*Author's note: I do not own Beverly Hills 90210 or it's characters*
"Val!" Brenda waved her hand to get her sister's attention at LAX.
"Bren, you didn't have to come get me, I could have taken a cab." Valerie rushed over sounding a little out of breath.
"Oh please, it's no big deal." She said as she hugged Val. "Plus Brandon's flight lands in 45 minutes, so I thought I could just come and get you both at the same time."
"Our brother boy scout in the flesh, man I'm glad I decided to come."
"Yeah well, we have some time to kill. Want to get some food?"
"How about a drink instead?" Val asked with eyebrows raised.
Brenda had to laugh, "Of course. A drink." She giggled, "Let's go."
Brenda spent the next 45 minutes filling Valerie in on her new friend Annie and of course the reunion with Steve. She explained how much she adored Maddie, and how full her heart was that she referred to her as Aunt Bren.
"Well that's great Bren, but, what about the other stuff?" Val asked her curiously.
"What other stuff?" Brenda played dumb.
"Come on, you're going to tell me you went for a visit to the Old Walsh house after almost running into Dylan and felt nothing? You're totally fine?" Val said it in a tone that said she knew better than that.
"Val, I am fine, it's fine." Brenda lied.
Valerie threw her head back in a fake laugh, "HA! Yeah, okay, we'll pretend that's true."
"Oh, would you look at the time." Brenda said. She was thankful that at that moment Brandon's flight had landed
Valerie laughed and rolled her eyes playfully as the girls went to greet their brother. They went to wait for him at baggage claim. It only took a few minutes before they saw his perfectly styled hair come around the corner, a huge double dimpled grin appeared on his face at seeing his sisters.
"Well this is a surprise! Hey Bren. Val, I didn't know you were coming to visit." He said as he gave both girls hugs in greeting.
"Yep, just flew in a little bit ago myself. Bren here thought we could use an escort, she drove your parents car here to pick us up." Val looked at Brandon with a grin.
"Oh...wow." Brandon turned his attention to Brenda. "Sis that's sweet. But you driving in LA? I think I would have had a higher survival rate with a cab." He joked.
Brenda smacked him playfully on the arm. "Excuse me I am a great driver!"
"Oh. Yep, you're right. Excellent. You hardly hit curbs at all anymore, just once or twice per trip." Brandon continued laughing and mocking his sister.
"Okay enough. Come on you two, let's go im starved." Val said as she began making her way toward the exit.
Brandon threw his arm around Brenda's shoulders still laughing from their exchange, "It's good to be back. Let's go sis."
The Walsh twins and Valerie headed to their parents house. Brandon was going to be staying there in the guest bedroom. They were also surprised to see Val. Brenda hadn't told anyone besides Steve that she was coming to visit, too.
"Oh my gosh I haven't seen the three of you in the same room in years." Cindy said with watery eyes, thrilled with the reunion of her family.
"I wanted to surprise you, Mom. It's not often we can all work out our schedules to be here together at the same time." Brenda said sweetly.
Cindy pulled her in for a hug, then Brandon, then finally Valerie.
"Val, where will you be staying?" Cindy asked curiously. I'm sure we could make up the couch for Brandon if you need the guest room."
"Hey!" He argued.
"Oh come on, Brandon," said Jim. "You know a gentleman can't let a woman sleep on the couch." He laughed.
"Unbelievable." Said Brandon through a frustrated smile.
"That's okay Mr. And Mrs. Walsh, I actually got a room at the same hotel Bren is staying in." Val answered sweetly. "You know, girl bonding and all of that." She held a mischievous grin that Brenda could tell meant trouble. She wondered if her parents could see it too.
"We understand. At least come for dinner later?"
Guess not Brenda laughed to herself.
"Yeah of course, Mom. We're going to go back to the hotel now, let Val get settled, then come back here in a few hours." said Brenda sweetly.
The two girls left and headed back to the Beverly Royale. After dropping Val's stuff in her room which was only just down the hall, they went to Brenda's room to hang out.
"So." Val started, "Any more near run-ins with sleaze?"
Brenda rolled her eyes, "No, and I doubt there will be. The city is big, Val."
"And you're okay?"
"Yes. I'm okay, I promise." Brenda stated matter of fact, but she worried Val could see through her.
She watched as Val walked around her room, then suddenly turned back to Brenda.
"I see. So you haven't been writing in that, then?" Val asked, pointing in the direction of Brenda's journal laying flat on the night stand next to the bed.
Brenda just looked down, knowing she couldn't bullshit her way out of this one.
