DISCLAIMER: I do not own Beverly Hills 90210 or any of the characters involved in this story.


A/N: I don't really have anything to say about this chapter as it's more set up to lead us into the whole Roy Randolph/Cat on a hot tin roof phase of the story.

So please enjoy.


Kevin, Erica, and Dylan enter their cabin at Yosemite. Kevin is putting on a smile to convince both Dylan and Erica that he is having the best time he can possibly have. Dylan looks around at the cabin with a bit of a nostalgic eye as he remembers the summer several years ago when he and all his friends came up here. He and Brenda weren't together then either, but as he looks back and remembers that time, he realizes how the problems he thought he had back then were so insignificant compared to the trials and tribulations of life after high school.

Erica on the other hand turns up her nose from the moment she walks into the cabin. While she promised Dylan that she would give Kevin a chance, she really hasn't opened up to him yet. She is being polite out of courtesy to Dylan, but still, deep down inside she wishes that Kevin go away and not come back.

"We're staying here?" Erica asks with a look of angst on her face.

"Sure are." answers Kevin. "Isn't this great?"

"This place smells." Erica responds honestly with a funny look on her face. Both Dylan and Kevin sniff to see if they can smell what she smells.

"Eh, it's not that bad." Dylan says. "Believe me kid, I've stayed in much worse places.

"This reminds me of this really disgusting place that Mom and I once stopped at to go to the bathroom." Erica says as she walks around the cabin.

"Well you know Erica, in certain other countries, where they sleep outside every night; many people would love to have a place like this to sleep." Kevin says.

"Yuck. They can have it." Erica complains. "I don't understand, why can't we stay at a hotel, preferably one that has a swimming pool?"

Just then Dylan gets an idea. "Hey Erica, what have you been learning about in history recently?" he asks.

"Mostly about early American explorers." Erica answers. Dylan looks at Kevin with a grin as if to say "pay attention."

"Do you have a favorite explorer?" Dylan asks.

"Oh yeah. Daniel Boone." Erica answers with excitement and enthusiasm.

"Good answer. I like Daniel Boone too." Dylan replies as he kneels down to talk to Erica. "You know, Daniel Boone lived in a cabin just like this one?"

"Really? Just like this one?" Erica asks enthusiastically.

Dylan shrugs and makes a face. "Well I don't know if it's just like this one, I mean I wasn't exactly around back then to do a home decorating review." Dylan jokes, sparking a laugh from both Kevin and Erica. "But I imagine it was pretty similar. Come on, kid. What do you say? How cool will it be when you go back to school and tell all your friends that you lived like Daniel Boone for a couple days?" suggests Dylan as he looks at Erica and then to Kevin with a grin who grins back.

Erica contemplates what Dylan just said for a minute, then smiles. "Oh all right." she replies cheerfully. "I'll go help unpack."

Erica runs out of the car leaving Dylan and Kevin in the cabin alone. Kevin walks over to Dylan and slaps him on the shoulder.

"I have to hand it to you, Dylan. You sure do have a way with kids." Kevin says in a soft tone.

"Eh, not really, just with Erica." Dylan replies. "I'll tell you, Kevin. Ever since I found out I had a little sister, it's turned my life around. She's an amazing kid." Dylan brags with a smile.

"That's great, man. That's really great." Kevin says. "I just wish she'd be half as open to me as she is to you."

"She still giving you the third degree?" asks Dylan.

Kevin grits his teeth and shakes his head. "Not really the third degree. I mean she's being polite, that's an improvement, but I can tell it's still killing her to do so." Kevin says.

"Just give it some time." Dylan says. "She didn't exactly open up to me right away either. She'll grow to like you"

"I hope so." Kevin says, trying to add a hint of desperation into his voice. "Because I really like Suzanne a lot. But I know Erica will always be number one to her, and if she doesn't accept me, I don't see how there can be any kind of a future there.

Dylan looks at Kevin closely, and totally buys into the sincerity he is showing. He really believes that Kevin loves Suzanne and wants the best for her and Erica. And at that point, he knows what he wants to do. "Listen, just be patient, all right. You're a good guy. Suzanne sees it, and pretty soon Erica will too. Trust me."

