Alvin and the Chipmunks
"My Bad II"

Summary:

It's been four years since Brittany was rescued from the deep, dark clutches of trafficking, and her remaining criminal, Ryan, put behind bars. But when her and her partner Alvin's family mysteriously begin disappearing and continuous notes saying, "Give me my daughter" replacing, they expect the worst; Ryan's back.

Author's Note:

I really do not like being a blabber-mouth, but I have never been this excited since, well, never! Oh my god, over these past few months my life has changed for the better. I am so happy with how my life is beginning to turn out! Last year, my family had moved from a dead-end dairy-farming job in a dead-end little town to a potentially hopeful town, where I enrolled in the most opportunistic high school I've ever been to.

Over only a couple of weeks of studying there I was suddenly recognised as a talented film-maker after a couple of my classmates sneakily caught a glimpse of my homemade zombie short-film. My art and photography teacher had asked me about filming and photographing the school's Swimming Carnival, which I instantly agreed to. My video was produced and shown to the entire school a few months ago and I've never heard the end of it!
Since then I've been photographing and filming school events with my fellow apprentice, step-brother and pack-horse Andrew (haha…) and now, during school holidays I came up with an idea of another zombie short, requiring all 500 of my classmates! I just hope my principal agrees with my idea…

Anyway, enough of me, it's time to get started with chapter two of my sequel "My Bad II." I hope you guys have all enjoyed it so far!

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"My Bad II"
CHAPTER TWO

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(ALVIN'S POV)

My breaths were short and unsteady as I stood waiting at the altar, waiting for Brittany to show herself on the aisle. I kept glancing up toward friends and family smiling and chatting quietly between themselves, and then up toward the cloudless blue sky, and every now and then I would see a dove or two gliding together gracefully above me. I chewed down on my lip, jerking my head down to the ground.

Simon slapped my hand away as I reached for the cuffs on my dress-shirt. "Stop fidgeting, Alvin." He scolded me, as I stared up at him.

"What?" I demanded my voice shaky and weak.

Theodore smiled warmly, "he's just nervous."

"I am not!" Suddenly my voice went squeaky, and Simon couldn't help but laugh. I frowned at him, but tried to keep my cool. I then noticed how uncomfortable the two of them looked in all the red I had them wear, and it kind of made me feel a little better. At least there were others whom almost as uneasy as I am.

My brothers were my groomsmen, by Dave's orders. If I knew they were going to tease and mock me like they are then I would have protested, but I didn't. Stupid me. Brittany and I have been planning this affair a year after Rhapsody was born, but the years of waiting hadn't made the nerves any easier, now that the day has come, and I'm so hot and shaken in this formalwear I feel I'm about to tear it at the seams.

I took a deep breath.

Maybe that'll help.

I gripped my stomach. There's something horrid doing flips and trips inside me.

Taking deep breaths don't work.

I flinched when the band began to play, and I looked up to find Rhapsody striding down the aisle in her flowery dress and basket of lilies. Her smile made me smile, and for a moment the nerves had faded, but then I noticed Brittany, my bride, was approaching the aisle behind her, arm-in-arm with Dave.

Theodore patted my shoulder. I held my breath.

Oh god…

A soft, traditional 'Here Comes the Bride' song walked her down the aisle. Jeanette and Eleanor followed in suit. My face was searing hot, and for a moment I thought I was about ready to pass out right there at the altar, but then I found Brittany's eyes, and just like that the nerves just disappeared. I managed a shaky smile in return.

She wore a pastel pink mullet dress (you know business in the front, party in the back?) which hugged around her waist and had a weird, froufrou puffy skirt thing that went right down to her ankles from behind. I laughed under my breath at how much effort she had put into this dress, but no matter, she still looked beautiful.

They all walked slowly; however Rhapsody was already at the steps of the altar and had forgotten where she was supposed to stand, until Toby Seville and his partner Julie reached for her hand and gently ushered her into her seat. Brittany giggled a little at her daughter, and then I noticed the tears of joy streaking down her face. I bit my lip again, struggling to hold it in.

She laughed a little as she approached the altar and I reached for her hand. Dave hurried off to his position. "Haha, I didn't look like a freak before all this." She said.

I playfully rolled my eyes as I wiped the tears from her cheek. "Oh, be quiet." I looked her up and down, "seems as though you lost the bet on uh, keeping pink out of this wedding?"

Brittany scoffed, "well it seems as though you double-crossed me as well on keeping red out." She laughed, gesturing toward Simon and Theodore (who both still look uncomfortable).

I rolled my eyes again, "Yeah, yeah."

I took Brittany's hands in mine as waited for the celebrant to begin.

