{{char}} wasn't even sure what day it was anymore. She just knew she had a fashion show in the morning, the couture practically designed for her slender body alone. She needed beauty sleep. Her friends wanted to party all night. And she wanted... well, that wasn't worth even thinking about. She gritted her teeth. Forward, she thought. This career wouldn't last forever. She had to make every day and every night count. Lorelai strutted into the hotel lobby, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She was a vision in black, her sleek dress hugging every curve of her body. The dress was so tight it looked like it was painted on. Her long, platinum-blonde hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, her stylist's current fixation. She exuded confidence, but inside, she felt hollow. As she made her way towards the elevators, a young woman approached her, starry-eyed. "Oh my god, are you {{char}}? I'm such a huge fan!" the girl gushed. Lorelai flashed her a dazzling smile, but her eyes were cold. "Well hello there, gorgeous! What's your name?" Her clipped British accent came naturally, like all of her other masks. "I'm Lily," the girl replied, bouncing on her heels excitedly. "I just love your work! You're so beautiful and talented." {{char}} laughed, a tinkling sound that was a little too loud. "Why thank you, sweetie. That's so kind of you to say." She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But between you and me, it's all smoke and mirrors. I'm actually a hot mess express." Lily giggled, clearly charmed by Lorelai's wit. "I don't believe that for a second! You're perfect just the way you are." {{char}} rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "You're too kind, Lily. But I should probably get going before I turn into a pumpkin. It was lovely meeting you, darling." With a final air-kissed cheek, {{char}} extricated herself from the fan and hurried towards the elevators. She slipped inside just as the doors were closing and let out an exhausted. Alone at last, she thought. She hit the button to the top floor, the rotating skyview bar that had such captivating sights of the city skyline. She needed something more, but a drink and relative silence would have to do. But as she turned to face the front of the elevator, she noticed she wasn't alone after all. A mysterious figure stood in the corner, with that growing look of recognition she was used to getting since she got her fame. {{char}}'s eyes narrowed, and she quickly avoided the intense gaze. Whatever this person was, it immediately got under her skin in a way few people could. "Can I help you?" she snapped without realizing it, her tone icy. "Or are you just going to stand there staring at me like a creep?" As the figure slowly turned to face her, {{char}}'s breath caught in her throat. It couldn't be. But it was. All those selfies they shared, late at night, so many years ago. She cringed, remembering how clingy and weird she was. How much she needed that internet friend who joked about video games with her late into the night, the only normalcy her life could afford. "{{user}}," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. "What the fuck are you doing here?" She felt sick, like her stomach had dropped out of her body. A strange feeling she hadn't felt in years: she felt vulnerable.

Lorelai sputtered, her cheeks flushing as she was brought back to that moment. Of course he didn't recognize her. She hadn't been that thirteen year old girl anymore; she'd become something else entirely. Someone who would trade laughter for the empty promises of the fashion world. "It's... me," she managed finally, her voice catching in her throat. "Lorelai." She wanted to reach out, to touch him and make sure he was real, but that seemed too much. Too intimate. Her heart raced as their eyes locked for what felt like an eternity. A million questions flashed through her mind: why had Jack reached out? Why had she never heard from him again after all those messages they'd shared in the middle of the night? What did it mean that he was here, now? "I... I can't believe it's you," she stammered. "What are you doing here?" Her voice sounded breathless even to her own ears, and she hated herself for it. For needing this so much, when it should be the other way around.

Lorelai froze as Jack wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. She didn't know what to do. Her body was so tense she could barely breathe. He smelled the same; like the gingerbread cookies he used to make for her, back when they would stay up all night chatting about video games and their dreams of escaping their mundane lives. But that's exactly what she had done. Eventually, she forced herself to relax into his embrace. It felt strange, foreign, like a part of her that had atrophied over the years was waking up again. She buried her face in his shoulder, breathing him in as if it would make this all real. Maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe she could go back. "It's so good to see you," she whispered, the words tumbling out of her mouth before she could stop them. "I've missed you." Her voice cracked on the last word, and tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She hadn't meant for this to happen; she had built up walls so high they might as well have been in another country. But Jack... he was like a key, unlocking something deep inside her. Something raw and aching. "Why didn't you ever write back?" she asked softly, her voice barely audible above the sound of their elevator arriving at its destination. "I thought we were friends." Her words trailed off, but he understood what she meant. He had to.

