Chapter 4

The Reunion

Dylan

What are the odds? What are the fucking odds? I was just thinking about her and BAM she is right there in the lobby of the Bel-Age checking in. I saw her as soon as I walked into this space. It was like she was the only one there. Drawn to her like a magnet. My heart stops beating, a lump forming inside my throat has air trapped and unable to escape. My feet are already moving towards her. I recognize the hands that touch the counter, lazily drumming her fingers across it. Soft, dainty, perfectly manicured without the ridiculous fake nails women often wore. The way she stands, shifting her weight from one leg to the other.

I feel panicked when I get closer to her. My eyes move to her long hair. It looks shiny and I feel the urge to run my fingers through it like I always used to do. The shade is a different color, darker than the last time I had seen her. Definitely longer. Even with the darker hair it doesn't stop the sudden heaviness which expands in my core, making everything extremely uncomfortable. God I knew I missed her but was not prepared for just how much. The physical ache to be close to her is almost unbearable.

It is like she senses the shift in energy. She freezes, the muscles in her arms tighten, beautiful arms I had kissed every inch of with my aching lips.

Then, her eyes snap to the side to meet my penetrating gaze.

Blue Grey stare back at me.

Every single god damn emotion I'd suppressed over the years comes back like a tornado ready for destruction. My limbs fall heavy but not as weighted as the pressure inside my chest. I'm frozen to the spot, mesmerized by the beautiful woman standing in front of me.

She's matured, perhaps thinned out a little in the face but she looks like my Bren. Everything is exactly how I remember, the rose color of her lips, the shade crimson in her cheeks when she's flushed with excitement or anger.

The black shirt she is wearing that hangs off her slender shoulder on one side and her tight jeans are very sexy, as are the black pumps enhancing her long lean legs. The same legs I've run my fingers along before throwing them over my shoulders.

Jesus…don't think about her that way now. You're only hurting yourself.

My expression doesn't waver, neither pleased nor angered, unable to control the numb feeling now consuming me.

Maurice breaks the momentary silence by sliding her room key towards her. I can only stare at her even though Maurice is asking me if I need anything. I hear Maurice tell her that he will have her bags brought up to her room and I do not miss her room number when he says it. 1126. I live in 1128. Next…Fucking…Door.

I don't know if Im happy for situation that fate has brought upon us or angered by it. How can I forget about the diamond ring blinding me as she reaches for the keycard and thanks him. Is Austin around here? I have to live next door to the newly engaged couple. I'd rather die to be honest. Scenarios play out in my head of hearing them have sex and I feel sick. As this is happening, Brenda rolls her eyes and starts to walk away.

But we weren't finished.

She doesn't get more than 5 feet away from me when my brain kicks back in. I touch her arm, ignoring the warmth, familiarity and tingles I feel as I turn her towards me.

"That's it…I don't even get a hello."

She breathes out annoyed as hell, I know this woman better than anyone. "Hello Dylan." Her tone flat, peeved and proof she is annoyed.

"Hey Bren." I respond my tone soft. I find myself looking down her entire frame and back up. Finally getting a better look a her. She is exquisite.

"It's been a long time." My voice smooth. Lust rushes through me. Fuck she looks good.

She asks me what I'm doing there, we talk about Brandon then I notice that fucking ring blinding me again. It's big and screams trying too hard. It doesn't look like Brenda at all. It's a weird shape and modern, nothing what I would pick for her. Yet she stands there annoyed at my presence, looking fuck hot and it's all I fucking see. She looks unaffected and I have to remember Brenda is a good actress, there is no way this reunion isn't affecting her. Then I look at that ring again and remember she's fucking her "just a friend" Austin douche bag Evans. And she is marrying him, all with Daddy's approval, no doubt. Her life is a bed of fucking roses. Of course she isn't affected.

"What else did my idiot brother have to say?"

"Oh you know. A little of this…a little of that. You know all I've been hearing about is the engagement of Beverly Hills financier Jim Walsh's only daughter." I grit, snuggling to compose myself from being completely blindsided by her presence.

She hides that offensive gaudy ring like hiding it takes away the fact she is marrying someone else.

"We'll it was good to see you, I should go." She ignores my comment.

And just like that she is on the move again. Without a goodbye.

