"How are you?" Brandon was almost afraid to ask her.

"Well," his sister replied in a faint voice, "I was only able to talk to Randolph yesterday, he was on a trip, and I got my class again. I don't even know why he gave it back to me, generally Roy is not a forgiving person."

Seconds of silence followed.

Brenda wanted to ask about him, about Dylan, but she tried damn hard not to. She hated him, she hated him because Dylan could always break her legs and her heart whenever it seemed to her that she could be happy.

The first time had been horrible, the second had become unforgivable, but Brenda had London on her side, she had London and had the life she had strongly wanted and conquered, she was no longer a girl sitting in her room crying. Brenda had an apartment, an entire city that would protect her. Love was not and should not be the result of continuous exhausting struggles, changes of position, second thoughts.

"To tell the truth, there's a big news..." Brenda pointed out.

'What?'

"They have me at Wintur... I didn't even know that, but Randolph did. It's a big traveling company, they do shows all over the world. Wintur is not refused, and I have no intention of refusing it. Rehearsals begin on Thursday and then the first stage will be in St. Petersburg.

"It's going to be like being in Minnesota," Brandon laughed.

Brenda smiled.

"It's a big thing, Brandon, and that's exactly what it took for me, to leave"

"Go away or run away?"

Brenda avoided answering the question.

"Let's talk about you..." Brenda asked.

"I haven't told Kelly about the Chicago Chronical yet"

'Why?'

"Because whenever I want to do it, she talks to me about the trip to South America, how much she needs it, how nice it would be... "

"And what are you going to do?"

"I think I'm giving up..."

"Brandon..." Brenda whispered.

"Kelly and I had a tough year, especially her. I don't feel like canceling everything... there will be more Chicago Chronical, I'll find something next year"

Brenda felt the uncertainty in Brandon's words.

"Maybe if you told her about it you would find that she would have no problem giving up the trip."

"Brenda, Kelly gave up fashion shooting for me and for this trip... and she did it without hesitation."

Brenda didn't answer.

"Anyway," Brandon continued, "I tried to look for Dylan..."

Brenda remained silent. She didn't ask questions, she didn't want to go forward or backward.

"It's gone," Brandon said.

"That's nothing new," Brenda replied, chasing away that worry that always touched her when it came to Dylan.

Brandon would have liked to tell her that although he too was worried about Dylan, when he disappeared It was never a good sign. And he wanted to tell her that he felt angry for him, that it wasn't right what had happened and it wasn't right to have no explanation.

"I miss you a lot," Brandon said.

"You too," Brenda replied, "it was nice to be together again."

XX

Donna had returned to live with her parents. It was supposed to be temporary, but the days were getting longer, Donna no longer felt safe except at home with Dr. Martin and Felice.

She had also avoided seeing Ray, she found it difficult to touch a guy, every Ray gesture reminded her of what had happened. Donna engaged every day in psychological sessions that were supposed to help her overcome the trauma. Dr. Wilkinson was a woman in her 50s.

She radiated tranquility, she was able to convey it to you with a single glance. Donna could talk to her about everything, until that moment her life had appeared magnificent, she had never thought she could be the target of a predator. This was a thought far from Donna's way of life that she now had to deal with every day. Don talked to Dr. Wilkinson also about the relationship with Ray and David , the doctor did not express any judgments in particular but pointed out to her how often the Ray's behaviors disqualifying towards her and how not being able to please him was a source of frustration.

Donna was waiting in Dr. Wilkinson's waiting room that day, the next step would be to return to the University of California, and the next even harder step would be to break things with Ray.

Sitting in front of her was a young guy, his shoulders very wide, his face particularly pretty. If he was in that place too maybe he had some problems as well as some problems hand Donna, however they exchanged glances until the guy got up and went to sit next to her.

"Hi, I'm Joe," the young man introduced himself, "are you Donna Martin?"

The circumstance for which Joe knew Donna's name immediately stiffened her but the boy hurried to explain that he was also attending CU.

"Joe Bradley" he pointed out better "I'm the Quarterback of the college team, I only know your name because I noticed you and asked for some news around, I'm sorry if it scares you."

Donna shook her head, she hadn't scared her she told him, lying.

Joe was in very kind and delicate ways, just what Donna needed and he immediately managed to put her at ease.

"If you like a few afternoons we can have a coffee together," Joe asked.

"I don't know, but I hope to see you again in college," Donna replied.

Donna saw him get up and smile at her in a very sweet way, she greeted him with a nod.

Model agency Photo 2000

Kelly was in the dressing room, the makeup artist had just finished. Claude the assistant made her wear a long dress.

"The photographer is here, can I let him in?"

Kelly smiled.

