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


Chapter Four

The ride to school was quiet and when I pull into a car space and switch the car off I turn in my seat to face her; taking off my glasses so she can better read me.

"So now you have both of my parents wrapped around your finger. He thinks you are incredible." She's doesn't say anything but gives a slight head tilt as the only indication that she heard me, "thank you for saying that about college-"

"I said it because it's true. Do I wish you would apply so you have the options available to you if you want them next year? Then yes, but do I think you need to go now or ever? No, and it's not because of your Trust it's because you have learned to take care of yourself since you were a kid. Iris trusted you to take care of yourself last year because you do it well and I was glad she did, it was the best thing for you. In September I just got worried, I'm so used to you being there everyday, you being on the same path as me. I guess even then though you didn't know if you wanted to still walk that path or any path together, and five months later you still can't figure it out."

"Bren you left me-"

"Dylan if that was true I don't think you would have been dating my best friend less than forty-eight hours later." She unbuckles her belt, "I think you went out of your way to see how much I'd take before I left you. I guess it was an endurance test and I came up short." She opens the door and steps out- I'm left speechless, and as she closes it she looks over the door at me. "I'm glad I passed today's test as I genuinely liked your dad. Let me know when you have another hoop for me to jump through to prove my worthiness."

As she walks away I look at her for the first time, she's thinner, she's quieter, and she is more unsure of herself than ever before. I remember feeling that, I remember sitting on a bed in a honeymoon cabin annoyed that I couldn't have the woman I loved that I wasn't good enough, but back then to her credit she never made me play against someone else. She never made me feel that I was being tested, in competition to be good enough to love.

That comment, her saying that just then means that this is exactly what this feels like to her, a test to see if she is still worthy of me to love. Two year's together and I'm making her prove herself against a girl I've had a handful of kisses with. A girl who knows nothing about my past, my family, and who has never seen me at my worst and still been willing to love me.

By lunch Bren is still quieter than even her new usual. Brandon is annoyed at her that he'll have to lie to their Dad about our breakfast- I try and tell him it was my idea, she didn't know but he tells me that it's on Bren she should of said hello and then made an excuse to leave. Kelly is angry that Bren got something that she didn't, one on one time with my Dad and me, rather than at a party like she did.

Steve is snarky as he has been for months now, and the rest just look down and try and avoid the conversation. I think because none of them turned up last night and because it's another potential land mine ready to explode between the three of us.

Yeah my summer of easy it definitely made my life less stressful.