I don't know what hurts me more, the fact she practically ignored me or acted as if we were nothing. And again my brain catches up to my body and I'm following her. I'm taking large steps, only just managing to slide my hand in the elevator door for it to open again.

Brenda looks crestfallen as if she can't imagine anything worse than being in an elevator with the man she once loved. I choose to keep my distance, despite my temptation to grab her face between my hands, pin her against the wall and make sweet love to her body as if she still belongs to me. But her actions, the ring…it becomes a vicious cycle with my confidence. One minute I want her against the wall, the next I'm reminded of not being good enough to choose forever with. Yet my ego can only take too much, so I fucking bite. "So who is the lucky man?"

Her gaze lifts toward my unrelenting stare. Her eyes narrow with a hard expression.

"What does it matter?" She asks angered by my question.

"Because even though it's been a while, we're friends, practically family back in the day. Surely, I would be owed the respect of knowing who the man is to steal the heart of Brenda Walsh."

And then she says his name, which comes as no surprise since I already knew this. What I didn't expect was the puncture to an already wounded heart…the inability to breathe normally, struggling to gasp for air but trying to show absolutely no emotion.

I should be used to this. I've mastered the art of a poker face, a much needed trait when dealing with multi-million dollar contracts and bastards who try to manipulate decisions with their narcissism.

The something awakens me, adrenaline rushes though my entire body and this confined area becomes increasingly warm. I cross my arms, jutting my chin with a stiff smile.

"Ah Austin…the he's just my friend, nothing is going on between us…I don't look at him like that…he isn't trying to break us up…Evans."

"So much for being amicable." She mutters beneath her breath, crossing her arms in defiance. "None of it matters Dylan. It's been four years. Everyone has moved on, and you're right we were practically family, so there's no point on dwelling on the past. All is forgotten."

Everyone has moved on. How fucking lovely.

Well, guess what, sweetheart?

I haven't moved on.

I still fucking love you.

Her escape from me is quick, but I call her name in which she stops so easily. Maybe all is not lost, maybe somewhere in this fucked up universe of ours, timing is everything.

I wasn't even suppose to be here at the hotel right now, I was suppose to be at work. Now that I wasn't going to London I made a point to go to the office, hoping Jim would hear about my sudden change of plans. I don't know why I came back home for lunch, it was out of character for me. I did so not even sure why. Now, I understand that something greater pulled me here.

It's the woman standing only a few feet away with her back facing me. I thought being apart from Brenda was the ultimate punishment. But now, only a few feet away and untouchable, I realize this is even greater. She's no longer a figment of my imagination. She is here, living and breathing.

I'd envisioned what this moment would feel like, and in my warped head, it was special. Brenda fell into my arms and told me she would never let go again.

But the reality is anything but sweet.

It's bitter, bleak, a slap in the face. It's the cold wind on a winters day. It's unpleasant and detrimental to moving forward to better things.

How can I move forward and profess my love when she's given her heart to someone else?

"I never forgot us." I tell her, bowing my head. "So no, all is not forgotten."

She doesn't turn around nor acknowledge my words. Instead she walks away just as she had all those years ago. And the pain manifests into something greater.

It tears me down, forces my heart to slow down. Nothing matters, not when she's running off right now, away from me, maybe falling into his arms. I mean he isn't here now but he has to be around somewhere. I have no idea how to escape the turmoil, erase the pain.

One thing becomes very clear in that moment my heart is in chaos. Brenda Walsh is an addiction I can't seem to recover from no matter how hard I try. Replacing my desperation for her is only to protect myself.

No one else is looking out for me.

Not even the woman who promised her heart belonged to me, and only me.

My gaze falls across the skyline while I stand beside the window of the hotel room. I barely touched my scotch I've been nursing for the last hour. I wonder briefly if she is staring at he same skyline right next door or has Austin the dumb fuck joined her now. It's enough to make you insane to be honest. Jealousy is a strange emotion. It's not foreign to me but it isn't something that happens to me often either. The Austin and Brenda scenarios have wrecked havoc on me. They are easy to envision because I've seen them together as friends. I never liked Austin Evans, the way he looked at my girl, the way he sized me up every time we came in contact. Every little nice thing he did for her that she thought he was such a great friend to her when all I saw was a man that was in love with my girlfriend and wanted what I had. At the time it was easy not to dwell on it though. Brenda was my girl, she had always been my girl. She loved me for so long as I had loved her. She might have been blind to the fact her "best guy friend' wanted to fuck her but I was the one taking her to bed every night. I was the one worshipping her body, exploring her intimately, getting reacquainted with everything Brenda when we got back together. Even though Austin had wanted her, she was mine. All mine in every way. I wondered when that changed, how long did it take him after we broke up to have his way with her. Was it days? Months? Years? Fuck why was I doing this to myself?

