Chapter Twenty-six
Slowly, Brenda turned to face Kelly. For a long moment they regarded each other in silence, like two cats about to pounce. David Silver shifted awkwardly, wishing fervently that he were some place else. So far Brenda had been uncharacteristically restrained, but he had a feeling that was about to change, and he wanted to reach minimum safe distance before it did. His eyes flicked nervously back and forth between the two girls, waiting for one of them to break the uncomfortable silence. Donna, frozen in mute horror, held her breath anticipating the inevitable fireworks to come.
Insides churning with emotion, Kelly felt her courage rapidly disappearing. She'd thought that once she actually saw Brenda, she would know what to say but she'd been wrong, way wrong. What she saw before her had rendered her completely speechless. The Brenda Walsh facing her right now bore absolutely no resemblance to the Brenda Walsh she knew. Her long dark hair had lost its usual lustre, her face was pale and drawn, her eyes haunted. It was as if overnight someone had stolen away her intensity and radiance, and left her an empty shell.
When she saw Kelly, Brenda was assaulted by a wave of conflicting emotions. Kelly was her best friend, the person who had been there for her so many times, the one person who was always on her side. Only she wasn't on Brenda's side, she wasn't on Brenda's side at all. As she stared at Kelly she felt as if the scales had finally been lifted from her eyes, and she was seeing everything clearly for the first time. She realised in horror that it had all been a sham, her friendship with Kelly, her relationship with Dylan, her life in Beverly Hills, none of it was real, it was all based on lies. She knew that she couldn't handle this now; that she had to get away before she broke down completely. She took a step forward, meaning to walk away "No, I can't do this, I won't."
Kelly moved to block her path, reached out to grab her arm, unwilling to let her go.
"Let me pass." Brenda demanded her voice dangerously low.
"No." For once Kelly stood resolute "Not until you've heard what I've got to say."
***
Dylan McKay groaned and shut his eyes as they were assaulted by the sunlight streaming through the window. His head was pounding and his mouth was dry, he felt like hell. Slowly, tentatively he opened one eye and squinted against the brightness. Before him on the coffee table he saw the empty bottle of whisky and the shot glass, a painful reminder of last night's activities. Opening the other eye, he turned his head to survey the room, searching for evidence that would tell him just exactly how much he'd had to drink last night. The small movement caused the hammering in his head to intensify. He groaned again, closing his eyes and cradling his head in his hands, but still the pounding continued.
"Dylan" Brandon shouted, hammering again on the front door "Come on man I need to talk to you."
Slowly Dylan opened his eyes again, struggling to focus he tried to pinpoint the source of the noise. Eventually he realised that the pounding wasn't just going on inside his head, someone was banging on his front door. "Alright, alright I'm coming" he answered, hoping to stop the incessant hammering that seemed to be drilling directly through his skull.
Gingerly he struggled up from the couch, his progress hampered by bruised ribs and a killer hangover. "Brandon." He sighed heavily as he opened the door; he was in no condition to deal with Brandon's anger and contempt this morning. "What's this man, round two? You come back to finish off the job?" he asked irritably.
On the doorstep Brandon frowned. Dylan looked like hell. He wore the same clothes as yesterday, and judging by his appearance it was obvious that he had slept in them. Catching a waft of Dylan's breath he turned suspicious eyes on his friend. "Dylan have you been drinking?"
"You know Brandon I'm pretty sure you didn't come all the way over here to lecture me on my drinking habits" Dylan responded evenly "So why don't you do us both a favour and tell me why you're really here."
Brandon took a deep breath before answering "I came to apologise" he said simply.
Dylan blinked in surprise; he hadn't been expecting that. More accusations, a lecture on his treatment of Brenda, a demand for an explanation of his behaviour, any of those would have made sense but not this. "Excuse me?" He looked at Brandon in confusion.
"I came to apologise for yesterday." Brandon spoke calmly, but he felt anything but calm. "I shouldn't have hit you." He paused finding it difficult "I'm sorry".
