Chapter 5 Start Spreading the News
Brenda quietly zipped up her bag, she looked over at Valerie sleeping on the cot in her room. She didn't want to wake her just yet to say goodbye. She was up all night tossing and turning, Brenda felt nervous, scared to be going to a new place. She also wanted things to be perfect with her and Dylan, living together, taking that step into adulthood together. Brenda saved her last goodbye for Brandon and she was not looking forward to it. She quietly moved through the bathroom looking around sadly. She had shared this bathroom with her brother for 3 years and it seemed like longer and that bathroom had so many memories. She slowly peaked in to see Brandon sleeping in his bed.
"Bran?" she whispered.
Brandon stirred a little opening one eye and stretching, "You leaving?"
"Soon, can I come in?"
"Of course." Brandon slightly sat up rubbing his eyes.
"I can't believe I have to say goodbye to you." Brenda said sadly, "I mean how do you say goodbye to your twin, we shared a womb for god sakes." Brenda smiled holding back her tears.
"Its ok Bren, we will see each other again, plus in 3 months I will see you at Thanksgiving." Brandon obviously was less sentimental than Brenda.
Brenda sighed, "I know it's none of my business but don't let Valerie living here mess things up with Kelly. I know from experience, lust doesn't last. I know Val, she will do everything to get in your pants and you and Kelly have more than that. Don't make the same mistakes Dylan and I did, I mean yeah things are great now but they weren't for a while. A fling isn't worth it and no matter what Dylan and I say, and the fact we both forgave each other for what happened that summer, it never goes away."
Brandon looked down, "I know, I love Kelly, I can handle Valerie."
Brenda raised an eyebrow, "Ok if you say so."
"I can, and things are a lot different now since Bobby's wedding. Kelly and I are closer, things are better, we are committed."
"Ok." Brenda heard her mother call out that Dylan was there. "I guess this is it." Brandon leaned in and embraced his sister. "I love you Brandon. Have fun in school."
"I love you too, you are my best friend. Call me often and have fun there. I admire you, for going out on your own, moving away." Brandon pulled away and gave her a kiss on the forehead. He looked at his sister and wiped the tear that had fallen down her cheek. "Now get out of here."
Brenda smiled and slowly got up from his bed, she walked towards the door as Dylan peaked in.
"Bye B, I am going to miss you." Dylan said in a girly tone.
Brandon laughed, "Shut up you guys are so mean." Brenda said as Dylan let out a laugh as well.
"Bye." Brenda said sadly, "I love you; I'll call you when I get there."
"Ok ok bye."
"We got to go, your mom is waiting for us and all your stuff is in the car." Dylan said lacing his fingers with hers.
"Oh wait let me tell Valerie bye."
"She's downstairs." Dylan said rolling his eyes.
"Ok bye Brandon."
"Later B."
"Take care of my sister." Brandon yelled out.
"Of course." Dylan said closing the door.
Brenda hugged her dad and Valerie, "Be good."
"Always." smiled Valerie
"Yeah right." Brenda laughed.
"Bye" they waved as they made their way to the car.
"Call us when you get there." Jim called out.
Brandon slowly made his way down the stairs, passing Valerie on the way. He looked at her and took a deep breath. He made his way into the kitchen.
"Dad, why didn't you tell me Valerie was going to be living here?"
"We told you we wanted it to be a surprise."
"Well now I am in the dog house with Kelly. Thanks a lot."
"Oh come on, Kelly had nothing to worry about, our families have been friends forever."
"Dad, there is stuff you and mom don't know about Valerie. Maybe I should find my own place, stay at Dylan's for a while."
"Don't you dare, you are not going to leave that poor girl alone here, in a new town. Brandon, I want you and your friends to treat Valerie like one of the group. She has been through enough stuff, with her father's death and everything else; we thought we could count on you."
Brandon took a deep breath; he didn't want to get into his history with Valerie. "Ok dad, I will try. I am going to get dressed, I need to go and grovel at Kelly's feet thanks to you guys." Brandon smiled at Jim who shook his head.
**
"Kelly, I don't know why we are looking at apartments down at the beach, I can't afford it, I told you that already." David said annoyed.
"Come on David, living at the beach is the only way to go, I am sure your father would give you money. I mean god he owes you anyway."
David took a deep breath and looked at Donna.
"Look that's a nice place." Kelly grabbed her cell phone and started to dial the number on the sign. After talking briefly she closed her phone and smiled. "He is there now, come on lets take a look."
David and Donna followed closely and went and knocked on the door. The man showed them the apartment and it was amazing.
"Kelly, I can't afford this and it's a 2 bedroom, I don't have a roommate."
"You do now." Kelly smiled.
"Oh no you don't, you are not leaving me in the dorms Kel, I will never make a whole year by myself." Donna whined.
Kelly bit down on her lower lip and thought about it, she really didn't want to live in the dorms. People telling her what time to be in, living in such close quarters to all the other students, sharing a common bathroom did not sound pleasant.
"I have a 3 bedroom upstairs, if you love this one you'll love that one, it's exactly the same just bigger." The landlord said.
David and Kelly leaned together with wide eyes, "Come on Don. It will be so much fun."
Donna sighed and smiled, "Ok fine, let's do it." She jumped up and down happily.
"Yes." Kelly hissed.
