Long Summer Days
Ch 4
"Drama Begins"
As I snuck back to our cabin I overheard Joshua and Johnny talking. I stayed hidden and continued to listen as they talked.
"When Tabitha gives Brittany that letter she'll be all mines! Even though she'll think it's a letter from Alvin! Won't she be surprised when he stands her up and I arrive? Then we'll see if she can resist me!"
I swallowed hard as my foot cracked a twig, and they both turned around and looked. Then I heard Joshua say.
"I bet it's that Alvin Seville out of bed again passed curfew! He's looking to get put in solitaire I swear!"
I climbed a tree and snuck in through the window. When I entered Alvin was awake in his bunk writing a song I guess. I looked at him and said.
"Hey Alvin why are you still awake? Josh thinks you're up out of bed again passed curfew. How's everything? What are you writing if you don't mind me asking?"
He looked at me and said.
"A song for Brittany for our anniversary why are you asking me? So enough about me what happened with you and Jean? Did she forgive you like I said she would or are you still broken up?"
I looked and sighed.
"Oh no we're together again. Yea we made up and nearly got caught too by the counselors! Thanks to that little brat we call our baby brother and his stupid girlfriend. All because of that we aren't allowed to share the hotel rooms with the girls anymore. Alvin how did you resist Brittany while we were on tour last year? Are you sure you're still umm?"
He glared at me and yelled.
'Simon knock it off already! Yea I am still inexperienced because I just didn't feel like taking it that far yet! If you're going to start that again then don't say a word to me I don't want to hear about it! Now if you'd excuse me I'm finishing this song for Brittany! Go take a cold shower and cool off then!"
I sighed as my brother grabbed his guitar and started to work on the song again. Then I stared out of the window and watched as Johnny and Joshua laughed about his big plan to take Brittany from Alvin! I couldn't stand it I had to tell my brother about what Joshua did.
I looked at my brother and said.
"Alvin I didn't mean to talk about me and umm Jean to make you feel bad because you still haven't with umm Brittany! Our counselor Joshua has the hots for Brittany and sent her a fake love letter signed by you! I just found out about it when I came back from being with Jeanette. I thought you should know about it, because she might be in danger if she meets him tomorrow night. Alvin did you hear me? Hello!"
He looked up and asked in an angry tone.
"He did what? Why would he do something like that she's like 5 years younger than him. Another thing why would she even flirt with that jerk when she's supposed to be with me? That's it she has a lot of explaining to do at lunch tomorrow. What is she cheating on me now with a counselor that is 18 years old? Does it ever fail with this girl; does she know what going together means or no? Oh I'm going to bed I can't deal with this shit right now. Goodnight Simon see you in the morning."
I watched as my brother put his guitar away and put the song he was working on in his red folder buried at the bottom of his suitcase. Then I entered the bathroom and took a cold shower to cool myself down. When I finished my shower I heard Joshua enter our cabin and stared at him as he yelled at Alvin.
"Alvin Seville if I catch you up out of bed one more time passed curfew you'll be a solitaire chipmunk away from everyone! Keep on trying my patience and watch how fast you end up in solitaire! Now I've had it!"
Alvin opened his eyes and yelled back.
"Me, excuse me. I was in the cabin all night Mr. Know It All. So stop it with the accusations already? I snuck out once since we got here and haven't been outside at night since then. Now if you don't mind I'm going back to sleep Joshua! Leave me alone already!"
I sat up in my bunk and read a book while I listened to my brother argue with our counselor. Of course I couldn't sleep because I was still energized after we made love. Then Joshua yelled at me.
"Simon Seville lights out now it's almost 11pm and we have a hike at 6am. One of you was out of bed and I will find out who it was mark my words! Now I said everyone lights out!"
I put my comforter over my head and fell right to sleep still thinking about tonight and the plan to get Brittany away from my brother. I wondered if she was the cause of it all because she had a bad habit of flirting when my brother didn't pay attention to her! I tried not to think about it but just couldn't keep it off my mind. I also realized Alvin wasn't sleeping either. I shook him and asked.
"Are you alright bro? Alvin are you listening to me? It's me Simon will you talk to me already? Alvin are you crying?"
I looked over at where his head was turned and saw the tears rolling down his cheeks. Then he looked up and answered.
"No I just have something in my eye. I'm fine goodnight Simon."
I knew he was lying and started to get angry and was going to say something to her at lunch tomorrow. I dealt with his heart being broke too many times and wasn't going to go through it again. At that point I really wished Theodore was here with us, because he was so much better at making Alvin talk than I was. I looked at my cell and dialed my baby brother's cell hoping he was still awake. It rang 3 times and I heard Theodore answer.