Kevin grins back at Dylan. "I do. I just hope you're right." he says.


The doorbell rings at Casa Walsh as Cindy goes to answer it and sees Scott there in a shirt, tie, and a pair of brown khakis. He grins shyly as Cindy puts on her typical warm welcoming smile.

"Oh hi Scott, come on it." Cindy says cheerfully.

"Hi Mrs. Walsh." Scott replies as he walks in the door.

"Oh, Brenda is just about ready. She should be down in just a minute." Cindy says in a happy tone as she holds her hands up. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Oh, uhm, no thanks. I'm fine." Scott replies. At that point, Jim makes his way down stairs.

"Honey, look who's here." Cindy says.

"Hello Scott, good to see you, son." Jim greets as he goes over to him and shakes his hand.

"Hi, Mr. Walsh." Scott replies politely.

"So, I understand you're taking Brenda to the theatre to see a play tonight." Jim says.

"Yeah, we're going to see the diary of Anne Frank." Scott explains.

"Oh, I remember reading that back in school." says Cindy. "The book is very good. Kind of depressing though."

"Well, I just hope Brenda enjoys it." Scott says.

"Oh I'm sure she will." Cindy replies encouragingly.

"Yeah honestly, we're just happy to see her getting out and going somewhere." Jim says. "Ever since the whole nasty mess with getting arrested, she's been cooped up in her room most of the time like an old maid."

"Well, after what she went through, I can't say that I blame her." Scott says.

Jim and Cindy nod their heads and Jim reaches out and pats Scott on the shoulder. "Listen son, Brenda's told us about how you were the only real friend she had during the whole thing. And we just want to let you know how grateful we are." Jim says

Cindy nods her head. "Yeah, she really needed a friend. And honestly, you were the only one she truly had." Cindy says

Scott grins. "Well, I'm just glad that whole mess is over." he says.

"You said it." Cindy says. "Now if only Brenda could put it behind her."

"Well maybe this play will do the trick." Jim says.

"What do you mean?" asks Cindy.

"Well if Brenda still wants to be an actress, maybe going to see a play will get her spirit back into it." Jim says to Cindy as Scott listens on. At that point, Brenda comes down stairs dressed in a short black dress and carrying her purse.

"Well you certainly look nice." Cindy says cheerfully to Brenda. "You both do actually."

"Well, the theatre we're going to is supposed to be a pretty nice one." Brenda says.

"Well you two have a great time." Cindy says with a smile.

"Oh we will." Brenda replies. "And don't worry; we won't be out too late."

"Oh honey, you don't need to worry about that." Cindy says.

"I don't?" asks Brenda.

"No. You guys stay out as late as you want and have a good time." Jim says.

Brenda looks at her parents confusingly as she wonders if this is some kind of joke. "Are you guys feeling all right? I've never heard you say that to me before"

"Sure, we're feeling fine." Cindy says.

"We're just happy to see you going out." Jim says.

"And as long as you're with Scott here, we know you're in good hands. So go on, have a blast." encourages Cindy as Jim nods in agreement.

Brenda, who is at a total loss for words, just grins politely back at her parents. "Okay, see you guys later." Brenda says.

"Have a good evening Mr. and Mrs. Walsh." Scott says as he follows Brenda out the front door. As they get outside, Brenda turns to Scott.

"Wow, I have to hand it to you." Brenda says to Scott.

"Why? What did I do?" he asks.

"I have never ever heard my parents say to go out and have fun and not worry about breaking curfew before. I mean whenever Dylan would take me somewhere, the last thing they would always say before I left is 'be home by midnight', but with you it's like you've earned their total trust." Brenda says in amazement.

Scott shrugs. "Well it's nice to know I can have that sort of affect. Either they trust me, or they think I'm too lame to get into any kind of trouble" he says.

"Brenda laughs and shakes her head. "You are just too much sometime." she says in good spirits as she and Scott walk to the car to head off to the play.


As evening turns into dusk, Kevin, Dylan, and Erica are at a lake in Yosemite. All three of them have fishing poles and Erica is grumbling in frustration because she's not been able to catch anything.

