A/N: Hello again! If you remember the last chapter I said that Ch 9 was only a portion of a chapter, well… this is half of what was left… So, we're getting there. Anyways, Thanks for reading. Hope to have more up shortly. You guys are outstanding! But you didn't come to listen to me… Back to the action…
"Here you go." A short woman wheeled out a cart overflowing with the Chippettes' much-delayed luggage.
"Oh my…" Theodore mumbled at the size of the cart's load.
"I know right." Eleanor agreed and gestured to the largest bags, "Those three pink ones are Brittany's"
"May I get your signature, please?" the lady asked Eleanor.
"Sure." She replied. "What happened to our luggage anyway? Why didn't these arrive with the others we had?"
"I'm not sure. I do know they were flown back to New York, and then back over… and sign here, also."
After the paperwork was done the airport lady disappeared into one of the back offices. Eleanor returned to her green-clad counterpart. They both stared at the mountain needing to be moved.
"So…" Theodore broke the silence. "Which ones do you want?"
"I don't know…" Eleanor hated luggage… no… she hated Brittany's luggage.
"How about I get the pink ones and you get the other two?" he suggested
"Those are the heaviest ones..." she replied, "how about we split Brittany's pile?"
"Okay. I'll get these two." He grunted grabbing the two largest bags. "And…"
He strained after realizing their weight. "Well, maybe just these."
Eleanor smiled, "Told ya."
Theodore set the bags aside and began to reach to unload the cart.
"Wait." She stopped him, "why don't we wheel the cart to the taxi first."
"Oh…" Theodore began to blush, "yeah… that would be the smart thing to do wouldn't it."
"Brains over brawns" she smiled smartly
"Yeah…" he agreed while he looked at the Chippette at his side. Grr… why didn't I think of that… duh! He mentally kicked himself.
She grabbed one of the suitcases he had unloaded and helped to reload the cart.
He looked at the Chippette and noticed her confident, sly-looking smile. Wonder what she's thinking about…
He pushed the thought aside, loaded the last of the suitcases onto the cart, and took position behind the luggage cart. Eleanor joined him.
"Alright… 1-2-….3" Theodore strained as they both threw their weight into the handle of the cart.
The cart began to move.
As the cart began to gain momentum, Eleanor eased on the pushing and stuck her head out around the side of the cart. "A little to the left….. Okay… keep going…. Now turn right…"
The mountain-moving duo made their way to the front of the airport. Before long they had hailed a taxi, loaded it full of luggage, and collapsed into the backseat of the taxi.
The car began to make its way back to the hotel with both chipmunks greatly appreciating the comfort of sitting over straining.
"Thank you, Theodore." Eleanor rolled her head on the headrest to face her backseat counterpart. "that would have taken a lot longer without you."
"No problem…" he turned his head, still collapsed on the headrest, "Although I think you guys might want to trim down on the amount of luggage you guys carry around."
"Tell me about it," Eleanor agreed, "It seems Jeanette is the one who tries to plan everything out, Brittany goes dancing around wherever the spotlight is… and I get stuck with the grunt work."
The two enjoyed a moment of quiet rest before she spoke up again.
"I'm not complaining…it's just…..I don't know… frustrating sometimes."
"I know what you mean." he spoke up, "Simon gets stressed out, Alvin's always running around partying… I guess I get stuck with most of the work too…" he smiled, "That's why I'm here today. Alvin's out somewhere. So is Simon-although that is a bit unregular. And here I am… doing what the other two are too busy for…"
"I guess behind a successful band is a workhorse, eh?" she joked
"Yeah, I guess…" he returned her smile.
Another moment of silence developed before he spoke up.
"Say, um… you want to , ya know, go and grab some lunch after we unload this stuff?"
"Sure." Eleanor agreed. "I just have to be back early to set up for the show tonight."
"Yeah, same here… Tonight's our last show so we already have most of our stuff ready." He explained. "Hopefully it won't take too long to set up."
As he finished the taxi pulled to a stop in front of the hotel.
"Oh yea! Time to unload!…" Eleanor sarcastically announced.
With the driver's help the two managed to unload the luggage onto a luggage cart from the hotel, move everything to the girl's room, and return to the taxi.
"Where now to?" the driver asked in broken English.
"I know the perfect spot." Theodore spoke up, turning to his companion, "It's time for the 'workhorses' to have some lunch."
She returned his smile.
Gosh, she looks pretty when she smiles…
Elsewhere in Paris…
"Seriously! Both of them jumped right in?!" the pink Chippette could barely breathe now she had been laughing so hard.
"I know right!" Alvin continued his story, "So then when we got back to the room Simon just looks at me and all he says is 'You owe me.'"
Brittany and Alvin joined each other in another round of laughter. Alvin started to tell another story when Brittany cut him off.