They regarded each other in silence for a moment, both remembering the events of yesterday, both reflecting on three years of friendship. Then Brandon turned and began to walk away. He was almost at his car when Dylan shouted after him "Brandon." Brandon stopped, turned to face Dylan
"I'm sorry too." Dylan said softly. They looked at each other in silent understanding, and then Brandon got in to his car and drove away. He didn't look back.
***
"Okay." Brenda's voice was cold and unforgiving "Let's hear it."
Kelly glanced around nervously. The hallway was starting to fill up with interested spectators. She cringed; most of them weren't even bothering to pretend to go about their business, instead they were openly gaping. She guessed it was only fair, Brenda had been publicly humiliated, she deserved a public apology. Besides Kelly no longer cared what these people thought of her, they didn't matter anymore, all that mattered was saving her friendship with Brenda. She cleared her throat; her mouth had suddenly gone dry.
"I'm sorry" she said quietly. Inadequate as it sounded to her own ears she knew that it needed to be said.
"Sorry for what exactly?" Brenda asked her voice icy "Sorry for sleeping with my boyfriend, sorry for lying to me, or sorry for the way that I found out?"
"I'm sorry for all of it, for everything." She hesitated struggling to find the right words "But most of all I'm sorry for hurting you". She swiped at the tears that suddenly pricked her eyes "I never meant for this to happen, I never meant to hurt you. Please Brenda you have to believe me."
"Believe you!" Brenda was incredulous "Kelly you've been lying to me for months, how can I ever believe anything you say?"
Suitably chastened, Kelly dropped her gaze, no longer able to meet Brenda's accusatory eyes. "Because I'm your friend" the words came out almost as a whisper, and those further away had to strain to hear.
Brenda frowned. "I used to think so."
Kelly looked up sharply, but before she could speak Brenda continued "You know Kel you really had me fooled. I actually fell for your sob story, that whole 'I've changed routine'." She shook her head in disgust.
"I have changed." Kelly said softly, fighting back tears.
"Really. And I suppose it was your passion for French literature that won Dylan over." Brenda said pointedly.
"I love Dylan and he loves me" Kelly said defensively. As soon as the words were out of her mouth she regretted them, but it was too late, the words were like a red rag to a bull, and Brenda didn't disappoint.
Brenda's eyes glittered dangerously "Dylan doesn't love you" she spat "He's only interested in sleeping with you, and.." she added bitterly "We all know that's an area where you have lots of experience."
Seeing her words hit their target, Brenda continued lashing out, wanting to hurt Kelly as much as Kelly had hurt her "You're a slut Kelly, you always have been and you always will be. You can try as hard as you like to bury your reputation but deep down you'll never change. You and Dylan don't have anything special, it's just sex, that's all you are to him." Brenda wiped viciously at the tears that were spilling down her cheeks.
"You're wrong. It's not like that." Kelly insisted tearfully, but Brenda wasn't listening.
"That's what it was like with Jake wasn't it. He used you and you let him, and then he just left you didn't he, just like all the rest."
"Stop it, please stop it". Kelly begged covering her ears in a vain attempt to block out Brenda's words.
"Why did it have to be Dylan? Was it because for once I actually had something you didn't? Is that it? You just couldn't stand to see me happy, you had to do something to spoil it". She shook her head in disgust "Well congratulations, you got what you wanted. I just hope it's worth it."
"This isn't what I wanted, it wasn't meant to be this way" Kelly stammered. "You're my best friend, you mean so much to me, I would never deliberately hurt you, you must know that."
"All I know is that I hate you, and I never want to talk to you again". Brenda fought to keep her voice even.
Kelly gasped "Brenda please, you don't mean that, you're just upset". All of the colour had drained from her face, and the tears were flowing freely now. "Please don't do this, you're making a mistake" She begged.
"The only mistake I made was being stupid enough to think you were my friend" Brenda snapped. "But don't worry I won't be making that mistake any more."
"Brenda please, I need you" Kelly admitted desperately.
