Chapter Text
“But jealous souls will not be answered so; They are not ever jealous for the cause, But jealous for they’re jealous: it is a monster Begot upon itself, born on itself.” — Emilia, William Shakespear’s Othello: Act 3, Scene 4
“You can only be jealous of someone who has something you think you ought to have yourself.”
― The Handmaid’s Tale
Brenda would always be nervous for opening day or in this case, the game. The Big Game which her team wanted so badly for the past years and now they were here.
She had little time going from school to practice then home to sleep. Steve was understanding, possibly more than Dylan who had complained about her lack of presence when they had been dating. Granted, she hadn't told Dylan what she was doing unlike Steve who now knew. That seemed to have made Dylan more upset as the days inched closer to Saturday night.
Brenda knew that everyone would be there, probably more students since Andrea's piece on her team for the school paper had come out. That didn't matter to Brenda or her teammates. They had worked their butts off for this.
Kelly would have honestly rather been cuddling Dylan in his bed than being here cheering for Brenda's hockey team while freezing her butt off.
Dylan seemed to be into it which annoyed her even more than usual. The crowd was large and on fire as was the opposing teams one of them being led by Brenda. She could hear Steve and Brandon yell, cheer, and whistle to the Bluejays and Brenda. Even Donna, dressed in blue was cheering for Brenda. All of them expect Kelly who shivered and tried to cuddle up to Dylan. It lasted briefly before he rose up to cheer for the team as they scored once again.
More like cheering for his ex, Kelly's mind snarked at her.
She hated this. She really, really, really, really, really hated this.
The crowd roared as the buzz for the final score ended. The game was won and Brenda's team won.
They all waited out the arena where the food vendors were trying to get a buck. Kelly could hear Steve's mom talking with Mr. and Mrs. Walsh about (surprise, surprise!) Brenda's winning goal. "Oh, she was absolutely terriffic! I would say she could relax now but Steve told me about Brenda waiting for some callbacks for plays in the theater. Now, if she wants I would be more than happy to take her under my wing."
Kelly tuned out the rest of the conversation.
Brenda was followed by a gaggle of teenage girls, all of them sweaty and high of their win of the night. They were saying goodbye ate their Captain as Brenda limped slowly to them. Her parents got to her first. "I'm fine, honest. I think the defense player may have slammed into me and I think my ankle is twisted. But I'm fine!"
Mr. Walsh sighed as Mrs. Walsh fussed with her daughter. "If it is, we'll go to the doctor tomorrow."
"I already told them to party without me. They knew the hit I took was bad," Brenda mentioned to her parents. "Hopefully I can still do the auditions. I promised the girls to let them know if I get the parts for opening day."
As they helped Brenda with her hockey stick and bag, Steve went straight to her side and practically was glued to her. Kelly could feel Dylan's arm around her shoulder pulling closer to his side. How the hell did Steve even date Brenda? Were they flirting before she and Dylan hooked up? It had to happen!
Steve had presented Brenda with a lavish bouquet of flowers as Samantha Sanders hugged her gently telling her that she played fabulously. Brenda preened and blushed under the attention that it made Kelly roll her eyes.
God they were insufferable!
All loved up and loverbirdy that made Kelly annoyed.
What made her obsessed - not that she ever admitted to it - but it made her think about the why and how of this relationship. This relationship that was a fucking thorn in her side because it annoyed her but it pulled Dylan's attention from her and to Brenda.
Because Dylan had made his choice - that Kelly was his choice and not Brenda. That their Summer fling was not a fling but the universe telling them that they were the endgame.
They were endgame. Even though Dylan's eyes wandering to the back of Brenda's dark hair, watching him watch the way Brenda teased Steve and Steve tease her back before kissing her... it made Kelly's insides twist with the raging emotions of envy and anger.
It was at Dylan for still possibly having feeling for his ex.
It was for Steve for not being like that with her when they had been together long ago.
It was for Brenda for being pretty, effortlessly charming fucking Brenda Walsh - for captivating not one but two boys who were romantically linked to not only Kelly but to Brenda herself.
So yeah, Kelly hated this.
She hated Brenda even more.
Her eyes slid over to Steve and an idea began to form.
Brenda had practically ran into him before school. She was grinning ear to ear when she skidded to a stop that if it wasn't for Steve's quick reflexes she would have toppled him and sent both of them crashing onto the linoleum tile floor. Not that he was complaining of having Brenda on top of him but in a different scenario.
"Whoa! What's going on -?"
"I got the part! Steve, I got the part!"
Steve picked her up and twirling her before planting her feet back onto the floor. "Which part?"
"Midsummer's! I got the part of Titania, the Fairy Queen!"
"I told you! You would always get it!" Steve crowed in delight at seeing her like this. Her eyes shining bright and the emotions of joy vibrating off her that it was practically infectious. "When's opening night. My mom would for surely want to go and she would be happy to help you run lines."
She told him it would be in a few months for the beginning of Christmas break to run through February. Steve told her that he would let his mom know, she was already telling Steve to let Brenda know when to do some exercises at their home to help her with her acting skills. Brenda told him that it was alright but Steve was having none of it. Brenda was his friend (maybe more but he brushed those complicated, confusing feelings in favor of helping his now dear friend) and he would help his friends even if said friend was his faux girlfriend.
She was still in a cast for a few weeks courtesy of her injury on the ice but that did not diminish the glow on Brenda Walsh's face or the fact that she must have now excruciating pain from running on her bad foot to get to him.
"Well, I can help you run lines and play the Oberon to your Queen Titania," Steve slyly said wiggling his eyebrows in exaggeration. It made Brenda laugh and Steve would always feel a sense of pure delight and pride in the fact that he could make her laugh. No one else but him.
Once again, how the fuck did Dylan fumble his relationship with Brenda?!
Perhaps that will be a mystery that he will never know.
In another hallway of the school in a radio booth, Donna was contemplating all the facts she knew so far.
Kelly and Dylan had hooked up behind Brenda's back when they had been in Paris. That led to Dylan choosing Kelly over Brenda, thus destroying the relationship. Next thing they all knew, Brenda began to date Steve Sanders!
That had thrown everyone for a loop. Everyone except David, it seemed. Donna thought it was just a fun fling for both parties much to the ire of Dylan and Brandon. It made her roll her eyes mentally whenever the boys scowled in the new couple's direction.
To David, his two friends looked utterly in love. The most she's seen either Steve or Brenda, especially Steve. The last time someone had seen him like that was with Kelly but this to David Silvers was endgame.
He could feel it in his bones.
But that was not enough for his girlfriend who was slightly skeptical especially the timeline that was never spoken about.
Still, there was no denying that Steve and Brenda seemed utterly head over heels in love with each other. In all honesty even though he would never say to the group’s face, Steve treated Brenda better than Dylan besides the obvious cheating, Sanders seemed to be a better fit for Brenda.
He was certain about it. And if Steve did something to make Brenda upset, he would be more than happy to step in and deal with it on Brenda’s behalf.