"Stop!..." she held up her right hand, her left holding her side. "Please…" she pleaded breathlessly, "I can't breathe…"
Alvin gazed at the breathless beauty in front of him.
She returned his stare with one of her own.
After a few seconds Brittany glanced at her watch, "Besides,… it's almost time to go…" she declared sadly.
Alvin looked at his watch. "What? That can't be right…" he looked around the small restaurant to find a clock. When he did it he found it agreed with his watch. "It's already that time, huh?" he said trying to convince her to stay.
"Yeah…" she began to gather her things together. "Remember we're singing first tonight."
Alvin let out a disappointed sigh… "Yeah, I know." He signaled for the waiter to bring his check. This afternoon had been so fun… and now it was over…
The two began to walk back to the hotel.
"Thank you Alvin…" Brittany spoke up after they left the restaurant.
"For what? Lunch?"
"No… For everything…"
Alvin slowed down as he detected some seriousness to her tone. "What do you mean?"
"Well,..." Brittany uncharacteristically was struggling to find something to say. "I don't know… it's been awhile since… well, since I've had a good laugh like today."
"Hey, what can I say? I'm a natural comedian." He prodded as they continued to walk.
"Whatever… I was the life of the party. You weren't the only one telling jokes in there."
Alvin just smiled… they were both somewhat right, though neither one of them would admit it. They continued to plod towards the hotel.
Brittany's mind was a blur.
She replayed how the day had gone. Alvin had picked her up and taken her to one of Alvin's favorite restaurants. It was a nice place but the reason Alvin liked it was because the people there seemed to idolize him. This played out nicely for her too, as they were able to get the best seats in the house.
Brittany smiled as they walked, recalling how the 'comedian battle' had begun. The waiter had brought their food. Alvin began to tell the humorous circumstances surrounding their discovery of the restaurant. Not to be outdone she had told her own humorous story about an audition they had 'enjoyed' in New York. Before long, embarrassing sibling stories, personal accidents, and other jokes had begun to fly back and forth across the table.
Brittany looked to the chipmunk walking beside her. His head was down; He's thinking about something… she saw his face. A wide and satisfied grin was plastered across it. He's thinking about the date too.
Her smile grew before fading. Was this really a date?... This was just supposed to be lunch… because Alvin lost that bet…. Did I really just have a great time with this guy? How could I have let my guard down?
As the hotel came into view around the corner, she tried to recall the moment when she had decide to relax and have a good time… but she couldn't… it just kinda… happened…
"Hey Britt… Thanks for the good time…" Alvin broke her train of thought.
She smiled back, "Yeah… I had a good time too…"
"So… I was wondering… ya know…" Alvin began
Brittany looked Alvin in the eye.
"If… you would want to… go out…"
Brittany's eyebrows shot up, her face revealing a questioning, uncertain look.
"I mean after the show tonight." Alvin added quickly, "like we did the other night. This is our last show in Europe tonight."
"Well…" Brittany began uncertainly, "I think-"
"Hey guys!" a familiar voice called out to them.
Both of the chipmunks looked up. The rest of their siblings were gathered outside of the hotel.
"Hey..? What are you guys doing here?" Alvin asked, a touch of frustration in his voice.
"Well, I helped Eleanor out with the bags and then we went out for lunch. We just got back decided to relax on the park bench." Theodore answered.
"And Simon and I just got back ourselves. We had a wonderful time!" Jeanette announced to her sister.
The two eldest siblings each flashed frustrated and annoyed looks at their respective siblings. The others just ignored them. Simon and Jeanette continued inside while Theodore and Eleanor continued to talk outside.
Brittany turned to Alvin. "I have to go and get ready… I'll talk to you later."
"Alright" Alvin responded, still slightly perturbed at the way the date had been interrupted.
Brittany's smile returned to her face, "I did have a good time."
Alvin's smile was quick to return as well, "I did too…"
He wanted to say more but he held back. I'll tell her later tonight after the show…
"Okay… Bye."
"See you later." He responded.
Brittany's eyes flirted as she turned and disappeared into the hotel lobby.
Alvin shot angry looks at the two chipmunks still outside, though both were completely oblivious to Alvin's presence or his glare.
Alvin entered the lobby himself and turned to go to his room. Grrrr! What am I doing? I'm running out of time! Just ask her and be done with it!... Alvin's mind debated as he made his way to his room. I will… I will ask her when we go out after the show…
A/N: Thank you for all of the reviews but more importantly thanks for reading! This chapter seemed a touch choppy and a bit short. But I wanted to get it out. Let me know what you guys think. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!
HAVE AN OUTSTANDING (and I mean it) DAY/NIGHT/WEEKEND! HAVE FUN!