"Dearly beloved," began the celebrant. "We are gathered here today to witness the joining of this man and this woman in marriage…"

(BRITTANY'S POV)

I smiled over at Alvin as the celebrant continued, but I could barely hear him over the sound of my heartbeat. I couldn't tell whether I was scared or nervous, maybe a bit of both, I don't know. My palms began to grow sweaty which abruptly made my head grow cold, I was embarrassed.

My eyes kept moving from Alvin down to my sweaty hands clutching his, but then back up to Alvin again. The red-clad, well in this case black and white-clad chipmunk was watching me, a worried expression wiped across his face.

"You alright?" He whispered as the celebrant drawled on almost inaudibly. I nodded, before giving him a quick smile. I turned towards the crowd, some were smiling like an idiot and some were wiping the tears from their eyes. Dave and Claire were in the front row; Claire was one of those smiling however Dave seemed almost upset. I still don't think he likes the idea of Alvin and me getting married so early.

Then my eyes met with my daughter, Rhapsody, who was still fidgeting on Julie's lap. Somehow she sensed my eyes present on her and she looked up, smiling her pretty smile and fluttering her powdered blue eyes to me. I managed a weak smile in return as I turned back to Alvin.

Then suddenly as I did so Alvin's warm, loving expression disappeared and was replaced with something dark and cold. My eyes widened Alvin's entire face was spontaneously replaced with steely eyes and sharp flaxen hair.

"Brittany," the face's charred lips moved. The sound of my name dripped from its mouth like poison.

Ryan… Gasping, I wrenched my hands from its grip, but as soon as my fingers weren't touching it anymore the face disappeared and was replaced with Alvin's again.

I blinked, disordered and panicked. My eyes darted back and forth; I noticed everyone's smiles and tears had disappeared now. The celebrant had stopped and was staring at me also. I whirled my head back to Alvin.

"Brittany?" He was more worried more than ever now.

I stood back a little, my hand reaching up to my face to support my head. I closed my eyes for a moment before opening them again. Everyone was silent, but the sound of my heart pounding against my chest was murder against my ears. Did I just see right? Did I just see the only man alive who kidnapped me, raped and attempted to kill me? Did my eyes forget to adjust? Why is my mind tricking me like this?

My eyes darted back up to Alvin; I blinked numerous times to make sure that the man I am seeing now is actually my fiancé. I flinched again; suddenly I could hear sadistic grunts and laughter echoing in the back of my mind. I squeezed my eyes shut, struggling to send the torturously familiar voices away.

"Come here gorgeous," cackled one of the voices.
"Do a number on her face," said another.

The voices made my gut wrench in fear. A coldness flooded my body as I, without much of a thought, hitched up my skirt and fled from the alter as fast as my legs could carry me.

"Where do you think you're goin'…?" I could not shake the voices from my head.

I could hear Alvin and my sister's voices behind me, calling my name. I could envision them jumping up out of their state of shock and begin to follow me. Blood was rushing to my cheeks; I could feel nothing but embarrassment now.

(ALVIN'S POV)

I was stuck, frozen… shocked. Did… did Brittany just leave me at the alter? I stared blandly into the abyss, trying to process this information. For a moment or two I had forgotten how to breathe, forgotten how to blink… forgotten everything.

I soon realised… she did. My eyes widened as I came back, I suddenly remembered how to breathe. I whirled my head towards her, only seeing the back of her head as she hurried back down the aisle and into the building ahead. I noticed Eleanor and Jeanette's eyes had followed her as well, before fearfully turning back to me.

Rhapsody was squirming and reaching desperately for her mother, almost causing Julie to lose her grip on her. "Mommy, mommy!" She cried, as Toby pulled her up and the couple ushered her away from the scene.

I jumped from the alter as I began to tail Brittany, bursting through the reception doors with Jeanette and Eleanor at my heels. "Brittany!" I called frantically, all I could see as I entered the building was a fraction of her turning into her room and slamming the door behind her.

"Brittany," Eleanor tried the handle, but Brittany had locked the door.
"Britt, what's going on?" Jeanette asked.
"What happened?" I pressed my hands against the door.

There was no answer, all I could hear through the door was panting. Dave and Claire had caught up with us; they looked just as frantic as we were.

"What's going on?" Dave demanded.
"I don't know, she won't let us in." I replied, trying the handle again with a bit more force.

Claire then approached the door and gave it a knock. She spoke through the door gently, "Brittany, honey, it's me Claire."

(BRITTANY'S POV)

I sunk into the bed trying to process what I had just done in front of my friends, my family, and my fiancé and… and my daughter. I had my head in my hands, angry and humiliated at myself. I could feel tears stinging my eyes.

