Through the storm we reach the shore

You give it all but I want more

And I'm waiting for you

With or without you

I can't live with or without you

With or without you - U2

"Things are just so complicated..." Kelly said pacing up and down the living room

"Kelly, if the play makes you this frustrated, quit!" Dylan groaned

"Kinda hard to do now... since I got a call back for the lead..." Kelly finally stopped pacing

"Wait, I thought Brenda waned the lead?" Dylan asked

"Yeah but... the director asked me to audition for it! Was I supposed to say no because Brenda believes she has some prior claim to it?"

"The whole point of this was for you and Brenda to share something you could bond over, I highly doubt this will help that."

"Oh I see..." Kelly scoffed, "Of course you're defending Brenda." She shrugged, exasperated

"See, that! That's exactly what I'm talking about... I can't say anything without you making it about Brenda. Kelly! You have got to stop these negative thoughts and these Brenda insecurities from entering your brain! I think I have proved time and time again since thanksgiving that I only want you."

"Dylan, the director asked me!"

"I'm sure he did, Kel. You can do anything you set your mind to and obviously he was going to notice you, but the point wasn't about whether you could do it, the point was whether you wanted to take it from Brenda."

"God forbid!" She rolled her eyes

"Kelly! I am not defending Brenda... I just don't get it. Since when are you so into theatre anyway? All you've done this week is bitch about it, and frankly, you're starting to sound just like her."

"So what you're saying is, it's okay for Brenda but not for me?"

"Oh my god!" Dylan groaned, "Brenda is dramatic, that's why she loves this stuff. You weren't like this, and that's what I love about you... All I'm saying is, if your friendship with Brenda is important, why start a war over something you were never really that into in the first place?"

They were interrupted by a hard knock on the door

Dylan went to open it.

"Hi, Bren." Dylan sighed, but before he could finish the greeting, Brenda stormed in,

"Where is Kelly?!" She snapped

"Right here." Kelly replied sharply

"How could you?" Brenda yelled, walking right up to her, "You knew how important this was to me, you know that it has been my goal since I moved to Beverly Hills to find a good art program! I invite you to join me and you just had to pull the rug out from underneath me!"

"Brenda, the director asked me to audition... It's not like I went in and deliberately tried to steal your role."

"Oh of course, because things just happen for Kelly Taylor, right? Everyone and everything just happens to fall at your feet!"

"Brenda!" Kelly snapped

"No, you just had to walk in all blonde and tall and take this away from me!"

"Brenda, I'm the one who encouraged you to do this! I'm the one who read lines with you, helping you practice, so why the hell would I want to take it from you?!"

"Because you take everything from me!" Brenda screamed, glaring at her, "First Dylan, now the play! Even my own brother won't choose sides when we fight!"

"Not everything has to go your way, Brenda... there are other people in the world." Kelly sneered

"Wow... I can't believe I even thought there was a chance for us... I should've known you'll always be a blonde, backstabbing bitch!"

"Screw you!" Kelly yelled

"Hey! Time-out!" Dylan rushed between them, "Time-Out! That's enough! Alright?! Kelly, go to my room. Brenda, outside... NOW!"

Both girls stormed out in their separate directions.

Dylan followed Brenda outside

"What the hell's the matter with you?" Dylan warned once he and Brenda were outside. "You're both acting like children!"

"Tell her that!" Brenda snapped

"I'm telling you... Brenda you can't barge into my house and swear at my girlfriend... if that was a guy, he wouldn't even be alive right now!"

"Come on, Dylan, you know how important this was to me, and she had no right to swoop in and take it. It's a slap in the face!"

"I know, I know and I'm going to talk to her about it. But right you, Bren you gotta stop walking around and talking to people the way you do. Don't make me feel like an idiot for helping you and then turn around and disrespect my girlfriend."

"Fine." Brenda folded her arms, "But she crossed a line!"

"And you guys are never going to get passed this if you guys keep going at it the way you do."

"Well, maybe that's fine... maybe this friendship isn't worth saving."

"Hey, as long as you're both fighting for it, it's worth it."

Dylan went back inside, and made his way over to the bedroom.

Kelly was already in bed. Dylan crawled in behind her and spooned her. He threw his arm around her, his hand reached for hers but she refused it.

"So, we have a fight and you go after her."

"Oh my god!" Dylan groaned, "For your information, Kelly... I told her that if any guy disrespected you like that he'd be a dead man."

"Oh." Kelly sighed, eventually reaching back out for his hand

"See, I have your back... and that's why I think you need to fix this with Brenda."

"No, that's over... But it's okay, I have you."

"Yeah, you do... but you need her too." Dylan assured, "Kelly, I don't want to start a fire, but... Brenda's been dreaming about the dramatic arts since we've known her... can't you at least see where she's coming from?"

"I guess..." Kelly mumbled

"So, will you go over and talk to her tomorrow?"

"Alright... I could do that."

He hugged her tightly as they fell asleep.

Kelly was pacing outside the Walsh's house when Brenda finally opened the door

"Hey." Kelly said coyly

"What are you doing here...?" Brenda asked

"I just wanted to let you know I... dropped out of the play."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because... I hate acting... it was never my dream... it's yours."

"Then why did you audition in the first place?" Brenda asked

"Because." Kelly paused, "I was jealous."

"Jealous?" Brenda asked, taken aback.

"Ever since we drifted apart, it's been hard not being your friend, watching these moments from the sidelines... I just wanted to do something with you... I wanted to feel like I'm a part of your life again."

"I know what you mean..." Brenda sighed, "I miss having someone to talk to on the phone for hours, and share everything with at sleepovers."

"Yeah..." Kelly nodded

"But you, jealous of me? I was the one who was always jealous of you."

"Why?" Kelly asked

"Isn't it obvious? From your clothes, looks, figure right down to your goddamn hair. You got whatever you wanted, you were prom queen, spring fling queen... you were Miss Popularity to everyone at school. Just once I wanted to walk down those halls, knowing what it felt like to be in your shoes."

"But that's all so superficial." Kelly began, "Brenda there are things you have that I'll never have."

"Like what?"

"Like... your mother making your a home cooked meal after school. You've never had to long for a loving family... and more importantly you have a dad. Who loves you and will do anything to protect you... Since the day I met your family I wished to know what a father who makes you his number one priority felt like."

"Oh." Brenda paused, "...Do you wanna come in?" She eventually asked

"Really?" Kelly replied

"...We could, stuff our faces with cookie dough... and..."

"I can help you rehearse." Kelly smiled "...I missed you, Brenda."

"I missed you too, Kelly... Come on!" She rolled her eyes, putting her arm around her, as they headed inside.

"I'm proud of you." Dylan put his arm around Kelly as they sat on the couch

"Thanks... it was really nice... it felt like, finally we made peace, you know? Put all the past to rest."

"Yeah... I'm glad." Dylan smiled, kissing her.

Their moment of passion was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"I'll get it." Kelly groaned, pulling out of Dylan's grasp, as he wasn't ready to press pause on their make-out session.

"Hello!" A woman greeted, with a child, as Kelly opened the door

"Hi, can I help you?" Kelly asked

"I hope so." The woman smiled, "I'm looking for Jack McKay."