A/N: To be honest, this chapter's been done for a while. I finished it when I was somewhere without internet access with the intention of posting it right away, but then I forgot. So here it is.
This is part one of the interview. The interview will encompass three chapters total.
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of Alvin and the Chipmunks or any related characters, nor do I have any relationship with ABC News or Diane Sawyer.
Chapter 13
On Saturday morning, Alvin and Brittany found themselves on the set of ABC News sitting across from Diane Sawyer. Off set, their siblings sat next to a very anxious Dave, Claire, and Miss Miller. Earlier in the day, they were briefed by Claire as to how the interview would proceed. After an introduction by the seasoned news anchor, Brittany would be asked to provide a backstory of her interactions with her assailant, something that Alvin vocally protested despite Brittany's assurances that she would be fine. After a break, Brittany would then describe the attack, which Alvin again protested. They were then told that immediately following Brittany's account, Alvin would give his perspective. Another break. Then they would discuss what happened with the paparazzi and their return to school. After about an hour spent trying to calm the red-clad munk, he finally accepted the chain of events. They then met their interviewer and the director. This led to their current position on a plush loveseat in front of a faux fireplace opposite one of the most trusted news personalities in the industry, waiting for the director to start filming.
"And action," the director called.
The camera panned to Diane.
"On this edition of ABC News, I am sitting down to talk with two of the music industry's brightest young stars," she began, "Except, today we're not here to discuss any new albums or projects. We're here to discuss a brutal attack on a sixteen year-old girl by her self-proclaimed 'biggest fan,' and her dramatic rescue by a fellow performer. Last weekend, entertainment media tabloids exploded with reports that award-winning songstress Brittany Miller, member of the sibling pop group the Chipettes, was raped. The alleged assailant, eighteen year-old Jason Staford was promptly arrested at the scene of the attack after being subdued by Brittany's log time friend and fellow performer Alvin Seville. The following Tuesday morning, entertainment tabloid TMZ released an interview with Mr. Staford, where he claimed that he was a victim of, and I quote, 'A game they play because they're famous and bored.' Today, I'm joined by Alvin and Brittany to discuss their perspective of the situation and the fallout that occurred after."
The camera panned back to show all three of them. Alvin and Brittany sat next to each other, their hands intertwined.
"Thank you for reaching out to us," Diane said, "It's very brave of you."
"Thank you for agreeing to hear our side of the story," Brittany said, "I know that there will be backlash from various sources after this airs. Some will claim that I'm doing it for undeserved sympathy or to perpetuate the so-called 'effed-up game' that Staford claims we're playing."
The camera zoomed in on Brittany's face.
"I don't need or want anyone's sympathy," she continued, "I'm doing this because I want my life back. I want to be able to leave my house or show affection to my boyfriend without having a million cameras shoved into my face. I want to be able to go to school without being assaulted by rape innuendo or called a slut or whore."
Before she stated that last line, the camera panned out to show the two of them. It caught Alvin visibly wince as she said the words "slut" and "whore."
"I know that it can never truly go back to how it was before, but I at least want some semblance of normalcy," Brittany finished.
By this point, Brittany had tears forming in the corners of her eyes, and she was trembling slightly. Alvin gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. The director mentioned to take a break. The camera panned by to Diane, "We will return after a short break."
As soon as the camera cut off, Brittany turned into Alvin's chest, and he wrapped his arms around her protectively. Claire and Miss Miller approached them. Brittany let go of Alvin and embraced her mother. Miss Miller returned the hug, "It's okay, sweetie."
"Are you okay to keep going," Claire asked her.
"Obviously not," Alvin cut in, "That was just the introduction. We haven't even gotten to the tough questions yet."
Claire turned and glared at him, "I'm asking her, Alvin, not you."
"If I could interrupt your family moment," Diane said as she approached, "Alvin has a point."
She turned to Brittany, "My questions and prompts are going to get harder. They're going to force you to recall things that you may not want to recall. If it's too much for you, we can stop now."
Brittany released Miss Miller and looked around at the people around her, noting the concern in their faces. Her gaze stopped on Alvin. She saw that his fists were clenched, his jaw set in a firm grimace, but she could see the uneasiness and hurt behind his hazel eyes.
"I'll keep going," she said, "but, can I have a few minutes alone with Alvin first?"
Claire glanced at Diane, who nodded, before turning back to Brittany, "Of course."
She turned to the rest of the crew, "Take five, everyone."
The crew walked off set, leaving Alvin and Brittany alone.
"Brit…," he started.
"Stop answering for me," she said, cutting him off.
"I'm sorry," he said softly, finally releasing his fists, "It just kills me to see you in pain."
He placed his hands on her shoulders, "I love you so much."
"I love you too," she said, "but you don't have to constantly protect me. This is something I have to do. What I said before, during the intro, I meant every word."