My emotions are a disaster, a cyclone of impure thoughts after seeing her today. It would have been easy to drown out the pain in this scotch or buried between another women's legs, but I know my triggers too well. Halfway through, I'll remember how my body craves someone else, and my sudden distaste for the woman beneath me will call off any chance for a happy ending. That's why it never worked out with Kelly. I tried to get over Bren with Kelly, I always had and the truth was after making up with Brandon I knew I couldn't do that anymore. I used her…but she used me too. Kelly and I had not been sexual in over a year. She wasn't my girl she was Brandons girl and after seeing him in that sports bar it became apparent that he would always love her. Right then I made a choice to stop pretending with her. To stop pretending I was in love with her because even with the history we had, no matter how much I cared for her. I wasn't in love with Kelly. I never had been in love with her.

Why does this get to me so much? Brenda's choice of him out of all the men she could have chosen to settle down with. And seeing her again, it's fucked with everything I thought I could control in my life. My mission was to fly to London and win her back. Then here she is staying next door to me, within my reach. But I doubt my capabilities, insecure about what we once had. Today, seeing her, she didn't seem as invested in our past as I am. Maybe thats my problem. I'm so hung up on the past and what we were. I've loved this girl since I was 16 years old. I'm invested in the years we had in high school as kids. I'm invested in the friendship that followed. I'm invested in the 3 years we lived together in London. I'm invested in her period. My phone buzzes in my pocket. I retrieve it to read the message on my screen.

Unknown: Just because you haven't forgotten doesn't change anything.

I reread that message 10 times. It has to be from Brenda even though the number is unknown to me. What is the purpose for sending me this message? Does she enjoy hurting me or watching me suffer? Brenda held all the cards, a dangerous position to be in because with just one more, she can crush me.

I begin to sweat, pacing my room. My skin feels incredibly hot, forcing me to remove my tie to be able to breathe. I think about replying but decide against it. Today was too much, and whatever I say may cause more harm than good. My phone beeps again. This time it's a text from Valerie. I had heard she was coming back into town, actually because of this stupid engagement celebration.

Valerie: Ignore anything from Bren. She's drunk AF

My hands type quickly, hitting send as I begin to worry about Brenda's safety. It's as natural as breathing. Brenda wasn't a big drinker and I remember the few times she indulged with her friends in London it almost always ended with her head in the toilet. Brenda was a light weight.

Me: Where is she?

Valerie: A bar Duh!

What the fuck kind of answer is that? Yeah duh Valerie, I assume a bar but which fucking one?

Fucking hell. I call Anna. Even though she is in London, I know she has probably talked to Bren. The phone rings for a while and then he finally answers.

"Hello…Dylan?"

"Where are Brenda and Valerie?"

"No hello? How are you? It's been a bloody while?" She points out with a trace of sarcasm. "How would I know? I'm in London for god sakes."

"I don't have time to play games."

She breathes out loudly, "I talked to Brenda earlier. She said Valerie flew in from New York tonight, they went out."

"She didn't say where?"

"Let me text Brenda now and see if she tells me where she is."

The line goes quiet for a little while. "So, while we wait, how have you been?"

"Fine." Is all I say.

"Really fine?" Anna questions in a condescending tone. "The girl you love is getting married to another man. At what point are you fine?"

"Anna." I grumble, closing my eyes to draw any patience left within me. "Look it's nice to hear your voice, but can we make small talk another time? Has she texted back?"

"Hmmm. Yes, something about a bar in Hollywood, and…" She trails off, then continues, "I can't make out what she is saying."

"You're no help at all." I almost bark.

"Oh wait…Avalon Hollywood."

"Thank you Anna."

"Dylan? Bren moved on. Austin is a great guy. I'm not sure why your calling me to find out where she is but maybe she doesn't want to be found."

