Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.

Chapter Twenty-Six

My College Counselling session was over and done with in a matter of minutes. Mrs T had pretty much done this with me in the summer when I decided that McKay House was the goal. We ended up using our time together to discuss the compliments that my pages in The Blaze are getting from students, teachers and parents alike. Parents were loving that the talent of their children was being highlighted beyond the sporting field in such a predominant way. It was then that she did her Mrs T subtle, it's a shame it can only be a couple of pieces a week. I agreed, I'd been inundated with pieces for the pages, everything from poetry, art, song lyrics, short stories, and essays. I already had more than I can use for the semester.

Our meeting ends with Mrs T moving her subtly to an open request. She'd like a semester review, a magazine of all the work not able to be published in the The Blaze. Mrs T wants a magazine to be published that people can purchase with money going to charity. My college talk was irrelevant as I knew my goal but Mrs T's request would give me an edge over other college applications, by curating and editing a project this size I'd stand out. I couldn't wait to tell my wife.

Bren's college talk was requiring a little more preparation, something that had confused Kelly. While we were sitting at The Peach Pit counter that night, she had come in in a bad mood due to David's shower encounter. Brandon didn't say anything but I could see from his eyes he was biting his tongue. He shared a bathroom with his sister, they had rules. Rules I broke gladly when I went to wash up that day after working on Mondale. Bathroom doors stay closed and locked if you are in there. Having stayed in the house regularly I knew the rules. Kelly didn't lock the door, accidents were bound to happen with unlocked doors. She should be glad it wasn't Mel, as that would have been really awkward.

When she asked Brandon about Bren and he advised that my wife was off preparing for her interview, she informed us that she didn't see College as a big deal, I nodded slightly. I didn't either I would achieve McKay house regardless, but then I had a large inheritance, an even larger one coming in a decade, I had a name that would open doors. Kelly who's family was not as wealthy had similar advantages, the reality that our family status allowed us to be a bit ambivalent to college was something I was aware of. Brandon looked uncomfortable about her remark he was not in a similar position to us, it gave me pause to think that maybe I needed to amend my thinking from the summer. Maybe he wasn't ready to pursue whatever he and Kelly had because he felt neither of them were mature enough. Time might help Kelly realise that our privilege awarded luxuries that others didn't have, it didn't make us more enlightened because we didn't need to stress about College to be succesful.

Bren walked into our history lecture the next day and gave a tentative smile, it left me curious. As the class hadn't started yet I turned to her and spoke quietly.

"Your meeting with Mrs T didn't go well this morning?"

"No it was fine. Academically, extracurricular, and along with summer programs in French and Drama, I'm looking good application wise. Some colleges require an audition to get into their drama programs which is my downfall as I don't have much stage experience since moving here but only two of those programs are in California and their writing courses aren't brilliant so they aren't on our list."

I don't say anything we had discussed college a lot, not going together was vetoed by both of us. Our rings that graced our necks made that not a viable option. We would be going together and we had found colleges that worked for both of us, we had narrowed that list down even further knowing that California was the only place we could attend because of the commitment we had made to my dad's parole.

"Okay then why the look when you walked in?"

"My parents can't afford to send Brandon and I both to outer state colleges. And before you say anything I know they aren't financing me that will be done by us, I also know we aren't leaving the state, but it's a concern that they have taken such financial hits recently that it's come to this."

I nod, "you're worried that this is because of the loss of the McKay Trust."

"Yeah, and Paris was expensive. Dad said the market is volatile-"

"It is. Mum's friend who is helping to teach me to invest has been showing me how to track the changes, a lot of usually solid investments have declined recently. Baby you know in a few weeks when it all comes out that financially it will ease the pressure on your parents, it will give them more options for B."

"Yeah, I just… this stupid war my dad has started between us and them, it has cost them greatly and I just feel bad that it has come to this. He's a proud guy that has worked hard all his life, to not be able to afford to send his kids to the college of their choice, a dream he has always had. I just feel bad that he let his fear of us destroy that dream."

"Baby you know when it comes out there will be other dreams that he'll see we have destroyed, giving you away being one of them."

"I know, and I know it's their fault it's come to this but I'm just sad. Sad for them and for us. It didn't need to be this hard."

I reach out and squeeze her hand, we don't usually touch in public intentionally but my wife needs the comfort and even if Jim was standing next to us nothing would stop me giving her that. It was my right and my honour, and no stupid war by him would stop that occurring.

The College discussions die down as the football hype begins to take over the campus. My wife is running the charity Pig Skin Prom and is focused on that. My mum has been teasing me that my great grandmother would be proud that I have found a girl that understands the society role our family plays. I seal my lips at that. Bren and I know we will live a life in the spotlight, my name, her career path and hopefully if McKay House becomes a reality, we will always be people of interest. We have decided though to make that interest be meaningful, to use the free publicity to highlight our social and environmental platforms, to actually help people.

