Time Skip Three Weeks
Much of the same went on to happen the next few weeks. Albert within a short time effectively became the seventh member of the band, at least within the school's eyes. He had become great friends with the chipmunks—except, of course, with Alvin.
In Alvin's eyes, Albert was a people pleaser. With Simon and Jeanette, he told stories about different experiences and experiments he had done. With Theodore and Eleanor, he talked about all the movie studios he had visited, which they had wanted to do for a long time. He had all the connections and stories, apparently.
It was like Albert had known everything and gone everywhere. It was no wonder he fit into the group so well: he could connect with everyone. Sports fan? He knows a guy who has season tickets. Book fan? He knows a place to get discounted books. Movies fan? He knows a website to get movies free. But there was no way, Alvin thought, that he could have done everything he'd told his brothers, right?
He was also making friends with other students—non-chipmunks—within the school. He was quickly climbing up the social ladder, and that's what made Alvin annoyed. People just didn't climb the ladder that quickly, at least fairly. Had Albert been a true friend to all, or had he just "won over" people?
And when it came to Albert and Brittany, Alvin didn't know at all what was happening with them.
Even after a few weeks, he and Brittany were not on speaking terms. Normally, they would've gotten back together by this time, but they hadn't even talked yet. Alvin suspected it was the doing—whether accidental or purposeful—of a certain chipmunk: Albert.
Albert and Brittany always seemed to be talking to one another. And smiling a lot around each other. And laughing despite it being the worst joke. It was really starting to get on Alvin's nerves, which was very noticeable to others.
It felt like everything was going wrong for Alvin. His relationship with his brothers was shaky at best, his relationship with their counterparts was no better, and his relationship with Brittany was non-existent.
As for Albert, Alvin balked when it came to him, not sure what to do. It was an unsolvable puzzle. Albert was border-line stealing his girl, but if Alvin tried to hold his ground, his brothers and the chipettes would be angry at him.
He was being torn apart from the group, and he seemed to be powerless to stop it.
He no longer ate lunch at all with the band, but Albert certainly did. Albert always ate lunch with the band—there wasn't a day he didn't. And that wasn't the worst part. It was like Albert was brothers with Simon and Theodore, not Alvin. Day by day, Alvin was feeling not only replaced, but abandoned by the band.
Just a few days ago, Alvin had noticed his brothers weren't home after school. It was Friday, but it still wasn't like his brothers to do that. It made Alvin concerned, but then pissed once he found out what happened.
Flashback to Last Friday Evening
"Hey, Dave?"
"Yes, Alvin?"
"Do you know where Simon and Theo are?" he asked his father. "I haven't seen them since school ended."
"Yes, didn't they go to that concert with the chipettes?" Dave replied, as if Alvin knew. "I actually thought you were going with them, but I figured that you were sick, and I know you like to be left alone when not feeling good."
Alvin was confused, but didn't want to worry Dave. "Yeah, I am actually feeling a little under the weather, but I, uh, just didn't hear them leave."
"They left only a little while ago. But I'm sorry you don't feel so good. Maybe you should lay down?"
His brain was starting to hurt, so he took Dave's advice and lied down. The worst part: he hadn't even been told about the concert. His brothers later said it was because Albert gave tickets to the whole "lunch" group, which Alvin obviously wasn't in, but it was of little comfort to Alvin. They could have at least told him that they were going.
Albert was the new Alvin.
Back to Present Time
He quickly realized he needed help, so he made plans with some of his friends for Saturday. He said he had "urgent girl problems," which was true, among other things. He told them to all meet at the local diner—there was always something on the menu that everyone would like. Eventually, despite running a few minutes late, they arrived.
"Alright Alvin, what you need help with?" Knox asked him when he sat down in the booth.
"It's Brittany."
Knox, Xavier, Julian, and Andy all joined Alvin on that day, mainly because Alvin said he'd pay for the food. They ended up ordering multiple cheeseburgers with fries, some pizza, and a grilled cheese.
"I got you, my man!" Xavier exclaimed. "You happen to find yourself at the service of the love guru!"
His single status and four ex-girlfriends would deny that claim, but Alvin was beginning to get desperate. Any help he could get, any help at all, was much appreciated.
"Actually, shouldn't I be the guru 'cause my parents have been together since high school, ya know?" Julian grinned.
"Nah nah," Andy chuckled and shook his head, "I'm the love guru. Four months in a relationship, beat that, sucker!"
"Yeah? Well I've been in a relationship for three years! And I'm afraid it'll go no longer! So can you all shut up about who the love guru is? I need help! This is serious!"
Everyone looked at the fiery Alvin, surprised to see a normally "chill" chipmunk so worked-up. His friends were a little put-off by it, and they all shared an odd look with one another. But they decided to help Alvin.
"Alright Alvin," Knox sighed, lifting up his arms. "The floor is yours. What's your problem?"
"It's Albert. He's tearing apart my relationship with Brittany, and right in front of my eyes!"
"Nah, don't worry. That's impossible," Julian rejected. "You guys are Alvin and Brittany: Romeo and Juliet don't got nothing on you!"
"Actually," Knox chewed on a fry, "I have seen Brittany and Albert together a lot lately."
"And she always seems to be smiling 'round him," Xavier commented.
"You guys are not helping!" Alvin shouted, getting 'the eye' from people next to them, but he could care less at that point. "But so now do you see why I called you here?"
Everyone nodded their heads, but had nothing to say: they didn't know what to say. They weren't prepared to deal with an Alvin like this. His friends started to wish they didn't come; they didn't want to deal with all that drama.
"I think you should confront Albert," Knox suggested. "Let him know that she's taken."
"Nah, you gotta do somethin' romantic for Brittany," Julian recommended. "Give her flowers or something. Girls dig it when you're romantic."
"No way! You gotta play hard to get Alvin. Make her come to you!" Xavier suggested.
"Are you crazy?!" Andy remarked. "Alvin should get a new girlfriend. If it makes Brittany jealous, it worked! If not, well he's got another option."
They continued to argue, and Alvin was too beaten to stop it. He just wanted a solution to his problem. But the only thing he got from his friends was a headache.
Seriously, he was getting a headache—a stomach ache too. He was sure it was a combination of the stress from Albert, his friends, and the burger he ate.
In the end, Alvin was left to pay the $100 bill with no help whatsoever given to him. Maybe he should've used the $100 to go to a psychiatrist...that at least would've helped more.
He was a little ticked off at his friends; he felt they weren't taking it seriously enough! Could they not see that he was in distress? Aren't friends supposed to help each other when needed most?
Yet they were focused more on proving their point than helping Alvin. He actually thought they forgot the whole reason for meeting at the diner. It was like the atmosphere of a party, not at all what Alvin had asked for.
But, if Alvin was in his friends' shoes, he didn't know if he would be any different.
