"Hey." Kelly greeted as Dylan opened his front door
"Hey..." He repeated, surprised she came.
"I know it's late... But can I come in?" She asked
"Sure!" He insisted. She made her way over to his couch. He stood before her, hands in his pockets. "Want something to drink?"
"No." She shook her head, "I just wanted to tell you... I appreciate what you did, but it doesn't make things any easier."
"I thought you already chose." He murmured
"Yeah but... that was before you owned up to everything." She groaned
"...What are you doing here, Kelly?" He asked, letting out an exasperated sigh "You just trying to torture me, is that it?"
"No! Of course not." She pleaded
"Then what do you want? You wanted me not to pressure you, so I didn't. You wanted space, you got it. You wanted me to respect your relationship... so what does it look like I'm doing?"
"I wanted commitment, Dylan!" She blurted out, "I wanted proof you wouldn't run again!" She paused, gobsmacked by her own outburst. She sat there, her heart pounding, anxiously preparing herself for his response.
He was equally gobsmacked by her outburst. Standing there, unsure what to do with himself. He stared her down, waiting to see if she'd take it back, but she didn't. He finally moved towards her, sitting beside her on his couch.
"Remember the first time we babysit Erin?" He asked, calmly
"Yeah... we watched Casablanca." She retorted
"You went to put the movie in... I couldn't stop staring at your film collection." He chuckled, "And I came across an entire shelf of Disney movies."
"And I told you The Lion King was Erin's favorite." She added
"Yeah... and yours was Aladdin." He smirked, "Then you adorably attempted to sing A Whole New World... albeit slightly out of tune." He chuckled, She smiled back, attempting to hide her face coyly.
"I remember." She said sheepishly
"You said it was romantic... him giving the princess the world." He gazed into her eyes, she looked back into his, trying to read him. He got up, and pulled the tickets out of his drawer. Returning to her, he held them out.
"What is this?" She asked
"I'm giving you the world..." He sighed.
"Hey handsome!" Valerie greeted Brandon as she entered the kitchen, but her cheerful attitude changed once she saw how sullen he looked. "What's wrong?" She asked
"Val..." Brandon inhaled. "I lied."
"About what?" She asked, as she plopped herself onto the stool at the counter.
"There was no points for work experience at college, no reporter job." He shook his head
"Then... where were you?" She asked
"I was still in Chicago... I was just... with Emily." He looked down at the ground
"Oh... my god." Valerie's eyes widened
"She called me after thanksgiving... said she needed to see me."
"About what?" Valerie prompted
"She's... engaged. She was having cold feet..."
"So she called you..." Valerie studied him.
"Yeah... " Brandon rubbed his forehead, "I did a bad thing... I'm not a cheat, Val! I mean, I'm not Steve. I don't cheat!"
"I wouldn't feel so bad about that if I were you..." Valerie groaned
"What do you mean?" Brandon asked, and Valerie let out a sigh
"Look, Brandon... now I'm only telling you this because you're family and I love you but..."
"Spit it out, Val." He insisted
"Dylan's planned a trip around the world... he wants Kelly to go with him."
"Wow..." Brandon let out an aggravated chuckle. "My first love's married, second's engaged, and now Dylan's closing in on the third."
"You wanna tell me why you're inviting my girlfriend to go on a trip around the world with you?" Brandon mocked, storming in once Dylan had opened the door.
"Heard about that, did ya?" Dylan sighed
"Yeah, yeah I did. Dylan, you had no right to go to my girlfriend behind my back... She's your ex! She's with me now!"
"Hey!" Dylan hissed, "You of all people know she was not just an ex, when you made a pass at her at your little square dance."
"Don't give me that holier than now speech. Or did you forget cheating on my sister?!" Brandon sneered
"This is different... Kel's my soulmate... I gotta do what I gotta do."
"Oh is that so?" Brandon scoffed
"It's nothing personal." Dylan sighed
"It's not personal?!" Brandon mocked, shaking his head, "So much for our friendship, Dylan."
"Guess so." Dylan shrugged carelessly, as Brandon stormed out.
"Look at all these boxes!" Jackie moaned, putting Erin on the carpet with some toys, at Kelly and Donna's apartment.
"Yeah, sorry about that. Claire's packing." Donna exclaimed apologetically
"She's leaving?" Jackie asked
"Yeah, at the end of the semester." Donna nodded
"Guys..." Kelly said walking into the living room, giving Erin a kiss on her head. "I need to talk to you both."
"What is it, Kel?" Donna asked
"...Brandon proposed." Kelly breathed out.
"Oh my god!" Jackie squealed, "That's fantastic!"
"Yeah, congratulations!" Donna smiled at her
"I told him I need to think about it..." Kelly said coyly
"Kelly!" Jackie cried, "What is there to think about?"
"This..." Kelly handed the tickets over.
"Oh honestly!" Jackie shook her head, "I can't believe you're even giving this any thought! You and Dylan are over."
"It's not that simple, mum." Kelly sighed
"Brandon is the kind, reliable, stable... just the kind of man you plan a future with. Not Dylan! Who, let's face it, is too much like your father."
"Jackie.." Kelly groaned
"I kinda have bad news..." Valerie said, walking into Dylan's.
"What is it?" Dylan groaned
"Brandon proposed to Kelly..." Valerie shook her head,
"Well..." Dylan scoffed, "That's just great." Dylan said sarcastically
"I'm sorry... I had no idea this would happen." Valerie replied, apologetically
"What are you gonna do?" Dylan shrugged, hopelessly
"Doesn't mean she'll say yes, though... right?" Valerie asked
"No, come on... who better to settle down with than dependable uncle Minnesota." Dylan remarked snidely. Heading over to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of scotch.
