Author's Note : Thank you guys so much for all your reviews. It means the world to me, and really keeps me going seeing your feedback. I appreciate everyone who took the time to check out this story, and I so hope you're loving it, because I'm having so much fun writing it for you, and for me. It's so great to come on here, and be back in our favorite zip code!

Ready or Not

Kelly stood in front of her full length mirror checking out her ass in her new dress. It was her birthday today, and she needed to look just right for her surprise. She'd noticed the way Steve and everyone had been talking without her, and she managed to overhear David on the phone in his bedroom talking about the party details with Donna. Still, she would make sure to act surprised for everyone.

She actually felt shocked she was actually being thrown a party. Deep down, she knew she didn't deserve it, but Steve and Donna always seemed to love her no matter what. They would always be her Beverly Hills blond squad. After everything though it felt like there was a one way ticket to hell with her name on it coming soon, but it was her birthday and maybe it would be good for the whole gang to be together again for a change. Everyone except for Brenda. Kelly knew Brenda would never show up. It made her so sad, but how could she really expect Brenda to want to be there? She had been over and over it in her mind, and just wanted to stop thinking about it. It was her birthday and she would try to get ready to turn 18 with a fresh start.

She wore this sexy red dress she had picked up on Rodeo a few days ago, after she learned about the surprise. The dress said fun, and sexy but not sleazy she hoped.

After getting the dress she had to secure herself a date, and Dylan hadn't been acting like much a boyfriend for awhile. It barely felt like they were dating. It wasn't all his fault. She had been distant too. She hated admitting to herself, that it was just not working out with her and Dylan. Something just wasn't "there" between them. Sure, they had the sex, but after kissing Brandon she didn't know how Dylan could ever really fulfill her physically, or emotionally again. It was like they were both apples, Brandon, and Dylan, and biting into Brandon was sweet and crunchy, while Dylan's apple was rotten, and full of worms. Brandon Walsh was all she could think about now.

When she picked up the red dress, she had really been wondering if Brandon would like how it looked on her vs Dylan. In the last week alone she had had some pretty x-rated dreams about Mr. Boy-Scout Brandon. She and Brandon were total opposites, and it drove her wild. She really wanted to see what a good boy like him was like in bed. She mentally shamed herself for even thinking it. Dylan was on his way over to pick her up for the party.

When she found out about the surprise she cornered Dylan at lunch to tell him he needed to show up at her house to take her. She realized he had no idea about the party. Steve hadn't been talking to him, and neither had Brandon or really anyone else from the gang. Dylan had been keeping his distance from everyone, most of all her. Still, that day at lunch he was totally preoccupied and seemed like he would have agreed to anything just to be on his way.

Kelly also noticed Dylan's nose was bruised. Steve told her that Brandon, and Dylan had been fighting. Steve said it was over Brenda, but Kelly wasn't completely sure if that had been all of it. Still, Dylan hadn't asked her anything about Brandon, but maybe he just didn't care. She realized she really needed to talk to Dylan tonight about Brandon and about how they were avoiding the train wreck that was their coupling. Maybe it was best to get it all out in the open. Tonight was the night.

Kelly slipped into her red heels, and wished it could be Brandon picking her up tonight. He'd show up at her door, with his sexy green eyes shining, and sweep her into a kiss that would leave her eager for them to get back home fast, then she'd make him dance with her all night, and they'd laugh about what a bad dancer he was, and then go home and get naked. Brandon made her feel alive and beautiful, and he never expected anything. With Dylan and every other guy it was like she had to be Kelly Nympho Taylor always ready to "put out." She almost wanted to cry. Could Brandon ever really happen now? She had complicated everything to the point of destruction.

Just then, she heard a loud honking from outside. She peeked out her window blinds, and it was Dylan, sitting in his car looking impatient. Wasn't it just like him to honk, and not bother getting out of the car to treat her like a lady. Why didn't he just have her wait on the side of the curb for him like a hooker?

She sighed and slipped on her other red shoe. It was time to be the birthday girl.

#

Brenda ran the dark maroon lip color over her lips carefully. She was actually going to show up, to Kelly's party tonight. It was the last place she wanted to be, but she wanted to teach Dylan a lesson. She was bringing Jefferson. After finding out Dylan had broken into her bedroom, locked Jefferson in a broom closet, and then tossed her stash it was time for him to get a lesson in humility. Brenda and Jefferson were going to make their big debut, as a sort of couple. She actually didn't know what she and Jefferson were. After she rescued him from the broom closet, he had filled her up again with her little white speed pills, and had also offered her some Vicodin, and Oxycontin to take the edge off, so she wouldn't do anything too erratic. Since then, they had shared a couple short kisses, but they definitely hadn't slept together, still Jefferson was who she had been spending all her time with, and it was time for Dylan to learn that he wasn't the only one who could go on and start a new life without her.

Brenda fluffed her hair out in the mirror. For the party she had chosen a short, simple, but sexy black dress, and choker. She had her leather jacket on over it. It was the same one she had worn that terrible day in the park, but she didn't feel like that weak girl anymore. The one who had spent months under her blankets, with mascara running down her cheeks. She now felt like a bad-ass, ready to get even. She hated the old her now. The new Brenda seemed to be getting by just fine lately with a little help from her pills.

