I'm sorry about the delays on chapters 13 and 14, but 's upload ability has been down quite a bit so I haven't been able to update. I hope I haven't lost too many readers!
Everyone's reviews have really kept me motivated to keep writing. (especially Atomos, Fairie-kittie, and RavenChild!) Thank you all so much for the compliments!
I have had so much fun writing this…and I can't tell you how much it means that people are enjoying it. Thanks!
Pyxelle
Chapter 13Eleanor placed the steaming cup of soup and small bowl of strawberry jello next to Theodore's bed. "Theodore." She said, shaking him ever so gently. "Theodore, its time to get up. You need to eat something."
He answered her with a groan. "I'm not hungry. Didn't we just eat?"
"Theodore, that was yesterday." Eleanor reminded him as he began to wake up. "Most people eat every day. Several times every day, in fact."
"I know." Theodore yawned, pushing himself up slightly on his pillows. "I just kind of thought we'd be putting this whole eating thing, well, on hold for a few days, considering the trip and all."
"Nope." Eleanor tried to smile at him, but the resigned look Theodore gave the small cups made it difficult for her to force her spirits up. "Come on, its just one-half cup of vegetable broth and a little jello."
"You wouldn't believe how much that sounds like. Might as well be three Thanksgiving dinners." Despite his words, he accepted the cup of broth with a sigh. He sipped – a tiny, tiny sip. "Can you hand me my glasses?"
"Sure." She did so, and he slipped the green-tinted lenses on his face gratefully.
"Where's Simon?"
"I don't know." Eleanor said. "He went out a few hours ago."
Theodore looked concerned. "Didn't he tell anyone where he was going?"
Honestly, Eleanor hadn't asked. She had been lost in her own thoughts, and had barely realized Simon had left. "He talked to Jeannette, I think."
"Oh," Theodore put the cup down. "Maybe we should-"
"After we eat." Eleanor picked the cup back up and put it into Theodore's hands.
Theodore sighed. "Okay, okay." He took another tiny swallow.
"Thank you." Eleanor picked up her own bowl of soup – clam chowder as opposed to Theodore's broth – and began to eat. They sat in silence for a few moments.
"So when is Simon going to start looking for Alvin?" Theodore asked.
"I'm not sure. Probably not until tomorrow. We all need some rest."
Theodore frowned at her. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Only a few hours."
"Oh." He sipped the broth. Eleanor was glad to see that nearly a fourth of it was actually gone. "Do you think Simon will be here soon?" He squirmed uncomfortably.
"I don't know." Eleanor looked at him strangely. "Do you want to get out of bed? They delivered the hoyer about an hour ago, so I can help you. You seem a little uncomfortable."
"No! Not yet, at least." Theodore couldn't conceal his panic from her. Eleanor sighed. Not this again.
"Theodore, I thought we agreed you weren't going to lie to me anymore."
"I don't want to, really, Eleanor…" Theodore seemed on the verge of tears. "But…"
"Just tell me." Eleanor said wearily. She didn't know how much more of this she could take. All sorts of revelations had been afforded to her over the last few days, and she was beginning to feel as if she was overloading. "Please, Theodore."
"I, um, well…" His voice actually broke, and abruptly Eleanor knew what was wrong.
"You need to be changed, don't you?" She asked as gently as she could. A tear ran down Theodore's face.
"Yes. Simon must have forgotten before he left, he never forgets, not usually, but he must have. It usually takes more than a few hours for me to need his help, but…" Theodore held his hands up helplessly.
"It's all right, Theodore." Eleanor didn't really feel that way. Simon had glossed over this part during their conversations, obviously sensing Eleanor's embarrassment. She thought that Simon had probably planned on making sure he was back every few hours to perform this particular chore. Eleanor wondered what he could be doing that was so important that he had forgotten. "I'll help you."
"No." A second tear joined the first. "I'll wait, Eleanor. Simon will be back soon, I'm sure."
Eleanor shook her head, standing and searching the room visually for supplies. "Theodore, we don't know when Simon will be back. We can't leave you sitting in it."
