Monday Morning
Monday morning came quickly, leaving Alvin already a little ticked off to begin the day. It didn't help when Alvin arrived at school to find Albert at Brittany's locker. It also didn't help that Alvin could hear their conversation, as his locker was so close to Brittany's. Nor did it help when he saw the two of them walk to their class together.
There was no way he hadn't lost her, and if he didn't yet, he would very soon. It sucked to know that you messed up, but have no way to fix it. But Alvin wouldn't give up hope so easily. There was so much he realized about their relationship: he couldn't just let it go.
He took a deep breath, and before he knew it, it was lunch time at the school. Alvin didn't even bother to get his lunch though, knowing he wouldn't need it. He strolled to the cafeteria, but didn't sit at his normal table with his friends. Instead, he stopped at the chipmunks' table.
He stayed in the hallway for just the right amount of time to purposefully arrive at the table when Brittany would be there, but not Albert. Alvin knew Brittany probably didn't want to talk, so even though it would be a personal conversation, it would have to be done in public. He wasn't certain it would work, but his plan did. Brittany, Jeanette, Theodore, and Eleanor were there, but the others were not.
He couldn't afford to waste any time.
"Hey Brittany."
She looked up, saw Alvin, and huffed immediately upon notice of who came to the table. "What do you want, Alvin?"
The tone of her voice left Alvin disgusted. Never ever did she use that tone with him, even when they fought. Whenever she was angry with him, she always had the 'I can't believe you' tone. But now, she had the 'I'm so over you' tone.
He, however, ignored it so as to continue with his plan of action. Once again, he had no time to lose.
"I want to...apologize for what happened to the textbook. You trusted me with it, and I should have made sure I gave it back in quality condition, especially as your boyfriend."
Alvin still didn't even know if it was his fault, but if Brittany insists that it was his fault, he will take responsibility. He was confident that this was what Simon was talking about when he said that Alvin needed to "mature" in his relationship with Brittany.
Alvin decided he needed to make a change in how he was a boyfriend. He would be more responsible and mature from now on. His apology would be an example of his progressions.
"Wait, that's why you think I broke up with you!" Brittany half-heartedly chuckled. "I've withstood much worse things than a crippled textbook from you."
Then, his whole plan went out the window. The whole reason for their fight, for their break-up, was that Alvin "ruined" Brittany's textbook and didn't claim responsibility. Was he not claiming responsibility right now? So what was going wrong?
"Then...why did we break up?"
But Brittany couldn't respond to him. Their conversation was interrupted by none other than the chipmunk in orange.
"What's going on over here?" he asked.
His brothers and the chipettes didn't get involved in the drama, but Albert had no problem in doing so. It was like he always wanted to be in the spotlight. Alvin, however, did not realize the hypocrisy with that statement.
"Albert, I know we're not friends or anything, but could you do me a favor and mind your own business?"
Alvin didn't mean to sound harsh, but he wanted to tell Albert to leave him and Brittany alone in the fewest words possible. Albert messed up so many things for Alvin, he didn't need this apology to be screwed up too.
"I would but, you know, you're kind of at my table," Albert remarked, reiterating when Alvin said he was 'in his seat' a few weeks ago.
"Yes, I know that," Alvin admitted, "but Brittany and I need to talk about some things, and they don't really involve you."
"I'm sure they don't," Albert conceded, "but when you come looking for a fight, manners don't matter much, now do they?"
"I didn't come here for a fight. I came to have a conversation with Brittany about what happened between us."
"Really?" Albert remarked. "So you could talk with her anytime, but you chose in the cafeteria? In front of all these people?"
Because she wouldn't speak to me anytime else! In front of others is my best chance! She can't just ignore me in public!
"Please don't act like you're trying to help. All you've done is cause problems!"
"Alvin!" Brittany shouted. "You're the one causing the problems!"
"Really?! So I'm the one who took his seat? I'm the one who's hitting on his ex-girlfriend? I'm the one who's become his replacement?"
"No, Alvin!" Simon, who just came to the table, shouted. "You're the one who chose friends over family! You're the one who drove Brittany away—drove us away—from yourself! You've barely spoken or hung out with us these past weeks! You're the one who replaced yourself!"
"Oh gee, well maybe I didn't hang out as much because Brittany wouldn't talk to me! Or because Albert was at my spot every day," Alvin ranted. "And you know, Simon...you know that I was replaced the moment Albert sat with you guys."
"But did you ever think it was because of yourself, Alvin?" Brittany asked, as if it was so obvious. "Albert has been nothing but nice to us, but yet you still hold a grudge against him! Why?!"
"Because he comes here and takes away everyone I care about from me! Does he have no respect?"
"No, Alvin. You...you can't do that. You can't blame Albert for being a better friend than you."
The seven chipmunks looked at each other, not sure what to do next. When Alvin regained his senses, he noticed all the eyes of the school were on them. He didn't want to continue; it didn't look good for him, but when he looked at Albert, his anger all boiled.
"Why are you doing this, man? You know exactly what you're doing to me! You're making me the villain to these people when I'm just trying to save what I have. Why me?!"
"I'm not doing anything," he confessed. "I've just been trying to make some new friends, and I thought I did here. But it seems to me that you're not letting me do so. If I'm not welcomed here, then please just tell me."
"I've told you a thousand times you're not welcomed, not when you act like this!"
"So let it be," Albert sighed and turned around, dejectedly.
Alvin knew that sigh—it was the same fake sigh he would use when he needed to pretend to be upset. Alvin's eyes went wide: it all made sense now.
Oh my goodness...
Albert was just like Alvin.
When Albert joined in on the spotlight, it was no different than how Alvin would make himself the center of attention.
When Albert gave Alvin a forced smile, it was no different than how Alvin would pretend to be happy hanging out with someone, to earn their friendship and gain in popularity.
When Albert impressed everyone else with his stories and experiences, it was no different than how Alvin would use his talents to impress others.
When Albert tried to "win over" the chipmunks, it was no different than how Alvin tried to "win over" the high school quarterback, so that he would be invited to football parties.
When Albert gave fake offers to leave, it was no different than how Alvin would offer to vacuum the house, knowing Dave already just did it.
When Albert invited only his brothers and the chipettes to the concert, it was no different than how Alvin only invited his school friends to a local basketball game.
It was the truth: they were no different. Both had climbed the social ladder, using the peers around them to help their journey. Albert had done exactly what Alvin had been doing for years. And just as he hated Albert, he supposed that he also hated himself.
But Alvin's emotions blinded him from realizing what Albert was doing. Quite literally, Albert was trying to replace him, replace him in the social ladder. And Alvin fell right into his trap.
Alvin's stability of social status within the band just crumbled. And when the base—the reason—of one's popularity crumbles, who knows what the final damage could be.
But while thoughts can go at the speed of infinity, speech cannot.
It was too late.
"No, Albert," Brittany said, "you're welcome to stay. Alvin...is not."
And so broke up their band.
