Chapter 16 A Nice Walk Down Memory Lane
Kelly walked around the bedroom sorting through clothes in her robe. Brandon emerged from the bathroom. He was only wearing his boxershorts.
„What tie would you like to wear?" Kelly held up two ties.
Brandon stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her neck.
„Why did you leave the bathroom?" He answered her instead.
„Because we have to leave in an hour." Kelly laughed.
„I´ll take the blue tie." Brandon murmured into her neck.
„Brandon?" Kelly closed her eyes.
„Yeah?" He whispered in her ear.
„We don´t have much time left. I don´t want to be late."
But Brandon ignored Kelly and continued to kiss her. He was about to open her robe when the doorbell rang. Growling, Brandon released his wife.
This week California University celebrated ist 100th anniversary and all graduates and alumni were invited. Brandon, as the top graduate in his class, he had to wear a pin.
Jackie had agreed to babysit her grandsons while Kelly and Brandon were away.
„Do I look good?" Kelly turned in front of Brandon. The blue suit suited her perfectly with Brandon´s tie. Brandon had opted for a classy black suit.
„You both look so great." Nath stood in the doorway and looked at his parents.
Kelly walked over to her son and planted a kiss on his forehead. Together they went into the livingroom where Jackie and Sammy were playing Uno. Kelly hadn´t told her mother about Erica yet. And Jackie said she couldn´t find anything disturbing between Donna and David. David, Donna and Ruby had stayed with Jackie and Mel until after Dinner on a visit.
„Sweetie, we have to go." Brandon checked his watch.
„Have fun you two." Jackie called after them.
There was already a lot going on in the CU parking lot. The parking lot was sorted by seniors. So they quickly spotted Steve and Janet. And David and Donna were already there.
The CU had not changed.
„Hopefully we don´t run into old friends." Kelly looked at the university.
„Would be exciting to meet someone." Brandon chuckled.
„Who are you thinking of?" Steve grinned at him.
Brandon was about to say something when a black convertible came up to them and stopped next to them.
The driver´s door opened and a woman with long brunette hair got out.
„Hey graduates 1997." She called happily.
Valerie Melone casually closed the door of her car.
The group looked at her in surprise.
„Do you think I´m going to miss this event?" She looked around with beaming eyes.
She hadn´t changed at all. Valerie had decided for a chic, classy short black dress. She was still as attractive as she was in College.
Steve was the first go greet Valerie. The others followed suit.
David seemed particularly pleased to see her.
„That you came all the way from New York for this?" Steve beamed at her.
„Did you think I´d miss the big reunion?"
„Now we just have to find the McKays." Janet looked at Steve.
„They have to park somewhere else. Dylan graduated three years after us because he lived in London with Brenda." Val looked sideways at Kelly.
„Then I guess we´ll meet in there sooner." Steve suggested.
They waited in the auditorium.
„I can´t believe how late we are." Brenda checked the clock in the car.
„But it was worth it." Dylan stroked her thigh.
Yes, the shared shower had been a mistake. But luckily Erica had been there on time. Otherwise they would probably have left the house even later. They didn´t see anyone in the parking lot.
„They´re probably already waiting inside."
But there were a lot of people in the auditorium, too. Brenda was about to call Brandon when she heard her name yelled.
„Brenda!"
Brenda stopped abruptly. That voice could only belong to one woman.
„Valerie! What are you doing here?" She smiled and let go of Dylan´s hand to give her longtime friend a proper hug.
„I had to see you again." Val beamed at Brenda. „Brenda, you look fantastic." Brenda had decided for something elegant red. Dylan wore a black suit.
„Thank you, but you too. Did you see the others?"
„Yes, we´ll wait over there."
As the three fought their way through the crowd, they spottet Brandon.
„It took you a long time to get here." Brandon approached her.
„Or did you guys have a quickie in the car?" Val grinned at the two of them.
„Not in the car." Dylan laughed and Brenda nudged him in the side.
„No. Only the parking lot for the graduating class of 2000 is a little further away." Brenda explained.
„Yeah sure." Valerie looked at Brenda proudly.
She felt a little out of place at the university. Unlike the others, she had only spent her freshman year here. Then Roy Randolph brought her to London. Dylan took her hand and together the group walked across campus.
„And Brenda, do you still find your way around here?" Steve winked at her.
„No worries. I´ll help her with that." Dylan didn´t let go of her hand.
Then a voice came over the speakers.
„Dear California University graduates and alumni. I am pleased that apparently so many former students have found their way to us. Well, enjoy the walk through the rooms and the buffet that was set up on the large lawn. I wish you a lot of pleasure."
Dylan was eager to revisit his former space of romantic poetry. This was the room where he had once sat side by side with Brenda.
Steve, on the other hand, suggested that they all toast together first. Also to welcome Valerie.
Everything was perfectly prepared on the campus meadow. There was finger food, sparkling wine and non-alcoholic drinks. The boys got everyone a glass of sparkling wine. Like at the spring dance, they stood in a circle and toasted each other.
„A nice walk down memory lane." Brandon looked at Kelly.
„A nice walk down memory lane." Dylan repeated, looking at Brenda.
And with their glass in hand, the gang wandered through the university.
„Where do you think our children will study?" Steve mused.
„For me they wouldn´t need to copy our lives." Kelly sipped at her glass. „We really have had enough drama in our lives."
„Remember that KEG house. You in that pink dress? Or you naked on stage? And with foam."
Janet smiled. She were well aware of these photos.
„It suited me perfectly." Steve grinned at her. „Out of college…what do you miss the most or shaped you the most?"
„Professor Finley. Through him I discovered how much people can be manipulated. And that is what inspired me the most for my studies."