Val gave her a smug smile, "So you're not okay." She sighed then sat next to Brenda. "Bren, I know you okay? Give me some credit. I know you're just going to bottle everything up and pretend you're fine when really it's killing you inside. But stress journaling is your tell."
She's right.
Brenda wasn't always a big writer or one to keep a journal. However, after the hold up at the Peach Pit in high school, that changed. She'd tried her normal "bottle it up and pretend" method but she broke down and spiraled. Eventually she had to see a counselor. The counselor had suggested starting a journal as a way to release her emotions if she felt like she couldn't, or didn't want to voice them aloud to anyone. Brenda never kept up with it daily or anything like that, but over the years she utilized it occasionally as a way to help her feel a little lighter, and get negative thoughts out. Val being her best friend and roommate was the only one that knew about it. She'd always kept it hidden.
"Do you want to talk about it, Bren?" Val continued.
"No. Val, really I'm fine. Yes I did journal a little the night I almost ran into him but it was just a bit of a shock that's all. There's really nothing to talk about." Brenda said. And she really believed it. Yes she was struggling a little with memories of him, but that wasn't new. She was very familiar with the way Dylan made her feel, and the constant battle with herself to push him down. Why talk about it? She already knew what to do. Put him in that box in her mind, throw away the key.
"Alright, if you say so. But I'm here if it gets too hard." Val said, dropping the subject which Brenda was thankful for.
The girls left soon after that for dinner with her parents. Brenda informed Brandon that she'd told Steve about his arrival, so he made plans to visit his friend the following day. After a great evening of family bonding, they headed back to the hotel. Before going their separate ways, they'd made plans to meet with Annie for brunch tomorrow, and Brenda was excited for the two women to meet.
Whatever hope Dylan had that the nightmares returning were a fluke dissipated when he had one again Tuesday night. And to make matters worse ever since his idiotic plan to try to sit through a memory of Brenda, all he could do was think about her. He wondered how she was, what she was doing, if she was thinking of him, too. Dylan knew he didn't deserve that though, not after the last time. The truth is that he spent a considerable amount of time trying to forget she even existed. Trying to push down every single thing he ever felt for her. He needed to get back to that.
He spent Wednesday doing whatever he could to push her out of his mind. He went surfing, visited Steve, Janet and Maddie, buried himself in manuscripts but found himself reading and re-reading pages. He even tried to have a dinner date with an old flame, a redhead named Elena who he had only hooked up with a few times in the last year or so. She was sexy and confident and normally Dylan could easily get lost in her for a little while. But nope. Not this time. Not even that would get Brenda out of his mind. Nothing worked. What the hell was happening? He was usually so good at blocking her out. It was like the universe knew something he didn't, and was trying to torture him with information it wouldn't give him. Maybe if he could just know that she was okay? If he could just know that she was alright, and happy, he would be reassured knowing that he made the right decision when he left. Then he could go back to his normal life where he at least pretended to be content.
More nightmares, more tossing and turning, more thoughts of Brenda. Dylan was no longer dreading his Thursday morning session with Dr. Linda because how much worse could it get? Brenda was already consuming his every thought no matter how much he tried to put her back behind the dam. He entered the office confidently today. He informed his doctor that the nightmares have occurred again the last two nights, and gave her a recap of what happened in them. He then picked up where they left off after last session at Dr. Linda's request. He took a deep breath and began talking about sophomore year. First he told her about making a new friend in Brandon Walsh, and then, about meeting Brenda.
"Brenda? This is the same Brenda that shows up in your recurring nightmares is that correct?" The doctor asked interested.
"Yes. She's always there. In different ways. Sometimes she's reaching out for me, sometimes she is caught in a storm on the shore calling out to me, sometimes she's drowning…being pulled away from me as I try to save her. But no matter what I do, I can never reach her, because I'm always drowning myself. " Dylan swallows hard and takes a deep breath. It hurts to talk about out loud.
"Is it always the same nightmare?"
"It didn't used to be." He replied short. Not looking at her. "They've…changed over time. Different scenarios. Different circumstances. But she's always there. That's the same." He fidgets uncomfortably in his seat and runs a nervous hand through his hair.
Dr. Linda nods, and seeing how distressed he's become, decides to shift back to the previous topic. "I see. Tell me about her. What happened after you met her?"
He was surprised that talking about his history with Brenda actually helped to ease some of anxiety surrounding her. He talked about their initial meeting, how he felt when they locked eyes for the first time. How he felt like she had saved him and helped him become a better version of himself. Someone he really liked being. How heartbroken he was when she broke up with him that first time, how amazing they were when they finally got back together. He told Dr. Linda about their Valentine's Day blood donation, how easy it was to open up to her, how stable she made him feel, how much he loved her. Dylan was actually surprised that their hour was up so quickly, he hadn't even made it Baja yet. He felt like they covered so many years in their first session, but he'd spent all this time talking about her, and it seemed to fly by.
