Chapter 54 How Do I Know?

Brenda had finished setting out the food and was just being anti-social as she kept busy by straightening up the kitchen. She looked up quickly to find Dylan in the kitchen with a couple guys she had never met.

"Bren…I wanted to introduce you to the new guys on site that have been incredible…this is Trevor and Jacob Stanley…guys this is my wife Brenda."

Brenda dried her hands off quickly and held out her hand to them with a smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you." She said nicely.

"The pleasure is mine." Trevor smiled politely, "This guys talks about you so much that I was beginning to think maybe he made you up." Trevor joked.

Brenda smiled and shook her head, "Nope…I am real."

"You guys." Jacob looked around, "Your house is amazing. I am kind of a real estate buff. The outside is incredible and all the windows. And it's big but walking inside feels so comfortable. Really…really awesome." Jacob swooned.

"Well thanks…we like it. It's quiet and private." Brenda continued to be a sweet host as she felt Dylan move in next to her wrapping his arm around her waist. It was just like Dylan to take advantage knowing Brenda would never cause a scene in front of Dylan's employees.

"Oh I bet, privacy is important, Dylan tells us you are an actress and you have a hit show." Trevor kept making small talk. He looked up to Dylan and even though he was only a year or so younger than them, he wanted to be successful like Dylan. Meeting his wife and getting in her good graces was important to him.

"Oh…yeah…it's a pretty big show, I am lucky it's done so well. Have you seen it?" Brenda felt shy all of a sudden.

Trevor looked down embarrassed, "You'll have to forgive me, I don't watch that much television. My sister always asks me if I ever see celebrities now that I live here, we moved here from the East Coast. Actually when Dylan told us you were on TV that was the first thing I told her, she definitely knew who you were. She almost died when I told her we were coming over here today."

Brenda laughed, "Awww that's nice. And don't feel bad, I am sure you wouldn't watch it even if you did watch TV."

"It's a chick show, most definitely." Dylan smiled.

"Whatever man, you know you watch it." Jacob made fun.

Dylan smiled shyly, "Of course, I have to see who my wife is hooking up with every week."

"Well I'm sure I can put some cool stuff together, promotional stuff…you can send it to her." Brenda thought they were very sweet.

"Are you serious? That would be great; you just saved my ass on a birthday gift." Trevor joked.

"Add an autograph and we will absolutely go in the best brothers ever category for life." Jacob laughed.

"You got it." Brenda smiled, "Where on the East Coast are you from? I lived in New York City for awhile; I did mostly theater before getting this job."

"New York, upstate though."

"Did you move out together?"

"Actually I moved out a few months ago, and Jacob came about a month ago. It must be a twin thing."

Brenda eyes widened, "Twins…that's it, you guys are in, now I won't hold it against you for not watching my show." Brenda joked.

The guys laughed, "Yeah…Dylan told us you were a twin, we actually just met your other half. Twins are the best." Jacob said.

Brenda smiled at them and her attention turned as she saw Donna smile and Ruby run up to her. "Brenda! I missed you." Ruby said sweetly.

"Hey." Brenda said giving her a hug. She looked at Donna, "When did you get home, I wasn't expecting to see you." Brenda went in and gave her a hug.

Donna leaned out from the hug, "Yeah, we got in a couple hours ago and David said you guys were having a get together the last time I talked to him, so Ruby and I here decided to come and crash and…I am starving." Donna smiled sweetly.

"Of course…go out back, everything is out there, get a drink and relax. I am so happy you came."

Donna held Ruby's hand, "Thanks…hey Dylan." She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Is David out there?"

"Uh yeah, everyone is." Dylan said taken back thinking about the David and Valerie situation.

"I'll be out in a second." Brenda said nicely. Donna nodded and smiled at Trevor and Jacob. "Hi." She greeted the new guys.

"Mommy I have to go potty." Ruby said looking up at her mother.

"Ok." Donna smiled at Brenda and Dylan, "It never fails." Donna led her to the bathroom.

