Here is your next chapter my patient readers. It's late and I am tired but here you go. I hope it was a super bowl weekend well spent and you tell me so in your review that i know you are just iching to leave me. The chapters are winding down to the end....can you tell? I hope you enjoy. 29 will be up lets say tuesday.

The Other Gilmore Girl

"Oh I'm just a girl, trying to find a place in this world," –Taylor Swift

Mom says that going through this debutant ball will tell the world that I am a woman, but Lorelai says that putting on a white dress and walking down and impossibly long flight of stairs doesn't make you anymore of a woman than squeezing into a tiny car makes you a clown. I am actually excited though. This is the one thing that I am doing that Lorelai is not. She never had her coming out party because she got pregnant, but I am and that makes Mom happy. I am glad to be the one to put a much missed smile on her face. I try on my dress again. Mom says I have to every couple of days to make sure it still fits. I think the fiasco from last year has left her traumatized. Still I am happy to do it. Standing in front of my mirror in this huge puffy white dress makes me feel like a princess. Mom had it specially handmade in France and it only took three weeks from the time Mom put in the order in up to the day it arrived on our door step.

I hear a knock. "Come in," I call to my mother. She has probably been standing out there for five minutes.

She opens the door and enters. "Rosalie, you are breath taking in that dress," she compliments.

"Thank you Mom," I smile back. "I feel breathtaking."

"Does it fit alright?" Mom asks checking the corset top.

"Snug but I can manage."

"Do we need to take it out a little?" she asks with a worried expression.

"No, no! It's perfect," I reply, eyeing myself in the mirror. The doorbell rings, Mom, being ever alert, rushes to answer it.

"The tiaras are here!" I hear my mother say. I just giggle.

I pose in the mirror, moving elegantly in the dress.

Lorelai appears in the doorway, "You like a snowball." She laughs. I turn and just smile, she stands there staring at me while she snacks on a bag of chips. "You're a loon!"

"Why is that?" I asked puzzled.

"First, you're actually going through with this insanity. Second, you're pretty much making out with your own reflection."

"Am not!" I defend myself. "I can't help if I look pretty."

"Barbie!" she replies walking away.

"Ha ha." I laugh sarcastically. My sister and I are happy with each other…for now. I know her snarky comments are just her, and I don't take them seriously, but I can't help wonder if she jokes and makes fun of me because she is jealous. I mean she did miss her coming out party, but I didn't think she was upset about it.

"Rose dear, will you pick out one?" My mother comes in with a box full of tiaras.

I glance them over they are all so pretty and lined with crystals. I grab the one that sticks out the most. Not only does it have crystals, but the design of the tiara was elegant and princess-like. "That one!" I say cheerfully.

My mother carefully takes it out of the tissue paper, placing it gently on my head. "Now remember you hair will be curled, so it may be loose now."

"Uh huh." I take note. I look at my reflection. I picture me in this dress, walking done the stairs, my hair perfect, all eyes on me. My time to shine. I then remember my mother mentioning I need an escort, but who could I choose. I don't have a boyfriend, or any close male friends. "Mom?"

"Yes dear?"

"Who is escorting me?"

"Your father."

"No I mean like a date." I wonder.

"Oh well I set up to have Joshua Covington to come over."

"Joshua Covington...as in Reese's best friend?" I shutter as Reese's name slips from my mouth.

"Everything will be fine," she assures me poorly. "You will meet him and his parent's tonight at dinner." She smiles walking to exit.

"Dinner?" I whisper to myself and suddenly feel very claustrophobic in the dress. I take a deep breath. Lately breathing has helped to keep me somewhat calm so I continue my inhaling and exhaling process as I reach for the zipper on the back and pull it down suddenly feeling like I may be able to breathe sometime in the near future.

I slide the straps off my shoulders and step out of it, careful to hang it back up neatly before I put my clothes on. Lorelai wanders back in with her bag of chips still in her hands.

"Why do you keep coming in and out?"

"I had to go check on Rory, but she is still sleeping so I came back," she explains.

"To make fun of me some more?" I ask as I slide my shirt over my head.

"Would I do that?" she asks innocently. I look at her and she laughs. I release a breath and reach for my skirt. "You look pale, why?"

"It's nothing," I tell her.

"Rose…"

I take another breath, "I need you at dinner tonight," I tell her.

She chuckles. "That's right, we're having guests." She stops and looks at me. "I don't think I was invited."

"You're invited," I tell her. "Of course you're invited."

"Yeah," she nods unsurely.

"Lorelai, I need you."

She rolls her eyes. "What is this all about anyway?"

"Mom's blind date escort service."

