Chapter 17

The following morning everyone was up early; Dave was rushing around making sure he had all his schedules, diary, important papers and the such; Simon was checking off his mental list of things to be done before they left and was pacing as he pointed to seemingly random things and talking softly to himself, and Theodore was trying to quickly scoff down all his breakfast, glancing at the clock every now and then and occasionally rolling his eyes when Simon reminded him of the list of things he still had to do.

Only Alvin sat at the kitchen bench, watching the madness unfold in front of him. He sipped his juice and took another bite of his apple, savouring the mouthful before swallowing.

Dave checked his watch, "Ok the taxi will be here soon, gee I can't believe I've actually gotten myself ready on time for once" he looked in his satchel and took a quick inventory, "And I seem to have everything I need with me"

Alvin nodded at Dave's feet, "Might wanna think of some shoes though Davey boy. Don't think the mayor will listen to you Yupi-Hippie types"

Dave looked down and instantly panicked, "Oh my goodness, I knew it was too good" he started to race up the stairs as a horn beeped outside, "Oh no, now the taxi's here" he was caught in a confused motion of whether to run up or down the stairs, but quickly darted up into his room, only to emerge seconds later with shoes and fresh socks, bounding down the stairs two at a time.

Dave grabbed his things and raced out the door calling out, "See you later boys, have fun today, I'll call later tonight" he ducked into the taxi as the boys watched from the kitchen window and saw his leave.

Alvin stretched and slid off the bar stool, "Well guess you boys better hurry up too then?" He looked at the clock, "Your ride will be here any moment now"

Theodore picked up his dishes and carried them to the sink and went to join Simon who was standing in the entranceway, "You really think Alvin is up to something don't you, Simon?"

They both looked in at Alvin, who was standing there doing his hair while looking at his reflection in the toaster. Simon shook his head slightly, "I don't know anymore Theodore"

There was a beep from a car horn; Alvin came rushing in and pushed them toward the door, "Okhavefunseeyousoondon'twaitupenjoythemoviebyebye!"

Simon and Theodore looked at Alvin as he leant on the door frame and waved to everyone in the cars. He noticed the girls in the cars and watched as Brittany climbed out, "Thanks for the ride Mr X" she grabbed a tote bag and another smaller bag and waved goodbye to everyone before skipping lightly up the path and joining Alvin on the front step.

Simon and Theodore climbed in the cars and they all waved to Alvin and Brittany as they drove off.

Watching them turn round the corner Alvin scooped up Brittany and planted a kiss on her neck, swinging her inside and slamming the door with one hand.

"Well baby, we got the whole place to ourselves until at least midnight tonight. Whatcha wanna do first?"

Brittany smiled and reached inside her tote bag, pulling out a skimpy pink bikini, "Wanna hit the pool?"

Alvin almost melted at the sight of her bikini and had to control himself to not get "over excited".

He took her hand, "Need any help getting that thing on?"

When they arrived at the pool, Alvin pulled into a car space and noted the crowd; it wasn't so big you couldn't get into the pool, but it was decent enough to actually be called a crowd.

Alvin was wearing his red boardies, a white shirt unbuttoned, his red cap, a pair of sunnies and black thongs (flip flops); Brittany had her pink bikini with diamante detailing, a pink caftan, gold rimmed sunglasses and a pair of wedge shoes.

He turned to Brittany, "Really? Do we really need to go swimming?"

Brittany pouted, "It's a hot day Alvin"

Alvin put the car in park, "Yeah but –"

Brittany opened her car door slightly, "I did not just get all lotioned up for nothing, come on" she stepped out of the car as Alvin rolled his eyes and shut the ignition off.

They walked through the turnstiles and found a lounge chair vacant on the far end of the pool. Dumping their things on the end of the lounge chair, Alvin laid his towel on the chair and reclined back, feeling the sun rays hit his chest. He lowered his cap and rested his arms behind his head.

Brittany, hands on hips asked, "So you're not coming in then?"

