Friday
As Alvin finished the rest of his classes, he was at a loss for words at what just happened. What the heck could Albert have done to make his own brothers and the chipettes just adore him?
Alvin was old enough to know that his brothers and the chipettes weren't able to be put under a spell, but if anyone held those powers, it was Albert! He thought Albert might do well as a politician someday with his ability to win people over—and little did he know.
But the worst part was that Alvin felt guilty. Of course he had felt a little bad when he tried to kick Albert out of his seat, but how else was he to hold his ground? Yet he failed in holding it: If anything, it only made his troubles more apparent.
What's more, he also felt guilty about being a bad brother. If a chipmunk chooses a guy from off the streets over his own brother, then what does that show about their relationship? And not one brother, but two? What did that show about him?
And, if it couldn't be any worse, he also felt guilty about being a bad boyfriend. Even though they had broken-up, he still liked to think he and Brittany shared a lot of memories and had a deep relationship, even when they went through their arguments. They had a strange relationship, but no relationship was the same, and Alvin thought it was just their way of communicating, even if it was strange.
But the way she talked about Albert, looked at Albert...it made Alvin jealous, maybe even insecure. It made Alvin what Alvin is not.
He supposed he couldn't get mad at Brittany; they were broken-up after all. But he was a little upset. If it was only a small fight, why would she be all over someone the next day? And if it was a full on break-up, how could she move on so quickly? Had their love not deserved a little mourning?
Everything Alvin had thought about their relationship, about love, was just thrown out the window.
So, even though he felt justified in trying to kick Albert out, he knew he just had to apologize and make amends. The risk of losing his relationships was greater than the risk of losing his dignity.
That's why he approached Simon's desk in his next class. He was reading a book that Alvin had never heard of before, but he put it down once he saw Alvin come his way. Simon didn't look upset or angry to see him, but he also didn't look happy or excited. He seemed confused, maybe even shocked.
"Hey, Si," Alvin sighed. "I'm, uh, sorry for everything that happened at lunch today. I just—I don't know—felt left out, I guess."
Simon adjusted his glasses and also sighed. Alvin knew he always did that when he was conflicted. "I get it, Alvin. The whole 'spotlight' craze, but to do that to a new student? A chipmunk at that?"
"I know, I know," Alvin conceded,"you're absolutely right, but I saw him with you guys, and I felt...well…I don't know...I guess I felt threatened."
"Threatened? From what?"
"From him! All I hear is a new kid joining our school and I see the mark he's left on our group, and I wouldn't mind if he's a new friend to us, but I don't want him to ruin our group."
Simon replied, "He's really a great guy, Alvin. I don't think he'll do that. In fact, I think he'll make a great addition to our group."
"Why though? I mean, I've seen the way you guys were adoring him. I don't get it," Alvin conceded.
"I can't speak for the others, but he knew all about science. He knew all these science competitions I could join and has great connections—ya know, friends—that could really help me."
"Help you how?"
"Well," Simon started, "he knows people that could help me with science materials and experiments, especially for the projects and fairs."
"But isn't part of the joy in doing a project doing it of your own accord?" Great vocabulary Alvin!
"Well of course, but not having the materials really sets a ceiling, a limit, for me."
Alvin was suspicious. A new chipmunk arrives with these "connections" and immediately offers them to someone he just met? He understood being friendly, but this seemed a little too over the top.
But he wasn't going to say anything, not to Simon. Yet he still wanted to know, so he beat around the bush. "You're right, he sounds like a great guy. Did he tell you guys about himself?"
"He did," Simon admitted, "but I'll let you ask him. It could get you guys talking and hopefully get on good terms. And thank you, Alvin, for apologizing, but don't apologize to me."
He hoped he and Albert could be on good terms—after all, if you can't beat them, join them—but Alvin couldn't be friends with someone who he didn't respect. Especially one who doesn't respect the social order. It took him years to get where he was. A few fancy things given doesn't change your status, can it?
When, in the next class, he talked to Theodore, he said something similar to what Simon said.
"He was very nice to us," Theodore had told him. "I don't know why you didn't like him, but he talked about these up-and-coming chefs he and his family knew. He said he could get me some deals on their food, and let me say, their deserts are exactly suiting my taste buds."
"But weren't you going on that diet?" Alvin asked. He wasn't trying to be rude, but he was concerned for his brother's health. "Isn't desert, like, the worst thing for that?"
"I did tell him that I was going on that diet, but he said that it shouldn't set me back much: they only use natural ingredients. At least most of them do. Plus, it was nice of him to offer."
Alvin disagreed: If someone really cared about a person, they would do what was best for the person, even if they could "score more points" by offering something that could hurt them.
But Alvin was conflicted, because when he really thought about it, Alvin in that situation might have tried to do what he thought Albert was doing. Was he a hypocrite?
Brittany, on the other hand, was a much different story. She was the most defensive of Albert, even having invited him there, and her and Alvin's break-up didn't help either.
They sat across the classroom from each other in both of their classes, a result of their constant talking in class. So Alvin expected nothing to happen in his final two classes, and he was right. It was like they didn't even know each other. But then again, Alvin isn't making any moves either, so can he really blame her?
He wanted to fix his relationship with Brittany. It was a sudden change, and probably a selfish one, but he needed to fix it. Even if it was just as friends at first, he needed to know he wasn't going to lose her. And even though he thought their fight was no big deal at first, that Albert changed everything.
He wouldn't say it, but he missed her, and he didn't want to miss her forever by losing her. Not to Albert.
So school ended with a conflicted Alvin. Was Albert a good person or a bad one? Was Alvin good or bad? Was Alvin right in his judgments of Albert? Is Alvin being replaced? Does Alvin deserve to be replaced?
Is Alvin screwed?
