Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.
Chapter Thirty-Four
When the cheer of surprise die's down the twins make their way immediately to the five of us, with Steve walking behind the twins as he was the one in charge of getting them here on time; considering the usual lateness of my wife and brother-in-law it was a significant job.
"Jones you threw us a party, how very nice and completely out of character for you- you hate parties."
As I finish our handshake click I smile, "believe me I know but you only turn eighteen once right, and there will be a lot going on on Wednesday, we may not get to all hangout together." My brother grimaces and then nods in understanding, he gets the 'a lot' is code for Bren and me. "Anyway I can't take all the credit it's been a group operation but the mastermind behind it all has been Kelly, she came up with the idea."
Bren who had just finished hugging the other members of the gang makes her way to my side before looking at her best friend and smiling, "Kel you planned this? Thank you that is really kind."
Kelly beams under the positive praise and attention from Bren, my wife had tried her best to not let our conversation change her interactions with her best friend but of course it had. Bren wasn't rude but she had been tense in her presence the last couple of day's and it was clear Kelly had picked up on it to. Though I was no better, I was paranoid and checking everything I said to everyone and examining everything they said. It was exhausting.
"It wasn't difficult I was just thinking on Monday night that you guy's haven't had a birthday party in Beverly Hills, and well after the last Casa Walsh party that I kinda accidentally helped get out of control I didn't think it was likely your parents would support you guy's having one there, and with Erin we couldn't have it at David and my place. So I spoke with Nat on Tuesday morning, got Dylan's support and help with the details after all he is the Walsh Twin expert."
"Oh Jones I'm getting you a badge made for Christmas with that printed on it, maybe a plaque for your study door." I subtly flick my brother-in-law the bird.
"Hey if anyone is the twin expert it's me. Brando's my best friend and Brenda is my study and footloose partner."
I can feel the irrational anger rise up, I hate when he lays claim to any part of my wife. The touch of her hand on my back calms me and I finally risk looking down at her. The anticipation of the week ahead and everything else that I had discovered over the last few days had made me struggle to maintain any kind of distance from her, I had since taken to limiting when I look at her around people, I hoped that it would ensure that I wouldn't give us away. As Kelly had been talking Bren had removed her leather jacket as the Pit was hot, the grill and it being crammed to capacity making it a little stifling, looking down at her was the first time I saw what was under the jacket- what the fuck is she wearing?!
I don't give a shit who is watching I lean down and whisper in her ear, "a navy bodice top thing where the hell did Steve say he was taking you and Brandon? Baby that is not a top to wear when your husband is struggling so badly."
My pint size minx actually giggles, "he said we were going to a launch party I thought the top worked nicely for that, now though I think it works even better for something else. What was this evening's reading?"
Leaning back I smile, "380, 390, and 392, the first one is usually the warm up one."
Our time together is rudely interrupted, "are you guy's still talking about Dylan's lung capacity it's become an obsession with the two of you the last few day's. I'm starting to hate the words peak flow."
The blonde clown was seriously trying to annoy me tonight, in retaliation my reply was thick with sarcasm. "Oh sorry Steve, I didn't realise my health and Bren's interest in me making a speedy recovery was such an annoyance to you."
Brandon reads my instant mood shift and attempts to play the peacemaker, "okay okay we are all delighted you are getting better Jones, but Steve is right you and Bren have been very invested in it."
"Well B lung capacity is important for many things-" my wife's pinch is quick and sharp, "ouch."
Trying to avoid the follow up questions that my comment could raise she looks at her twin, "Brandon we should go say hi to everyone and thank them for coming."
"Right behind you little sis."
They disappear off to greet everyone and I slip behind the counter to check on the food Nat is making and to grab a cup of coffee. Around the time that I'm squeezing the handle till my knuckles are white Nat comes over from the grill.
"Whatever that cup did to you it must have been bad." Huh!? I turn to Nat and look at him with confused eyes. "That was my subtle way of asking kid if you were okay? Between the cup and the death glare it seems like the party isn't working out the way you wanted it."
I turn and look back at the idiots who are the focus of my glare, "I hate jocks."
"Okay but whatever Tony Miller and his buddies are doing seems to be going past a general dislike of sports people. I mean Brandon seems to be having a good laugh-" he stops as one of the idiots moves and you can see Bren standing next to her brother amongst the attentive jocks. "Oh okay that makes sense now. They trying to make a move on my Laverne?"
It comes out almost like a growl, "they better not be."
"Dylan you guy's aren't together and if Jim has his way you won't ever be again, kid you may have to accept her dating other people. Look it's not fair and I personally don't see the problem with you two, I think you guy's bring the best out of each other but for the time being you don't have much of a choice."
"Yeah Nat I'm not okay with any of what Jim wants, and no I won't be accepting anything. There will be no one else for either of us." I take the last gulp and then put the empty coffee cup down. "Excuse me I'm going to see it the birthday girl wants to dance."