„And with you?"
„Believe it or not, the KEG-House. The experience that everyone stands up for everyone and that you have to take responsibility for your actions…that was quite an experience."
„And Clare?"
„And Clare. She taught me a lot. I couldn´t have done it without her."
„Just with Clare?" Janet looked at him in horror.
„She started it and you finished it." Steve quickly squeezed her hand.
„We did it Steve. We did it." Kelly took his hand.
Steve pushed back.
„A dream came true. Me between two beautiful women."
Kelly and Janet gave Steve a kiss on his cheek.
Brandon and Dylan were standing in front of the campus transmitter.
„I would have liked to see you here." Dylan looked at Brandon.
„It was an interesting experience. As an anchorman. We were very successful."
„In hindsight, I would have liked to have spent all of college with you guys rather than the crash course. I wasn´t really enjoying college at all."
„You had lost your money and your wife."
„Nevertheless, Brandon. Maybe I would have liked to see you on campus tv? Or maybe we would have attend one or the other course together. Or much more. Brandon, I would have loved to study with you."
„You mastered the first year successfully."
„And then it all went downhill." Dylan shook his head.
Now that he thought about it, sophomore year had been the worst for Dylan. Brenda gone, money gone his alcoholism gone, and to top it all off, the fight against Brandon…for Kelly.
Dylan suddenly felt a strong need.
„Brandon, I´m sorry I wanted to break you and Kelly up. If I wanted to, I would turn back time."
„It´s okay D. We all know why you did it."
„I shoud have followed Bren to London sooner. And I should have stayed there. It would have saved me a lot."
„How true."
Kelly and Donna were standing in front of a showcase.
„Now what do you think John Sears is doing?" Kelly saw a photo from the KEG-House.
„Probably full of Botox. And steroids." Donna laughed.
„I had decidedly too many men in my life."
„Come on Kel. You were young."
„No. That is not an excuse. I reviewed it once. I had fifteen boys. This is too much."
„Do you remember all the names?" Donna raised her eyebrows.
„Do you remember everyone?" Kelly looked at her.
„David, Griffin, Ray, Joe, Cliff, Noah, David." Donna smiled at her friend.
„Ross, Steve, Dylan, John, Brandon, Colin, Mark, Matt. I forgot about the high school dates."
„You forgot Tom."
„Tom doesn´t count. It was just a kiss and a date. Not more. I wanted to make Valerie jealous."
„And when does it count for you?"
„More than one date and…" Kelly looked down.
„You slept with seven boys in high school?"
Kelly counted again. Yes, there were seven. „No, it wasn´t always sex. They were just dates, too. You know how I was. When a newcomer came to the school…"
„Then Kelly Taylor taught him the school rules right away."
The two exchanged a look.
Brenda was at the campus theater. This is where it started for her. It was here that Roy Randolph had discovered her and finally given her the chance of a lifetime. But this was also the low point. Laura Kingman wanted to kill herself here in front of Brenda. Before that, Steve had told Brenda he was Brandon´s friend, not hers.
„I´m so sorry for what I said to you back then." Steve put his hands on Brenda´s shoulders. He could imagine what Brenda was thinking.
„You were too much under Laura´s influence then." Brenda turned her head and looked at him.
„Yes." Steve closed his eyes briefly. „Anyway, I´ll always be your friend. No matter what." Steve kissed the back of her head.
„Thanks Steve." Brenda also closed her eyes briefly.
„And would you do that step again? Leave everything behind and start over in another country?"
„Yes, any time. London was an incredible time. At that time it was just over for me here. I felt that."
„Have you ever been homesick?"
„In London? Not once. Everything happened very quickly there. After my arrival I had the rehearsal the very next day. My group was very nice to me. From the beginning. We were all instant friends. It was a fantastic time. I enjoyed every second. I don´t want to miss the time."
„But there was someone here who missed YOU very much."
Brenda bowed her head and smiled. She knew he meant Dylan.
„I´m sure no one has told you yet, but Dylan was a different person without you. You would have been shocked if you had seen him."
„I know."
„You and Dylan belong together. And no matter what you´ve been through…you are the real thing."
Brenda looked at Steve. She hugged him without a word.
„Hey hey ´s going on here?" They heard Dylan´s voice.
Brenda and Steve looked at Dylan. But Steve didn´t let go of Brenda.
Janet just grinned but Dyan was very serious.
„Am I missing something here?" Dylan looked at Steve.
„I just told Brenda I´m proud of her."
„Really?" Dylan looked at Steve and Brenda in turn.
„And how much you cried your eyes out while I was gone?" Brenda pulled away from Steve and wrapped her arms around Dylan´s waist.
„I´ve told you that a hundred times." Dylan hugged her tighter.
„But Steve, I believe it."
Janet started laughing.
„I can´t lie." Steve also wrapped his arms around Janet and kissed her.
David stood in front of his old radio station.
„Did you thing you would do this for the rest of your life?" Val suddenly stood next to him.
„No. I had completely different goals. I always wanted to make music myself instead of just hosting it."
„You´re doing a great job. You can be proud of youself."
„Really? I feel like a failure."
„Do you think that yourself or do others think that?" Val looked at David.
David didn´t answer. Instead he turned to Val.
„I´m glad you´re here, Val." David hugged her.
„Me too." Val closed her eyes and enjoyed his hug.
They looked at each other and for a brief moment they resumed their old connection. David stroked Val´s cheek and she put her head in his hands.
„Listen David, if you ever want to talk or unwind…I live at the BelAge."
„Do you have time tonight?"
„For you always." Valerie took his hand.
Hey, no BD-Story without Valerie Melone. Yes, Val is back. And it will be interesting…
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