"That sounds dirty," she says seriously.

"Whatever, Josh is his name and he was Reese's best friend."

"Was he the guy that always wore his backpack on the front of his body?"

I nod, and she lets out another laugh. "Lorelai!"

"Alright, but I need you to chill."

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I squeal running over to hug her.

"Gross! Don't touch me!" Lorelai jokes.

"Come here I wanna kiss!" I joke puckering my lip-glossed lips.

"Mommy!" Lorelai shouts sounding like a child.

Mom walks in and stares at both of us. "What on Earth is wrong?"

"Rose tried to kiss me!"

"Did not!" I defend smiling at Mom's reaction.

"Oh you two! I swear you guys keep me on my toes!" My mother laughs then leaves again, shaking her head slightly. She is definitely in a good mood about this party tomorrow.

Lorelai and I just giggle. I begin to get back into my clothes. "So do you think I should just keep this on?" I ask my sister.

She looks over my beige pleaded skirt, and blue polo I was wearing. "Sure I guess."

"Come on I need your help. I don't even know if I should put on something dressy!"

"I'm wearing my blue dress."

"Helpful!" I say stressed.

"I try." She smirks then exits leaving me to go through my wardrobe malfunction alone.

Sisters! Can't live with can't live without them. I think to myself. She's my best friend.

I rummage through my closet for a few more minutes before deciding that I should just keep on what I have on. It's not like I am in love with him. He would just be doing me a favor. I sigh and skip into my sister's bedroom.

"Did you solve the great wardrobe malfunction of 1985?" she asks as I enter.

"Yes, thanks for all your help," I say sarcastically.

"I try," she returns.

"Is Rory still asleep?" I ask.

"She is," Lorelai replies. "I just put her down, she better still be sleeping."

"So are you coming?" I ask as I sit down on her bed beside her.

"I told you I would come to dinner."

"I meant to the debutant ball."

She laughs, "You're hilarious, I see promising comedic career in your future."

"I am serious."

She nods, "So am I."

"You really won't come."

"Rose…" she whines.

"Lorelai," I start to protest. "This is really important to me."

Crying in the background alerts us that Rory is awake. Lorelai groans. "I'm coming baby," she says.

I continue to talk. "…and I want you to be there, I need you to be there."

"Why do you need me?" she asks as she pulls Rory up out of her crib. "You know I am not going to be around forever."

"You're my sister. Just do me this one last favor," I beg.

"But who will watch Rory?" she returns.

"Call a sitter."

"Like who?" she asks seriously.

"I don't know...how about Chris?"

"Ha! I knew you were joking?" She looks amused.

"Yeah, I guess he's out of the question," I say thinking over other options. "Why not let Mom hire someone?" She gives me a troubling look. "Just for the party," I add.


"We'll see," Lorelai says as she checkups on Rory, cradling the fuss baby. "Shh...it's okay."

"Oh hey do you have that pink and green blouse?" I ask.

"Yes...why?"

"I want to wear it tonight."

"I thought you said no more favors!"

"Okay I lied...please?" I beg.

"Top drawer." Lorelai points to her dresser.

"Thanks. Love ya!" I say running up to her, kissing her on the cheek.

"But I need it back!"

"I know!" I yell as I walk back down the hall to my room. I quickly get dressed and meet and my parents downstairs. Lorelai finally managed to get Rory back to sleep, hoping she would wake up in the middle of dinner. That was the only way Lorelai could escape, and leave me alone on a 'blind date.'

I sit on the couch swinging my legs, looking at my shoes. Everyone hears the doorbell. The maid answers, letting Josh and his parents in. I smile, then I get all nervous. What am I going to say? Does he think I like him? What happens if he likes me?

I take a glance behind me and see Lorelai following me down the stairs and I suddenly feel better. I know that nothing can happen with her here. "Hello, Rosalie," Josh says handing me a single red rose. I almost draw back and retreat but I shake it off and accept the pretty present.

"Good evening Joshua," I respond politely before looking to his parents. "Mr. and Mrs. Covington." I curtsy and hear a muffled laugh from my sister behind me.

"It's very nice to meet you young lady," Josh's mother says to me. "Emily!" she cries with a wide smile as she glances up.

"Sophia," my mother returns. They embrace and their husbands shake hands. Lorelai comes to stand beside me.

"Hello," she says to Josh.

"Miss Gilmore," He responded like a gentlemen.

Lorelai scrunches up her face, almost silently asking whether or not he is serious. "Lorelai," she corrects.

"Okay, Lorelai then," he says. She nods and then follows behind the adults into the living room. I can't believe she left me. Maybe I am supposed to follow. I sigh and glance up to see Josh looking at me.

