Los Angeles

The first lights of dawn struck Brandon's eyes who opened them immediately. He hadn't slept much and tried to distract himself by staying at Kelly's. Partly it had worked and partly it hadn't worked at all.

He swung out of Kelly's embrace without waking her up and in the twilight he looked for his boxers and picked up the rest of his clothes.

"Where are you going so early?" Asked Kelly leaning on her elbows and not bothering to cover her naked body.

"I want to be home before Jim and Cindy wake up, before they talk to Valerie."

"Why? Because she want to leave?" Asked Kelly.

"I know she was wrong, that she wasn't honest, but I don't want Valerie to leave like this"

"Los Angeles

The first lights of dawn struck Brandon's eyes who opened them immediately. He hadn't slept much and tried to distract himself by staying at Kelly's. Partly it had worked and partly it hadn't worked at all.

He swung out of Kelly's embrace without waking them up and in the twilight he looked for his boxers and picked up the rest of his clothes.

"Where are you going so early?" Asked Kelly leaning on her elbows and not bothering to cover her naked body.

"I want to be home before Jim and Cindy wake up, before they talk to Valerie."

"Why does she want to leave?" Asked Kelly.

"I know she was wrong, that she wasn't honest, but I don't want Valerie to leave like this"

"In my opinion she is a false person, and in less than two months she only brought trouble"

Brandon looked irritated "Valerie just saw her dad with a bullet in his head in a pool of blood. Valerie is a family friend of mine. I grew up with her, me and Brenda, together. I asked you to do it for me, to try to get along with her, to do girls' things I don't know how to go shopping together, to involve her."

"It's not me who got me to be found by Steve while having sex with David" Kelly was impassive.

"Great Kelly, really, thanks for the help."

Kelly snorted letting herself fall on the bed and covering herself with a sheet "you see, she takes us to fight and I don't want that."

Brandon had put on his boxers and was buttoning his pants.

"Neither do I"

Brandon opened the door.

"See you later? " asked Kelly in an attempt to stop him.

"I don't know," he replied, closing the door to Kelly's room.

Edinburgh

After the premiere of the tour Brenda was still in bed, she could sleep late and by now it was almost noon.

She felt tired but also overloaded with excitement. The premiere had been a success and she clearly perceived that she had improved a lot, that those weeks in London had been fruitful and that they had enriched her. Brenda felt that she had finally found a path, a path of her own, on which to grow.

Daniel brought her breakfast to bed, a rich tray of fruit, yogurt, orange juice, slices of bread and three different types of jams, croissants.

"Wow," Brenda said, pulling herself up in a sitting position.

Daniel sat by her side.

"Last night was absolutely great," he said.

"Yes it's true, the show was great."

"I wasn't referring to the show," he said.

Brenda gave him a light elbow on the chest "thank you".

"Can I tell you something, Brenda?"

"Everything you want," she replied as she buttered the bread.

"Sometimes you seem sad to me"

Brenda was struck by that statement, it was as if Daniel could see her straight in her center, it was as if in front of him, Brenda was naked and helpless.

Brenda sighed and tried to belittle "you are wrong, I'm happy"

"No, it's not true, you're not, or not at all, not always, and I see it clearly, I observe you"

Brenda sighed "It's not easy Daniel, it's not easy for me"

"Do you still love him?"

"I think I will always love him, there is something about him that keeps me tied inside my heart, I don't know if I will ever be able to explain it to anyone."

"And what happened?"

"The saddest and most tragically trivial thing in the world: he cheated on me with my best friend behind My back, and then chose her."

"Wow when you said it was tragically trivial you weren't kidding."

"Despite this, despite the pain caused, the love, my love has survived. It survives. And I'm sorry if you think I don't love you, because it's not like that" said Brenda looking at Daniel's green eyes "he's not having an easy time, it's not clear why either, and I'm worried about him, I kicked him out, I tried to be a little selfish but I can't, I'm worried.

'What's his name?' Daniel asked.

Brenda didn't understand why Daniel was asking her.

"Dylan," she replied, "why do you want to know his name?"

