Chapter Three

Disclaimer: I do not own Beverly Hills 90210, am affiliated with them or Fox in any way.

Kelly turned in the mirror, side eyeing her reflection as she smoothed out her dress. Amanda had offered to give her a ride to school and normally she was the one that would have to not only drive herself, but also David and more often than not Donna, so she welcomed the change.

Ever since that day at the spa where the masseuse pointed out her problem areas, she began to notice all sorts of things wrong with her body that went unchecked before. Had she always been this short and stocky? Had her thighs always jiggled and her arms looked gigantic. She was sucking in her stomach when a knock on the door made her straighten up and crack the door to find Amanda impatiently tapping her fingers against the frame. Entering the Taylor's bathroom, Amanda rolled her eyes as she eyed the stance Kelly was now in.

"I know you were just sucking in your stomach, looking at your reflection like you're in a funhouse mirror." She commented dryly.

"Amanda, I need to lose weight. I need to not be so pathetic and gross to look at. Dylan picked Brenda. That's probably why he picked her. She's thin without even trying to be. She and Donna can eat whatever they want." One more glance and Kelly looked back at Amanda, a frown forming on her lips. "Amanda, do you think I have problem areas?"

"We all have things that need improvement Kel. We shouldn't be shamed for wanting to look good."

She was expecting a typical rebuttal, something like what Brenda had said to her that day at the spa. Instead Amanda stared back at her, as if annoyed that she gave her a different answer than the one she wanted. "I said that I wouldn't lie to you. It's not my fault that your plastic surgeon made your nose crooked. But you can focus on the rest of your body and nobody will even comment on the bad nose job. They will just be looking at how hot you've become. Now perk up, I brought you something." Amanda dug around her purse before pulling out a bottle, unscrewing the cap, and handing a tiny red pill over to Kelly, who looked at it curiously.

"What's this for?"

"It's a diet pill. I stopped taking them after that little intervention at the sleepover. Which lasted for all of about two weeks before I picked them up again. You take these and forget about five pounds, you'll be down 10 before you know it. Also you can get them anywhere so you don't even need a prescription from a doctor to get some. You won't give a shit about Dylan and what's-her-name." Amanda advised, her lips turning upwards as she checked her reflection one last time before heading out the door. "Now come on, let's turn off our brains for a few hours and remember how the two of us ruled the school before you took an extended detour into Lamesville, USA."

"Brenda. Her name is Brenda." Kelly muttered to herself before following her friend out the door and into the car.

Upon entering the hallway and going to her locker before first period, Kelly was met with judgemental looks and pity stares from just about everyone she made eye contact with. She heard faint whispers and mutterings of phrases like "homewrecker" "slut" and "side piece" whereas Dylan was described as being "a ladies man" "lucky" and "having the best of both worlds". If Kelly was hungry before, she wasn't anymore. Her stomach dropped and she was met with nausea. How long had people been saying things like that? All day?

"Hey, losers! Don't you have anything better to do with your time?" Amanda snapped before leaning on Kelly's locker with a look of disgust. "Those same people were sucking up to you a few days ago. They are the real pathetic ones."

Kelly attempted to shoot her a grateful smile, but no matter how wide, it didn't reach her eyes. Her gaze followed a few whistles and she saw Dylan and Brenda from the other end of the hall, walking hand in hand.

"Great, now I'm going to barf." Amanda groaned as Donna reached the two. Dylan had been trying to grab Kelly's attention, silent pleas to at least get her to look at him, but Kelly stared ahead as he gave up before being dragged in the opposite direction by Brenda.

"Hi Kel." As if only just now noticing the other's presence, Donna let out a nervous laugh. "Oh hi Amanda. I didn't realize you guys started talking again."

"The school bimbos have to stick together right?" Amanda retorted with a light eye roll.

Donna's voice dropped before she leaned in closer to Kelly's ear, as if not wanting anyone, including Amanda, to hear her next words. "Kel is it true? Did you sleep with Dylan? Were you guys fooling around behind her back this summer?" Her tone wasn't accusatory like Kelly expected, instead it was almost worrisome.

"How could you even ask me that?"

