Author's Notes:

Hey everyone! Welcome to my new story! I told myself I wasn't going to start writing this until I finished up The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same but I couldn't help it. Inspiration struck and I had to run with it. Anyway, as the summary explains, this story is taking place in season three at the start of the summer episodes. I figure you'll be able to catch on what is happening fairly quickly. So please read and let me know what you think. I should have a new chapter up fairly soon. Like I said – inspiration struck!

Before I begin, though, I'd like to acknowledge Heather from FanForum. I can't quite remember how to spell her username over there and for the life of me I can't remember what it is over here. Anyway… Without her comment in the anti-DK thread I would never have had the idea to create a new triangle, less offensive triangle in the Summer of Deception episodes. So here's to you, Heather. Thanks!

Cheers,

Jianna

Chapter One

.*.*.*.

Green-Eyed Monster

"I don't get it. I just don't get it." Brandon Walsh shook his head in frustration as he stared across the table at his best friend, Steve Sanders. They were seated at their favorite booth at the Peach Pit, Brandon taking his fifteen minute break during his final shift as a waiter there until school started back up and the Beverly Hills Beach Club closed its doors for the summer.

"Life's not fair." Steve commiserated after taking a long sip of his Pepsi. "Frankly, though, I'm surprised with your parents. I always figured your father as a bit of a hard ass, but I guess this just proves Brenda has him wrapped around her little finger."

Brandon let out a long sigh of disgusted as he thought about his twin sister. Sometimes he thought she must have been switched at birth. "It's always been that way. Anything Brenda wants, she gets."

"Yeah, but you would think with how she's been acting lately with Dylan your parents would actually try and be a bit harder on her." Steve pointed out the obvious. If only his parents saw it as clearly.

"Maybe I ought to start acting out a bit. Maybe they'll reward me by sending me to the Stanley Cup Playoffs or something." Brandon grumbled, though he knew he would never do anything to purposely irritate his parents. Despite how "uncool" it was, Brandon enjoyed his good relationship with his parents. For the most part, they allowed him to do whatever he wanted – as long as it was not too irrational. Brandon just thought it was unfair that they extended that leniency towards his sister, who seemed to take great delight in doing things to annoy and even hurt their parents.

"Hey guys!"

Brandon and Steve both looked up as Kelly Taylor, Brenda's best friend and the ultimate reason why she was being rewarded for being a brat, waltzed through the door, a happy smile playing across her lips. Brandon felt his heart give a little flip as he studied her, noticing not for the first time just how beautiful she really was. But beyond being quite possibly one of the loveliest young women Brandon had ever seen, she had a sweet spirit and fantastic personality. All in all, she was the ultimate catch. Unfortunately, Steve had 'caught' her before Brandon had ever moved to Beverly Hills and Brandon would not cross that line.

"Hey Kelly." Steve greeted his ex-girlfriend, pure adoration mirroring in his eyes and Brandon breathed a silent thank you that he had not gone with his gut instinct at the Spring Dance a couple of years ago and gave in to Kelly's advances.

Kelly slipped into the booth, taking the seat next to Steve but opposite Brandon. "What are you guys up to?" Then, noticing Brandon's uniform, she added, "I thought you were working at the beach club this summer again."

"I am." Brandon informed her, pleased that she actually knew what his plans for the summer were. "Today's my last day at the Pit. I sure am going to miss this place." He cast an appreciative glance around the old fifties style dinner, wishing that business did not slow down so much during the summer months that he had to work at the beach club instead just to pay for his auto insurance.

"Well, I see you're hard at work. As usual." She teased as she stole a French fry off from Steve's plate, popping it in her mouth, managing to look absolutely adorable in the process.

"Very funny." Brandon found himself grinning at Kelly, "I'm on my break. I don't have to go back to work for another ten minutes."

"You know, this is all her fault." Steve suddenly interjected into the conversation, turning sideways in the booth so he could look at Kelly. "If it weren't for Kelly flaking on her trip to Paris, there would have never been an extra ticket for your parents to give to Brenda."