"Because it gives him an identity, it could give him a face, because I don't want us to talk about an abstract entity that takes your thoughts away. Anyway, I think it's normal for you to worry about him."

'Really?'

"We always worry about those who live in our hearts but I am happy that now, at this precise moment, I will give you the moments of happiness, maybe one day I will live in your heart too"

Brenda kissed Daniel's mouth, he was right, he gave her moments of happiness, it was easy for her to talk to him, she felt like she could talk about everything, staying away from Dylan convinced her that maybe one day she could cut that rope and let him go.

The very idea of letting Dylan go and living her life caused her immediate sadness. Brenda wasn't ready and wondered if she would ever be ready.

Daniel was there in front of her at that moment, it was her present. He took her in his arms, made her laugh, especially he made her laugh.

Brenda let herself go into Daniel's hands, the breakfast tray was set aside, the rays of the Scottish winter entering weakly from the closed shutters. Now that was Brenda's world. Just that.

Campus

Donna returned to the Campus to look for Ray. She was sorry for what happened the previous week, she wanted to talk to him again, tell him that she wasn't that kind of girl, that she wasn't a snob like her mother.

She found him in the middle of the lawn, with a guitar in his hand singing an unknown song in a low voice.

Ray was really cute thought Donna as she approached. There was something about him that she really liked.

"Hello," she said, drawing his attention and interrupting the singing.

Ray looked at her, "Donna, right?"

"Right, can I sit down? Do I bother you?"

'No, come on.'

"Are you a musician?"

" I'd like to be in My Life while being a carpenter serves me to survive and pay the bills."

"You are very good"

'Thank you.'

"Listen," said Donna in embarrassment, "I came to apologize for the other day. I'm so sorry for what happened, it wasn't my intention..."

"Don't worry" Ray said.

'Seriously?'

"Yes, seriously, I was wrong to react that way too"

Donna felt relieved.

"There's a party tonight at Peach Pit After Dark, it's a new place run by some friends of mine, I brought you two tickets, you're my guest, if you want to come."

"Will you be there?" Ray asked with a smile.

Donna smiled too, she had an appointment with D Shawn for the party, but she didn't say it. She liked the idea of seeing Ray again.

"Yes," she replied, "I'll be there."

"See you tonight," Ray told her as he watched Donna as she walked away.

Walsh house.

Brandon looked out at Valerie's door while she was already putting her things in her luggage. She would have liked to talk to Brenda, but she was out of London for a few weeks and so her darkness grew on its own.

She had made a big mess.

Now Steve hated her, Donna hated her because of David, David hated her, and Kelly hated her regardless.

It made no sense to stay in Los Angeles. Her house in Buffalo was better, with all his problems and her friends, Tom. Tom that often came to her mind and that she closed in the drawer from which it came.

"You don't have to leave," Brandon's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Valerie turned around.

"C'on Brandon, they all hate me after what happened"

"I don't hate you"

"You have to tell to you girl"

Brandon grinned "I told her, this morning and ..."

'And?'

"And we had a fight."

"What a surprise...," Valerie replied that she kept packing the jerseys, "and anyway, your parents are angryq with me, because of Dylan, they specifically had me to stay away from him."

'Whar?'

Valerie remembered that Brandon knew nothing about his acquaintances with Dylan inside that horrible Bar.

"I went out for some time with Dylan, Brenda asked me to keep an eye on him."

'Brenda?'

"Yes, she's worried about him, we didn't do anything anyway, she'll have to get by on her own too because I'm going back to Buffalo"

"Valerie.." said Brandon "I know my friends, especially Steve, he's not a person who holds a grudge, he can give you a second chance."

Valerie grinned.

"No, I don't think so and anyway this is not my place Brandon."

Brandon sighed heavily, he missed Brenda and in Valerie he had found a similarity although no one could replace his twin sister.

'Brandon?' Cindy's voice reached them from the stairs.

"Yes mom?"

"On the phone, it's Kelly"

Brandon was still upset with her and didn't feel like talking to her. She would have liked Kelly to understand before anyone else.

"Tell her I'm in the shower and calling her back," Brandon replied, looking at Valerie.