"It's just what everyone else is saying. Did you?" Donna pressed on, nervously biting down on her lip as she waited for an answer.

"No, we never slept together. You can report back to Brenda that I'm confessing."

"Well, are you in love with Dylan or something? Why else would you do this to Bren? It just doesn't make any sense. Dylan and Brenda were the perfect couple."

"And I'm just the homewrecking slut who ruined the perfect couple?"

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to. It's written all over your face."

"I'm talking to my best friend here okay? Butt out, Amanda."

"Is she still your best friend? Or does your allegiance lay with Brenda?"

"I'm neutral, like Switzerland. Look Kel, if you just apologize, maybe in front of witnesses, they'll forgive you."

"They?"

"Brenda. Dylan. And I think Andrea and Brandon are on Brenda's side because you know, that's his sister and he's Dylan's best friend. And Andrea of course thinks that this whole thing could have been avoided if you guys just kept it in your pants. Her words, not mine."

"You know what? You can just tell all of them, Steve, David, that you should all be on Brenda's side."

"Don't you think you're being a little dramatic? I'll still come over and hang out with you. I would just steer clear of the Peach Pit for a while." Donna advised before the bell rang and she was moving down the hall to make it to her class.

"We don't need that place anyway. It's like a heart attack waiting to happen."

When Kelly looked back after shutting her locker, Amanda was gone and the hallway was deserted. The second bell had rang, signaling that she was late to class. Just what she needed to make the day even worse than it already was.

When Jake knocked on the door of the Silver-Taylor house, he was met with an awkward wave from David.

"Kelly will be down in a minute."

"Thanks. Silver, right? Weren't you a part of the gang that practically stalked Kelly and I on our first date at Shooters?"

"It's David." Only friends call me Silver, was hanging off his tongue but he held back. "We were just looking out for her. You kind of messed her up this summer."

"Oh. I'm sorry about that. But I told Kelly the truth and we're good."

"Well maybe I'm not good with it yet. She's my family now which means that you can't just come in and out of her life whenever you please."

"Aren't your folks getting divorced?" Jake quipped, a reaction that was met with a hard stare from the younger male.

"She's like my sister, regardless. So don't screw with her head." Hearing such words coming from David would have usually made Jake laugh at the pure absurdity of it all, but getting back in Kelly's good graces meant getting along with her friends, her family. So Jake kept quiet and nodded.

"She knows this summer was just casual. Now we both want more."

"Until you don't."

"Until I don't, what?" Jake's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he waited rather impatient for David to get to the point.

"Until you don't want an underage girlfriend dragging you down, until you break her heart again and ride off on your bike unscathed."

"She was heartbroken? I didn't know that. I just assumed she would eventually realize that she could do better."

"I should thank you though."

"Thank me? What for?"

"You did what was best for her at the time. You let her go before things got more serious and you ended things instead of stringing her along. You may have messed her up, but Dylan ruined her."

"I was a coward. I hired an actress to make Kelly seem uninterested. She's used to spending her summers at the beach club, not working odd jobs and 12 hour days just to pay rent. I didn't want to drag her down, to have to deal with all my shit. But for some reason, she decided to give me another chance. I don't plan on hurting her again David, trust me."

Luckily Kelly chose that exact moment to come down the stairs and break the tension by steering him out the door.

That same night, Dylan sat with Jack, Christine, and Brenda eating dinner on the recently purchased boat that Jack had decided to buy. He was raising a glass to this or that every other minute it seemed and Brenda had to admit that she hadn't seen Dylan so happy in quite a while. She was hesitant about Jack coming back into Dylan's life, especially when she heard they had met with her father about Dylan's trust fund. It left an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach and she didn't want Dylan to be taken advantage of.

"I would like to make a toast. To the new and improved McKay clan. To Dylan, for growing up quicker than he should have and coming out on top. I owe you son. And to Brenda."

"Why me?"

"Dylan's never been happier. I suppose I have you to thank for that." Jack threw a wink in her direction as she laughed and smiled at her boyfriend. To my beautiful Christine for being the light of my life. I'd love to spend the rest of my life making you as happy as you've made me." Christine had dropped her spoon and was now openly gaping at Jack who had, in the middle of all the toasts, kneeled down besides his girlfriend and was holding out a diamond ring.

"Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

"Oh Jack, yes of course!" Christine instantly stood to embrace him, the two kissing before he placed the ring on her finger.

Brenda smiled at the scene, looking at Dylan with a content and fond gaze. Maybe things would be different this time around. The whole reason why Kelly was seemingly miserable and Dylan was broody at the beginning of this year was probably due to the big secret they had been hiding. Now that everything was out in the open, Dylan would return to the loving, adventurous guy she fell in love with two years ago. Maybe they would even tell this story the night they got engaged. Whatever would happen, Brenda felt confident that the worst was behind them.

Dylan met his girlfriend's gaze and tried to match her warmth, her loving expression and kind eyes. He had pictured his future with Brenda the weekend that the girls went to the spa. But every time he did, he saw Kelly. That feeling hadn't stopped, if anything it only increased since he had chosen Brenda. Even now, when he saw himself in the future, committed and happy with Brenda, he saw Kelly in the background. What should have been a happy fantasy with the love of his life now left a sour taste in his mouth and made his insides twist and turn. Now he saw various situations in which she was with Jake. In which she and Jake were moving in together, getting married, and having kids.

It was a living nightmare and Dylan couldn't escape it.

"I told my friend Amanda it was okay for her to meet us here. Don't worry, she's cool." Kelly waited for a reaction from Jake as they sat at a table at Shooters. This time any awkwardness was seemingly gone, there were no snarky comments from the wait staff and Jake even held Kelly's hand across the table.

"If she's anything like the Amanda that I know, be careful." Jake advised with a low chuckle. Amanda's curly head of hair caught Kelly's sight and before she knew it, her friend was in front of her with a clear looking drink and a smirk.

"There you guys are! I'm Amanda, and you must be Jake." The two shook hands as Kelly's eyes momentarily widened at her friend. She always knew Amanda was more mature than her other friends, but she thought it was just an act.

"Something tells me that isn't water."

"You're cute. But no, turns out with the right makeup and a little flirtation, age doesn't really matter to the bartender who accepted my fake ID." She smiled proudly as she sat down in the open seat next to Kelly and across from Jake. "So what do you do for a living? Did you move out to Hollywood hoping to become a big star? Are you some sleazy guy trying to have an in with the daughter of a former model? Jackie was big on the party scene way back when so it wouldn't surprise me. Just trying to figure out what your angle is."

"I don't have an angle. Kelly and I hit it off last spring. I was hired to work on her mother's wedding. I was admittedly a tool to her, telling her that it wasn't the right time for us back then. Now I think it could be. I work in construction, live practically paycheck to paycheck and no, I'm not interested in becoming famous, even less interested in going clubbing with a bunch of has-beens in order to get a fix. Any more questions?"

"I'm assuming that you heard about the whole Dylan-Brenda debacle. Thoughts?"

"Dylan is a douche for openly wanting someone else when he already had a girlfriend. Kelly lied in order to protect other people's feelings. Dylan only lied to protect his own ass."

"I like him." Amanda decided, nodding in approvement as she nudged Kelly with her elbow.

David sat in Donna's room with her on the bed and him at her desk, trying to study for his midterms while she was flipping through last year's yearbook, trying to find yearbook superlatives for all of their friends.

"I can't believe she took him back." David sighed, closing his book for the night and turning towards his girlfriend as he entertained her random comment.

"I know, I don't know what she was thinking. She's way too good for him."

"Well yeah, he cheated on her."

"No he didn't, he told me that he made it all up."

"So he didn't cheat over the summer? With Kelly?"

"I think you mean, on Kelly."

"No, I mean with Kelly. Who did you think we were talking about?"

"Jake and Kelly. Who did you think we were talking about?"

"Dylan and Brenda."

"Both situations are messed up okay? But it's not fair that Kelly is taking all the heat for this when Dylan is also equally responsible."

"As far as we know, Dylan realized he made a mistake and wanted to be honest with Brenda. Start fresh."

"And Kelly didn't? I caught them this summer, and yet Kelly seemed to be the only one with any remorse."

