a/n: Okay so this is my first story. I've always wondered what Rory would be like if her life was normal and wasn't perfect like it is on the show. I didn't want to include Lorelai in the situation I used so I decided to make Rory adopted. Originally I wasn't going to post this because some of it's personal experience but in the end I decided to anyway. I apologize in advance if this is bad, I knew what I wanted to say and the feelings I wanted to come across but I couldn't exactly figure out how to write them. Please review with help for me !

FYI: Even though the title of this is 'Picture Perfect' it has nothing to do with the movie. I couldn't think of a name for this at the time so it may end up being changed later on.

disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls, but I think we already knew that.

(I also don't own the chapter title which is a song by the Talking Heads)

Chapter 1: Lifetime Piling Up

Sixteen year old Lorelai Parker, Rory for short, lie on the floor of her empty bedroom crying. Actually, it technically wasn't her bedroom being she didn't live there anymore. For the past few months her "mother", Lyla Rose, had talked about moving. Rory never really thought anything of it. She knew her mother loved her and would never force her to move away from the friends she had known since Kindergarten. However, she was forced to reality when she was told the news. In only two weeks they would be moving away from the life they knew in a small New York suburb, to Hartford, Connecticut. Rory's aunt lived there so her mother thought it was the perfect place to live.

I should've been used to it I guess. I had only moved out of my childhood home six years ago. Ten years spent there were just thrown away. I reached up to wipe the ever flowing tears from my eyes. I knew in my heart I shouldn't be angry at my mother. It really wasn't her fault. It was my father's.

I was put up for adoption as soon as I was born. I never knew my real mom and the things I did know I learned from my parents. I knew I was named after her. "Lorelai Gilmore was a beautiful woman", they said and her last wish before she had to give me up was that I take her name. I had her coffee addiction they also mentioned. Her coffee addiction, her name, her hair, her eyes, and her smile.

My life I guess you can say, had a charmed beginning. My best friend, Britney, lived right next door to me. We played all day every day. From sun up till sun down. I had everything I could ever dream of. I got any toy I wanted, I had a huge group of great friends, my parents loved me more than anything and despite only being in Elementary school, I had perfect grades. All of that came crashing down not too long after I turned ten. Ten years old was when I grew up.

It started out gradually, subtle hints were dropped along. But I was a bright kid and my parents constantly dancing around the situation irritated me. Whenever watching a movie that involved divorced parents my father would make some sort of comment suggesting it was good to watch. One of these happened to be Mrs. Doubtfire. I guess it was because it depicted the father doing anything and everything possible for his kids. It made the father out to be the good guy. That was exactly what mine wanted.

My father, Michael Parker, was a buisiness man. He was well respected and wherever I went with him he knew people. I felt so proud to be his daughter when people would stop by for a chat, first tell him that I was a beautiful child, then tell me he was a great guy. I never thought much about how he always spent late hours at the office, went on buisness trips, or would constantly be buying me presents. I thought he was buying them out of love when really he was buying my love.

The summer after my birthday I was told I would be moving with my mother. It was only a few blocks away but the blocks felt like miles. The day I moved out of my home I gave my father a huge hug and tears poured down my face as my mother's mini van pulled out of the driveway.

I never really knew the reason behind my parents separation and eventual divorce. My mother let me believe whatever I wanted. Being as strong willed as I was, she knew I would anyway. I always overheard my father telling people my mother didn't want to be married anymore. That was what I began to believe and I soon resented my mother for breaking up my seemingly happy family. I thought it was all her fault because after all, no one had told me any different.

The weeks following my move I still spent at my father's house. It still felt like home to me. I would sit up on the hill that overlooked my house and yard with Britney. In those moments we didn't need to say anything. I got comfort in knowing I had someone to share this with. I mean, my family was basically hers too.

Suddenly a woman started appearing at my home every so often. She was introduced as my father's friend Tracy. She would stop by and paint rooms for him or wash her clothes there after her washing machine conveniently broke. It was soon after my mother found out about this that she told me the real story.

My father had been having an affair. That was the reason behind everything. It wasn't any fling-type affair though. It had been going on for eight years. Since I was two my father had been unfaithful. My mother let me resent her just so I wouldn't hate my father. I've always admired her for that.

Not too long after that my father told me he and Tracy had started seeing each other. I almost spat out the juice I was drinking when I heard the word 'started'. The only time I ever got enough courage to tell my father I knew the truth, he denied it. Straight to my face he told me he never cheated. Those were the moments when instead of being proud to be his daughter, I was disgusted.

After that, living in my new house became easier for me and I even began to consider it home. No longer was I waking up in the middle of the night crying for my father and my old home. I was done with that. The happiness in my six year home came to a halt when my mother stopped being able to make ends meet. The weekly child support checks just weren't enough for us to get by on anymore. The money spent on the divorce was never entirely earned back and that's what lead me to my current situation.

I admit that I'm tired. Tired of leaving all of my memories behind with each house I leave. My first home was the one where I grew up. The second was the one where I matured. So many memories are tied to not only my two homes, but my town. I can't bear to leave them.

I got up from my place on the floor and made my way around the house. I stopped at each room. I closed the door in each one and stood in the middle with my eyes squeezed tight. Doing this I imprinted the way each room looked before it was emptied. When I reached my room again tears fell freely. I slowly walked to my double door closet and sunk to the ground.

Once again closing my eyes I can remember the times Britney and I would spend in here. Back then there was a bed comforter carpeting the floor. I had even hooked up a CD player and mini disco lamp. We both had spent countless hours relaxing in this closet. It became my safe haven. Whenever the world got a little rough I would pop in my favorite CD and let the soothing colorful motions of the disco lamp lure me into a peaceful slumber.

My eyes opened and I was disappointed. For a moment in time I had transported myself back. I could almost feel Britney's presence next to me. Slowly I began to lift myself off the floor. I exited my closet, then my room and finally, my home. I kissed two of my fingers lightly before patting them on the door. I hoped whoever moved into this house next would truly appreciate it as much as I did.

I walked down the outside steps for the last time and I approached my mother's awaiting car. That was when I broke down again. I got into the passenger seat and tears racked my body until my breathing came out in short gasps. My mother attempted to hug me but I brushed her off and opted instead to stare out the back window until my home had completely disappeared from sight.

Before my tears lulled me to sleep my last thoughts were of how I was leaving my love filled town for the cold society life my mom had tried, in vain, to escape from at my age. I have no idea what the future will bring, but hopefully it won't be all bad. I've had enough heartache in my life, I don't need anymore.

I already have the next chapter written. It's from Lorelai's POV. It's gonna give a little more backround about the whole adoption thing. Thanks for reading and don't forget to review because I really need the imput! I'm gonna wait to post the next chap. until I get some feedback and suggestions.

Oh and if anyone's wondering, I stole the idea for Rory's closet from Lane's on the show. : )

Thanks for reading !

--Sophia