"You don't have to do it for me"

"I don't want to talk to her on the phone, maybe I'll go to Kelly's house later and try to fix things with her. I hate it when we argue, it makes me feel bad."

"Your princess holds you in her hand," Valerie said.

"Don't be so hard on Kelly, you have different stories but a very similar frailty, Kelly may have had a childhood in Beverly Hills but she certainly didn't have an easy childhood. I don't understand why you are so hostile to each other, you have a lot in common"

"No, I don't think so"

"I need the two of you to get along Valerie. I'm in love with Kelly and I love you too. I'm afraid this thing could destroy us"

Valerie was about to answer but Cindy retached herself in Valerie's room and asked both of them to go to the kitchen for a family reunion.

Jim was waiting sitting at the table. He was thoughtful, when he decided to take Valerie with them he didn't imagine that it could give so much trouble starting with Dylan Mckay, but they had called from Buffalo. Valerie's mother had been admitted to a psychiatric clinic and certainly could not take care of Valerie.

Sending her to Buffalo would have been a huge mistake. Her father had died, her mother had a nervous breakdown.

If it had been Brenda, if it had been her daughter she certainly wouldn't have wanted her best friends to leave her in the middle of the street.

Valerie was told of the condition of her mother, who had been found in confusion by police on a street in Buffalo and had been admitted to a clinic. Her mother was unable to take care of her.

My mother was never able to take care of me, Valerie thought.

"Stay here with us," Jim said with sincere eyes, "your mother needs peace of mind"

"I don't feel welcome," Valerie replied.

"Everyone deserves a second chance," Brandon said.

At that moment Casa Walsh's fax sent the reception signal and began to print documents.

"I told him I didn't want that thing in the house," Cindy said looking at Jim.

"I just have to sign these cards and send them back, it saves me from going to the office every time."

Jim tore the paper out of the fax and began to read.

His gaze immediately appeared worried.

"Any problem? "Cindy asked.

"It's a request for permission to mortgage the house from Dylan"

"I thought you didn't take care of Dylan's money anymore," Brandon said.

"In fact, but there are contracts expiring and as long as they have not expired he always need my authorization"

Jim laid the paper on the table.

"With all the money Dylan has," he said, "why does he need to take out a mortgage on the house?"

Everyone looked at each other and it was Valerie who spoke

"Because he doesn't have them anymore, Suzanne and Kevin took all the money, they scammed him"

That words made everyone turn towards Valerie.

"And how do you know?" Brandon asked but Jim replied before her "I don't even want to know how she knows."

Jim seemed upset "I knew it was going to end badly, I had warned him, but he didn't want to listen to me."

Jim took his bag and gave Cindy a kiss "I have to go check some things in the Office. See you at dinner," he said, "you too, Valerie."

She smiled "it's okay".

Brandon approached Val "Brenda knows about Dylan?"

"No," she replied, "I found out when she had already left for her tour, if she calls home these days we have to tell her"

Brandon nodded.

Mckay House

Dylan seemed agitated. He had just found out that the bank had sent his request to mortgage to Jim Walsh as well and so he knew what had happened to him or would come out soon and everyone would know.

He searched the drawers for the five hundred dollars he had taken at the Peach Pit After Dark,

Damn it should have put some order in that house.

A photo of him and Brenda popped up in a drawer. In Baja. That photograph hurt him a lot, he immediately recognized her happy look, he didn't recognize himself instead. They seemed like times so far away and yet so close to his heart.

He felt like crying but how he had been so stupid. Now Brenda would have known about too and cursed himself for not telling her about it before, when everything could still be fixed.

He immediately put down the photo and ran his thumbs over his eyes to pull away the tears. Something had stuck in the drawer, he stuck his hand further down and found the gun, the one he had bought a year earlier when he had suffered the robbery of his new Porsche.

He took the gun in his hands and caught himself watching it. He stood at the table to clean it and to be grabbed by his demons when someone knocked on the door.

It was Jim.

Damn it.

Dylan threw the gun into another drawer and went to open it.

"Did you come and tell me that you were right Jim?"

"I came here because I'm worried about you."

