•Takes place during S1 E17•

They broke up. Rory and Dean are in pieces, and somehow, I'm the one being dragged out of bed at six in the morning to go shopping. How does that even make sense?

I glance at the clock-6:03 AM.

"Rory, what the hell?" I groan, barely able to keep my eyes open.

"Come on, you said you'd go last night!" Rory's voice is annoyingly perky as she stands in the doorway, fully dressed, ready to conquer the world or, at the very least, a mall.

I sit up, pulling the blanket over my head in a weak attempt to avoid the inevitable. "It's six in the morning," I mumble. "Six. In the morning."

She doesn't budge. "I know. That's why it's perfect! We'll get the good stuff before the crowds. Plus, I need new shoes."

I roll my eyes and throw the blanket off. "Fine. But if you think I'm going to be enthusiastic about this, you're wrong."

Rory grins. "I just need you there to judge me when I pick out the perfect pair of shoes. Trust me, it'll be fun."

"Fun?" I say as I get out of bed, pulling on a sweatshirt. "The only thing that's going to be fun is when we're back here and I can go back to sleep."

She flashes a quick smile before turning to head out. "Too bad! We're on a mission. Let's go, early bird."

I mutter under my breath, "This is the last time I agree to be your emotional support shopper."

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A party. A party in Hartford. At some rich girl's mansion. Why on earth did I agree to this? How did my sister turn into a master manipulator? And how the hell did she convince Lane to come? There better be booze at this thing, or I'm walking out.

The inside of the mansion is... well, exactly what you'd expect. Polished floors, perfectly placed art on the walls, and people standing around with their drinks, talking about their *exotic vacations* and their *boutique shopping experiences*. I glance over at Rory, who's still trying to look like she's okay, and Lane, who's too busy raiding the snack table to care about any of it.

But then, in the middle of all the chatter, my eyes land on him.

Daniel.

He's standing by the edge of the living room, talking to a couple of people, his dark hair just messy enough to look effortless. He's wearing a simple button-up shirt and jeans, and somehow, he makes it look like he just stepped out of a magazine. I don't know why it always hits me like this-every time I see him, it feels like I can't think straight.

"Uh, Chrissy?" Rory's voice cuts through my thoughts. "You okay?"

I blink, realizing I've been staring a little too long. "Huh? Oh, yeah. Fine. Just... um, just gonna say hi."

Rory looks at me, raising an eyebrow but not saying anything. She knows about my crush on Daniel-how could she not? But she's also good at letting me figure things out myself.

"Sure. Go for it," she says, her voice almost teasing.

I hesitate for just a second before walking toward Daniel. My heart's beating a little faster than it should, but at least it's not as obvious as my blush. I stop just a few feet away from him, trying to act cool-like this isn't a huge deal-but I know I'm probably failing miserably.

"Hey, Daniel," I say, trying to sound casual. "How's it going?"

He turns, his smile instantly making the butterflies in my stomach go wild. "Hey, Chrissy. I didn't know you were coming to this." His eyes flicker over me, like he's just now noticing the outfit I picked out-something simple but nice-and I can't help but feel a little self-conscious under his gaze.

"Yeah, Rory dragged me along," I reply, shrugging a little. "You know how it is."

"I'm sure I do," he says, his smile deepening. "You okay? You look like you're about to bolt."

I can't help but laugh, shaking my head. "No, I'm fine. Just... trying to figure out how to survive a room full of people who all talk like they came out of a *society* magazine." I gesture vaguely toward the crowd. "You know, the usual."

He chuckles, and I feel my cheeks warm up again. "Yeah, I get that. It's a little much, but... hey, you're doing alright." He glances around the room, then back at me. "You want to get away from the crowd for a minute?"

My heart skips a beat. "Yeah, sure. That sounds good."

We walk together toward the far side of the room, a quieter area near the back door where the music isn't as loud, but it still hums softly in the background. Daniel leans casually against the doorframe, a comfortable distance between us, and we start talking about the usual things-how crazy the party is, how ridiculous some of the conversations are, even how much better the snacks were at Lane's house.

But then, just when I start to relax, he looks at me, his expression shifting into something a little more serious. "Hey, I was actually wondering... would you want to dance?"

My stomach lurches in that good way. "Dance?" I repeat, blinking a little too quickly.

"Yeah, just for a bit. It's not like we're in some fancy ballroom or anything," he adds, grinning like he knows he's making me nervous. "Just, you know... a little slower pace. No big deal."

I blink again, unsure whether he's joking or serious, but then I catch the way his eyes soften, and I realize he's being totally genuine. And, God, I can't believe I'm *nervous* about this.

"Sure," I manage to say, trying to sound like I'm in control. "Why not?"

He extends his hand, and my heart flutters as I take it, his touch surprisingly warm. The music picks up just as we step out into the middle of the room, and we sway there for a few moments, the tension in my chest loosening a little as I focus on the simple motion of it-just moving with him, nothing more. His hand on my back feels steady, and I can't help but smile, even though I'm still a little flushed.

