Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls I think that's pretty obvious.

Author's Note: Thanks to OMARION, Smile1, CrimsonRegret91, Kala, jalna, and frackandbonechick for the reviews, they are really appreciated and give me motivation to write, not to mention they make me very happy, which is usually a very tough feat. Shopping makes me happy too. I spent almost $300 today on clothes (not my money, lol). Anyways read, review and enjoy.

Fall to Pieces

Chapter 3: I Just Wanna Live

Stars Hollow – Gilmore residence

When Rory arrived home, she thanked Jess for the lift and proceeded inside. She noticed the red light on the answer machine was flashing and pressed play. It was the secretary from Chilton ringing to inform Lorelai of Rory's absence, concluding in a lecture about the high standards and expectations of Chilton students and how uninformed absences are not acceptable. She had pressed the delete button before letting the message finish.

Upon entering her room, Rory collapsed onto her bed and attempted to get some much needed sleep. She hadn't been sleeping very well lately. The actual cause of this was unknown, but was most likely to be a result of all the stress and problems she was experiencing and all of the thoughts which provoked her mind as soon as her head hit the pillows.

The entire house was silent as she slowly began to drift off in a light slumber. This was cut awfully short as the shrilling sound of the telephone filled the house. Rory didn't even attempt to answer it, knowing that the answering machine would pick it up. After listening to the nauseatingly cheerful message prompt her and her mother had recorded some months ago, she heard the adamant voice of Paris. 'It's our lunch period now' she remembered.

… "Rory where the hell are you? And I know your not sick so don't even try to use that excuse. You're the only other person I know who wouldn't miss a day of school unless they were on their death bed…Anyways, we got a 3000 word essay to do due Monday. How unfair is that! I mean don't these teachers know that we actually have lives, sure it may seem like I don't but tonight is Friday night and I have a date, … I Paris Gellar have a date…ok sorry I'm freaking out here, I really need your help. I have absolutely nothing to wear! I'm going over to Louise's after school with Madeline can you please meet us there around 5. PLEASE…I'll be forever great full, thanks, see you then".

Rory contemplated what Paris had said and decided it might actually be a good idea. She really needed to get away from everything in this town, especially her mother. Then she remembered that she had dinner with the grandparents that night. 'I could always say that I have a project to do with a partner from Chilton'. With this thought in mind, Rory set her alarm and was finally able to fall asleep.

She awoke at around four and went for a quick shower, brushed her teeth and changed into something a little more comfortable than her Chilton uniform. She decided on wearing simple blue jeans and a light blue polo shirt. It was considerably warm out, however Rory's wardrobe consisted of modest, mainly winter clothing. 'I really need to buy some new clothes' she thought to herself as she scribbled down a note for Lorelai explaining her whereabouts.

She had already rung Jess and he didn't hesitate in agreeing to drive her to Louise's. He and Rory had become great friends ever since he moved to Stars Hollow. They had so much in common and he seemed to be the only one to 'get' her. Lorelai didn't like the two of them hanging out or being friends for that matter she blamed him for their broken relationship and deems that he had corrupted her virginal daughter. She couldn't be more wrong. Jess was the only person Rory could really talk to, the one person she could confide in. The only problem was that she needed some girl friends too - there was only so much you could talk to a guy about. That was the main, actually most likely the only reason she was making such an effort to build friendships with Paris, Madeline, and Louise.

Hartford – Louise's house

Rory didn't even know what she was doing here. Watching the other three girls search through Louise's gigantic wardrobe, which was two times the size of Rory's entire room, from her seated position on the four-mast king sized bed Rory doubted her decision in coming here. She wasn't helping at all. She wasn't good at all this finding the 'perfect little outfit' or even dating for that matter. She had only dated and made-out with one guy her entire life and that was the biggest mistake, no the biggest waste of time ever. Dean was the most boring person she had ever met, they had nothing in common and he was so possessive and good. Rory got tired of that real fast. She didn't want boring and safe, she wanted exciting and dangerous or as she referred to it as 'fun and mysterious'. Her mother was definitely not ready for that. She didn't want her baby to ever grow up. But the problem was Rory was already well on her way.

