Gina repeatedly knocked on the door until Dylan finally opened it.
"You removed the key from under the mat." She informed sternly.
"Yeah..." Dylan scratched his forehead, "I've been meaning to talk to you about that." Gina rushed passed him and made her way onto the couch.
"Let me guess, Oh Gina, this is too much, I can only handle casual right now." She mocked a low tone, mimicking Dylan's voice.
"Something like that." Dylan mumbled
"Look, Dylan.. It's been a week. Somehow I find it rather hypocritical of you to take issue with me hanging around the house, unless I'm in your bed." Gina folded her arms.
"Gina..." He sighed, "I don't wanna hurt your feelings. But you gotta respect that I need some boundaries."
"Like what, Dylan?" She asked, fiercely.
"Like... You not being pushy for starters. I've got a lot on my mind right now."
"You always have a lot on your mind." She scoffed
"Yeah, I do. And because of that, I need you to respect my privacy." He replied firmly.
"Dylan, I'm sleeping with you!" She shook her head, "That means your body made a commitment, whether you do or not. You can't treat me like some... some hooker!"
"I know..." Dylan breathed out. It may sound crazy, but pushing Gina completely out would only derail his efforts to not think about his mistakes, and a certain blonde. Gina was a good distraction... until she got angry. "I'm sorry." He eventually said, "I'm just not ready for this."
"But... you might be if you embraced change a little bit more." She suggested
"I've always been a loner... It's just the way it is." He groaned
"Look, I know you haven't had it easy, neither have I." She walked over to him, "And I get it. Maybe I have been coming on a little strong but it's just because I really like you... and I think I could help you, and we could be happier." She held his hand, "Don't shut me out."
"Gina, seriously... This is exactly the opposite of casual... the opposite of what I'm ready for." He pulled his hand away from hers.
"Dylan." She said firmly, "You know everything about me... I told you all about my life. Watching my perfect cousin Donna get everything that would take me years and years to only find out I could never accomplish. I've told you all about my losses, my pain, my greatest and darkest moments... and do you know what I know about you? Besides the stuff the everyone else already knows? Nothing."
"I'm a private person." Dylan shrugged
"The bottom line is... do you want me here or not." She warned and he knew, if she walked out, his only defense mechanism, his only distraction from his own losses, would be gone... and he'd be left with having to face the reality of the mess he left in Beverly Hills.
"I don't trust her... I mean, I get that she's your cousin and all, but come on! What is Dylan doing with her." Kelly paced around the store.
"Why do you care?" Donna asked, smugly
"I don't care." Kelly scoffed, "I'm just worried about him."
"Oh, of course." Donna replied, sarcastically
"Donna." Kelly eyed her suspiciously, "What are you getting at?"
"Nothing, Kel." Donna chuckled, "It's just, you never mentioned Dylan at all after his disappearance, and all you wanted was to live a life drama-free and Dylan-free. Well, he's leaving you alone, who cares who he's doing it with, unless..."
"Unless nothing!" Kelly hissed. "I don't wanna talk about this anymore."
"You never want to talk about the past..." Donna observed her, "Seriously, what the hell happened between you two, and you won't even tell me."
"Donna, it's been two years, it's ancient history, why are you bringing that up again?" Kelly asked, hysterically.
"Look, when Dylan left, and you never spoke about it, I thought okay, fine, maybe this is what's best for both of you... and you seemed content so I never bothered you because hey, he was gone. And as the months and years went by I realised he wasn't coming back, so you could finally move on. But he's here now, Kelly. It's not history anymore... So whatever happened... maybe you could bury it before, but it seems to be coming up again and it's messing with your head. If you don't let it out, sooner or later..."
"Donna, that's enough." Kelly held her hand up firmly.
"Hey, David." Dylan greeted as David opened his front door to let him in, "Brought you some good ol' chinese before your radio show tonight."
"Thanks, come in." David replied, receiving the food, as Dylan helped himself to the couch. "You coming down to After Dark tonight?"