"Go to hell." Brenda spat her voice shaking with emotion. Then she turned on her heel and walked away. She didn't look back.
***
"So that was a pretty brutal scene in the hall way just now".
Startled, Kelly looked up "Just go away Steve, I'm not in the mood right now". She'd come out here to lick her wounds; she couldn't cope with company.
"Hey come on Kel I'm just trying to help". Steve sat down beside her on the cold stone steps, and handed her a tissue. He adopted an injured tone "Be nice or I'll go away."
She sighed. "What are you doing here Steve? Don't you know I'm a social leper these days? If anyone sees you you'll never get another date in high school".
He shrugged. "You look like you could use a friend right about now, and I could be the only one you got. So here", he offered her the tissue again.
"Thanks". Kelly took the tissue and wiped her eyes. She hadn't even noticed Steve in the hallway, but he'd obviously seen the whole thing. He must have followed her outside. Kelly had known Steve Sanders all her life. They had been an item a few years ago and although she had never been in love with Steve, there was still a special bond between them.
"So you and Dylan. Now that's pretty hot. Not as hot as you and me" he winked "but a close second". He held out an imaginary microphone "So tell me Kel, how does it feel to be one half of the biggest scandal to hit West Beverly since Donna Martin started dating a younger guy? Inquiring minds want to know?"
Although he was making a joke, Kelly knew that this was Steve's way of showing her that he cared. For all his juvenile antics he had a sensitive side that few people got to see.
"Well let's see, Brenda hates me, Dylan won't talk to me, my friends have deserted me, and my sex life is once again the talk of the school, so in answer to your question Steve I'd have to say it sucks". She said bitterly.
"Well I'm still here for you". He put his arm around her, trying to comfort her. "Look I know what it's like to be out in the cold, I've been there. You know we're a lot a like you and me".
"We are?" She asked in surprise.
"Sure" he grinned. "We both know what we want and we're not afraid to go after it".
She looked at him suspiciously. "No matter what the consequences?"
"Kelly" he explained taking hold of her hand. "Sometimes you just have to do what's right for you."
"Even if it means hurting the people you care about?" She still wasn't convinced.
Steve shrugged "Life is hard Kel. You can't worry about other people all the time. You have to look after number one. Sometimes you have to upset a few people along the way.
She shook her head "The hatred in her eyes, the horrible things she said, the pain in her voice. I've really hurt her Steve, I'll never be able to figure myself for that." She twisted the tissue in her hand as she spoke, wiped clumsily at her eyes with the back of her hand.
Steve fished in his pocket for another tissue, and handed it to her "Brenda's pretty tough, she'll get over it.
For the first time he saw the light of hope in her eyes "You really think so?"
"I know so. Hey" he patted his chest proudly "Have you ever known me to be wrong?
Kelly opened her mouth to respond but Steve cut her off "On second thoughts don't answer that".
They both laughed. "At last a smile" Steve observed. "I think my work here is done."
"Thanks Steve, you've really helped". She touched his arm. Just a small gesture to let him know that she was glad he was still her friend.
Steve smiled "That's what I'm here for. Now don't you think it's about time you sorted things out with Dylan?"
He was right she knew. She loved Dylan and she wasn't ready to give up on him yet, she'd sacrificed far too much to give up on this relationship without a fight. She would cut afternoon classes and go over there right now, make him listen. Feeling a little better she kissed Steve on the cheek "Thanks Steve, for being there."
"Anytime." He responded cheerfully. As he watched her head across the campus to the parking lot, Steve Sanders could feel his heart breaking. He knew that for once in his life he was doing the right thing, but if that was true then why did he feel so bad?
Author's Note
Just to let you know, I haven't dropped the Legacy Key story (it will feature again soon!). It's meant to be a minor story arc with the major story arc being the love triangle. If I get it right, the Legacy Key story should support the major story arc (It's all part of my plan!). I've got some Christmas chapters coming up that I will be posting very shortly, so check back soon for regular updates!!