Here it is, the first chapter. This is the sequel to Jeanette's Flower. It is NOT necessary for you to read Jeanette's Flower before you read this; it might help you understand some parts better, but really, you don't need to. Enjoy! Happy reading and writing!
Brittany's Point of View
Christmas shopping is always fun, even when you're small and a furry chipmunk, or in my case, a chipette. I always go over the limit when it comes to spending money. My younger sister, Jeanette, would say that I was making an understatement or something, but I swear I only spend my limit and when I don't, at least it's for a good cause, right? Who cares though? I'm famous along with my sisters, Jeanette and Eleanor, and our friends and housemates, Alvin, Simon and Theodore, and with fame comes fortune; the two are a packaged deal!
My guardian, who I consider more of a dad, Dave, brought us all to the mall for our Christmas shopping, which was the best place to do so. We could shop for one another at so many stores and shops.
"Okay, if you get lost, we meet in the middle of the mall where that big, metal clock is hanging." Dave pointed to the clock that hung still twenty, maybe twenty-five feet above the ground. He didn't want us to get lost, he was a good parent that way. He wanted us to stay together, so naturally we split up. I watched Theodore drag Eleanor in the direction of the food court and Jeanette and Simon, who currently had the title girlfriend and boyfriend, stride to the opposite end of the mall. Alvin ran off with a mischievous grin on his face. I knew that grin and that grin always worried me. That grin meant he had something (possibly evil) up his sleeve. Idiot. He was only setting himself up for trouble with Dave.
Ignoring the fact that I would probably hear Dave scream 'Alvin!' I ran towards the nearest clothing store I could find. I always thought that Dave could use something a little nicer to wear other than a simple shirt and jean combo. He was so drab with his clothing choice, it bothered me having to see him the with the same style every single day. I hopped through the aisles casually and picked out a nice jacket for him. Being unable to carry the clothing myself, I asked the worker if I'd be able to have it delivered to our house.
"Name?" The teenage worker scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"Brittany." I state, and not knowing my real last name, I decided to use Dave's, "Brittany Seville." The service here wasn't the best, but at least it accepted sales from a chipmunk Some of the stores had a policy, "No shoes, No shirt, No furry rodents," and this I often took offense to. Most of the restaurants in town refused to serve us, at least until our host or hostess recognized who we were. The teenager slowly took her time in filling out any necessary paperwork, folded it up, and tossed it to me; it was barely able to fit in the pocket of my pink jacket. Knowing that there were others to shop for, I left in a hurry.
Dave was the easy one to buy stuff for, it was obvious what he needed, my sisters I thought about getting clothes too, but decided that because they were so great that I'd put a little more thought into their gift. Theodore I could get something to do with food; he'd accept anything, even a wrapped up toaster waffle. Simon I'd probably find something sciency, he wasn't very picky. It was Alvin whom I had the most trouble finding a gift for. He was very unpredictable unless you could literally smell the trouble he was cooking. I couldn't get him anything that he could use to break something, that would drive Dave nuts! And Alvin wasn't one to care for clothes or food or school. I could get him a video-game, but that would leave me sitting with a controller too lost in boredom. No, material objects just wouldn't do, Alvin's gift would have to be something from the heart.
"That's it!" I snapped and went in search of our group; I already had Alvin's gift with me. This was the perfect opportunity to do what I've been wanting to for a while; Alvin's Christmas present would be my heart. I could give him my heart, it wasn't material, and it was truly sincere. Honestly, ever since Alvin organized a concert in my honor almost half a year ago, I've thought differently of him. He wasn't so selfish, he was a good munk. I've grown some really good feelings for him, you could even say I liked him, but at times, when he wasn't so sweet, he could be so stupid, so annoying. Was he a bad boy? Maybe, but I wondered often if it was just an act. Did I even like bad boys? No, but I did like Alvin; he was different, at least he knew when he did something wrong. He had a heart, and soon he would have mine.
After figuring out what I'd give Alvin, I quickly found material, but meaningful gifts for his brothers. I ended up getting Simon a book of brain teasers (I can't believe I actually set foot in a bookstore!) thinking that since he thought he was so smart, he could finish that in a week. I ordered Theodore a special food platter that he could have all to himself if he wanted. As for my sisters, they would get something a little more special; Jeanette would get an evening of romance with Simon, just something I found, a sort of coupon for an activity that a shop was advertising, seemed safe. Eleanor would get to appear on a cooking show, and I was positive I could organize that. Once the shows host knew who I was, he would surely let Eleanor make an appearance. Christmas shopping was so easy!
