Chapter 22 Valerie's Surprise Get Together

Valerie nervously pulled at her strap on her fitted black dress. She was nervous and excited and dreading seeing David. She had called Steve to let him know she was going to be in town and Dylan was right head on. He insisted on getting everyone together at the After Dark. He said everyone would be excited to see her and he would keep it a surprise. Valerie also had let Dylan in on the fact that Brandon and Gina both knew she was back and were there the night she caught the awful sex show of David and Brenda. Valerie had called Brandon leaving him a message to not tell everyone she was back in town that she would surprise everyone and not to tell Brenda and David what she had saw. She played it out with Brandon. Not giving away much just the fact that she was over it and not to make a big deal about it. Brandon agreed and told her he hadn't said anything about it anyway. Valerie knew that when she had left she had made amends with everyone, even Kelly so she was hoping everyone would be happy to see her. David and she had been through a lot before she had decided to leave and she had hoped he would care she was back and be happy to see her. She was pretty sure David knew how she felt about him but she wish she knew how he felt about her.

Dylan whistled as he made his way out of the bedroom, "Val you look great." Dylan said with a smile.

Valerie nervously brushed down her dress; "Really?" she seemed nervous and unsure.

"Yes…very sexy." Dylan nodded trying to give her a bit of confidence. Dylan looked at her. It was weird seeing Valerie of all people nervous and insecure. She always put on a good front about stuff like that and since she had been home Dylan saw a side of Valerie he hadn't seen in a long long time, if ever.

"It will be fine and if its not, you can drink for the both of us." Dylan smirked.

Valerie took a deep breath, "Thanks Dylan…you have been really nice letting me crash here but I called the front desk and had them get me my own room, it's a couple doors down."

Dylan nodded, "Probably better." Valerie nodded in agreement.

"Alright well, good luck. I'll see you there." Dylan said as he grabbed his belongings.

"You too." Valerie gave him a nervous smile. She took another deep breath and headed out as well. Here goes nothing, Valerie thought.

**

Kelly noticed Gina getting a drink at the bar. She approached and ordered herself a glass of wine.

"Hey Gina." Kelly said nicely.

"Oh hey, I didn't think anyone else was here yet. Brandon and I grabbed a couple tables on top." Gina said with a smile paying the bartender and grabbing both her and Brandon's drinks.

Kelly looked over in the direction of the top area of the club. She noticed Brandon and Steve talking and laughing. "Sooo, how did your date go? I noticed you didn't come home the other night, must have gone pretty good." Kelly said bitter

Gina looked at Kelly oddly, "Yeah Kel, it was a fun time." Gina playfully rolled her eyes.

"You know…Brandon and I used to date, actually we almost got married." Kelly nodded.

Gina looked at Kelly with a straight face, Brandon had left that part out. "Yeah Brandon mentioned something about that." Gina lied. "Your point?"

Kelly shrugged, "I just wasn't sure if you knew." Kelly looked toward the table.

"Well yeah…I know and if your waiting for me to care, don't hold your breath." Gina sighed as she walked toward the table. She walked up to Brandon and handed him his drink.

"Thanks." Brandon smiled leaning in to peck her as Gina turned her cheek. "What's wrong?"

"When you said you and Kelly dated you didn't mention you almost got married." Gina looked at him sadly.

Brandon rocked back on his heels, "You heard about that huh?"

Gina swallowed hard and took a sip of her drink, "Yeah." she sighed out.

"Sorry…who spilled the beans?" Brandon felt a little guilty, he did just meet Gina but considering it was Kelly's roommate, he felt like he owed her honesty.

"Actually Kelly did." Gina said as she looked at him and walked away.

Brandon took a deep breath as he watched her walk away. He glanced at Kelly as she caught her looking at him. Brandon smiled and turned taking a sip of his drink.

David leaned in whispering in Brenda's ear as the walked toward the group, "Stop…your bad." Brenda said flirty.

"I told you." David lifted his eyebrows wrapping his arm around her.

"Hey guys." Brenda said with a smile.

"Hey Bren." Donna said reaching out and giving her a hug.

Brandon walked over to Brenda, "Can I talk to you for a second?" Brandon said with a serious face.

Brenda nodded and looked at David, "Can you get me a glass of wine?"