"Everyone reacts differently in those situations. It's complicated. I'm just glad I'm not caught in the middle."

"Your two best friends were fighting over the same guy and you think you aren't caught in the middle?"

"There doesn't seem to be any more fighting. Maybe this whole triangle from hell is finally over."

"I'm siding with Kelly regardless. Plus, I'd be a hypocrite because of my little stunt this summer."

"With Nikki. Who ended up being two years younger. And dated Brandon." Donna snorted, she couldn't help but poke fun at David and how he had made a similar mistake the past summer.

"I'm just glad there's no other girl fighting for your attention now."

"Or another guy." He pointed out, also relieved that they were seemingly the most stable couple out of their friend group.

"David I had no idea you were interested in that." This time, David did laugh along with his girlfriend, throwing a pillow at her as he turned back to his books.

Jake had parked his bike in the driveway and now the two were sitting on the porch.

"You've come a long way from the girl who showed up at my place asking me if I thought she was pretty." He commented. "As if that's why I fell for you in the first place. Or the only reason I wanted to date you. You could have any guy, regardless of what you look like or if you put out. What are you doing with me?"

"I could ask you the same thing. There are tons of experienced girls out there, who are way more mature than I am. More independent. I'm nothing special."

"You're also the girl who gave up a trip to Paris in order to bond with her sister. You were honest with Brenda even when Dylan wasn't. You amaze me Kelly."

"Well you're pretty amazing too. Even from the stories Dylan used to tell about you. Teaching him how to surf, pick up girls. You were a real ladies magnet." Kelly teased, only to be taken aback when Jake looked serious, not finding anything she said to be amusing.

"I'm not Dylan okay? Sure we both surf and work on bikes and have the same interests, but if you're looking for someone to take his place or something, I'm not the right guy."

"Where is this coming from?"

"Kelly, I live paycheck to paycheck. I've been to the unemployment line. I can't afford to take you to fancy restaurants and hotels."

"I've told you before, but I don't care about that stuff."

"But you should. You should care, because you deserve everything that life has to offer. You kind of expect the world, and you should have it. But I can't give you that."

"Jake, you think a romantic night out is going down to the beach and watching the moon. And that's fine with me. I don't care for fancy restaurants or extravagant hotels."

"One day you might though. And Dylan has a trust fund and doesn't have to worry about money."

"I don't want Dylan. I fell for you first. I wanted you first." Kelly was quick to point out.

"I'll ask you this one time and then we never have to talk about it again okay? Did you sleep with him?"

"No."

"Did you want to?"

"Never when he was with Brenda." She answered honestly. There was a time, after he had broken up with Brenda where Kelly considered it. But she knew the guilt would win out every time. "No matter what, that's a line I just wouldn't cross. I have more respect for myself than that."

"Since when did you become the wise one, and I'm feeling like a teenager again?"

"Life has a funny way of working out I guess. Speaking of, I think we have the house to ourselves if you want to come in." She leaned in to kiss him, and just as his tongue was about to explore her mouth, she pulled back.

"I'm not even thinking about Dylan or Brenda so you can't use that excuse again." Kelly was quick to say, as if expecting exactly that reaction from him. "Just stay for one hour." She suggested, eyebrows raising as she leaned in to kiss him again, this time slightly biting down on his lower lip and making him audibly groan in response.

"Kel-"

"30 minutes?" A peck to his cheek before she was batting her eyelashes. "One hour is still on the table."

Instead Jake lowered his voice, huskily whispering against her neck.

"Do you know how many times I wanted to say fuck it and invite you over this summer? How right now, I'm resisting the urge to carry you inside and have my way with you? How many times I thought about fucking you against that canopy I had made for your mom's wedding?"

Her heart was hammering inside her chest, her cheeks flushed scarlet and she was glad it was the middle of the night or else he would see the blush fully formed.

"I think it's still up from the wedding, unless Jackie torched it by now along with the rest of Mel's crap." Kelly mused slyly. Internally, she was panicking though. She couldn't let Jake see her like this. Maybe after she lost a few pounds first, but not before then. She wanted everything to be absolutely perfect and that included her body.

