Chapter 26 The Morning After Dark
Brenda moved slightly stretching. She opened and closed her mouth as she felt the hot, dry taste only a night after drinking brings. Then came the headache, the pounding kind that you get from champagne or wine. She knew it, not well, Brenda wasn't a big drinker but that had proven wrong since being back in L.A. Brenda felt the pounding as she groaned out loud and moved to her opposite side. She slowly opened her eyes as she recognized the bedroom mostly from her dream and seeing it once. The night had been fuzzy, she remembered what had happened between her and David, she remembered Dylan and Valerie, and then the rest was in bits and pieces. Brenda moved to her back as she realized where she had slept again. She glanced over to her side and she saw Dylan stirring a bit, as he opened his eyes and made eye contact with her.
"Morning party animal." Dylan said with a smirk
"I would laugh but it hurts too much." Brenda groaned.
"Well that's what you get for drinking 2 bottles of champagne by yourself. You were in rare form" Dylan moved to his back and looked at the ceiling.
"Oh God, what did I do? Should I be embarrassed and prepared to call everyone we know to apologize?"
"Nah…I wouldn't worry too much, we have all been there." Dylan looked over at her.
"Thanks for taking care of me." Brenda said softly as she moved back to her side and so did Dylan.
"It's the least I can do; God knows you have done it enough with me." Dylan looked down uncomfortably.
"We didn't?" Brenda pointed to herself and back at him, "You know?"
Dylan smirked as he scooted closer to her, "We didn't do what?" he moved a piece of her hair out of her face as he wickedly smiled at her.
Brenda smiled and looked down shyly, "You know...it"
"Oh like sex…yeah we did." Dylan got up leaning dangerously close to her as she moved to her back, he shifted the top half of his body over her, "It was crazy…like old times but with a twist."
Brenda took a deep breath and swallowed hard thinking to herself, great, I'm a lush now, a slutty one at that. I jump into Dylan's bed the night I break up with my boyfriend.
"Yep…you were unbelievable, there was whips and chains…oh handcuffs furry ones, leather I think there was leather…we did it on the floor…against the wall…I was on top, you were on top. You were wild." Dylan said leaning even closer to her so close that with a sudden movement their lips would be touching.
"You liiiie." Brenda smiled shaking her head subtly looking into his eyes trying not to inch closer even though there was less than that between them.
Dylan kept his stare waiting for her to kiss him but she didn't. Brenda did the same, all she did was stare at him. "No we didn't do…it." he smiled leaning back a little. "You were all over me but I said no."
Brenda laughed, "Sure…I don't believe you."
"Oh really, you don't think I can resist huh? Well maybe not but when I have sex with you, I would like you to remember it the next day…of course because…" Dylan playfully shrugged, "I'm the best you ever had and everything." Dylan pulled at his shirt proudly.
"Oh is that so." Brenda cocked her head to the side. "You seem pretty sure about that Mr. McKay."
Dylan shrugged again, "That's what you said. You know the truth comes out when you're drunk. It's a known fact."
Brenda giggled, "I don't know if you're telling the truth or not. Oh man I'm so embarrassed." Brenda brought her hand to her face covering her eyes and smashing it gently.
"Ah…I'm kidding, you didn't say that. You did say you had a sex dream about me though but you didn't get into." Dylan continued to look at her. He was holding everything he had back from pouncing her. He wanted her…right then…right now, all of her.
"Well…now I know you're telling the truth because that really happened."
Dylan leaned in again looking down, "You want to tell me about it?" Dylan looked up with a smile and met her stare again, "Better yet, why don't you show me?"
"Are you coming on to me, McKay? I have definitely seen that look before."
"Do you want me to?" Dylan's face turned serious.
Brenda rubbed her lips together and took a deep breath, inhaling through her nose and exhaling. "I don't know."
Dylan moved closer, "Well…that wasn't a no."
Brenda just looked at him, "No it wasn't a no." Brenda moved closer as well. They were so close she felt his hot breath practically against her lips. Dylan tilted his head to the side a little taking his hand and placing it on the back of her head. He pulled her into him as their lips finally touched. They closed their eyes and felt the softness of their mouths moving together. Then the phone rang. Brenda pulled back, with her eyes closed she smiled, "You should get that."