#

Brandon adjusted his shirt in the mirror, and ran his hands through his hair. He also spritzed himself with his favorite cologne. He started to feel like he was overdoing it. Who was he kidding? This party was going to be the most awkward event of the year. The woman of his dreams, the birthday girl, would be there with another guy who used to be his best friend, but who he now just wanted to punch in the face every time he saw him. He just wanted to get in and get out, wish Kelly a happy birthday, and try not to dream about her anymore.

They hadn't really gotten to talk since he punched Dylan. He had been avoiding her. What could he say, "I'm in love with you," but you wrecked my sister's life and you're dating her ex-boyfriend. It was all one big messy jumble. Maybe just getting out and seeing the gang again would be good though. This was one of the final big parties before graduation. Soon they would all be going their separate ways. The thought of not seeing Kelly anymore around school regularly, made him dread graduating now.

Brandon heard music coming from Brenda's room. He walked to her side of the bathroom, and pushed her bedroom door open. She was standing in front of her mirror getting ready dressed like she was going out.

"Bren, you going out?" he asked his sister

"Duh, Brandon I'm going to the party," Brenda answered not looking away from the mirror.

"You are?" Brandon couldn't believe it.
"Yes, you're going, so why can't I?"

"Well I mean I'm totally psyched you're going, I just thought you know you and Kelly hadn't been too...you know..." he trailed off.

"Well you have no problem being there so why should I?" Brenda was applying eyeliner now.

"What do you mean?" Brandon stepped further into her room.

"I mean you're still Kelly's friend even after what she did to me."

Brandon didn't know what to say, but he felt about three inches tall. "Well I mean yeah Bren, Kelly is a friend, but you're my sister, and that means more to me than you could ever know."

"I guess." Brenda fluffed her hair out.

Brandon didn't understand her. "What is this a guilt trip Brenda? For not joining the I hate Kelly fan club with you?"

Brenda stopped what she was doing. "Brandon no, of course not. I really don't want to drag you into this."

"Bren you gotta know, I do hate them so much for what they did to you. I hate all of this. All of us walking on eggshells not knowing what to say to each other. I don't want it to be like this."

"Well neither do I, that's why I am going to the party, and I'm bringing a date. I think it's all time we move on, and stop feeling sorry for ourselves."

"So who's the lucky guy?" Brandon asked his sister.

"It's a surprise," Brenda smirked.

Brandon wanted to press her but decided to drop it. "I'm just glad you're going, so see you there?"

"Yeah, see ya."

Brandon turned around to leave.

"Brandon," Brenda called his name again.

"Yeah?
"I'm sorry for how I've been acting."

Brandon smiled. "We're all just glad you're feeling better Bren"

Brenda smiled back at her brother. "Yeah me too."

Brandon gave her a wave. When he turned around and shut her door, she opened up her tiny tin quickly, and placed five pills in the palm of her hand, reaching for her water, she downed them all, and grabbed her purse as she heard Jefferson's honk outside. There was no turning back now.

#

Dylan and Kelly drove to the party together wordlessly. The night was windy and cool for Los Angeles. There was a weird awkward silence between them, neither really knowing what to say to the other. Dylan could feel Kelly glancing at him throughout the ride. He turned on the car stereo to drown out the quiet, but Kelly quickly flipped it off.

"Dylan what is going on with you?" she asked irritated.

Dylan looked at her now, and let out a sigh. "Nothing Kel, I've just had a lot on my mind that's all.

After that confrontation with Brenda, Dylan had gone numb. The way she had screamed at him, and begged for her pills, she was so far gone, and he was terrified. Brenda was a ticking time bomb. He knew he needed to get her real help. She obviously didn't want it from him, so he had to find some way. He had been this close to just knocking on her door, and telling Jim and Cindy but he thought maybe he should try Brandon again. That was why he was going to the party tonight. He was hoping to finally get a real chance to talk to Brandon, where maybe Brandon wouldn't be as temped to punch him in the face if they were at a birthday party. If that failed, Jim and Cindy it was. He hated to tell on her, but the other possibility was far worse. She could hate him until the day he died if she wanted, as long as he knew he had tried to save her. He deserved to be hated anyway.

"Dylan I feel like we can't even talk to each other anymore. You're never around, and when you are you're always moody, and I just feel like I can't say anything right." Kelly continued

"Kel do you really want to to this right now?" Dylan pulled the Porsch into the Peach Pit lot, pulling in kind of rough.

"Well there never seems to be a good time with you Dylan."

"Look Kel, it's your birthday, let's just go in and see our friends."

Kelly got out of the car without him opening it for her, and made sure to slam his door hard. "You know what Dylan, I'm obviously not number one in your life, so maybe I shouldn't be in your life."

"Right Kel, it's always about you isn't it." Dylan was so tired of arguing with her.

"Well it is my birthday, not that you care." Kelly starting walking fast toward the entrance of the pit.

"Oh I care, I care so much that I went to your house, and picked you up, and put on this stupid tie." Dylan started undoing his tie, and threw it to the ground.

"Next time choke on it," Kelly said as she pushed the Peach Pit doors open.

"Surprise!" everyone yelled jumping out from the dark like jack in the boxes.

Kelly tried to smile, and hoped they couldn't see the fresh tears that were forming in her eyes. Maybe, they would all just think they were tears of happiness.

As her friends came around to hug and greet her, she searched helplessly through the crowd for Brandon's green eyes.