"I think I need a refill, nice meeting you Brenda. Hopefully we get to talk later." Jacob said as him and Trevor made their way outside.

Brenda swallowed hard looking up at Dylan. She shook her head and began to walk away. She didn't even know where to begin.

"Wait Bren…" Dylan pulled her back to him and looked down at her. He took his hands and rested them on her face. "Tell me what I can do. I hate that you are pissed at me and I am thinking that I may never be able to prove how different things are now. I can't change the past; there isn't anything I can do to make you feel differently. You just have to trust me…You know you are my life." Dylan leaned his face close to hers, as they both closed their eyes, his lips practically touching hers, "I wouldn't be able to breathe without you." Dylan breathed out and Brenda felt his hot breath against her mouth. "And I don't want to." He whispered softly. Keeping his eyes closed he leaned in and kissed her hard. Brenda and Dylan were an intense couple, they always had been. Their fights were fiery, their heart felt talks and make ups were emotional, their sex was beyond passionate, almost vehement every time. They gradually separated and slowly opened their eyes looking deeply into them.

"Dylan." Brenda sighed.

"Bren…tell me what to do." Dylan almost pleaded, it wasn't like him to beg but he didn't want to fight about this anymore and to be honest they hadn't fought like this in a long time.

Brenda shook her head slowly, "I don't know." She began to walk away from him again and he reached out and grabbed her hand.

"Brenda…you know I love you."

She gave him a soft smile, "I do." she whispered. "It's my issue Dylan, I just have to get over it."

Dylan looked at her sadly, "Baby…I don't want you to have to get over it, I want you to trust me."

Brenda swallowed hard as she looked at him. He was her life too and when he said he wouldn't be able to breath without her, she knew exactly how he felt and that's why the thought of Kelly and Dylan again was such a big deal because when that happened all those years ago it changed everything, her trust in men, her trust in friends, her personality, her faith in people. The thought of something like that happening now was terrifying because her love for him had gotten so much stronger than it was then.

"We'll talk after the party." Brenda said seeing Donna chatting with Steve as they crossed paths.

Dylan looked down sadly.

"Ok?" Brenda squeezed his hand as he made eye contact with her again.

Dylan slowly nodded, "Ok." he watched Brenda leave the kitchen to join the party. Dylan for the first time realized this was probably something that would have eventually came up and there wasn't an easy fix to it. Brenda wasn't going to trust him and Kelly with a snap of his finger. She wasn't going to instantly forget about everything because he said he was sorry. This was something real, a bump in the road that had to be dealt with. If the idea of Dylan never talking to Kelly again or hanging out with her would help he would do it but he as well as Brenda knew that it wasn't possible.

**

Valerie sat at on the patio chair, David and her kept catching each other stealing glances every now and then and she actually smirked how obvious they were. She looked away quickly as she saw him walking over to her; she leaned forward placing her elbows on the table in front of her. He sat down next to her and gave her a soft smile.

"I hate when you avoid me." David said with a smile. "I don't want things to be weird between us. We were friends before…close friends. Did we ruin it?" David leaned his elbows on the table also.

Valerie sighed and looked at him, "No…we didn't ruin it, it's just been hard for me."

David moved his hand closer to hers slowly taking his pinky finger and rubbing it secretly against hers. "It's been hard for me too." He stared at her.

Valerie looked down at her hand and took a deep breath, as she softly returned the secret finger rub. "I am not used to doing the right thing." Valerie whispered still looking down at their hands. "But I know that I have to." She finally looked up at him.

David took a deep breath, "I know…it doesn't make it easy though, does it?"

Valerie smiled at him and shook her head, "No…it doesn't."

David smiled back, "See it doesn't have to be awkward." he joked.

Valerie agreed, it was nice actually talking to him and not running from him. She looked around and took a deep breath as her smile faded. Valerie pulled her hand away from his.

David turned the same direction noticing Valerie's facial expression change. Donna came outside with Ruby in tow. She went around saying hello to everyone and smiled when she made eye contact with David. "Spoke too soon." Valerie said under her breath as Donna started walking toward them.