"How's it going, little sister?" Dylan asks.

"Terrible." Erica replies. "I can't catch a fish because I can't get this stupid worm to stay on the hook."

"I tried to tell you before, you're doing it all wrong." explains Kevin. "You have to thread it, like you'd thread a sewing needle."

"I don't know how to thread a sewing needle." complains Erica.

"Well bring it here, I'll show you how to do it." Kevin says.

"I don't want your help!" Erica yells at Kevin.

Dylan grits his teeth as he sees that Erica's attitude towards Kevin hasn't changed. "Hey come on, Erica." he replies encouragingly. "Kevin knows one or two things about fishing. Maybe you should hear him out."

"I don't want to fish. I never even wanted to come on this stupid trip." Erica replies in a crabby voice as she throws her fishing pole down and steams off. Kevin shakes his head as Dylan watches his little sister walk off.

"I'm telling you, Dylan. I don't know what I'm going to do. No matter how nice I try to be, that kid is always going to hate me." Kevin says.

"I'll talk to her." Dylan says in a calm and mellow tone as he leaves his fishing pole standing up and chases after Erica, who has found a tree next to the lake and proceeds to throw stones into it. As Erica throws the stones into the water, he notices they skip on the water. Dylan slowly walks up and sits down beside her.

"Don't start. I know I shouldn't have blown up like that." Erica says. "It just makes me mad how he thinks he knows everything."

Dylan shakes his head. "I didn't come over here to talk to you about that." he says.

Erica looks at him. "They why did you come over here?" she asks.

"Well, I couldn't help but notice how your rock skips on the water when you throw it." Dylan says.

Erica looks at Dylan and shrugs. "Yeah, so?" she asks.

"So, I want to know how you do that. You see, when I throw a stone…." Dylan says as grabs a stone and tosses it into the lake and it plops down in the water. "….it sinks right to the bottom. I want to know how you make it skip."

"Well…." Erica says. "It's a matter of flinging it. You can't just throw it like a baseball. You have to fling." instructs Erica. Dylan picks up a pebble and tosses it, but it still plops into the water.

"Ah, I'll never get it." Dylan says, putting on an exasperated tone.

"Try it side armed. And only use two fingers, like this." Erica says as she flings another stone and it skips twice on the water. Dylan grabs another pebble and does exactly what Erica says and throws the stone side armed with just his thumb and index finger, and this time it skips twice before singing. He smiles as he turns to Erica. "There you go." Erica says with a happy grin.

"Well what do you know, I actually did it." Dylan says.

"I can't believe you didn't know how to skip stones." Erica says.

"Well there is a lot of things you know that I don't, just like there is a lot of things I know that you don't. And there's a lot of things you know that Kevin doesn't, and vice versa. Just because Kevin is trying to tell you how to do something, doesn't mean that he thinks he knows everything. He just wants to help." Dylan says.

Erica looks at the ground as she digs her feet into the dirt, then looks back at Dylan. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I have been kind of a pain in the butt to him." Erica says.

"Believe me, he's already forgotten about it." Dylan says.

"He has?" Erica asks.

"Sure he has." Dylan says. "In fact, why don't you try going over there and try talking to him? You do want to catch a fish before dark, right? I'm sure he can give you a few pointers, just like you gave me."

Erica gets up and slowly walks back over to Kevin. She picks up her fishing pole and asks him if he can help her put the worm on the hook. Dylan stays where he's at to allow Kevin and Erica a little one on one time. Kevin politely instructs Erica on how to put the bait on the hook and cast the line. After a couple of minutes, Erica gets a bite on her line and starts to reel it in. Kevin looks on with an excited look. At that point Dylan begins to walk back over to them, just as Erica is pulling a fish out of the lake.

"Oh my, would you look at that." Kevin says excitedly to Erica as he kneels over to her to share her enthusiasm. Erica holds the line with a big smile on her face as she looks at the fish she just caught. She then turns to Dylan who is just now getting there.

"Dylan! Dylan! Look! I caught my first fish." Erica shouts with excitement in her voice.

"Oh man, would you look at the size of that thing." Dylan jokes. "Guess we're not going hungry tonight."

