The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Fifty Five: Clearing the Air

The morning sun filtered through the windows of Stars Hollow High, casting long shadows down the hallways as Alessia made her way to her locker. Her mind was still reeling from the events of the previous night. The party had been a blur of excitement, celebration, and drinks—so many drinks that the memory of what happened between her and Beau felt both vivid and hazy at the same time.

As she reached her locker, she saw Beau approaching from the opposite direction. He caught her eye, and they both offered each other awkward smiles. There was no avoiding this conversation.

"Hey," Beau said, leaning against the locker beside hers. "Can we talk?"

"Yeah, of course," Alessia replied, trying to keep her tone light, though her heart was racing. She motioned for them to step aside into a quieter corner of the hallway where they could speak without being overheard.

"So, about last night..." Beau started, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly unsure how to begin. "That was...unexpected."

"Yeah, it was," Alessia agreed, nodding. "I mean, we were both pretty drunk, and things just sort of...happened."

He chuckled awkwardly. "Right. Look, I think you're awesome, and last night was fun, but I don't want things to get weird between us, you know?"

Alessia felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had been worried about how this conversation would go, but Beau's words were exactly what she'd been hoping to hear. "Same here. I care about you a lot, Beau, but I think we're better off as friends."

He smiled, the tension between them easing. "Friends it is, then."

Alessia returned the smile, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "I'm glad we're on the same page."

Beau gave her a playful nudge. "So, friends who occasionally make out at parties?"

Alessia laughed, shaking her head. "Let's just stick to being the kind of friends who don't complicate things."

"Deal," Beau said with a grin. "I'll catch you later?"

"Definitely," she replied, waving as he headed off to his next class.

Feeling lighter, Alessia decided to head to Luke's Diner after school to clear her head. She had agreed to meet Isabella there, and the idea of spending some time with her friend was exactly what she needed. The bell above the door jingled as Alessia entered the diner, the comforting scent of coffee and pancakes immediately enveloping her.

Isabella was already there, sitting at their usual booth, looking at her pager. When she saw Alessia, she smiled and waved her over.

"Hey," Isabella greeted as Alessia slid into the booth across from her. "You look like you've had a night."

"You have no idea," Alessia said with a groan, but there was a smile on her face.

"Spill. What happened?" Isabella asked, leaning forward with interest.

"Long story short, Beau and I hooked up at a party last night," Alessia said, lowering her voice so only Isabella could hear.

Isabella's eyes widened. "Wait, what? You and Beau?"

"Yeah, but we talked about it, and we're just going to stay friends," Alessia quickly added, not wanting to dwell on the awkwardness of the situation. "It was one of those 'what were we thinking' kind of things."

"Got it," Isabella said with a knowing nod. "At least you guys are cool with it."

"Yeah, we are," Alessia replied, feeling more assured with each passing moment.

Just then, Luke appeared at their table, coffee pot in hand. "You two want anything to eat, or are you just gonna sit there and chat all day?"

Alessia smiled up at Luke. "We'll take two coffees and some fries to share."

Luke nodded and poured their coffees before heading back behind the counter. As he did, Kirk wandered into the diner, immediately catching Luke's eye. Kirk looked around, as if on some kind of mission.

"Luke! I need to ask you something," Kirk announced, marching up to the counter with his usual oblivious energy.

Luke sighed, clearly exasperated. "What is it this time, Kirk?"

Kirk leaned in, speaking in a conspiratorial tone. "Do you think people would be interested in a service where I organize their sock drawers by color and material? I'm thinking of calling it 'Kirk's Colorful Sock Sortation.'"

Luke stared at him, deadpan. "Kirk, no one is going to pay you to organize their sock drawers."

Kirk looked undeterred. "What if I included a free consultation on sock durability?"

"Kirk, for the love of God, just sit down and order something," Luke groaned, rubbing his temples.

Kirk seemed to consider this for a moment before finally nodding. "Fine, but I'm not giving up on this idea."

As Kirk wandered over to a table, Luke shook his head and muttered something under his breath about the impossibilities of Stars Hollow. Alessia and Isabella exchanged amused glances, trying not to laugh at the spectacle.

"Never a dull moment here, huh?" Isabella remarked, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Definitely not," Alessia agreed, feeling a sense of comfort in the familiarity of the diner and the people in it.

They spent the next hour chatting, laughing, and enjoying each other's company, the events of the previous night slowly fading into the background. By the time they left Luke's, Alessia felt more at peace, reassured by the stability of her friendships and the unwavering support of her friend.

As they stepped outside into the cool afternoon air, Isabella gave Alessia a sidelong glance. "So, we're definitely doing this again, right?"

"Always," Alessia replied with a grin. "Wouldn't have it any other way."