Alvin lowered his sunnies, "Babe, gimme a second, we just arrived. Gotta soak up the atmosphere first, suss the place out. You go if you want, I'll mind our stuff"

Brittany rolled her eyes, "Oh fine, I'm gonna do a few laps up and back"

Alvin nodded and pushed his sunnies back up his nose.

Brittany slowly pulled her caftan off and reached into her bag for a hair tie. She then began to gather her hair up and tie it back. She was standing slightly to the side with more of her back angled in Alvin's direction.

He sat there watching, and ogling over the way her body was curved in all the right places. The way the sun came down and kissed her shoulders and hips and how she fit so well into that bikini...

He grabbed her bag and placed it quickly over his lap, "Damn hormones" he said to himself gruffly, "Geez %$# me"

Brittany turned to him and, noticing the bag, giggled a little before crawling over to him and positioning herself at a vulnerable point for him.

Alvin gulped a little as Brittany came in closer, "You ok?"

He smiled a little, "I'll be fine, just get in the water so I can't look at you anymore; I'm racin inside here!"

Brittany reached unsuspectingly under the bag and managed to stroke Alvin's inner thigh, causing him to yelp out a little and jump.

She sat up giggling, as Alvin tried to regain composure, "Sh*t Brittany, not in public"

She laughed and kicked her shoes off and wandered across to the pool.

Alvin smiled playfully and settled back down as Brittany eased herself down the steps and started her lap down the side of the pool.

Alvin woke to drips of water falling on his face and chest. He lifted his sunnies and saw Brittany towering over him with a cheeky smile on her face, holding a water bottle, "Oh so you're awake now?"

Alvin propped himself up and made room for Brittany to sit down as she took a mouthful from the bottle.

Alvin held his hand out as she passed him the bottle. He took a swig and wiped his mouth of the back of his hand and gave the bottle back to her, "How long was I out for?"

Brittany shrugged, "Mmm, not sure, I got out of the pool about 20 minutes ago and you were out like a light. So then I decided to go to the kiosk and get a bottle of water. I came back and got bored of waiting"

Alvin used her towel to dry his face.

He looked around at the crowd and saw that while it still looked the same in number, some of the faces had in fact changed.

One face in particular gave him somersaults in his stomach, "Oh %$#"

Brittany looked at Alvin's face and saw he was transfixed on a point across the pool. She followed his focus and looked in the direction he was staring at and noticed someone.

Her face fell.

Kevin "Butch" Tommerson.

Butch hated Alvin for a few reasons; basically he had the life Butch wanted.

The fame.

The money.

The girl.

It always comes down to a girl.

And Brittany was the lead role.

Butch had tried it all to win Brittany; spreading rumours that Alvin was cheating (now that was an interesting summer), sabotaging the football playoffs to make Alvin look bad, especially when talent scouts were watching, and therefore creating tension between football captain and cheerleading captain; even going as far as trying to place the blame on Alvin at a charity event when all the money had been "stolen" (it was later retrieved with one of Butch's mates' cars a few blocks from the event. The police had asked whether Alvin wanted to press charges, but he declined the action, moreso for fear of the consequenses) but all this was to no avail.

Like always, Alvin and Brittany, made for each other, managed to overcome the situation, get through it, and move on.

It got to a point when Butch's parents could stand it no longer and enrolled him in another school in fear their son would get an AVO for his obsession.

Alvin and Brittany hadn't seen Butch since last summer; nearly a whole year had passed. There were rumours he'd been at a camp for obsessed teens, or anger management or both during the school holidays and that his room was teeming with obsessed love letters to Brittany and shrines made to her, while he had ripped and scarred pictures of Alvin and bundles of hate mail and death threats stacked up ready to post. All these were rumours, no one could actually prove whether they were true or not.

And now he sat over with mates and it didn't seem like he'd noticed them at all.

Alvin didn't want to take that chance; he sat upright and picked up the bag, "Come on Britt, I don't want any trouble with this guy, let's just leave now, and avoid a run in"

Brittany nodded and pulled her caftan on. She was tidying her things and about to put her shoes on when she picked up her sunglasses. As she did, a ray of sun hit the lens and reflected a stunning spark of bright light over in Butch's direction.

