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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The crisp autumn breeze tugged at Beau's jacket as he walked across campus, his little sister Lily skipping beside him, clutching his hand. Her blonde hair whipped in the wind, and her eyes sparkled with excitement. At eight years old, Lily had endless energy, and while Beau loved her more than anything, he couldn't help feeling anxious about leaving her on campus. His dorm, thanks to his noisy, pothead roommate, was far from ideal for looking after her.
As they reached the entrance to Riley and Alessia's dorm, Beau glanced down at Lily. She was chattering away about her favorite TV show, totally unaware of the tension building inside him. Beau squeezed her hand gently and reassured her, "You'll like Riley. And you already know Alessia, so you'll be fine."
Lily's face lit up at the mention of Alessia. "Alessia's the best! She's so nice and has cool clothes." Her enthusiasm was palpable, making Beau smile.
They arrived at the door, and Beau knocked before letting them in. Inside, Alessia was sitting cross-legged on the armchair, a fluffy blanket over her lap, while Riley lounged on the couch, looking half-distracted by the textbook in his hands.
"Hey, you two," Beau said, guiding Lily inside. "Look who I brought."
Alessia's face immediately brightened when she saw Lily. "Lily! It's been ages since I saw you!" She tossed her book aside and held her arms out.
Lily beamed, running over to her and diving into a hug. "Alessia! I missed you!"
"I missed you too, kiddo," Alessia said, squeezing her tight before pulling back to look at her. "You've gotten so big! How's everything been?"
Lily launched into a mini-rant about school and her latest adventures, completely at ease with Alessia, who nodded along, genuinely interested. Beau chuckled, glad to see how much his sister adored her.
Riley, on the other hand, watched the interaction with a curious smile, before catching Beau's eye. "So, this is the famous Lily I've heard about."
Lily turned toward Riley, her shyness creeping back in now that she was faced with someone new. She gave him a small wave. "Hi."
Riley sat up, his usual easy-going demeanor slipping into something warmer. "Hey there. I'm Riley. It's nice to finally meet you." He gave her a friendly grin.
Lily tilted her head slightly, as if studying him. "Are you Alessia's boyfriend?"
Both Alessia and Riley burst into laughter, while Beau hid a grin behind his hand.
"No, no, definitely not," Riley said, still chuckling. His eyes flicked briefly to Beau, the memory of their kiss still fresh in his mind. "Just her roommate."
"Oh." Lily blinked and nodded, seemingly satisfied with that answer before turning back to Alessia.
Beau scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, shifting on his feet. "So, uh... I hate to ask, but I've got class in ten minutes. My roommate's being a complete pain, and I really don't want Lily staying there while I'm gone. Would you two mind looking after her for a bit?"
Alessia glanced at Lily and then back at Beau with an easy smile. "Of course, we'll watch her. We've got a free period right now anyway."
"Yeah, no problem," Riley added, giving Lily a wink. "We'll keep her entertained."
Lily glanced between them, clearly pleased with the arrangement, and then tugged on Beau's sleeve. "Will you be gone long?"
"Just a couple of hours," Beau promised, kneeling to her level. "Be good for Alessia and Riley, okay? I'll be back before you know it."
Lily nodded obediently but then turned to Alessia with big eyes. "Can we paint our nails again?"
Alessia grinned. "Absolutely."
Beau stood up, relieved that things were going smoothly. "Thanks, guys. I owe you."
"Go, before you're late," Alessia said, waving him off. Riley gave a casual wave as well, his gaze lingering on Beau for just a second longer than usual.
As Beau headed out the door, he couldn't help feeling a little lighter, knowing Lily was in good hands. Even though things were complicated right now—with his parents and the situation at home—at least here, with Riley and Alessia, he felt like things were under control.