Dylan sighed, "I don't want to." he moved in more aggressively.
Brenda stopped him, "You should get it, we shouldn't do this not yet." Brenda looked at him seriously.
Dylan took a deep breath and with out saying anything he reached over pecking her one last time and brought the phone to his ear. "This better me good." he said still looking at Brenda, letting his eyes follow down her body.
"Yeah this is Dylan McKay."
Brenda noticed Dylan's facial expression got serious. With all the flirting they were doing that morning it was the first she had seen his face like that. It looked like there was something wrong or maybe just important.
"Hi, I'm doing good…You did?" He was listening carefully and Brenda noticed he wasn't talking much. "Thank you." Dylan slowly looked down bringing the phone away from his ear and placing it gently on the hook.
"Everything ok?" Brenda said sincerely.
Dylan didn't meet look at her it in the eye, "Yeah."
"Ok." Brenda nodded, she didn't want to push it. She slowly got up picking up her shoes.
Dylan got up and sighed, "Bren…if I tell you something, I don't want you to get mad ok?"
Brenda looked at him and felt nervous with that intro, "Ok." she nodded slowly.
"When we lived in London, remember when I got a call from Bruno…he said that Toni's dad had moved her grave."
Brenda nodded, "Yeah."
"Well…I didn't tell you at the time because…well I didn't want you to feel bad or jealous but I hired a private investigator to find out where she was moved." Dylan looked at her, he didn't really think she would have been mad but he had been so happy with her and shortly after finding out about Toni being moved, they found out they were pregnant so he didnt want to ruin it or make brenda feel unconfortable. "Well that was him, they found it. Its actually here in LA, a small cemetery in Pasadena."
Brenda did feel a tad jealous but not like mean green monster jealous just a little. "That's…good…that's really good." Brenda smiled.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"Its not a big deal, I mean you could have told me…you know that but I understand."
"I just didn't want to risk you feeling weirdly about it, because I was in love with you, you know that?"
"I do." Brenda smiled as she spoke softly. "I should go though." Brenda took a couple steps toward him and hugged him tightly.
Dylan closed his eyes and squeezed her tightly, "Will you come with me to visit her?"
Brenda leaned out, "I can't…I have rehearsal…its my first one. I am sorry." Brenda really was sorry.
"You got a job?" Dylan smiled, "That's great. I knew you would."
Brenda smiled bigger looking down, "Yeah…the lead actually in small performance at the Spreckles theater downtown. They had told me I had gotten a call back but then called me last night before we headed over to the After Dark and told me that the part was mine." Brenda shrugged a little.
"Well I'm happy for you. Maybe next time." Dylan smiled at her.
"Definitely." the mood became uncomfortable again. Neither really knowing exactly what to say to each other. Even though Brenda was truly happy of course they had found where Toni was buried she couldn't help but admit it had put a damper on things. "Well thanks again for taking care of me. I'm sure I will see you around."
Dylan nodded as she walked toward the front door. "Bren?" Dylan stopped her as she turned around holding her heels in her hand. Dylan laughed a little, "I have to take you home."
"Oh yeah." Brenda felt stupid looking down. "Right."
Dylan smirked, "Come on."
"Thanks." she said sweetly as she followed him out the door.
**
After saying good bye to Dylan she walked up to her house which now she felt like an outsider at. Maybe her and David could go back to being friends…roommates? Who was she kidding, since her and Dylan moved back David and her were always more than friends whether it was official or not. Brenda unlocked the door and set down her purse looking around. She didn't see anybody and she thought a nap, shower and then rehearsal sounded good to her. This was going to be an awkward morning she hadn't slept in her actual room in weeks and most of her clothes were in David's room. Brandon had taken over her room since she wasn't sleeping in it anyway and now that her and David broke up she was going to have deal with moving her stuff out of his room and just the awkwardness of living there. Brenda was still feeling crappy due to her date with the champagne bottles. She slowly dragged herself to David's room. She figured might as well get it over with right? She knocked a couple times before slowly opening the door.