Alvin and Brittany froze as Butch and his mates shielded their eyes from the glaze. As Brittany quickly put her sunglasses in her bag, Butch lowered his hand and looked across the pool to se Alvin grab Brittany's hand and try to make their way toward the exit in an inconspicuous manner.

Butch followed them with his gaze for a moment before the memory sunk in and he clicked with who it was. He motioned to his mates and began striding toward the exit, pushing people out of the way if needed.

Alvin looked and noticed Butch coming closer towards them. He quickly analysed the situation and saw they could make the exit if they picked up the pace, they might slip out before he got to them.

Butch side stepped a pram and jumped over a bench.

"Nope" thought Alvin, "We're screwed now"

He halted as Butch came in front of them.

Butch glared at him, "Well, well, well, if it isn't little Seville"

Alvin smiled nervously, "Butch, buddy, how ya been?"

Butch placed his hand on Alvin's shoulder, and with a firm grip, guided him over towards a corner.

Alvin steered himself backwards, trying to watch where he was going and best position his body in case he needed to defend himself.

Butch folded his arms as his mates surrounded Alvin; Brittany tried to push her way in.

"You wanna know how I've been Seville?" Butch growled, he looked at his mates and laughed, "Hey the little fellar wants to know how I've been, like he cares and sh*t"

His mates all laughed, as Butch turned his attention back to Alvin, "Oh it's been just peachy. Not only did I get transferred to another school, but my parents sent me to a Summer Camp as well to help homeless kids, to learn from 'em or some sh*t. I'm not allowed to play football anymore 'cause of you, so there goes my scholarship. And you've probably heard all the rumours right?"

Alvin nodded slightly, "Well, yeah, but –"

Butch leant in close to Alvin's face, "They're all bullsh*t! Ok so maybe I've had to see a pychatrist about my anger problems and this so called "obsession" everyone thinks I have, but you know what? I don't give a sh*t about you or your little slut of a girlfriend"

Brittany gasped in shock.

"And for one whole year I have been waiting and thinking if I ever, ever saw you again, how much fun it would be to pulverise the infamous Alvin Seville" Butch stepped in closer to Alvin, who knew it was now a matter of time before he would be knocked out cold, quickly thought and tried to demise a plan to say his ass from being pummelled.

"Look Butch, can't we just let bygones be bygones? I mean seriously, you can't hate me that much, I haven't done anything to you" Alvin pleaded, trying to gauge Brittany's attention, "Maybe we can work something out?"

Butch shook his head, "Uh-uh, no way" Butch stepped in closer as Alvin took one back, and felt the wall behind him.

"I gotta get him to swing hard, and if I can time it right, I should be able to dodge it" he thought, "You got one chance Alvin"

Butch frowned, "Why the hell are we dancin' around here? Bring it on Seville!"

He drew his arm back and launched it forward at speed.

Alvin had only a split second to calculate where Butch's fist would land, which way he needed to dodge and how to get away from this crazed lunatic all at once.

Alvin dodged slightly to the left and felt Butch's fist graze past his jaw. He then heard the sickening crack as Butch connected with the brick wall.

Butch howled in pain as Alvin ducked past him and gave a shove to Brittany, "Move Britt!" She turned to leave, before taking a minute to turn back to Butch, "We would never have worked out, you don't got the balls needed to be my man" she took him by the shoulders and launched her knee into his groin.

Butch doubled over and fell to the ground, whimpering out, "Bitch!"

Brittany smiled, "Oh turns out you do got balls after all" she laughed and ran with Alvin towards the exit.

Alvin pulled the car over to the side of the road a few blocks away from the pool and turned the car ignition off.

He sat there in silence for a moment.

Slowly he looked down at his hands.

They were shaking.

"%#&$ I have never, ever come so close as to having my head caved in as today. Sh*t"

Brittany reached over and held his hand, she lifted it to her lips and kissed him gently.

Alvin looked over and smiled at her.