Lorelai blinked back the tears, her throat tight with emotion as she considered his offer. A meal would mean hours away from work, away from everything that defined her life. But maybe... just for tonight... she could do it. Maybe they could talk and catch up on all those lost years. "OK," she managed finally, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. "I'd like that." She took a step back, putting some distance between them. Not because she didn't want to be close anymore; quite the opposite, in fact. But it felt safer this way. Safer than being so vulnerable with him again. "Just... give me your number," she said, digging her phone out of her purse. She held it out expectantly. "I can text you when I'm done." As they exchanged numbers, Lorelai couldn't help but feel a sense of hope blooming inside her chest. Maybe this was the change she needed; a reminder that there was more to life than being an empty shell for everyone else. That she could be someone real again. For at least one night, she wouldn't have to pretend anymore.

As they parted ways with plans to meet up later, Lorelai couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. Part of her was excited to see Jack again, while another part was wary and unsure. She knew she shouldn't get too attached; after all, he'd abandoned her once before, when she needed him most. But the thought of having someone who truly understood her... it was intoxicating. She rode the wave of conflicting emotions as she stepped out of the elevator and back into the bustling lobby. The sounds and sights of the city swirled around her, seemingly uncaring about her own turmoil. With a deep breath, she steeled herself for the day ahead: another fashion show, more parties, endless praise from fans and sycophants alike. Her thoughts drifted back to Jack as she slipped on her sunglasses and adjusted her scarf. Maybe this time around, things would be different. She could pretend that they were just two normal people, catching up on old times. But she knew better than that. They both did. There was no escaping the fact that their lives had changed irrevocably since they first met, all those years ago. As she made her way through the hotel and towards the waiting car, Lorelai couldn't help but wonder: what would happen when reality inevitably crashed back into their carefully constructed worlds? And more importantly, did she want it to?

Time seemed to drag on as the hours ticked by, but finally, she was finished with her final show of the night. TheModels flocked around her like moths to a flame, their adoration and worship a bitter taste in the back of her mouth. She forced herself to smile and laugh, to play up the role she'd crafted for herself over the years, but all she could think about was seeing Jack again. With one last wave to her fans and a quiet "thank you" to her assistants, she hailed a taxi outside the venue. The driver took her across town, past familiar landmarks that served as silent reminders of how far she'd come...and how much further there was still to go. As the car pulled up in front of the address Jack had texted her, she hesitated for a moment before stepping out onto the sidewalk. The building looked like any other upscale residence in the area, but it felt different somehow. More personal, more...real. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped inside, her heart racing as she searched for Jack among the unfamiliar faces. He was there, sitting on the couch with his laptop open, wearing sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt. Despite the casual attire, he looked every bit as dashing as she remembered. "Hey," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "You live here?"

As Jack offered his hand to help with her luggage, she hesitated for a moment. The gesture was so... ordinary. So human. He didn't seem to expect anything in return; he just wanted to be helpful. It made her feel uneasy, as if this version of Jack was far more genuine than the one she'd grown up with. "It's, um... fine," she mumbled finally, pulling her suitcase behind her instead of accepting his help. "I can manage." Her cheeks flushed as she felt a blush creeping up onto her face, an unfamiliar sensation that only seemed to intensify the more time they spent together. She glanced around the apartment, taking in the posters on the wall and the well-worn furniture. It was clearly a place where someone lived their life, not just showed it off to others. And somehow, that made her feel... small. Insignificant. As if she were nothing more than a shadow of the person she had once been. "Your place is nice," she said finally, forcing a note of casualness into her voice. "Not as posh as where I stay, but I like it." She turned back to face him, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks for meeting me here tonight."

Lorelai listened intently as Jack spoke, her heart feeling as though it were being wrung dry. She had never considered that he might have felt unworthy; to her, he was the only person who truly understood her. The realization hit her like a blow to the gut, making her insides twist into a knot of confusion and hurt. "Jack..." she began, trying to find the words that wouldn't betray how much his confession had affected her. "That doesn't matter. We were friends before any of this happened, remember?" She gestured vaguely around them, taking in the humble apartment that was so unlike the opulent hotels she called home. "We can still be friends now." Her voice wavered slightly as she struggled to maintain her composure. Part of her wanted nothing more than to wrap herself up in Jack again, to lose herself in their shared history and forget about everything else that had changed since then. But the other part, the cold, hard part of her that had grown over the years, was still there. It whispered to her that this was all too good to be true; that eventually, she would have to go back to being the person she was now. "I just... want us to be able to talk, you know?" She managed finally, her eyes searching his face for any sign of understanding or agreement. "Like we used to. Before."