"Sure." David smiled leaning in and kissing her gently and walking toward the bar.

"Look Bren…I wanted to apologize to you. It's not my business who you are dating and I'm sorry I opened my big mouth. I just want you to be happy." Brandon said sincere.

Brenda looked at her brother and gave him a small smile, "Apology accepted." She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight.

David walked over with Brenda's glass of wine. "Here you go sexy." David leaned in kissing her neck and handing it to her.

Brandon looked at them and took a deep breath, he wasn't sure if he could get used to David and Brenda together but he was going to try.

Valerie made her way into the club. She smiled as she looked around, she hadn't really been gone for that long but she loved that club. She had put her heart, sweat and tears into that place at one time. She saw David and Brenda slow dancing right away. She exhaled and walked over to the group.

"Surprise." Valerie said with a smile holding out her hands.

"Wow…Valerie…how are you?" Donna was the first to say hello.

"I'm good, looks like things haven't changed that much around here. Hey Kel." Valerie smiled. She and Kelly had buried the hatchet before she had left. She really didn't have any hard feelings for her anymore. She had looked at her life from a different perspective since the HIV scare and she just wasn't going to sweat the little things anymore. She realized she only had one life, and it shouldn't be to make other people's life hell. It should be about being happy, living your life to its fullest and being with who you love and she loved David.

"Hey Val." Kelly smiled…moving in awkwardly into a hug.

"Valerie." Dylan gave her a nod, "What a surprise." Dylan said soft spoken.

"Hey you." Valerie wrapped her arms around him bringing him into a tight hug.

David and Brenda approached the table hand and hand, Brenda looked at Dylan and then the brunette he was hugging. She tilted her head only seeing her from behind. Valerie and Dylan slowly broke from the hug and Valerie turned around making eye contact with Brenda…and then David. David let go of Brenda's hand immediately causing Brenda to look up at him. David stood speechless.

"Val?" a smile crept across Brenda's face. "Is that really you?"

"The one and only." Valerie held out her arms as Brenda hugged her.

Brenda rubbed down her back, "Wow…its so good to see you. It's been way to long."

Valerie sweetly nodded, "Yeah it definitely has." she eyed David as she leaned out from her.

"Hey." Valerie said softly.

David looked at her, he really didn't realize how much he had missed her until he saw her. "Hey." David looked down.

After several second of uncomfortable silence Valerie leaned in and hugged him. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and closed her eyes. "You look good David." Valerie whispered.

"You too Val." David said softly. David looked at her as they leaned out.

"So this was the surprise Steve." Brenda smiled, "Good one."

"I aim to please." Steve pulled at his shirt.

"Come on David, dance with me." Valerie grabbed his hand pulling him out to the floor.

Brenda laughed as she watched them disappear into the crowd. Kelly came closer to Brenda and looked out into the dance floor, "You probably should tell Valerie about you and David…soon" Kelly said looking away from them and to Brenda.

Brenda looked at her oddly, "I'm sure he will." Brenda looked toward them, "Why do you say that though?"

"Well David and Valerie used to date and that aside, Valerie has a tendency to sink her claws in…deep. But you know her better than I do." Kelly said honestly turning to people watch.

Brenda took a deep breath as she glanced over at David and Valerie again, "Yeah." Brenda breathed out. Not really she thought. The truth of the matter was Brenda didn't know Valerie, not anymore. She hadn't seen her since they were kids. They kept in touch here and there but they had both lost touch a bit over the years. Brenda had heard the stories about Valerie, how much trouble she had given her parents and some of the gang. She knew about Valerie and Dylan also, and how they kind of had a thing for a little while that first year she was attending RADA. Brenda looked up and caught Dylan's eye, she stared at him and looked away quickly.

"So when did you get into town?" David said as they danced.

"A couple nights ago, I'm staying at the BelAge. It's funny because I ran into Dylan, his room is a few doors down." Valerie smiled.

"Really? That's…cool." David said weirdly as he looked over at Dylan.

Brenda walked up to the bar. She had the urge for something stronger than her wine she had back at the table. She couldn't get what Kelly said out of her head and why did she even care. David was crazy about her, sometimes Brenda couldn't believe how jealous she was sometimes. She felt someone brush against her, she looked over and saw Dylan.

