Part 2, Senior Year at West Beverly High, 1991-1992
Chapter 5, Three Cheers for Senior Year
"An end of summer party at your house?" Kelly said, liking the idea, "With no parents and plenty of alcohol?"
"To sum it up," Ashley replied, "My mom's still in Disney with Joey and Rebecca. The summer is the only time we get to see her, so she tries to make it as special as possible."
"Who are we inviting?"
"You, me, Brandon, Brenda, Donna, my sister will probably be there, Steve, Dylan, David-"
"What is it with you, Donna, and David Silver? The kid's such a dork," Kelly said, rolling her eyes.
"Give him a chance, Kel. He's a great guy. Just because he may act and dress differently than the people we're used to hanging out with, doesn't mean he isn't cool in his own way," Ashley argued.
"Whatever, just because I'm there doesn't mean I have to interact with him, so long as he's the only nerd in attendance. You really have to invite him to everything, don't you?"
"He's my friend, Kelly," Ashley said nastily, "Get over it."
The next day, the party began. Starting at 12 in the afternoon and ending whenever their friends wanted to leave. Kelly, Donna, and Brenda were first to arrive, helping Ashley put out snacks and pick music. Dylan arrived at about one. While Brenda, Donna, and Kelly were tanning, Ashley and Dylan jumped into the huge in the ground pool, splashing one another and trying to dunk each other.
Everybody else showed up within the next two hours, and there were about seventy people in attendance. Kelly came up to Ashley and grinned, "Want something to drink?"
Ashley looked at Dylan cautiously, "Uh...Nah, I'll...I'll just get a coke."
"Come on, Ashley, you're the Alcohol Queen. The only person who can beat me with shots. If you won't drink, what is this world coming to?" Ashley, like Dylan, had a history with alcohol. She used to be a little dependant on alcohol, but now she was able to control herself around it, the only person knowing about her past problem being Steve. And Kelly was right. Ashley was named the Alcohol Queen. She put away more alcohol at a party then all of the other people in attendance put together.
"Kelly, I'm not in the mood," Ashley said stiffly, trying to get her to leave.
"Ashley, you can drink. I'll be fine, if that's what you're worried about. Have something," Dylan urged.
"No, I really don't want any. Kelly, get me anything non alcoholic."
Kelly went back to get Ashley something to drink, when Steve came over to get a drink. "You forgot to add the alcohol in that," Kelly told him, apparently watching as he prepared drinks in the blender.
"I know. Ashley's actually going to stay sober today," Kelly replied.
"Can I just talk to you for a second?" Steve asked, and Kelly guessed this would be a lame attempt to get her back.
"Fine," Kelly said, walking away from the drink and following Steve to a private area of the yard where nobody was, "You're one of Ashley's bes friends...Please don't encourage her to drink."
"All the guys really love her when she's lit," Kelly shrugged.
"Kelly, please, just trust me on this. Don't try to talk her into drinking," Steve pleaded.
"Fine, whatever," Kelly said confusedly.
Meanwhile, as they were talking, Donna decided to take Kelly's place at making the drinks. She poured in some liquor, but right as she was doing so, Brenda called her over, apparently having some kind of big problem.
Kelly returned a few seconds later, still a little weirded out by Steve's behavior. She blended the drink, poured it in a cup, and served it to Ashley, both of them completely unaware that Donna had added alcohol. After about her fourth cup, it became very clear the drinks had been spiked.
"Dylllllllan! Let's dance!" Ashley said, dragging him toward the music. Steve was dancing with some girl, and Ashley stepped right up to him and gave him a bear hug, "Hi, Stevie-Weevie boy," she said, tousling his hair and kissing him on the cheek, "You've got such pretty eyes."
Dylan stepped beside Steve and said, "What the hell is going on?"
"She's wasted, that's what's going on," Steve replied.
"I thought she didn't want alcohol," Dylan said confusedly, then thought for a second, "Kelly made her drink, right?"
"Yeah...She did."
