Bitter Taste

Be the long awaited answer to a long and painful fight

We all begin with good intent

Love was raw and young

But we carry on our backs the burden

Time always reveals

In the lonely light of morning

In the wound that would not heal

It's the bitter taste of losing everything that I've held so dear.

"Dad." James tried waking up Dylan. "Dad!"

"What, what?" Dylan spoke with a groggy tone, waking up in a fright.

"Why are you sleeping on the couch?" James asked

Dylan rubbed his eyes and sat up straight, trying to wake up quickly.

"Uh." He said with a growly whisper, "I uh... I've been staying up late to write... Didn't want to wake your mother."

"Well, go back to bed." James shrugged, "I gotta get to school in 20 minutes - I wanna watch a little TV."

"I'm up, I'm up." Dylan breathed out before getting up to go to the bathroom.

Kelly headed into the Peach Pit that morning for a coffee-to-go. She found Brenda already at the counter, paying for hers.

"Hi." Kelly breathed out. Brenda glanced at her before turning on her heel.

"Okay... " Kelly sighed, "Thought we agreed to be civil but whatever." Brenda, upon hearing this, turned back around to face her.

"We did." She said sharply, "...That was until I found out that you slept with my husband." She began to head out. Kelly signaled to the waitress that she'd be back in a minute and chased after Brenda.

"Brenda..." She said once she hurriedly caught up with her just outside the door.

"Don't follow me." Brenda warned

"Brenda, I'm so sorry!" Kelly blurted out. Brenda sighed in response and turned back to look her in the eye.

"Kelly." She paused, shaking her head, "Your apologies are wearing thin... Just like your underwear."

"Hi smush," Kelly hummed as Dylan let her in.

"Kel, if you tell anybody that I let you call me that, I'll kill ya." He warned, pulling her in for a kiss.

"Well my lips are sealed" She was about to head into the house, but he pulled her back for another smooch.

"Yeah, that's the way I like them." He teased.

"What are you watching?" She began heading over to the couch.

"Eh I'm not really watching... Just sorta reading about at California University." He joined her and picked up the brochure.

"Following me, huh?" She teased.

"Well, if i don't get into Berkeley..." He shrugged

"Oh, I'm an after thought." She jokingly sulked.

"No... " He rolled his eyes. "...I've been looking over courses. It's got literature, romantic poetry, psychology... Something for both of us."

"Yeah." She agreed

"I think we'd have a pretty good time here." He insisted

"You think so, huh?" She smiled

"Yeah, well, my dad was real high on the idea of me going to college. Plus, I can keep an eye on you around those horny frat boys." He jokingly glared at her

"Oh, that's why." It was now her turn to roll her eyes.

"No." He put down the booklet and stroked her hair, "I wanna go where you go."

"I want you with me too." She smiled as his leaned over to her, stealing a quick kiss. "Look at us... Giving college a try."

"It's risky but... Most risks are worth it." He winked at her.

Dylan let out a sigh as he remembered the past. He remained behind his desk at After Dark, and continued to write.

I'm always trying not to go crazy which oddly enough is exactly what the writers I admired did.

I read their stories and watched them rise from the ashes. There's a respect you gain for someone who takes a risk.

There are very few risks I've taken but they have led to some of my best memories

And it just makes you realize that all the fears and hassles of life are so insignificant.

Perhaps that's why Bukowski said you have to die a few times before you actually live.

"Hey, did you get the 5th edition?" Dylan said once Lindsey answered her phone.

"Yeah, just got your email."

Good. I'll send you the 6th in a few days tops."

"What about the 7th?"

"I'm doing some rethinking..." Dylan exhaled

"Dylan." She warned

"I'm changing the ending."

"You can't!" Lindsey gasped, "Dylan, didn't we already agree on the collection? The poems' topics have been chosen."

Dylan sighed, "...Let me choose again."

After school, James arrived at Pamela's for the movie night they had planned.

"Hey!" She greeted him once she opened her front door.

"Hey!" He grinned, walking in.

"Did you get the movie?" She asked as they headed over to the couch.

