"That was the nicest sarcastic tone we have."

--☆--☆--☆--

"We look ridiculous," Cassie informed her mom.

After Rory finished getting ready Lorelai insisted on showing her daughters a new route she had discovered to get from their house to Sookie's. Now the three Gilmores were walking through random people's backyards going through bushes and gardens just to get to the other side of the street.

"See, three minutes faster," Lorelai told them as they emerged from the bushes.

"There's leaves in my hair," Cassie said as she pulled a leaf off her head.

"I also found a way to get to Al's Pancake World that shaves a good forty seconds off our normal route," Lorelai informed them.

"You were really bored when I was gone, weren't you?" Rory asked her.

"You have no idea," Lorelai replied as they walked up Sookie and Jackson's front steps.

"Are you crazy? Have you lost your mind?" Jackson yelled inside the house causing a concerned look to appear on all of the Gilmore women's faces.

"I don't understand why you're so upset," Sookie replied, her tone a lot softer than the one Jackson was using.

"How can you not understand? I told you a thousand times."

"I thought you were just being nice," Sookie said to her husband.

Lorelai pushed the front door open slowly, allowing just enough room for her and twins to get a peek inside the house. Their eyes widened upon seeing the new decorations set up in the house. There was a giant stuffed bear in the corner and the room looked like it could be in a hunting magazine.

"Oh my-" Cassie gasped quietly.

"I think it looks nice," Sookie claimed as she looked around the room.

"Nice... nice? This is nice?" He gestured to the life sized stuffed bear.

"It's masculine!"

"It's terrifying!" Jackson yelled back.

The Gilmores slowly backed away from the front door and went back down the front steps. "We'll just check on them a little later," Lorelai suggested.

"Excellent idea," Rory nodded as they started heading towards the festival.

Just as Taylor promised the entire town square was decked out for the festival. There were booths with food and games, a band singing Those Lazy, Crazy, Hazy Days of Summer, and kids running amok. It was your typical Stars Hollow festival.

"Okay, so do we do cheese stick, hot dog, cotton candy, or do we mix it up a little and start with the cotton candy and end with the cheese stick?" Lorelai glanced back at her daughters, immediately noticing how Rory was scanning the crowd instead of listening to her. "Who are you looking for?"

"No one," Rory answered, almost too quickly, "I'm just taking in all the madness, that's all."

"Ah," Lorleai nodded.

"Lorelai!" Kirk walked over to the Gilmores, "Good. Have you used the cream yet?"

"Uh, not yet, Kirk," Lorelai answered with a confused expression on her face. One that was specially reserved for all things Kirk.

"Good, there's been a little problem," Kirk told her as he started walking away and Lorelai walked to catch up with him.

"A problem with the cream," Cassie laughed as she nudged her sister's arm, only to realize Rory wasn't paying attention at all.

"What?" Rory turned her head slowly to look at Cassie.

"Okay seriously what's going on?" Cassie asked, but Rory's attention was already elsewhere. "Hello. Earth to Rory?"

"Sorry."

"Do you sometimes think this town is weird or is it just me?" Lorelai asked her daughters after Kirk had walked away from them. Rory didn't answer as they were now approaching Taylor. "Hey Taylor, is there where the mosh pit starts?"

"Well hello Lorelai, girls. So what do you think of the band?" He asked them, looking at the group that was singing the same chorus over and over again. "Pretty big city, don't you think?"

"Mm, I sure do," Lorelai nodded.

"Very big city," Cassie nodded along.

"What?" Taylor shot them an unimpressed look.

"What? We're agreeing with you," Lorelai told him.

Taylor shook his head at her, "I do not like that sarcastic tone, Lorelai."

"Oh please, that was barely sarcastic. We can be much more sarcastic than that," Cassie replied and Lorelai was desperately trying not to laugh when she saw the look on Taylor's face. "That was the nicest sarcastic tone we have."

"You girls have an opinion on everything. Nothing is ever up to your standards," Taylor shook his head at them.

While they were talking neither Cassie or Lorelai noticed that Rory had found what she was looking for, or who to be more specific. Her eyes landed on Jess who was making out with Shane against a tree. She was leaning on him, his hands sliding into her back pockets. The sight was disturbing to Rory, yet she couldn't bring herself to look away.

"That is not true," Lorelai told him.

"Yeah, I'm sure all of these barbers are leading very fulfilling lives," Cassie nodded.

"I don't even know why I bother," Taylor said, shaking his head for the millionth time before moving away from the Gilmore women.

