Chapter 24 Steve The Big Mouth

Dylan looked up from the newspaper as the phone in his hotel room rang.

"Want me to get it?" Valerie said popping a piece of fruit in her mouth.

"No…not a good idea." Dylan gave her a look and got up heading to the phone. The last thing he wanted people to think was that he was fooling around with Valerie. "Hello." Dylan said picking up the phone.

"Hey D…its Steve."

"What's happening?" Dylan said looking over at Valerie.

"Well…I found out last night that its Nat's birthday today, Donna and I have put together a little get together for him tonight at the After Dark. We are going to be screening one of his movies and of course have cake, you know the usual. Can I count you in?"

"Yeah…anything for Nat."

"Ok well we will be starting the movie at 8'oclock sharp so be there before that. Also I tried calling Val's room but she wasn't there, have you seen her?"

"She is here." Dylan said figuring he would get questions.

"Oh really? Like old times huh? Talk about changing partners." Even though Steve was on the phone, Dylan could hear the eyebrows wiggling in his voice.

"Not like that Sanders…we are just having breakfast." Dylan shook his head looking over at Valerie again.

"Sure McKay…whatever…you and Val right. Well tell her about the plan and we'll see you later."

"Ok… Bye Steve." Dylan set down the phone.

"Sanders?" Valerie asked setting down her coffee cup.

"Yeah…they are having a screening of one of Nat's movies tonight to celebrate his birthday. He wanted me to let you know."

"Oh good, will you be my date?" Valerie got up and walked toward him.

"I don't know Val." Dylan shook his head looking down.

"Come on, everyone is matched up but us, I'm sure it will drive Brenda crazy." Valerie begged with her voice. "Pleeeease." Valerie gave him her best puppy dog eyes.

Dylan sighed looking at her, "Just as friends."

Valerie smiled getting her way, "I will be over here at 7:30 or so." Valerie leaned in quickly and kissed him on the cheek. She slowly leaned out and looked at him, Valerie saw the Dylan stare, the one he was famous for, he probably didn't realize he was doing it but Valerie picked it up right away. "Don't look at me like that…I haven't had sex in a long time." Valerie smiled.

Dylan laughed, "Yeah me neither." Dylan sighed.

"We could always just do it and get it over with…I mean the people we are trying to get back are doing each other…what's the difference?" Valerie said with a playful shrug as she grabbed his shirt gently.

Dylan backed from her, "That's not a good idea Val." Dylan said shaking his head.

Valerie crossed her arms and shrugged again, "No…right…you're right." She looked up with an uncomfortable smile.

Dylan swallowed hard, "I'll see you later." He said awkwardly.

"Yeah." Valerie breathed out. Dylan and Valerie had never had a relationship really but they did understand each other pretty well and had a lot in common. Dylan liked her until she showed her true colors and showed him she was into money and getting it however she can. They were good together in the bedroom and Dylan could admit they did have chemistry. He was so hung up on Kelly back then he just didn't realize what they might have been.

**

Brenda poured herself a cup of coffee as she stood in the kitchen. David made his way over to her and stood closely, "What's going on Bren?"

"Nothing." Brenda shook her head bringing her coffee cup to her mouth a taking a sip, as if the coffee cup hid her lying. Even though nothing happened she did feel extremely guilty?

David looked at her and shook his head, he knew something was going on but he had never had an argument with her. They had never even fought or really even disagreed, except about stuff with Dylan.

Brenda uncomfortably looked up at him, she knew he knew she was hiding something she just didn't want to give him the wrong idea. She gave him a small smile as she lifted herself slightly on her tip toes and kissed him. Brenda set down her coffee cup as she felt his arms wrap around her waist. She followed his lead and kissed him again, smiling in between.

Brandon got up answering the phone, "Hello?"

"Yeah…uh hold on one sec." Brandon covered the receiver and walked toward the kitchen interrupting David and Brenda in a lip lock. "Bren?"

"Ah yeah Bran." Brenda said with a giggle as she looked over at him.

"There is a Curtis Brown on the phone for you." Brandon said through the door.

Brenda leaned away from David, "My agent." Brenda smiled, "Hold that thought." Brenda told David as she grabbed the phone from her brother.

"This is Brenda."

Brenda listened intently as her agent told her about three more auditions and that the director wanted to see her back for a call back with Kiss Me Kate. An almost comedic play about a father and his daughters. The story very similar to Taming of the Shrew and Brenda was getting called back for the lead.

"You're kidding me." Brenda's smile widened, "No I will be there…thank you so much." Brenda rushed over to the counter jotting some information down. "Ok bye." Brenda clicked the phone as she excitedly smiled practically jumping up and down. "I got a call back."

"Nice…that's great Bren." Brandon said with a smile.

David moved proudly over to her as they hugged, "Good job hun, how exciting."

"I know, I thought I was going to have to beg Kelly for a job." Brenda laughed, "No offense Gina."

Gina smiled and held up her hand, "None taken…believe me."

Brenda stayed close to David as she hadn't been this happy or excided about a play in a long time. It had been a while since she had worked and with everything that had happened in London, she was really looking forward to getting back into her passion, but she thought of Dylan. In London when she would get a new play or a call back, they would always celebrate. He was so supportive of her dreams and her acting. He went to every performance, always gave her a standing ovation and always filled her dressing room or table with the most beautiful flowers. He was known for it and people came to actually know Dylan for it. She wanted to tell him and share with him her news. It was probably natural right? He had been her go to guy, her everything for 3 straight years. Her excitement then turned to sadness because even if she were to call him later on it wouldn't be the same.

**

Brenda switched through the channels trying to find something to watch. She stopped on an re-run of Friends and pulled her legs up so she was sitting Indian style.

"You want to come for the ride?" Brandon said feeling his pockets making sure he had everything.

