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Dean had been talking Matt's ear off for the better part of ten minutes, rambling about how Lorelai Gilmore was never going to forgive him. Something him and Rory falling asleep in Miss Patty's barn after the dance—it was hard to say. Matt wasn't paying attention.
His mind was elsewhere, replaying the same scene over and over again. Brooke's party. Ronnie's laugh. The way they'd stood close, closer than ever before, until the world around them seemed to fade away. It wasn't just him—he was sure something had shifted that night. An almost-kiss. Or at least, it had felt like one. But Ronnie's behavior since then had him second-guessing everything.
Had he imagined it?
"Hey, man." Dean's voice broke through his thoughts, accompanied by a nudge to Matt's shoulder. "Are you even listening to me?"
Matt blinked, snapping out of his daze. "Sorry, what?"
Dean narrowed his eyes, giving him a look somewhere between amused and concerned. "Okay, what's going on? You've been out of it all day."
"Nothing," Matt said quickly, shaking his head. "Just thinking."
If Ronnie were here, he knew exactly what she'd say. Something sharp and teasing, like, That's a first. Don't hurt yourself. He almost smiled at the thought before catching himself.
Dean smirked knowingly. "This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain Gilmore girl, would it? I mean, she's clearly living rent-free in your head."
Matt sighed, knowing there was no point in denying it. "Something happened at Brooke's party." He paused, then corrected himself. "Well, almost happened."
Dean's face lit up with a grin. "Finally! So when's the wedding?"
Matt groaned, dragging a hand through his hair. "Yeah, nowhere in the future. She's been avoiding me ever since."
Dean tilted his head, considering. "You know your problem? You're doing all the pining while she's got all the power. Big mistake."
"I don't think that's how it works," Matt started, but Dean held up a hand to cut him off.
"Here's what you're gonna do," Dean said confidently. "You're gonna go out with another girl."
Matt stopped in his tracks, giving Dean a baffled look. "That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard. I want her to like me, not hate me."
"Trust me," Dean insisted, throwing an arm around Matt's shoulders like some kind of love guru. "Girls are confusing, but this will work. You show her you've got options, and she'll start realizing she doesn't want to lose you to someone else."
Matt frowned, trying to picture it. "I don't know..."
Dean grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "You've gotta make her jealous. It's a classic move."
"Jealous, huh?" Matt asked, his skepticism still evident.
Dean nodded. "Yep. And I've got the perfect candidate. Ask out the girl who annoys Ronnie the most."