Brittany smiled back.

They leant over and kissed.

Alvin exhaled deeply, "Oookaaayy. So, now that's all over, where to?"

Brittany cocked her head a little, "We should kinda report Butch, don'tcha think?"

Alvin looked down and shut his eyes, "Britt...I just can't" he paused a little, "The guy freaks the crap outta me. If I took it to the cops, he'd know it was me"

Brittany nodded slightly, "Well thats usually how an AVO works, but this guy is seriously nuts! He has serious psychological issues. I'm scared you'll get hurt"

Alvin turned to her and held her hand, "Babe, I'll be fine"

Brittany shook her head, "But how do you know? I mean you can't just 'quick think' your way out of every time he wants to smash your face in!"

Alvin gave a small smile, "Oh I don't know, that was pretty good thinking on my behalf" he smirked a little.

Brittany's voice raised an octave, "Alvin this is serious"

Alvin looked at her and flexed his fingers around the steering wheel, "Look I'm not gonna press charges. It's all just pent up anger and-"

"But then you made him punch a brick wall and bolted, something tells me he's gonna be mighty P.O the next time he crosses us" Brittany interrupted.

Alvin rolled his eyes, "Fine. On the way home we'll swing into the police and I'll file a report, ok?"

Brittany smiled a little, "Thank You"

Alvin lowered his shades, "Food?"

Brittany nodded.

Alvin started the car up, "Food it is!"

They headed over towards the strip known as 'Heart Attack Alley'.

Alvin pulled into the car into the carpark and found a spot.

He and Brittany got out of the car; Alvin stretched and looked down, "Oh right" he buttoned up on his shirt, leaving a few unbuttoned up the top.

He looked down the line of fast food joints and turned his attention to Brittany, "Which one takes your fancy Britt?"

Brittany shielded the sun with her hand as she looked at the selection, "Not gonna matter too much what we choose, I mean it's all greasy and full of fat"

Alvin started heading towards a burger joint, "Well yeah, but fat equals flavour, and I'm in the mood for a burger"

Brittany rolled her eyes and followed him in.

They found a booth and slid into it.

Alvin handed a menu to Brittany and scanned over his own, "Hmm, now do I want to Double Whammy Beef burger? Or maybe the Chick-a-lickin' burger? Or I could get the –"

"Just pick something would you?" Brittany interrupted.

Alvin lowered the menu and looked at her, "OK, ok...I'll just get a cheeseburger then. What are you gonna have?"

Brittany closed her menu and placed it on the table, "I'll have a few chicken strips and some chilli fries" she smiled, "Oh and a diet coke"

Alvin smirked, "You do realise that your meal isn't justified by you having a diet coke, it doesn't make the meal then have less fat in it"

Brittany rolled her eyes, "Duh, I know that... I just like diet coke better, that's all"

Alvin leaned in closer, "Really? Then why not get salad and water?"

Brittany leant back in the booth and folded her arms, frowning, "Are you gonna order or not?"

Alvin laughed to himself, "I'm going, I'm going"

He slid out and waited in line to order their food, as Brittany looked haphazardly out the window.

After lunch Alvin suggested heading home for some "quiet time".

Brittany shook her head, "Uh-uh, later. Right now I'm in the mood for shopping. I need to work off all those chilli fries"

Alvin tried to bargain, "Yeah but you know what's a good workout?"

Brittany smiled and shook her head again, "No Alvin, I said later. C'mon"

Alvin rolled his eyes and started up the car.

Brittany heard her phone chime in the bag. She pulled it out and flipped open the message, "Oh it's from Ellie" she read the message aloud, "it says 'City is amazing...so many celebs - must b here 4 premier l8r 2nite...hope ur havin a gr8 day...wat u up 2? We bout 2 hav lunch Montys...Mr X shout – awesome. Luv u wish u were here. Ellie xx'"

Brittany smiled, "Aww sounds like they're having a great time"

Alvin whistled, "Monty's? That's an impressive joint"

Brittany smiled as she texted Eleanor back, "Yeah it's also where heaps of celebs hang out in the city"

She was half way through the text when her phone began ringing.

