DISCLAIMER: I do not own this.
Ch2…
***
Donna had been in a daze ever since she had left the lot after running into Brenda, it was so unlike her to be so cold. Pulling into her park she run upstairs to the beach apartment praying Kelly was home.
"Kel, you here?"
The apartment was quiet and empty, Donna sighed, figures. Pulling the phone towards her she dialled the very familiar number of the Walsh house hoping Brandon would pick up.
"Talk to me."
Donna rolled her eyes, eight years and he still answered the phone the same way sometimes she wondered if he would ever grow up.
"Guess who I saw today?"
"Oh hey Donna, who did you see? Run into that group you had a thing for? Colour me badd?"
He was teasing her and she blushed at the memory of her love for the cheesy boy group.
"Nope think girl and more specifically family."
"I don't know."
"Brenda!"
She waited patiently as Brandon dropped the phone and then scrambled to pick it up.
"You saw Brenda here in LA?"
"Yeah, remember that new show Noah told us about? The one he's producing? Well guess who's one of the stars?"
"I can't believe she didn't tell me. What about Dylan, is he here too?"
She shook her head even though she knew he couldn't see her.
"No she said he was visiting Iris in Hawaii. When was the last time you spoke to her? She seemed weird Brandon, she completely blew me off and told me she didn't want to see anyone."
Brandon chuckled, that sounded like his twin.
"She was probably just nervous about the show. You remember how Brenda used to get before a play and this is TV. Didn't Noah say the network expected this to be a big hit?"
"Yeah, I guess." Donna replied twirling the cord around her finger. "She was pretty cold Bran, I think she was annoyed with me. She got really upset when I mentioned getting the gang together for a proper catch up. When was the last time you spoke to her?"
"I don't know, before the wedding definitely." Brandon trailed off feeling bad, he hadn't even called to tell her that he hadn't gone through with the wedding letting his mother tell her the news. "When was the last time you spoke to her?" He asked throwing the question back at Donna.
The slender red head paused her hand frozen around her shoe where she was pulling it off; her mind was a total blank she could not honestly recall the last time she had spoken to Brenda.
"I have no idea, it has been a while. We used to send letters but everything's been so crazy, I just didn't have time."
She felt bad instantly, no wonder Brenda had blown her off, she was probably hurt.
"I know Kelly hasn't really spoken to her, they're still not on the best of terms and Steve and David never bothered either."
Realization begun to dawn on Brandon, he knew his twin better than anyone well except for Dylan and this was classic Brenda only this time she wasn't just being dramatic. She had gone off to London and started a new life and her friends had continued their old one not really bothering to try and keep a place for her in it. He knew for a fact none of the group had visited her since she had moved and that hurt her.
"Look Don, give her some time she's probably nervous about being back in Beverly Hills and the show. I'll give Jim and Cindy a call and see what they know about this."
"I don't know Brandon, I feel really bad I guess I never realized how out of touch we were."
"Don't stress over it Don, phones work both ways last time I checked."
He sounded a little bitter, it was so like his twin to expect everyone else to do the work and then get upset when she hadn't made the effort either.
"Yeah I guess, still just let me know if you hear from her?"
"Sure thing Don."
After hanging up the phone he rolled back over on his bed, Brenda, Brenda, Brenda, just when he thought the drama was over in the 90210 zip code.
***
She looked ridiculous. The cap over her hair and big sunglasses that covered half her face, it was stupid. Shaking her hair out from under the hat she sighed, being back in Beverly Hills was exactly like she thought it would be; agony.
"Hey Brenda!"
She cringed recognizing the voice of Noah.
"Hey."
It wasn't like she could blow off one of the producers; she wasn't that dramatic.
"So you're that Brenda Walsh."
Amusement laced his tone and she had to bite her tongue from lashing out at him, she wasn't sixteen anymore she couldn't just snap at the guy no matter how annoying he was.
"Donna spend the night telling you all about me?"
Sarcasm coated her own words positive that the only time he would have heard about her from the group was in passing or stories from their high school days.
"Let's just say, you're infamous."
"Oh goody!" She clapped her hands and squealed before dropping the act. "Look whatever they told you about me just forget it, that was a long time ago."
Pushing past Noah she pointed herself towards her trailer, she should have known better than to come back to Beverly Hills.
"Babe?"
Never was she more thankful for modern technology, she clung to the phone like it was her lifeline.
"Dylan, thank god! Please tell me what the hell was I thinking when I came back here?"
"Bren calm down, you can do this. You're going to blow everyone away and show them just how beautiful and talented you are."
Brenda smiled into her phone, her eyes squeezed shut she could almost pretend he was right there with her.
"Sweet talker."
"You know it. Look Iris and Erica are pretty pissed at me for daring to come out here without you, how would you feel about them flying in with me on Saturday?"
"I think that would be the best thing I've heard all day."
"Great cause I already bought the tickets, I was going to book a room for all of us but I still have my place in the hills just gathering dust. Do you think you could swing past Casa Walsh and pick up the spare keys from Brandon?"