"Yeah, I would never have caught it if Kevin hadn't shown me how." Erica says as she looks at Kevin with a smile. Dylan is happy as he knows that he helped make a difference here and get Erica and Kevin's relationship on the right track.


Brenda and Scott sit out in the audience watching the ending of the Diary of Anne Frank. Brenda has tears streaming down her face as they watch the part where the Germans come to take Anne and her family away to the concentration camps. Scott looks over at her, and then looks back to the stage with a sad look on his face. This play has clearly gotten to both of them.

Several minutes later, the play is over and the entire cast comes out to take their bows as Brenda, Scott, and the whole audience stand up to give them a standing ovation.

After the play is over, Brenda and Scott head out of the theater and slowly start to walk back to the car.

"Are you all right?" Scott asks Brenda, who is still sniffling as she wipes away tears from her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. That last scene just really got to me." replies Brenda.

"Yeah, it was pretty sad. I can't believe that they spent two years hiding out, only to get captured just weeks before Europe was liberated." Scott says.

"That little girl who played Anne was simply amazing." says Brenda.

"Yeah, she was." Scott agrees.

"It's amazing that a little girl who's only 11 or 12 can be such a great actress." Brenda says. "See, that's what I want to do. I want to be able to make people feel happy or sad or terrified. And to stand out on stage and have the audience give you a standing ovation at the end, there's no other feeling in the world quite like it." Brenda says.

"So I take it you enjoyed the play?" Scott asks.

"Oh yes, I did." Brenda replies.

"That's good, I'm glad." Scott says.

"In fact, seeing this tonight has made me realize something." Brenda says.

"What's that?" asks Scott.

"That I want that feeling." Brenda says. "I want to know what it's like to captivate an audience with my performance. I want to be able to look out into the audience and hear the cheers and to see my parents and people I know there totally mesmerized by my acting."

"Brenda, does this mean?" Scott asks.

"Yes, it means I'm not giving up on being an actress. I'm going to continue to try out. So what if the last play I was in was a total disaster. I can't let one bad experience stand in the way of my dream." Brenda says.

"Brenda, I'm so glad to hear you say that." Scott says as Brenda grins. "But next time you are in a play, you have to let me come see, promise?"

"It's a deal. I'll make sure you have front row seats." Brenda says. "Hey, would you like to stop off at CU?"

"What for?" Scott asks.

"I'm hungry. And the Condor's Nest makes a great piece of pie. Besides, I'm not quite ready to go home yet." Brenda says.

"Okay." Scott replies with a grin as the two head out.


"One for you." Kevin says as he finishes cooking fish over an open fire and puts the fish on a plate and hands it to Dylan. "And one for you, young lady." Kevin says with a grin as he hands Erica a plate of fish. "And one for me." he says as he serves a plate for himself. The three of them are sitting around an open fire just outback of the cabin.

"You know, I've heard food always tastes better when you catch it yourself." Dylan says.

Erica looks down at her plate and then up at Kevin. "Is this the same fish I caught?" she asks.

"The very one." Kevin says with a slight grin. Erica and Dylan both a bite of fish with satisfied looks on their face.

"Mmm, this is delicious." Dylan says with a mouth full of food.

"Yeah, this is great." Erica says with a grin.

"I have to hand it to you, Kevin. You sure do know your fish." Dylan says.

"Well, being an environmental chemist does have its advantages. It isn't all boring lab work like what most people think." Kevin says.

"You know, I never knew how much fun fishing can be." Erica says. "When we get back home, you think you could take me fishing in the ocean sometimes? I'd love to see what a salt water fish tastes like."

"Yeah, well, there's just one problem with that." Dylan says. "The ocean has gotten so polluted with sewage and other toxic dumpings that it's hard to find three days in a row to go surfing. There's no way I would ever eat anything that comes out of it."

"Believe me, if I have my way, that won't be the case for very much longer." says Kevin.

"What do you mean?" asks Erica.

"That's right." Dylan says. "Erica, this man right here has some sort of top secret solution that will supposedly clean up the bay."

