Chapter 10 One Call Can Ruin Your Night

Dylan sat with his head down staring at the small rip in the carpet on the floor by the window. He had been in rehab for 4 days, he was bored, he was exhausted and he wanted out.

"So Dylan, how do you like Promises?" the counselor said as she glanced down at his chart.

"It sucks." Dylan looked up at her. She had brassy brown hair, black rimmed glasses. She was pretty but didn't try hard. She was one of those natural types, not showy, barely any make-up.

"Why do you say that?" She brought her pen to her lips.

"Because I'm fine, I think its bull shit and the time could not be going any slower." Dylan looked down again.

The counselor flipped through the chart, "You don't think you belong here?" she said reading through the notes not making eye contact with him.

"Look…I have to be here; it's either suffer through this for 90 days or go to jail. Seems like a pretty easy decision." Dylan sat back in his chair taking a deep breath and exhaling loudly.

"So you don't have a problem…with drugs? It's all a mistake?"

"I had a problem with drugs but I'm fine now."

The women nodded slowly, "It says here they found you half dead on the beach at Zuma."

"Yeah...so?"

"Just a bad day huh?" the women said in a sarcastic tone.

"I guess so." Dylan returned the attitude.

"When did you start taking drugs Dylan?"

Dylan stared at her and sighed, "Six months ago."

"Why?" she leaned forward a little.

"Shit happens I guess."

"So you don't think you have a problem…with heroin? You just think you can show up for group, go through the motions and pass through your 90 days like that and all will be fine." The counselor closed Dylan's chart in frustration.

"Pretty much." Dylan glared at her.

"Well you do have a point, I mean in these few days you have been here, you have gotten up on time, you don't seem to be causing problems with anyone else, you show up for group, you stay pretty quiet and to yourself for the most part but…these private sessions are part of rehab and your recovery. I have to give weekly updates to the courts on your progress and if you aren't trying to make that progress they will know about it."

"Look Susan is it? I don't have a problem…so there isn't a need for progress. So you can go ahead and let them know that for me." Dylan glared at her again this time getting up and moving towards the door. He placed his hand forcibly on the doorknob.

"You know I have seen guys come in here just like you. All you rich kid junkies are exactly the same. You think your life is worse than everyone else's. When truth is it isn't and when it comes down to it, if you carry on with your shit doesn't stink attitude you will live your life as a nothing…a not very important person…and alone. This mysterious, bad boy exterior probably got you a lot of girls in the past, maybe you of all people had friends even. But now it's not sexy or cute. Now you can either keep up the attitude and get kicked out of this place where they will take your ass to jail or you can use it. Use me and everything else to try to handle some of those inner demons. You may think you hide them well but they are written all over your face. It's up to you." Susan tossed Dylan's charts on her desk and stared at him.

Dylan with out even looking at her turned the knob leaving his private session and slamming the door. Dylan walked over to the pay phone and picked it up. He pressed 0 and waited for the operator.

"Collect call to Brenda Walsh…310-555-2262." Dylan said looking around the common area.

"Just a minute." The operator said as the phone began ringing.

Dylan took a deep breath as the phone rang and rang. "Sorry sir there was no answer."

"Damn it, Bren." Dylan raised his voice slamming the pay phone on the hook. Dylan sighed as he looked at the phone. If he could only talk to her everything would be better.

**

Brenda smiled as she peaked her head into Now Where this. "Ladies."

"Brenda!" Donna tossed the shirt she was folding and ran over embracing her friend, "You look good. How are you?"

"I'm great." Brenda gently rubbed Donna's back and moved away from her with a smile. "I just had a great meeting with a new agent and you are looking at Curtis Brown's newest client." Brenda lifted her shoulders with a smile from ear to ear.

"Oh my God that's great!" Donna embraced her again, "I have heard of him. Kelly did you hear that?"

Kelly walked over with a small smile, "Yeah congratulations."

"Thanks." Brenda didn't even let Kelly's fake enthusiasm bring her down. "So I'm here to check out this store. Maybe buy myself a little something." Brenda raised her eyebrows and smiled.

"Feel free to go crazy. With Christmas around the corner you would think we would be a lot busier." Donna sighed and began folding the shirts again.

Kelly eyed her and walked over to where Brenda was flipping through the rack. "So how's Dylan?"

Brenda looked up and gave her a small smile, "He's okay, I haven't talked to him for a couple days but he seems good."

Kelly swallowed hard and looked down then back at her again, "I'm…sorry about your daughter. I can't even imagine…I miscarried and thought that was hard." Kelly bit her lip she suddenly regretted bringing it up.

Brenda knew she was trying to be sincere; Kelly never was the most graceful with knowing exactly what to say at hard times, she nodded, "Thanks Kel." Brenda returned to browsing the rack picking out 2 dresses and holding them up. "Is it cool if I try these on?" she asked Kelly dropping the subject.

"Oh yeah…of course." Kelly smiled as she took the dresses, putting them in a room for her to try on.