"She obviously spiked it then," Dylan reasoned, trying to calm down Ashley who was now hugging both of them and rocking them back and forth.
"I'm going to go try to sober her up," Dylan said, trying to steer Ashley toward the kitchen, "You try to find out if it was definitely Kelly." Dylan took Ashley's hand and led her into the kitchen. He started to make some coffee, but he had trouble keeping an eye on her and making it at the same time.
"What's the matter, Dylan?" Ashley asked, twirling his hair, "Don't you want to have sex?"
"Ashley, sweetie, I always want that. I'm a guy, but you need to sober up," Dylan said.
Ashley pouted and crossed her arms, "Fine, if you don't want to do it, I'll find someone who does," she shrugged and began to walk out the kitchen door, but Dylan held her back, weighing his options. He could have sex with his drunk girlfriend, or he could watch her go off and flirt with every guy at this party, and then have one of them do it with her.
Dylan sighed, "Fine, let's do it," Ashley smiled and began to lead him to the pool house, but he didn't budge, "if you drink a cup of coffee first."
"Ugh, fine," Ashley said, downing the cup in one gulp.
"Wow," Dylan said, "You downed that faster than the alcohol."
"Faster I drink, faster we get to get out of here."
Steve was looking everywhere for Kelly, when he finally spotted her by the pool talking with Brenda and Donna. He charged over at her angrily and tapped her on the back. "We need to talk again," he snarled, "In private." Kelly was now even more confused, and excused herself from her friends. The two of them walked awa from the party.
"What's the matter with you today?" Kelly asked.
"You spiked her drink when I specifically asked you not to!" Steve yelled.
"I did not. Where is this coming from?" Kelly questioned.
"Ashley's completely wasted, Kelly. You were the one who made her drink," Steve retorted.
"And who dragged me away from making the drink while the blender was open and a bottle of alcohol was right beside it?" Kelly questioned.
"Why is that relevant?" Steve asked.
Kelly rolled her eyes at his stupidity, "I'm saying someone poured in the alcohol while we were talking, bonehead."
"Oh, right," Steve said quietly.
One cup of coffee did nothing for Ashley's drunkness. But just as Dylan was about to cave, Ashley ran into the bathroom. He went in after her to hold back her hair. He rubbed her back gently, "Get it all out, Ash. I'll be right back." Steve was in the pool house, ready to report to Dylan, "Kelly said she didn't spike it. She was making the drink, I called her over to talk to her about something, and while we were talking, somebody probably spiked the drink then."
"And we can trust that she's telling the truth?" Dylan asked.
"I believe her," Steve shrugged.
"Okay, then it was probably just an accident. Someone probably noticed nobody was making drinks and decided to take it upon themselves, and left before Kelly came back."
A few hours later, Ashley was pretty much back to normal. She and Dylan sat on the couch and she took his hand, "I'm so sorry. I swear, I didn't want to drink. Someone spiked it, you've gotta beli-"
"I know," Dylan said, squeezing her hand, "I know."
"How?"
"Steve."
"Steve? Steve spiked it? Oh, when I get my hands on-"
"No, he didn't spike it. Kelly left it unattended for a while, and anybody could have spiked it."
"So, you have no idea who?" Ashley asked after a second of thought.
Dylan shook his head, "It was probably just an accident."
After a while they decided to go back outside. A lot of the people were in the pool, and Donna called out, "Who wants to play chicken?" Teams began to form, and Ashlry nudged Dylan. "You wanna play?"
"Nah, I'm good," Dylan said, pouring a glass of water.
"Okay, fine. I'll just ask Brandon or David or Steve or someone..." Ashley said, hoping to change his mind.
"On second thought...Let's play," Dylan sighed.
Ashley grinned and he picked her up and jumped into the pool with her in his arms. "Okay...Donna and Steve versus Ashley and Dylan. Brenda and David vs. Kelly and Brandon. Then the losers will compete against each other, and the winners," Nicole announced.
