These days it's very rare to find things so pure and untainted by the cruelness cursed upon by the gift of life. Stars Hollow was no exception. Though the elder half and those too young to understand found the town to be the perfect, quaint place it appeared, it was changing, the core rising from Stars Hollow High.
The kids may have grown up away from what was outside the boundary of their town, but as they grew older they gained their driver's license. For those who had been locked away, sheltered, for so long, this was their ticket out to meet reality—And with reality came consequences, one being that once reached you were captured and couldn't escape.
The 'reality' hidden beneath the small town's friendliness, smile and special quirks occurred in what they liked to call the 'Snap', to most who just came by to party it was just a cool name, but to those who called it home, it was the perfect word to describe them—
Once you crossed the line you snapped, and once you were truly snapped, even if you were glued back together, you would never be the exact same again, you'd be scarred for life.
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"—so then they called my mom down to the school,"
"They called her because you yelled at pretty much everyone during a test!" Lane mock-gasped sarcastically,
"Okay, shut up,"
"Sorry…but what else did you expect Rory,"
"I dunno… I just really didn't want to fuck this up, it's what separates me from growing up and being one of the robots in this town that have sunshine pouring out of their asses,"
"I'm still going to SHH and growing up in this town, and will probably become a robot with sunshine pouring out of my ass," Lane said, slightly offended by Rory's previous statement,
"No you won't,"
"How do you know that? I'm still stuck here, while you go out there… you're already starting a life for yourself out there, what am I doing?"
"You're going to be a rock star, I know you will,"
"Of course I will, there isn't anyone out there who can drum better than me," she smiled,
"Damn straight!"
"But what if I'm sucked into this whole Stepford Wives style of life before I make my way out,"
"Won't happen, plus you've got 'Snap'" Rory answered quickly,
"Jennifer had 'Snap' too, but as soon as high school finished, she stopped coming and within a month she was married to Doug Sampson and working at the florist and now they have a baby on the way while living in that white picket fenced house on Bulberry Lane,"
"I won't let that happen to you," Rory grabbed her hand, and Lane lay her head on Rory's shoulder,
"Thank god you're my best friend then,"
"Okay, before we dig too deep and form our very own gold mine I should get going, you're coming 'Snap' tonight yeah?"
"Of course, I'll meet you on the bridge at the normal time…now get going private school girl," Lane lightly pushed Rory out the antique store's door,
"Girl gone?" Mrs. Kim stuck her head through one of the door ways after hearing the tinkling bell from the door,
"Yes mama, she's gone, I'm gonna go upstairs and do my homework before going to bed, night mama,"
"No dinner?"
"Not tonight,"
"You better eat big breakfast,"
"Of course mama," Lane sighed heading up the stairs,
"Night Laney," Mrs. Kim whispered as she heard Lane's door close. Mrs. Kim wasn't stupid, like most of the adults in this town, she knew their teens had something going on, but like the rest of them, she also knew the last few senior classes from SHH had gone through the same thing and they all seemed to turn out okay. Lane was still going to church and that gave Mrs. Kim some faith.
—SNAPSNAP—
"Rory you were supposed to be home hours ago, where the hell were you?" Lorelai looked furious while perched on the couch as Rory entered the house,
"You didn't say when I was 'supposed' to be home you just said 'I'll see you at home'…next time be more specific," Rory smirked before heading up to her room, leaving Lorelai alone in silence.
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"Almost thought you weren't going to show," Rory said, looking at her watch as Lane approached the bridge,
"I know I'm late…sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry," Lane cried giving Rory a big hug,
"I know you are, there's no way you would be late to watch a live band by choice,"
"Ahhh, you know me too well, mama wanted to check my homework once it was done…but who cares, let's go," the girls linked arms and walked to the road that led towards the highway, but instead of following the road they entered the forest.
It wasn't too long before they reached a massive clearing which was completely empty except for the small shed. The girls quickly skipped towards it, Rory used a key that was on her silver necklace which had a heap of charms, to open the old wooden door.
They shared a laugh as the read a cardboard sign they had put up themselves a couple months ago that read, 'this is my outback dunny, go away you pooper poo-poo head!'…it was so immature, but they loved it. Lane removed the man-hole cover before climbing down the ladder, followed by Rory who closed it.