It was Steph. Brittany picked up, "Hey Steph"

Steph was laughing on the other end, "Oh my gosh, Britt! Guess who I just saw?"

Brittany shook her head, "I dunno, who?"

Steph squealed down the phone, "Adam Maddox – from the band Pearl Water!"

Brittany gasped, "Where?"

Steph calmed down a little. There were noises in the background of clinking plates and chatter, "Here at Monty's. We just got into our booth and he's sitting practically opposite us"

Brittany could hear the others chatting in the background, asking Steph to put Britt on loudspeaker.

Steph sighed, talking to the others, "Ok, ok," she spoke back into the phone, "Britt I'm gonna put you on loudspeaker"

Brittany replied, "Ok, well I will too" she pressed the loudspeaker button and held the phone between the seats.

Alvin chimed in, "Hey ya!"

A multitude of voices called back.

Alvin laughed, "What's been happeneing?"

Simon spoke up, "We've been to the major park, a few shopping centres and the ice skating rink"

Alvin nodded, "Cool, cool, yeah we're headed to the mall now too"

Theodore added, "What else you been up to?"

Alvin looked at Brittany, as she added, with slight unease in her voice, "Oh not much really"

Alex piped in, "Sure buddy"

Steph laughed, "Baow chicka whah whaow!"

Then both parents could be heard, "Stephanie!" "Alexander!"

They all started laughing.

Finally Jeanette piped up, "OK, well we better go, everyone is looking at us, we'll see you guys later when we get home"

Brittany smirked, "Uh huh, have fun!"

They both hung up, as Brittany placed the phone back in her bag, "Aww sounds like they're having fun"

Alvin smiled at her as he pulled into the mall parking lot, "Yeah but remember, we'll be there tonight too"

She smiled back, "Yeah I know" she giggled, "what time will we need to leave?"

Alvin pulled into a car spot and turned the engine off, "Hmm, well let's see Simon said the premier was at 9pm, but they're getting there a bit earlier, like before 8pm, probably at 7:45pm" he unbuckled his seatbelt, "It takes about twenty minutes to drive into the city and-"

"Don't forget we need to find a car park" Brittany added

Alvin nodded, "Yeah, I got one lined up already, it's only two streets away from the premier. Ahh, now where was I? Oh yeah, so if we leave, say a half hour to get in there, walk and arrive at the premier I say we leave at 7pm?"

Brittany nodded, "Sounds good to me" she looked at the clock, "Well we better get moving then, I'll need some time to get ready"

The two of them got out of the car and headed into the mall to browse around and kill some time.

The time had flown past in Alvin and Brittany's day, and by the afternoon they'd arrived home, had a make out session in the lounge room; interrupted by the phone, which Alvin had a hunch he should answer, and just as well he did, as it was Dave, confirming he would end up staying the night and just checking to see how he was doing.

When Alvin came back from the phone call to the lounge room, he noticed Brittany was missing. He turned around and called out to her, "Britt? Babe, where'd you go?"

He heard her call back from somewhere upstairs, "Come find me!"

Alvin smiled and said to himself, "Oh yeah" and bolted up the stairs. He poked his head into his room to see Brittany lying on her stomach, propping herself up on her elbows and smiling seductively at him.

Alvin stood in the doorway, smiling charmingly, "Do I get a reward for finding you?"

He dove onto the bed, as Brittany rolled to one side so she wouldn't be squashed and giggled.

Alvin lay next to her on his side, as Brittany positioned herself on her opposite side facing him.

They lay there for a moment looking at each other, before leaning in to kiss.

Alvin ran his arm up and down Brittany's side, over her hip and waist to her shoulders and back down to her thigh. She flinched whenever he ran his arm over her waist and hips and tried not to giggle.

Alvin slid his arm under her and rolled her onto her back, with him resting over the top of her. He looked down at her. Her hair was slightly matted and her caftan had risen up around her waist.