"Ready, on your mark...Get set. Go!" Nicole called. Ashley was incredibly strong, which a lot of people underestimated her for considering her petit size. After about 30 seconds, she knocked Donna down. She looked over at Kelly and Brenda to see who would win. After another minute, Kelly went flying off of Brandon's shoulders. Donna and Steve got ready to go against Kelly and Brandon, and Ashley and Dylan against Brenda and David. Brenda was a lot stronger than Donna was. She looked down at David, who was looking up at them in all his glory. It took Ashley almost a full minute to knock Brenda down, after nearly falling herself a few times. Ashley got down off of Dylan's shoulders and they kissed, celebrating their first place victory. Brenda and David came in second, followed by Kelly and Brandon, and last, Donna and Steve. The party went on for the rest of the night, and the kid's had a ton of fun.
Ashley hurried to get ready for the first day of her senior year. She was running late, and Dylan was honking like a maniac. Ashley finished getting ready, flew out the door, and hopped into the car. She kissed Dylan and smiled. "We're seniors!" Dylan smiled and started driving.
"Hoe come you haven't been driving lately?" Dylan questioned, "I haven't seen you behind the wheel of a car in almost a year."
"Why would I need to when I have my own personal chauffeur? Unless you're getting tired of the morning quickies in here, cause if you are, we can definitely stop," Ashley teased.
"No, no, no. Definitely not getting tired of those. It's just the feeling, being able to pick up and leave to go wherever you want, whenever you want," Dylan replied, "It's the freedom."
"Dylan, I live alone in a pool house with an unlimited supply of money, and you live in a hotel, with the same. I think we have too much freedom," Ashley told him.
"Just saying, you should think about it," Dylan shrugged.
"It's no big deal," Ashley replied, and soon enough, they pulled up in front of West Beverly High. Ashley and Dylan met all of their friends in front of school, and got some early morning chatting done before it was time to go inside.
Ashley's workload was steadily decreased this year. She was finished with Math and Science completely, after starting off school in advanced classes for both. She had finished Spanish class last year, and all she really had left was English and History, and she excelled in both subjects. But the guidance counceller had told her that she'd need to take an extra subject, whether it be art, drama, home ec, wood shop, or some other class. It had always been Ashley's ambition to become an actress, but, she decided to take art.
Ashley had always had a passion for art, and loved to draw and paint. After school, Ashley and Dylan decided to get some ice cream. "You want to come surfing with me later on?" Dylan asked. Ashley smiled and licked her cookies and cream ice cream cone.
"Sure. Wow, Dylan. You gotta try this," Ashley said, holding the spoon out to him.
Dylan smiled and opened his mouth, and Ashley fed it to him, "Mmm, Yeah, it's good. Wow, major brain freeze. You put enough ice cream on that spoon?"
Ashley smiled and kissed him, "Let's head to the beach."
They got to the beach, and Dylan immediately went for the water, while Ashley decided to get some sun first. Ashley smiled as she watched Dylan surf, but then, a really powerful wave knocked him off of his board. "Dylan!" she shouted, running into the water. All she saw was his surfboard, and she decided to under water to look for him. She heard lifeguards coming in after her, and faintly heard them saying to get out of the water, but she wouldn't listen. She had to find Dylan. She swam more and more frantically, and soon, she felt lightheaded, and got a cramp. She had to keep looking, but then, everything went black.
Brandon went into Dylan's room. Brenda went into Ashley's. Just as Brandon entered, Dylan felt himself start to awaken. He blinked several times and said, "What happened?"
"You got hurt surfing. A big wave knocked you off your feet," Brandon replied.
"Where's Ashley?" Dylan questioned.
"She...She went in after you," Brandon told him.
"What?" Dylan asked nervously, "Why...Why would she do that? She could have gotten herself killed. Wait, she's...she's not..."
