HI! IMPORTANTA news about this chapter... the way I wrote it, it sort of skips back and forth through time... I made it clear when these time skips happen so please don't be confused :)
Oh and this chapter actually involves all six chipmunks and NO Stephen... XD so enjoy!
Soft, fluffy puffs of white fell from the sky, flying down to the ground, clustering around Brittany coat, and collecting on her eyelashes. She crouched low, burring herself deep in the soft bed of fluffy white. Blinking to her left she could make out what must have been the back of Eleanor's green jacket. She cupped her palms, scooping up a handful of snow. Brittany patted it down, smoothing the snow and packing it into a tight ball before slowing gazing back up at the mound of green before her.
Brittany's head sore up out of her hiding place, her arm was bought back and then thrown forward as she sent the ball of snow zipping though the air at full speed. Without faltering for even a moment, Brittany fell back down to the ground, rolling quickly out of sight. She listened carefully after throwing the snowball, waiting for some kind of reaction that would tell her that she'd hit her mark. She grinned triumphantly when she heard her youngest sister cry out.
Now that Ellie's out, Brittany thought. That only leaves... the rest of them.
Brittany giggled. The chipmunks were in the middle of a heated game of snow dodgeball and thus far it had proved to be pretty fun. She felt like a kid again. A grade-schooler… crawling around in the snow… chucking large amounts of it at the others. They hadn't done this kind of thing in years. YEARS. Why? Why hadn't they done this kind of thing in years? The thought never occurred to them, she guessed. And to think... It had been Alvin's idea.
[This next passage takes place hours before the first. As in NOT present time. Don't get confused JAll italics flash back to this time]
The six chipmunks had all been sitting, compiled in the Seville's living room. It had snowed eight full inches just last night on the already, snow covered ground. Dave had been running around all morning preparing for a business meeting. He kept going up and down the steps, stacking and restacking papers, and carrying little things out to the car before hurrying back into the house remembering "One last thing" that he had forgotten. Dave stopped in front of the hall mirror to straighten his tie before turning to the gang asking how he looked.
"You look great, Dave." Theodore and Jeanette called out at once.
"Fantastic." Eleanor agreed.
"Superb!" Simon exclaimed.
Alvin whistled. "Those record guys don't know who they're dealing with!" he cried.
"I don't know," Brittany commented, her face grimacing as her eyes fell upon his tie. "I don't want to be the one to tell you this, David. But green… defiantly not your color."
"Brittany!!" Eleanor protested.
Dave laughed. "It'll have to do. I don't have time to change."
"I mean-"Brittany began. She climbed to her feet and motioned for Dave to bend down. "Well at least loosen it up." Brittany offered pulling at the base of the knot a bit. Finally satisfied, Brittany stepped away. "There. Now you're perfect."
Dave grinned. "Thanks, guys. Wish me luck. This is a big business meeting. We're talking huge! If this goes well… "His voice trailed off. "Well, it could open so many doors for you. Or at least get you a little publicity."
"LUCK!!!" the chipmunks rang out together.
"Knock-em dead, big guy!" Alvin added.
Dave turned to the door. "Thanks. I'll see you when I get back. Don't do anything too crazy and behave yourselves."
Alvin grinned. "Don't we always?" he questioned.
Dave's face instantly hardened. He gave Alvin a very long look to which Alvin replied with an innocent little smile. Dave finally turned away, disappearing out the front door. There was a soft rumble as his car started up and pulled out of the driveway. Alvin sighed as the chipmunks slowly fell into silent boredom; the hum of the television being the only sound excavating from the room.
Minutes passed… and then an hour that seemed to last forever. No one said anything. Theodore lay on his stomach in front of the television, flipping channels with the remote that sat in front of him. Eleanor shifted in her seat at the edge of the sofa, blinking mindlessly at the screen. The quiet was almost deafening. The only sounds coming from the soft click from the remote and the ever changing voices that swam from the television and into the room.
Brittany was the one who finally broke through the heavy stillness with a load, angry groan. "There's nothing on!!!" she cried. "And NOTHING to do!"
"We could always start on our homework." Jeanette piped up.
"Yeah," Simon agreed. "We might as well get it over with. And know knows… it could be fun."
Alvin, Eleanor, Brittany, and Theodore almost simultaneously turned to face their middle siblings. Jeanette quickly shrunk under their skeptic glances.
"Of course…" She murmured. "It was only a suggestion."