"Simon hey how is everything? Where are you calling me from anyway? What's the matter; you really seem worried. Is everything ok with you and Jean?"
I sighed.
"Yea everything with me and Jean is fine, but Alvin and Brittany not so good. Well actually I don't know if everything is alright with those two or not? That relationship is just chaos to me if you ask me; especially since we both know Alvin isn't really the romantic type like you and I. The problem is I can't get him to talk to me and now I'm worried. Joshua one of our counselors has been trying to get with Brittany since he laid his eyes on her. Yet he wrote a love letter to her pretending to be Alvin! What if she is cheating on Alvin with Josh; we'll have a depressed lead singer on our hands. Theo what should I do?"
I heard him sigh.
"Simon my camp plays against yours and Alvin's tomorrow in baseball; besides I'm trying to get myself transferred over there because this camp is just boring. We'll talk tomorrow at lunch. Right now I'm getting yelled at by my counselor. See you tomorrow and don't worry too much about that jerk Josh. I doubt she would cheat on Alvin after she hid her feelings for him so long and finally got with him."
I responded.
"Ok Theo see you tomorrow. How's Eleanor?"
He sighed and responded.
"She's fine, but we only see each other once a week at lunch. Dad really split the 6 of us up this year. Times like this I regret not being on tour. See you tomorrow Theo out."
I hung up my cell and put it back on the charger still listening to Alvin cry himself to sleep. I put my comforter over my head and finally fell asleep. The next morning I heard the alarm go off and woke up to see Alvin's bed empty. I got dressed and saw him sitting on the porch of the cabin burying his head in his hands. I put my hand on his shoulder and asked.
"Do you really think Brittany is cheating on you with Joshua? Alvin I'm your brother answer my question please. You've been upset since I told you about Joshua and Johnny's plan."
He shook his head and responded.
"I don't know what to think anymore. Does that answer your question and besides Dave just called me and told me my grade in English is now a C-. Our report cards came in the mail and I got yelled at like usual! That means I passed the 7th grade by the skin of my teeth! If that grade doesn't improve I'm off the basketball team!"
I looked at him and said.
"No it doesn't Alvin. How can you even think that? A; C is average and not barely passing that's a D. You passed the 7th grade above average; all your other grades were A's. You just need a tutor in English that's all. Do you have anyone in mind?"
He looked and responded.
"The only one who can tutor me in English is Brittany that's her best subject. I'm not talking to her right now until she tells me what the hell is going on with Joshua! She better hope she isn't cheating on me with him I'll dump her if that's the case!"
I looked at him and said.
"I doubt that's what is going on with Josh. Alvin she loves you and would never stoop that low. I mean she saw how you resisted Shelly; what more does she want from you? You two need to talk about the whole Josh deal at lunch today. There's something more to it than she's telling us. Anyway come on Joshua is calling we're leaving for our hike! "
Alvin and I followed our camp as we hiked up the mountain and sat and rested. Then he stared down at the area where our mother lives and sighed. We sat and drank some water and bonded like brothers for once in our 13 years in the world. Finally we headed back to our cabin and changed for lunch. Theodore and Eleanor spotted Alvin and I and yelled to us.
"Hey Simon and Alvin come and join us?"
Alvin and I sat next to Theo and Elle and I watched as my brother played with his food and tapped Theo.
"See what I mean. He tells me he's fine but yet he doesn't seem fine! So what did dad say about you transferring to our camp?"
He sighed and responded.
"No because there weren't anymore vacancies at your camp. Hey where are Brittany and Jeanette?"
I shrugged and spotted Brittany yelling at Joshua. I signaled her and Jeanette to join the 4 of us and she grabbed Jean's hand and dragged her over to our table. She looked at Alvin with concern in her eyes and stared at me.
"Simon what's with him this afternoon? He was so talkative on the phone and now all of a sudden he's silent."
I watched as Alvin lifted up his head and said.
"I've just been under a lot of stress Brittany. My father called my cell this morning and started yelling at me because of the C- in English on my report card. Then I got a voicemail on my cell from my coach telling me if that grade doesn't go back up I'm off the basketball team!"
She smiled at him and said.
"I'll tutor you in English since you helped me bring my Math grade back up to the A. Do you feel better now so you can eat your lunch? I can hear your stomach growling from over here. Alvin are you listening to me? What is wrong with you this afternoon? Will you please just talk to me and tell me what has gotten into you?"
