Chapter Sixteen/I've Always Loved You:
Alvin and Brittany's 30th Anniversary was coming up, everyone was excited. Alvin and David were going over plans for the party.
"One more week." Alvin said in excitement.
"Hey Dad, how long have you and Mom known each other?" David asked.
"Let's see, ever since 7th grade. I remember the first time I met her. Your Uncle Simon and Aunt Jeanette were dating at the time, she had asked him to help her with some homework. Simon introduced me to Jeanette, and she introduced me to your mother. The first time I saw her, my heart skipped a beat. We may have fought a little in the past, but it's all behind us now. I love her." Alvin said.
"Aww, that's really sweet Dad." David said.
At that moment, Cicely entered the room. It seemed she was on the phone with someone.
"Well thank you so much. I'll talk to you later, bye." She hung up.
"Who was that sis?" David asked.
"Oh, it was Ajmal. He wanted me to tell you that he said Congratulations, Dad." Cicely said.
"Thanks." Alvin said.
Three days later, Noah and Jeanette were walking down a path in the park enjoying the day.
"Wow you were right, corn beef is good." Jeanette said.
"It is indeed." Noah said.
Suddenly, Jeanette's phone started ringing.
"Hmm, blocked number." Jeanette said.
"Sounds odd." Noah said.
She answered it.
"Hello?" She said.
"Jeanette?"
"Yeah?"
"Oh thank goodness. I need to see you."
"Who is this?" Jeanette asked.
"An old friend. I need to meet you at the mall, bring no one."
The mystery person hung up.
"What was that all about?" Noah asked.
"I don't know. An old friend, though I don't know who, wants me to meet them at the mall alone." Jeanette said.
"That doesn't sound good. I'll come with you, and if anything goes wrong I'll protect you." Noah said.
Three days later... again, Alvin and David were preparing everything for the next day. Alvin was very excited. Just then there was a knock at the door.
"Come in." Alvin said.
Jeanette and Noah entered, but something wasn't right. They both had a worried look on their faces.
"Guys, what's wrong?" Alvin asked.
Jeanette looked at Alvin.
"You're screwed." Jeanette said.
"I'm screwed? What are you talking about?" Alvin asked.
Jeanette saw David, and didn't feel comfortable talking about this in front of him.
"Can I talk to you in the kitchen?" Jeanette asked.
"Sure." Alvin said.
They went into the kitchen, leaving Noah and David in the living room.
"Is everything okay?" David asked.
"I have no idea." Noah said.
Meanwhile in the kitchen.
"What?!" Alvin asked.
"I know, I wasn't expecting it either." Jeanette said.
"So I guess you know about what happened." Alvin asked.
"Yes, and I have to say I'm a little ashamed. What were you thinking?" Jeanette asked.
"Thinking? I was distracted. That happens to people." Alvin said.
"You're going to have to tell Brittany." Jeanette said.
"No!" Alvin said.
"If you don't, she'll find out on her own and that won't be fun for anyone." Jeanette said.
Alvin sighed, he wasn't sure what to do.
"What was the number?" Alvin asked.
Jeanette pulled up the number on her phone.
"Here." She said.
Alvin called the number.
"Hey, it's Alvin... Yeah I know, you're mad but... Listen, I want to fix this... Before tomorrow night at least... Okay, that'll work... Okay see you then."
Alvin hung up, and grabbed his coat.
"Where are you going?" Jeanette asked.
"The mall." Alvin said.
Later, Alvin was in the mall parking lot waiting. Suddenly, he heard a voice call out to him.
"Alvin."
He turned and saw a familiar face, a face he hadn't seen in more than 25 years. Charlene.
"Hey." Alvin said.
"You have no idea how mad I am at you. If you were going to let me go, the least you could do is tell me." Charlene said.
"You left me first! You were gone for over a year, and you never came back." Alvin said.
"Don't turn this on me, I was gone for a reason. You're the one who betrayed me." Charlene said.
"Okay, we're not going to get anywhere arguing. We need to fix this." Alvin said.
"You want to fix this? Take me back." Charlene said.
"I can't do that, I'm married with two kids." Alvin said.
"You had no problem leaving me, why would it be hard for you now?" Charlene asked.
"I can't, I'm sorry." Alvin said.
"Oh you will be. If you don't take me back, I'll ruin you." Charlene said.
Alvin sighed.
