Walsh House

Brenda was packing some bags to return to London. She had a lot of things to do there, she had to take the stuff away from her house in London and return the keys, then she had to think about all the documentation at RADA to give up the year of study.

Dylan would go with her and as soon as they returned she would move in with him and resume her course of study at CU. She would probably have enrolled in some summer courses to catch up on the first semester.

She felt full of life and plans and things to do.

She didn't want to think about Roy Randolph or Daniel.

Jim walked past his daughter's room that kept the door open.

"Hey dad," she greeted him with a very nice smile.

"Hey, are you getting ready for your return to London?"

"A short return," Brenda said.

Jim nodded and Brenda looked at him "Dad we've already talked about it, it's my decision, it's my life."

Jim nodded again and moved a few steps into Brenda's room touching Mr Pony who was all leaning against a chair.

"Yes I know, but I'm your father and I think you're making a mistake."

"Because I want to live with Dylan and continue studying at CU."

"I love Dylan whether you can believe it or not, but I think you don't have to give up your future for him, I think you have to go on your way to accomplish yourself in your work and then if things are meant to be, they will be."

Brenda sighed "I just wish you were happy for me"

Jim walked up to Brenda and hugged her "I'm happy for you, but I'm your father and I never stop being worried."

At that moment Brandon walked into Brenda's room "do I interrupt a romantic moment father daughter? Can I come and join this hug too?"

"Spiritful," Jim replied.

Brandon smiled "I'm going to the academic senate meeting. Do you want a ride to Dylan?"

"No" Brenda replied "I still have a lot of things to do here maybe I'll call him later"

"However you want"

Brandon walked out of the room and so did Jim.

Brenda looked around. She just couldn't decide what to bring with him.

Valerie hotel.

Valerie had no intention of going to college that day, she still smelled David on her. Since they had returned from the trip to the lake they had never separated and even if the others pretended not to know in reality everyone knew everything, but they preferred that they were the ones to give a certain officiality. David had told her that night that it was time to say it and show them as couple in public, hand in hand, as couples do, it was time to try to build something.

Valerie didn't want to be rushed but she wanted to ask him to go and live together, to get a house, she was tired of the hotel, she was really tired, and then he lived in the university dormitory. She would have liked to do something like Dylan and Brenda. Find each other, go live together. But Dylan was a millionaire and already owned a house, while she owned the Peach Pit after dark and not a house and then didn't want David to get scared.

She heard a knock on the door and thought about room service.

Valerie went to open and found herself in front of Ray.

"Ray..." she said in surprise.

"Val..." he replied as he entered the room "you always told me to come by whenever I want and so I always did."

"Yes, but...it's not the time now," Val replied.

Ray took a look at Valerie who was in a bathrobe and with wet hair. He walked up to her and started kissing her on the neck.

"I'd say it's just time," Ray said, untying her bathrobe and uncovering her naked.

Valerie pushed him back and tied her bathrobe belt.

"I said it's not the time Ray"

Ray wasn't taking her seriously and couldn't get the grin off his face.

"Okay, you want to play like last time...I like it"

Ray walked up to Valerie and grabbed her wrists by pushing her against the wall. He started kissing her on the neck and opened the bathrobe again.

"No Ray"

"YES like last time, I like it when you oppose"

Ray was too strong for Valerie who couldn't break free from her grip.

All she could do was kick him between his legs.

The pain bent Ray to the ground.

"Stupid whore" he shouted at him.

Valerie looked at him with very bad eyes, too many times she had said no to her father and he had continued to own her body, it was something she couldn't stand, a "no"means "no"

"You have to leave Ray and you never have to come back here again"

Ray got up and only at that moment did he understand that Valerie wasn't playing, that there was no sex play, that she didn't want him in that room.

"Valerie I'm sorry I thought you were..."

Valerie felt the tears rise and couldn't hold them back.

"I'm with David now, we're together and I'm not going to cheating on him either with you or anyone else, what was between us we both wanted, but it could also destroy both of us, so you'd better get out of this room and forget about it."