"Well, I do own it." Dylan smirked
"Steve's been doing all the work since you left." David replied snidely.
"I know... Got a lot to make up for." Dylan sighed, slouched on the sofa. "So, how's your sister?" Dylan asked, nonchalantly.
"Oh now you refer to Kelly as just my sister?" David laughed
"Thought that was a smooth conversational transition." Dylan chuckled,
"She's good." David replied
"Good." Dylan nodded, as David observed him.
"Dylan." David warned, "I love ya and I missed you as much as the rest of the gang, but you're not gonna go down that road again, right? I mean, Matt's good for her and you're kinda dating Gina."
"Come on, David... Matt is just another fantasy for Kelly." Dylan groaned, "She's in love with the idea of a guy like that, she's not in love with him."
"Dylan." David said firmly
"David." Dylan mocked his tone
"Maybe a guy like that is good for Kelly, did you ever think of that?"
"It never worked out with Brandon, Matt'll be no different."
"He would if you stay out of it." David retorted
"I'm not in it, David, relax. Your sister made that clear."
"And you've actually accepted that this time?" David asked
"I have to... This prior claim I have over Kelly just bit me in the ass in the past. I can't treat her like something that belongs to me, as much as I believe it to still be true." He chuckled at that last comment, but then added, "I can't make those same mistakes again though... It cost me a lot."
"What exactly did cause you to leave?" David asked, curiously.
"You don't know?" Dylan asked, astonished
"Nobody does. Not even Donna." David shrugged
"Wait a minute... Kelly managed to keep all this from you guys for 2 years?"
"Keep what?" David leaned in.
"Hey, David." Donna hugged him as she entered After Dark, "Good luck, today."
"Thanks." David replied, "Donna, before you go." He whispered in her ear, "I know that Noah isn't too keen about us hanging out but, I really need to talk to you after the show."
"Is everything alright?" Donna asked
"Just hang around will ya?" He asked
"Sure... sure." Donna nodded, puzzled. "But what is it about? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm fine..." He leaned closer, "I spoke to Dylan... he told me everything."
"About Kelly?" Donna asked, intrigued
"Yeah."
"We know he still loves her, David." Donna sighed
"It's more than that. Just tell Kelly to stick around later alright?" David kissed Donna's cheek and headed into his booth, as Donna made her way back to Kelly. Gina who was lurking behind a pillar, eavesdropping, walked out a few seconds afterwards.
"Good evenin' ladies." Dylan approached Donna and Kelly
"Hey, Dylan." Donna smiled sweetly, noticing the tension between Dylan and Kelly. "I'll... give you two a moment." Donna coyly stood up and left.
"You're real good at keeping a secret." Dylan sat on the stool, Donna had previously occupied moments ago.
"What?" Kelly rolled her eyes
"David was clueless. Apparently even Donna, your best friend is out of the loop. What are you doing, Kelly?" Dylan observed her
"Dylan, drop it." Kelly sighed
"Kelly, how could you keep this from them? ...If I had known you handled it alone-" Dylan began but was interrupted by Kelly
"You would have what? Never left?" Kelly glared at him, "The best thing I ever did was put it all behind me... it lead me to Matt."
"Oh Geez, Kel." Dylan scoffed
"I made a vow that no one would ever get hurt by the two of us ever again, and I meant it." Kelly warned
"You''re hurting yourself anyway." Dylan corrected
"It's better this way."
"Kelly... believe it or not, I'm trying to be a friend right now."
"Oh, really? You still care about me, Dylan? Is that why you jumped into bed with Gina." Kelly scowled
"Hey!" Dylan glared, "I came back here to find the love of my life giving her heart away to someone else... I'll do whatever the hell I want." He got up and walked off
"David, I'm sorry but Kelly wants to leave." Donna popped her head into the booth. "Come by tomorrow."
"Donna! Wait!" David called out but she had already gone.
He slouched in his chair until the door opened again. Gina walked in, closing the door behind her.
"Tell me what you know." She said firmly.