David stood up as she got closer, he picked up Ruby, "Daddy…I missed you." she said as she hugged him.

David grunted as she squeezed him tight, "I missed you too. Let me look at you, you look taller." he said with a smile.

"Daaad." Ruby shook her head, "I am not taller silly." David looked at Donna.

"Hey hun." Donna said leaning in giving him a quick peck.

"Hi…what are you doing here, I wasn't expecting you back for another week?"

Valerie sat at the table looking at them. She took a deep breath having witnessed David with Ruby. She looked down feeling a sudden rush of guilt come over her. The guilt washed through her and then the jealousy hit. She looked at them again, it was like she needed to see it. She needed the slap in the face. She needed to keep telling herself David belonged with Donna…not her. Valerie felt her heart beat faster and for the first time in her life, as she looked back and forth between David and Donna and their daughter, she wanted it.

"We decided to come home early. Ruby missed you and the store opening went well so here we are." Donna smiled.

Valerie stood up in desperate need of a drink. Donna looked at her and with a smile greeted her, "Hey Val…great dress." Donna admired her.

Valerie gave Donna an awkward smile, "Thanks…good to see you Donna. Excuse me." she said walking away and over to the bar.

David watched Valerie walk away, he took a deep breath and moved his focus back to Ruby.

Valerie approached the bar to find Brenda grabbing a bottle of water from the cooler. She looked at Brenda and looked over at Donna and David again.

"You ok?" Brenda saw through her expression right away.

Valerie slowly looked back at Brenda, "Oh yeah., you know its good for me to see them. It makes doing the right thing even better." Valerie swallowed hard and kept lying to herself.

Brenda took a deep breath and gave her a nod, she agreed with what Valerie was saying but she knew that she wasnt telling the whle truth.

Valerie went behind the bar as she scanned around the booze. She grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniels and quickly poured her self a shot. She took it quickly, making a horrid face. Brenda watched her and saw that she was trying to hide whatever she was feeling, "Val…are you sure you are ok?"

Valerie turned to face her, "Bren…" she took a deep breath, "I can I ask you something and I don't want you to get mad…ok?"

Brenda nodded, "You know you can ask me anything."

"Alright…how did you know Dylan was the one…your true love?"

Brenda didn't have to think about it, "I knew Dylan was my true love since the moment I met him. I think in general you may think that way about everyone you like when your 16 but as the years went by, no matter who I dated, what was happening, it always came back to him. He was the only guy I ever loved, he was the only one I connected with. He understood me, he didn't hate me or judge me at my worst hour. Dylan has always been the only one for me." Brenda brought her water bottle to her lips and took a sip, she looked around and noticed Brandon and Kelly weren't speaking, Dylan was ignoring them both. It was crazy to her how something that happened so long ago could affect so many people. "I guess there was never a question of who was my true love…the question was if I was his." Brenda said sadly as she looked over at Valerie.

Valerie took a deep breath and gave her a nod, she knew exactly how Brenda felt. It was the same way she felt. In her mind there was only one person she connected with. She trusted him with everything. She went to him when she was scared, hurt or happy. He knew how to take care of her, he was the only person she opened up about her screwed up father and other issues from when she was younger, he was the one person that would call her out when she did something horrible and she listened to when he did. In her mind there wasn't anyone else she loved. Valerie thought they had a lot in common but…no matter how much valerie knew David was her true love, there was always an obstacle, Donna. They fought about it when they were together, they talked about it as friends she was a constant presence in his life that wouldn't go away long enough for happily ever after.

Valerie looked around seeing how odd this party actually was. "This party…" Valerie thought about what to say.

"Blows?" Brenda smiled, "I know…there is a lot of drama going on. My brother and his wife aren't speaking because of me and my big mouth, I am not talking to Dylan, Steve over there looks like someone died, Donna and David look like they are arguing. I guess it was bad timing to have a get together."