If I stay next to her tonight I think I'll be okay. I hate parties, I hate crowds, my skin feels like things are crawling on it being surrounded in such a confined space; no wonder I drank when I went to club's I wouldn't survive it otherwise. My wife though keeps me focused, it's what I had learnt at The Spring Dance, Halloween, the Christmas Dance, The underground night club, The Pigskin Prom. If I have her in my arms everything else is okay, well until I spin her for the fourth time and I realise we had a fucking audience, her fan club.
She immediately feels my tension, "Baby you've got to calm down."
"I should have checked the fucking guest list myself, if this was one of Kelly's-"
"Hey you said she has been junior year normal this week, and of course she is going to invite them the whole senior class is practically here. Brandon's also worked with those guy's for years- I don't think it was on purpose. I think this party was a nice idea of her's and she hasn't come near you since I arrived."
"Yeah, it sounds horrible but I wondered on our phone call on Wednesday night if this was less about your birthday and more of an apology for being a shitty friend."
"Maybe having a direction has kicked her out of her funk and reckless decision making, though what she was doing was beyond shitty and I'm not sure if it's forgivable. Best friends… well girls think about best friends differently there's unwritten loyalty codes, being a teenager is hard enough being a female hyper aware of everyone noticing your shortcomings adds to that. We cling to best friends they make us feel secure about who we are, we trust them not to try and bring us down like everyone else does."
"It's a good thing you married your very best friend then, even if I don't get the female challenges I've always got your back and to me you don't have shortcomings-" she lifts an eyebrow, she was calling bullshit we were well aware of every aspect of each other's personalities. "No shortcomings just adorable quirks that have got us in trouble a time or two, and may have seen poor Emily lose nearly her head at that bbq."
"Poor Emily? She nearly lit me and her on fire."
I pull her closer, "yeah tonight's not the night to bring up all the times I could have lost you, there's too much happening this week."
Her hand touches my chest knowing exactly where to lay it to push in my ring and half a heart, "Baby you have to relax it's not long to go now."
"It's still too long, I just want it all out in the open. I want to stop hiding and I want their eyes to stop looking at you. That top is like a red flag to the bulls, and guess who are the bulls?"
"Dylan they are harmless, and what is the worst thing they will do ask me to dance? I'll just say no. You have got to relax, you are still recovering." I groan. "Come on Baby calm down and just think about all that good healing that is happening to your lungs right now being less stressed. Think of all the fun we will have celebrating no more hiding."
As the night wore on the attention on my girl continued, she turned down multiple invitations to dance unless it was one of the gang. Though even with the jocks all slowly being rejected my mood continued to gradually get worse. I didn't like them even attempting to ask her. I wasn't usually crazy jealous but this week was different. I had been extra vigilant since my parents chat on Wednesday night feeling a fool for needing it pointed out to me; it wasn't very McKay of me, I was becoming too trusting. I was now constantly on the lookout for all the potential people trying to come between us. While I knew they wouldn't succeed I was hyper focused on reading into everyone's motives now. The need for such monitoring made me fucking mad, not only were we under attack from the Walsh's but now everyone else even our best friends could be a threat trying to keep us apart.
My parents had been miserable away from each other, my father had been a mean asshole and my mother… well it took her a long time to get a handle on herself again. My life had been blown up with them being separated, and watching them these last months, seeing how committed they are to our family, how in love they clearly are, how they feel like themselves again like I'm meeting my real parents for the first time. I know now what I missed out on. I know what fate took from me. I know how twin flames are unable to properly function apart. Bren and I when these last few day's are done will never be a part again, it wouldn't be fair to either of us we would never truly work away from each other. We were each other's true home, and I was sick of people trying to take that from us, trying to burn it down.
As Donna and Kelly go to bring out the cakes, David turns off the music, and I dim the lights down. Steve had stolen David's video camera and was currently filming the room singing from his position behind the counter next to me. As the girls approach the twins in the center of the room they realise our mistake the cakes would have to be held by them. Immediately though the very helpful Miller see's the problem and lifts a table placing it in front of the twins for the cakes to be put down on. He then of course helps himself and takes position next to my girl. Give me strength and patience!
Once the last candle had been blown out, Andrea passes the twins each a knife and as they cut into their individual cakes some fucking idiot yells out, "remember if it comes out dirty you have to kiss the closest person to you."
My anger flares, and when the dipshit Miller see's another opportunity this time to capitalise on a stupid tradition and actually begins to lean down as Bren pulls out the chocolate covered knife I lose all reason. Even as my brain registers that my girl instinctively turns and leans away, making only her cheek accessible and putting more distance between the two of them clearly indicating that she wasn't okay about this stupid tradition, even seeing her handling it and Tony getting the hint and reaching for her hand instead understanding she was saying no to even her cheek being kissed, even seeing all that I'm still unable to control myself from yelling out.
"Miller your lips land anywhere near my wife's skin we are going to have a major fucking problem here tonight!"