Here is the next chapter! Thanks for the reviews, and enjoy!
Dave and Claire find Breanne and Kathryn find each other at their meeting spot. They look disappointed in their once-eager search for talking chipmunks. Dave and Claire match their sad expressions.
"We found non-talking chipmunks." Kathryn says, hoping to brighten the mood of everyone.
"Why did I leave them alone?" Dave asks himself.
He looks to Claire, who placed her hand on his back. "Everyone makes mistakes. Yours just happens to be a big one. We'll find them."
"We sure will!" Breanne adds in excitedly.
"Maybe they're in one of the theatres, or in the tower." Claire suggests, trying to brighten Dave's mood. "They've got themselves out of a cat-carrier and I'm sure they can find their way back."
Suddenly, Dave feels so much better. Just the way Claire says it takes all the pessimist-ism out of him, and he suddenly feels like searching again.
Kathryn nudges Breanne in the ribs, and motions to Dave. She can tell by his dazes expression that he is in love. Breanne smiles. They have a new mission now. They must get Dave and Claire back together!
"Ready to call it a day?" Claire asks, snapping Dave out of his trance.
"Uh, sure. We could meet here tomorrow." Dave suggests.
"No!" Breanne and Kathryn exclaim in unison.
"There are foxes out there." Kathryn says.
"And cats." Breanne adds in.
"Let's not forget other animals. Like beavers." Kathryn tries to sound scared.
"Mad-beaver season. Not a good time to be around here." Breanne shakes her head.
"And don't get me started on the ravenous loons." Kathryn says.
Claire gives her friends confused looks. Beavers don't live in the city, they live in lakes, or rivers, and loons are just birds. This doesn't make sense, and Dave doesn't even look convinced. Clair is about to protest about their animal rant, but Dave beats her to it.
"Ravenous loons?" Dave repeats.
"It's mad-beaver season, and ravenous loon season, too! Bad timing." Breanne says.
"We better find the chipmunks soon." Kathryn quickly adds in.
Dave and Claire exchange confused glances. Claire just shrugs, answering Dave's question he was thinking. "Do they always act like this?"
"Less exchanging expressions, more searching." Breanne orders. The two girls push Dave and Claire out into the busy streets again. They decide to search again, and use an excuse to get away from the girls. As Dave and Claire walk away, Kathryn and Breanne give each other their secret high five.
"You came all this way to visit them?" Dave asks, half joking.
"They can be a little...different at times." Claire defends her friends, not knowing if Dave is just joking or if he's being serious. "So, about the chipmunks."
"Yeah." Dave says, although he'd just rather talk with Clarie. "I'm sure they'd be around a big tourist spot."
"We've tried that." Claire says, now sounding deflated.
"We'll find them." Dave says. That makes Claire smile.
Before the two realize it, the sun is already setting. The day is coming to an end, as well as the searching.
"We'll meet where we found each other at nine, ok?" Claire suggests, walking back to the hotel.
"I guess." Dave says, feeling disappointed for not finding the boys, and to leave Claire's side.
The hotel is a shorter walk than Dave remembered. Claire waits at the doors for Dave to go inside.
"So tomorrow?" Claire reminds Dave.
"At nine." Dave confirms.
"It's a date." Claire smiles, but then her smile fades. "Uh, well, you know what I mean. Not a "date" date, just a time to meet up...that was awkward."
"Yeah, a date." Dave repeats.
"See ya then." Claire turns swiftly around and begins to walk back to Kathryn's house for the night.
Say it. Dave says to himself. It's not that hard, Dave. Just like those chick-flicks you saw when you were going out with Claire the first time. Run up to her, passionately kiss her, then tell you that you love her.
"Claire." Dave calls after her.
Claire turns to face him again, but now at a distance. She has to raise her voice for Dave to hear her. "Yeah?"
"I love you." Dave's voice decrescendos as he speaks. She could only hear the "I lo" of the whole thing.
"What?" Claire calls back.
"I-I hope you have a nice sleep." Dave says, sighing to himself.
"Thanks." Claire calls over her shoulder as she leaves.
"I love you." Dave says quietly as she leaves.
I hope you enjoyed it, and please review!