"Hey! You're right." Brandon shot Kelly a look of mock-annoyance. "It is all your fault my parents favor Brenda over me."

"Don't be ridiculous, Brandon." Kelly rolled her eyes as she flicked her long, golden-blonde tresses over her shoulders. "Jim and Cindy are shipping Brenda off to Paris to get her away from Dylan. Even she knows that."

"Yeah, but Paris? Come on." Brandon found his irritation with his parents decision returning. "Wouldn't a convent be a much better place for her if they wanted to get her away from Dylan?"

Kelly gave him a look that quickly put his disgruntled spirit into check. "You should be happy for your sister, Brandon." She stated firmly. "She's always dreamed of going to Paris and she finally has the opportunity."

"Finally." Brandon found himself rolling his eyes as he shook his head. "She's barely seventeen, Kelly. Most people who dream of visiting to Paris get to see it when they're seventy, not seventeen. I understand my parents reasons for wanting to get Brenda away from Dylan, but I just don't see why they felt that sending her to Paris was the answer. Our aunt back in Minnesota has been asking for Brenda to come out and spend a few weeks with her for months now. Why couldn't they have sent her back there?"

Kelly scrunched up her nose. "Ew. Minnesota in the summer? Isn't the humidity awful there?"

"You've been to Minnesota in the summer?" Brandon challenged.

Kelly shook her head. "I've actually never been to Minnesota period, much less in the summertime."

"We'll have to fix that someday." Brandon found himself saying, his cheeks flushing a little at Kelly's shocked expression. "What I mean is, well, uh…" He trailed off, glancing away.

A strange looked flashed over Steve's face, but he quickly masked it. "I was there once during August with my dad on a golfing expedition. The courses are terrible. And yes, Kelly, the humidity is awful. But, for everything she's put Jim and Cindy through the past several months, she deserves to suffer a little."

Kelly gave Steve a very similar look to the one she had just given Brandon. "Brenda's my best friend. Even though I agree that the relationship between her and Dylan got a little too intense for a high school relationship, I just want to see her happy."

Brandon studied her thoughtfully, thankful that Brenda had found a friend such as Kelly in Beverly Hills. Even if he didn't think Brenda always deserved the loyalty, but that was just right now because he was green with envy. "I guess I want Brenda to be happy too." He admitted at last, abet reluctantly. "And you're right. She's ecstatic about Paris. I just wish I was going too instead of being stuck in California, working."

"Oh, poor baby." Kelly teased, a wide smile on her face. "Do you know how many teenagers wish they could spend their summer 'stuck in California?'"

"Yeah, I know."

"And besides, Bran my man," Steve grinned, "This is our summer."

"Our summer?" Brandon echoed, his eyebrows shooting up. "How so?"

"Our summer for lovin', of course." Steve returned. "I figure it's high time I get over that blonde bitch who broke up with me a couple of years ago and move on with my life."

"Hey!" Kelly playfully punched him in the arm.

"If the shoe fits…" Steve continued, his eyes dancing mischievously.

"Whatever." Kelly brushed him off, though Brandon could tell she was genuinely upset by Steve's comment. "I need to go. I promised Jackie I'd pick up lunch and it looks like its ready." She rose to her feet, a sad smile twisting up on her lips. "See you guys."

"Bye Kel." Brandon found himself rising at the same time. "I actually need to get back to work too. You need anything, Steve?"

"Refill?" Steve held up his empty glass.

Brandon took the glass as he asked, "Pepsi, right?"

"Of course." Steve answered. "All the cool kids drink Pepsi."

Brandon and Kelly both rolled their eyes then turned and walked up to the counter together. Even though he knew they were still in eyesight of Steve, Brandon grabbed onto Kelly's hand, holding her back for a second. "He's wrong, you know. You're not a bitch."

"I know." Kelly replied, obviously attempting to gain some composure.

"He's still sore that you dumped him. But, I've got to tell you, after seeing the way he treats the girls he's dated, I don't blame you one bit." Brandon offered her a small smile. "I know it's two years, but in boy ego years, that's about two weeks."