Brenda stood there and looked down as she shook her head. Valerie and David both looked at her surprised to see her. "Sorry." she mumbled closing the door and taking a deep breath. That was something she hadn't even expected, at least not that fast. Brenda stared at the door, she wasn't sure what came over her but she opened it again, "David…can I talk to you for a sec?" she said sadly.
David swallowed hard and nodded.
Brenda walked out into the living room and stood there waiting for David to come out. As he approached her she saw he didn't feel badly just by looking at him, "What?" he said with little emotion.
"Honestly David…you don't know. I haven't even moved my clothes out of your bedroom yet and you have her sleeping in there." Brenda spoke calmly more hurt than angry.
David looked at her, "I thought you were at Dylan's I didn't think you would be home."
Brenda threw out her hands, "I spent the night there because I drank too much and he drove me from the After dark not because I wanted to. I cared about you and this is just unbelievably rude."
"Hey…you're the one who broke up with me, you said we should cut our losses. It was too soon for you to be in a relationship."
"So I deserve this? Really? I mean did I mean that little to you? So little that I don't deserve your respect." At this point Brenda had raised her voice and she didn't care if Brandon or Valerie had heard her. "I mean I still live here…I pay rent."
"Well maybe you shouldn't." He yelled, David was obviously hurt as well and didn't know how to handle everything.
"Fine." Brenda said shaking her head holding back her tears. At this point he didn't deserve them. "I have rehearsal and I will be out by tonight." Brenda started to walk away, "Can I get my shit?"
David looked down and nodded.
Brenda angrily waltzed into the bedroom and stated loudly opening up drawers pulling stuff out and throwing them on the bed. She didn't even look at Valerie.
"Bren…I'm sorry." Valerie said sincerely.
"No you're not, I mean you couldn't sleep at your place?"
"And risk running to you and Dylan in the halls, No."
"Valerie…I thought we were friends, I'm not mad that you are with David, obviously you guys love each other but.."
"But what? I don't understand why you are even fighting with David. You love Dylan and he loves you."
"I do not want to talk about Dylan with you." Brenda continued throwing her clothes on the bed. "And for your information, Dylan and I aren't in a place to just rush into things again ok? I mean you sleep with Dylan…now David…honestly what did I ever do to you?" Brenda was hurt.
"Dylan? I didn't sleep with Dylan unless you are talking about 4 years ago ok then yeah but not recently."
"Why were you having breakfast with him?"
"Because we are friends." Valerie crossed her arms.
Brenda looked down, she wanted to believe her. Brenda exhaled and plopped on the bed, "I don't know why David is being so mean to me."
"Because…he is hurt too. I mean just because he is with me doesn't mean losing you is easy. And some guys act defensive when they feel guilty too." Valerie shrugged.
"I don't know where I'm even going to go." Brenda said with tears in her eyes as she looked at her long time friend.
"Stay with Dylan." Valerie said with a small smile.
"No." Brenda shook her head, "too complicated."
"Why are you so stubborn?" Valerie smirked as she shook her head.
Brenda looked over at her, it took her a second but she smirked back at her, "I don't know."
**
Brandon looked at Gina as they sat on the bed. They had heard the fight and Brandon felt uncomfortable.
"Let's go to my house." Gina said as she leaned out from his chest.
"I don't know." Brandon shook his head.
"Because of Kelly?" Gina sat up and gave him a look.
"No." Brandon answered quickly. "Maybe."
"You have to come over sometime, just get it over with and maybe you will luck out and she will sleep at Matt's." Gina smiled and pleaded. "Please."
Brandon looked toward the door as she heard Brenda and David yelling again. "Ok your house it is."
It should get pretty interesting now. With Brandon finally going to face Kelly, her new boyfriend and his new girlfriend at the beach house. Brenda and David holding hard feelings toward each other. I'm sorry there wasn't more with B/K/G, there will be. The morning after so to speak ran longer than anticipated. Will Brenda actually show up at Dylan's? Review and you will find out. : )