They walked down a long, cold, stone corridor, the clacking of their heals echoing loudly
"You know what?" Lane broke the silence,
"What?"
"We have been here a million time yet I still don't know what this place is…do you?"
"Actually I do," Rory said smartly,
"Okay smartass, what is this place?"
"It was supposed to be the town's first underground sewerage system, but since no one in Stars Hollow was equipped with what was know back then as extremely modern technology, we had to hire a city company to build it for us.
A letter was sent into a company along with a deposit, the stupid company didn't read all the information properly and got the co-ordinates wrong, so they started building it here, thinking it was for a town that was planned to be built, once they were notified of their mistake they just packed up and moved to the proper location.
It was then discovered by the founders of 'Snap' who then worked on the place and organized it all to make it what it is today,"
"And how do you know all this?" Lane asked flabbergasted,
"I actually went on Taylor's town history tour, and the 'Snap' bit was a story I heard through the grapevine,"
"There was a town history tour?"
Rory rolled her eyes as she knocked on another door which was supposed to be…well no one knew what it was supposed to be for…but it was very spacious which was perfect.
The peephole slid open,
"What do you want Gilmore?" asked a harsh male voice,
"Whoa, someone's grumpy," Rory commented, "Open up,"
"You're not welcome her anymore Chilton girl,"
"This place is for Stars Hollow teens, not just Stars Hollow High kids, and last time I checked, I still lived here."
She was replied with silence has the peephole closed, Lane looked at her with an 'I don't know' expression and shrugged her shoulders,
"Paul!" Rory yelled at the door, "C'mon Paul, you can't be serious…I love you, you love me, we're a great big family!"
After no reply the girls were about to turn and leave,
"Where the fuck do you think you're going Gilmore?" the door swung open, Rory ran into the arms of the man who held the door open,
"You do love me Paul!"
"Darling, school ain't the same without you,"
"It shouldn't be," she held her head high before pouting, "why did you do that to me?"
"It's oh so very entertaining watching you be tortured,"
"Paul?" Lane looked at him expectantly,
"Laney baby!" he gave her a hug and kissed both her cheeks, "Now, girls go do what you do, there's a newbie from New York…I wonder if he's gay?" Paul said hopefully,
"He's new and he's already down here?"
"Well he doesn't have the Stars Hollow cheer, if you know what I mean…I'll catch you girls later, Ror- your boyfriends waiting in your corner," and he disappeared into the crowed of teens.
"Hey babe," Dean said as Rory approached, he pushed the previous girl on his lap onto the floor to make room for Rory,
"You know I hate you having other girls on you," Rory frowned, crossing her arms angrily,
"Hey, hey, hey, calm down there babe, she was just keeping you seat warm," he held onto her hips, Rory and Lane shared a disbelieving look,
"Whatever," Rory said slipping her jacket off and taking her place on his lap.
Rory felt as Dean's hands moved up and under her mini skirt, her eyes widened as he nibbled on her neck,
"Let's get out of here and go back to my place," he whispered, 'unbelievable' she thought. She turned herself around to straddle him, his face lit up,
"In a minute sweety, I just wanna catch up with a few people, have a few drinks," she licked her lips seductively, "makes me that little bit more wild ya know?"
"Have as many as you like," he said as she got off him, she winked at him before searching for Lane.
Lane had planted herself on a bean bag with the rest of her band members,
"Lane, he's an ass!" Rory exclaimed taking a seat,
"Again?"
"Again!"
"That asshole!" Lane cried, "what he do anyway?"
"First he had Sharon on his lap, keeping my seat warm, then he didn't even ask how my day was or anything just started feeling me and then not so subtly he invited me over to his place to go fuck,"
"That asshole!"
"That's what I thought, so now I'm supposedly getting drinks in so I can be more wild for later…I think I'm just gonna go,"
"Do you want me to come?"
"…people our drummer has called in sick, is there anyone here who can play drums in a not so horrible way? Our songs don't work with out a drum beat of some sort," the microphone blared across the room. "Anyone at all?" the guys questioned again,
"Over here!" Zach yelled, "Lane's a drummer in our band!" Lane looked up at the stage her eyes sparkling, then back at Rory with a concerned expression,
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"No way, it's your moment, go have fun and I'll talk to you tomorrow….go!" Rory pointed Lane towards the stage, all the Stars Hollow kids started chanting for her, 'Lane! Lane! Lane!'