"I'm glad you agreed," Daniel says quietly, his voice low enough that it almost gets lost in the music. "I've wanted to ask you for a while now."

I look up at him, my heart racing for entirely different reasons now. "Really?"

He chuckles. "Yeah. But I didn't want to, you know, pressure you. I figured if I gave you a chance to escape the awkward small talk, you might-"

"Actually say yes?" I finish for him, raising an eyebrow.

He grins, a little sheepish. "Yeah. Pretty much."

The music fades into the background as we keep swaying together, my heart thumping in my chest. It feels like everything else in the room has disappeared, leaving just Daniel and me. I try to keep my cool, but my breath catches when he pulls back slightly, looking down at me with a thoughtful expression.

"So, uh... I've been meaning to ask you something," he says, his voice suddenly quieter, more serious. "And I'm just gonna go for it. Would you want to go out with me sometime?"

I blink, my brain taking a moment to process what he's just said. "Wait-like, a date?"

Daniel grins, his eyes lighting up. "Yeah, like a real date. No parties, no tricks. Just you and me."

I feel my cheeks go hot, and I swallow before I can respond. "I-yeah, I'd love that," I say, my voice a little breathless.

His grin widens, and he steps just a little closer, his hand reaching up to gently push a strand of hair behind my ear. The simple gesture catches me off guard, and my heart skips a beat. His fingers linger for a second longer than they should, and I swear I can feel the heat in my cheeks deepening.

"Good," Daniel says softly, looking at me with a quiet intensity that makes my pulse race. "I'm glad you think so. I've been wanting to ask for a while."

I'm still trying to find my words, but they feel stuck in my throat, so I just smile-probably looking like an idiot, but I can't help it. "Yeah, I think it's about time," I manage, though my voice comes out a little shaky.

The song shifts into something more upbeat, and I realize I'm still standing there, staring at him, my face on fire. "Okay, I should probably-" I stop myself before I finish the sentence, feeling a little overwhelmed. "I need a drink. Be right back."

Daniel gives me a small, understanding nod. "Of course. I'll be here."

I take a quick step back, needing to get away for just a moment to gather myself. I make my way to the drink table, my mind still buzzing with what just happened. A date. With Daniel. I'm trying to process it all, but I'm so distracted that I barely notice the scene unfolding across the room until it's too late.

There's Rory, sitting on a bench by the piano, her back straight but her posture a little stiff. And next to her, there's Tristan-his usual smirk gone, replaced by something more subdued. He's talking to Rory in low, serious tones, his hand resting on the side of the piano.

I can't hear what they're saying from across the room, but their body language tells me everything I need to know. They're *close*. Close enough that Rory isn't pulling away, even when Tristan leans in just a little, his voice soft but intense, like they're discussing something... personal.

Then, without warning, Tristan tilts his head slightly and brushes a strand of hair from Rory's face-a gesture that hits me like a punch to the gut. I watch, almost paralyzed, as he leans forward and kisses her. It's not the dramatic, passionate kiss that you see in the movies. It's quick, awkward even, like it wasn't planned.

Rory immediately pulls back, her face flushed and her eyes wide, clearly caught off guard. She looks at Tristan, her lips parted as if searching for the right thing to say, but then she stands up quickly, backing away, her eyes darting around like she's trying to make a quick escape.

I can see the discomfort in her expression, and something in my chest tightens as she walks away, her footsteps quick, almost hurried.

I should probably go after her. I should be the one there, asking her if she's okay, but instead, I stand frozen, my stomach twisting. What is this? Why do I feel... *weird* about it? Rory's my sister-she can make her own choices. But seeing Tristan kiss her like that... it does something to me. A feeling I don't want to acknowledge, even though it's right there.

I force myself to look away, blinking a few times to shake the image from my mind. I can't be thinking about this right now.

I need to get back to Daniel. I need to focus on *that*-the date, the way he looked at me, the way he asked. Not... this.

I turn quickly and make my way back toward him, trying to push all of the thoughts and feelings that just swirled in my mind out of the way. But as I approach him, that weird feeling settles deeper into my chest. I can't shake the image of Rory walking away from Tristan, the uncomfortable look on her face.

And I can't ignore the feeling that, somehow, I'm feeling the wrong things for the wrong person.

When I get back to Daniel, he's standing where I left him, his smile bright and warm when he sees me. But the smile feels a little too much like a mask, and I can't help but feel like I'm not being totally honest with him-or myself.

"Everything okay?" Daniel asks, his voice laced with concern.

I nod quickly, though it doesn't quite reach my eyes. "Yeah. Just needed a second."

Daniel studies me for a moment, a little furrow appearing between his brows, but he doesn't push it. "Alright. If you need anything, I'm here."

I force a smile, trying to push away the unease in my stomach. "Thanks. I'm good."

But even as we continue talking, my mind keeps drifting back to Tristan and Rory, and the weird sensation in my chest-one that doesn't feel like jealousy, exactly. More like... something else. Something I'm not ready to face.

And deep down, I know I'm lying to myself about what I really feel. But for now, I'll keep pretending.