"She's alive, but she's in criticial condition. She hasn't woken up yet. She did find you though. You two were holding hands when you were found, but they could only bring one of you out at a time. They brought you out, cause you had been under water longer, and went back for her. She went in after you because she loves you, Dylan. You'd do the same for her, wouldn't you?"
"It has nothing to do with her loving me," Dylan told Brandon, "She'd do that for anyone. It's the kind of person she is. And of course I'd do it for her."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Brandon nodded.
"If she...If she doesn't make it..." Dylan trailed off, closing his eyes.
"Don't worry," Brandon told him, "She'll make it. She's too stubborn to die."
Brenda stepped inside the hospital room and felt strange seeing Ashley like this. She had known Ashley for a year already, and in that time, she had never known her to look so helpless. Brenda took her hand and looked at her face. She had a bandage under her bangs, where she had probably hit her head. Her arm was in a cast, and her breathing didn't sound too normal. "God Ashley, I hate seeing you like this." She expected Ashley's eyes to open. but they remained shut. Brenda took a deep breath, "We all really need you here, Ashley. Please, wake up."
Brenda realized her talking wasn't doing any good, stood up, and left. Meanwhile, in a room down the hall, Dylan was arguing with Donna and a nurse. "I need to see her!" he shouted.
"You need your rest, Mr. McKay," the nurse replied.
"I'm fine!" Dylan said angrily.
"Dylan, you're not fine. She'll be okay, but she'd want you to be resting right now," Donna told him.
"Please," Dylan pleaded, "I love her."
"I know you do," Donna said, pushing his hair out of his face, "And you'll be able to see her first thing tomorrow morning."
Donna, Brenda, Kelly, Steve, Brandon, and David sat out in the waiting room together. Ashley's mother was in seeing her right now. David sat in a chair with his head in his hands, Steve and Brandon were pacing around the waiting room, Kelly and Donna were staring off into space, and Brenda was looking down at her knees. "Does anyone else get the feeling this is a really bad omen about what the rest of our senior year will be like?"
Donna nodded lifelessly, still staring into space.
The next morning, Dylan woke up and immediately got up, and walked down the hallway into Ashley's room. He hates seeing her so helpless, and held her hand. "Ashley...I'm so sorry for getting you into this. Please...if you can hear me, squeeze my hand or something." But she didn't squeeze back. He just sat there, looking at here for the longest time, determinded to be the first person she saw when she woke up. About 45 minutes passed, and Ashley's mom and siblings had been in and out of the room. Finally, her eyes began to open. She looked around confusedly, and then seemed to remember everything. Her eyes rested on Dylan and she smiled. "Thank god you're okay."
"You," Dylan said, sitting at the edge of her bed, "have no idea how much I love you. I can't believe you risked your life like that for me."
"I'd do it all over again," Ashley told him, "Dylan, I honestly get scared by how much I love you. I'd do absolutely anything for you, Dylan. You mean so much to me, and when I saw you go down...I freaked. I can't picture my life without you," Ashley told him.
Dylan took her hand and smiled. "Neither can I. You mean everything to me. Want me to call your family in?"
Ashley nodded, but said, "Wait." she pulled him closer and they had one of the most passionate kisses they'd ever shared, "I love you."
"I love you too," he said, pushing her hair out of her face, "I'll seeya later."
A few days later, Michael called Ashley from CU. He had been there for a week already, after graduating from West Beverly last year. Ashley's mom had some really tough news to give her. They were all finishing homework in the living room, when she finally came out with it. "Kids...I have something really important to annnounce," she said, drawing in a deep breath.
"What is it?" Rebecca asked.
"We're...We're moving back to New York," she announced.
"What?" Ashley cried. Joey and Rebecca didn't seem totally bummed out by this, the way Nicole and Ashley were.
"I got a bigger job offer there," she told them.
"I'm not going," Ashley stated, getting up and walking out of the house. Nicole looked at her mother angrily.
"No way, ma," Nicole added, running outside after her sister.
The girls went down to the block to the Walsh's house. Ashley banged on the door, and Brenda answered it. "Ashley - What's wrong?"