"Hey Bren." Dylan said softly.

Brenda quickly looked away, "Hi." she said short.

"Can I get a coke?" Dylan asked the bartender who had brought over Brenda's cocktail.

Brenda looked up at him, "A coke? I'm impressed, no scotch?" Brenda said sarcastic.

"Nope…I'm back on the wagon." Dylan nodded slowly.

"Really? That's good." Brenda looked away from him turning and leaning against the bar. She spotted David and Valerie and looked at her drink.

Dylan noticed right away, "Yeah…I thought it was a good idea too. I even went to see my therapist today." Dylan opened up.

Brenda slowly looked at him, she gave him a small smile, "That's really good Dylan." Brenda stared at him.

"Look Bren…I'm sorry for how I treated you the other night. The Shelly thing was mean and…seeing the two of you together…I acted like a jealous ass. Sorry." Dylan gave her a sincere smile.

Brenda took a sip of her drink looking away. She looked over at him and nodded, "You were an ass but…I understand." Brenda smiled at him, "I forgive you."

"Good. I just want you to be happy Bren." Dylan said nicely.

Brenda felt the his stare and tried to change the subject, "So Valerie's back, that's cool, I haven't seen her in forever."

"Yeah…so weird, I was leaving my room at the hotel and there she was. She is staying a few doors down from me." Dylan said nonchalantly.

Brenda looked over at him, "Really? That…is weird."

Dylan set down his coke, "You wanna dance Bren?"

Brenda shook her head with a small smile, "I don't think so…"

"Oh come on…David wont be mad, its just a dance Bren."

Brenda looked over at David and Valerie again and shrugged, "Alright."

Brenda felt Dylan's arm around her waist and she took the opposite hand into hers. She tried to keep her distance as they danced. "So…how was your session?"

Dylan shrugged, "It was ok. I go again in a couple days."

Brenda looked down, "I'm proud of you. I think that's really good." she looked up at him again.

"Thanks." Dylan looked into her eyes, "I…"

"Ok let me cut in here with my old friend Dylan." Valerie interrupted. Brenda and Dylan let go of each other as Valerie wrapped her arms around Dylan and began dancing with him. Brenda stared at them, hearing about them when she was thousands of miles away was different than seeing it. David stood behind her and looked at them as well. Brenda felt someone standing behind her, she turned around.

"Oh hey." Brenda played it off.

David smiled at her awkwardly. They began dancing but both had issues concentrating on each other. Brenda and David both saw Dylan and Valerie, dancing close, laughing joking around with each other. They definitely had chemistry, a playfulness that was obvious.

"It's totally working." Valerie said to Dylan.

"Thanks for the interruption, I was getting some where with her."

"Dylan…its to soon, you think you were getting somewhere but we haven't made them jealous enough yet. Hold me closer." Valerie said pulling him into her.

"Val…I thought we weren't flaunting." Dylan said glancing over at Brenda and making eye contact with her.

"Dylan…we aren't flaunting they don't even know anything yet. Hey its working right." Valerie said with a smile.

"It's definitely doing something, they aren't even talking or paying much attention to each other as they are dancing."

"See." Valerie said proud of herself. Dylan wrapped his arms closer around her.

"Are you almost ready to go home?" Brenda said finally looking up at David.

"Ah…sorry I cant, I have to finish the show. You can take my car if you want, I'm sure Steve or Brandon will take me home."

Brenda nodded, "Ok…I will see you later." neither one of them leaned in to kiss each other good bye. Brenda walked over to Valerie and Dylan, "Sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to say bye to Val. Let's get together for lunch or something." Brenda said with a smile.

"Of course." Valerie smiled back. She hugged Brenda goodbye, "Bye Dylan." Brenda said softly as she walked out of the club.

"Well…look at that, she is leaving and David didn't." Valerie smirked.

"I'll be back." Dylan said quickly going to catch up with Brenda.

He walked quickly out of the club, "Bren?" Dylan called out as Brenda turned around. Dylan caught up with her, "Are you alright?"

"Oh me? Yeah totally, have fun I will probably see you around." Brenda unlocked David's door.

Dylan set his hand on her shoulder, "Are you sure?"

Brenda looked at his hand and looked up at him, "I'm just not into the club scene tonight I guess, but I'm ok." Brenda forced a smile.