Bren spends all her free time at school looking for a band to perform, meeting with the dance committee she has set up, she is busy. It makes me miss my wife even more than I always do. Our limited time together is cut down even more than usual. At lunch I now sit with the gang predominately Kelly who hasn't joined Bren and Donna in organising the dance, or I'm in the newsroom working on both the weekly pages or beginning to put the magazine together. It's the news room I'm in when I find out the school has canceled the upcoming game due to the recent shooting.

After that announcement the week turns into a cluster fuck of crazy, Jones is on his moral soapbox trying to sledgehammer his valid stance home to anyone who would listen- his delivery unfortunately becomes the story rather than the issue he is trying to promote. Kelly is obsessed with her Dad's visit, his first in year's one that seems she might be putting a little too much hope into. Bren is running around uncertain how to precede, they have spent money organising the dance if it doesn't go ahead it will cost the charity fund money rather than help build it up. At night when she in laying in the bath and we sneak our phone calls, she tells me how the dance being called off risks the elementary school programs they are trying to fund. When I say together we can donate the money needed she says that it may come to that but it's not the point of what she was trying to do. She wanted the community to support the program, she wanted our very privileged existence and things we do because we can to start to contribute more than just making us happy. Every dance at West Bev had been a fashion parade, an indulgence of limousines and rich kid's partying, she wanted to begin to transform them into events that could be more. She wanted that to be the mark she left on the school.

I encouraged her to reach out to Mrs T, I encouraged her to see if the dance could still take place. I encouraged her even knowing that it would put her at odds with her brother. Both twins had a strong morale fibre, both twins wanted to give back and raise the consciousness around them, but like everything with the Minnesota twins they were the Yin and Yang to the other. They worked brilliantly together when in sync or clashed when they weren't. This was a week of clashing.

On the Friday night I ended up getting held up on the bay project a little later than expected, it left me rushing home to shower for the dance and then drop past The Pit for a takeaway burger. The dance was just beginning and I knew my wife would be running around, I also knew like every other public appearance since her arrival back from Paris I wouldn't be allowed to be close to her. I was going to support her but I wasn't thrilled to be attending, I had grown accustomed to these dances were I spent the time with her in my arms. To be going and that not be an option was not something I was looking forward to.

As Nat went to sort out my order he asked me if I could do something to cheer up Kelly. I hadn't noticed her as I walked in but it was clear by her dress and the food in front of her her night with her Dad was not going to happen. By the time my order was ready I had heard the story and encouraged her to come and be with her friends at the dance. She agreed and followed behind my car in her's to the dance.

When I walked in I could see the dance was in full swing and Brandon's invite had been received by the other school. Bren was dancing but looked over when she felt me arrive, she frowned when she saw Kelly behind me but from my face and my earlier warning this week she knew what had happened. My girl immediately grabbed her best friend and dragged her to the dance floor. I went and found B to watch as my wife worked her magic on cheering up the blonde.

"So Jones how much drama did I miss?"

"A bit. I think I've managed to piss off Mrs T, Gil and most notably my sister this week. It wasn't my intent but I couldn't sit back and do nothing."

"Look man, I get that but maybe next time why don't you try and work with them all first, you may find that they aren't actually opposed to the goal but maybe it's the delivery they have issue with."

He looks at me and frowns his brow, "when did you become the voice of reason?"

It wasn't said with malice so I don't take offence, I look to the dance floor; my wife's dress was seriously hot maybe too hot in a room people considered her single. As a glare at the football crowd who may have taken the hint and moved away from her locker over the last few weeks, but clearly from their appreciative eyes tonight had not got the message that she is completely off limits, I answer my brother-in-law. "My life these day's has become an exercise in patience. My bull in a china shop approach hasn't worked and cost me…" I look at him then nod in the direction of his sister. He gets the subtly.

He smile's, "okay you know I love you man, and I've been pretty painful to my sister this week. I'm going to do something I wouldn't ever do but I owe her. Come on."

I'm completely confused but follow. When he gets to the girls he asks to cut in and guides Kelly away. The inference is clear, he's giving me time to dance with my wife.

When she's in my arms she smiles up at me, "husband how did you manage that?"

"Nope that was all your twin, it's his apology to you for the last week."

"Oh he's giving me you is he? Doesn't he know you are already mine?"

I smile down at her especially as I feel her lay a hand over my chest where my ring lays. "No, unfortunately like everyone else in this place they haven't been told that. It's a good thing my birthday is less than two weeks away, and yours is less than five."

I spin her and pull her back, "now wife when you mentioned you were wearing a short white dress you failed to mention that half of it would be missing."

She laughs loudly, "you don't like?"

"No I love, but I don't like that everyone else gets to see you in it without me there to guard you."

"Well you're here now, and honestly I don't need guarding I'm completely yours."

I spin her out and draw her back close, her ear is by my mouth, "now that I know Mrs D McKay."