"My mom wants us to move back to New York," she told Brenda, stepping inside the house.
"What? No way!" Brenda said.
"Yeah. She got some job offer, and we have to go back to New York. I can't leave you guys though. I won't," Ashley said stubbornly. Brandon came in and asked what was going on. Ashley told him, and then called Dylan to come over. Ten minutes later, Dylan was at the house.
"What's going on?" Dylan asked, giving her a hug.
"We're...We're moving back to New York," she told him, looking down, "I...I can't leave you, Dylan. I can't not be with you."
"You won't," Dylan assured her, holding her head in his hands, making her look him in the eye, "That'll never happen, okay? We'll figure something out."
Ashley wrapped her arms around him, and he stroked her hair, "It's okay. You're not going anywhere. Not if I have anything to say about it."
Nicole looked fondly at her sister and her boyfriend, "They really are in love, aren't they?"
"Yeah, they are," Brandon replied, seeing for the first time just how much in love the two of them were. Jim and Cindy must have heard the commotion in the front room, because they had come in to see what was going on. Nicole told them everything, and they called Ashley and Nicole's mom to come over. Jim, Cindy, and Ashley's mom sat together in the living room, trying to talk things out, while the kids waited in the kitchen.
"You know, Dawn," Cindy said to Mrs. Gilmore, "Ashley's going to be eighteen this year, and Nicole will be turning seventeen. Don't you think you should let them make their own decision about where to live?"
"And where would they stay?" Dawn asked, "I need to sell the house to buy a place in New York. Besides, that place is much too big for only two kids."
Cindy thought for a minute, "They can stay here."
Dawn's eyes widended in shock, "Really? Cindy, I appreciate that, but do you really need two extra kids bothering you?"
"Well, they'll be going off to college next year, and then it will just be Nicole. I think we can make do. Besides, they're great kids," Cindy told them, "We'd be happy to have them. Right, Jim?"
Cindy was determinded to make these kids stay here, and Jim could see it, "Yes, of course."
"I know it would certainly make the kids happy..." Dawn trailed off. She looked up at Cindy, "You are sure about this?"
"Positive," Cindy replied.
"Thank you, Cindy."
"You're welcome," Cindy said, calling in the kids. They sat down, Ashley and Dylan holding hands. She drew in a deep breath and looked down. She was scared of what was coming. Her and Dylan were clinging to each other for dear life, both so scared of losing each other.
"I won't force you girls to come to New York. You will be adults soon, after all. And Michael is still here, after all. We can't all just pick up and leave him. Cindy and Jim have agreed to let you guys stay here, and I will take Joey and Rebecca to New York with me."
Ashley smiled, and squeezed Dylan's hand, "Really?"
"Yes," Dawn replied.
"Thanks so much," Ashley said, hugging her mom, Cindy, and Jim.
"When do you guys leave?" Nicole asked.
"A week from yesterday," Dawn replied.
"Okay so...We better start moving stuff," Brandon said happily.
Later that night, Ashley and Nicole went home, with a bittersweet feeling. They would miss their mother, Rebecca, and Joey so much, but on the other hand, they'd be living with their friends, and get to keep their lives. They began packing, so glad that things had worked out.
Back at the Walsh house, Jim was doing some late night work, and Brenda was finishing some homework. Cindy knocked on Brandon's bedroom door, and opened it to find Brandon reading. "Thanks for letting them stay here, mom," Brandon said, looking up from his book.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Cindy replied, "But Brandon, I need to talk to you about something."
"Okay," he said, closing the book, "What is it?"
"You and Ashley...I don't want you two, y'know," Cindy said awkwardly.
"That won't be a problem. Ashley and I aren't together. We're just friends now. Have been since New Years," Brandon assured her, with a tone of nastiness in his voice, that Cindy picked up on right away.
"What's the matter, Brandon? Do you...Do you still have feelings for her?" Cindy asked.
"I don't know," Brandon said with a sigh, "Maybe. I was just such a jerk to her."