Alvin glared at Simon. "I don't even know you anymore." He muttered darkly.
"We could make s'mores!" Theodore offered.
Alvin gave one a sly smile. "I have a better idea!" He declared.
That's when Alvin had suddenly sprung up from his seat declaring that they go out and play in the snow. He'd all out ignored the bewildered fleeting looks that came his way and urged everyone to follow him. Hats, gloves, and boots piled on; Alvin led them to the community park. When Simon had rolled his eyes proclaiming "That's what backyards are for", Alvin had simple stated that there wasn't enough room in either of their backyards.
"Why do we need extra room?" Jeanette questioned.
"I think you just dragged us all the way over here out of some sick pleasure." Simon muttered.
"This is stupid!" Brittany exclaimed. "Are you going to tell us what we're doing or NOT?!"
Alvin lips widened in a mischievous grin…
[End Scene]
Brittany hated to admit it but… Alvin had been right. They set up in a field near the center of the park avoiding the small children who were running here and there, making snow angels and building snowmen. It was just the six of them, ducking and diving between mounds of snow; climbing up and around trees and under bushes.
Brittany sat up on her knees, her eyes skimming the area for her remaining friends. She didn't know if anyone else had gotten out yet… so she needed to be wary. Alvin took these kinds of things seriously… where ever he was she could bet that he had at least taken out Theodore. That left Simon for her disposal before she turned to hunt down Alvin because let's face it… Jeanette wouldn't really be a threat. The entire field was masked in a brilliant white, you'd think it'd be easy to pick out deep blues and bright reds out of that… but she couldn't seem to find them.
Brittany stood to her feet, sliding her back against the base of a tree. She peered behind it slowly, searching for any signs of moment before continuing on. Crouched low to the ground, Brittany made her way through the field… Where they?
[Let your brains come out of hibernation. This isn't present time either italics…. Ya see?]
"Come on!" Alvin urged them. "It'll be fun!"
"It sounds stupid." Brittany snorted. "Didn't we outgrow this like decades ago?"
"Britttannyy… I mean… well…" Jeanette stammered. "It could fun."
"I'm in!" Theodore declared.
"Me too," Eleanor said with a shrug. "It's not like there's anything else to do."
"We're already out here." Simon sighed.
Brittany's mouth twisted into a frown. She let out a long huff. "Fine… what do we do?"
"It's like dodgeball mixed with hide and seek." Alvin declared. "And everyone's it. And um… whoever gets the most people out… gets a prize!"
"What kind of prize?" Theodore asked with a squeak.
"Yeah, AL-VIN" Brittany said. "What kind-a prize?"
"A prize of the century!" He exclaimed. "But you don't get it unless you win. Come on. It'll be fun."
Brittany let out a heavy groan.
"Alright! Thirty seconds to hide!" Alvin called. "Ready… GO!"
[And back to present time]
Brittany shifted her feet at the sound of soft padded footsteps filtering through the snow. She looked around quickly, searching for anyone… even if it was just a stupid game. There was no way she was getting out. She'd never hear the end of it from Alvin. Brittany snorted; he was such a child sometimes.
Her head shot up at the sound of someone crying out. Maybe Alvin hadn't got Theodore after all, she thought. Or maybe… Brittany stood up; quickly following the noise she'd heard behind a cluster of bushes. She carefully parted the snow covered branches and peered down…. And there was Jeanette. She looked like she had tripped or fallen over something because there she was; lying flat on her stomach, her legs and arms were sprawled out in all directions. She bent her head up to look at Brittany, a light dust of snow covering her face.
"He-Hey Brittany…" Jeanette managed.
"Jeanette!" Brittany exclaimed. "Are you alright?" In a second she had sprung over the barrier dividing them and was bent down at her sister's side.
Jeanette nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Good." Brittany murmured, reaching for her sister's hand. "And Jeanette?"
"Yeah?" she asked, clasping Brittany's hand.
"In case you didn't know…" Brittany said tugging her sister to her feet. "You're out."
Jeanette sighed heavily, her eyes falling back to the ground. "Th- thanks, Brittany. And… I figured as much."
Brittany grinned at her sister. "You wouldn't happen to know where the others were, would you?" she asked her.
Jeanette slowly shook her head. "No. Sorry…"
Brittany shrugged. "Thanks anyway." She murmured.
