The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Sixty: After the Dance

Alessia lay sprawled on her bed, still in her pajamas, staring up at the ceiling with a contented smile on her face. Last night had been everything she'd hoped for—fun, carefree, and exactly the escape she needed. Prom at Stars Hollow High had been a blast. The gym had been transformed into a dazzling wonderland of lights, streamers, and balloons, and for one night, all the stress and tension that had been building up over the past few months melted away.

She and Beau made an entrance that caught everyone's attention. Beau, ever the charmer, had looked dapper in his suit, and Alessia had felt like a princess in her dress—elegant, but not too over-the-top. They danced to every song, laughed with their friends, and even pulled off a ridiculous, impromptu routine to one of the cheesy '80s songs that the DJ had thrown into the mix. By the time the night ended, Alessia's feet ached from dancing, but she wouldn't have traded the experience for anything.

Rory hadn't been there, but for once, Alessia hadn't felt like she was missing out or overshadowed by her twin. This night had been about her and her friends, and she had soaked up every moment of it. Even the awkwardness with Isabella had faded into the background; for one night, all the drama didn't matter.

She reached over to her nightstand, picking up her phone to scroll through the dozens of photos and videos from the night. The selfies, the group shots, the candid moments—they were all perfect reminders of how much fun she'd had. She felt a pang of bittersweetness, knowing that this chapter of her life was coming to an end soon, but for now, she was content to just bask in the glow of a great night.

A soft knock on her bedroom door pulled her out of her reverie.

"Come in," Alessia called, half expecting it to be Lorelai checking in on her after a late night.

But instead, it was Christopher who appeared in the doorway.

"Hey, kiddo," he said, his smile warm but tinged with uncertainty.

Alessia's contented smile faded as she sat up, surprise and confusion washing over her. "Dad? What are you doing here?"

Christopher stepped into the room, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans. He looked around, as if trying to find something familiar in the room that hadn't changed much since the last time he visited. "I was in the area," he said, his tone casual, but Alessia could sense the underlying nervousness.

"In the area?" Alessia echoed, her tone skeptical. "You don't live anywhere near here, Dad. What's going on?"

Christopher sighed, his casual demeanor slipping just a bit. "Okay, maybe I'm not just 'in the area.' I was visiting some friends, and I thought I'd drop by to see you. It's been a while."

Alessia didn't say anything for a moment, processing his unexpected arrival. Christopher wasn't exactly known for his consistency, and his visits were always unpredictable. Part of her wanted to be happy that he was here, but another part of her was wary, unsure of what his visit really meant. "So, are you just passing through, or are you sticking around for a bit?"

Christopher gave a small shrug. "I was hoping to stick around for a while, if that's okay with you. Maybe spend some time together? I heard you had prom last night."

Alessia's defenses started to lower slightly. It wasn't often that her dad expressed an interest in her life. "Yeah, prom was last night. It was fun. Beau and I went together, danced a lot, took a bunch of photos. It was great."

Christopher's smile broadened. "That sounds awesome, kiddo. I'm glad you had a good time. I know things have been... complicated lately."

"Yeah, you could say that," Alessia replied, her tone lighter than it might have been. The tension between her and Rory, the distance from Lorelai—those things were real, but for now, they didn't feel as heavy. Not after a night where she'd felt like the star of her own story.

"Listen," he began, moving to sit on the edge of her bed, "I know I've missed out on a lot. I haven't always been the dad you needed, and for that, I'm really sorry. But I'm here now, and I want to spend some time with you. Maybe even make up for some of the lost time."

Alessia met his gaze, searching his eyes for sincerity. She'd heard similar sentiments before, but this time there was something in his tone that made her want to believe him. Maybe it was the vulnerability she saw in him, or maybe it was the leftover optimism from the night before, but she found herself nodding.

"Okay," she said softly. "We can try."

Christopher's face lit up with a mixture of relief and hope. "Great. How about we grab some breakfast at Luke's? My treat."

Alessia chuckled, the mention of Luke's Diner bringing a sense of normalcy to the situation. "Sure, but I'll warn you—Luke's not a fan of yours."

Christopher smirked, getting up from the bed. "Well, I can't blame him. But maybe he'll make an exception for pancakes."

Alessia looked at him, her emotions a mix of hope and guardedness. She'd heard this before, the promises that he'd stick around, that he'd be the dad she needed. But something in his tone, or maybe the timing, made her want to give him another chance.

As Alessia stood up to grab her coat, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this time would be different.

And as she walked out the door with her dad by her side, she allowed herself to believe that, for once, things might actually change.