"Well, I wouldn't exactly call it top secret. It's just plain old fashion common sense." Kevin says with a snicker. "Unfortunately, in the company I work for, common sense runs a little thin."

"So tell me, what is this big secret you have that all the other geniuses at your company don't know about?" Dylan asks.

"Well….." Kevin begins as he takes a bit of his fish. "Either of you know what bioremediation is?"

Both Dylan and Erica shakes their heads.

"Well, different kind of organisms will eat up anything. All I have to do is find the right kind that will eat up the pollution in the bay. And voila, instant cure. You'll be able to surf, to fish, and never have to worry about getting any kind of infection or disease." Kevin says.

"Are you sure about this?" Dylan asks with curiosity.

"Positive." Kevin says. "Remind me when we get back home, I'll have to bring you down to my laboratory sometime and show you how this stuff works."

"I just might have to take you up on that." Dylan replies in a content voice as he finishes off his fish. "See, this man is a genius. What I tell you?" Dylan says to Erica

"Yeah, you're right. He is." Erica says as she smiles at Kevin who smiles back. Kevin knows that he is beginning to win Erica over. And more importantly he knows his talk about cleaning up the ocean has definitely caught his interest.


"Mmmm, you're right. This is good pie." Scott says as he sits at a table in the Condor's Nest with Brenda.

"Well, since you're going to be going here, I just thought you might want to get a sneak preview of where the best places to come are." Brenda replies.

"Yeah. I can't wait to come here." Scott says.

"You know, I really think you ought to reconsider going to prom." Brenda says as she sits there casually, holding up her head with one hand.

"Really?" asks Scott in a surprised tone.

"Well, I mean I remember last year, I didn't want to go either. But I wound up going with you and it turned out to be a really great night." Brenda says.

"Yeah, well you got back together with Dylan that night." Scott says.

"Yeah, I did, thanks to you." Brenda says. "But that wasn't the only thing that made that night great. It was just, I don't know, I can't really describe it but I really think everyone ought to go to their senior prom."

"Believe me Brenda, if I had anyone I wanted to take, I'd be going. But the fact is there just really isn't anybody I want to ask. Besides after last year, this year would be a big letdown anyways."

"What do you mean?" Brenda asks.

"You mean you haven't heard what's been going on at West Beverly?" Scott asks as Brenda shakes her head. "Well, after the walkout last year was successful and Donna graduated, the hardcore conservatives on the board weren't happy about it. So they went all out to try to crack down on certain things they felt were getting out of control. And one of the things the school board passed was that they banned having prom at the Bel Age hotel. Because they were too worried about kids drinking and having sex. So it's going to be held in the rec room of the local community center instead, where they feel it will be much easier to have adult supervision."

"What?" Brenda asks. "Oh you're kidding."

"I wish I was." Scott says. "Believe me, Brenda, you guys graduated at just the right time. Because West Beverly now isn't the same as it was last year. They've cracked down on almost everything, not just prom, but music, and what we can wear. I'm just happy I'm almost out of there, because my senior year has been one I'd like to forget. I just feel bad for Sue and all my other younger brothers and sisters who are going to have to put up with it."

Brenda sighs and looks disappointed. "Well, I can understand. But if you change your mind and decide you want to go to prom, I'll go with you." she says.

"Really?" Scott asks.

"Sure. As friends of course. It would be the least I could do after everything you've done for me." Brenda responds with a smile.

"You know what Brenda, I think you just made me an offer I can't refuse." Scott replies. At that point, Brenda notices that a guy just hung a new flyer up on the bulletin board which has garnered the attention of several people in the Condor's Nest.

"What's this?" Brenda asks as she stands up from the table and walks over to see what the flyer says.

"What's what?" Scott says, as he didn't' see it, but gets up and follows Brenda over.

Brenda hears all kinds of whispering and excitement as she makes her way through the crowd of people to read the flyer. After several seconds, Scott is able to join her as he forces his way through the crowd to find Brenda just staring at the flyer in almost total memorization.

"I don't believe it." Brenda says to Scott as she continues looking at the flyer.

"Brenda, what is it?" asks Scott.

"Scott look." Brenda says as she points at the flyer. He reads it out loud.

