Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.
Chapter Eight
Walking up my path I see a familiar shadow sitting on my steps. I'd be surprised if I hadn't parked behind their car.
He doesn't say anything which I'm surprised about, he was so quick to anger at the start of us and now when I've betrayed her more than standing her up for a date ever could, he's quiet. I sit down next to him but he stay's quiet. I wait.
"I thought she had hurt you again. Last time I blamed you for the break up and you weren't to blame, you were so hurt that summer. This time I decided that you'd earned my loyalty, that she broke up with you and began seeing someone else. I decided if you needed to hurt her by dating her best friend rather than beg her for another shot, if that's how you were lashing out after the drama of my Dad. The drama she started. The drama that she got a rewarded trip to Paris for. After the I can't live without him drama, well to dump you two months after getting home... I thought she deserved your revenge, your confusion. She told me it all. How she couldn't understand why you'd changed when she got back, how it was gradual… it was the guilt right? College her talking about the future, it made you see that you couldn't pretend and hide it from her forever?"
"Yeah."
"You know I've been an asshole to her thinking she was at fault for this? That it was the bed she made. You know us Walsh's always believing that you need to own our mistakes earn back the trust." He finally looks at me, "it wasn't her that should have been paying, it wasn't her mistake. Dylan you knew, you saw that no one had my sister's back because we all believed it was her fault. We thought it was her fault again and this time you were just trying to see if someone else could be a better fit. She's had no one for months, being punished by everyone for a crime you and Kelly committed." He stands, "you could have told me to support her. That she wasn't to blame, that I should always choose her-"
"B, I shouldn't need to. Your sister… even if Kelly and I hadn't messed around this summer, even if Bren had broken up with me. You should know your sister. You should know that in no world could she ever deserve to be treated the way I have let her be treated."
He looks down at me, and then shakes his head. "Yeah I know. It's the first time I've ever put someone before my twin, that's never going to happen again." He turns around and begins to walk away, then stops. "Stay away from her and stay away from me."
He's long gone before I can drag myself up from the step. He's long gone before I can think how I just lost everything.
The next morning the knocking on the door drags me out of bed just after dawn, my first thought as I stumble to reach it is, well I guess it's Jim's turn.
Yanking the door open I prepare myself for a well deserve round of Dylan isn't good enough. I'm shocked that instantly a coffee cup is extended through the opening door. "What? Dad what are you doing here?"
"Bringing my son good coffee whilst I help him figure out his next move."
"I'm not sure there is any moves left." I grab the coffee and incline my head in thanks before taking a sip.
"Son you love her right? Stupid question I was there yesterday at breakfast, you think she's… well she is your everything. What kind of father would I be if I didn't make sure you had good people around you? People you can count on when the chips are down, she looks like someone you can count on when there's no chips left- right?"
"Yeah but-"
"No but's. You've had months to prepare yourself for this and even then you still haven't wanted to, still weren't ready. She's had less than twelve hours with it. You can't be feeling sorry for yourself. This situation isn't entirely of your own making; I have major issues with your Trust continuing under that man's control, and Kelly has a level of responsibility as well but regardless of the causes that led you there it is your responsibility to help Brenda get through this and build her trust back in you."
My voice is full of skepticism, "okay Dad and how do I do that?"
"The way I'm trying to do it with you. You turn up for her, you own it, your honest and well you give her space but make sure she knows she's wanted. Make sure she knows you're sorry and that she means the world to you, that her safety and wellbeing mean the world to you."
"Is that what you are doing?"
"Yeah. Dylan I want you happy, safe and supported. She is clearly what has kept you like that for two year's while I've been away. She's what I know will keep you like that in the future."
"Planning on going somewhere?"
"No not if I can avoid it, but hey two people or three with her brother Brandon having your back is better than one."
"Yeah I think you can exclude Brandon from that list." I spend the morning over coffee and croissants going over the night before. Dad is somehow even more positive. Thinking Brandon is obviously hurt but not swearing that our friendship is over, and he's not punching and lashing out. Dad see's this as a good sign. I'm still not sure about my Dad's assessment of the situation but I try and trust his judgment.
Following Dad's advice that I can't hide today, that I need to be front and centre willing to take every verbal hit I go and get dressed. When I'm back out and ready for the day I find him going through the titles on my bookshelf. "Still a bibliophile I see. Brenda's right you are smart enough and driven enough to learn, that you'll go well in anything you set your mind to, but I still hope you'll change your mind on college. I'd love to see you try it at least and see if it's for you. Maybe a degree in literature or philosophy, you've got enough books already on the subject."
"Why is it important to you?"
"Dylan I had to buy my College degree by funding a building. It ain't worth the paper it's written on because I know I didn't earn it. I want one of us to earn it, I want one of us to have McKay written there because they knew how to commit and put hard work in to achieve it."
As he speaks I have flash backs to a blue party and telling Bren it's why I didn't want College, I always thought my father valued it like it meant something. "Why hang it up in your office then? Like it had pride of place."
"Because son sometimes you have to lie to yourself and live with a mistake of instant satisfaction because the truth of it meaning nothing after so much energy is hard to live with." He gives me a meaningful look, I get the comparison and I respect his honesty. He moves over to the outdoor porch doors, "now the wind chimes is that your mother's doing?"
"Yeah Bren said I wasn't allowed to take them down as they were a gift."
"They don't work though?"
"The sound drives me crazy. Bren put rubber bands around them so they can't bang, only when the Santa Ana's are really blowing do they chime a little."
"Good thinking that girl of yours. Speaking of your Mum, mind if I call her about the Trust? Jim shouldn't be handling it-"
"Dad I don't want that threat to put Jim off side. He can make me getting back with Bren more difficult."
"Dylan I'm not saying rush out and tell her today but no more lies between you. She needs to know it all, she needs to understand what made you hit emotional rock bottom. Regardless though he needs off those fund's, someone willing to threaten a minor in their care regardless of emancipation shouldn't have control, and yes coming from me I know that's rich."
"Iris won't go for it and won't stay quiet. She'll go off at Jim."
"Well then we can say we want to manage it together to get her out here, and then explain it all when she lands. She loves you and Brenda together right?"
"Yeah."
"Then she'll understand that need for discretion."