"We ran into each other today. She is staying at the same hotel as me. I'm sure seeing me was a shock, I just want to make sure she is okay."

"Well no wonder she is pissed out of her head." I can't help but chuckle a little. In my rush to call Anna I just realized I kind of missed her. She was our neighbor and she came over a lot. She was one of Brenda's best friends. She was a wild and funny. A gorgeous blonde that was the polar opposite of Bren in personality. She even gives Valerie a run for her money.

"Thanks again Anna."

"Dylan? Go easy on her okay? It wasn't easy after you left. It was a difficult time for her, so despite what you may think, that Brenda moved on so easily, she didn't okay? It wasn't fast, it took Austin three years to even get her to go out with him."

I take that information in. 3 years? So it wasn't days, or months, it was years. She's been dating Austin for a year? Fuck him…that's nothing. I don't know why this news makes me feel better but it does. I hang up with Anna and I'm driving to Avalon in Hollywood within minutes.

Twenty minutes later, I enter the crowded place and see Brenda at the bar with two unknown men surrounding her. She's throwing her head back laughing at some joke, oblivious the men are eyeing her like fucking candy.

My footsteps are heavy as I storm over, uttering how typical this is that guys would be trying to get into her pants. She really has no clue how beautiful she is.

I grab the shot from her hand, pulling it away. "You need to stop."

Brenda doesn't appear disappointed to see me, yet her glassy eyes would have her anything but sober.

"Hey! Look who it is, Dylan McKay…billionaire extraordinaire," she slurs, pushing my chest.

Valerie slides in beside us, "Well look what the cat drug in. Hey Dylan…you're looking extra broody tonight."

Brenda giggles drunkenly.

Valerie shakes her head with a laugh, "I told you to ignore Bren's texts. Of course you would show up."

I ignore Valerie's little dig. "How many drinks has she had."

"I don't know buzzkill. Enough."

"You know I'm standing right here." Brenda says with a slow blink.

Oh Bren…that I know baby. My eyes drink her in. She is wearing this short ass black dress that hugs every one of her sexy curves. Valerie speaks breaking my lust ridden train of thought of how fucking edible she looks. Even pissed drunk. "Brenda come dance." She is being pulled by a guy that looks like he's ready to have her for dessert and by the looks Valerie is giving this said guy, she is going to devour him as well.

Brenda reaches for her shot, "I mean it, you need to stop." I pull it away from her reach.

"Can I have my drink back? It's a fi…fire…ball," she stumbles, only to giggle. "It tastes like cinnamon. Remember that morning when you made me that yummy cinnamon coffee, then you fucked me from behind in the shower."

Jesus Christ

I lower my head, ignoring the memory and how my dick hardens at the very mention.

I motion for the bartender to stop serving her and throw back the shot, letting it burn. The cinnamon tastes sweet, nothing like what I would normally drink.

"You drank my fireball!"

"Yes…because you had enough!"

Brenda pouts her lips, "Why do you have to get all alpha on me? I'm a big girl, and so what if I've had a few. It's been a long day."

"It has been a long day, which is why I'm taking you home."

She giggles, "Well…my home is very very far away. You gonna take me to London? Of course you're not. You haven't been back there in 4 years." She sways a little pointing a finger into my chest, "This is all your fault. You walk back into my life as if nothing happened, looking all sexy. And what's with the suits? Where is the white t-shirts and jeans?" She moves closer inspecting my eyes, "Where is the old Dylan? My old Dylan? Is he still in there or did having more money than god change you. I like the suits though. Do you know there is suit porn. Men who act in porn wearing business suits. It's a thing…Anna knows." She is rambling.

I can't help but be amused by drunk Brenda. She seems relaxed and open. "C'mon, no more. Time to go." I grab Brenda's hand, gripping tight, so she doesn't do a runner on me. I interrupt Valerie on the dance floor.

"I'm going to get her out of here before she vomits all over or passes out." I yell over the music, "Will you be okay? Want to come with us?" I don't think Valerie is ready to go but I'm not going to leave her in this club alone unless she gives me the okay.

"No…no…I'm gonna stay with…" She pauses like she is trying to remember her dance partners name.

"Dave." He yells with a smile.

Valerie smiles back, "With Dave. Of course you're a Dave. I'm good." She waves me off dismissively. I have to bite back a smile knowing Valerie is thinking about Silver.