Dylan rocked back on his heals, "Yeah me neither, want to get out of here, go back to the hotel?"

Brenda thought about it, "I better not." she shook her head.

"Bren…we were friends once before you know, you're important to me, stop making this awkward, it doesn't have to be." Dylan tilted his head

Brenda swallowed hard, "I'm sorry…I'm just going to go home…but thanks."

Dylan nodded his head, "Fair enough." Dylan started to walk toward his car, he turned around, "If you change your mind, I'm staying in room 10101."

Brenda smiled and nodded at him. She got into David's car and took a deep breath. She sat for a second thinking about Dylan and Valerie and David. How awkward the night was and how David hadn't even looked at her since seeing Valerie. Brenda shook the thoughts out of her head and started the car and started toward the house.

Valerie knocked on the DJ booth, "Hi." she said as she peaked her head in. "Can I come in?"

"Of course." David smiled turning his chair toward her. "What's up?"

"Nothing much, what's up with you?" Valerie sat next to him.

David shrugged, why wasn't he telling her about Brenda. He felt like he was cheating on her. The bad thing was things were up in the air with Valerie when she left. They had connected again and David started to have feelings for her again.

"I thought I wasn't going to see you again." David said looking down shyly.

"Yeah well…I guess I liked L.A. more than I let on."

"Is that why you came back?" David made eye contact with her again.

Valerie leaned in closer to him, "No…I came back because I missed you."

David swallowed hard, "You did?" he said quietly.

Valerie slowly nodded. She looked at David deeply and wasn't sure how she was even able to be without him for as long as she did. "I missed you too." David said softly.

Valerie opened her mouth and kissed him. They got into it a little but David broke free, "Val…I'm seeing Brenda."

Valerie nodded, "Oh." she said softly.

"I'm sorry, I should have told you earlier but…I did miss you too."

"I know." Valerie looked up at him. "So tell me how this stuff works." Valerie said changing the subject. David smiled and leaned in kissing her on the cheek.

**

Brenda walked into the house, set down her stuff and flopped down on the couch. She picked up the remote and scanned through a bunch of infomercials and paid programming. Brenda took a deep breath looking over at the clock, her mind went to Dylan.

**

Valerie and David laughed as he finished up his show.

"I cant believe you're here." David said shaking his head. "I really didn't think I would see you again."

"Yeah well…Buffalo sucks." Valerie joked. She looked out the booth window and saw that most of the gang had left. "How rude am I? I didn't even hang out with anyone."

"They'll get over it. How long are you staying?"

Valerie shrugged, "I don't know."

The two sat quiet for a few moments, "Let's go, I'm sure Noah wants to get out of here."

Valerie smiled and nodded, as they both got up and started to Valerie's car.

"So…I guess I will see you around." David said nervously shifting his weight.

"Yeah…definitely." Valerie looked to the ground.

"Well…goodnight." David gave her a small smile.

Valerie looked up at him, she took a deep breath and just said it, "Why don't you come back with me…for a drink or whatever?"

David bit his lip, he couldn't do that. "I don't think that's a good idea." David shook his head.

"Oh come on, you don't even have a car." Valerie smiled and begged him with her eyes.

David ran his tongue across his teeth, "I totally forgot I didn't have a ride."

"Well hop in, we can have a drink and I can bring you back home later." Valerie got in her car.

David took a deep breath and joined her. He knew he shouldn't be going but his mind was saying no but his heart wanted to go.

**

Dylan sat with his head back on the couch. He thought about Brenda, he missed her a lot. Why did he always have to ruin things with her? Now she was with David and Dylan feared she would fall in love with him. He had to get his life together, he had to get her back. He looked toward the door hearing a knock. He figured it was Valerie probably getting home from the bar. She probably wanted to talk about what had happened with Brenda and David. He heard another knock.

"Alright Val, hold on." Dylan reached for the door swinging it open.

"Not Val." Brenda swallowed hard. "Can I come in?"

Dylan stood stunned, without saying a word he nodded and stepped to the side allowing her to come in.

Deep breath…oh wow, what's going to happen? Brenda went to Dylan, David is going to Val's. They are on the same floor a few doors down from each other. Eeeeeek, please review, let me know what your thinking.