Brenda wondered where Dylan was and if he had listened to her message yet. It had been two hours now, why hadn't he called? Her mind was buzzing with unanswered questions. Had she done the right thing by offering to stay in town next year? She knew that their relationship didn't exactly thrive long distance. Her staying in LA was the best chance they had of the relationship surviving but did she really want to stay in LA? She'd been so excited at the prospect of going away to school, but was that more important than their relationship? What did Dylan think? Would he be happy that she had decided to stay or would he offer to go away to school with her? She wished he would call.
Brandon clad in boxer shots and a faded grey t-shirt knocked on Brenda's door on his way to bed. "Hey Bren, you can have the bathroom first if you want it." When she didn't answer he stuck his head round the door. Already in her pyjamas, she was sitting on her bed, clutching a stuffed animal as if her life depended on it. Looking at it more closely he was pretty sure it was the stuffed elephant Dylan had got her as a good luck gift for the SAT's. Brandon knew from experience that this was not a good sign. Cautiously he edged in to the room. She was staring at the phone and didn't seem to have noticed he was even there. Gently he spoke "Bren, is everything alright?"
Startled she looked up "I don't know Brandon' she sighed. She paused then looked at him solemnly 'It's Dylan, I feel like I'm losing him."
Brandon sat down beside her on the bed and waited. Sure enough Brenda continued. "I tried to call him earlier but he wasn't home. I ended up leaving a message on his machine." She fixed worried eyes on him "Brandon I told him that I'd go to school in LA next year so that we could be together. That was two hours ago and he still hasn't called me back". She was fighting tears now. "That can only mean that he doesn't want us to be together next year".
"Whoah slow down there Bren. You don't even know if he's checked his messages yet". Brandon knew it was important to be the voice of reason when Brenda was in this kind of mood. "Don't you think you should wait until you talk to him before you go jumping to conclusions".
"I can't help it Brandon" she answered desperately "It just feels as though we're moving in completely different directions, and that if I don't do something about it I'm gonna lose him."
"Staying in LA next year, is that what you really want Bren?" For the past few weeks all she'd talked about was going away to school. Brandon couldn't help thinking she was giving up on her dream.
"I don't know" she answered honestly "but I do know that I want to be with Dylan. If he won't go away to college then staying here is the only way to keep our relationship alive." She forced a smile "Anyway if I stay here I'll have the best of both worlds. College and Dylan". The smile faded "I just wish that he wanted College too. Brandon why do you think Dylan doesn't want to go to College?"
Rubbing his tired eyes tiredly, Brandon ran his fingers through his hair and thought for a moment. "I honestly don't know Bren" he said finally. "I think this college stuff is making everyone a little crazy". He thought about how his friends had been behaving lately. "I mean Andrea's stressed out about scholarship money, Steve's worried that he's going to disappoint his father if he doesn't get in to a grade A school, and poor David is spending every waking moment with his head in a book." Brandon shook his head in disbelief. "Senior year is tough enough for us seniors, David must be crazy wanting to graduate early".
Brenda sighed. "Well I think it's romantic. David's putting himself through hell this year just so he and Donna can go to college together". She frowned. "All Dylan has to do is fill out an application."
Brandon suppressed a smile "What's this, do I see the green eyed monster rearing it's head?" He poked her arm and received a smack on the hand in response.
"So what about you and Nikki. What happens if you go away to school next year?" Brenda certainly knew how to deliver the killer blow.
He frowned "Now that's a conversation I'm not looking forward to having."
"Meaning?" She asked archly.
"Meaning I don't know Bren. This college stuff isn't easy for any of us you know.
She sighed "I know."
He stretched and slowly got up off the bed "Anyway I'm officially exhausted. I need to get some sleep". He smiled "So you never answered my original question. Do you wanna use the bathroom first?"
"You go ahead I'm gonna stay up a while." Her attention had already switched back to the phone.
"Okay" Brandon moved towards the connecting door but turned back "But Bren, don't go staying up all night waiting for the phone to ring."
"I won't". She replied but it was obvious her thoughts were elsewhere"
He made one final attempt "Don't worry about Dylan, he'll come round".
She sighed. "I hope you're right Brandon".
"Night Bren." Brandon left her to it. He hoped that she wouldn't stay up all night, but knowing his sister and her inclination for the dramatic, it was a distinct possibility.
Brenda sat up for another hour after Brandon went to bed. Still the phone didn't ring. In the end she decided she really should go to bed, if only because she had to get up for school in the morning. Dylan never called, and Brenda spent an uncomfortable night tossing and turning and thinking about him.
Author's note:
Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has posted a review. Your comments are really encouraging, providing really good motivation for me to keep writing! For those of you who are wondering I'm in this for the long haul and there are quite a few twists and turns still to come.
The feedback you have been giving about the characters, the way they act and how you want their relationships develop is really helpful. I am taking notice of it and trying to incorporate it in to my story (so please more of the same!).
For all those who are waiting for Brenda to find out please keep reading, I promise it's coming up soon!!