"Brittany, honey," I looked up at the door as I heard Claire's tender voice. "It's me, Claire. Can you please open the door?"

The voices in my mind had disappeared now, but that didn't stop the fear and the anxiety and the discomfiture. I just ruined my wedding, and that memory will stay with me for as long as I live.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I shrunk more into the mattress, holding my head again.

(ALVIN'S POV)

"Britt, please come and open the door." Claire asked again, trying to keep her voice steady, yet there was a weakness to it that made her sound desperate. "Please talk to us."

Dave touched her shoulder, "maybe we should leave her to let us in herself, Claire." He suggested gently, as she turned to him. "Let's give her some time."
Claire looked scared, "but she needs help now, David." She protested urgently. "I need to talk to her."

Reluctantly Jeanette stepped in, "Dave's right, Claire," she said. "She'll let us in when she calms down."

Grudgingly Claire nodded, letting her hand slip from the door and turn to Dave. Dave took her hand and gently led her away.

As we followed them, Eleanor whispered to me. "You don't think that it was that Ryan guy that always turns up in her dreams, do you?"
I turned to her, and suddenly it hit me. "I think?" I managed. Of course. Eleanor looked at me, worried. I nodded quickly, "Yeah, I think so. What else could it be?"

"I don't know, maybe nerves?" Eleanor suggested.

I turned back toward the door, hoping that she'd open it. I stared for a moment, before shaking my head slowly. "No… that's not it."

(TWO HOURS LATER…)

The setting sun glared in from the glass doors in front of the lounge where we sat, and the cool autumn breeze began to blow leaves from the tree provinces, sending them scattering out onto the empty alter below. The guests were sent home half an hour ago on the idea that Brittany wasn't going to emerge from her room any time soon. Rhapsody was taken home to Toby and Julie's until Brittany comes around. Our backsides were numb from sitting and waiting and our patience was growing small. We agreed that if Brittany doesn't let herself out soon then we'll let her out for her.

I had accumulated the foot-tapping and pacing habit to distract myself, but nothing prevailed. I checked my watch, we have been sitting here since 4pm and now it's almost 6 in the afternoon. The reception will close in half an hour. I slumped against the wall across from Brittany's door and sighed.

Suddenly Jeanette jumped from her seat, "Simon." We whirled our heads toward the huge glass doors to find Simon and Theodore entering them finally.

"Where have you guys been?" I asked as Jeanette and Eleanor embraced their counterparts. I accidently added a hint of impatience to my voice, which I immediately regret.

Simon frowned at me as Jeanette pulled away. He had noticed my tone of voice. "We, dear brother, have been busy sending the guests home."

"They were all very worried about Brittany," Theodore added. "It took us a little bit to convince them to go home."

"Speaking of Brittany," Simon began, "where is she?"
I scoffed, "still hiding away." I shrugged, "she won't tell us anything."

Claire turned to me, "yes, but you have to understand, Alvin, she's been through a lot these past couple of years. She's not doing this on purpose."

I glared at her as I got to my feet, "why does everyone think I'm too blind or too bloody ignorant to see that?"

"Alvin-" Dave started.

"I saved her, you know, I understand how she feels, I understand what she's been through, so don't you talk to me like I've had wool covering my eyes throughout her entire ordeal. I'm not as dumb as you think I am!"

Then my expression was spontaneously replaced with that of sadness. "You have no idea how it feels…" I shook my head, my voice shaky. "… To have someone you love so much… look at you like you're her worst nightmare…"

Over these four years of being with Brittany occasionally I experience neglect in the extremities. She would become utterly convinced that I was one of those who'd sexually abuse her and for days she would push me away and ignore me. But then after that phase disappears she would remember me and we'd become a happy family again. She acts like this towards none other than me, so often I'd feel pretty much alone.

Claire shrunk back into her seat, shamefaced.

Suddenly there was a soft click, and we all whirled around to find Brittany peeking out from behind the door. She wasn't wearing her dress anymore, but a pair of pink tracksuit pants and a long shirt and slippers. Immediately I rushed to her, pulling her into my arms as soon as she was within reach. To my relief Brittany wrapped her arms around me and held me in return.

Suddenly all my anger and frustration just disappeared right then and there.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed, as I buried my head in her shoulder. She held me tight, "I was stupid… I just got scared."

I stroked her back, "Shhh, it's alright." I told her gently. "It's alright."

I turned at her using my thumb to gently wipe the tears from her cheeks. The pink-clad chipette looked up at me, speaking quietly. "Can we go home, please?"

I nodded slowly to her, "Yeah. Yeah, okay."

Sorry this was so short and took so long a notice, I've just been so busy with everything right now. :/

But I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

~Hannah