Disclaimer: I don't own a damn thing. Yes, I'm bitter. It all belongs to Amy Sherman Palladino and the WB. Even the conversations between Rory, Paris, Louise and Madeline are from Season 4. I'm just borrowing them to rework the scene.

Rating: PG-13 for now. May go higher. Probably will, actually.

Spoilers: Everything up until episode three of season 4, The Hobbit, The Sofa and Digger Stiles.

Author's Note: Yes, I'm insane. Haven't you noticed already? I don't know how long this will be or where I'm going with it. This idea was planted into my mind by evil forces and has now been spawned. I'm but a slave to my muse.

Evolution

Prologue: Experience

"So, I did a survey of all the rooms and, by far, ours is the best," Paris Gellar reported to Rory Gilmore over the din of conversation and music in their suite. How had she let this happen? Why did she let this happen? I just want to make sure that at the end of four years, you've not only read every book in the Yale library, you've also had some fun, Lorelai's voice rang in her head, reminding her.

The brunette checked the urge to roll her eyes. "Great."

"Three is way too cluttered. Four has developed a weird smell."

"Uh huh," Rory deadpanned. It wasn't the first time Rory had wished for the ChiltonParis to re-emerge from wherever she had been hiding. At least with her, Rory was on familiar ground and knew how to handle it. YaleParis was starting to annoy her on a completely different level.

Paris rambled on. "Two was a contender for awhile until I started telling everyone that the girl who lives there was waitlisted. I'm gonna get out there and mingle. This is a great party."

She watched the blonde walk away and offered a silent thanks to whoever was listening and then headed for her bedroom. A party, Rory thought in disdain as she shut the door behind her. God, this is so typical. It was true that even a prestigious school like Yale could not escape the adolescent notions of partying 'til you dropped.

She was about to open a book and start reading but her mother's voice kept ringing in her head. Fun. Have fun. Be fun. Do fun things. Experience.

Determined, she closed the book and walked outside again, this time bypassing the outer room and heading straight for the hallways. It was time she mingled. Met new people. Did something social for once in her life.

"Rory!" a familiar voice called out and she turned to see Madeline Lynn and Louise Grant rushing towards her.

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed, genuinely pleased and pleasantly surprised to see them. The brunette hugged her excitedly, followed by the blonde. "Madeline, Louise! What are you doing here?"

"Party baby," was the reply in true Louise fashion.

"I thought you were supposed to be in Mills," Rory asked Madeline, confused.

"Where?"

"Mills?"

"Where?" she returned again.

Rory gave up, suddenly understanding. "No more Mills?"

"Mills went bye-bye before I unpacked my shoes," Madeline informed her happily.

"She's been hanging out at Tulane with me," Louise added.

"I love New Orleans. I am so southern."

College life agreed with the two of them, Rory thought as they explained how they went online to find out about first week parties. Or the more fun part of it did. It was comforting to know that they hadn't changed too much: party girls, full of life.

"Oh, you're dating a Harvard man?" She tried to keep the surprise out of her voice.

"He's gonna be a writer," Madeline answered for Louise.

"Well, he hopes," the blonde said with a grin. "Right now, he's totally freaked that The Simpsons are going to be off the air by the time he graduates."

"Well, it's good to see you guys. Paris is around here somewhere."

"I hope she's in back of that guy over there because that's where I'm heading," Madeline said, eyes already set on her prey.

"We'll be back," Louise promised as she set off with Madeline.

"Good luck," Rory called after them and then turned, wondering what to do next. She surveyed the people in the hallway, all deep in their own conversations and wondered why it was so difficult for her to just talk to a complete stranger.

Paris was right, in a way.

She wasn't in Stars Hollow anymore, people didn't know her here, didn't expect anything from her. It should be easy. It was supposed to be easy.

What the hell was wrong with her? Her grandparents lived the high society life. They threw dinner parties, mingled and schmoozed with the best of them. Both Lorelai and Christopher were great with making conversation, with social scenes. Shouldn't this be in her blood?

Resignedly she ventured back into her room, flopped onto her bed and opened her copy of On The Road. This time she only felt a slight pang at the sight of Jess's handwriting in the margins. A huge part of her wanted to replace all of the books she had ever lent him (or that he had stolen) with new ones. Another part of her still needed to hang on. It may have been masochistic and she knew that she didn't need the added distraction or reminders of Jess plaguing her every time she read something but she couldn't let go entirely and she hated that she didn't know why.

I think I may have loved you. Huh, maybe that was the answer.

The sound of the door opening behind her snapped her attention back to the present and she turned just in time to see a tall, blonde boy close the door quickly, his back to her. There was something jarring about his presence but Rory was too confused to figure out exactly why.

"Sorry about this," he said over his shoulder in a strangely familiar voice. "I'll be out of here in a few minutes."

"I, uh," she stammered slightly. "Okay."

"I'm just trying to escape-" he trailed off as he turned around and Rory's own eyes widened in shock. Tristan DuGrey stared back at her, just as astonished, his mouth slightly agape. He recovered first and the corner of his mouth twitched in amusement. "Rory Gilmore, we meet again."