"That is it. I am done..." Lorelai trailed off when she realized Rory wasn't paying attention.

"What are you looking... oh," Cassie turned around and now they were all looking at Jess and Shane against the tree.

"Looks like he's got his what I did this summer all researched and ready to go. Looks like you dodged a bullet, huh?" Lorelai said, looking at Rory.

"What do you mean?" Rory asked her.

Lorelai shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. It seems kind of lucky that you didn't throw everything away for Jess when you see..."

"See what? What am I seeing?" Rory asked, clearly not happy about what she was in fact seeing. "Did you know about this?" Rory turned to look at Cassie.

"You're upset," Lorelai quickly realized.

Rory shook her head, "I'm not upset. Did you know?" She asked, looking over at Cassie.

"I... well, kinda yeah," Cassie answered her sister honestly.

"Yes, you are upset. I know because you look like my mother," Lorelai told her, keeping to her line of questioning.

"Thanks a lot," Rory rolled her eyes at Lorelai.

"You like my mother."

"Yes, but you don't like your mother, so when you tell me I look like your mother it's not exactly a compliment," Rory told her.

"Honey, what is wrong?"

"Oh god," Rory cringed when she looked at Jess.

"What is it?"

"It's that," Rory gestured over to where Hess and Shane were still making out.

"Jess?"

"Yes!" Rory snapped.

"You're upset about Jess?"

Rory rolled her eyes again, "I said yes."

Cassie just stood there awkwardly not really knowing what to do. She knew she probably should've told Rory about Shane and Jess, but she wasn't sure if Rory wanted to hear it. The one time Cassie had asked her about him, Rory quickly ended the conversation. Cassie just assumed Rory wouldn't want to know.

"Yes, it's Jess?"

"Mom," Cassie shot her mom the 'not the time look' which she earned given Rory's reaction to this whole Jess thing.

"You aren't funny," Rory said to Lorelai.

"It's not my fault Jess and yes rhymes, did I exploit the opportunity, of course I did. But Rory, come on, I know you had this crush"

"It wasn't a crush," Rory quickly replied. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"I just..." Cassie wasn't able to finish her sentence as Lorelai began talking again.

"Well, I thought it was over. you haven't seen him since-

"Sookie's wedding," Rory interrupted her again.

Lorelai went quiet for a moment, "You talked to him at Sookie's wedding?"

"Yes."

"He wasn't at Sookie's wedding," Lorelai said looking between her daughters who both seemed to have guilty expressions on their faces. "Right."

"He was there," Cassie was the first to speak up and Lorelai let out a quiet scoff.

"He had just come back and he came to see me," Rory informed their mom and Cassie couldn't help her eye roll.

"So he crashed Sookie's wedding and..."

"And nothing. He told me he was back in town and..." Rory looked over at Cassie, afterall Cassie was the only one who knew about the kiss.

"What Rory? Come on," Lorelai urged her to continue. Rory shook her head, not sure if she was able to admit it to Lorelai.

"Tell her," Cassie said to her sister. Lorelai looked over at her youngest daughter, a little surprised that there was something Rory told Cassie instead of her.

"We kissed, okay?"

"You kissed?" Lorelai's eyes widened with shock, having expected anything except the words that actually left her daughter's mouth.

"Yes."

"You kissed like... you kissed?"

"Yes."

"And you knew?" Lorelai looked over at Cassie, equally surprised with her.

Cassie shook her head, "Yes apparently I'm all knowing."

"Uh okay..." Lorelai shook her head, trying to figure out where to go from here. "Who kissed who?"

"Why does that matter?"

"Because it matters, did he kiss you or did you kiss each other, did you trip and your face's accidentally-

"She kissed him," Cassie interrupted the rant her mom was about to go on.

"Cas!"

Cassie held up her hands in surrender, "Sorry but it's true," she reminded her sister.

"Oh my god," Lorelai ran a hand through her hair as she took a step back. While Cassie had all summer to sit with this news, Lorelai was hearing it all for the first time and she genuinely felt the need to sit down.

"I thought he came back because he liked me or something, and I kissed him and he kissed me back. And now he's over there and I feel so stupid," Rory admitted to her family, "and that girl isn't even his type. How could you let this happen?"

"Me?" Cassie asked her, now starting to get a little annoyed. "You kissed him. If you don't want him hooking up with other people, it's your job to tell him. Don't blame me for this."

"I can't believe you didn't tell me in the first place. You knew about the kiss. You knew how this would make me feel. Your his friend, you could've stopped it but you didn't-"

"Rory, what are you thinking?" Lorelai asked her.