"Eleanor-"
"Where do you keep everything?"
Theodore didn't answer but his eyes darted involuntarily to a blue duffel bag on the dresser beside him. He shook his head as Eleanor began to pull out the wipes and Attends. "Please, Eleanor, just wait for Simon, I'll be fine, really."
"Theodore, I'm not going to risk your skin breaking down because you're embarrassed." Eleanor said firmly, trying to remain clinical. It was good that she was an excellent actress, because she certainly didn't feel that way inside. "It'll be over before you know it. Just pretend I'm Simon or your nurse, Elise."
"I-"
"I'll help you roll over, and please, Theodore, bear with me. I've never done this before." Theodore didn't say anything, but complied.
He was soaked. Luckily nothing had gotten on the bed, but it took a few moments to clean him up. All throughout the process Theodore's body shook softly as he sobbed almost silently. Eleanor had to bite her lip to keep from joining him.
It was probably only a few minutes before she was done, but it had felt like hours. "All done." She said, pulling the blankets back up over him. She could tell that he wanted to pull them all the way over his head and hide. "I need to throw this away. I'll be right back."
Eleanor almost ran to the bathroom. At least she managed to get there before her own tears began to flow. She tossed the garbage into the plastic-lined can and then started to wash her hands, her vision blurry as teardrops as well as water rinsed the soap from her fingers.
She didn't know what she was going to do. She loved Theodore, she knew that. And despite their earlier fight, she knew he loved her. But she really hadn't realized… how much would her life be changed? What parts of her dreams would die in order for her love to live? She'd known how much help Theodore still needed…would always need…but she hadn't understood it, not until the past few days. She'd thought she could handle it.
Now she wasn't so sure.
This was not the way she had expected to see her boyfriend nude for the first time. The humiliation he must have felt…the embarrassment she still felt…it was overwhelming…and eye opening. This was the future she had to expect for herself with Theodore. Not romantic nights ending in a midnight's dream of passion, but nights of caring for him, their interactions limited by his disabilities and their mutual discomfort.
Eleanor glanced up and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked tired. There was a graveness to her face that she was unaccustomed to seeing in herself. But it was still the same face…the same girl who had loved a certain Chipmunk since she had met him over ten years ago. The same face that Theodore had seen moments after awakening from his coma. The same girl that just days ago had sworn to him that she would never leave him.
Fate could be cruel. Eleanor was sixteen. Theodore was going to celebrate his seventeenth birthday in just a few months. Neither of them deserved what fate had wrought for them. But sometimes you just had to thumb your nose at Fate and tell her that no matter what, your will was greater. You had to tell her that even when she laughs in your face and sends you adversities beyond belief, you would still be stronger than her and would face them all with your head held high.
Eleanor wiped the tears from her face. Nothing had changed in the last few days except for the very explicit life lessons due to her for months. She still couldn't imagine life without Theodore.
She returned to his room with a new sense of determination. Theodore lay in bed, his eyes closed tightly, and she smiled a little. "Theodore, I know you're awake. You're not fooling anyone."
"I'm tired."
"Too bad." Eleanor sat back down. Theodore opened his eyes and looked at her, his face distraught.
"Eleanor, please-"
"I don't want to be a nurse." Eleanor interrupted.
Theodore winced. "I…I understand, Eleanor."
Eleanor shook her head. "No, I don't think you do, Theodore." She reached out and took his hand. "I don't want to be a nurse, but I'll never be your nurse. A nurse will take care of someone because it's their job. I'll take care of you…because you take care of me. Because that's what people who love each other do."
"Take care of you? I can't even take care of myself!"
Eleanor put his hand over her heart. "You're thinking about only the physical, Theodore. You take care of my heart."
Theodore looked at her, stunned. "But Eleanor, what about-"
"What about what? Kids? Well, if we can't have our own, we'll adopt. Our future? The future isn't written in stone, Theodore. Who knows? Simon always is talking about the medical advances that might help you someday, Theodore. Who's to say that day might not be tomorrow? Fate can be cruel…" Eleanor said, smiling at him gently, "but fate can also be kind."