"Why did you two break up, anyway? I'd wouldn't mind having a girl like Ashley in the family," Cindy told him.
"I was really jealous about her past with Dylan," Brandon said, "I guess I sort of pushed her into his arms."
"Does she know how you feel about her?" Cindy asked her son.
"I don't even know how I feel about her. But we're doing really good now as friends, and she's really happy now. She's in love with Dylan, not me, everyone can see that," Brandon told her.
"What's meant to be will find it's way eventually, honey," Cindy said with a shrug, "And if it's not Ashley, it'll be somebody else. You'll find someone great, Brandon."
"Thanks, mom," Brandon said, and she got up and left.
Six days later, Ashley and Nicole were moving their things into the guest bedroom. They were so relieved to be a part of a real family for once in their lives. The day after they moved in, Michael dropped by. Over the past year, Michael had been hanging out with Brandon a lot, and they were pretty good friends. "Michael. How's CU treating you?"
"Pretty good. Me, my ex-girlfriend Tibby, and her best friend Bailey got this apartment by the beach, so it's all good," Michael said.
"You're living with your ex girlfriend?" Brandon asked, "Isn't that awkward?"
"You tell me," Michael said, pointing a thumb over his shoulder at Ashley. Brandon laughed, not even thinking about that.
"Good point."
"Nah, we ended on great terms. We've been friends since the start of High school."
A little while later, Dylan and Steve showed up. Brenda and Michael were talking and flirting like they usually did. Ashley was angry that nothing ever came of their constant flirting. After a year of flirting, flirting, and more flirting, they were still just friends, and Ashley swore on the first day that they had met, that they really had chemistry.
Later that night, all of Ashley's closest friends were sitting in the living room in the Walsh House. "I have an idea," Nicole said from the chair she was sitting on, "But first, raise your hand if you've made out with somebody in this room." Every hand but Michael and Nicole's went up into the air. "Interesting," Nicole said, "What about more than make out?" Dylan, Ashley, Kelly, Steve, Brandon, and Brenda's hands went up.
Nicole laughed. "Is anybody here even a virgin?" she asked. Donna and David's hands awkwardly went up, "Good for you two."
"So, who here has made out with who, anyway?" Michael asked.
"We can go around the room, spilling our guts, and then end up fighting about it later," Ashley told him.
"Nah Ash, it's all in good fun," Steve replied.
"Fine. You start then, Stevie," Ashley said, with fake innocence.
"Fine, and what am I saying?" Steve asked.
"Who you've made out with, who you've had sex with...all the dirt," Brenda replied.
"Okay then, fine. Obviously Kelly for both. And for making out...Uh, all of them, or the ones in this room?"
"Just in the room," Nicole replied.
"Okay...Kelly and Ashley."
"Ashley?" Brandon asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Steve and me...we used to make out once in a while, years ago," Ashley told them, waving her hand.
"You go now, Ash," Steve told her.
"Okay, I'm leaving the room for this," Michael said, standing up, and walking out, making everybody laugh.
"Uh, for sex...Brandon and Dylan. Making out...ugh, every guy in this room. Damn, I'm a slut," Ashley said with a laugh.
"Even David?" Dylan asked.
"Yeah, uh...Let's move on. You go," Ashley said, sensing Dylan might be about to get mad. Michael returned a second later with something to drink, and reclaimed his seat on the floor.
"Fine. Sex...in this room, uh, Brenda and Ashley. Making out...Ashley, Brenda, and Kelly." Now, that was a shock to everybody. Nobody in the room had known that Dylan and Kelly had ever been together.
"What?" Brenda asked.
"It was a stupid one night thing at a party back in sophmore year," Kelly clarified, "it was nothing."
"You knew I liked him though," Ashley told Kelly.
"You always denied it!" Kelly exclaimed.
"Yeah, but you still knew how I felt about him. See, I knew this would lead to nothing but trouble," Ashley said, untangling herself from Dylan, "So how about you next, Brandon? This is fun."