"Thanks." Brenda walked into the dressing area and pulled the curtain closed.

"Hey Don, have you seen Bren?" David walked in sitting at the counter.

"Yeah she is here; she is in the dressing room."

"Oh good, I wanted to know how that meeting went." David looked over toward the dressing rooms.

"Ah yes the meeting with Curtis Brown." Donna nodded with a smile.

"Did it go well? Is he going to represent her?" David put out his hands in suspense.

"My lips are sealed, she will tell you." Donna played if off well.

Brenda pulled the curtain back; she stepped out pulling down the dress slightly, "So…how do I look? Too sexy?" Brenda made a face looking at her back side in the mirror behind her.

"Wow." David swallowed hard and smiled, "That dress is…"

"You look great!" Donna said grasping her hands together and walking closer to her. "Close your mouth David." Donna joked.

"Yeah David." Kelly nudged him with her shoulder, "I'm sure Dylan wouldn't appreciate you looking at his girlfriend like that."

David eyed Kelly, "Funny."

David walked over to Brenda. "So?"

"Yep…you are looking at Curtis's Brown's newest client." Brenda jumped slightly with excitement.

"Yesss…that is great." David wrapped his arms around her waist as Brenda returned the embrace. "I'm so proud of you…you deserve this big time." David lifted her slightly with the hug and turned her half way.

"Thanks." Brenda said as she hugged tighter.

"That's it, we are going out, After Dark tonight, we are celebrating the real return of Brenda Walsh. Are you guys down?" David said setting Brenda back down and looking over at them.

"Sure…sounds fun." Donna said after ringing someone up.

Kelly stood away from them and stared. She crossed her arms and gently bit the inside of her lip. Donna walked up to her and stopped and looked at them. "That's so awesome for Brenda…too bad Dylan isn't around to celebrate with her."

"Yeah." Kelly said under her breath. "Donna? Do you…notice the two of them and how close they have gotten?"

Donna shrugged, "Yeah, I talked to David about it, he's helped her through a lot of this stuff with Dylan, why?"

"I mean they don't look like they are more than just friends or potentially more than just friends?" Kelly said as she looked away from David and Brenda and turned toward Donna.

Donna looked at them and tilted her head, "Well maybe but I don't think Brenda would cheat on Dylan."

"Why not? She has before…out of sight out of mind." Kelly glanced back over at them. David leaned down kissing Brenda on top of her head and swung his arm around her. "I mean look." Kelly said softly.

"Kel…Brenda cheated on Dylan in high school that was years ago, its different now. They have been living together for 3 years; she was going to have his baby. I mean you cheated on Dylan, Brandon, and got on Brenda, your best friend's boyfriend, does that mean you automatically would cheat on Matt? People grow up; they realize they are meant for each other. I'm sure you are just reading too much into it. And besides, they are cute; I haven't seen David this happy in a long time. I have been with Noah for over a year now and I always felt bad we stayed friends and he hasn't really had a serious relationship with anyone."

"So if I'm right and Dylan and Brenda don't make it through this, you wouldn't care if Brenda, one of your best friends went out with David?" Kelly raised her eyebrows at her. "The same David you fell in love with, your first love, the first guy you ever had sex with, that same David."

Donna thought about it for a second, "No… I wouldn't, I'm happy, David and I are history, we are great friends but obviously it wasn't meant to be. Not everyone marries their high school sweetheart, actually very few do. No I wouldn't care." Donna shrugged honestly.

"Well you are a lot stronger than me." Kelly said as she went back to work.

Brenda walked up holding the two dresses she had tried on, "Ok I am buying both of these." Brenda smiled as she handed over her credit card.

"Hey Gina." Donna called out as Gina made her way into the store.

"I'm sorry I'm late, my car is such a piece of crap. I need a new one." Gina set her purse under the counter and looked up at Brenda, "Hey you, haven't seen you in a while." Gina smiled as she took over ringing Brenda up.

"Yeah I know, hey if you're not doing anything tonight, we are going to the After Dark to celebrate, you are more than welcome to come too." Brenda smiled as she signed her name on the receipt.

"Cool…what are we celebrating?" Gina said handing over the shopping bag.

"Brenda here, just landed herself her first Hollywood agent." Donna raised her eyebrows with a smile.

"Woooow…congrats. An agent for what?" Gina said confused.

"I'm an actress…theatre mainly. I had an agent in London but I haven't been doing much of it recently." Brenda took a deep breath looking at Donna which knew why she hadn't been acting lately. "But thanks, I am really excited to get back into it." Brenda smiled nicely at Gina.

"Alright ladies…Donna…Kelly…fabulous store. Gina I will hopefully see you later as well."

"Bye guys." David said as he walked out with Brenda.

"Is she still with Dylan?" Gina watched them leave and looked at Donna and Kelly.

Kelly ran her tongue down her cheek and cleared her throat. Donna sighed looking at Kelly, "Yes they are still together." Donna playfully rolled her eyes and walked away.