She could see what he was doing; Dylan had never been exactly smooth with that sort of thing.
"You just remembered you had a house in Beverly Hills and my brother happens to be the only person to have a key? Lame McKay."
He chuckled over the line; she could just picture his sexy grin that accompanied it.
"Oh come on Bren you've been there a month, you shared a uterus with him I think you can stand five minutes of pleasant conversation."
She hated when he was right.
"Yeah but he couldn't talk when we were in there." She pointed out shuffling to keep the phone wedged under her chin as she changed into her outfit for the first scene they were shooting, not her style but it wasn't for her, it was for Prue Halliwell.
"You know you want to see him too, I'm just helping things along besides how do you think Nat will feel when he finds out you've been in LA a month and haven't stopped by for a slice of Laverne's famous pie?" He couldn't pull off the New York accent but it had its intended affect as she laughed.
"I'll do it McKay but only because I love you."
"That's good cause I kind of love you too Walsh."
One of the DP's banged on the door and Brenda sighed.
"Look I've got to get into make up but I promise I'll go see Brandon ok?"
"Knock em dead Babe."
Brenda shook her head as she dropped her phone into her handbag tossing it on the couch, the things she did for that man.
***
The couch was at the premium comfort zone, he had gotten the popcorn to its perfect butter level and he had a movie lined up, tonight was going to be all about relaxing, if only he could convince everyone else.
"Oh come on Bran, just one drink!"
For Steve Sanders it was never just one drink, it was one drink of this and then one drink of that.
"No Steve, I'm having a night in, go out have fun with Val, me? I'm staying in with a movie."
Valerie, his other roommate hopped into the room pulling her other shoe on.
"A night in over a club? It's like you're a boring old married guy without the married part." Val joked poking her tongue out at Brandon who made a face at her.
"Haha Val, with everything that's been going on lately I just feel like a night in."
Steve snorted at Brandon.
"Besides dodging the marriage bullet what has been going on with you?"
Brandon sighed drinking from his beer.
"Well Jim and Cindy called, it seems my other half is in town and they were shocked to hear she hasn't bothered to call in the month she's been here."
"Brenda's in town?" Steve was shocked while Val seemed to be avoiding Brandon's eyes.
"Yeah, Donna ran into her on the set of Noah's show a few days ago, I tried her cell but the number was disconnected."
Val could feel Brandon's eyes washing over her just like she had when they were kids, stuck between the Walsh twins yet again.
"Val is there something you'd like to share with the rest of the class?"
Buying time she applied some lip-gloss slowly smiling when the doorbell rang.
"Saved by the bell!" She sung out. "I'll just get that."
Her heels clacked across the foyer as she made her hasty escape swinging the large door open.
"Hey Val."
The smile fell from her face and she took a step back allowing the person in.
"Kelly."
It took all her strength not to let the disdain in her voice; she really couldn't stand the woman.
"Is Brandon in?"
Val gestured towards the lounge room where both Steve and Brandon were now calling out. Moving to shut the door she almost jumped when a small hand reached out and stopped.
"Is this a bad time?"
The same twinkle was in her eye and her voice still held that little mischievous lilt but the anxiety that accompanied both was new.
"Brenda!" She shouted all faux cheer now replaced with genuine happiness as the two old friends embraced warmly; there had never been any hostility between the two who were closer than sisters, back in Minnesota they'd often joked that Val was really her twin switched at birth with Brandon, he hadn't found it quite as funny as they had though.
"Well looks who's back in Beverly Hills!"
Still locked in a hug with Valerie, Steve picked both girls up swinging them around.
"Well that settles it Bran, now we have to party!"
Brenda forced a laugh, okay so maybe some things hadn't changed while she was away, or at least some people.
"It's nice to see you too Steve." Brenda said with a small smile before turning her eyes on her twin who was frowning at her unhappily, a pale blonde at his shoulder.
"Brandon, Kelly."
Her hand still engulfed by Valerie's she felt herself being hauled into the lounge room, the same room they had all sat in and waited for the results of her biopsy, and watched as Brandon met the President, yeah this room held a lot of memories.
"Brenda?"
"Hmm, what sorry I just got a bit distracted, did you say something?" She smiled apologetically to Steve who was practically bouncing with excitement, she had no problems with Steve, he was hard to stay mad at, like a puppy.
"You have to come to the after dark, everyone will be there!" He threw an arm around her shoulder and squeezed tightly. "Come on it'll be a regular West Bev reunion! Is Dylan here too?"
He looked towards the window trying to look out to see if Mr. Broody himself was loitering. She shook her head slowly, a small frown pulling at her lips.
"No he's flying in on Saturday with Iris and Erica, he said you have the keys to his place? He wanted me to open it up before they get here." Brenda looked at Brandon as she said this trying not to scowl at the disapproving look in his eye, the one he had perfected at birth.
"Is that why you came here? Not to see your friends and family?"
God he even had that little arrogant tone going too, unlike with Noah she didn't have to be polite to Brandon and her anger took control of her mouth.