"I just wish he'd get over it." Kelly shifted her gaze to stare out across the diner, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation. "Whenever I think he and I are falling into a friendship he says something mean like that and I just can't get over it and find myself getting angry with him all over again."

"Well, don't. Like I said, he's just saying that to you to get under your skin. He probably sees you upset right now and thinks its some kind of victory or something. Like he's getting you back for hurting him."

Kelly just shrugged, refusing to meet his gaze. "I need to go before the food gets cold." She slipped past Brandon and approached the counter, accepting the food from Nat and passing him a twenty. Brandon couldn't help but notice she was all smiles for the owner of the Peach Pit. Sometimes he couldn't help but think she might be a better actress than Brenda.

Brandon watched her leave the restaurant before he went and got Steve his refill. "Hey Brandon," Nat greeted him when he moved back behind the counter, chuckling. "You really need to start cutting your fifteen minute break down to twenty minutes or so."

"Sorry about that, Nat." Brandon quickly apologized. Even though it was his final shift for nearly three months, Brandon still felt it was very important to finish strong. "Kelly was upset."

"Yeah, I noticed." Nat nodded, frowning a little. "Steve say something to her?"

"How'd you guess?"

"It's always Steve that upsets her like that." Nat explained, shaking his head sadly. "Steve or her father, that is. You need to take your friend out or something. Get him to meet somebody new so he'll stop giving poor Kelly such a hard time."

"I've tried, Nat. Steve isn't so great with the ladies."

"Then maybe you should offer him some lessons."

"Perhaps you haven't noticed, but my last girlfriend tried to burn my house down." Brandon chuckled, shaking his head. "You know, Steve thinks this summer is going to be all about the ladies, but honestly, I think its going to end up being a very, very lonely summer."

"Chin up, kid. I've seen the way the girls look at you. You're not going to be lonely for long."

"But I don't want just any girl, Nat." Brandon let out a weary sigh, folding his arms against his chest as he surveyed the diner, noting that indeed several of the young women in the place were shooting sideways glances in his direction. "I'm tried of playing the game."

"Oh poor you." Nat mocked, his tone echoing Kelly's from when she said nearly the exact same words only a few minutes earlier. "You're seventeen, Brandon. You're not even old enough to play the game yet."

Brandon shook his head. "I've got tables to wait on." He stated, noting that Steve was beckoning him over yet again.

"He better leave you a big tip." Nat chuckled. "I think he likes having you as his personal servant."

"You got that impression too, huh?" Brandon grinned as he walked back to where his friend was still lounging in the booth, nursing his Pepsi and platter of fries. "What do you want?" He found himself frowning.

"What time do you get off?" Steve asked.

"Four o'clock, why?"

"Well, I was thinking tonight would be a good night to have a barbecue. Sort of as a sendoff for Brenda."

Brandon rolled his eyes. "A sendoff for Brenda? Since when did you care a hoot about my sister?"

"Hey, I care." Steve defended himself, pretending to be offended by Brandon's comment. He wasn't able to maintain the act long. "Alright, you're right. I don't. Not that much anyway."

"Whatever." Brandon brushed him off. He was fully aware that the only reason Steve didn't 'care for' Brenda that much was because she was dating Dylan. If she were single, Brandon doubted he would have been able to keep Steve away from her. "Why do you really want to have a barbecue?"

"Honestly," Steve appraised him frankly. "So I can apologize to Kelly. I was pretty harsh with her and she didn't deserve that. It just upset me to see my best friend making the moves on her."

"I was not making the moves on her."

"You offered to take her to Minnesota." Steve pointed out.

"That is not what I meant." Brandon frowned, well knowing that was exactly how he had meant it but not about to admit it to Steve. "I'm not trying to trespass on what you think is your territory, but I've got to be honest with you Steve, you have got to get over her. She's not your girlfriend anymore and it's been two years."