"You sure?" I reach into my pocket and grab a couple twenties as she nods she is sure. "Take a cab Val, text me if you have any problems." I yell close to her ear. She takes the money with a smile.

She leans in, her hot breath against my ear, smelling like a distillery, "I knew you'd come." She says simply, "Fight for her." She looks at me. Her light blue eyes meeting mine. She doesn't have to say anything else and at that moment my heart is racing that at least one person besides myself is team Dylan. I give her a nod and her smile only grows. I lean in and kiss her temple.

"Be safe Val."

"Always am!" She laughs as Dave spins her away from us.

I look at Brenda then, she is swaying oblivious to the conversation Valerie and I just had. She is gripping my hand tight. My free hand on instinct cups her cheek, I let my thumb caress it as she closes her eyes and breathes out. I remember where we are in that moment and lead her to the exit.

Transporting Brenda back to the hotel is more challenging than I thought. She struggles to walk, even after I make her drink water in the lobby. By the time we get to the 11th floor, she becomes even more sloppy. My arm is wrapped around her waist to hold her up as we stand between room 1126 and 1128. I found her key card in her small purse she has but I don't know what awaits her on the other side of her door. Is Austin there? Is he waiting up for her? Will he take advantage of a comatose drunk Brenda? Does he know how to take care of her? These thoughts riddle my brain until I finally grab my key card and enter my room. The truth is I'm not going to leave her in her room alone like this and I don't want to come face to face with the man I loathe. I lead her comically towards my bed.

"I'm going to lay you down, but you need to drink more water and take some Advil, okay?"

She throws her arms around my shoulders, staring into my eyes intensely. Her gaze penetrating, no words escaping her perfect mouth. My hand runs down the back of her head, my heart dancing in my chest. Our little reunion should have been more like this. We just look at each other for several minutes. The trance she is in changes and begins to worry me, It's more than a loving gaze now. Brenda looks ready to pass out completely.

But then, she buries her face into my neck as she'd done many times before. A soft moan escapes her while I desperately ignore how right she feels in my arms. How much I want to place my lips onto hers and take back what used to be mine. Instead I hold her tightly, burying my face in her hair. I inhale her, she smells like her signature perfume which is not strong or overbearing but sweet, feminine and so familiar it envelopes me.

"You smell good." Brenda murmurs, running her nose against the crook of my neck. "I can never forget."

I take a deep breath, shutting my eyes tight to block out the voices telling me to strip her bare and lay her on this bed. Sliding my hands up to hers, I remove them and urge her to lay on the bed. She remains quiet, in and out of shutting her eyes until she's flat and they fall entirely closed.

Slowly, I remove her heels and place the blanket over her. Within seconds the room begins to fill with the sound of her even breathing. As I sit in the chair watching her, I realize so much has changed yet nothing at all.

We are here, years later, living two different lives, but the feelings of longing, it's still there, etched into me and a part of who I am.

I refuse to be second best, nor will I push her to choose me.

There should be no choice…end of story.

Brenda and me were friends too. The best of friends. There is no reason we can't be, even though I want more. She'll realize it. She'll realize that we belong together, that feelings this strong don't disappear. They are etched in who we are. Our souls branded, intertwined.

And until she realizes that, I vow not to touch her.

No matter how impossible that may be.

Ok guys another chapter of my new story. So some of you may be a little confused about Kelly. I decided after much deliberation that Kelly and Dylan are not together. I was very vague in the previous chapters about what their relationship was. At first I thought more of a friends with benefits but changed my mind. I don't want Brenda to find out that Dylan has been screwing Kelly all these years, if that were true she would run to Vegas and marry Austin that minute lol So Dylan explains more in this chapter. That after he made up with Brandon, he stopped pretending with Kelly. Out of respect for his friend and himself. So I hope that clears things up for you guys. I know initially I had said they were sort of together but changed my mind. Not saying there won't be feelings or drama but it's just so old. If Dylan wants a real shot here he can NOT be with her in any capacity. That being said I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know a lot of you love Val and when I write Brenda and her friendship and even though we didn't see much here we will later. Next up, the morning after. Brandon and Brenda talk, Dylan is trying to connect as friends. Stay tuned my friends, should be a fun ride. Review!