"Give me a day to think about it." Alvin said.
"Deal, we meet back here at 5:00pm." Charlene said.
She walked away, and Alvin was absolutely terrified.
The next morning, Alvin woke up next to Brittany. She woke up shortly after him.
"Happy Anniversary honey." Alvin said.
"Aww, thanks Alvie." Brittany said.
She kissed him.
4:30pm
Alvin was about to walk out the door.
"Where are you going honey?" Brittany asked.
"I'm just going to get some drinks for tonight, I'll be back soon." Alvin said.
Alvin walked out the door. Eventually, Alvin got to the mall, waiting for Charlene. He wasn't sure what to do, he wanted to keep this from Brittany. Soon, Charlene arrived.
"Hi." Alvin said.
"So?" Charlene asked.
"I can't Charlene. Look I'm sorry about what I did, it was selfish and stupid, but I have a family to look after." Alvin said.
Charlene was silent.
"Are you okay?" Alvin asked.
*BANG*
"Are you?" Charlene asked.
Alvin woke in the hospital, his side was in great pain.
"Well, that hurt." Alvin said.
He noticed someone sitting in the room with him. His wife. He wasn't sure what to say, so she spoke up first.
"You want to explain?" Brittany asked.
"I'm scum." Alvin said.
"Yes you are. How could you keep this from me?" Brittany asked.
"I'm sorry." Alvin said.
Brittany was choked up, she could barely bring herself to look at him as she was struggling to hold back her tears,
"Did you ever actually love me?" Brittany asked.
Alvin looked up in surprise.
"Of course I did, I still do." Alvin said.
Brittany couldn't say anything, she just continued crying. She left the room, Alvin tried to stop her but failed. He was just sitting there, feeling like dirt.
The next day, Alvin returned home. When he entered, he noticed a note sitting on the table.
"Alvin, I've gone out. I'm not leaving you, I just need time to cool down."
Alvin felt horrible, he knew he had royally screwed up. After that, he just sat in his room feeling like crap. David slowly walked in.
"Dad, are you okay?" David asked.
Alvin said nothing. David sat next to his dad.
"It's going to be okay Dad, you and Mom can work this out. You always worked things out." David said.
"I hope so son, I don't want to lose her." Alvin said.
"You won't, she loves you too much." David said.
David got up and left Alvin to himself. Alvin sat there thinking about the first time he met Brittany. He couldn't help but fall in love with her. He then had an idea. There was no sense in sitting in his own sorrow. He was going to find Brittany and bring her home. Lucky for Alvin, he knows where she always goes when she's sad.
Brittany sat alone in the mall food court. She wasn't eating, she was just thinking. She wasn't sure what she was going to do, she could barely stand Alvin at the moment. She had a hard time holding back her emotions. She suddenly heard a voice say her name.
"Brittany."
It was Alvin. She immediately stood up.
"I must have been insane to think you would have matured over the years. You're still the same reckless Alvin you were 30 years ago. I have no idea if you ever really loved me, and you would never own up to it if you did. Why did I fall in love with you Alvin Seville?!" She screamed.
She fell to her knees in tears. It was silent for a second, until Alvin uttered something.
"...dark corner."
Brittany slowly looked up.
"What?" Brittany asked.
Alvin was nervous, because what he was about to do next was bare his entire soul. He would never do this for anyone else, so why Brittany...?
"You spent many years sitting in a dark corner taking all the judgments and criticisms hoping they'll stop, but they never did. You just wanted someone who could understand the pain of being labeled every day of your life. It's what I was looking for too. I hid in that same corner since age five. I met you when I was ready to give up on people understanding me. You were my last chance, and you gave me hope. You filled the void in my heart. Charlene didn't even try to love me, you did. I can't say that I helped you in the same sense, but you made me forget about the crap in the world. You blocked out all the judgement and criticism, and I never heard again since. I love you, and I mean that. If you left, I'd be incomplete. I do love you Brittany, you have my heart and soul to love or crush."
...because he loved her. Brittany didn't know what to say.
"You just poured your soul to me, you do love me." Brittany said.
She kissed him.
The next day, Brittany returned home and Charlene was arrested. Everything was back to normal. When Brittany returned home, she noticed that they never got to celebrate their anniversary.
"Well, it may be a day late but we can still make the most of it." Brittany said.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, my love." Alvin said.