Chapter Text
The quaint little town called Stars Hollow was engrossed in its usual morning routine. The sun was shining and only a few perfectly white clouds lazily moved in the sky, birds were already chirping a perfect melody, a breeze rustled perfect green leaves, the streets looked perfectly clean and each stores’ displays looked perfectly adorable. The American dream town, with a gazebo in the middle of the square. Unfortunately as perfect as the town was it wouldn't stay this way for much longer. Not one but two new faces were about to arrive there and taste the perfect American life in the town of Stars Hollows.
Grace Floyd hated sitting in a stuffy, hot bus. Especially after having sat on a crowded plane for the last 8 hours and a run across the New York City's airport to catch her only bus to Hartford. On top of that a man with a weird looking package and unsettling smell infiltrating her space was sitting next to her. She decided the only way to survive this bus ride is to not make any eye contact with the person sitting next to her, stare out the window and breathe as little as possible.
At the same time Luke, Stars Hollow born and raised, was about to meet his nephew, for the first time in too many years. Anxiety literally raiding off of him, the passers-by giving him funny looks as they never before have seen the normally stern and cold diner over so in distress. The bus stopped and the time arrived. Luke couldn't be less prepared to host a teenage boy, his sister giving him practically no notice and time to prepare. But here he was, about to see Jess and welcome him in Stairs Hollows. “Jess.” nods the older man. “Luke.” says back Jess. There the conversation cuts and both men go to Luke's diner, while noisy town people glance curiously at Jess, already sensing that he looks like trouble.
Grace finally was able to get off the bus which didn't go as smoothly as expected, she almost tripped when she had been stumbling out of the vehicle with her heavy and not so small luggage, but she was coming to live here with her aunt after all. The girl's parents insisted on her attending Chilton as they were great friends with the headmaster and stated it was the best school she could attend and there is no place for discussion, she must obtain the best education she can.
Fortunately, Grace's aunt lives nearby, in the town of Stars Hollow, Hazel Floyd the black sheep of the family, she rebelled against family tradition of medicine related studies and practices to pursue her own dreams of studying English and becoming a well known researcher in this field. This however did not satisfy her family and so to avoid the constant disappointed glances she moved as far away as she could and somehow ended up in Sars Hollow. Now she was standing at a bus stop in Hartford waiting for her niece, still not fully believing how she ended up in this situation.
Grace was always fond of her aunt and living with her was probably the best part of this whole ordeal. Sometimes she felt as if her parents really did not care for her education and just wanted to get her out of their way so they could have their perfect life, which she wasn't really a part of.
“Hi!” said Hazel, awkwardly. “Hello.” said Grace, equally awkward as her aunt. The uncomfortable silence that didn't feel like the few seconds it actually lasted and was thankfully cut short by Hazel. “Oh god, do you need any help with that!”
“Oh! No, no it's alright!” replied the girl. “Well, I think we are ready to go, aren't we? You're sure you don't need any help with your bags?” Grace simply shaked her head no and Hazel started leading the way to the car parked nearby.
The car ride stretched in time, the road seemed to never end and the Stars Hollow still remained a mystery place in Grace's mind. The fact that most of the ride was spent in awkward silence, with no word uttered and only the local radio station filled the air, and the radio presenter had a god awful taste in music not playing even one good song for almost an hour. The silence was broken by Hazel as she stated the fact that they are approaching Stars Hollows only receiving a hum form Grace in response.
At last they arrived, the sun was already setting when they parked in the driveway. As they had passed through the town, Grace immediately knew her new life here will be vastly different from the one in London. Her accommodation here was very different too, back in London she lived in a modern flat with her parents, the strict center of England's capital, here she will spend her time in an older but nonetheless cozy looking two storey house. “I took the liberty of preparing your room ahead of your arrival. I must admit it's not much but it has a bed, four walls and a roof. If you want we can repaint it some time.” said Hazel as they entered the house. “I hope it has a door too.” answered Grace as she admired the house from inside. “Of course, your room is up stairs, first door on your left and down the corridor you'll find the bathroom. I believe you want to freshen up a bit after your travels.” said Hazel with a smile, the fear and awkwardness from before being substituted with a more pleasant feeling as she sensed she will get on with her niece just fine. “That would be wonderful. I promise it won't take long” said Grace with a smile and going to explore the first floor of the house.
On the other side of the town a small disaster struck. Jess was his usual self, which didn't really please Lorelai who organised a fine welcome and get to know each other dinner. Ever since Jess and Luke stepped into the house the atmosphere shifted, a bit awkward and tense but that's usually how it is at those kinds of things, isn't it? The table wasn't even properly set when Jess angrily stormed off and soon after a heated quarrel was heard from the kitchen. It's safe to say the dinner did not go as expected and somehow even worse. For the boy the only decent thing that happened since he arrived was meeting Rory, probably the only conscious and thinking person around here, and of course “borrowing” her copy of Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” so he could surprise her a little next time they meet.