IDLE TOWN, jess mariano

⁰¹meeting satan's spawn

「 chapter one 」
❝ do you guys even have minds of your own? „

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THIS TOWN WILL NEVER CHANGE, Aries thought to herself as she walked off the bus and made her way along the familiar streets of Stars Hollow.

The streets were riddled with the same characters that had been there before she was even born and she wasn't sure if they were ever going to leave; perhaps they would even outlive her. She enjoyed the familiarity of it all, but she couldn't help but wish that the town had flipped on its head while she was gone and she could come back to a completely new life.

She still knew the way to Luke's Diner like the back of her hand and she paused at the crosswalk even though there were no cars, taking a quick look at the gazebo—still the exact same, though she didn't know what else she expected. Subconsciously, she pushed her aviators higher up the low bridge of her nose and crossed the street.

The restaurant was busier that morning than she remembered it typically being and she couldn't help but notice new paint and furnishing; at least that had changed. Enjoying the fresh air for a few more minutes, she ruffled her hair gently, careful not to knock down the pencil tucked behind her ear, before making her way into the chaos that was the diner she considered a home away from home.

The bell rang, signifying that the door had been opened, but neither Luke nor the Gilmores seemed to notice, considering the Gilmores were in deep conversation and Luke was busy taking orders.

"Excuse me," Aries murmured to some lady blocking the doorway before making her way over to the counter.

She heard Rory and Lorelai arguing about CNN and Luke seemed far too busy to notice her, so she took a seat next to Lorelai and fiddled with her fingers. Two customers walked past her, one of them accidentally knocking into her shoulder, causing her to stumble a little and bump into Lorelai.

Aries turned, about to apologize, when Lorelai said, "You okay there, Maverick?"

"Uh, yeah—"

"Aries!" Rory exclaimed.

She maneuvered over to give Aries a hug, careful not to bump into any customers.

"We have so much to catch up on!"

Aries nodded in agreement and though she was unsure whether Rory could see, she could probably feel it. They were in a tight hug that Lorelai quickly joined.

"You've got to be kidding me," they heard Luke say. "I just need you guys to order."

The Gilmores pulled away from hugging Aries and she gave Luke a bright smile.

"Not the reception I had hoped to get," she said.

"Oh hey, you're back, kiddo," he said.

She nodded. "That I am."

The Gilmores sat back down on their seats and Aries sat down on the stool next to Lorelai as well.

"You, uh," Luke started, motioning to her hair, "you changed your hair. And what's with the glasses?"

"I thought they looked cool," said Aries with a small pout before pulling them off and hanging them on her top.

"Very cool," said Lorelai.

Rory hummed in agreement as Aries looked around.

"You painted the place," she observed. "Looks nice."