The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Seventy-Two: Unwanted Reunions

Alessia arrived in Stars Hollow earlier than expected, her car rolling to a stop near the town square. The place was already buzzing with the final preparations for Liz and T.J.'s Renaissance-themed wedding, colorful banners strung between trees, and vendors setting up booths with medieval fare. A large wooden stage had been erected in the middle of the square where the ceremony would be held. Alessia glanced at the decorations, taking in the absurdity of it all-Renaissance outfits, makeshift swords, and men in tights.

With a resigned sigh, she stepped out of the car, already dreading the small talk she'd have to make, the conversations she'd rather avoid, and the inevitable run-ins with people she'd rather not see-namely, her mother and Rory. She spotted Liz standing near the stage, adjusting her dress-a flowing medieval gown with long, dramatic sleeves.

"Alessia!" Liz called out, waving her over with enthusiasm.

Alessia forced a smile and made her way over. Liz, with her easy smile and chaotic energy, had always been unpredictable. Alessia had dated Jess during his more tumultuous days, but Liz had been surprisingly kind to her, even when things with Jess fell apart. Now, seeing her like this-on the brink of another marriage-felt surreal.

"You're early! That's a surprise," Liz teased, though there was no malice in her voice.

"Yeah, well, I wanted to make sure I didn't miss... all of this," Alessia gestured to the scene around them.

Liz laughed, her eyes twinkling. "Oh, it's a madhouse, but that's how we like it. Have you met T.J. yet?"

Before Alessia could answer, T.J. appeared from behind one of the booths, wearing a ridiculously tight pair of green Renaissance tights and a billowing tunic. His hair was slicked back, and he had the exaggerated swagger of someone fully embracing the theme.

"There's my bride!" T.J. called, his arms outstretched dramatically as he approached. When he spotted Alessia, he gave her a mock bow. "M'lady," he said with a playful wink, clearly reveling in the absurdity of his outfit.

Alessia couldn't help but smirk. "T.J., right?"

"Indeed! In all my Renaissance glory," he replied, grinning broadly. "What do you think? Not bad, huh?"

"It's... something," Alessia replied, biting back a laugh.

Liz rolled her eyes, fondness in her gaze. "He's been in character all day."

"I'll leave you two to it," Alessia said, nodding politely as she stepped away. She wandered toward the edge of the square, feeling the weight of the event settling in her chest.

And then she saw her.

Lorelai was standing with Luke near the makeshift banquet table, deep in conversation with some of the townspeople. Alessia instinctively stiffened, her stomach churning at the sight of her mother. She'd come here hoping to avoid any confrontation, but in a small town like Stars Hollow, that was nearly impossible.

Lorelai turned, catching sight of her, and waved, her face lighting up in a way that made Alessia feel uneasy.

"Alessia!" Lorelai called, leaving Luke and approaching her.

Alessia forced a smile, her body tensing. "Mom."

"I'm so glad you're here! Luke really wanted you to be part of this," Lorelai said with enthusiasm, as if she hadn't just forgotten to tell Alessia about the wedding until the last minute.

"I'm sure he did," Alessia replied, unable to mask the slight edge in her voice.

Lorelai's smile faltered just for a moment before she recovered. "Well, it's going to be great! I mean, look at all this... medieval madness. It's like we're in a fairytale, huh?"

Alessia nodded absently, her eyes scanning the crowd for a distraction, anything to excuse her from this forced interaction. That's when she saw Rory.

Her sister stood a few feet away, dressed in a simple yet elegant dress, looking very much at ease as she chatted with the townspeople. Rory hadn't noticed her yet, and for a brief second, Alessia thought about slipping away unnoticed.

But Rory's gaze found her, and they locked eyes. There was no animosity there, but there wasn't the warmth that used to exist between them either. They were on speaking terms now, after everything, but the comfort and trust hadn't returned. Rory offered a small wave, which Alessia returned, though her heart wasn't in it.

Before she could dwell on the discomfort of the encounter, she felt another presence nearby-an intense one. Her skin prickled, and she turned to look across the square.

Jess.

He was standing near one of the booths, dressed in a simple black jacket and jeans, his hands stuffed in his pockets. He looked... older. More settled, more handsome, if that were even possible. His hair was shorter now, and his eyes held the same sharpness she remembered but with a depth she hadn't seen before.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to freeze. Alessia felt her breath hitch, the memories of their time together rushing back like a flood. It had been years since she'd seen him, but the impact of his presence still hit her with the same intensity as it did back then. She couldn't help but notice how much he'd grown, how much he'd changed.

Jess's expression was unreadable, but his gaze lingered on her, his eyes taking her in as if he were seeing her for the first time in years. Alessia felt the same-a strange mix of familiarity and distance. He looked at her in a way that made her feel like the ground had shifted beneath her.

The moment stretched on, neither of them moving.

Then, without a word, Alessia turned on her heel and power-walked toward her car, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't do this. Not today. She didn't even bother with goodbyes.

As soon as she reached her car, she fumbled with the keys, unlocking the door and slipping inside. Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the steering wheel. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before starting the engine and pulling away from the square.

Stars Hollow disappeared in her rearview mirror as she drove away, the weight of the reunion still pressing down on her chest.

She needed space. Time. Anything to stop the flood of emotions that had just been unleashed.