"What? Did I say something wrong?" Gina looked back and forth confused.

**

David and Brenda walked up to the front door. David pulled out his keys and opened the front door. Brenda rushed in hearing the phone ringing as she dropped her shopping bag and purse and grabbed it off the coffee table.

"Hello?"

"Brenda, finally, where the hell have you been?" Dylan said frustrated.

"hey you, I just walked in, have you been trying to call?"

"Yeah about 4 times. Where were you?" Dylan kept his tone.

"Sorry…I had a meeting with an agent and then I went to Donna and Kelly's store and shopped a bit. Then I went to the peach pit."

"With who?"

Brenda bit her lip gently, "Ah David." Brenda closed her eyes wishing she would have lied. "How are you?"

"Fucking miserable." Brenda was taken back by the bluntness in his tone and language.

"I'm sorry." Brenda said sadly, she hated that he was miserable and she felt it was probably bad timing to tell him her good news.

"So David huh, a little lunch date...cozy?" Dylan was just being mean.

"What is wrong with you? It was just lunch, it's not like I can go to lunch with you." Brenda fed it right back to him.

"You know what's wrong with me? I'm stuck here in this shit hole and you are there shopping and going to the Peach Pit."

"Well whose fault is that? Maybe if you didn't hide from the shit we had to go through you wouldn't be there right now." Brenda held back her tears as she looked at David.

"I'm sorry I didn't grow up in this coddled little existence known as Walsh heaven. When I had problems we didn't talk them out Bren, I dealt with them on my own and I did the best I could. Maybe… I wanted her more than you."

Brenda closed her eyes as she allowed the tears to fall, "How could you say that to me?" Brenda said softly.

Dylan sat quiet regretting saying it. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to say it."

"But you did." Brenda said still in tears.

"I'm sorry…I am going crazy in here…I'm so sorry." Dylan said sincere.

"I know." Brenda sighed.

"Can I call you later tonight? Will you be home?"

"Umm well I might have something." Brenda said slowly.

"Oh." Dylan said sadly and sighed.

Brenda looked over at David and thought about the celebration they were going to have for her. "It's ok, I'll be here."

David looked at her and shook his head. Damn Dylan, he played her like record. Brenda was way too good for him. Only Dylan could make a women cry like he saw Brenda cry and then say something and it be ok. David walked into his bedroom and slammed the door. He wasn't going to listen to her kiss his ass anymore. Brenda jumped a little hearing David's bedroom door.

"I love you too." Brenda looked down sadly, "I'll talk to you later."

Brenda looked at the phone and pressed the off button. Was it too much to just want the old Dylan. The one that she was proud of, the one that was sweet and loving and romantic. The one that always made her feel sexy and pretty. Was that Dylan gone? Was the Dylan she feel in love with too damaged? With everything with Toni and Danielle was he gone for good? Brenda looked toward David's bedroom. She walked into the hallway and stopped before his door, she lifted her hand to gently knock but pulled back. Brenda walked into her bedroom instead and shut the door.

**

Dylan sat on the couch reading one of his poetry books. He must have read over the same page 3 times. He was so mad at himself for saying that to Brenda. He didn't even know why. Dylan felt someone sit next to him. He looked up and without smiling acknowledged that they were there but then looked down at his book again.

"Dylan?" the girl tilted her head and moved closer, "Dylan McKay?"

Dylan looked up, "Yeah, do I know you?"

The blonde smiled, "Well yeah you could say that."

Dylan looked confused at this girl that didn't look even a tad familiar.

"You really don't remember me?"

Dylan closed his book and looked her up and down, a smile spread across his face, "Stacy?"

She laughed, "Yep…I guess you were used to seeing me in the dark." Stacy cleared her throat.

Dylan smiled, "Yeah I guess so." Dylan eyes wondered down her frame, his memory was coming back fast and furious. Dylan had saw Stacy off and on in high school. He even brought her down to Baja when him and Brenda were on the outs, they had actually fought about her a couple times. They never were officially boyfriend and girlfriend but always managed to hook up here and there. Stacy was Dylan's bootie call before bootie calls were even invented.

Dylan nodded, "It's good to see you, you haven't changed much. What are you doing here?'

"Well after high school I got mixed up with the wrong people as they say and I was sent here by my family, got here yesterday. I like heroin and well what can I say it likes me. What about you?"

Dylan tilted his head back and forth, "I guess you can say, the courts made me come and heroin got me too."

Stacy nodded slowly looking Dylan up and down and stopping at his eyes, "It's really good to see you. I'm sure I will see you around, I got to head on in to my private session." Stacy rolled her eyes.

"Yeah…see you around." Dylan smirked as he watched as Stacy walked away.

EEEEK who hates Dylan yet? Yes it is a B/D story but I told you it wasn't going to be pretty. I wasn't lying for goodness sakes. I said triangles and pairings. Ok whoever wants to smack me do it through reviews. *eeek* I'm scared lol.