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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A few days later, Alessia woke up to the familiar sounds of her house—the distant hum of the coffee maker, her mother's soft footsteps in the hallway, and Rory's muffled singing from the bathroom. She stretched out in her bed, feeling the warmth of the morning sun streaming through the curtains.
Downstairs, the kitchen was already bustling with activity. Her mother, Lorelai, was at the stove, flipping pancakes, while Rory was setting the table, her movements synchronized with the upbeat music playing from her phone.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Lorelai greeted, glancing over her shoulder with a warm smile that seemed to falter slightly when she saw Alessia. "Breakfast is almost ready."
"Morning, Mom," Alessia replied, giving her a quick hug. "Smells amazing."
"Yeah, Mom's pancakes are the best," Rory said brightly, putting down the last plate. "I was just telling her about the latest school project."
"Of course you were," Alessia said, forcing a smile as she sat down at the table.
As they started eating, Lorelai couldn't help but steer the conversation in a direction that made Alessia's stomach tighten.
"So, Alessia," Lorelai began, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. "I heard you were out with Jess last night."
Alessia looked up, trying to gauge her mother's mood. "Yeah, we just hung out and talked. Nothing crazy."
"Nothing crazy?" Lorelai echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Alessia, Jess isn't exactly known for his good behavior. He's not a good influence."
"Mom, he's different with me," Alessia said, trying to keep her voice steady. "He's not as bad as you think."
"Not as bad?" Lorelai repeated, incredulous. "Alessia, Jess is trouble. I don't want you getting mixed up in his drama."
"Mom, you don't even know him," Alessia retorted, feeling her frustration rise. "Why can't you just trust my judgment?"
Lorelai sighed, clearly frustrated. "I just don't want you to get hurt, Alessia. You deserve better."
Alessia felt a pang of hurt at her mother's words. "I know you worry, but Jess is my friend. Can't you trust me to make my own decisions?"
Lorelai's expression softened slightly, but her resolve didn't waver. "I do trust you, Alessia. I just don't trust Jess."
The rest of breakfast was eaten in a tense silence, the cheerful atmosphere from earlier completely dissipated. Alessia couldn't help but feel the sting of her mother's disapproval, the favoritism toward Rory as clear as ever.
After breakfast, Alessia retreated to her room, feeling the weight of her mother's words. She sat on her bed, picking up the book Jess had given her and flipping through the pages without really reading. A soft knock on her door interrupted her thoughts.
"Hey," Rory said, peeking in. "Can I come in?"
"Sure," Alessia replied, putting the book down.
Rory sat beside her on the bed, her expression concerned. "I'm sorry about earlier. Mom just... she gets protective, you know?"
"Yeah, I know," Alessia said, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"She's just worried about you," Rory continued, trying to reassure her.
"She doesn't trust me," Alessia snapped, surprising even herself with the intensity of her words. "She never has."
Rory looked taken aback. "Alessia, that's not true. Mom loves you."
"She loves you," Alessia corrected. "She tolerates me. I'm always the second option, Rory. Always."
Before Rory could respond, Lorelai's voice called up from downstairs. "Alessia, can you come down here for a minute?"
Alessia stood up, feeling the frustration boiling over. She walked down the stairs, her footsteps heavy. Lorelai was waiting in the living room, arms crossed.
"What's going on?" Alessia asked, her tone sharper than she intended.
"Alessia, we need to talk about Jess," Lorelai said, her expression serious.
"There's nothing to talk about," Alessia replied, crossing her arms defensively.
"There is," Lorelai insisted. "I don't want you seeing him anymore."
Alessia's eyes widened in shock. "What? You can't be serious."
"I'm very serious," Lorelai said, her voice firm. "He's not good for you, and I won't stand by and watch you get hurt."
"You don't get to decide who my friends are!" Alessia shouted, her anger spilling over.
"I'm your mother. It's my job to protect you," Lorelai shot back.
"You're not protecting me. You're controlling me," Alessia said, her voice shaking with emotion. "Why can't you just trust me?"
"Because you're making bad decisions," Lorelai said, her tone unforgiving.
Alessia felt tears of frustration welling up in her eyes. "I'm done with this," she said, turning on her heel and storming out of the house.
She walked quickly, her anger propelling her forward. She didn't stop until she reached Luke's Diner. Pushing open the door, she headed straight for the stairs leading to the apartment above.
"Alessia?" Luke called out, concerned, but she ignored him.
She reached Jess's door and knocked urgently. After a moment, Jess opened the door, his expression shifting from surprise to concern.
"Alessia, what's wrong?" he asked, stepping aside to let her in.
She walked into the room, her emotions still raw. "I can't stay there right now," she said, her voice trembling. "Can I stay here for a while?"
"Of course," Jess said immediately, closing the door behind her. "You can stay as long as you need."
Alessia sat down on the edge of his bed, feeling the weight of the morning's events pressing down on her. Jess sat beside her, his presence a comforting anchor in the storm of her emotions.
"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Jess said quietly.
Alessia shook her head, feeling a tear slip down her cheek. "It's just... Mom doesn't trust me. She doesn't think I can make my own decisions."
Jess sighed, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Alessia. That sounds really tough."
"It is," she said, wiping her eyes. "But thank you for being here. It means a lot."
"Anytime, Gilmore" Jess said, giving her a small, supportive smile.
For the first time that day, Alessia felt a glimmer of hope. She wasn't alone, and she had people who cared about her. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep her going.
