The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Forty-Seven: Defining Moments

AN: My cat died today:(

The dorm was unusually quiet for once. Alessia and Riley sat on the couch, side by side, their conversation soft and easy, the sound of a movie playing quietly in the background. In the bedroom, Lily was fast asleep, exhausted from an afternoon filled with endless games of hide and seek, hand-clapping games, and impromptu movie marathons.

Riley stretched out his legs, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "She crashed pretty hard, huh?"

Alessia chuckled, glancing toward her room. "Yeah, I think we wore her out."

Riley grinned, then wiggled the fingers of his left hand, showing off his freshly painted pink nails. "Speaking of wearing out... you think Beau's gonna make fun of these?"

Alessia laughed. "Beau? He'll probably want you to paint his next. Or something even more ridiculous." She gave him a playful nudge. "I think you pull it off though. Pink suits you."

Before Riley could respond, the door creaked open, and Beau strolled in, immediately spotting the two of them lounging on the couch. "Hey, guys," he said, shutting the door behind him. "I'm starving—haven't eaten all day. Did Lily wear you both out yet?"

"She's asleep now," Alessia replied, gesturing toward her bedroom door. "Finally. Want me to go grab takeout for everyone? I can run down the street and get something while you wait for her to wake up."

Beau's face lit up. "You're the best. I'll owe you forever."

Alessia rolled her eyes with a smile, grabbing her coat. "I'll be back soon. Any preferences?"

Riley shook his head, and Beau added, "Anything works. Thanks, Less."

As Alessia left the dorm, closing the door behind her, the atmosphere subtly shifted. Beau walked over, slumping onto the couch beside Riley, his hand brushing against Riley's arm, sending a quiet spark between them.

"Nice nails," Beau teased, eyes locking onto Riley's hand.

Riley smirked, turning his palm up to give Beau a better view. "Lily's idea. Thought I'd match with her."

Beau leaned closer, inspecting Riley's nails with a playful, interested gaze. "You know... that's actually kinda hot on you."

Riley's lips twitched into a smile, but he tried to play it cool. "Oh, really?"

Beau shrugged, but his eyes held that same teasing glint. "Yeah, really."

They both fell quiet for a beat, the tension that had been bubbling beneath the surface since their kiss now impossible to ignore. Riley could feel it—the space between them charged, like something unsaid was finally ready to break free. He turned his head slightly, meeting Beau's eyes.

"So, we should probably talk about... the kiss," Riley said, his voice low but steady.

Beau swallowed, shifting slightly. "Yeah. I was wondering when we'd get to that."

Riley chuckled softly, though there was a nervous edge to it. "So, where do we stand? I mean, I... I like you, Beau. I don't want to pretend that didn't happen."

Beau's expression softened, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. "I like you too. A lot. But... do we really need to label it right now?"

Riley considered it for a moment, a cheesy smile creeping onto his face. "Actually, I think we do. Let's just say it. We're boyfriends, right?"

Beau chuckled, a playful smirk forming. "Boyfriends, huh? That's a nice ring to it."

"Right? Okay, boyfriend," Riley said, practically beaming.

Beau rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smile spreading across his face. "You're such a dork."

"I know. But I'm your dork now," Riley replied, nudging him playfully.

The tension eased, and the atmosphere shifted from charged to comfortable. They settled into a more relaxed silence, Beau shifting closer, their shoulders brushing against each other.

"So... what do you think Alessia is getting? She takes forever with takeout," Beau said, breaking the silence.

Riley shrugged, grinning. "Probably something she thinks is gourmet. You know her—she can't resist anything that looks fancy."

"Right? I wouldn't be surprised if she brings back some overpriced salad."

Their laughter filled the room, the easy banter turning the moment lighter. They shared stories, teasing each other about the silliest things that had happened in their classes, discussing their plans for the rest of the week.

When the door finally opened again, Alessia stepped in, bags of takeout in her hands. "Sorry, sorry! There was a line—"

She stopped short when she noticed the two of them sitting so close together, a curious look crossing her face. "What did I miss?"

"Just bonding over Riley's fabulous nails," Beau said, showcasing them with a grin.

Alessia raised an eyebrow but smiled, setting the food down on the table. "I see. Can't believe you actually went through with that."

Riley shrugged playfully. "What can I say? I'm a trendsetter. Right, Beau?"

Beau rolled his eyes, a smile still dancing on his lips. "Totally a trendsetter."

As they dug into the takeout, the laughter and lightness filled the room once again, and for that moment, everything felt perfectly right.