"Dylan..." Valerie interjected
"Val, I'm having a drink." Dylan snapped
"Fine..." Valerie let out an exhausted sigh, "Think I'll join you."
Dylan poured them both shot after shot as they sat on the couch.
""He's only doing it because Emily turned him down, and well... because of your trip." Valerie hissed
"You're in love with him aren't you?" Dylan confirmed
"No!" Valerie yelled... then breathed out, "I don't know..."
"Kel..." Donna joined Kelly on the couch, once Jackie and Erin had left. "How you doing?"
"I'm a mess..." Kelly moaned, channel surfing the tv.
"I can see where Jackie's coming from..." Donna let out a long breath, "But this is your decision... follow your heart."
"Donna..." Kelly finally put the remote control down on the coffee table, "I know it would be stupid to pass up a guy like Brandon but... I had no idea Dylan would make such a commitment... I just wanted to know he wouldn't abandon me again. "
"So what happens now?" Donna asked
"Don't think I'm crazy because I know this sounds nuts... I love Brandon, so much... But with Dylan, it's like he'll always have a piece of my soul." Kelly let out a groan, "What would you do?"
"I don't know..." Dylan sighed, "But I know what it's like to be in love... So, choose the guy you can't live without... Choose the guy that makes your world happier, lighter, brighter. David made me the happiest I had ever been... if there was a chance to feel that alive again, I'd take it in a heartbeat."
"Well.. he is single now." Kelly smiled
"Yeah... actually he wants to move back in..." Donna cleared her throat
"Are you okay with that?" Kelly asked
"Yeah... I don't know where his head is at, but yeah... I want him home." She smiled
"Yeah..." Kelly agreed
"I don't know if any of this helps..." Donna chuckled
"No, I don't know... I mean, if I did marry Brandon... I'm worried I'll let him down. Dylan has a piece of my heart I'll never get back..." She sat up promptly, "What am I doing?" She shook her head, "It's Dylan... I mean, you know, it's Dylan!" She repeated
"It's Dylan?" Donna asked, as Kelly got up and waltzed over to her bedroom. Donna followed suit.
Kelly was rummaging through her closet. "It's... always been Dylan! I have to tell him!"
"Oh my god!" Donna gasped, ecstatically, "Seriously, you're going there now?"
"I have to! I have to tell him!" Kelly exclaimed. Both girls squealed.
"Should have got a ring." Valerie joked, letting out a chuckle. Trying to lighten the mood.
"...I did." Dylan mumbled, pouring them another shot of scotch.
"What?!" Valerie gasped, as Dylan pulled the ring out from a drawer and handed it over to her
"Oh my god!" Valerie shook her head, "Dylan, this is a Harry Winston! It's damn expensive!" He shrugged as Valerie went on. "Why didn't you give her this?!"
"I wanted to do it on the trip... In Paris, on the bridge where we placed our locket on our first anniversary. I was gonna take her there and... get down on one knee." Dylan choked up, Valerie met him with sympathetic eyes. "Well, would have been a nice memory." Dylan cleared his throat, trying to hide his emotions.
"Oh Dylan, I'm so sorry." Valerie almost let a tear pour, as she felt heartbroken by how distraught Dylan was. She pulled him in for a hug.
Dylan felt her warmth as she held him in her arms, letting a tear stroll down his cheek. Valerie kissed his forehead, trying to comfort him. Knowing there was nothing she could do to take away the pain he felt.
"I'm sorry." She whispered again. As he cried in her arms.
He eventually looked up at her. The look of sorrow painted across his face, and she knew he had giving up hope. Her lips brushed a soft kiss against his. She pulled back, unsure whether it would bring any comfort to him. But his lips returned the kiss.
"Kelly?" Dylan was utterly stunned to find her at his door. "What are you doing here?" He asked
"I'm a little late but, I followed my heart." She beamed, "I choose you."
Dylan could not contain his happiness, he stood there, his eyes lit up as a smile spread across his face, "You do?" He asked
"It's always been you, Dylan." She smiled sweetly at him. Without thinking he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He held her so tightly, never having felt so relieved and happy. He couldn't believe she was in his arms, he couldn't believe she came back!
"Dylan, do you need cash for the pizza-" Valerie walked out of the bedroom. Kelly looked gobsmacked and appalled. Pulling away from Dylan once she saw Valerie, wrapped around in Dylan's bed sheet.
Dylan stood there, paralyzed. This isn't happening... He thought. In one split second his life flashed before his eyes, Don't tell me I've ruined this.
"Kel." He pleaded, almost in a whisper, unable to speak.
"You... slept with her..." Kelly shook her head furiously fighting tears back.
"Kel..." He repeated, unable to think of words, any words to say.
"I chose you moments after you slept with someone else?!" Her voice grew louder as she spoke. She glared at him furiously
"Kelly, I'm so sorry." Valerie blurted out
Kelly stormed out, holding up her hand to distance them.
"Wait, Kel!" Dylan ran outside after her, in his boxers. Chasing her to her car.
"Kel!" He called out again. Grabbing her arm before she got into her car. "Kel, I thought you said yes to Brandon, I thought I lost you, I only slept with Val because-" He said hurriedly
Kelly forced her hand out of his, "Don't touch me, Dylan!" She interrupted, "We're done." She snapped. Getting into her car and driving off.
Leaving Dylan outside. Collapsing onto the pavement. Shook, paralyzed, and in despair. He could not believe what had just played out before his eyes...
Head in hands, he drowned himself in his regret, loss and despair. Valerie stood in the doorway, puzzled, as she watched over Dylan, who remained sat outside... feeling hopeless.