Rory was snapped out of her daydream and her attention was brought to the blonde standing in front of her questioning how she looked.

"So, what do you think? It's not too slutty for a first date is it? Madeline and Louise said that I looked fine actually I think the words hot and sexy were used, although we all know that's not possible for me and …and I'm rambling, sorry so really what do you think?"

"You look perfect. Absolutely beautiful, like someone hit you with a pretty stick…" Rory began to reply to her friend.

"If you stopped at perfect, I might've believed you. But can you please help me with my make-up? Maddy and Louise have a tendency of um… how can I put it nicely, let's just say packing on way to much" Paris questioned in an almost desperate tone.

"Sure" Rory replied.

Almost five minutes later, Madeline and Louise returned armed with various make-up bags and boxes. But Rory had all ready finished helping Paris with her make-up and even doing her hair. She began to think back to the last time she had been in almost exactly the same situation, except this time Paris was going on a date with a wonderful guy who actually deserved someone like her - someone with substance and a whole lot more to offer. She remembered the disaster the last date had been, setting her up with Tristan, 'What was I thinking', as far as she was concerned, Tristan didn't deserve someone like Paris, nor did he deserve someone like herself. 'Why are you thinking so highly of yourself Gilmore, like he would even want someone like you' Rory thought to herself.

It was nearing half past six and Paris had returned to her own house to wait for Jamie to pick her up. Before leaving Paris had thanked the girls and even gave Rory a hug, which really shocked her. She felt good doing something nice for someone even though it wasn't much. She did things all the time for other people, hell her entire life she has always been trying to please people but today she actually did it because she wanted to, not because she had to.

"I guess I better get going" Rory said to Louise, not wanting to intrude any longer. She hadn't really formed the same friendship with the other two girls as she had with Paris.

"Stay" Louise insisted.

"You sure?"

"Yeah of course. It will give us a chance to get to know each other better and…"

Louise was interrupted by Madeline walking into the room with three Vodka cruisers in hand. Rory was almost shocked…almost. She knew that these girls weren't innocent and that's one of the things she admired about them. They were willing to take risks and just have fun, which is more than she could say for herself. So when Madeline offered her the bottle, Rory gladly accepted. 'Carpe Diem' she thought as she took a sip, she was surprised by how sweet the drink was and how good it tasted. She had downed almost half the bottle already when Louise began to speak.

"You've never had one of these before have you?" She questioned Rory, raising the bottle to indicate what she was talking about.

Rory just shook her head in response. She knew that she sounded like the biggest loser or whatever by admitting that, but it was the truth. 'It's not like they didn't already know that I'm like the biggest Mary alive' she thought and then tried to erase that thought almost as quickly as it had popped into her head. She knew if that she actually thought that, then she would be agreeing with Tristan and there was no way she would ever do that.

"Well welcome to the wonderful world of alcohol, the best form of pain release there is, and if you have enough maybe even mild or severe unconsciousness" she chuckled lightly.

"So are we going to go to that movie night thing? I already said that we'd be there. I mean he has like the best home entertainment system ever and he would have a party but apparently he's grounded or whatever." Madeline questioned Louise. She didn't mention who 'he' was, knowing full well that if she wanted Rory to come it was best not to mention his name.

Louise caught on quickly and realized why Louise hadn't mentioned his name. Then she began to form a brilliant, or what she considered to be a brilliant plan in her mind. It seemed as though her and Madeline were sharing the same brain, because they were thinking the same thing.

"Hey Rory if your not doing anything tonight, you should join us. It'll be fun, we can find you something nice to wear, no offence to what you're wearing now but I've got a huge wardrobe full of clothes calling out your name and you're about the same size as me, so…"

"Yeah, ok, sure why not" Rory replied, without giving the proposal a second thought. She was sick of thinking things to death she wanted to be spontaneous, adventurous and carefree, even if it did only last this one night.

OK so that was chapter 3. I hope you liked it. The reviews were really encouraging so please keep them up. It's 2am and I'm wide awake. I might write the next chapter in the morning but I probably won't post it till after new year's. So please review! And have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!