"Eleanor-"
"Shhh." She touched his lips gently with her finger. "I love you. I love you more than anything in this whole wide world. Is anything worth throwing that away?"
Theodore didn't answer. Then, with a strength that surprised her, he grabbed her and pulled her down to him for the most passionate kiss they had ever shared. How long they stayed locked in that embrace, she didn't know, but they were still intertwined when Simon and Jeannette burst into the room.
"Theodore, I-" Simon stopped dead.
Eleanor stood quickly as Theodore released her. "Uh, hi, guys."
"Hi." Simon seemed at a loss for words. "It looks like you two made up, huh?"
Eleanor smiled at Theodore brilliantly. That kiss was making her re-evaluate her earlier thoughts about the lack of passion they would have. "Yes, I think we did."
"Yeah," Theodore blushed, his customary response when Simon would catch them even doing something so innocent as holding hands. "I think we did, too."
"That's good." Simon said, and then he looked at Eleanor. "Um, I forgot to help Theodore earlier, so could we have a little privacy?"
"It's okay, Simon." Theodore said. "Eleanor just took care of it."
Simon looked at Eleanor in astonishment, and then back to Theodore. "Are you…okay with that?"
"Well, I'd still prefer if you'd help me, but…yeah."
Simon, again, seemed at a loss for words. Jeannette just seemed confused. "Okay with what?" She asked.
"Nothing." Eleanor told her quickly. Jeannette opened her mouth, but Theodore spoke before she got the chance.
"Would you guys mind? Eleanor and I were kind of having a private dinner."
"Dinner?" Simon glanced at the table and grinned. "You're eating…again?"
"Yes." Theodore smiled at Eleanor. "Would you pass me my soup, please? I think I'm hungry."
OooooOooooO
Brittany looked at the address on the slip, then back at the dilapidated building in front of her. This couldn't have been where Alvin was living. It was so…so…so icky. But it was the address on the list, so she stepped up the stairs gingerly, thinking to herself that as long as she didn't touch anything, she'd be fine.
The stairs were narrow as she walked up to the third story, and she had to fight a mild claustrophobia. Room 302. That's all she had to get to. When she got there, however, she found the door open and apparently no one at home.
"Alvin?" She called, stepping in. The room was nearly bare. It was an efficiency apartment, with a bathroom being the only other room, and on the small bed she could see a familiar suitcase with the initials AS on it. She walked into the room, excited. Yes! This had to be it. "Alvin?"
There was no answer. He must not be at home. From the purse she wore on her shoulder, she drew a red cap. It was the one she had found the night Alvin had run away. She had cleaned it and, although she had never told Gavin, had carried it in her over-large purse ever since. Finally, she was going to get the chance to return it.
Brittany sat on the bed for a moment before her restlessness overcame her. She stood, cap still in hand, and started to look around the apartment. There wasn't much to be seen, as either Alvin had lived very simply or he had packed everything already, but she did notice a cd of Brittany and the Chippettes – Miss You Forever. She smiled. He had bought their latest album! The smile faded as she realized it was still in its' shrink-wrap. What, he hadn't even listened to it yet?
"Theo, I told you to lock this door! Until you get into a better neighborhood-"
Brittany turned to see another young Chipmunk girl standing in the doorway. Her hair was blue, and although she wore the most abominable fuchsia eye shadow Brittany could tell that she was actually quite attractive. "Oh, I'm sorry." The punk Chipmunk said in a clipped British accent. "Are you a friend of Theo's?"
"Theo?" Brittany said before she remembered that 'Theo Miller' had been the name Alvin had assumed. "Oh, yes. I'm a friend of his…from way back."
"Oh. Nice to meet you." The punk Chipmunk offered her hand.
Brittany took it with narrowed eyes. "And you are…?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Isabelle Fuerte." She offered. "I'm…well, I'm kind of Theo's girlfriend."
