Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.
Chapter Two:
Kelly and I swim and have a good time splashing each other, and when she had dried off and got redressed I walk her downstairs to the valet and wait for them to get her car.
"Kel thanks for coming it meant a lot." I squeeze her hand and kiss her cheek as her car pulls up beside her.
She gives me a sweet look, "no problem Dylan. I'll see you at school tomorrow?"
"Yeah see you then."
As I see her drive off I'm hit with the difficulty of all this. She was a friend to me, she had blown up her life to be with me- or at least her friendship with Brenda, and she was someone who I could be light with. Play and laugh with, Bren and I haven't been like that since the Beach Club that day her parents busted us.
Was our playfulness all gone and used up, or was it that I'd stopped being playful with her? When was the last time I hadn't been on edge with her for more than a few minutes? The planning of the bbq? I'd deluded myself into thinking it was all okay and then she found the earring and I was forced to do something I never thought I'd ever do, lie to her face.
When I make it back to the suite Jack and Christine are just saying goodbye to the last of their guests. I nod and walk past them grabbing a soda water from the bar on the way through. My dad finds me leaning against the rail looking out across the city. "You were smiling in that pool with Kelly what changed?"
"Nothing."
"Kelly seems nice."
"Yeah she's great."
"You get through to Brenda, are we on for breakfast in the morning?"
I smile, "yeah she apologised for not being able to come tonight- she sounded deflated. Jim must have given her one of his lectures or guilted her into staying. Even without words that house has some pretty hard standards to live up to. Anyway I told her I'd pick her up because it's probably the only way I can guarantee that we will be moderately on time for breakfast."
"She's not punctual?"
Chuckling I answer, "she is in her mind. She has her own timezone both Walsh twins do. Brandon was born first though so his tends to run about five minutes before his sister's."
Timezones. Were we out of ours? Had Bren and I missed it? If I was to tell her everything would we ever get back, would I be welcomed back by either twin into theirs?
"Dylan I've been around the block a few times. I may not have always done it right but being locked up in a cell for nearly two year's gives you a lot of time to think and reflect. Want to tell me what's going on? No judgment your old man has made more mistakes than you can even conceive of."
Turning away from the city lights I face him, he's genuine in his offer. What the hell right? I tell him it all. The night of her red jumper and offer of Baja. Her arriving on my doorstep. Her crying and being depressed. Jim's office both times. The tug of war. The long looks. The babysitting. The kiss and then immediately getting caught. The sleeping out under the stars. The staircase. The watch medallion. The beach blanket and the out given. The separation I tried to put between them the girls. The loneliness of Kelly. The SAT and college disagreements. The drop overs by Kelly. The earring. The admission and continued lie. The French fling. The first date. The cookies. I went through all of it.
He's quiet for a long moment. "You know when I spoke to you before about Kelly being nice you didn't smile, Brenda's lateness though lights up your face. It seems to me you could have chosen Kelly a hundred different times in the last few months and some of them would have seen you get out of this mess still somewhat being the good guy… well maybe not that but you would have been a little more even with Brenda. You haven't taken it though. Tonight that girl walks in wearing a pretty dress and your first thought is where is Brenda. Dylan I know you want easy you said it a couple of times in your story but look what easy got your old man? We were wealthy without me needing to do short cuts but I wanted quick easy rewards and what I got was bankruptcy, a criminal record and a son who has been left to fend for himself. I'm not sure who told you- hell it was probably me but life isn't supposed to be easy. Nothing good, meaningful and valuable comes from easy."
He puts his arm on my shoulder and gives me a light squeeze, "come on we should get to bed we've got to be up early tomorrow so I can meet your girl, and I need my beauty sleep so I can look my best."
