Hiding a Fight

Chapter 1-Detention

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore woke up on a Monday morning in the dead of winter.

"Come on boys!" Dave said, "Time to get up!" Alvin groaned as he reluctantly got out of bed. Their room was freezing. He felt a cold chill as soon as he got out from under his covers, which got worse when he began to get changed. The other two seemed to have no trouble getting out of bed and getting dressed. All three boys left the room to go downstairs and eat breakfast. Dave made pancakes. Theodore scarfed them down quickly, as usual, while Dave, Alvin, and Simon chatted, and ate a normal speed. Dave noticed Alvin was barely touching his pancakes and not talking as much as he normally would.

"Alvin," Dave said a little concerned, "Are you okay?"

"Huh?" Alvin said, "Oh, yea, I'm fine, just not hungry."

"You didn't eat your dinner last night either," Dave said, "Are you sure you're alright?" He reached out and felt Alvin's forehead.

"Yes," Alvin said softly, "I'm fine."

"Well," Dave said as he pulled his hand away from Alvin's head, "You don't have a fever." He looked at the clock. "Oh! Time for you fellas to go to school."

They all grabbed their lunches and began walking to school.

"Hey Simon," Theodore said as they were walking, "Guess what I did in class yesterday."

"Um," Simon said pretending to be thinking hard, "I don't know, what?"

"We learned about the food pyramid…it kinda made me hungry," Theodore said as he put one hand on his stomach.

"Everything makes you hungry, Theodore," Simon said while starting to laugh.

"Yeah, that's true," Theodore said. Alvin hung his head and walked quietly the rest of the way to school, and sighed before he walked through the main entrance. He walked to his locker and started entering his combination.

"Hey Seville!" He heard a voice that sent a chill down his spine and made him jump out of his skin.

"O-Oh, h-hey, Mark," Alvin said nervously as he turned around and looked up into the dark brown eyes of a tall, heavy boy named Mark.

"Can it, Seville!" Mark hollered, "Where's my 20 bucks?"

"20 BUCKS?!" Alvin said in surprise, "You said you only needed $2!!"

"Things change," Mark said with an evil grin. Alvin handed Mark the only $2 he had to his name. Mark jerked it away from him, and observed it, "You're $18 short, squirt!" he said angrily, "You better have the rest of my money by the end of the day, or you're dead!" He punched Alvin's shoulder before he walked away. Alvin felt sick; he didn't know how on Earth he could get $18 by the end of the day. He closed his locker and began walking to his class. He was in third grade, and his teacher's name was Mrs. Jones. She was a thin woman in her mid 30's, with blond hair, and rectangular red glasses.

Alvin walked in and took his seat next to Brittney. She glanced at him as he sat down, but didn't seem to care that something was obviously bothering him.

"Hey Alvin," Brittney teased, "What happened to you? You look like something I saw in the toilet, only worse." Brittney laughed at her own rude comment. Alvin looked annoyed and was about to respond, but he stopped himself because he really wasn't in the mood. "What's the matter?" She said teasing him once more, "Cat got your tongue?" Alvin became more annoyed and continued to ignore her, not even looking at her. Brittney was determined to get a reaction out of him, so she snatched his cap off of his head and waved it around in the air way over her head, "Hahahahaha! I got your ca-ap! I got your ca-ap!" she sang while teasing him to his limit.

"BRITTNEY!" Alvin shouted furiously, "GIVE ME BACK MY ----ING CAP BEFORE I KICK YOUR --S ! YOU STUPID LITTLE ----H!" Alvin immediately covered his mouth surprised by what he'd just said. Brittney was so shocked she dropped his cap, and her jaw dropped as well.

"ALVIN SEVILLE!" Mrs. Jones shouted from her desk, "No swearing in my classroom! That's a detention!"

"But…" Alvin attempted to protest.

"No buts!" Mrs. Jones said sternly, "You have a detention after school, and that's final!" Alvin groaned as he picked up his cap, put it back on, and sat back down in his seat.

AT LUNCH

Alvin sat with his brothers and the Chipettes in lunch as usual.

"Simon, Theodore," Alvin said softly, "don't wait up for me after school, I have a detention." This news didn't surprise his brothers at all. Simon sighed.

"What did you do this time, Alvin?" Simon asked.

"I accidentally swore in class, but please don't tell Dave, he'llKILL me," Alvin pleaded. Simon and Theodore both sighed.

"Okay," Simon said, "I don't like lying to Dave, but I'll cover you this ONE time, I'll tell him you had to work on a project or something."

"Thanks," Alvin said sadly looking down at the table.

AFTER SCHOOL

Simon and Theodore walked home without Alvin.

"I can't believe Alvin got another detention," Theodore said.

"I can," Simon said in reply, "he gets a detention at least three times a month."

"That's true," Theodore said, "but for swearing? That's pretty unusual."

"I know," Simon said, "I just hope he doesn't make a habit of it."

"Me too," Theodore said as Simon opened the front door to their house and they both walked in.

"Hey fellas!" Dave greeted them cheerfully, "Where's Alvin?"

"Oh, um," Simon said, "He had to stay after school to work on a project, he should be home soon."

"Okay," Dave said believing the lie.

BACK AT SCHOOL

Alvin sat at his desk, watching the clock, waiting for his detention to end. It seemed like forever. The clock finally struck 4 pm, and Alvin got up and ran out. He came to a dead stop when he saw Mark standing by the door.

"Seville," he said roughly, "Where's the rest of my money?" He rolled up his sleeves preparing to fight.

"I-I-I don't have it," Alvin said shaking, "b-but please give me more time, I-I could…"

"Sorry, Alvin" Mark cut in, "Time's up." He punched Alvin in his right eye, then the stomach, and pushed him to the ground. Alvin had one hand over his eye, and his other arm wrapped around his stomach as he began to cry in pain.

"Bring my money by tomorrow," Mark said as he walked away, "or it'll be worse, much worse."

Alvin stood up when Mark was out of sight, and began to walk home with tears still in his eyes. His eye throbbed as he tried to think of what he should tell his family if they ask about his black eye.