"Um. Just Ashley..."
"Same here," David added quietly. The next day, Kelly dropped by. Brandon answered the door, and she asked to see Ashley. Kelly felt horrible about last night, and she wanted to clear the air with her best friend.
"How mad at me is she?" Kelly asked, afraid to hear the answer.
"Don't worry about it," Brandon told her, "She'll get over it."
"Thanks, you're such a nice guy," Kelly told him sincerely, "What sucks is that no nice guys would ever want to be with a girl like me."
"What makes you say that?" Brandon asked.
"My reputation, Brandon. We both know what everybody sees me as," Kelly told him.
"I see you as Kelly Taylor. A pretty, kind girl who happens to be one of my best friends," Brandon told her, "Don't let anybody's opinions or gossip get in the way if who you want to be."
Ashley came down a moment later, and looked at Kelly as if she were the scum of the Earth. Kelly took a deep breath. She had seen Ashley's temper before, and it was nothing pretty. Ashley knew how to make people feel like the best person alive, or the shittiest person on Earth. Something told Kelly she'd be experiencing the latter this morning. "Ashley...Hi."
"Hello, Kelly," Ashley said coldly.
"Listen, Ashley. I'm not trying to make any excuses for myself here. I'm taking responsibility for my actions. I was...really drunk, and me and Steve had just gotten into a fight. It was really stupid, and I'm a horrible friend for doing that to you," Kelly told her.
"You're...You're not a horrible friend," Ashley told her.
Kelly smiled, "Thanks, Ash."
"It was a long time ago, let's just put it behind us," Ashley said, trying to do the right thing.
"Really?" Kelly asked, completely stunned that she was getting off scot-free.
"Really," Ashley said, and just then, the doorbell rang, and Dylan came inside. He didn't exactly look happy, and he asked Ashley if they could talk in the living room. He was nervous, and a part of him thought it was stupid to bring up what he was about to bring up, but Dylan just couldn't help himself.
"What's up, Dylan?"
"That night that you bailed me out of jail..." Dylan began, twiddling his thumbs.
"Yeah, what about it?" Ashley asked perplexedly.
"Did...Did you and David kiss that night?" Dylan asked.
"No, Dylan."
"During any of our break ups?" Dylan continued. Ashley sighed and shook her head, "Then, when was it?"
"The night Brandon and I broke up. I had too much to drink, he stayed behind to take care of me."
"And to have sex with you," Dylan muttered.
"You don't know what you're talking about," Ashley said, "Who said he kissed me?"
"You...You kissed him?" Dylan asked.
"I told you, I had too much to drink. I was hoping for some rebound sex, I guess. He didn't want to take advantage of me, though. He's a really good guy. Most guys wouldn't do what he did," Ashley told Dylan.
"I would have," Dylan said stubbornly. Ashley smiled a little.
"I know you would. Can we drop this now, please?"
"Yeah, I guess," Dylan said, kissing her.
Two weeks later, everybody was hanging out at the Walsh's house when Nicole went into the kitchen to get some more drinks, and Steve followed her in. "Here, lemme give you a hand."
"Thanks," Nicole replied, "Can you pour two Iced Tea's?"
"Sure," Steve said, keeping his eyes on Nicole. She was actually really pretty, Steve noticed. Her dark brown hair fell a little past her shoulders and pretty hazel eyes.
"Steve...What are you staring at? Do I have something on my face or something?"
"No, no, it's not that," Steve had known Nicole almost as long as he'd known Ashley. She'd always been hanging around Ashley when they were younger, but back then, he was crushing on Ashley, and had never noticed how pretty Nicole was. "Have you always been this pretty?"
"Nope. I was an ogre for sixteen years, and this morning I woke up, and I had suddenly transformed and became pretty. What's gotten into you, Steve?" Nicole asked.
"I guess I never noticed cause I was always chasing after your sister or Kelly or something," Steve shrugged.
