The beginning
Dylan sent Brenda to Paris with Donna earlier that day. He now lied in bed pondering over the distance and what will become of it. It had been hell trying to find common ground lately. Jim being in protective father mode certainly put a strain on the relationship but Dylan knew all too well that it was bigger than that. The issues between him and Brenda can't be lumped into one category. The truth was after their disastrous attempt at living together, they realized just how different they were. Brenda was so ambitious and a go-getter and she wanted a partner on her wave length. A do-er like her father and brother. Dylan was a thinker who took it one day at a time. He was a loner, an observer. Not ambitious at all. However Dylan was grateful for Brenda. She taught him how to love. Before her he was selfish and had zero compassion for anyone else. She saved him and taught him how to express his feelings. Before her the only thing he was close to was a bottle of booze.
It felt though that lately she wanted to change him, most girls did. But he wanted to keep some parts of himself and got tired of her trying to save him.
Maybe the space was good for them. He needed some me time, no one to answer to.
the first official day of summer was here, Dylan decided he wanted to Lounge on the beach and do absolutely nothing. He then found Kelly lying outside her cabana
"Hey gorgeous!" He said, approaching her "mind if I join you?" He asked, she nodded not glancing up, nor removing her shades "catching some rays?" He asked
"trying to... don't know how much longer I've got tilll David interrupts the peace with his music" David always practiced from 3 in the afternoon in their cabana
"well you've got an hour" Dylan winked
"better make the most of it" she smiled back, taking off her shades "you spoken to Brenda?" she asked
"A bit last night... been focusing on writing... for my fathers parole" he couldn't understand why it was so easy to blurt these things out to her, he didn't share much with people
"I heard about that" Kelly replied "can't be easy"
"what makes you say that" he smirked
"fathers never make it easy" she shrugged
"What would you do, if it were your father and you were supposed to support him even thought you can't think of any positive things to write."
"Well, I'd lie." She smirked
"If Kelly says I can, then I will." He chuckled "Listen, I'm sorry about Jake. I warned him not to mess with you."
"You did?" She asked, astonished
"Yeah, been looking out for you since kindergarten with his Carny!" He smiled and she giggled
"Oh right! Miss Carny! Don't worry about me. I actually dumped him!"
"Wow, Kel! I'm impressed!" He replied, genuinely proud of her.
"It's all part of the new me!" She smiled sweetly "that's what happens when you finally have a family at home, you realize you deserve better and stop settling."
"Glad to hear it!"
They had been chatting for over an hour, it flowed so naturally, making up for lost time. They headed over to the cafeteria for lunch.
"I swear to ya!" He exclaimed through mouthfuls "I really did!" She couldn't stop laughing
"Seriously? I had no idea!" She replied, shocked "wow... Dylan McKay had a thing for me" she teased
"Not like that!" He groaned "Get over yourself, it was... a crush" he got flustered... not many girls made him feel that way.
"Well, it's flattering." She smiled sweetly back at him, making him blush a little no girl had ever made him blush before either
"Gotta admit, I wondered what it would've been like to be Steve back then... I was kinda jealous he got you... then I remembered I can't stand to be around company so I got over it." He grinned
"Well, if I'm being honest... I kinda, had a crush on you too" now she felt flustered.
"No, way! You had a crush on ME? Wow, day made!" He winked
"Well, every girl did." Kelly pointed out
"Well, that's true.." Dylan said, acting all cocky
"Shut up!" She playfully hit him "mine was just a little one."
"Still... prettiest girl in school wants me! Bet Steve would've loved that!" He grinned
"stop boasting!" She rolled her eyes.
The gang finished A competitive game of tug and war. Dylan and Kelly felt awkward after she had fallen on top of him. They had spent the whole day together chatting reminiscing down memory lane, not even noticing how drawn to each other they were until they had felt skin on skin from that fall. Up until that moment they hadn't even realized their innocent flirtation meant anything, but they could not describe that rush they both just felt. They both brushed off the incident, ignoring their hidden attraction. Assumed they were just old friends getting reacquainted but whatever spark shot through them was hard to shake.