"I know, man, but Kelly Taylor… She's hard to get out of your system. Every time I think I'm finally over her I see her again and its like we just broke up. Never fall for her, man. One, I'd have to kill you, and two, you'd never be able to fall in love with anyone else."

"I'll keep that in mind." Brandon gave him a tight smile, wondering if it was already too late for him. "Now, did you need anything or can I go call my mom and see if she'd be okay hosting a party at the last minute?"

"Don't let me stop you. Just bring me back a Megaburger on your way back. These fries just aren't doing it for me today."

Brandon nodded, not even bothering to jot down the order in his notepad. He knew Nat had already told Willie to start prepping Steve's custom Megaburger with no pickles and extra onions. No wonder Kelly had broken up with him.

"Megaburger?" Nat asked and Brandon nodded. "I figured."

"I know." Brandon smiled. "Do you mind if I make a quick phone call?"

"Go right ahead. We're slow." Nat shrugged. "Actually, if you want to take off early, you can do that too."

"Naw, man, I need the money."

"That's alright. You've worked hard for me all year. I wouldn't dream of docking your pay for clocking out a couple of hours early."

"Really?"

"Of course." Nat smiled. "Go on. Go have fun. I know you're starting at the Beach Club tomorrow. You deserve at least half a day of summer vacation."

"Thanks, Nat." Brandon hurried to the back, punching his time card before he picked up the phone and dialed his home number.

After the fourth ring Cindy answered, her voice sounding stressed. "Hello?"

"Mom? What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. Nothing's wrong, not really."

"What did Brenda do?" Brandon demanded, his anger kicking up into high gear. "What stunt did she pull this time?"

"It's not your sister, Brandon. And nothing is wrong. Now, why did you call? Is something wrong at the Peach Pit?"

"Naw. Nat is actually letting me off early. I just had a favor to ask you."

"What is that?"

"Well, I sort of wanted to throw a last minute going away party for Brenda and I was wondering if we could barbecue at the house."

"Oh!" Cindy actually sounded excited. "That sounds wonderful, Brandon. You are so thoughtful. And here I thought you were going to be upset because Brenda was going to Paris and you have to stay here."

"Well, I was upset at first. But I got over it. I just want Brenda to be happy."

"Me too." Cindy agreed.

"So it's okay then? We can have the barbecue?"

"I don't see a problem. In fact, I think it will be perfect timing. Who all will be coming?"

"I don't know. I figure just the regular gang. Steve, Kelly, David, Donna, Andrea…Dylan."

"Perfect. I'll pull some hamburger out to thaw. Call your friends and pick up some chips and soda on your way home."

"Will do." Brandon replied, then quickly added before hanging up the phone, "Thanks, Mom."

"You're welcome, Brandon. See you in a bit."

Brandon quickly replaced the phone in the receiver. He turned, not at all surprised to find that Steve had followed him into the back, an expectant grin on his face. "So, what did she say?"

"She said it was fine."

"Alright!" Steve exclaimed. "Party at the Walsh house tonight!"

"Not quite a party. I just told her it was the usual gang." Brandon cautioned him, his brow furrowing. He couldn't get over the fact that his mother sounded strange when he spoke with her, almost as if she were upset about something. "No one else, Steve. And I mean it."

"Alright." Steve grumbled. "As long as Kelly comes. I'll call her first."

"Maybe you ought to let me do that invite." Brandon suggested. "I'm not too sure she'll say yes if you call her."

"You're right. You should call her." Steve agreed. He quickly hurried off to use the payphone by the bathrooms, leaving Brandon with the regular phone.

Brandon hesitated for a long moment, wondering if Kelly would actually be home yet. Then, making a spontaneous decision and jotting Steve a quick note to let him know he was picking up a few things, he grabbed his keys and left the Pit, praying that Steve would not make good on his promise to kill him if he fell for Kelly Taylor.

Author's Notes:

So, what did you guys think? Was it alright? I've got a few twists in store with this story but I want to make sure there's an interest level first. So please let me know if you liked it and if you want me to keep writing. If so, I should have the next chapter up soonish.

Cheers,

Jianna