"So David did propose?" Kelly asked, as her and Donna had breakfast.
"Yeah... I know it's hasty but we've known each other all our lives. I don't wanna wait... not anymore." Donna grinned happily at her ring.
"I don't blame you. You and David belong together, it's that simple." Kelly smiled at her, "Plus now we'll actually be sisters." Kelly squealed hugging her.
"Yeah." Donna smiled. "It feels so right, just like I'm sure it does with you and Matt." Donna acknowledged
"Yeah..." Kelly sighed, but Donna noticed her face frown
"Kel?" Donna asked, observing her. "You alright?"
"Yeah... it's just Dylan somehow managed to ruin my moment again." Kelly groaned, brushing her hair back
"You haven't spoken to Dylan in like a week now, huh?" Donna asked
"There's nothing to say." Kelly sighed
"Kelly..." Donna began, "Now excuse me if this is a little out there but I can't help but sense a pattern. Every time you're with someone you allow Dylan to come between you. Are you absolutely sure there's no... unfinished business this time?" She asked
"Honestly Donna..." Kelly sighed, "I don't know. I usually don't ever admit it to myself but the older I get the harder it is to ignore."
"Is this about the honeymoon gift?" Donna questioned
"Dylan doesn't seem too concerned about that." Kelly rolled her eyes. "I looked in right in the eye, Donna. I asked him what they mean and he just shrugged it off as usual. Cool, calm Dylan McKay. He doesn't fight for anything... he doesn't fight for me."
"Well, not anymore." Donna added
"Donna." Kelly glared at her.
"Well, I'm sorry Kelly. I love you but I don't exactly blame Dylan for not fighting anymore."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kelly hissed
"Everyone has their limits, Kel. Even Dylan."
"So, I figure we should have our engagement party sooner rather than later." Matt suggested as Kelly came to have lunch with him at his office. "Then that gives you plenty of time to focus on Donna for hers. After all, we're not in a rush to get married and her and David clearly are."
"Yeah, I got the bridal shower and the rehearsal dinner. Donna will want it all." Kelly laughed
"And you don't?" Matt asked
"Like you said, there's no rush." Kelly smiled sweetly at him. Of course she wanted it all. But she just wanted to get this engagement out of the way so she could focus on Donna's wedding to her brother. At least that's what she kept telling herself. She wanted all the same things Donna wanted... the showers, the big fancy celebration... she just wasn't sure who she wanted it with. A dark thought she kept burying deep down.
"You came?" Matt looked surprised as Dylan arrived at the girls' beach house.
"I was invited." Dylan sneered
"You wanna start trouble? Disrespect my engagement party? Or are you playing the Old friend routine still?" Matt scolded
"Kelly wants me here." Dylan warned, "See, no matter how mad we get at each other, we'll always be in each other's lives."
"See that ring on her finger?" Matt gestured over to Kelly. "That's something you have to respect. That's an order."
"So... what? You're gonna keep Kelly from seeing me?" Dylan let out a chuckle, "You can't control her."
"Oh look, my fiancee's calling me over." Matt forced a smile, "Don't you wish you could say that?" Matt glared before heading over to Kelly.
"You know when we were sixteen... I thought I'd marry Kelly." Steve chuckled, "Ain't it funny how far away high school seems."
"Last week feels like far away to me, Steve." Dylan shrugged
"How you coping with all of this?" Steve asked
"I'm coping..." Dylan sighed
"Well, my brother. It's been a long time since you were together. Soul mates or not, at least you're still friends. Supporting each other."
"Steve." Dylan shook his head, "We'll never be friends again. We can't be."
"But?" Steve looked confused, "Then why are you here?"
"Guess I wasn't so good at staying away." Dylan shrugged
"...You still love her, don't you?" Steve asked
"Soulmates, remember?" Dylan said bitterly, raising his glass in response.
"Dylan..." Steve took the drink from his hand, "You're not gonna ruin this right?" He warned
"Oh relax, Sanders." Dylan rolled his eyes, "I'm not a kid anymore, alright? I wouldn't wreck something that meant this much to her."
It was 2am. Dylan couldn't sleep. He got up and tried writing since it was supposedly therapeutic but he couldn't get the words out. The idea of just how grim life will be from tomorrow morning onwards, gave him an aching feeling in his chest and sick one in his stomach. From this moment on, Kelly will be officially off the market. And not in some high school, she's parading around with some frat boy way. A real way. A committed way. Dylan shoved the papers out of the way and slumped back onto the couch. He brushed his hair back, and his eye caught the shiny silver diamond ring on the table, under the tickets. He should just return it. If not now, then when?
He looked at his watch, 2.05. He couldn't go to sleep, if he closed his eyes he'd be tormented by the images that haunt his dreams. He decided to make himself a cup of coffee and watch a movie. Glancing through his collection, one film particularly stood out to him, Casablanca.
"What the hell..." He sighed, putting the video in. "We'll always have Paris."
Dylan now connected to this movie more than he ever did. She ruined it for him. His favourite film now simply another painful anecdote about his life.
-If that plane leaves the ground and you're not on it, you'll regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but soon and for the rest of your life.
-But what about us?
-We'll always have Paris. We didn't have... we lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night
-When I said I would never leave you.
Dylan groaned, watching it was painful now. The memories of that summer came rushing back with this film. That was the best summer of his life. And right now, in this moment, it felt like the worst.
His thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell. He paused the movie and got up.
Dragging his feet on the floor he opened the door and to his surprised, on the other side of it, was that blonde.
"Hi.." She breathed in a nervous whisper
"What are you doing here?" a confused look spread across his tired eyes
"I don't know." She shrugged
"Come in." Dylan sighed.
"Oh." She let out as she noticed what film was playing. Her voice sounded worrisome. He didn't know it but her thoughts were just as tormented as his. "Guess old habits really do die hard." She let out a nervous chuckle
"Why else would you be here?" He shrugged, joining her in a nervous chuckle of his own.
"I was laying in bed... next to-" Kelly began
"Yeah, yeah I get it." Dylan groaned, turning his head away from her as they were sat on the couch.
"Well..." She began again, "I was just thinking about my life and what things will be like tomorrow morning. An engaged woman, planning her wedding to this wonderful man... it's what would be the happiest time of my life, the happiest time for any young woman."
"And everything's all fine and dandy..." Dylan rolled his eyes
"But it's not, is it?" She trembled, and he turned to look her right in the eyes.
"I guess not." Dylan agreed
"You're probably wondering why I'm here..." She fumbled with her dress
"No." Dylan assured, "You don't need a reason... the door's always open, when it comes to you... I don't have much of a choice."
"And if you did?" She asked, looking deep into his brown eyes. It was completely silent between them. She took this moment to look at him. It actually took her breath away just gazing at his face for perhaps the last time she'd ever be allowed to take him in. He looked so handsome, his hair, his voice, the way he gazed back into her blue eyes like he could see what she was thinking. It made her feel weak and yet, comfortable at the same time. She felt at home. She felt like she found the other part of her and... connected.
"I'd probably still choose you." He breathed out in a raspy whisper. You could hear the sorrow in his voice. You could hear the assurance in his voice.