chap 3 : the truth


dylan got out of his car and saw the familiar figure sitting under the tree where they spend their childhood comforting eachother through every storm. he smiled to himself before walking in her direction.

'Some things never change do they Kel?' He said and stopped infront of her searching her face for answers. After what happened he wasn't sure if what she needed right now was him.

Kelly looked up and didn't know what to say. 'What are you doing here Dylan? You know i wanted to be alone..'

'I figured. But.. i'm here because..' suddenly it was like anything he could say wouldn't bring the point across. The point being he was in love with her and if he said it now everything would change. And he wasn't sure neither he nor her nor Toni would be able to handle it.

'save it Dylan. i'll make it real easy for you. It's okay. I accept your choice and i think if anybody should be with you it's Toni. She'll know how to deal with you.' Kelly stood up. 'You probably don't believe me after how i reacted but.. I care about the both of you. And i think it's fairly obvious i do not know how to handle all of this so take what i say now as a sign of my genuine hoping for your happiness: get away from here. From me. All of it. Our past it's too much for me to handle. And i know you have moved on and i think i did too. But.. i'm still holding on. And it's not good for anyone so please do me this favor and go.' Kelly was teary eyed as she said this.

she was telling the boy she always loved to finally let go of the idea of them.

Dylan shook his head 'Kel don't. Don't say that please. I'm here because i need you. More than you know. I don't know how to make it clear for you but i really do. I'm sorry. About all of it. Tonight. About how i acted 4 years ago too. If I didn't treat you as less as you deserved you wouldn't have gone to John Sears. If I didn't fuel your insecurities by helping Brenda out again and again you wouldn't have moved on to Brandon. It's all my fault. I don't blame you for anything. I just want you to know that i...' it was hard saying what he felt now that he was here.

Dylan was never good with words. All of the girlfriends he had he didn't know how to treat them because of his internal struggles and background. The difference was Kelly understood. Until he drove her too far away and now they were here. Both clueless on how to handle all of it.

Kelly didn't meet his gaze. She couldn't. Instead she began walking past him.

Dylan then took her hand. 'Please don't ignore this.'

'Why do you like seeing me hurt Dylan? You know how i feel. Right?'

'I.. wish i did. But the truth is.. there is so much unspoken between us. And if you want me to move on. Atleast tell me what i'm walking away from Kel.' He was being honest and looking deeply into her eyes.

'alright. fine. dylan i didn't choose you not because i love brandon more but because i didn't see why you'd want me. Everytime i always felt like people were right about us. That i was just some dumb bimbo keeping you company until Brenda or Toni came and you found your true love. That's why i kept sabotaging us alright? I have never loved anyone the way i love you. It's always been you for me and that's what scares me the most because i don't see what you see when you tell me you want me. I don't think you ever loved me Dylan. But since you wanted the truth..' tears were forming and dropping down her cheeks.

Suddenly Dylan saw the consequences of him keeping what's in his heart away from everyone especially Kelly in this moment. Even if they weren't gonna end up together and even if it was too late he had to let her know the truth.

'Kelly. Look at me' he told her and held her hand.

'Not one single person meant more to me than you. Not even right now. You are my true north. And i know you understand why i have never been vocal about how i feel because you're the same way. But.. i love you. I'm in love with you. I've always been. Before Brenda. During Brenda. After Brenda. And yes... even right now. Our history always overshadowed anything i could ever have with any other girl because it's you that i wanna be with. Toni is great but.. i've been hiding with her. I've been hiding my heart for as long as i can remember but you opened my eyes right now that i need to be honest with you. I'm not expecting anything from this Kel. But i do. I do love you. And when i look at you.. i see the person who i always knew you could become. The girl i connect with. The one who can always see through me. I choose you because it's you. For me it's always gonna be you. Not because you're gorgeous but because whenever i'm away from you i wanna call you. When i'm lost i turn to you. When i'm happy i wanna share it with you. And because if it came down to it i could deal with losing everyone else but not you. I only breathe when i'm with you. You make me feel alive Kelly.'

Everything Kelly wanted to hear was now out in the open. Dylan had finally opened up his heart to her. 'Dylan.. had i known you felt this way i-'

'you do now Kel. i wish i'd been more brave sooner but.. you tell me.. where do we go from here?'

'you're the love of my life. I know that. I don't wanna hurt Toni like we did Brenda but .. we owe it to ourselves to try again.. i just can't be apart from you any longer Dylan' she was crying now.

'Come here.. i'm gonna take care of it. But now that i know you also love me i just need to..' he was hugging her. Their eyes met. And then they kissed. They shared a passionate yet tender kiss after all of the storms they've went through and they knew: love was reborn in this believed to be dead place.

soulmates are always bound to find back to eachother.