First year of High school

Police Station

"Your regular's here." Officer Jones called out to the office

"Send him in." ordered Officer Richmond

"Another DUI, Dylan?" Richmond spoke as Dylan sat down

"Got bored hanging round the hotel." He shrugged

"Look, kid. I can't keep making allowances for you here if you don't meet me halfway."

"I appreciate that, Rich, but why bother?" Dylan fiddled with his shirt button

"Where's Jack this time? Business trip?"

"Yeah, business trip." Dylan chuckled

Station waiting area

Dylan stepped out of the office to find a blonde in a red dress sitting in the waiting area

"I remember you... Kindergarden, Miss Carny." Dylan smiled at the girl

"Loner boy! Still sneaking girls into that big hotel?"

"It's Dylan actually" He grinned

"I remember. Haven't seen you around much."

"Nah, you've seen me... we just haven't spoken since 5th grade." Dylan sat beside her, she ignored his comment.

"So what are you in for?" He asked, making conversation, but she was still silent. "Hey, I'm not here to judge, check it, DUI" He showed her his paper.

"Getting drunk and high on private property with Clive... you know him."

"Yeah, the dealer, he's still in town?" He asked and she nodded

"How come he didn't get caught with you?" He rested his chin on his palm.

"His mother picked him up, you can't leave without parental guidance."

"And let me guess your mother didn't show."

"She didn't even answer her phone." the girl pouted, she didn't even notice she was pouting.

"Hang on." Dylan walked back into the office for a couple of minutes and hurried back out, "Rich says I can take you home."

Dylan's car

"You still live in that white house?" He asked

"Yeah... So how come Rich let me leave?"

"He's got a soft spot for me... he was pretty neglected as a kid too. His father was an actor."

"Oh."

"So, you still seeing Sanders?"

"Yeah..."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"Just answer the question," He eyed her closely, before turning back to face the road and she sighed

"Sometimes it's better than being alone... sometimes there's no one else."

"What's wrong with being alone?"

"It's awful... you would know." She grinned, "That may have been harsh but you deserved it." She gloated

"Perhaps" He chuckled

"This is me." She said, directing him to park.

"Alright... see you around?"

"See you at school." she replied

"Good night, red."

"Forgotten my name already? We've only known each other for 10 years." She smirked

"wow... you really have no faith in me, Kelly Taylor." He grinned and she walked off. He watched her walk into her house. In that moment he realised he liked her. He didn't know what that meant, he wasn't used to handling those kind of emotions -didn't know what to do with them. But in that moment, whatever it was, he liked her.

1 week later

Dylan drove up, finding Kelly walking along the pavement

"Need a ride?" Dylan asked

"No." Kelly snapped, wiping tears from her eyes

"Get in, Kel." She eventually obliged

"You're back to ignoring me at school, I see." Dylan began,

"Surprised you're even back at school." Kelly mumbled and Dylan laughed

"Well, people always remember the joys of high school, so I thought I'd give it a whirl." Dylan joked, but Kelly was silent. "So what is it, Steve doesn't want you talking to me?"

"Don't flatter yourself." Kelly rolled her eyes

"Fine." Dylan chuckled, "I did rescue you out of jail though-"

"-You did not!" Kelly interrupted and Dylan laughed

"I, at least deserve some recognition or a greeting."

"Hi." Kelly mumbled, Dylan chuckled again

"May I ask why you're stranded out this late."

"I had to get out of the house... my mum was driving me crazy. Steve picked me up and we got into a fight."

"So he left you here?"

"No, I got out the car and told him to go away." Kelly corrected

"Hmm... what's going on with your mum, is she still how I remember?"

"Yeah."

"Hey, I know this great spot on the beach, I go there whenever I wanna get away from the bullshit. You could come, we could get drinks...?"

"I have a boyfriend, Dylan."

"Ah yes, of course, because there's no one else, right? Besides aren't you in a fight? I think you'll find my comfort a lot more pleasurable than Steve's"

"You know what? Even if I didn't have a boyfriend, you're the last person I'd want to kill time with."

"Feisty."

"You're a drunk, Dylan, and the only reason you pick on Steve is because he's not alone, people actually want to be around him. People like him and you're jealous. Stop the car!" He stopped and she stormed out.

"You may have people drooling all over you every day but we both know your life's no picnic either." Dylan yelled after her. She waved her middle finger in the air and walked off. Not looking back

3 weeks later

Dylan's bungalo

"What are you doing here, Kel?" Dylan asked, no expression in his voice

"I heard about your father's case in the paper." Kelly said coyly

"So?"

"So... you were there when I needed someone to talk to."

"I don't plan on reciprocating."

"Dylan..."

"Go back to your boyfriend, Kel. Or your coked-up mother."

"Excuse me?"

"You didn't have time for me before, why start now? Unless you're a bottle of whiskey or a hooker? get out." Kelly glared at him and let herself out

Taylor House

"Kelly!" Jackie came storming into her bedroom "What did you do with my stash?"

"I flushed it." Kelly said, not looking up.

"Please tell me that's a joke."

"Nope."

"Why you little brat! I've given you everything, all the clothes you could want, all the shoes, all the damn cash, under the roof of a huge house and this is how you repay me?!"

"It's for your own good mother."

"Unbelievable!"

"You're just coming down from the high, sleep on it, you'll thank me tomorrow."

"Kelly... I'm warning you, don't touch my stuff again."

"Seriously? I know you're high but seriously? Can you not hear yourself?"

"I can't deal with you right now, Kelly."

"Fine. I'm going out!" Kelly grabbed her coat and shoes, and stormed out the house.

The beach

She took a stroll down the beach, outside her cabana, and heard voices towards the shore.

"Come on, I'm sorry okay? I won't push it anymore." Dylan was begging some girl to come back and fool around with him. But she shoved him and ran off. He noticed Kelly standing there.

"You wanna take her place?" Dylan joked. Kelly shook her head in disgust and walked into her cabana. Dylan followed her.

"It was a joke! Open the door, Kel." Dylan called out, and Kelly eventually opened it.

"May I come in?"

"That depends... are you drunk?"

"Not yet."

"Got any drinks on you?" Kelly asked

"Yeah in my car."

"Bring them and come back." Kelly insisted