suggested that we all go for a triple date. Of course, us girls, were all for it. It's been a while since we have all been together like this. We miss it.

A guy on stage was belting out a passionate, albeit slightly off-key, rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer." His enthusiastic performance had the whole bar cheering, even if he was probably drunk out of his mind.

"This is going to be interesting," Justin whispered in my ear, his breath tickling my skin. I shivered, leaning closer to him.

"Definitely," I replied, squeezing his hand. "Think you're brave enough to sing tonight?"

Justin grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Only if you promise to join me for a duet."

"Deal," I said, laughing. "But you go first."