"Yes actually, I would have called Mum and had her ask you for them but I don't let other people do my dirty work for me." She snapped enjoying the small flash of hurt on Brandon's face.
"Oh when will you quit being so dramatic, you're not 16 years old anymore Brenda grow up!"
He sounded defensive, good he should be.
"You're right! We're not 16 anymore, you can't try and control my life Brandon! I'm sorry that I haven't come to see you in the last month but considering what happened the last time we spoke I didn't feel very welcome!" Brenda responded angrily shaking off Val's hand and stepping forward crossing her arms across her chest. Brandon looked taken aback while Steve seemed curious.
"Okay twins back to your corners!" Val stated throwing her hands between the two, it was funny how easily she could slip into the role of calming the two down; it was like no time had passed since they were little. Steve and Kelly were still standing around them watching with wrapt attention.
"Hey Brando, what's going on?"
The female Walsh bit back a snort; it was just like Brandon to let her be the bad guy.
"Oh you didn't tell them? Why am I not surprised?" Brenda turned her gaze to Kelly locking onto her eyes for the first time. "Go on then Brandon, why don't you go ahead and tell everyone exactly what's going on."
Kelly's pale eyes flickered between the twins, one whose eyes were growing shiny with tears, the other carefully avoiding everybody else's gaze. Brenda clucked her tongue and turned to the giant bowl near the door skilfully pulling out a set of keys with a surfboard key ring; Dylan's.
"Don't worry Brandon I'm not here to ruin your perfect little life, in fact do me a favour and pretend I'm not even here, you're dead to me anyway."
Three sets of eyes watched as Brenda hugged Val tightly whispering to her before leaving, a roar of a car engine breaking the tense air around them moments later.
"Nice Bran, real nice."
Val stomped up the stairs with a glare leaving an increasingly confused and uncomfortable Steve alone with Brandon and Kelly.
"Okay so what just happened?" Steve asked looking over at Brandon who for once didn't not look confident. "Brando?"
***
Breakfast was a quiet affair at Casa Walsh, Val had surprisingly been the first up and had finished off the coffee saving just enough for Steve but not Brandon. She had also poured his favourite cereal down the garbage disposal and ripped up both the sports and political sections of the newspaper.
"Something the matter Val?" Brandon asked crossing his arms over the burnt toast; someone had turned the dial to the highest setting. Steve who was munching on his cereal quietly took a surreptitious step back as though anticipating a big blow out. Val didn't disappoint, stepping forward she slammed her knife and fork down on the table.
"Gee whatever gave you that idea Brandon?"
Like all girls Val could be pretty terrifying when she wanted to be.
"Come on, say it. Whatever it is you want, whatever Brenda told you just let me have it."
Val fixed her glare on him using the look she usually reserved for Kelly.
"I've known you a long time, you're like a brother to me and that's why I feel comfortable saying this to you. Get over it!"
Steve's eyes were widening and he stayed perfectly still hoping neither asked him to leave, this was entertainment at its finest.
"I watched for years while your parents doted over you, supporting you at your hockey games, model UN, student council. All the while they went to maybe one or two of Brenda's plays. Not that you noticed. You were too busy enjoying being the favourite, you're too used getting everything your way and when it doesn't happen like you want you get mad and you lash out."
Brandon glared back at his childhood friend, his anger boiling at her hypocritical words, as he went to say as such she held up her hand cutting him off.
"Trust me I know, I'm built from the same mould. Why do you think Brenda acted out so much? Why do you think she went back to Minnesota? And stayed in London? She wanted to get away from being under your shadow, she didn't want to be Brenda; Brandon's sister she just wanted to be Brenda. I couldn't walk around my hometown without people whispering about me, oh the poor girl whose dad shot himself. But she's stronger than I am, she actually wanted to come back and show everyone what she had accomplished, that she was more than just your twin."
Brandon's glare faltered under the weight of Val's eyes, the accusations they threw at him.
"She confided in you and you told her not to come back, that everyone was happy with life, happy without her and all her drama. Real nice Bran." Val drained the last of her coffee tossing her mug carelessly into the sink splashing hot soapy water around. "Yeah it's a real mystery why she didn't want to see anyone or even come by the house. I wonder what Jim and Cindy would think of their golden child if they knew? Maybe I should tell them because God knows Brenda wont, she wouldn't want to sound like a little kid complaining to mummy and daddy that her brother was mean to her."
With one last glare she grabbed her jacket and purse, she opened the door and paused.
"You always think the worst of her Brandon, maybe it's time you grew up a little, she did."
The door slammed behind her and Steve let out an uneasy chuckle.
"Woo hoo boy, she reamed you hard, you might want to check you can still have kids after the vice grip she just had your nuts in."
Brandon looked at Steve huffing in annoyance before stalking out of the room.
"What'd I say?"
***
Thanks so much for your reviews. Since you actually seem interested here is the next instalment. I promise Dylan shall be back very soon. Any Kelly lovers should probably stop reading because I loathe her character and will not be exceptionally nice to her =D