Ray looked at her with an empty, metallic look, then opened the door and walked out of the room.

Mckay's house

Dylan didn't have much luggage to carry with him. It was supposed to be a short trip. Fix Brenda's things and go back.

He heard a knock on the door. He was convinced it was her but the silhouette beyond the door told another truth.

"Antonia!"

"Hi Dylan," she replied very timidly. It was the second time she showed up at his house and without an invitation, Dylan probably thought she was an exhausted stalker.

"I'm bothering you?"

Dylan smiled "no... come on in."

"I'm sorry to always come to your house without an invitation but I was passing by here and I just wanted to say hello, from that night to dinner we didn't hear from each other again and I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Antonia took a few steps inside the living room and immediately noticed the suitcases open.

"Are you leaving?"

Dylan nodded "I'm going to London"

"Mmhh" Antonia replied "the old dear Europe. I love London"

"I prefer Paris, to tell the truth"

"And are you going for work or for fun?"

"For both, I accompany my girlfriend Brenda to clear the apartment and do some things that have remained pending down there"

The words "my girlfriend Brenda" unexpectedly hurt Antonia who still kept smiling.

"You managed to win her back..." she sighed with a sincere smile "I'm happy for you, you could see that you two loved each other, you could see miles away"

'Really?'

Antonia nodded " but not knowing the story between the two of you I imagined that something serious had happened to keep you away"

"Something very serious happened and the fault was just mine" Dylan looked around "sorry I'm rude, can I offer you something?"

"No," Antonia said with a slightly sad look, "I really came to see how you were doing and since my tutoring assignment has been performed I can go."

Dylan and Antonia exchanged a tender hug "if you need anything, you know where to find me," Antonia said.

Dylan thanked her and then accompanied her to the door, he was happy that Brenda was not at home at the time. Their relationship was still recovering and the trust was not totally rebuilt and moreover Brenda had already seen Antonia in that house and had not taken her well at all.

House on the beach.

"Are you sure you don't want to come Donna?" Kelly looked into Donna's room for a moment. She hadn't dressed yet, she was sitting on the bed with a tired air.

"Donna..." Kelly sighed "what's wrong with you, haven't you slept all night? And why do you keep everything closed?"

Donna breathed a heavy sigh.

"I can't sleep since I saw that rose on my bed at the lake, it's become a real nightmare, I always hear strange noises"

Kelly put her arm around her shoulder "listen, I don't want you to be alone, get dress, I'll wait for you and go to college together, I think doing everyday things among people can help you a little bit."

"No..." said Donna "no you go, I don't want you to miss classes for me, I'm getting dressed now and then my mom is coming"

"And what else are you not telling me?" Asked Kelly who knew Donna very well.

Donna hesitated a little and looked at her friend.

"Well, I don't think I'm in love with Ray and that's something I'd like to talk to him about but I'm afraid of his reaction."

"A reaction?"

"I'm afraid he'll get angry"

"If you're so afraid of him he's not healthy Donna and maybe you shouldn't tell him on your own. Do you want me to stay here with you?"

"No... really, and anyway I don't think I'll tell him today, he has so many things on his mind, they're finally contacting him for his career, I'll find the right time, I think. It certainly won't be today."

Donna shook her head to try to put in order her thoughts that were randomly distributed at the time.

Kelly nodded "if it's fine for you, I'll go."

Donna nodded "yes, don't worry."

At that moment Kelly's phone went off.

"It must be Brandon"

Kelly walked up to her handbag and pulled out her cell phone. It wasn't Brandon's number.

"Yes?"

"Kelly Taylor?"

"It's me."

"Hello, I'm Dorothy Miller from Photo2000"

"Dorothy!" Kelly was surprised, she hadn't heard from Dorothy since she had done the photo shoot and anyway before the fire.

"It's a pleasure for me too Kelly, listen I need to see you here in our Offices, it looks like there's a job offer for you."