"What do you mean? I'm ranting. You should recognize this, I learned it from you," Rory reminded her mom.

"Yeah, but honey, you went to Sookie's wedding... with Dean."

"I know."

"And then you ran off to have some thing with Jess," Lorelai shook her head, not believing the words that were coming out of her mouth.

"It wasn't a thing, it was a kiss."

"Rory, a kiss is like the textbook definition of a thing," Cassie informed her sister.

Rory shook her head, "well it wasn't planned, it just happened."

"I can't believe it. All this time I'm thinking, she's with Dean," Lorelai looked completely dumbfounded.

"I am with Dean."

"No, Rory, kissing another is not being with Dean. Ask him, I bet he'd back me up on that," Lorelai snapped at her.

"It was nothing."

"Well, then why are you so freaked out?"

"I am not freaked out," Rory claimed.

Lorelai let out a long breath, "Look, kid, you have gotta make up your mind. Jess, Dean, Jess, Dean. It's enough already. If you want Jess, that's fine, go get him, there he is," Lorelai gestured over to Jess, who was still making out with Shane. "If you think that's the great love of your life, then great... grab a liver treat and a squeaky toy and run to him. Don't worry about that girl because I'm sure he will move onto somebody else in about an hour."

"Mom..." Cassie spoke quietly. She saw the look on Rory's face and even though Rory deserved everything Lorelai was saying, Cassie hated seeing that look.

"But do something," Lorelai continued without acknowledging her youngest daughter. "Dean has been sweet and supportive and incredibly patient, and now you are officially treating him like dirt, and I'm sorry but not only is that not you, he doesn't deserve that."

"I know all this about Dean," Rory told her.

"You do?" Lorelai asked with genuine confusion.

"Yes, I do. I know how great he is. I knew it before either of you did," Rory reminded them.

Lorelai scoffed, "Well, knowing this had apparently not stopped you from dragging his heart all over this town."

"Not fair!"

"Yes, fair, the fairest, the Snow White of fair."

Rory crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't want to talk about this anymore."

"Okay listen, if you don't want to be with Dean anymore, cut him loose. Let him find someone who does because this is just so... wrong."

"All right, I get it. I-"

Cassie's eyes widened when she glanced across the street. "Hey, it's Dean," She quickly said, causing her mom and sister to stop arguing.

"Hey!" Dean walked up to them, moving to stand beside Rory so he could kiss her.

"Hi," She spoke quietly when he pulled away from her.

"Hi Dean," Lorelai smiled politely but anyone could tell that Dean had just walked in on something.

"I thought your plane didn't get in until 6?" Rory asked him.

Dean smiled down at her, "I managed to get an earlier flight."

"Well, I'm off to dinner with the parents," Lorelai quickly said, wanting to excuse herself from this awkward interaction.

"Oh, do you have..." He looked down at Rory.

"No. No, she's off the hook. You guys have all night to... talk. Enjoy."

Lorelai started walking away and Cassie realized she did not want to be standing here with them, "I need to find Ethan," she told them as she slowly backed away. "Nice to see you Dean."

"Yeah, you too Cassie," Dean smiled at her.

She quickly waved her hand then walked off, wanting to get as far away from them as possible.

--☆--☆--☆--☆--☆--

"You know for someone with a giant cotton candy you look pretty upset," Ethan said as he looked down at Cassie. She didn't respond right away, her mind still thinking about Jess, Rory, Lorelai and even Dean. "Cassie?"

"Huh," She looked up at him, realizing she had no clue what he had said. "Oh, I'm sorry."

Ethan shrugged his shoulders, "Wanna talk about it?"

"Probably shouldn't, not my secret to tell," She tried to smile as she looked up at him but it was obvious her mind was on other things.

"Anything I can do to keep your mind off it?"

Cassie couldn't help the smirk that appeared on her face as she stopped walking. Ethan stopped too, looking at her curiously. He didn't realize how suggestive his words sounded to her. "I can think of something," She admitted as stepped closer to him.

"What?" He asked her, an innocent and unknowing look in his eyes.

Cassie reached up, grabbing a fistful of his shirt and pulled his head down so it was level with hers. His eyes widened like a kid in a candy store. She leaned into him, pressing her lips against his. The more they've done this the better at it they got.

Ethan and Cassie now moved perfectly in sync. Both of them knowing exactly when to speed things up and slow them down. Ethan would hold her waist with just the right amount of pressure while his other hand would run up her body, usually ending up in her hair. Cassie's arms are normally around his neck or her hand would hold the side of her face keeping him almost impossibly close.