Yup, this was fun. Brittany grinned as she continued to scan the snowy field for any familiar faces. It was just like when they were kids… before any of them were anything more than friends… before they spent more time holding hands and trading kisses than having food fights and endless adventures. She was glad she'd agreed to come
[Back to that morning]
Brittany laid flat on her back on her bed; her arms stretched above her head, dangling off one end; her toes caressing the floor on the other. She breathed a heavy sigh, her baby blue eyes fixed on the ceiling hanging overhead. There was nothing to do, she was almost certain of it. Cold air drifted into the room from a crack in the windowpane causing the thin white curtains to sway. Her cell phone gave a soft beep but she refused to reach for it. Brittany let out another sigh… her mind blank of any thoughts in particular.
She yawned… feeling tired and lazy. There was nothing to do. And she was bored… beyond bored… her eyelids felt heavy… she thought about taking a nap as they slowly fell down. But the sound of her name being called caused her eye to snap open as she sat up quickly.
"Brittany!"
Eleanor's head popped into the room. She gave Brittany a once over before grinning. "You wanna go over to the boys?"
Brittany played with this thought for a moment before a smile slowly slid across her lips. She shrugged. "It's not like there's anything interesting to do over here…" she murmured.
Eleanor nodded. "Well hurry up or Jeanette and I are leaving without you."
Brittany rolled her eyes at this. "It's not like I don't know where the place is" she remarked.
Eleanor frowned. "Just hurry."
Brittany leaped from her bed. Finally some excitement. She had almost missed spending time with the others… it would be nice just hanging out for once…. With absolutely no thoughts about guy friends and boyfriends driving her up the wall. Even if Alvin was there… the others would be too… it wasn't as if they'd be alone. It would just like… just like it was before things got so- so stupid and complicated. Brittany grinned. She couldn't wait.
[End scene]
Brittany glanced quickly behind her, ducking just in time to dodge a ball of icy slush. Without waiting another moment she quickly swept her arm down, scooping a mass of snow with one hand and packing it down with the other, before tossing it in the same direction. Brittany watched it soar forward, flying behind a cluster of tees a few meters ahead. She was taken back when she didn't hear an impact. Brittany stretched her gloved fingers and pulled at her pink cap. Where was he? Her eyes skimmed the brilliant white field. She doubted it was Theodore… he was too clumsy…she would have caught him already… That left Alvin and Simon.
"You might as well give up now…"
The voice surprised her. Brittany froze in place her eyes darting around in search of the source. Well that answers my question, she thought. Alvin. Of course it was Alvin. Who else could it have been? And she was a sitting duck… this sucked… this sucked big time… she couldn't lose… not in some stupid game. She couldn't lose to him! More importantly… he COULD NOT win. They'd never hear the end of it! Even if it was just a stupid game! He'd NEVER let it go!!
"Why would I do that?" she asked him. "When I'm so close to winning…"
"That's what you think." Alvin responded.
Her ears immediately locked onto his voice. She could hear the overconfidence practically dripping off his words; almost see the swaggering smirk on his lips. He was somewhere behind her. The voice seemed closer this time… really close. Brittany bit her lip. Why hadn't he just hit her already? If Alvin was really that close… why was he just talking to her… this wasn't some stupid action movie where the villain went on and on with this huge monologue. Brittany groaned. There was a still of silence for a moment and she thought Alvin had completely vanished… until he spoke.
"Brittany…" Alvin murmured. His voice was softer this time… lacking that usual spunk.
And much easier to pinpoint… It had somehow moved even closer to her…With a twist of an ankle, Brittany spun on her heel but was surprised when she didn't find Alvin standing directly behind her. Her baby blue eyes trimmed the field, easing over brushes and glancing around trees…
"Brittany," Alvin said again.
Her eyes shot up, following the voice and then snapped open when she spotted its owner hanging above her head. Alvin was standing, perched on a large tree limb, several feet above her head. He had one hand braced on the wide base of the trunk and another tangled in one of its branches. His head was pointed down at her, his eyes hidden by the bill of his cap.
"You know you're supposed to hide right?" Brittany questioned.
Alvin didn't move. "We… need to talk" His voice came out slowly with a soft squeak at the end.
Brittany raised an eyebrow. "You want to talk? About what?" Then her brows scrunched in realization. "What!" She exclaimed. "Here? Now?!"
"Better now than some other time when you're trying to avoid me." He pointed out.