Colin Robbins was a promising young fashion photographer. Kelly had read about him in some magazine that she had distractedly flipped through.

He was a handsome boy around 25 years old, New Yorker.

He had a seductive smile.

Their eyes crossed and Kelly even felt the embarrassment. It looked like he was undressing her without even putting a hand on her.

Colin Robbins looked at her.

"A beautiful creature," he said, extending his hand to her and accompanying Kelly's walk.

Kelly carefully followed every instruction of Colin who watched her following with the camera lens and with his own eyes.

"I'd like her to wear that red dress," Colin told Claude, "and then I'd like to take a few more pictures.

The photo shoot lasted a couple of hours.

The makeup had well camouflaged the scars of that fire that Kelly felt now far away. She liked to smile at that camera. She liked to feel different and thoughtless.

"You were very good," Colin told her, reaching her in the dressing room.

"Thank you," Kelly replied very timidly.

"Would you like to get a drink at the bar on the corner? I'm from New York I don't know anyone"

Kelly seemed hesitant.

Colin understood "Claude is also coming of course".

Claude's presence was a guarantee for Kelly.

At the bar Colin, Kelly and Claude were late. Colin and Claude had known each other for a long time and exchanged memories and funny episodes.

They made Kelly laugh several times.

She discovered that Colin was also an emerging artist, unknown in Los Angeles but his name was becoming known in New York.

"Maybe this summer when you come to New York you will be able to see the gallery where I exhibited my paintings, even if I have some on display in a gallery here too, if you want to see them"

Kelly shook her head shyly "I could come and see the ones in LOS ANGELES, because I don't think I'll come to New York"

Claude and Colin looked at Kelly "why?"

"Well I... here... I don't think I'll be chosen..." Kelly said.

Colin looked at Claude raising his eyebrow.

"What makes you think you won't be coming to New York?"

Kelly looked at both of them with an interlocutory look.

"I don't think my shoots will be chosen"

Claude smiled "Kelly" he said shaking her hand "you've already been chosen, this summer you'll definitely be in New York."

Kelly looked at them in disbelief.

"But... "

"Nothing but... why do you think they sent me to do this shooting for you?" Colin said.

Kelly immediately thought of Brandon and bit his lip nervously.

CU.

Valerie loved helping David with his commitment as a cameraman for the TV station. It was a way to be together and Valerie provided him with a lot of original ideas. They were a couple that worked at least from a creative point of view. During the day they were a team, at night they were lovers.

Valerie soon realized that she didn't have to ask too many questions, especially because of the feelings David had for Dobna, she had to keep her desperate form of insecurity at bay because that was where the biggest quarrels with him came from.

Ray had never come looking for Valerie again but the fact that they shared that secret made her feel uncomfortable, especially since that secret hurt Donna and Valerie feared that David would not forgive her.

The canchellor was giving his speech. The highest school and municipal authorities were seated in the campus garden.

On the other side of the courtyard the members of the Keg were ready. Naked and covered with shaving foam. It was time for the May joke.

Running naked and covered in shaving foam under the horrified eyes of everyone and the cameras.

David kept the camera pointed at the rector snitling at his University's numbers and inviting successful former CU graduates to the stage.

It was time to act.

Steve started running along with the others. About fifteen naked boys interrupted the ceremony as people watched them.

"Oh my God," said Valerie who couldn't believe her eyes.

David was amused. Although covered in foam he would have recognized Steve everywhere.

The canchellor tried to calm people down while Clare, sitting in the front row, was already furious. That was an important occasion for his father, something he had prepared for a long time.

She hated to see her father humiliated like that.

The Delta guys threw their counter joke against the Keg ones and operated the sprinklers.

The guests began to get wet and run away.

The situation got even worse when the water melted the foam and those of the Keg remained totally naked.

"Let's get out," Steve ordered, "withdraw!"

Clare glanced at Steve. It was a terrible second.

Rehab

The reason no one had seen Dylan again was because he had returned to Rehab. Immediately after Brenda's departure, immediately after that terrible choice, Dylan was afraid that his world would be overturned again and this time Brenda would not be there, and this time no one would be there.

No one would understand that he loved Brenda deeply, but he didn't feel sure of himself, he didn't feel sure of the harm he could do.

Wintur was the occasion of a lifetime for her and she was giving up for him. The weight was too much for Dylan and Brenda's few years.

He missed it to take his breath away, every day at home she looked at the suitcases for London that he had never unpacked, as if he could leave from one minute to the next and instead he would never leave.

One day he felt the need to go back to drinking, he went out and bought some bottles of beer and then stared at them on the table.

Then he took the suitcase and went back to Rehab.

Toni opened the door for him "Dylan..." whispered in surprise.

"I need to stay here," he said.