"Rock on!" Rory screamed before exiting out the door with a bottle of scotch she snagged from the bartender, oblivious to the eyes that had been following her every move.
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"Are you alright?" A voice questioned, Rory turned around to meet the person who invaded her privacy,
"Who the fuck are you?" The boy just shrugged and sat down next to her, "Did I say you could sit here?"
"No, but you can't stop me, you don't own the bridge do you?" Rory just glared at him through her tears in response,
"Are you the newbie?" Rory broke the silence that had fallen between the two,
"Nah, I've lived here all seventeen years of my life," he said sarcastically,
"You are! They weren't lying when they said you didn't have Stars Hollow cheer," she smiled warily,
"What are you talking about? I love this town! Living here is so amazing; I can barely contain my excitement,"
"Again with the sarcasm,"
"What can I say, it's me," he smirked,
"I like it," she smiled genuinely,
"Your not so bad yourself," he lit up a cigarette.
Rory sniffed the air cautiously, "Hey…that isn't tobacco!"
"And you just won a prize,"
"Can I have some?" he looked surprised for a moment but handed her the joint nonetheless.
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"Rory? Don't you have to go to school?"
"Don't you?" Rory giggled,
"No, I have a curriculum day, you don't,"
"This is Jess, he's from New York…wait did you say school? Shit! What time is it?"
"Quarter to six,"
"Fuck! My mum wakes me up in like fifteen minutes," Rory's eyes widened and then she broke out into a fit of giggles, "I've been on this bridge with Jess for like four hours…Lane I have to get home…by Jess," Lane and Jess helped support Rory home and up the trellis to her room.
Rory tumbled into her room with a big thud,
"I didn't mean to get her completely smashed…she was upset and…yeah…" Jess tried explaining to Lane,
"It's cool…happens a lot more that you think…I have to help her look passable before she leaves for school, so we'll see you soon," Lane quickly climbed up into Rory's room, waving quickly to Jess.
"Rory, drink water, brush your teeth and put a ribbon in your hair or something...ribbons look innocent,"
Rory entered her own bathroom, "My eyes are so bloodshot, pass me those eyedrops…"
Twenty minutes later Rory exited the bathroom,
"My head is totally buzzing…I put ribbons in my hair," Rory giggled,
"Yeah, like ten too many, come here, I'll fix it," Lane sighed, "Okay think sober…you are a perfect goody-two-shoes, totally innocent and smart…really smart and you love school…now go catch the bus!"
—SNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAP—
Rory ended up arriving early for school and sat under a tree with a bottle of water and aspirin, trying to collect herself,
"Smart, love school, goody-two-shoes, smart, love school, goody-two shoes," she mumbled to herself,
"Mary at school early, not surprising," Tristin drawled,
"Tristan at school early…call an ambulance, I think I'm about to have a cardiac arrest,"
"I might as well call a psychiatrist while I'm at it…talking to yourself like that can't be healthy,"
"Talking to myself…hello Rory, why hello there, how are you? I'm fine thanks," she started a conversation with her hand, "hahaha, I'm bonkers!" she started laughing hysterically,
"Mary-Rory, are you sure you're okay?"
"I have a big pink bow in my hair, I'm just dandy…my head hurts, I really shouldn't come to school stoned,"
"Are you serious?"
"Actually my name's Rory," she giggled,
"You can't go into school like that, your eyes are fucked,"
"But I have to…get good grades and good impressions with teachers,"
"Trust me, turning up to school of your face is not the answer…you're coming with me,"
"We're wagging?" she looked excited,
"Yes,"
"Awesome," she whispered, "We need to be quiet or the teachers will shoot us with their rifles," she grabbed his hand and pulled him along tip-toeing across the car park.
'I'm stuck with a stoned Mary…what do you say to that?" Tristan asked himself, 'I must be Alice in Wonderland.'
Cherry Ripe, Cherry Ripe
PLEASE REVIEW...IT PUTS A SMILE ON MY FACE!