"Oh gee, thanks. I don't know if that's a compliment or an insult," Nicole replied, "But I'll take it as a compliment." Nicole narrowed her eyebrows at Steve, as if contemplating something.
"What are you thinking?" he asked.
"This," Nicole replied, putting her arms around his neck and kissing him.
"People are dehydrating out here!" Ashley yelled into them.
Nicole and Steve pulled apart, and continued with the drinks, blushing furiously. They were about to carry the drinks back inside to the living room when Nicole stopped Steve. "Uh...Can we not tell anybody about this? Once those guys know you're personal business, you're done for."
"Sure," Steve replied, still being stunned that Nicole had kissed him, and and was now acting as if it were no big deal.
September turned into October, and Kelly was thinking more and more about Brandon's words. She shouldn't let anybody define her. She could be anybody that she wanted to be. One day, Kelly decided she really wanted to talk to Brandon about what he had said. She went over his house and asked him if he could go on a walk with her. He said okay, and they began walking in silence. Kelly took a deep breath, "I've been thinking about that thing you said about not letting other people's opinions rule my life. It had a really big impact on me."
"Glad I could help," Brandon told her.
"How can I change my reputation?" Kelly wanted to know.
"You could stop with guys for a while, or you could find a guy you'd like to be serious with, on an emotional level," Brandon suggested.
"That's the thing. I already have," Kelly told him.
"Really? Who is it?" Brandon asked.
"Uh...You, Brandon."
"Me?" Brandon asked, completely shocked.
"Yeah. But nice guys like you don't want anything to do with girls like me," Kelly told him.
"Hey, that's not true, Kel," Brandon told her honestly, and then, not planning it or anything, he kissed her. She was shocked at first, but kissed him back, and then he pulled away, "Will you, Kelly Taylor, go out with me Friday night?"
Kelly was absolutely beaming, "I'd love to."
"Great. I'll pick you up at eight, okay?" Brandon asked.
"Sounds great," Kelly replied, kissing him once more, and getting into her car.
Ashley sat in bed with Dylan, trying to think of any other place she'd rather be, but she couldn't think of a single one. Every fight they had brought them closer together, and she never imagined she could be this close to another person. "What do you want to name your first child?" Dylan asked all of the sudden. Ashley raised an eyebrow.
"Where is that coming from?" Ashley asked him.
"Just curious," Dylan shrugged.
"Well, for a girl, Jamie Lauren. For a boy, James Tyler. What about you?" Ashley asked.
"No idea, really. Those are nice names though."
"I've had them picked out since I was thirteen," Ashley admitted.
"Well, you certainly plan ahead," Dylan said with a smile, "Did you know you're the most beautiful girl I've ever met?"
"And you are the cutest, sweetest, most amazing guy I've ever known," Ashley said, kissing him. Dylan smiled and they got into a tickling fight. Their relationship was at an all-time high.
David decided that since him and Ashley hadn't spent much time together since the start of the school year, that he'd better go over and pay her a visit. He rang the bell to the Walsh house, and asked Cindy if Ashley were home. Cindy told him that Ashley had gone to Dylan's for the day, and that she should be back later that night. Dylan thanked her sadly, and began to walk off, when he heard footsteps behind him. "Hey, David."
"Hi, Brandon," David replied, shielding his eyes from the sun that was right in his eyes.
"Do you...Do you wanna talk about it?" Brandon asked him.
"Talk about what? Talk about the fact that Ashley was willing to be with you, Dylan, and Steve, but the one time she kisses me, it's because she's drunk?"
"In all fairness, her and Steve were never an item. More of a friends with benefits thing, I guess," Brandon responded.
"Yeah, that's not helping much," David told him, "At least she's happy though, with Dylan."
"You really love her, huh?" Brandon asked.
"Yeah...I really do," David replied.
"Just give it some time," was all Brandon could think to say, "if it's meant to happen, it'll happen."
David shrugged, "Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks, Brandon."
"No problem," Brandon replied.