"Open auditions in two weeks for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof?" Scott reads. "Well, there you go, Brenda. There's your chance to get back up on stage."

"Scott, it's more than just that. Take a look at that." Brenda says as she points to what the flyer says at the bottom.

"Directed by….." Scott looks at Brenda in amazement. "Roy Randolph? Brenda, isn't that the…..?"

"The famous Broadway play director who is well known for discovering unknown talent and turning them into big stars. Many of whom have gone on to have very successful careers in Hollywood." Brenda explains. "Scott, this isn't just a chance for me to get back into acting. This is a an opportunity of a lifetime. It's a chance for me to turn my life around and make something of it. To show everyone that I have what it takes to make it." Brenda says. "Oh my god, I have to get ready." she says as she turns around and starts to rush out.

"Wait, Brenda, where are you going?" asks Scott.

"I have a million things to do. I have to know what I'm going to wear, what scene I'm going to do. I need to study more about Roy Randolph to know what he likes." Brenda says.

"Well, is there anything I can do to help?" Scott asks.

"Yeah, can we stop by the video store on the way home?" asks Brenda. "I need to find a copy of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. I want to watch it right away and find a scene in it that I like."

"Well, sure. I guess." Scott says as he's delightfully surprised with Brenda's new enthusiasm.


The following day, Dylan, Erica, and Kevin are climbing up a mountainous trail in Yosemite when they come to a look out.

"Can we please stop? My feet are killing me." Erica complains.

"Just a little ways further, Erica." says Kevin.

"You said that an hour ago." Erica whines.

"No, I promise this time, the lookout is just right up here. We'll stop up there and have lunch." Kevin says. "Absolutely gorgeous view, wait till you guys see it."

"Actually, I've seen it all ready." Dylan says.

"Really?" Kevin asks.

"Yeah, about three years ago. Me and a bunch of my friends came up here for a trip right before school started." Dylan explains.

"Really? Aw man, and here I thought I was showing you something new." Kevin says.

"Nah, it's cool, man. It's definitely worth a second look." Dylan says.

"Okay, here we are." Kevin says as the three of them reach the top where the lookout spot is.

"Come take a look, Erica. You can see all of Yosemite from here." Kevin says.

Erica stands there and looks out at the beautiful valley of trees that lies beneath her with a big smile on her face. "Oh, I wish I had my camera." She says.

"Man, I'll tell you standing up here, looking down on all of this, it sure does put life in perspective, doesn't it?" Kevin rambles.

"Yeah. Sure does." Dylan says as he looks out, but glances down at Kevin when he notices that he is inching closer and closer to the edge.

"You know, Dylan, if you look down there, you can see…." Kevin starts, but is cut off as he begins to feel the gravel beneath his feet move. He looks down to see what is happening, but realizes he is out of control as the gravel begins to slip and he feels himself falling towards the edge of the cliff. In a brief moment, his entire life flashes before his eyes. His heart feels like it skips a beat as in milliseconds he sees the edge of the cliff get closer and closer until he is right there.

But suddenly, he feels the gravel stop as a large force comes down and tugs at his arm, pulling him back upwards. He looks at his arm and sees a hand grabbing it from underneath firmly. He looks up and realizes that it is Dylan who has his arm as he pulls him up from the edge and back to safety.

"Oh my god." Kevin says. "What just….?"

"You have to be careful up here." Dylan says. "I almost lost one of my best friends here literally at this exact same spot."

"Wholly…." Kevin says as he feels the sweat reigning from his forehead. He turns to look over at Erica who is standing there with a look of fear on her face.

"Oh it's all right, honey. I'm fine. Thanks to Dylan." Kevin says. At that point Erica runs up to Kevin and hugs him, catching him off guard at first. Dylan smiles.

"Man, I don't know what we would have done if we would have lost you. We would have had to go back and tell Suzanne." Dylan says. At that point Kevin looks down at Erica.

"Please don't do that again. You scared me." Erica says. Kevin takes a deep breath at that point and exhales.

"Yeah, I don't know what I would have done either." Kevin says. "Let me tell you something though, you just made a pal for life." he cries as he shakes Dylan's hand then reaches around and gives him a hug as Dylan hugs back.