Sex, lies and volleyball
Dylan didn't understand the changes he was making. He obviously missed Brenda but he also felt so relaxed and free for the first time in a long time. He even joined in group activities like when Kelly asked him to be her volleyball partner. He found himself really enjoying summer with no stress, no planning, simply living in the moment. He became more playful. Everyone noticed that the infamous broody and mysterious Dylan McKay was becoming quite the goofball. He was fun and happy and if you asked most people they would say it was... well, weird to see him so perky.
"Can't believe we won!" Kelly exclaimed, getting a water bottle from her bag
"Thanks to my direction!" He teased
"Oh please!" She rolled her eyes.
"Oh, yeah! You wanted to cover back remember? But you're better in front" he winked "I play better with a view."
She felt flushed after his comment but did her best to side step it.
At this point they hadn't even realized they were getting more flirtatious each day. Every time their brains reminded them how inappropriate it was, they shoved it to the back of their minds, not being able to let go of this amazing connection and how good it felt to be around each other. Even if they couldn't explain why.
"Anyway! We won." She changed the subject
"So how are we going to celebrate?" He asked
"Aw, I'd love to but, I have to babysit. Jackie and Mel deserve a night out and David has plans with Steve."
"Steve? That's an unlikely friendship" Dylan replied, "Well, how about I help you babysit then?"
"Dylan McKay wants to help me babysit?" She asked, sarcasm in her tone
"Yeah! I'll bring a movie! Casablanca!" He exclaimed excitedly
"Alright then!" She agreed, surprised by his enthusiasm but found it endearing "it's a date! -I mean, you know" she began to fumble over her words
"it's a date!" He smiled
"Kel?" Dylan called out, letting himself in, but no answer. He made his way to the kitchen, placing a bottle of wine on the counter, when he heard Kelly's voice through the baby monitor.
"Who's the most beautiful girl in the world? That's right! it's Erin! But don't get cocky, looks get you far but not everywhere. Take a page out of my book, I'm learning how much more important things there are in life. Forget the shallow stuff, forget other people's judgments, I'm finally finding myself and it's al thanks to you, baby girl! You are my family now and that's what's important. And I know you can't always depend on family but... David and I... we won't let you down... Now go to sleep baby girl!"
He heard her kissing Erin and realized how much she had changed. What was even more beautiful was the bond she and David now had. They had become family, bicker like siblings too, but it was just wonderful how their relationship ha blossomed and showed how much Kelly has grown.
"Hey." Dylan whispered, walking into the bedroom "she asleep?"
"Nope." Kelly replied. Dylan crept up behind her shoulder and Erin gazed up at him and smiled
"May I try?" He asked
Kelly was surprised, but impressed and handed him the baby.
"Hey pretty girl! You've got your sister's good looks, don't ya? Don't go breaking hearts now!" He joked and Kelly watched them and couldn't help but smile "Truth is your sister is right, you can't always depend on family so... you're real lucky to have her..." he gazed over to Kelly.
She gazed back at him. Truly touched, feeling accepted. For the first time she felt someone knew her. With one gaze he made her feel like he saw her for her! Not the image everyone else saw.
Kelly quickly snapped out of the gaze "She's asleep." She whispered
"So..." Dylan snapped out of the gaze too. Put Erin in her crib and cleared his throat. "Movie?"
"So basically, the movies about an affair..." Kelly began
"No, Kel. Just watch the movie... You gotta see the art! Can you even imagine a passion that strong? To feel so connected to someone that you'd do anything to see them happy, even if it means letting them go? They couldn't get their happy ending, but their love living in their memory in Paris was enough!"
"Well, they say only unfulfilled love can be romantic." Kelly replied
"Yeah, maybe but... what gets me about this movie is the electricity! I'd love to know what that kind of passions feels like! You know, the kind of love that feels so deep that you lose yourself in it. That fire... that makes u feel, alive."
"Well," She smiled "You may be exaggerating... I think that's movie love but at least you got the passion part."
"Huh?" He asked, he has trailed off into his thoughts
"With Brenda?" She reminded
"Oh, yeah. Of course!"