"But… NOW?!" Brittany exclaimed. "In the middle of a stupid game? About this! What if-"
"Everyone else is already out."
"Alvin-"
"I need to know your answer." He told her.
Brittany sighed.
Alvin leapt down from his perch in a single bound, landing flat on his feet, his knees bent a little. Alvin stumbled a bit as he rose up, meeting Brittany on eye level. She swallowed, regretting what he would say.
Alvin smirked, "Come on…" He voiced. "I'm trying to be serious for once. Take advantage of it."
"I don't know what you want me to say" Brittany huffed. "I don't know what I want me to say."
Alvin twisted his cap around, his deep blue eyes meeting hers. "The truth would be good start." Alvin offered.
"The truth?" Brittany questioned. "Like I've been lying this whole time? I already told you what's going on."
"I want you back. Why can't you say that? That's all you have to say." He asked. " It's simple. Easy. I know it's true!"
"Well I don't!!" Brittany snapped. "Why are you putting me on the spot like this? What is YOUR PROBLEM?!"
"YOU!" Alvin exclaimed. "You! You're driving me nuts with this whole… 'I like him but I still like him' thing."
"I can't- I can't – I don't even know what to do anymore, Alvin!" Brittany cried. "I'm just figuring this out as I go."
"So what?!" Alvin exclaimed. "You want me to wait?"
Brittany groaned. "You know what?" She asked. "I don't care!"
Brittany abruptly turned away from him. Her boots making deep prints in the snow as she started down a steep hill. Brittany wasn't going to do this. Not now. She wasn't going to let him do this to her.
"Do whatever you want!" She exclaimed.
"Brittany!" Alvin called.
She struggled to ignore his call and then the crunch of the snow under his shoes as he rushed after her. Alvin called her again but Brittany refused to turn around. She was marching fiercely through the heavy slush, intent on getting away from him when he reached out to her. His hand wrapped firmly around her forearm stopping Brittany in her tracks.
"Brittany-"He tried again
"Leave me, alone." She muttered.
Just as Alvin released his lock on her arm, Brittany yanked her it back. Lost in the momentum, she stumbled a bit and before she could catch herself, Brittany tripped and went flying backwards. Alvin grabbed at her, his fingers seizing her wrist in attempt to slow her fall but the snow was too soft. He couldn't brace himself. Alvin cried out as he found himself suddenly airborne.
With a gentle thud Brittany landed on her back in the soft snow, quickly followed by Alvin. He began to roll; his hand still holding Brittany's sending her with him. Brittany scream as the two tumbled down the hill, turning over four full times; the world spinning around them. When they finally came to a stop she was lying on her back, she'd somehow lost her hat in the commotion, and her loose auburn hair lay twisted around her.
Alvin had somehow landed on top of her. He'd released her wrist and was now using his arm to brace himself, holding his head just centimeters away from hers. Brittany's eyes locked with his and she swallowed.
"Are- are you okay?" He asked her.
Brittany nodded, her lips trembling. "Yeah,"
The two were in complete silence for what seemed like hours upon hours. Brittany didn't breathe once. One of his hands fell in her hair, lacing his fingers through it. And then- Brittany wasn't sure which one of them moved first, but somehow they'd closed the space between them… his lips locked on hers… and they were kissing. She felt butterflies and rabbits, leaping and fluttering around in her stomach. Her heart seemed to explode in her chest.
He pulled away, his eyes watching hers unsteadily.
Did that just happen? Did they just-? Were they going to-? Why did she-?
Before any of these questions could be answered the sound of a cell phone going off broke the silence. Her eyes widened, immediately recognizing the ringtone. She didn't have to search her pockets to realize who was calling. Brittany breathed.
Stephen.
When I first developing the idea for this story... the last scene in this chapter was the first one I did. Since then it has changed... drastically. You'll see... :D SO this is VERY important. You HAVE to review this and tell me what you think. You MUST. Alvin DEMANDS IT!!
Oh and VC, this is why I couldn't tell you the ending. :)
Love you guys! Don't forget to review!! PLEASULLS!!
as in... if you don't review... you shall never find out what happens. That's right. I went there.
REVIEW!!! Your opinions matter and help me SO MUCH in writing this story!!
Thanks already to,
VC
DiceRox09
Sergeant Daniel
MadFCaliburn
ShawnsBiggestFan
Kali101
ChipmunkfanNo.1
Latina-Chica-16
Dancing-StarryEyedDemigod
and so many more....