Brenda is sitting in her living room watching the 1958 Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman version of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Unbeknownst to her, Brandon has just gotten back from the ski trip and has pulled up to the house in his white mustang. Kelly is with him.

"So I just got a few more task force events that I'll need you for, and that will be it." Brandon says to her.

"And then what?" Kelly asks as Brandon looks confused.

"And then you'll have my undying appreciation." Brandon says. "Richland has really backed off and I think I'm in the clear. But I just want to play it safe. As long as you don't mind, that is."

"No, I don't mind." Kelly says. "Actually, I'm going to miss it."

"Really?" Brandon asks as the two get out of the car and start to walk toward the front door.

"Yeah. I mean, I'm starting to enjoy them. I think you and I make a great team." Kelly says as she looks at Brandon.

"Yeah, me too." Brandon says. The two stare at each other for a minute, both feeling something at that moment, but neither one acting on it.

"So what do you think? You think Brenda's going to talk to me yet?" Kelly asks.

Brandon snickers. "Kelly, I don't even know if she's going to be talking to me. We kind of didn't leave on the best of terms." he says. "But maybe a few days alone has helped her sort some things out."

"I hope so." Kelly says. "I just can't get it out of my head. I really feel awful about the way I treated her."

"Believe me, you aren't the only one." Brandon says. The two of them go in the front door where they first spot Brenda on the living room couch watching the movie.

"Hey Bren." Brandon greets.

"Hi Brenda." Kelly says.

"Hey." Brenda says as she turns her head. "What are you guys doing here? I wasn't expecting you back for two more days."

"Well, it was raining up in Mammoth." Kelly explains.

"Yeah, and what snow was there was all yellow and slushy, so we decided to come home rather than stay up there and waste our money for two more days." Brandon says.

"So where is everybody else?" Brenda asks.

"Well David's grandparents invited everyone down to Palm Springs for a few days, but only he and Donna went. Steve wanted to get back to the Keg house for a party they were having, and the two of us, well we're kind of tired of all this driving so we came home." Brandon explains.

"Yeah, plus we feel really bad about what happened to you." Kelly says.

"Well you don't need to." Brenda says.

"Brenda, please, hear me out, okay?" Kelly asks as she walks over and sits on the couch next to Brenda. "It's been bothering me for days. I know I was a huge bitch right when you needed me the most. And I'm really sorry. I wish I could take back all the mean things I said to you. I would if I could."

"Yeah, and I want to apologize too, Bren." Brandon says. "A lot of what I said to you right before I left was way out of line. You know, I can't even fathom what you were going through those few days, looking at jail and everything. I guess part of me just didn't want to believe it was happening. But you had every right to be mad at us and to not want to go on this trip, and it was totally wrong of me to assume you were looking for pity, because I know that's not the kind of person you are."

"Well, I'm glad you realize it now." Brenda says.

"So does this mean you forgive us?" Kelly asks.

"Look, I won't lie. You two hurt me really bad. But these few days alone have made me realize a few things. It doesn't pay to hold a grudge. I mean, we all do things in our lives we wish we hadn't. And we can't go back and undo them. The only thing we can do is learn from it and put it behind us. And I'm not going to let one bad experience ruin things for me."

"So does this mean…?" asks Brandon

"Yes Brandon. It means I forgive you. You too, Kelly." Brenda says with a smile.

"Oh, Brenda, you don't know how happy I am to hear you say that." Kelly says as she leans in and hugs Brenda.

"Yeah, me too, Bren." Brandon says.

"So did you enjoy you're peace and quiet?" asks Kelly.

Brenda nods. "Yes. Well it wasn't all peace and quiet. I got to go out and do a few things I had been meaning to do."

"Really? Like what?" Brandon asks. Both Brenda and Kelly look up at him. "On second thought, forget it, I don't want to know. If anybody needs me, I'll be upstairs in my room." Brandon says as he goes upstairs leaving Brenda and Kelly downstairs to talk. Kelly sees the VHS cases sitting on the coffee table in front of the sofa and picks them up to look at them.