I watched as she pulled out the letter from Joshua and handed it to him. He took it from her and glared at Joshua who was sitting across the table from the 6 of us. Then he turned around to her and asked.
"Britt how long has he been sending you these fake letters from me? Why haven't you said anything to me? You see me at lunch everyday why did you keep it from me? What's the matter?"
She started to break down into tears and soaked his shirt as she explained.
"He's been trying to get with me since the 1st day of camp. At first I thought it was just him being friendly but then I realized he was obsessed with me. Then the 1st letter he sent me came and I actually believed it was from you not being aware that your camp is across from mine. I guess being away from you during the summer makes me forget that you're not really the romantic type. One letter I received I wrote back and said we'll meet by the lake during the campfire because it looked like your writing. Then when it finally came together it was too late to change my mind. I told him I won't meet him and he threatened to put you in solitaire if I back down! The campfire is Friday night and if I don't show up he'll put you in solitaire and I'll never forgive myself because of my bad judgment. So bad that I can't even recognize my own boyfriend's writing and the way you sign your name on the autographs for your fans! Alvin say something to me don't just stay silent! ALVIN!!"
His face turned red and he yelled at her.
"So you thought I would actually write you a love letter to meet you by the lake at night? Is something wrong with you; what kind of guy do you think I am! Ok Brittany I'm a rock star but would never write a letter like that to a decent girl like you! Just stay away from me I can't even look at you! Go meet him I don't care and will not be at the campfire either! You better think about what you just did, admitting that you're seeing a nother guy behind my back just like that blonde slut Samantha! Now I've had it we're over! Don't touch me! You're just like the girls I dated in the past! Leave me alone!"
I watched as Alvin stormed off and ran after him. Leaving Jeanette and the others surprised! Then I heard Theodore run after me.
"Simon wait up for me. Nice going Brittany! I hope you're satisfied now!"
I stopped and waited for Theodore to catch up and he looked.
"Oh man this is serious! Can I borrow your phone? I'm telling dad I'm not going back to the cooking camp! Eleanor isn't going back either; Ms. Miller already signed her up at Jean and Brittany's camp!"
I looked at him and said.
"You're already signed in here Theo, but you have to be in Nathan's cabin. We already have 6 boys in our cabin. Me, Alvin, Bobby, Tyler, and that idiot Josh is our counselor!"
He didn't seem to care and sighed with relief. Then we both caught up with Alvin who was sitting by the lake skipping rocks on the water. I looked at him as he continued to skip the rocks and asked.
"Alvin why would she do that to you? I just don't understand!"
He sighed and responded.
"I don't care we're finished. I've had it with her aggravation! We almost made a year and 6 months too. But she had to go and do something stupid without using her common sense! Simon and Theodore just leave me alone I don't want to talk about it!"
I knew he was ticked off and grabbed Theo.
"Come on let's get back the girls are probably waiting for us. Let's leave him alone Theo!"
As we arrived back at the mess hall I saw Jeanette cradling Brittany like a child as she cried into her shirt. Poor Eleanor shook her head and stared.
"I can't believe this. They were doing so well and now he dumped her! Why is this happening all of a sudden? Oh Theo hold me I think I'm going to cry!"
I watched as Theodore held Eleanor close and let her cry into his shirt as he stroked her forehead gently. Then I sighed as Samantha started to laugh.
"Told you he wasn't worth it! Sorry Brittany, but Alvin Seville is a jerk and never will change! The worse thing you could've done was tell him about Joshua! Now you know what kind of jerk he really is! Caring about nothing but his stupid career and his looks! Well now that Alvin is out of the picture you can get with Joshua since that's what you wanted!"
I watched as Brittany got up and punched Samantha right in her mouth! Then I heard her yell back!
"Shut up Samantha! You don't know a damn thing about Alvin so shut the hell up! All you cared about was his money, his looks, and most of all the fame!! As for Joshua you can have him I rather stay single thank you! Maybe it's better that way since I'm also the lead singer of the Chipettes! Now move out of my way you Alvin groupie!"
I watched as Joshua hi 5ed Johnny and shook my head. Then Theodore sighed and said.
"How exactly are we going to explain this to Dad? Simon we have to get them back together!"
I stared and responded as Jeanette held my waist.
"Exactly how do you expect us to pull that one off Teddy? Did you not hear him he is finished with Brittany and not talking to her either! What do you want us to do? Both get pounded because we don't have the common sense to leave our hot headed brother alone! Well?"