"You shouldn't, I'm not your customer anymore, you sent me away..." Dylan was angry but he knew Jim wasn't responsible for what had happened, he had tried to warn him, he had tried to stop him.

"I'm here to try to help you. Valerie told us what happened"

"Help me? And how? They took everything, you were right, they scammed me, there's nothing we can do."

Jim tried to keep calm and patience, he knew Dylan was in trouble but he could hardly stand his hostile attitude.

"Can't we just sit down and tell me what happened?"

'Why?' Dylan asked "so you can tell me you were right, I tell you: you were right. You left me alone and now you come here to pretend you care."

Jim got nervous, picked up his bag "well, I'm really glad I went all this way for you, I'm leaving"

"Fine ," Dylan shouted out of himself in repressed anger.

Dylan slammed the front door.

He breathed several times to try to regain control.

He went looking for the gun. Then he opened some whiskey and took a ravenous sip of it. Then another one.

KEG house

"I just ask you to give her another chance" Brandon looked at Steve as he tried to ignore him unsuccessfully "she thinks everybody hate her"

Steve grinned "really?, but what did Valerie ever do because everyone hates her?"

"C'on go Steve we all deserve another chance, you've had a lot too, Valerie can't go back to Buffalo"

"Why? They don't even want them?" Steve grinned.

"Okay," said Brandon, "please don't say I told you, but her mother is admitted to a psychiatric clinic and her father shot himself in the head. Valerie comes from this scenario. She doesn't have anyone now, she made a mistake."

"Call it a mistake, to get fucked secretly while she was going out with me, for the record she also slept with me, once."

Brandon didn't want to hear the particular intimates of Valerie and the mess she had made.

Steve laughed "she's not your sister.."

"But I don't want to know the same"

Brandon and Steve looked at each other for a moment. Brandon knew that Steve was capable of forgiving.

"But don't ask me anything about David"

Brandon sighed, "We'll deal with him another time."

"Okay," Steve said, "if she wants to come to the party tonight, well... she is welcome."

Brandon smiled and Steve put an arm around his neck. There's nothing he wouldn't have done for Brandon.

She loved him like a brother. He was his brother.

Beach house

Brandon went to look for Kelly, he hadn't called her back and hadn't been heard all day and he didn't want that. He had realized that he had been so worried about not leaving Valerie alone that it had cost him to leave Kelly alone. It wasn't fair.

Kelly was still in her pajamas, on her bed.

"Hey," he said, looking out the door.

"HEi" she replied with a serious look but happy to see him.

"I'm sorry for not calling back and not showing up," he said, "I'm sorry for this morning too, it's not you who has to pay the price of Valerie's mess."

Kelly looked at him for a moment then opened her arms and Brandon went to hold her tight.

"I missed you," he said.

"You more," Kelly replied, "you hear I thought about it and I think I'm wrong, I never really wanted to give Valerie a chance, I didn't really help you and instead we are a team. A wonderful team. Right?"

"Right," he smiled.

"Maybe tomorrow I'll ask her if she wants to come shopping with me, or have a coffee, maybe getting to know us better" Kelly was insecure, Valerie didn't like her but she hated even more arguing with Brandon and not hearing from him all day."

Brandon kissed her "thank you" he whispered.

The kiss became much deeper and the hands began to touch each other's bodies.

Brandon took a breath "we don't have time, we have to get dressed..."

"Why?' Kelly asked.

We have to go to a party.. I'll take you to dance," Brandon said, holding out his hand.

"You don't dance"

Brandon held her tightly in his arms.

"I'll dance with you," he replied, kissing her on the neck.

"Mmhh, good," Kelly replied happily. It had been a bad day for her. Without Brandon, without him she felt that something was missing, she felt all the instability of her emotional part, he was something to get wrapped up in and that helped her deal with the bad things she kept in her soul. This thing was starting to scare her, what would become of her if they broke up? What if for some reason the story with Brandon was over?

She suddenly took his face in her hands and looked at him. Blue sea vs Blue sky.

At that moment, that thought began to make its way, flowing like water from a small spring. She was scared.

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