"You okay?" he asks.

"Perfect," I return.

"Good," he smiles. "Shall we?"

I nod and he motions for me to go ahead of him. Emily would definitely approve. Mom makes each of us a club soda and we join in the conversation. My sister however stays quiet, like her mind is somewhere else. I occasionally glance over at her and watch her stare into her glass before turning my attention back to our guest to laugh at whatever stupid joke Josh's father was telling. When the maid tells us that dinner is ready we head into the dining room. Josh pulls out my chair for me. "Who says chivalry is dead?" I joke to him. He laughs as he takes his own seat. The adults are discussing some building's architectural structure and Lorelai is picking through her salad.

Sophia Covington glances over at Rory's highchair. "Oh, Emily where is your adorable granddaughter?" Lorelai drops her fork making it clink against her plate.

"Rory is asleep upstairs," my mother responds politely with her perfect hostess smile before shooting death daggers at Lorelai. Lorie keeps her head down and her eyes on her plate. I can tell she doesn't want to fight. Maybe she is just tired.

It is determined that Josh will be my escort to the Daughters of the American Revolution's annual debutant ball this weekend. He will wear tails and dance with me. I'm glad because from the way the older women talk about it. It almost sounds like fun.

After we have dinner and dessert and coffee my parents see our guests out. Josh kisses my hand before he leaves making me feel a little uncomfortable but I just shrug it off. I run upstairs and take a shower.

After getting ready for bed, I decide to check and see why Lorelai was acting strange at dinner. Tip toeing across the hall not wanting to wake up Rory or my parents, giving the hour of night. I don't bother to knock I just peep my head in. Lorelai was sitting up on her bed, looking over Rory's baby book.

"Hey sis." I smile, taking a seat next to her on the bed.

She turns the photos so we can look over them together. "She looks so small." I point to the first picture ever taken of Rory.

"Yeah they like to grow on ya." Lorelai giggles, and I follow with small giggles.

"So can I ask you a question?"

"You just did," Lorelai joked.

"Serious."

"Shoot."

"What was wrong with you at dinner?" I ask unsure if this was going to lead to a bad thing.

"What do you mean?" she looked at me puzzled.

"You just seen out of it. You hardly said anything at the table."

"Oh well I was just tired."

"You sure?"

"What do you want me to say, Rose? That I am jealous that my little sister is dating and I can't."

"What are you talking about?"

"You are going to go with Josh to the debutante ball."

"You wanted to go with him?"

"No! I don't want to go at all," she says before adding a much quieter, "It was supposed to be me and Chris!"

"I didn't know," I reply softly.

"Well now you do," she snaps.

"So!"

"How can you go with a guy you don't even know?"

"I know him! We go to the same school!"

"Woo hoo!"

"I knew I shouldn't bother asking you what's wrong!"

"Well thanks for trying!" Lorelai says sarcastically before I leave.

"Goodnight, Lorie," I say simply.

"Goodnight," she returns without looking up from the picture.

I sigh and close her door destined for my own bedroom, feeling a little guilty. I shouldn't feel guilty though. I didn't tell her to go and get herself knocked up nor did I tell her not to marry Chris those were all decisions she made on her own. She made her bed and now she has to lay in it. Not me….right? So then why do I feel so crummy?

Morning comes and I get up. School, I have to go to school I tell myself. Once I get over the initial wake up process I love mornings. I push out a huff and throw my covers back. The sun shines through my curtains but my room still seems a little dark so I cut on the light and head into the bathroom. I brush my hair and teeth and put on the uniform that had been pressed for me before walking downstairs, passing Lorelai's not so silent bedroom. I can hear Rory screaming through the thick wooden door. Usually Lorelai gets up right away when Rory cries. I let it go, even she can't sleep through wailing like that right in her ear. I continue my journey downstairs.

"Good morning," I say to my parents.

"Good morning Rosalie," Mom says beaming. Only one more day until the ball so I already know that she is shaking in anticipation. I hear footsteps on the stairs. I turn my head surprised to see my sister not only awake but fully dressed with Rory still screaming on her hip. She brushes past the table mutters a hello and walks right into the kitchen, something we never do.

"Lorelai," Mom and Dad call behind her.

She doesn't respond. I am really curious as to what is going on so I stand up and follow behind her. She is standing in front of the wide open fridge while her daughter continues to bellow tiredly with her head laid on her mother's shoulder.

"What's wrong?" I ask seeing the perplexed look on her face as she scans through the contents of our refrigerator.

She turns and looks at me without changing her facial expression the darkness around her eyes tell me that she hasn't slept. "I really hope you're joking," she says seriously.