Alvin reached over to her bikini string around her neck and pulled to untie it. Brittany heaved heavily as Alvin leant down and kissed her neck; one hand cradling her head, the other was slowly reaching up over her stomach and caressing the edge of her bikini top. He looked at her and tried reading her body language.

Brittany held Alvin round his waist and ran her fingers lightly from his belly button to the edge of his boardies.

Alvin slowly sat, straddling over Brittany.

He raised an eyebrow as Brittany bit her lower lip, turning Alvin on more.

He crept his fingers under her bikini top and could just feel the raise in her body, the start of her breast.

He stopped momentarily and asked Brittany softly, "You sure you're ok with this?"

Brittany nodded and pulled him close to kiss, saying, "I love you"

Alvin closed his eyes and whispered back, "I love you too".

A few hours had passed between the time Alvin and Brittany had arrived home and when they became...occupied.

Mostly they'd been kissing, and then some heavy petting.

Brittany had asked if her bikini bottoms could stay on.

Alvin had accepted this as it meant he'd get to see boob action, which was a pretty good deal, so he thought.

Alvin had managed to remove his shirt, and boardies and was sitting over Brittany in a pair of his red "Alvin Kleins" (A deal made between Alvin and the big wigs over at CK).

He'd also removed Brittany's kaftan.

She lay with her bikini top undone, but not yet removed.

Alvin leant down to kiss Brittany's neck, moving his way down. He slowly reached one hand under her, Brittany arching her back slightly, and fingered at her bikini strap. The other he continued to run his hand along her side.

He half kissed, half cursed the fact that he was only using one hand and the damn thing wouldn't pull undone. He finally tugged it free and, satisfied, pulled the bikini top off and let it fall to the floor.

He was about to run his fingers over the soft mounds of Brittany's body when...

CRASH! THUD!

Brittany sat up, knocking Alvin in the nose with her shoulder.

He sat back and held his nose with his hand, rubbing it, "Ah! Freakin' A, Britt!"

"Shh" she hushed him, and covered her breasts, "I think I heard something"

Alvin sat up and looked at his nose in the reflection of his mobile phone, "Britt seriously? It's probably nothing"

Then came a louder THUD and a small CRASH, TINKLE.

Brittany huddled closer to Alvin, as he wrapped his arm protectively around her, "Um, ok I actually heard that one"

Brittany let out a small cry, "I think there's someone downstairs Alvie" she held him tighter.

Alvin listened carefully and slowly pulled her away, "Oh hell no, no one is gonna do a B & E in our place" he stood up and pulled a pair of denim shorts from the floor on. Then he tossed Brittany a shirt of his and picked up the baseball bat near his dresser, "C'mon"

Brittany struggled with the shirt and followed Alvin, staying close as he clutched the baseball bat.

They stopped at the top of the stairs, Alvin whispered, "Britt, go get my phone" she nodded and went to retrieve it, tip toeing back seconds later. Alvin gripped the bat harder and looked over the landing.

He noticed a soft glow coming from down the hall.

Any guess was whoever it was, was in the den.

Slowly they edged their way down the stairs; Alvin guiding Brittany over which stairs to miss because they creaked.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Alvin did a quick surveillance of the scene. He could see the side window in the lounge room was smashed in.

He breathed in heavily and reached for Brittany's hand.

She gripped it hard and pulled in close to him.

He led her round down the hallway and they crouched, hidden behind a pot plant.

From this vantage point, Alvin and Brittany could see into the den.

Brittany covered her mouth and fought back tears from fear.

They saw a figure dressed in dark clothing and a ski mask, or something covering the face and head; it had to be a man because it was of a stocky build.

The intruder had his back towards them, with the desk lamp on, rummaging through some files and things on Dave's desk.

Alvin knew it was a matter of time before he went round to the other side and then they'd be seen.

He was about to go smack the guy over the head with the bat when a glimmer of something shiny caught his eye.

Alvin's eyes widened.

This guy had a gun.

Alvin turned slightly towards Brittany, he kept his eye on the intruder though, and whispered, "The guy's got a gun Britt" he paused to allow this to sink in, "So here's the plan"

Brittany covered her mouth, to stop herself from screaming out, and forced herself to focus and listen.

