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

Arrival

I had no idea what I was doing. Grandma had lent me her car under the pretence that I needed to go to Walmart and pick up forgotten items for my dorm room; that it would be too hard to carry them on the bus. It was a stupid untruth, one I had no idea why I told. I just knew I couldn't say my best friend ex boyfriend on a whim was flying into Minnesota this evening after calling me before sunrise. I couldn't say that a four minute conversation that for the life of me I couldn't remember, had me getting a phone call fifteen minutes later with a time and a flight number and a sorry but I have to run if I'm going to make this Chicago plane. I couldn't say that was the reason I needed the car.

For months in LA, I became that girl who would drop everything for the ex boyfriend the one who cheated on me with my best friend. I maintained a friendship with that girl even when she repeatedly showed a complete lack of care for me. Even the other night I was still defending these people to my old Minnesota friends, and here I was again lying to people I love to steal a moment with him again. This was so far from the girl the woman I thought I was wanted to be, that I almost stood up and left, almost but didn't. It was a horrible thing to admit that I loved him more than I loved myself. It's why I was here, it's why I was waiting even looking forward to seeing the man who had betrayed me so badly. It's the longest since meeting him that I had gone without speaking or seeing him, I missed him, I missed him more than I missed my integrity.

Like always we were a beacon for each other, he walked through the arrivals gate and instantly found my eyes knowing exactly where they would be in this massive hall. Me, I stood from my spot knowing he was getting closer, the air pressure had changed and I stood a second before he stepped through the arrivals gate. He walked over to me, and I gave him a half smile not knowing how to greet him. As always Dylan knew better about this physical stuff than me, he had been my instructor from the start. He came up and gathered me in a hug, it was a long hug, and I swear I even felt him sniff my hair. When we pulled back I looked at him properly; his hair was still that unkept length that he had ended senior year on, he hadn't shaved, he was creased and I assume from the rest of him not just from the plane ride. His face though told me everything I needed to know, he had been lost in his head for a while and even now he was still confused.

"Carrousel four, that's where we can collect your bags, it's just over there."

He nods and places his hand on my lower back, "lead the way."

We speak about stupid things while we wait for the bag; is it his duffle bag or a suitcase, was there turbulence, was his stop over long in Chicago, has he eaten, have I started classes, is it cold, when did my Mum leave. It's not till we are back in the car do I look at him again, he is turned in the passenger seat facing me. When our eyes meet he reaches over and moves a piece of hair behind my ear.

"During my layover I managed to book a hotel near your campus, they say they are less than ten minutes walking distance to the student centre."

"Okay, well I'll drop you off but then I have to bring my grandma's car back."

"Can you come back after? I can order up so room service and then maybe we can talk properly."

Talk properly? I'm not sure if I'm ready for that, this whole day has left me anxious and confused. "You sure you don't want to sleep? I'm sure jet lag is starting to creep up."

"Bren it's been months since we have spoken seen each other, even if big talking is too hard tonight I'd still like to spend some time together."

"Okay."

We are quiet after that with me concentrating on driving in a place I never have before and Dylan looking out the window. When we begin to drive through my old neighbourhood I point out mine and Brandon's elementary school and junior high campus.

"So this is where you grew up. LA, Beverly Hills must have been like arriving in the twilight zone."

"It was. West Bev, the houses, the cars, the clothes, it was like nothing I had ever seen before."

"Is it good to be back here?"

"It's different. This place hasn't changed but maybe the people have I mean I know I have, I'm still trying to find my feet."

"Well it's only been a few days."

"That's what I keep saying. Living in a dorm, sharing a room, meeting old friends who I haven't spoken to since that freshman summer; it's a lot of adjustment, I'm trying to remember that."

He immediately covers my hand the one resting on the gearshift. "You aren't happy, I can hear it."

I haven't been happy in a long time. I'm not sure if I'm pleased he sees it or I'm annoyed that he is only noticing it now. "Dylan…"

He squeezes my hand then let's go. "Okay, we'll add that to the list of potential later conversations."

We arrive a few minutes later at his hotel, of course it's the only five star one in the area. The bellman immediately comes to collect his bags with the valet hot on his heels trying to take the car from me. I decline, Dylan who by this stage has gotten out of the car moves around to the front drivers window.

"If I order dinner for six thirty will you be back by then?"

I look at the time, it gives me just a little over an hour. "Yeah that should work."

At six twenty five I'm walking up to the reception desk asking for Dylan McKay's room. The woman asks my name, and rather than calling him like I suspected she would, instead she passes me a piece of paper and requests my signature. I look down and see it's the room reservation, the names listed are one Dylan McKay, the other Brenda Walsh. It's a suite, at least its not the penthouse. Arrival date is today, but the departure date has been left blank. I sign and then I'm passed a room key with a I hope I enjoy my stay.

By the time I'm getting to the room, I'm met with room service being walked out by a freshly showered and shaven Dylan. He smiles, "perfect timing."

I walk past him and then hold up the key, he rubs the back of his neck a sign that he is uncomfortable. "Uh, well just in case you arrived back when I was in the shower I didn't want you to have to wait in the hall." I lift my eyebrow, he's lying; after realising he did it for months to me I have gone back over every moment I have itemised all his tells. I wait, he understands that I'm not buying what he is selling, "and I thought that… you know if the dorm got too crazy you could always come here to study, hangout, stay-"

"Dylan what's going on? I get a phone call at ten to six this morning wanting to make sure I've arrived here safely, settled in, and then you are asking if I'm up for my first visitor. This, this here," I indicate this room, "doesn't seem like a quick visit, a stop over on your way to LA, especially if you are talking about me studying here."

He breathes out and then walks up to me and rubs the top of my arms in the way that has always soothed me; it works. I hate that he knows me so well. "Okay, so it's not just a stopover but to be fare I never said it was. Look can we just sit down and have dinner together, and then we can get into all this?"

I sigh, "fine but we will be getting into this tonight."

He smiles, "I wouldn't expect anything else from you. You have always addressed everything with us straight on."