Kelly immediately darkened, the photos had been taken before the injuries she had suffered during the fire and she was no longer the same person either.

"Dorothy..."

"Why don't I feel enthusiasm in your voice? Maybe because I didn't tell you that Vogue wants you?"

"You said Vogue?"

"Exactly"

"See you at 2pm at my place?"

Kelly didn't have time to think and replied that yes, she would go to her at 2pm, show her scar on her neck and explain to Dorothy that that little dream she was helping her realize would be just a dream.

Kelly put her phone in her handbag.

"You have the scariest face than mine," Donna told her, finding a bit of a good mood.

"Vogue saw my photos and I have to go to an interview later"

"But it's great!!" Donna noticed Kelly's look "isn't it ?"

"I don't know," Kelly said, looking at her with a stern look.

University

Brandon was in his office. Since Alex Diaz had stopped waging war on him and had decided to collaborate with him, things were going much better. One of the privileges of being president of CU students was to have that room all to himself so he didn't have to go to the library. Sometimes he studied in his room with Kelly, other times he and Kelly had used that institutional room in another way.

He was already talking to Alex Diaz about his next re-election together, it was strange how from his worst enemy Alex was turning into his best ally.

Brandon looked up and saw the manifesto of the previous election, the photograph of him and Josh.

Brandon still kept the letter that Josh had written to his mother and that Kelly had found for him.

It seemed like a long time ago and yet time had not passed at all.

"Brandon Walsh?" A man had looked out his door. He looked youthful.

"It's me"

The man walked up handing Brandon "I'm Michael Phonix of the Chicago Chronical, Professor Banks told me I could find you here."

Brandon was surprised.

"How can I help you Mr. Phonix?"

"Please call me Michael"

"Okay... Michael"

"Professor Banks is a dear friend of mine, in fact for me it's George, he pointed out your name to me and made me read something of yours."

'Really?'

"You look surprised"

"I am"

"We are working on some scholarships that we would like to offer to the most promising young people in universities, maybe you want to participate"

"Definitely"

"It's about working for us next summer"

"In Chicago ?"

"Yes"

Brandon seemed hesitant. It had occurred to him that for the summer he had planned a trip with Kelly, they had a hard time deciding on a destination but in the end they had decided on Central America but damn this was the Chicago Chronical.

'Any problem?' Michael asked.

"No," Brandon said weakly.

"Very well," Michael said, giving Brandon his business card.

"Perfect," he replied.

House on the beach

Donna had prepared a relaxing bath for herself. Her mother had phoned to tell her that she would be a little late and she tried in every way to get rid of the feeling of anguish that had been attacking her for days.

She felt tired, she hadn't slept all night, every noise made her jump.

Suddenly she heard the door of the house open.

She was afraid.

"Mom? Clare?"

She started calling but neither of them answered.

She got up from the tub and took the bathrobe.

"Clare? Mom?"

Donna didn't know whether to lock the door or go out to see, maybe it was Kelly, damn she hadn't brought her phone to the bathroom.

She opened the door slightly and saw the phone on the aisle table.

She remained silent but didn't hear any other noise.

Donna decided to go to grab the phone

Someone grabbed her from behind and tapped her mouth.

The man didn't speak and his face was masked. Donna didn't recognize any smell.

Donna was paralyzed.

The man slipped his hand into Donna's bathrobe and touched her breasts. Donna was crying.

The man slid his hand further down between her legs. It was a moment, then he let her go and disappeared.

Donna was petrified and couldn't breathe.

"Donna?" Ray's voice surprised her after few time. She was not able to tell how much time had passed, a minute, ten minutes or an hour in which she had not been able to move.

"Donna!!" Ray saw her standing, in shock with the bathrobe half open "what happened?"

Donna didn't answer.

Clare walked in soon after.

"Clare call 9 1 1" shouted Ray held Donna in his arms.

CU

Valerie was in the University cafeteria, David approached her shortly after.

