Chapter 20 Over My Head

Kelly pulled into the Walsh drive way. She had planned to stay the night at Brandon's considering his parents were out of town visiting Brenda and Dylan in New York. She had almost called him to tell him she was tired and she would just see him tomorrow but knew that wouldn't fly. How was she going to tell him about missing the task force retreat? Brandon had worked really hard to get in the chancellor's good graces and they had approached him in joining the task force at the beginning of the school year. He had kind of shunned away from it until he found out he would have the chance to meet the president in Washington at the end of the school year. Kelly grabbed her overnight bag and walked up the driveway. She gently knocked on the Walsh front door and heard Brandon call out to come in.

Kelly slowly peaked in, "Brandon?"

"Yeah Kel, in the kitchen." Brandon called out.

Kelly dropped her bag in front at the door and made her way in the kitchen. She stopped and smiled as she saw Brandon moving quickly trying to cook something. "Need any help?"

"Nope, you sit here." Brandon walked up to her gently guiding her to the bar stool at the counter.

"What's all this?" Kelly smiled as she looked around at the mess and the fact he had made appetizers, set the table with flowers and candles and was attempting to make something that didn't spell half bad.

"I'm trying to wine you and dine you." Brandon joked as he poured her some wine that he had gotten from Steve.

"Wow…now what did I do to deserve this?" Kelly looked around.

"I just miss you." Brandon said as he gently kissed her. "How often are both my parents out of town." Brandon cursed slightly as the pan of water on the stove started to bubble over.

Kelly looked down shyly with a smile, "I miss you too."

"You know its almost our year anniversary. We got together shortly after Christmas. Remember Dylan's dad's party?" Brandon smiled.

"How could I forget, I was waiting all night for you to kiss me…so I just had to do it myself."

Brandon laughed, "Hey it was a big move for me, you were Brenda's best friend, one of my friends, my best friends ex…I mean there was a lot of pressure."

"True but wasnt it worth it?" Kelly half smiled giving him her bedroom eyes.

"Definitely worth it...ok miss Taylor your dinner is served." Brandon carried their plates over to the table. Kelly got up and sat in her seat and looked down, "Wow, who would have thought? You can cook."

"Well…I don't know about that but I did call my mom and asked her a couple questions." Brandon shrugged cutely and Kelly thought his honesty was adorable. Brandon had made some kind of stuffed chicken, with potatoes and vegetables. It smelled delicious and Kelly was so touched by the whole set up. Which was going to make her telling him about the retreat even harder.

**

Brenda lay with her eyes open as she stared at the clock that only read 11:30 east coast time. She thought about calling Brandon but decided not too considering she wouldn't have any where private to talk to him anyway. She looked down at her belly which Dylan had his hand resting on as he cuddled into her from behind. She took a deep breath and moved slightly. She was so torn on what to do about the whole Dylan and Toni thing. On one hand she was really mad about it. He had done this to her again and regardless if he stopped the kiss, he still went with her 2 hours away. Not cool, Brenda thought. Then on the other hand, Brenda and Dylan were adults they couldn't just break up over dumb things, they had a baby to think about, it wasn't about themselves and their insecurities, it was about sticking together for their child and being a family.

Brenda placed her hand on her abdomen and smiled as she felt the flutters again. Wow this baby was busy or maybe it was trying to remind her what the real issue was here. Dylan stirred cuddling closer to her and he moved his hand from her belly on top of hers.

"You ok?" he whispered still with his eyes closed.

"How did you know I was awake?" Brenda said shifting in bed so she was on her back.

"I know you, I can practically hear your brain working." Dylan smiled as he stretched finally opening up his eyes. "So what are you thinking about?" Dylan rubbed down her belly.

"You…and me…the baby…everything." Brenda swallowed hard.

"Bren…I know I let you down but this isn't like last time." Dylan spoke softly.

"What's the difference, its like every time we hit a change in our relationship or a bump it sends you to someone else." Brenda said sadly.

"That's not true…Bren I am human, the Kelly thing was totally different than this and you know it. Plus I think you are forgetting you weren't the most faithful that summer either." Dylan said frustrated. "Hey…I love you…what do I need to do to make it up to you, whatever it is…I'll do it." Dylan's tone changed.

Brenda bit the inside of her lip, she looked over at his intense stare and shook her head. "Ahhhh." she groaned

"What?" Dylan said defensive.

"It's not fair." Brenda said frustrated as she pulled away from him and sat up. "I hate that I have subconsciously forgiven you already, I hate that you can look at me like that and everything disappears, I hate that you have this hold on me that no matter what jerky thing you do to me it makes it ok…I hate that I love you so much."

"Brenda." Dylan said frustrated, "Did you ever even consider why…I mean stuff happens and it doesn't matter. Think about it, think back to the first time we strayed, you and the cardio funk guy and me with Sarah. We didn't have a huge fight and break up, we knew that no matter what or who came between us it didn't matter, it was like we could talk to each other and move past it. There was no jealous rages or second thoughts because no matter what…we knew that in the grand scheme of things, whoever may have caught our eye didn't matter, not when it came to us."

"It doesn't make it ok and I don't think its smart to pretend that its nothing all the time there has to be a reason this happens to us."