Antonia did not ask questions because she knew how to recognize that light off that belonged to many guests of that place .

"I was going to drink," Dylan said, "then I managed to hold on but I realized I couldn't hold on for long, I need help," he said with his eyes full of tears.

"What happened to you, Dylan?"

"I let her go," he replied, "I let her go"

Toni immediately understood that he was talking about Brenda and understood it without knowing exactly what had happened. He looked so happy and now Dylan was destroyed. A person in trouble.

Tonia let him in and looked at him as he waited standing in the middle of the room. It seemed very lonely to her. Toni closed the door, the whole world out.

London.

Daniel rang at her door and Brenda went to open it.

She greeted him with a sincere hug deep down they both had something to reproach each other.

They had seen each other at the RADA and it had seemed difficult not to say Hi .

Daniel didn't ask her any questions, he didn't need them, he already knew everything.

She had asked him to come and pick up his things at home.

Daniel was wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of jeans.

It had a strange effect on Brenda. They were the same clothes as Dylan.

She let him into that apartment that fortunately she hadn't canceled.

"I heard about Wintur," Daniel said, "congratulations."

Brenda smiled "it was a surprise for me too, I didn't even know they had noticed me"

"You would have known if you had come back with me to London"

Daniel Replied.

"Don't be bitter," Brenda replied, "I don't owe you any explanation"

"No" Daniel shook his head "it's true you don't owe me"

Brenda looked at him and then continued to pour tea into the cups "as you don't owe me for sleeping with Valerie"

Daniel made a grimace "did she tell you that?"

Brenda shook her head "you would never guess how I knew."

Brenda sat down, Daniel would have wanted to ask her a million questions, about Dylan, but he didn't want to cheat on himself with words. He had been the one who told Randolph about Brenda, where she was, Roy couldn't stand the lies and wouldn't have called her back if It hadn't intervened the Wintur. They wanted Brenda at any cost but Dylan was a hindrance.

Daniel had suggested where to hit.

Daniel had sworn to Dylan that he would fight to get her back, that he would not leave her to him, and that Valerie was wrong. He could have Brenda back.

"I have to tell you something," he said.

'Is it necessary?' Brenda Asked.

"Probably yes, Wintur took me too" Daniel sip the tea and looked Brenda in the eye "is this a problem for you?"

"Is it for you?" Brenda Asked.

"You don't answer a question with another question," Daniel replied.

He felt that it was anger that kept Brenda afloat but what would happen when the memory took over? When would love come back?

Brenda got up, pointed to a couple of boxes in the bedroom.

"You'll need these, then"

Daniel smiled and Brenda smiled too.

XX

"You're an idiot, Steve" Clare was really angry.

"Come on... it was just a joke"

"A joke? Seriously Steve? You humiliated my father, in public"

Steve tried to calm her down unnecessarily, Clare could put up with many things but not about her father, he was all she had left.

"You'll see that no one will remember tomorrow," Steve said with a faint smile.

"I don't think" David entered at that moment along with Valerie "the chancellor summoned me to his office, he wants a copy of the footage made"

"And you don't give it to him..." he tried to suggest Steve who was really starting to get scared of the chancellor's reaction.

"How can I not give him the recording, Steve?"

"Because you're a friend of mine and you won't give it to him"

"And instead my father will have that recording," Clare said, "however, I'll be the one to tell him who was at this joke"

Steve turned to Clare and realized she was really going to do it.

"Can we find a solution?" Said Valerie trying to step on Steve's side "it was a stupid joke... but I don't think Steve and the others deserve expulsion"

'Expulsion?' Steve repeated without words.

Valerie shrugged her shoulders.

"Does your father want to expel me?" Steve turned his pleading gaze to Clare 'you have to help me'

Clare didn't answer, she took her jacket and walked away.

Steve couldn't stand this side of Clare, sometimes you could hear her punchball. True, he often made mistakes but there was never nastiness in his gestures.

"I don't know what to do," David told him with a serious air.

XX

Colin took Kelly back to his car.

"It was nice to work together today," he told her.

"Yes, for me too"

"And I can't wait to continue this summer"

Colin kept his eyes on her, it was a sexual and charming look.

She looked down timidly.

"You're beautiful," he told her.

"No I don't think so"

Colin pulled her chin up with one finger.

"You are gorgeous and never accept that you are told less than this"

Kelly and Colin were in each other's eyes. Colin felt the irrepressible urge to kiss Kelly and put his lips close to hers.

It was a moment.

Kelly pulled back.

"Sorry," he said, "I shouldn't have.."

Kelly smiles shyly looking down and touching her lips with her fingers "I think it's time for me to go."

Kelly got into her car and walked away quickly, she didn't understand what was really going on either.

She had a strange feeling, ugly, confused.