"Today's classic." He held up the DVD, "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

"Yay!" She took it and began to put it in the player.

"By the way, thank your mum for letting us do this." James added

"Yeah, she doesn't mind. But erm... why did you wanna do the movie night at my place?" Pamela asked as she head back to him on the couch.

"My parents didn't want people in the house." James replied, nonchalantly.

"Or maybe they just didn't want me." Pamela looked down.

"I'm sure it's got nothing to do with you." He assured

"James... " She turned to face him, "When you cheat on their son with his cousin, parents tend to not want you around."

"Pam, my parents have better things to do that judge a 17 year old kid." He rubbed her back, "-Besides my dad can't talk. He did the same thing his senior year."

After the movie, James went to the bathroom and Pamela grabbed the DVD from the player to put it back in its case. Just then the doorbell rang.

"Hi." Thomas huffed, as she found him outside her door.

"What are you doing here?" She looked at him curiously.

"I came to say I'm sorry." Thomas exhaled, "I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it... I had just hurt my cousin, and I took it out on you. And I was angry and jealous, thinking you came to me because he left. I'm sorry I was so vindictive. I've never felt feelings like this for someone before... I was slowly realizing summer was over, and I had to give you up. I stupidly thought this would make it easier. But all it did was make me miss what we could have had."

Pamela stood there stunned.

"Pam listen-" James stopped in his tracks when he returned and found Tommy at the door. "What's going on?"

"I was just leaving." Tommy nodded and walked out. For a moment, Pam stood there watching the door he had just closed.

"Kelly, there's something I need to tell you." Steve's tone changed once he stood in Kelly's kitchen, and was far away from the kids in the living room.

"What is it?" Kelly asked

"Don't be alarmed..."

"Okay..." She was confused. Steve's concern was written all over his face.

"...Dylan beat up Mark in a jealous rage." He finally confirmed. Kelly stood there, surprised.

"Oh he did..." She breathed out, pondering that thought.

"Guess he's still not over you... " Steve shrugged before warning her, "Just take care."

Kelly, still surprised at the news, began to speak again before Steve made his way out of the room.

"Steve." She called, letting out a sigh. "...He did that for me."

"What?" Steve crinkled his forehead, turning back around to face her.

"...Mark and I... we uh had a fight. It got pretty bad." Kelly pulled up a stool and sat down.

"What happened?" Steve walked towards her and plopped himself on the stool beside her. "Did he do something?"

"Don't worry, I'm okay." Kelly dismissed the conversation.

"Kelly, if he hurt you, you have to tell me. I'll terminate my work with the TV station."

"Steve... " She soothed, calming him down. "It's fine. Dylan found out and... took care of it."

"...You asked him to do this?" Steve questioned

"No. I didn't even know until you told me!" She insisted, and Steve paused for a moment, pursing his lips.

"Then clearly... he still cares about you." Steve

"No." Kelly shook her head, frustrated. "Look, just please don't say anything to anyone, alright?"

Steve remained silent.

"You didn't tell anyone, did you?"

"Well..." Steve fidgeted, "This morning at work..."

Kelly began to groan.

"It was only Brandon!" Steve assured

"Only Brandon?" Kelly's eyes widened.

Dylan heard excessive banging on the door.

"Dylan, Brenda! Open up!" Brandon yelled behind it.

"Calm down." Dylan drawled as he opened the door.

"Where's Brenda?" Brandon stormed in

"She's not here." Dylan sighed. Brandon turned to look at him.

"Why did you do it?" Brandon said bluntly.

"What?" Dylan had no idea what was going on.

"Mark." Brandon said stiffly, "He told Steve everything."

"Everything..." Dylan nodded slowly, trying not to scoff.

"Yeah." Brandon folded his arms, glaring at him. "So, tell me, Dylan. Which is it? Are you chasing after Kelly again or... Are you sleeping with her?"

Dylan closed his eyes for a second and let out a deep breath.

Though I've tried, I've fallen

I have sunk so low

I messed up

Better I should know

So don't come around here

And tell me I told you so.