Cassie pulled away from the kiss first, but his hands were still on her waist and her arms were still around his neck. Ethan was smiling, that bright and happy smile that made butterflies appear in her stomach.

"I was thinking more popcorn but that was so much better," Ethan admitted to her, causing her to laugh.

"Cassie?" A voice called out from not too far away.

The Gilmore Girl turned her head, seeing her best friend waving to her from across the street. "Oh my god!" Cassie moved out of Ethan's arms as she ran across the street to where Sophie Dugray was standing. "You're back!" Cassie jumped into Sophie's arms nearly causing the two girls to fall over.

"Oh my god, I missed you," Sophie told her as her arms tightly hugged Cassie.

"You have to tell me everything," Cassie demanded. "How was Paris? And your grandparents, and the food, tell me all about the food."

"Great, great, and to die for," Sophie answered before her eyes drifted over to Ethan who was now walking towards them. "And you're gonna have to tell me all about him," Sophie said, looking behind them where Ethan was still standing.

"That's Ethan, you met him at that party, remember?" Sophie nodded and Cassie could already see the slightly concerned look on her face. "Give him a chance, please. For me."

"For you, anything."

Ethan walked across the street, joining the two girls. "Hi," He smiled politely at Sophie.

"Hey," She looked him up and down, wanting to make sure Cassie was only getting with the best of the best.

"Oh good, you guys found each other," Julia said as she joined the group carrying two cups of soda, handing one to Sophie.

"And you two found each other," Cassie raised her eyebrows as she couldn't help but smile at them.

Julia looked over at Sophie, smiling up at her as she nodded her head. "So how long have you guys been here?"

"Enough to hear the lazy hazy crazy days of summer song about a million times," Ethan told her.

"So not that long?"

"Nope," Ethan shook his head, the two of them laughing. His arm went around Cassie's shoulder and she smiled up at him.

Sophie was still looking him over, trying to decide what she thought about him. Of course she had heard about how much time he and Cassie had spent together this summer. She knew all about it. Except she assumed this was some kind of summer fling. It wasn't until she saw them kissing just now that she realized it might be much more.

"Well we're going to do a lap, but we should meet up if you guys are still here later," Julia told them, picking up on the weird energy that had begun to form around the group.

"Yeah of course," Cassie nodded her head.

Sophie stepped forward, hugging her best friend again. "Every last detail," she whispered to her.

"I'll show you mine, if you show me yours," Cassie whispered back to her as they pulled out of the hug. Sophie nodded and Cassie smiled at her. "We'll see you guys."

"Okay," Sophie smiled before her gaze went onto Ethan, "Nice seeing you again."

"You too," Ethan smiled at her and then Sophie and Julia were walking away from them. "She already doesn't like me."

"What, that's not-"

"Never in my life have I felt a glare that intimidating," Ethan admitted, actually looking a little scared.

"Oh, she's harmless," Cassie hoped to convince him.

Ethan glanced back to where Julia and Sophie were, and sure enough Sophie was already looking over at them. "Are you sure?"

"Come on," Cassie linked her arm with Ethan's, the two of them continuing to walk around the festival.

The two of them walked hand in hand around the square. Cassie really loved Stars Hollow sometimes, they way everyone gathered together for a silly festival and they were all genuinely having fun. Even though the music was getting annoying and Taylor was yelling at some middle schoolers for running, Stars Hollow was still exactly where Cassie wanted to be right now.

"Do you want a soda?" Ethan asked her as they walked past the drinks stand.

"Sure," Cassie nodded.

"I'll be right back," He told her before running to get into the line.

It was dark outside now but there were still plenty of people walking around. The kids were all hyped up on sugar and their parents were chasing after them. Then of course, the adults who were in charge of the kids were all feeling the effects of all the drinks they consumed. All in all, it was your perfect Stars Hollow evening.

"Hi honey," Miss Patty smiled when she saw the youngest Gilmore.

"Hi Miss Patty," Cassie walked over to her, she was standing by her dancers, as they did the same move for the hundredth time.

"Are you enjoying the festivities?" She asked her.

"Oh yeah, the song choice is getting better by the second," Cassie joked and Miss Patty laughed.

"Now tell me, who is that beautiful boy you've been walking with?" Miss Patty asked her and Cassie wasn't at all surprised by the line of questioning.

"That's Ethan, Patty, you've known him for years," Cassie reminded her.