"Where is everyone?" I thought as I stared at the clock hanging above me in the middle of the mall. "Dave said that if we got lost to come here." Like I would ever get lost in a mall, but I was positive Theodore would, and he was a good start for company. I looked around with a pit of loneliness in my gut. I liked being around others, whether it was Alvin or my sisters or even Dave, but when I was alone for a reason unknown to me I usually felt abandoned. After what felt like hours of being alone, I caught sight of Simon and Jeanette with their hands linked and Dave and Eleanor right behind him. Theodore struggled from behind, carrying a bag of mini donuts with him. "Where's Alvin?" I asked.
"He isn't with you?" Simon replied with a hint of worry, but probably for everyone else in the mall.
"No more splitting up."Dave confirmed, "Come on, let's find Alvin."
"No need." Simon stated and pointed up, I gasped when I saw the heavy clock above us move. As I got a second look at it I could make out different colors rather than the reflective metal; I could make out red and brown, the same combination of Alvin's sweater and fur!
"Alvin, get down from there now!" Dave yelled and then added in a whisper, "How did he even get up there?"
"Aha! Sorry, Dave, be down in a minute. This is fun!" Alvin swung the clock back and forth. I heard a faint creaking sound and began to have an instinct fear. Snap! The clock's wire broke and Alvin and the metal death-trap started its way to crush me.
"Eek!" I squeaked waiting for the weight on my shoulders and back. Nothing came.
"Oof." Dave grunted as he caught the clock… And Alvin. He put it down and Alvin sat livid in his hand. Furious, I hopped up on Dave's arm and scolded Alvin.
"Alvin!" I screamed, "You could have killed me!" I motioned to strangle his skinny neck with my hands, but Dave got in the way
"Brittany, as much as Alvin deserves it, you know that's not right. Now Alvin, apologize."
"Sorry, Brit." Alvin said. I could never tell when he was sincere in his apologies, and he made a lot. This wasn't the first time he put my life at risk for some unexplainable reason, and was sure it wouldn't be the last.
"Whatever," I breathed, "Can we go now?" I looked at Dave with tired eyes and he nodded, off to home.
"Are you okay?" Jeanette asked as we exited the mall.
"Perfectly fine." I lied. Lying was easy, but it wasn't something I liked to do, especially to my sisters.
"Oh, are you sure?"
"Yes." That was the last of the matter. Jeanette cared, but I think she tried to make people happy by not pestering them.
"Hello, ladies." I turned my head and watched Alvin smooth-talk a couple of girls parked next to our car. I've seen Alvin do this a lot, I've seen him surrounded by girls at school and even out in public, but this was the first time I've ever felt jealous about it. Wasn't it? Or was my jealousy always just hidden behind my anger? Great, now he has me thinking. He has me jealous, and he has me angry. Five minutes after almost killing me AGAIN and he's off flirting with other girls. Why won't he pay attention to me? I wished he'd flirt with me, even once just to know what it was like, what made him so charming. When I saw him those girls I thought I'd lose it. After everything we've been through together, he hasn't noticed any of the times I've tried to flirt with him? For a ladies man, he was so stupid! I wanted him to be with me, to make ME feel special, not others.
I don't know why I did what I did next, but I did it, out of anger or jealousy or just being sick of waiting for him to do it himself. I ran up to Alvin, dragged him to the side away from the other girls, and stared at him with a fire in my eyes.
"Alvin," I said with a hopefully undetectable lust, "Do you wanna go to dinner with me, on a date?" He looked a little taken aback, his grin fading. Was it surprise or something else? I had no clue what was going through his head, he was always impossible to figure out, but that was one of the things that made him mysterious and I liked it… Most of the time. This was one of the times where I couldn't stand it. He waited to answer as if he wanted to build up the suspense, but I knew he was giving this some real thought. I looked longingly into his hazel eyes, my blue eyes that most thought to be icy softly reflected back to me.
"That sounds really fun." He nodded and smiled and before we could turn back to the car with Dave and our siblings he grabbed my wrist, "Brit, I really am sorry for almost killing you… Again."
"Now that," I thought, "was sincere."