"Someone's crabby," I mutter.

She ignores me. I look at my red-faced niece who is practically chewing her hand off. "What's the matter Rory?" Lorelai shifts the baby from her shoulder and hands her to me, which only reacts in Rory screaming louder.

"Just hold her for a second," Lorelai requests while she bends down on her knees to search the icebox's bottom drawer.

"Lorelai, what is going on in here?" Mom asks joining the party.

"I don't know I woke to her screams. I changed her, fed her and everything!" Lorelai exclaims, obviously stressed. "I think she's teething," she finally admits

I hand Rory over to Mom, who soothes her. She then sticks her finger in Rory's mouth, instantly calming her.

"Whoa! She's magic!" I joke, I look at Lorelai who is just relived from the noise.

"She's teething!" Mom says rubbing the gums of my niece. She hands Rory back over to Lorelai, a few whimpers were made until Lore's finger where found in Rory's mouth.

"Can you see if Dad will pick up teething rings?" Lorelai asks me. I just nod and search for Dad.

I check the main rooms, dining room, bedroom, and lastly his office. He's sitting at his desk, just finishing up a phone call when I enter. "Hey Daddy!"

"Good Morning Rosie." He smiles. "What brings you in here?"

"Lorie wants some teething rings for Rory."

"Ahhh!" he acknowledges.

"So are you able to pick some up?"

"Sure, anything else?"

"Oh and can you get me some bags of tootsie rolls?" I ask, thinking that it's something to get Lorelai out of the dumps.

"All right," he says looking at me confused as to why I would need tootsie rolls but then I remember the time.

"I need to go to school," I call to Mom.

"Alright Rose, I'm coming," Mom returns leaving Rory and Lorelai. She drives me to the big educational building, sends me a smile and tells me to have a good day. I tell her that I will and get out of the car. I love Friday's. They mark the end of the long and stressful school week.

I have lunch with Chae, who is also "coming out" tomorrow and she explains to me that 1 in 5 debutants marry their escorts. I laugh because she sounds silly but even the thought of marriage makes me squirm. I go to French and History after lunch and the escape the brick prison.

Mom is waiting for me and tells me that I am going to have to do my homework on Sunday because we are booked solid until then. We go get our nails done first and Mom gets her hair done even though it isn't Wednesday at three. I get a pedicure while we wait. Mom and I together almost never butt heads. We get along very easily and right now I even feel like I am sort of having fun but then I think about Lorelai who is at home with a teething infant and I feel guilty again. Man, I have got to stop doing that.

As I arrive home, I push through the piles of papers, flowers and all sorts of things that were sent from family. Most of them weren't able to make it. But I wasn't too bothered, I was glad that my closest family could be there. Especially Lorelai. I set my book bag by the door, and hand the maid my coat before running up the stairs to see how Lorelai was doing.

As I made my way up each step, I heard no cries. Which was a relief. I walk past my parent's room, and go knock on Lorelai's door.

"Come in!" I hear faintly through the large wooden door.

"Hiya!" I say cheerfully.

Lorelai however has a frown on her face, and bags under her eyes. She looks beat.

"If you want I can leave to rest."

"Nah it's cool. Just glad the crying stopped." Lorelai smiled.

"So how is she?"

"She's good, I gave her a ring, now she's relaxed."

"That's good. So have you thought about who is going to watch her on Saturday?"

"Not a clue."

"Maybe you should take Mom up on the offer of hiring a nanny."

"No!" she says. "I can watch my own kid!"

"I know that..." I pause not wanting to continue.

"You know what?"

"I just think you should hire a sitter or something. I really want you there with no distractions!" I confess.

"Rory isn't a distraction."

"I didn't mean it like that. I just meant I want you there, without worrying about Rory or having to leave every minute to change or feed her."

"Oh."

"So?"

"I guess I can call a sitter."

"Really?" I ask grinning widely, "You're the best!" I hug her tightly.

"But just letting you know you owe me!"

"Fine!" I sigh but then run back to give her another hug. "I'll get mom to call the sitter."

"Yippy!"

I run down the stairs quickly. I find Mom in the dining room, having her late afternoon cup of tea. "Hey Mom!"

"Hello Rose." She smiles looking up from whatever book she was reading.

"Lorelai said you can a sitter."

"What?" she asks puzzled.

"Lorelai is coming on Saturday and she needs someone to watch Rory," I state again.

"Oh. Very well. I'll call Beatrice right now," my mom says taking out her phone book and walking to retrieve a phone.

I, Rosalie Hope Gilmore, am coming out and everything is going to be perfect.

Review just because it took me less than a week.