It actually helped him. He had never really told anyone his whole history with Brenda from his own point of view before. Aside from her obviously. But everyone else knew their history from an outsiders perspective. He'd never fully opened up about his thoughts and feelings before about her and their relationship, so he almost felt as though a weight was lifted in a way. Maybe this is what he needed to feel lighter. To feel better. Maybe it was a sense of closure in a way. Maybe this whole thing would finally help him move forward.
Brenda and Val met Annie at the theatre the next morning. After exchanging pleasantries and introductions they'd decided to walk down the block and grab coffee and brunch at the cute little cafe that Brenda had almost entered just a few nights before. It was convenient since it was walking distance from the theatre, and the European vibe reminded her of her time in London. The girls walked and chatted, laughing as Val and Annie realized they had a lot in common and became fast friends. Brenda was enjoying having her best friend meet her new friend and was glad that they all lived in New York together. Maybe this could be their new regular thing. Annie seemed sweet and genuine, she seemed like someone Brenda could trust. They hadn't talked much about their pasts yet, so she hadn't told her about Dylan, but maybe one day, she would.
"So, have you talked to Carter at all since you've been here?" Brenda asked Annie interested. She felt it was okay to ask since Annie had already given Val the rundown on her current relationship situation.
Annie gave a small smirk and playfully rolled her eyes, "We have talked some. Just casual discussions keeping in touch about our days, but nothing major. We agreed to take this time apart to really think about our relationship. But honestly we've been together so long it's unnatural for either of us to go completely without speaking for this whole time."
Brenda understood exactly what that was like.
"What about you? Talk to Chace much?" Oh, right.
"Um yeah. Honestly we've never been one of those couples that has to talk to each other 24/7, but we also usually see one another often. Time apart is new for us, and we keep missing each other's calls, but he will be here soon." Brenda thought about Chace, and how they typically spend at least 3-4 days a week together. She really did miss him. She refused to think about the fact that when she and Dylan were together, they hardly spent a day apart, and were definitely a 24/7 couple. She'd hated being away from him for any period of time. But no. She couldn't think about that.
"So you're missing him then, huh?" Annie asked with a flirty smirk on her face.
Everyday. Always.
Brenda. Get it together.
Brenda forced her mind back to Chace. Yes. She missed him. She let out a chuckle, "yeah, I guess you could say that." She blushed, and tried to ignore the playful eye-roll she received from Val. Valerie did like Chace a lot, but she also thought Brenda would have chosen someone that challenged her more, someone more passionate. She had been very vocal about it, as Val usually is, but she always said if Brenda was happy, then she was happy.
The girls strolled along until they reached the coffee shop that Brenda had seen a few nights ago. The streets were surprisingly less crowded than usual, which made them hopeful that the coffee shop would be a peaceful place to relax and catch up. Annie got to the door first and opened it as Brenda made her way in. The three ladies went over to the counter, and were looking over the menu.
"Bren, order me a non-fat white chocolate mocha latte will ya? I'm going to run to the restroom." Val said as she started to walk away, "Oh! And a cinnamon bagel, with cream cheese!"
Brenda smiled at her sister as she walked away and disappeared into the restroom.
"That Valerie certainly has...spunk." said Annie with a smirk.
Brenda laughed loudly at her remark, knowing she was being generous. Valerie could definitely be a lot at times.
"Yeah, you could say that." Brenda said through her giggles.
Annie ordered an Americano, while Brenda had her usual cinnamon soy latte. As she went to pay the barista for her order, she felt the change in the air, and there was that familiar buzz again. Oh shit. Then, a sudden a warmth spread throughout her body, starting from the base of her spine, slowly creeping its way up to her cheeks, causing her to blush red.
He's close. Too close.
Brenda took a deep breath and prepared herself, there was no way out of this one.
Time to put on a show.
She closed her eyes and breathed out a shaky breath as a familiar hand reached passed her, and handed money to the barista. "It's on me." He said in a low husky voice.
Brenda froze on the spot. She would know that voice anywhere and she hated the way it affected her. She'd felt electricity pulse through her feeling his skin so close to hers. She couldn't move. She couldn't think. She couldn't breath. She was terrified to turn around and feel everything she knew she would feel.
"Hey, Bren." He whispered.
Eeek. Finally! Reunion chapter is next. And it'll be written a little differently as it will intertwine both of viewpoints as it unfolds. I hope it's still easy to follow that way. Things are about to get interesting!