"What's this?" Kelly asks. "Cat on a hot tin roof? Since when are you a fan of 1950's movies?"

"I'm not." Brenda says. "But next week, they are having open auditions at CU for this play. And guess who's directing it?"

Kelly shrugs. "I have no idea." She says.

"Roy Randolph." answers Brenda.

"Randolph? Isn't that the famous Broadway director?" Kelly asks.

Brenda nods. "The very one. Kelly this is my chance to make it. That's why I'm trying out for the lead of Maggie the Cat."

Kelly smiles awkwardly. "Brenda, don't take this the wrong way. I mean I think it's great and all. But don't you think you're getting your hopes up a little too much? I mean going out for the lead? Maybe a smaller part would be better."

"Kelly!" Brenda says. "This is the one shot I have to really make it, to be somebody."

"You don't know that." Kelly says. "I'm sure you'll get a lot of opportunities."

"Kelly, I have to do this." Brenda says. "I'm not saying I expect to get the part. But I have to at least try. I mean I see Brandon and how proud my parents are of him for getting chosen to be on this task force. Well that was his big break. This is mine. And if I don't at least give it a try, I'll always wonder."

Kelly sighs. "I know. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to throw cold water on you. And you're right, you should try out." Kelly replies in a monotone. "And if there's anything I can do to help, let me know."

"Well, you could help me rehearse my lines." Brenda says as she pulls out two copies of the play that she had just bought that morning.

"You mean right now?" Kelly asks as Brenda nods. "But I thought you said auditions weren't for another two weeks?"

"Yeah, and that's why I have to get ready." Brenda says. "I want to know this entire play backwards and forwards before going up to audition. So are you going to help me?"

Kelly sighs again, as this is clearly not how she wanted to spend her day. But given that she just made up with Brenda, she figures better to do it and put any lingering bad feelings to rest once and for all. Brenda hands Kelly the other book as the two of them begin to rehearse."


Dylan, Kelly, and Erica were on their way back home where they stopped in at a quiet motel for the night. Kevin is sitting on a bed reading a book, when Dylan and Erica enters from the adjoining room.

"Hey Kevin, we were going to go out and grab some pizza. You want to come?" Dylan asks.

Kevin shakes his head. "No, why don't you two go ahead. I think I'm just going to stay here and read for a while."

"Oh come on, Kevin. It will be fun." Erica says.

Kevin smiles. "No, you and Dylan go have fun. All that fresh air has made me kind of sleepy." Kevin says.

Dylan nods. "All right, man. Well, we'll see you later then." He says as he and Erica exit.

Kevin peaks out the window to watch Dylan and Erica get in the car and take off. He makes sure they are gone before picking up the phone and making a call to Suzanne.

"Hello?" Suzanne answers.

"It's me." Kevin says.

"Where are you?" Suzanne asks.

"Just shacked up in a little motel for the night. We'll be back tomorrow." Kevin answers.

"And where's Erica?" Suzanne asks.

"She and Dylan just went out for pizza." Kevin says.

"So how'd everything go?" Suzanne asks.

"It couldn't have gone any better." Kevin says. "As soon as I mentioned bio-remediation to Dylan, and how it would clean up the ocean, you should have seen his face light up like a Christmas tree. I'm telling you, he's hooked"

"And Erica?" Suzanne asks.

"Oh wait till you see. She totally loves me now, and doesn't suspect a thing other than that I'm a nice guy." Kevin says.

Suzanne chuckles in a devilish manner. "Perfect." she says. "Well things didn't go exactly how we planned, but it looks like we're back on track. Pretty soon, you and I are going to be sitting on a beach in some remote country somewhere sipping pina coladas and soaking up interest on our massive bank account."

"Now wait a second, don't count your chickens before they hatch." Kevin says. "Getting him to like the project is one thing. But getting him to invest all his money in it, that's a different story."

"He'll do it." Suzanne says. "Trust me. Now you better get some rest, Mr. Weaver. You have to start your new job in a couple of days."

"Yeah. I know." Kevin says. "I'll talk to you later." he says as he hangs up the phone. Suzanne just sits on the other end grinning like the devil. Things have fallen back into place for her.

TO BE CONTINUED