Miss Patty smiled, nodding her head as she watched Ethan move closer to the front of the drinks line. "Yes, I know. But he hasn't looked like that for years."

"Patty," Cassie laughed at the woman in front of her, even though she knew Miss Patty was right.

"Honey, please tell me that you're dating that boy."

Cassie glanced over her shoulder. A smile appeared on her face when she looked at him. He turned his head, smiling when he realized that she was looking at him. Ethan waved his hand and Cassie laughed softly before waving back to him.

"We're just friends," Cassie answered Miss Patty's question as she slowly looked away from Ethan.

"That's not what it looks like," Miss Patty replied having watched that entire interaction. "I can see the way you two look at each other, and it's not the way friends look at each other."

"Hi Miss Patty," Ethan smiled to the dance teacher as he walked over to her and Cassie. "I got your drink," He said to her.

Cassie smiled, only then noticing the way he looked at her. Only one other person has looked at her like that before. "Thanks."

"No fingers in the nose!" Miss Patty yelled when she saw one of her dancers picking their nose.

Ethan's arm went back around her shoulder, holding her close to him. Cassie was well aware that they did look like a couple, it's not like they were actively trying to hide what they were doing. But neither of them had even tried putting a label on what they were. 

"What're you thinking about?" Ethan asked her, noticing the expression on her face.

Cassie looked up at him, a smile on her face, "I'm just happy," she admitted.

"Yeah?" He smiled at her. 

"Yeah, are you?"

Ethan nodded right away, "I'm very happy."

"Good," Cassie nodded and that was the end of that particular conversation. They just continued walking around the festival, knowing that they were both happy.

--☆--☆--☆--☆--☆--

By the time Cassie got back to her house it was almost ten. She opened the front door quietly, not wanting to wake anyone up. Cassie had a lot on her mind in this particular moment, all she wanted to do was sit in her room and think.

But she wasn't going to get that lucky. As soon as she closed the front door she realized her sister was sitting on the couch. Rory was already facing her, like she was waiting for Cassie to get home.

"Mom still up?" was all Cassie asked.

Rory nodded her head, not giving any verbal answer. Cassie was admittedly still a bit annoyed with her sister. She didn't like that Rory blamed her for Shane and Jess getting together. But she could also tell Rory was still annoyed with her too. 

Cassie took off her shoes and tossed her jacket to the side of the door, planning to pick it up in the morning. She headed towards the stairs not expecting Rory to say anything, but she was wrong.

"I'm sorry."

"What?" Cassie turned around, a look of raw confusion appearing on her face. It wasn't everyday Rory admitted to being sorry, or wrong. 

"I'm sorry," Rory said again. "I shouldn't have gotten mad at you for not telling me about Jess and... the girl."

"Are you still with Dean?" Cassie asked her, now stepping away from the stairs.

Rory nodded, "Yeah. Yeah, I'm still with Dean."

"Because you want to be or because you feel like you have to be?" Cassie asked her as she moved to sit down in the chair across from Rory. 

"I want to be," Rory told her but Cassie didn't look all that convinced. "I want to be with him," Rory assured her.

"Yeah, but you kissed Jess," Cassie let out a sigh before continuing. "And I don't mean to hound you about it, I just want you to be happy. I don't want to you to be with Dean out of obligation. You don't deserve that and Dean definitely does not deserve that," Cassie told her, hoping that she wouldn't make her sister upset.

Rory went quiet and her silence started to make Cassie feel nervous. She started fidgeting, her own nerves mixing with the silence in room. Rory could see it too, so she quickly broke the silence. 

"I know," she finally said and she could see Cassie let out a sigh, "But I want to try to fix things with Dean."

"Okay," Cassie nodded, "are you gonna tell him about the-"

"No," Rory answered before Cassie could even finish her sentence, "He can't know. Please don't tell him."

Cassie opened her mouth, wanting to tell Rory that the right thing to do would be telling Dean about the kiss, but she didn't say it. All she said was, "Okay."

"Okay," Rory nodded, "Now tell me about Ethan. I saw you guys kissing."

Cassie laughed quietly as she looked away from her sister for a second, "We're just friends."

"Yeah right," Rory shook her head, "You don't look at your friends the way you looked at him."

"That's what Miss Patty said," Cassie told her as she shook her head. 

"Well... what are you then?"

"I'm happy," Cassie told her, thinking about what she and Ethan said earlier that night. "Really happy."

Rory smiled at her, seeing an expression on her sister's face that she hasn't seen in a while. "You really are," Rory realized and Cassie nodded. "You deserve to be."

"Thanks Rory."