"Kind of?" Jealousy threatened to turn Brittany's eyes green.
"Well, its not official, yet, but…" Isabelle looked at her curiously. "You look familiar. Have we met?"
"No, I don't think so." Brittany said shortly. "Not official?"
"Well, we're moving to Paris together, but-"
"Moving to Paris!" Brittany nearly screeched. "What do you mean, he's moving to Paris!"
"He hasn't told you?" Isabelle looked at her curiously…and then her eyes widened. "Oh bloody hell…you're the girl, aren't you? The girl!"
"Girl? What girl?" Brittany had no idea what the British tramp was talking about.
"The girl he can't let go of…" If possible, Isabelle's eyes widened even further. "And…I know who you are."
Uh-oh. "I'm just-"
"You're Brittany Miller!" Without warning, Alvin's new 'girlfriend' was hugging her tightly. "Oh, my god! You really are!"
"You…must…be…mistaken." Brittany managed to gasp out.
"No, I have all your albums!" Isabelle said, releasing her. "I'd recognize you anywhere!" She calmed a little. "But…what are you doing here?" She frowned. "And how do you know Theo?"
"I-"
"Belle, is that you?" Alvin stepped into the room. "I'm sorry I'm late, but-"
Brittany could do little more than stare at him as he froze. "Brittany?" He said, his voice strengthless. "Brittany?"
"Alvin? Is it really you?"
"Alvin?" Isabelle said, her voice confused. Neither of them paid her any notice.
"What are you doing here?"
"Eleanor, Jeannette and I are all staying at the Palace with Simon and Theodore, Alvin."
"All of you?" Alvin sat down on the bed as if his legs had given way beneath him. "All of you?"
"Alvin? Simon? Theodore?" Isabelle seemed utterly confused. "Theo, what's going on?"
In the recesses of her mind, Brittany felt sorry for the young British Chipmunk, but she had other things to worry about. "Of course we came with, Alvin. We've been so worried about you…" Suddenly Brittany remembered the English tart beside her. "But obviously, you haven't given one thought to us…"
Isabelle looked at Alvin in confusion. "Theo, what in bloody hell-"
"I'll explain later, Belle." Alvin said almost absently, and then turned his attention back to Brittany. "I don't-"
"Is it true you refused to come home, Alvin?" Brittany demanded. "Simon was about ready to punch holes in the wall."
"I can't come home, Brittany." Alvin said.
Isabelle just kept staring at the male Chipmunk. "Alvin? Why does she keep calling you that, Theo?"
"Oh, you can't, right?" Brittany shot back. "Why not? Because Theodore might blame you that he's in a wheelchair? Well…news flash! He doesn't! All he does is worry Eleanor's ear off every night about how much he wants you to come home. And Simon? Did you know he jeopardized his medical career to come to London looking for you?" A bit of an overstatement…all right, a full out lie, but for a good cause. "Do you care about that, Alvin?"
"I-"
"Or do you care about me? I told you the night you left that I loved you…and you still left! Doesn't it matter to you that people care about you?"
"Alvin!" Isabelle finally shouted. Both Brittany and Alvin jumped. "Alvin and Brittany…that's what was always…I mean…" She trailed off, looking at Alvin in shock. "…Theo?"
"I'm sorry, Belle, really…" Alvin's apology to the tart only made Brittany angrier.
"You're sorry to her? To her! After all you've done to the rest of us, how can you…what makes you think that…" Brittany couldn't contain her anger. She slapped him, hard. "How dare you disrespect me…disrespect Eleanor, Simon, Jeannette, and Theodore by apologizing to some English TART that doesn't deserve the air we breathe!"
"Hey!" Isabelle protested.
Brittany didn't care. "I hope you're happy, Alvin." She said, throwing the red cap she had prized for so many months on his bed. "Because this was the last chance you had. The last chance for you to be the man…the Chipmunk you once promised to be."
Brittany paused as she stormed out the door. "I don't know why I expected anything more of you."
And she was gone.
End of part 13
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