Chapter 5

"Brenda! You're twenty years old! Your father can't tell you what to do anymore! You're old enough to make decisions like this on your own! He can't hurt us anymore!" Dylan slightly yelled to get his point across. "Jesus! Are we back THERE again!"

Brenda shook her head. He just wasn't understanding what she was saying or where she was coming from. She had stood up to Big Jim in the past; it wasn't like she was afraid to or that she couldn't. She just wasn't sure how her father would react upon hearing the news that she and Dylan were once again a couple. Especially after the whole Kevin-Environmentalist investment went to hell.

"Dylan! We are not back THERE again! You haven't listened to a word I've said! I said that the reason why I think we should wait is to let the dust settle between the two of you and THEN it'll make the blow at least a little easier for him!" Brenda explained as hard as she could.

Dylan placed his hand on his couch and looked down at his floor as if he was thinking but not wanting to admit it. They had been "arguing" about this subject for the last twenty minutes. He honestly didn't even remember how it started; he just remembered that they started yelling at one another.

"Dylan, I'm GOING to tell him. I'd just prefer when I tell him, it's at the right time. You know it's going to be hard for him to accept, but I seriously think that if we can show him that our relationship has matured and grown, then I don't think he'll have a problem with it," Brenda argued calmly and rationally.

"Well Bren, if you think he won't have a problem with it, then why do we have to wait?" Dylan asked defeated.

She took a large breath and sat down on his couch. She took a few moments to seriously think and put it the best way she could come up with.

"Considering our past, and just recently the whole fiasco with Stuart- I want to take this slow. I realize the hypocrisy in that with having slept with you, but I want to count that as a part of our old relationship. I don't want to mess this up, and I don't want to lose you again," she confided.

Dylan made his way over to her and wrapped his strong arms around her fragile body. He stayed that way for several minutes; just letting her feel him around her. It was a comfort to both of them, just knowing the other was there to physically and emotionally hold on to.

"Now Bren," he started off saying as he rubbed her shoulders. She took that as a sign to look up and look him in the eyes. She quickly brushed her fluffy brunette hair out of her hazel eyes to get a better look at him. "That is probably one of the smartest things you've said all day,"

She chuckled at his response. Gently, she ran her fingers through his hair and just savored the moment.

"You know I love you," she confessed.

"I love you too," he replied as he leaned in to give her a chaste kiss that quickly turned into more.

Before anything more could happen, Dylan's stomach growled angrily. Both parties couldn't help but laugh. Of all the things to interrupt their make-out session, it HAD to be Dylan's stomach.

"Peach Pit?" Brenda suggested.

Dylan nodded and confirmed, "Now THAT is the smartest thing you've said all day,"

Brenda laughed again and pushed Dylan off of her, so she could sit up. Standing up, she offered her hand to him, which he took. He contemplated pushing her back down on the couch, but then his stomach growled again and he decided against it. Dylan stood up and lead the way out of his house and into his car.

At the Peach Pit…

"What's the matter Don? You're lookin' a little down. That's not really like you," Nat observed as he spotted Donna sitting alone in a booth near the corner.

Donna looked up at Nat, and tried to push her own pain aside by giving him a simple smile, but found even that hard to do.

"I'm sorry Nat," Donna apologized, "It's just-" she paused to try and find the right words to sugar-cote what happened between her and David, "David and I broke up," she simply said.

Nat's eyes grew huge. That was certainly not what he was expecting to hear- ever! David and Donna had broken up! He thought that after David's drug problem was solved, everything was good between them. Apparently he guessed wrong.

"Oh Donna," he sympathized. "I am REALLY sorry,"

"Thanks Nat," she said graciously.

"Anything you want, it's on the house," Nat offered and gave her the "and no butt's about it" look. She simply nodded her head and stood up to go the juke box. Scanning what she should choose to listen to, a particular song stood out.

She placed her money in the jukebox and pushed the button, waiting to hear the sounds of come over the speakers. As she sat back down in her booth, a familiar face walked in the door.

"Donna!" Brenda called over at her, concerned with how she was doing.

"Hey Bren," Donna greeted her best friend kindly.

"Hey, Bren, I'm gonna go talk to Nat," Dylan told her and placed a kiss on top of her head before he headed in the back.

Brenda sat down at the booth to accompany her friend and gave her a huge hug. She gently rubbed her back and then faced her.

"How are you doing?" Brenda asked genuinely.

Donna nodded her head up and down to indicate that she was doing okay, but they both knew that it would take some serious time for Donna to be okay. David had been her first love and they had been together for over two years. Brenda understood that you don't get over someone like that over-night. She had never gotten over Dylan, not completely at least.

"As good as can be expected," Donna answered in the strongest voice she could muster. All of a sudden, she looked at Brenda, and it was like a light bulb went off in her head. "You came in with Dylan didn't you?"

Brenda nodded her head, unable to keep the smile off of her face.

"Are you two?" Donna questioned getting a little excited.

"Yes we are, and don't worry! Kelly knows and she's okay with it," Brenda said honestly and openly.

Donna looked at Brenda with a "are you sure?" look, but Brenda didn't budge. She had the up-most confidence that everything was going to work itself out and everything was going to be okay. She also tossed Donna a "I know something" look.

"What do you know?" Donna pushed eagerly. She needed something, anything to take her mind off the David for two minutes.

Brenda toyed with her response for a few moments, "Let's just say that me and Dylan getting back together, won't be the only shock wave around here,"

Donna was intrigued. She could tell that that was all she was going to get out of Brenda though. She'd just have to be patient and wait. Just then, Dylan came back to the table. He looked troubled, more so than usual.

"Don, I'm sorry to cut this short, but Bren, we gotta go," Dylan said quickly and efficiently as he grabbed for Brenda's hand.

"Is everything okay?" Brenda rushed out in one breath as Dylan was dragging her away from Donna.

"Not even close," he muttered to himself, but loud enough so Brenda could hear him. As he practically dragged her out of The Peach Pit, she glanced back at Donna and gave her an apologetic look. She mouthed, "I'm sorry" and left with Dylan.

Outside, in the blinding sunlight, Brenda begged, "Dylan! What is going on!"

"Just get in the car, I'll explain everything on the way," he said in a final toned voice.

"On the way to where?" she wondered out loud, not wanting to push his temper.

"To the bank,"

TBC…