I watched as Alvin entered the mess hall again and ate his lunch. Then watched as Brittany also took her seat and finished her lunch glaring at Alvin as he ate. Then I watched as Joshua approached her and asked.
"So what about Friday night? Since you're now single? There's no need to wear that nameplate since he has dumped you now is there? Well Brittany what's your answer?"
My brother watched as she turned toward Joshua and said.
"No, now leave me alone! I'm staying at the campfire to be with my sisters and my friends now stop trying to get with me I'm not interested in you! There's only one guy for me and he's acting like a jerk right now! Now leave me alone Joshua! The only reason I said yes is because you managed to forge the way Alvin signs his name no other reason! Besides you're 18 and I'm not even 13 yet! Go screw Samantha because this Chipette isn't giving it up to a jerk like you!"
I looked at Alvin as Brittany walked away and followed her sisters back to their camp. Jeanette gave me a kiss goodbye and Eleanor did the same to Theodore. Then we both watched as Brittany took off Alvin's nameplate and handed it back to him. He shook his head as he stared at the nameplate dangling in his hand as he watched Brittany and her sisters walk back toward their camp. Then I watched as Alvin punched the table and almost broke his hand. Once again Joshua laughed and Alvin glared dead at him.
"Oh you think you won? Well I got news for you Joshua we both lost her so give it up already!"
An hour after we returned from our arts and crafts I watched as Alvin sat up in his bunk and watched as his nameplate dangled from his hand as he swung it back and forth shaking his head!
"You can always get her back Alvin. Just finish the song you wrote for her! I'm pretty sure it'll work! Face it you can't stay mad at her after she told Joshua to back off of her can you?"
He shook his head and responded.
"No, but this time she isn't going to forgive me! I accused her of cheating on me with him and made a jerk of myself and in the process I lost her forever! She's forgiving but not this time I really went over board! Maybe we're just meant to be best friends, since obviously neither of us trusts one another! Besides all we do is fight; that's not a healthy relationship Simon!"
I watched as he grabbed his guitar and ripped up the song he was working on earlier! Then I watched as he started to write another one and shook my head continuing to read my book. Thomas entered and said.
"Boys you have a new counselor starting tonight. Joshua has been fired and arrested for harassment of minors. Thanks to an anonymous tip we got from one of the boys at our camp! The downfall came when he made a play for Ms. Brittany Miller after they returned to the lake for swimming this afternoon. Oh Alvin this is a note from Mr. Miles make sure you open the enclosed small envelope after you read the letter!! Remember boys our game against the girls camp is at 6:30pm."
I scratched my head and asked.
"Umm Thomas who's the new counselor if you don't mind me asking? None of us in the cabin are old enough to become counselors! Every one of us is under 18."
Thomas looked at me and said.
"I'm 15 Simon and a counselor already. It can be any one of you 6. Remember you have to be a teenager to be a counselor! Besides one of you 6 helped us get a dangerous guy away from minors"
I still looked around confused as I read my book. Then I heard Bobby yell.
"Alvin you're the new counselor? How and when did you train? Does that mean you're the one who."
I looked at my brother as he continued to work on his song. Then I realized the tag on his uniform read.
"Alvin Seville camp counselor."
I swallowed hard and asked.
"When did you train to be a counselor, and how could you have possibly caught Josh in the act? I could've sworn you were at Arts and Crafts with me and the others."
He shook his head.
"Not this afternoon. I had a feeling Josh hearing me dump Brittany would cause him to make a play for her. Then I got the text before I was supposed to be in arts and crafts from Patricia about him trying to go after Brittany. So naturally I snuck away and used my video recorder on my cell and caught him in the act. Then I went to Mr. Miles and showed him the video. He fired Joshua and then he called the police and he was arrested! Then Thomas here told Mr. Miles I was a counselor in training and I got a promotion to counselor! No Brittany and I didn't make up yet. I'm still angry at her for keeping it from me when she knew damn well we had lunch together!"
I looked at him and said.
"You know you're acting very immature Alvin. You know the reason why she didn't tell you right? Because she was afraid you would act like you did at lunch today and obviously she was right. You dumped her for no reason at all! Look at the letter and you sit there and tell me that doesn't look like your writing! He even signed your name the way you usually do! Besides smell it; it smells like your cologne smart one!"
He took the letter from me and looked at it. Then he shook his head and sighed.
"Oh no I am a jerk. No wonder why she fell for it. He writes like me and also signs my name the same way I do! But he uses way too much cologne! I don't even wear that much cologne. I just can't face her right now Simon give me a break!! Now get off my case and leave me the hell alone!!