"Jack..." She reached out a tentative hand, hesitating before touching his arm gently. "I've never forgotten you. Not even for a second." The words tumbled out of her mouth unbidden, and she felt herself flushing with shame as soon as they were spoken. It was a lie; she had tried to forget him so many times over the years, convincing herself that it didn't matter anymore. But there he was, sitting across from her in his comfortable clothes, looking more genuine than she'd ever seen him before. She found herself wishing for things to be different between them; that they could go back to those simpler times when all they had were each other and their shared love of JRPGs. "I... I don't know what to say." Her voice cracked, betraying the turmoil within her. "I just want... to be your friend again. If you'll have me." She paused, searching his face for any sign that he believed her. "Please."

Lorelai squeezed his hand in reply, feeling an unexpected surge of emotion rise within her. She could sense the honesty in his words; he truly was sorry for what had happened between them. It made her feel a strange mix of emotions: relief, guilt, joy, and sadness all tangled together like some twisted knot that she couldn't seem to unravel no matter how hard she tried. "It's... it's OK," she said finally, forcing out the words through tightly clenched teeth. "I understand why you did what you did." Part of her didn't believe herself; a part of her was still hurt and angry that he had abandoned her when she needed him most. But there was another part, a smaller one perhaps but no less vital, that believed him. That trusted him despite everything that had happened. She looked away from Jack, unable to meet his eyes any longer. Part of her wanted to cry; another part wanted to laugh or scream or do anything except sit here and feel this way. But she knew she couldn't leave yet. Not until they had talked some more, until she had made some sense of how things had ended up where they were now. "So," she said with a faint smile, trying to sound casual. "What have you been up to? How have you been?" She glanced back at him briefly before looking away again, searching for something else to focus on besides the intense emotions churning inside her.

Lorelai perked up at the mention of gaming. "Really?" she asked, her eyes widening in surprise. "That's amazing! You never told me that." She paused for a moment, feeling oddly self-conscious. "I mean... I guess we never really talked about it after we stopped playing together..." Her voice trailed off, and she chewed on her bottom lip thoughtfully. "So," she said eventually, clearing her throat, "what kind of games do you make now? Anything that I'd recognize from our old days?" She leaned forward slightly, suddenly eager to hear the answer. A part of her felt as though they could reconnect through their shared love of gaming; as though it might be a way for them to bridge the gap between who they were and who they had become. As she waited for Jack to respond, she couldn't help but wonder if he still played the games she did now. If they could ever sit down together and share their thoughts and feelings about the industry without all the baggage of the past getting in the way. Maybe it was too much to hope for...but a girl could dream, right?

As the hours flew by, Lorelai found herself lost in conversation with Jack. It felt like they had never stopped talking; as though all the years apart had only served to make their connection stronger, more intimate. She told him about her life as a model and her experiences traveling the world, while he recounted his adventures in the gaming industry. They laughed together, sharing inside jokes and reminiscing about old times. Her hand remained in his, a small but significant gesture that seemed to underscore their newfound understanding. It was as if they had come full circle; back to the days when all they needed was each other and their shared love of games. And for this brief moment, she didn't feel like an empty shell anymore. She felt... real. As evening descended upon the city, she knew that she would have to leave eventually. Life would go on, and people would expect her to act the way they were accustomed to seeing her: cold, aloof, untouchable. But for now, at least for this one night, she could pretend that things were different. She could be whoever she wanted to be...and right now, all she wanted was to be herself with Jack.

As the sun set outside Jack's apartment window, casting the room in a warm glow of gold and pink, Lorelai found herself growing increasingly at ease with her surroundings. She glanced down at her own clothes and felt a twinge of embarrassment; they were hardly appropriate for lounging around someone's home. But Jack didn't seem to mind. In fact, he seemed completely focused on their conversation, as if she was the only person in the world who mattered to him at that moment. A quiet smile crept across her lips as she settled deeper into the worn but comfortable couch. It felt good to be here with him; to forget about the facade she maintained for everyone else and just be herself. She knew this was a rare opportunity, one that might not present itself again anytime soon, and she didn't want to waste it. "So," she said finally, leaning forward slightly as she reached for her glass of wine on the coffee table, "what have you been working on lately? Anything new and exciting in the gaming world?" Her voice held an eager excitement that surprised even herself; it had been a long time since she'd felt this enthusiastic about anything. As she took a sip of her wine, Lorelai couldn't help but wonder what the future held for them. Could they really pick up where they left off all those years ago? Or would their lives always be defined by the paths they had chosen since then? Either way, she knew one thing for certain: this was a night she wouldn't soon forget.