"You want to know what happens to us Bren? It gets real, its always been real. I never in my life have thought I could fall for someone like I fell for you. I am not a one women, commitment type guy and its scary that someone could change me like you have. Maybe we just have a moment when we think that its too much, its too intense…that we are too young to feel the way we do and then after…we realize that what we have is more than flings and kisses. The only time I ever was truly jealous and scared was when it came to Jake. The thought of you really moving on and falling for someone else scared the shit out me. But again we moved past it"

Brenda swallowed hard and looked down. Dylan took his index finger and raised her chin so she was looking at him, "Its like our friends can all make fun of us or say whatever they are going to say about everything and we wont care because we know that no of them have ever felt this way. What we have, the love that you hate and that has a hold on you, is exactly what people look for their whole lives. And we have it."

Brenda looked down again and took a deep breath before meeting his intense stare once again. Did she listen to her heart that had crumbled at his words and agreed and understood everything he had just said, her heart that knew that even if she were to throw him out and never see him again, it would never let him go or did she listen to her head. The part that made sense, was smart, the part that if this was your best friend you would tell her to get out now, once a cheater always a cheater. Brenda was torn. She realized more at that moment that both her and Dylan were both incredibly co-dependent on each other and she wasn't sure that was such a good thing.

**

"Dinner was incredible." Kelly said with a smile as she tossed her napkin on the table. "I'm impressed."

"Just wait until desert." Brandon raised his eyebrows and looked down shyly.

"Do I have to wait?" Kelly got up and sat on Brandon's lap as she deeply kissed him.

"Nope, no waiting required." Brandon lifted her slightly laying her on top of his parents dining room table and continued kissing her passionately. He started kissing down her neck and Kelly moved her fingers through his hair. Kelly wrapped her legs around Brandon's body as his hands moved up her thigh.

"Well…well…well." Valerie said with a smile crossing her arms, "When the cat's away the mice will play."

David shook his head closing his eyes, "Just what I wanted to see, my sister about to have sex right in front of my eyes." David took a deep breath.

Brandon looked up with a smile, "Valerie…Silver." he nodded acknowledging their presence.

"Hi guys." Kelly said laughing.

"I didn't think you guys had it in you. Bravo." Valerie said clapping her hands.

Brandon used his hands to push himself up as he held out his hand helping Kelly off the table.

"We're just going to move this…" Brandon looked at Kelly as they nodded together. "upstairs." he finished.

Kelly pressed her lips together pushing her lipstick around as she turned and headed for the stairs. Brandon followed closely as the two of them held in their laughter.

Valerie shook her head with a smile and looked up at David, "If only Jim and Cindy could see us now." He looked up making a face as she heard Kelly giggle from the top of the stairs. "Ew." Valerie grabbed David's jacket pulling him to the kitchen.

"Are you hungry?" Valerie said opening up the refrigerator.

David shook his head, "Nah…I'm good."

Valerie sighed not seeing anything worth wild to eat in the fridge, "So." She moved closer to David grabbing his jacket and pulling him into a kiss. "Want to spend the night?" she said seductively.

David looked her up and down, "Sure." he leaned in and began to kiss her again. The kiss had just gotten heated when there was a knock on the door.

"Who the hell could that be?" Valerie said frustrated.

David leaned in and gently pecked her lips again an gave her a cute shrug. Valerie sighed as she moved toward the front door swinging it open quickly, "Uh hi." Valerie said confused as Donna, Steve and Andrea moved past her into the house.

"What are you guys doing here?" Valerie set her hand on her hip.

"Do you actually think we wouldn't come over knowing Jimbo and Cindy were gone. Hello? I brought drinks." Steve said proudly making his way into the kitchen.

"Hey Val." Donna said sweetly handing over a bag full of snacks they had picked up.

"Hi?" Valerie said confused.

"Where's Kel?" Donna said hanging her coat on the coat hook.

"Upstairs." Valerie said with a smile.

Donna smiled back as she hooked arms with Andrea dragging her up the stairs.

"Yeah I wouldn't go up there just yet." Valerie bit her lip, "I think maybe her and Brandon are… busy."

"Now? Its like 9 o'clock." Andrea said as she pulled Donna up another step.

"Ah…believe me, David and I caught a preview on the dining room table." Valerie shook her head to attempt to get the image out of her head.

Donna and Andrea slowly looked at each other making a face, "Ew." they turned quickly with a laugh and hopped down the steps.

**

Brandon cuddled into Kelly as he tried to catch his breath. Sweat glistened from his forehead as he leaned his elbow up resting his head in his hand. "Well…I just might have to make dinner more often." he said with a smile.

Kelly looked uncomfortably at the ceiling.

"Hey baby, what's wrong?"

"Brandon…I have to tell you something and I know you are going to be upset." Kelly finally looked into his eyes.

Brandon sits up slightly, "What…what is it?" he said concerned.

"Well I got the cover for the magazine." Kelly said innocently.

Brandon eyes widened as he smiled, "You did? That's great! Congratulations."

Kelly nodded, 'Yeah its amazing but…"

"But?" Brandon leaned his head forward waiting for her to continue.

"I shoot in New York…next week." Kelly bit her lip and looked down.

Brandon sighed, "But the retreat…you said you would come with me."

"I know Brandon…but what am I suppose to do?"

"Tell them you have can go the next week." Brandon said sadly.

"I cant…they wont do that."

Brandon got up shaking his head in frustration, he slipped on his pants and grabbed his shirt.

"Where are you going?" Kelly asked feeling badly.

"I don't know." Brandon said as he left his bedroom closing the door.

Please review : ) hope you enjoyed it. This story is finally kind of taking off for me, as LTC is getting closer to ending, this one has started to inspire me once again. Also you may all find out about the Andrea and Steve at prom from Castles soon too. hehehe Please let me know how you are feeling about the story and what you are thinking. Thanks for reading!