"No, I want to do this right. I don't want it to be some cheap hookup on a school night. You'll probably need the entire weekend to rest up after I'm done with you." Jake laughed at the look of pure shock that Kelly had formed. Normally she was the one practically too eager to have sex. She threw herself at him all summer and was met with rejection. Now here he was telling her that he shared all her same desires. "I don't have much, but I do want this to be special. While I can't offer you a night at some swanky hotel, how does dinner sound? Maybe some candles."

"Suddenly, I'm itching to get back to school." She couldn't suppress the squeal that slipped out when Jake captured her lips with his, a hand wrapping around her neck and bringing her closer.

RATED M JUST IN CASE

Unbeknownst to them, Dylan had just dropped Brenda off and was driving through, stopping to pause at the scene in front of him. His hands tightened on the steering wheel as the urge to stop by a bar and grab a drink had never been stronger. He thought their time together meant something to Kelly. He thought that they would finally be out in the open with everything, but that they would be together. Instead he was with Brenda, and she was with Jake. He began to drive past the Taylor house before stopping and parking down the street. He would wait around until Jake left and then talk to her. He couldn't see her at school, forget about the Peach Pit. He thought about calling but one too many times in which David answered the phone had him grimacing.

"Dylan, what are you doing here? How did you even get in here?" Kelly looked up in surprise to find him sitting on her bed when she exited the bathroom after brushing her teeth that night.

"Front door. The door was unlocked and Jackie's a heavy sleeper."

"You could have woken Erin."

"Kel, I spent enough time over here this summer to know how to quiet her back down."

"Fine, what do you want?"

"I want the same thing I wanted the night of my dad's party. And I think we both know what that one thing is. You."

"You're with Brenda."

"I picked you."

"Okay, well I'm with Jake now."

"You're only with him to spite me. You can't have the real thing so you're settling."

"Actually, I was settling for you because I couldn't have him." She knew it was a low blow, and worst of all it wasn't true. But all logical flew out the window when it came to Dylan. They just had to play this snarky little game, and she wouldn't let him get away with being so cocky.

"Did you screw him yet?"

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response."

"Was it everything you fantasized about this summer? Hope it's worth the jail time." Dylan remarked smugly as Kelly's face twisted into an expression of anger.

"I'm almost 18."

"Does he know that you were with me this summer? Falling asleep with me on the beach, kissing me in your cabana."

"He knows. He doesn't care."

"Did you fuck him or not?" He whispered harshly, trying not to raise his voice, but his eyes remained green with envy.

"Not that it's any of your business, but he wants it to be special. Not on the beach, in public, when he already has a girlfriend." She shot back, remembering waking up that day and having Dylan be upset that they hadn't had sex.

"I keep picturing his hands on your body. His lips trailing down your neck. Him peeling off your clothes one by one. Being the one to make you moan." His breath felt hot on her ear as she tried to remain nonchalant at his words. "It makes my skin crawl. I want to knock his lights out. It's driving me crazy Kel. You drive me crazy." His lips began to kiss her fingers. Then her shoulders and neck before making their way down her body. His fingers played with the string on her shorts and he slowly began to untie them, staring at her with every movement.

"Tell me to stop." His eyes met hers and soon she found herself unable to give him a proper answer while he slipped a hand into her panties and entered her with one finger.

"Don't stop now." She feared the loss of contact more than getting caught. Just when it seemed like he was going to stop and began to pull away from her, he pushed into her harder. Her eyes shut and her body instantly reacted, arching to give him better access and shuddering as he inserted another finger. Her body rising and falling with each flick of his finger gave him such a high. It only made his jeans tighten and his own breathing become ragged.

"Hello, earth to Dylan."

Dylan blinked as he heard Kelly calling his name repeatedly. Kelly was across the room, not wearing drawstring shorts, but instead wearing an oversized T-shirt and sweats. He hadn't touched her, and yet for some reason he didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed that it hadn't actually happened.

"Did you need something?"

"Nothing. Sorry to bother you so late." He gave her a sheepish smile before slipping out the door, leaving a puzzled Kelly behind to wonder what had just happened.