"Hello wonder ," she told him.

"Hello wonder," he replied.

David lowered himself and gave her a kiss on the lips.

'In front of everyone?'

"In front of everyone"

Valerie smiled.

"What are you doing?" David Asked.

"I'm planning the week at Peach Pit after dark, and I'm studying at the same time, I have an exam after tomorrow, an assessment test"

"Mmmhh, you're very busy, and I was hoping we could go to My room.. to planning... and to study of course "he replied.

"We could"

As he kissed her on the neck, Valerie wanted to tell him she was thinking of getting an apartment, one flat for the two of them, but she feared he would get scared.

David's phone went off.

"Don't answer," Valerie whispered.

David smiled but still looked at who was calling him on the screen.

"Steve?... What?" Suddenly David's face darkened " in which hospital? .. i'm in My way ."

David was shocked, his gaze slowly shifted to Valerie "Donna is at Sinai, she was attacked by a man in the beach house"

Sinai Hospital

Everyone was in the waiting room. Donna's condition was good from a physical point of view but from a psychological point of view they were terrible.

She had stopped talking. She didn't respond to any reminders.

Felice went out and reassured everyone, but insisted that they go home because Donna didn't want to see anyone.

Valerie looked at David's worried face and was immediately jealous of it, she tried to hold back, it was too early for everything, to be jealous, to go live together. She tried to move on tiptoe so as not to offend David's sensibility that he didn't hide that he was worried.

Ray wanted to stay in the hospital and refused to leave.

"Poor donna " sighed Brenda as she walked away hand in hand with Dylan.

"Yes I'm so sorry, it must have been terrible"

"At least she's not alone now"

Brenda looked for a faint smile

"I don't feel like sleeping at home tonight, can I come to you later?"

Dylan smiled instantly, put both hands around Brenda's waist "I would die if you didn't come"

Brenda gave him a kiss on the lips.

"Then I'll see you later, I'll help you pack if you want..."

He squeezed her even harder.

"I doubt we'll have the time"

Brenda laughed.

Brandon and Steve refused to leave the girls alone in the beach house so they would both spend their nights many as needed, it wasn't a problem.

"I feel better if you sleep with me," Kelly said as Brandon escorted her to her car.

"Honestly Kelly, I feel better too, if something like that happened to you, I would die."

Brandon would have liked to tell her about the proposal that the Chicago Chronical had made to him but he thought the timing was bad, they would talk about it at another time. It was a decision that also involved Kelly, he wanted to propose to her to go with him to Chicago, they could spend the summer together. Brandon shook his head, he still had to do the interviews and it wasn't said that he would win that scholarship.

"I have an appointment at Photo 2000"

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No it's useless, as soon as they see the stains on my arm and behind my back they'll send me home" Kelly put her arms around Brandon's neck "but I don't care anymore, you know?"

'no?'

"No" Kelly shook her head "because I have big plans in the next six months"

"Mmmhhh" said Brandon "really?"

"Yes," Kelly replied, "with a beautiful boy"

"What a lucky man," Brandon replied.

Kelly and Brandon kissed deeply.

When they break up the kiss Brandon said "when you leave Photo2000, call me, we'll make an appointment and go home together, I don't want you to go alone"

"Okay" Kelly gave him the last kiss and then got in the car.

Brandon watched her go away and then her smile faded.

McKay's house

Dylan closed the suitcase he had prepared; a small bag, he thought he would buy in London what he needed and anyway he would have to carry Brenda's suitcases, at least he had to travel light.

He started cooking, he wanted to prepare something good for him and for Brenda, to amaze her.

He also looked for a tablecloth and arranged a good mise en Place.

They rings at the door.

Dylan looked at the clock, it wasn't even 7 p.m. Brenda must have hurried quickly.

He went to open the door.

In front of him was a man.

A man he knew well.

"Roy Randolph..." Dylan said in disbelief.

"Dylan it's a pleasure to see you.., can I come in please?"