"Now there is just one issue, telling Felice why Donna won't be rooming in the dorms after all and instead she will be living with her boyfriend."
Donna bit her lip making a face.
**
"Kelly.. It's Brandon, baby, please call me back. I have been trying to call you all day." Brandon set his phone to off and sighed. Where the hell is she?
"Hey Brandon, how's this dress for the Peach Pit?" Valerie said from the bathroom.
Brandon looked over and saw Valerie holding up a little black dress, wearing nothing but a black bra and matching panties. Brandon looked her up and down as his phone rang.
"Hello." Brandon said into the phone still looking at a half naked Valerie.
"Brandon, it's me." Kelly said on the other line.
"Oh hey, where have you been? I have been trying to call you all day." Brandon covered the receiver, "Yeah Val its fine, it's just the peach pit." Brandon gave her a half smile and waved as he shut the door as Valerie backed up.
"Kel?"
"Can you hear me?" Kelly had a bad connection on her cell phone.
"Kel?"
"Brandon is that better?" Finally Kelly voice was clear.
"Ok I hear you now. So where have you been?"
"I found an apartment." Kelly said excitedly.
"Really, an apartment? That's great. What about the dorms?" Brandon felt like he was screaming.
"Donna and I decided not to live in the dorms…hey Steve told me about taking Valerie to the peach pit so she can meet everyone, I'll tell you there." Kelly said almost yelling in her phone.
"Ok…and Kelly....I love you."
"Brandon?" Kelly's cell phone cut off.
"Damn it." Brandon looked down at the phone and then toward the bathroom door. He sighed and shook his head. He was going to have to try to spend as little time at that house as possible.
**
Brenda and Dylan arrived in New York; they got in a cab and headed to The Plaza hotel. Brenda stared out the window as they drove into the city.
"Have you ever been here before?" Dylan asked Brenda
She shook her head, "It's amazing, the buildings, everything is so..big."
"Yeah, it is." Dylan smiled at her. "So I guess we will stay at the hotel until we find something more permanent and we will head over to the school tomorrow and register. Until then, I can show you around, sight see a little."
Brenda looked over at him, "Sounds good."
They shortly arrived at the hotel; Brenda was so overwhelmed so far she was actually speechless. The city was amazing, all the people, the noise; she instantly fell in love with it. Dylan checked in and they made it up to their room.
"We can always live here, the Plaza rents monthly now." Dylan smiled
Brenda smiled and rolled her eyes, "No, we aren't going to live in a hotel Dylan, we are going to have our own kitchen, fend for ourselves."
Dylan smiled as he took one of her bags from her, "Fine, your right."
"And…you aren't going to pay for me all the time; we need to get something affordable so I can help out. My mom and dad will be sending me weekly checks and maybe after getting settled I can find a job or something."
"Look at you miss independent, you know I don't mind paying for stuff. Let me at least pay the rent and you can help with utilities and make me some dinner once in a while." Dylan joked.
"That might be arranged." Brenda gave him a flirty smile as the arrived at their room. "We'll see."
**
Kelly sat next to Steve at the peach pit as the waited for Brandon and Valerie to show up.
"So you haven't met Valerie." Kelly said sarcastically.
"Nope…have you talked to Brenda? Did she get there ok?" Steve asked.
Kelly smiled and shook her head, "No Steve I haven't talked to her but I haven't been home. What is with you? Brandon told me about your crush on Brenda."
"Thanks a lot Brandon; I just wanted to know if she made it there, that's all." Steve said nonchalantly.
The bell from the peach pit door rang as the door opened. Brandon and Valerie came walking in.
"He was just a little troubled by your Brenda revelation.." Kelly stopped as she saw Brandon walk in.
Steve stood up and stared as the pretty brown hair girl came in behind Brandon. "Brenda who?" Steve said with a smile.
Kelly rolled her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Hi guys, this is Valerie Malone, Valerie this is Donna, David, Andrea, and you know Kelly and Steve." Steve stepped forward and took her hand kissing the top of it.
"It's very nice to meet you." Steve said making Valerie smile.
Brandon sat next to Kelly, "Hey." He said softly, leaning in and kissing her on the cheek
"Hey" Kelly said shyly.
"Are you still made at me?"
Kelly shook her head, "No, unless there should be a reason to be." Kelly looked over at Valerie.
"There isn't going to be." Brandon wrapped his arm around her pulling her in. "So what about this apartment?"
"Oh, yeah Donna, David and I are going to move into this beach apartment. I am so excited."
"Congratulations, that's very cool. While you are living the college student dream I will be rooming with Lolita over there and Jim and Cindy."
Kelly laughed, "Well you can stay at my place anytime you want." Kelly raised an eyebrow.
"Hmmm nice." Brandon leaned in smiling and placed a hot kiss on her lips. "Actually, want to stay with me at Dylan's tonight? I think maybe I need some convincing."
Kelly smiled, "Of course." She leaned this time kissing him passionately.
"So how long have they been together?" Valerie leaned into Steve.
Steve shrugged, "Almost a year I think."
Valerie watched as Brandon kissed Kelly. She started to smirk as the wheels in her mind started to turn.
Donna looked at Valerie who was looking at Kelly and Brandon; she leaned in and whispered to David, "I don't know about her, doesn't she look like she is up to something?"
David shrugged as he looked her up and down.