Valerie looked over at her and smiled, "It would help if you could at least get drunk with me."

Brenda laughed, "Believe me, right now, I would if I could."

"Hey Brenda…got an extra beer back there?" Trevor smiled.

"Oh yeah of course." Brenda bent down taking a corona out of the cooler and handing it to him. Trevor smiled as she looked at Valerie.

Brenda looked back and forth between them, she smirked at the instant sparks, "Trevor, have you met Valerie?"

Trevor eyed her giving her a half smile, "I would have definitely remembered."

Valerie looked down quickly as she met his eyes again, "Valerie Malone." she said softly as she held out her hand.

"Trevor Stanley."

The two stared at each other for so long without talking that Brenda took the hint. "Well…I should…go make sure everyone… has whatever." Brenda walked away, they weren't listening to her anyway. Brenda walked across her backyard and as she turned she saw Valerie leaning against the bar chatting with Trevor. She smiled and shrugged, she looked across the yard and saw Gina , doing her best flirting as she talked with Jacob. Maybe it was never to late to meet your true love? She continued into the house to go and check on the kids.

David sighed as he looked at Donna, "I don't know what you want me to say. I told you I don't want to move to New York for a year. My work is here." he said sternly yet quietly trying to keep their fight on the down low.

"David…you work at a radio station, you can get a job over there. Why wont you even consider this?" Donna pleaded.

"You are unbelievable, that's why you came home early because they expect you back in a few weeks. This is a marriage, its not only about you. Why should I leave the radio station and why should Ruby switch schools mid year? Our families and friends are here. Your store is doing fine, can't you just stand back and be happy with what you have. You are a good wife, you are an amazing mother, you are successful…"

"Because I want more David, for both of us."

David shook his head, "Why don't you fucking admit that you want more because you are unhappy with this one…what we have, you don't want more, you want totally different. I thought we wanted to have a family and a happy home here. This has nothing to do with me or our family. This has to do with you being miserable in your life with me." David raised his voice and a couple people that were hovering near them turned to look at them.

Donna swallowed hard and looked around, "I don't even want to look at you right now." she clenched her teeth and stormed off.

David shook his head and sighed, "The feeling is mutual." he mumbled with a roll of his eyes. He brought his beer to his lips as he looked over at Valerie. She had been talking to that guy for a while and not once had she glanced in his direction. He watched as Trevor flirted with her, made her laugh and kept touching her, whether it was her shoulder, her arm, he was constantly touching her and David didn't like it. He glared at them gripping his beer.

"David…dude, relax I don't think the beer did anything to you. Your knuckles are turning white." Dylan joked.

"Dylan…who's that guy?" Dylan followed David's stare.

"Who? Trevor? He works for me, he's cool." he looked back at David and saw the look on his face. He shook his head, "David…unlike you, Val and Trevor are single. He's a nice guy."

David looked at Dylan and sighed, "Have you ever been in love with two women at the same time? I mean truly…you love one for one thing and another for something else?"

Dylan swallowed hard looking at him, "No." he lied. With all the stuff that was going on with Brenda and Kelly and Brandon. It was not the time to admit that out loud.

David turned towards Dylan not wanting to look at Valerie and this Trevor hit it off, they had flirted the entire time, she was laughing at his jokes, and they had exchanged numbers all in a short time. "I think you are lying, you mean to tell me you never were in love with Kelly and Brenda at the same time? I know you're lying to me…and I wont make you explain it tell me more but how did you know Brenda was the one? If you loved them for different reasons, how did you know which reasons were more important?"

Dylan didnt have to even think about it.

Sorry to end it there, I didn't fit everything in and the next chapter is going to be very emotional and mushy wink. Next chapter you will have the Steve and Janet factor, sorry I thought I would be able to fit it but I didn't want to rush anything. But the majority of it will be BD and BK finally dealing with their past…KD *puke*. Stay tuned and please review kids. How do you like Gina and Val and their potential boyfriends? Are you liking David being jealous? Tell me everything.