Gina looked over at Brenda, "Are you going to be around?" Gina asked her.

"Yeah…I am not going anywhere." Brenda said taking a couple pieces of popcorn and popping them in her mouth.

"Nah…I'll stay here with Brenda."

"Ok…well I will see you later." Brandon smiled as he leaned in a kissed Gina goodbye.

"Mmmm." Gina groaned.

Brenda took a deep breath through her nose, she lifted her eyebrows and looked away from her brother and Gina's good bye lip lock. "Bye." Brandon whispered.

"Bye." Gina smiled slapping Brandon on his butt as he walked out the front door.

Gina sighed with a smile and turned toward Brenda. Brenda cleared her throat holding in her laugh. "What?" Gina said innocently walking toward her and plopping next to her on the couch.

Brenda shook her head, "Nothing…where was he going?"

"He had to fax some stuff over to the paper, he was on the phone with his boss for over an hour." Gina reached into the bowl of popcorn, "Oh I love Friends."

"Yeah me too…you know I haven't even seen Brandon work at all since he has been here. So typical, in high school, I used to study a week in advance before finals and Brandon he just crammed the night before and always got good grades."

"Yeah well I never studied at all but I didn't really have too, I was home schooled and mostly on the road skating so I never had to worry about that stuff."

"Well…that sounds fun." Brenda looked over at her interested.

"Well I love skating but I missed out on a lot of fun high school stuff, like dances, boyfriends, making out." Gina smiled, "You know the fun stuff.

Brenda sighed, "Yeah. Making out was fun. It changes when you get older huh? I should make a point of making out more…you lose that when you get older." Brenda nodded.

"Yeah well…me and Brandon do a lot of making out, probably too much not enough of the other." Gina thought about it.

"Ewww." Brenda covered her ears.

"Oh sorry." Gina laughed covering her mouth, "I totally forgot I was talking to his sister."

"No its ok, just well leave out the good stuff." Brenda laughed.

"Well there isn't anything that good, we haven't slept together yet." Gina said straight faced.

Brenda looked down and became curious, "So what's up with you and Brandon anyway? You guys seem good...getting serious?"

Gina shrugged, "I like him a lot actually. But we really haven't talked about anything. Last night at the club I found out about Kelly."

"You didn't know they used to date?" Brenda seemed confused.

"No I did, he had told me but he didn't tell me he almost married her, like not that long ago."

Brenda nodded understanding, "Who told you?"

"Kelly, she was nice about it but I think that she was trying to tell me on purpose, like to bug me. I think she still has feelings for him."

"You think? But she has a boyfriend and they seem happy."

"Yeah…I know but something in her tone you know? Anyway I acted like it didn't bother me and snubbed her, even thought it did. But I have been kind of putting up a front with Brandon too. I haven't really brought it up since I confronted him about it." Gina looked down and nervously played with the hem of her skirt.

"Well…I know my brother and he seems to like you so I think you're safe and besides they didn't get married you know, so obviously they knew something we didn't."

"Speaking of knowing something that someone doesn't…what was up with the couch thing? Where were you last night?" Gina leaned in hoping Brenda would open up to her.

"Ah." Brenda looked toward the hallway still seeing the bathroom door shut. David was in the shower. She took a deep breath, "You have to promise not to tell anyone. Not even Brandon."

"I promise." Gina crossed her heart.

"Well…I spent the night at the Bel Age…with Dylan." Brenda looked at her waiting for a reaction.

Gina eyes grew wide as she smiled, "You are bad."

"No…not like that, I didn't sleep with him sleep with him, I really slept."

"Ahh no fun, how was that?" Gina turned to face her.

"It was good…I miss him…A lot" Brenda took a deep breath looking away from her.

"Are you going to tell David?"

"I don't want him to get the wrong idea."

Both girls were interrupted by banging on the front door. They looked at each other and shrugged as Brenda got up. She swung the door open as Steve let himself in.

"What the hell, I have been trying to call you guys all day." Steve reached for the cordless and clicked the off button, "Off the hook."

"Sorry…Brandon was the last to use it, what's so important?" Brenda said curiously crossing her arms.

"It's Nat's birthday and we are having a little something for him at the After Dark and we are going to screen his movie." Steve smiled.

"Nat was in a movie?" Gina asked getting up.

"Yep, it starts at 8 so I drove over here because that is in 2 hours." Steve seemed rushed.

"Sounds fun." Gina said with a smile.

"Alright I got to go. Check your phone next time." Steve headed for the door.

"Did you have fun last night?" Brenda smiled.

Steve shrugged, "It was ok…Janet and I didn't stay too long, wanted some alone time, if you know what I mean."

Brenda looked at him confused, "You didn't get drunk with David?"

"No." Steve shook his head, "I actually barely drank anything. I barely saw David"

"Wait so David didn't spend the night at your house?" Brenda tilted her head.

"No…last time I saw David he was talking with Valerie the whole night in the DJ booth."

Brenda ran her tongue across her teeth not saying anything.

"I assumed they were together." Steve shrugged, "He didn't come home?

Brenda shook her head sadly.

"I called Dylan this morning to tell him about the party, him and Valerie were having breakfast. So I'm sure you don't have anything to worry about with David. I'll see you later." Steve said as he rushed out.

Dylan and Valerie? David and Valerie? What? Brenda bit her lip and looked toward the bathroom door. Did David sleep with Valerie? And what the hell was Dylan doing with Valerie too? Brenda's mind started to race with scenarios, David cheated on me?

"Are you ok?" Gina asked setting her hand on her shoulder.

"Ah…yeah…I will be when I get some answers." Brenda stormed toward the bathroom door.

Alrighty...so some stuff going on huh. You can always count on Steve, right? Please review!