"I know," he said as he wrapped his arms around her, "and I'll be right beside you the whole time. I know you're strong and independent, but if it gets to be too much, please call it off. Let her interview me. Let me get my side of the story out. That should be enough. Don't make me go through seeing you hurt again. I know you're strong, but I'm not. Every time you cry, a part of me dies. When I say 'I love you,' I mean it with every ounce of my being."
She leaned forward and kissed him, "I know. I love you too, but I have to do this."
He nodded and kissed her again. They pulled apart and looked over at Claire. She nodded and turned to the crew, "We're ready."
"We're back with Alvin Seville and Brittany Miller," Diane said before turning to Brittany, "It goes without saying that last weekend was very traumatic for you, but that wasn't the first time you saw Jason Staford."
"That's correct," Brittany said.
"When did you meet him for the first time?"
"The first time I met Jason Staford was after a performance at Bovard Auditorium at USC eighteen months ago. When the concert was over, my sisters and I met with some fans at a VIP event. Most of them were winners of some radio contest, but two of them were different."
As the camera panned to Brittany, her expression changed from one of anxiety to one of compassion.
"One of the fans was a young girl named Amanda, who was there with the Make-a-Wish Foundation," Brittany said with a forlorn smile, "She had terminal blood cancer, lymphoma I believe. It was the first time I'd met someone whose biggest wish was to meet me. It was also the first time that I ever kept in correspondence with a fan. I spoke with her every week over Skype as she underwent her most intense chemo to date, until one week I spoke to her mother instead. The last time I saw Amanda was at her funeral in January."
Brittany dabbed her eyes with a tissue, before continuing.
"The other fan that stood out at the USC concert was Jason Staford. He stood out, not just because he was the only guy there, but because he was trying to stand out. I could tell that he was rich. He was wearing Gucci clothing, a Rolex, and a pair of $300 sneakers. He bought his way into the event and had no reservations to telling me as such. I spoke with him for ten minutes which was about how long I spoke with each of the other fans, save for Amanda. We did the photo ops and autographs, standard meet and greet stuff. I left the concert that night never expecting to see Jason Staford ever again."
"But you did," Diane pressed.
Brittany nodded, "It was about a week later. We were set to perform at the Hollywood Bowl, and my sisters and I were sightseeing along Sunset Boulevard: the Chinese Theatre, Walk of Fame, the sightseeing that most tourists do. Of course we ran into fans and did a few photos and autographs. He was there. I didn't recognize him at first, but Jeanette pointed out that he was the guy from the VIP event at USC. I wrote it off as a coincidence."
She sighed, and Alvin squeezed her hand.
"The first time I realized that he was following me was in St. Louis. It's one thing to run into the same fan multiple times in the same city, but this was half way across the country. Once again, I was sightseeing with my sisters, this time at the Gateway Arch. We snapped some pictures at the top. A few days later while I was looking at them, I noticed him in the crowd behind us. He was looking at me. The rest of the crowd was minding their own business, but his gaze was locked onto me. The next time I saw him was in Chicago. We were set to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and he was in the audience. During a tour of the Hancock Observatory, he was there again. That was the last straw. I voiced my concerns to the tour manager, and he increased security. Apparently it worked; I didn't see him again for the rest of our tour."
"But you did see him again."
Again, Brittany nodded, "It was this past April. I was at a café with a few friends from school when he walked over and struck up a conversation. He poured on the charm and won over my friends instantly. That was when I found out who he actually was, or rather I found out who is father was. My friend Madison…," she stopped and shook her head, "I'm sorry, it's still hard for me to believe that someone that I'd considered a friend would do to me what Madison did this week. But that's not what we're talking about right now. Madison was the one who told me who he was. Her father is a veterinarian who takes care of Solomon Staford's thoroughbred race horses. At the time, I just went along with the conversation because I was with my friends and didn't want to cause a big scene. In the days following that, he began posting stuff all over my Facebook wall and sending PMs on Twitter. He even managed to get ahold of my phone number and kept calling and texting me. I changed my phone number and called the police. I filled a restraining order against him which he broke three days later. I was leaving a cheer competition at my school, again with my friends, when I noticed him in the parking lot. I went back into the school and told my cheer coach, who called the police. I stayed inside until I saw them arrest him. He was sentenced to six months at a juvenile detention facility, until he turned eighteen, last Friday."
Once again, Brittany was visibly shaking. The hand that she had intertwined with Alvin's was clenched hard. The camera panned back to Diane, "I think now would be a good time to take a break. We'll be back after a few short messages."
The director yelled, "Cut," and the crew took five. Brittany let out a breath that she didn't realize she was holding and reclined back into Alvin's chest. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, "You're doing great."
"You really are," Claire said as she approached them along with Dave, Miss Miller, and their siblings. Brittany pulled away from Alvin and enveloped her family in a group hug.
"How about you Alvin," Dave asked, "How are you holding up?"
"I'm not the one who's dragging up painful memories," he answered quietly so Brittany wouldn't hear him, "It doesn't matter how I'm doing."
Please review.
A/N: I'm probably going to post the next chapter right away