Alvin quickly glanced at Brittany before looking back at the guy, and then back at her, "I'm going to go in there and whack his arm with the bat. That should make him drop the gun. You then need to be quick to pick it up, then I want you to run like hell outta here. Get outside. Call the cops"

Brittany's eyes were filling with tears, and one rolled down her cheek.

Alvin wiped it away, "C'mon baby, you gotta do this" he put his hand gently on her arm.

She blinked and quietly sniffled, "What about you?"

Alvin smiled, a little forcefully, given the situation, "I'll be right behind you. But whatever happens, do not come back inside, ok?"

She closed her eyes and nodded.

Alvin looked back into the den. The intruder was reaching over and turning Dave's monitor towards him. The intruder jiggled the mouse and the screen came to life.

Alvin cursed to himself, "Dammit Dave, why didn't you shut the computer down instead of hibernating it?"

He reached back for Brittany's hand, "Ready?"

Brittany wiped the tears from her eyes, gripped the mobile phone in one hand and nodded.

Alvin stayed low and moved in towards the doorway; he peeked in to see the man still clicking away at files.

Alvin thought, "This guy is no amateur, he's after something, and he knows what"

The man clicked a few files and opened them; Alvin could just make out it was a concert schedule, hotel listings, and some other documents he couldn't quite figure out. What the hell was this guy after?

The intruder lowered the hand he held the gun in by his side.

Alvin saw the opportunity; he nodded toward Brittany, who slid up and positioned herself at the other side of the doorway, waiting for Alvin's signal.

Alvin gripped the bat again, and slowly crouch-stepped in, before quickly lifting the bat and bringing it hard down on the intruder's arm. There was a slight crack and a howl of pain as the guy whipped around to see Alvin in a stance guarding the door holding the baseball bat and frowning menacingly.

He also managed to see a frightened, yet determined young Chipette grab his gun and bolt out the door.

"Get the hell outta my house" Alvin growled.

Brittany, after grabbing the gun, held it and the phone tight and made a break for the front door, she stopped momentarily to grab a towel from her tote bag near the front door and raced outside.

She ran down the garden path and out the front gate, the turned and slid down next to the white picket fence.

It took her a moment to catch her breath.

Her eyes were full of tears, but she couldn't seem to stop them.

She sat in the dirt and the grass out the front and shivered. It wasn't a particularly cold night, but after tonight's run in, it was enough to make you feel frozen.

She rubbed her arms and realised she still had the gun in one hand. Brittany jumped a little and dropped it. Immediately she tucked herself up, closed her eyes and covered her ears, thinking it would go off.

It didn't.

Cautiously she picked it up using the towel and wrapped it carefully, placing it next to her. The she looked at the phone clutched in her other hand.

She was about to call the cops when she noticed the time on the display.

9:01pm.

The premier had begun.

Inside the intruder was still in a slight state of shock as he looked at his puny attacker. Alvin's heart was racing; adrenalin had kicked in.

He said again, holding the bat up, ready to strike again, "Get the hell outta my house, now"

The intruder darted a look at Alvin before something snapped and he threw a punch at him. Alvin saw it coming in slow motion but couldn't seem to get his body to react.

He felt the collision as it hit him in the cheek and jaw.

He spun and fell into the lounge.

He shook it off and grabbed at his cheek and jaw, rubbing it and glancing frantically for the bat. His mouth tasted metallic, like blood.

He saw it only a few steps away from him, just out of reach. He looked at the intruder before lunging towards the bat; the intruder kicked swiftly at Alvin as he dove, and connected in his ribs, "%$#& me!"

Alvin fell and doubled over and tried to catch his breath. He needed to concentrate on the rhythm of breathing in and out slowly.

The intruder meanwhile was sifting the desk and grabbed at Dave's letter opened. It was shaped like a mini dagger, and Alvin knew that with some force behind it, this could do damage.

He grabbed at the bat, but the intruder kicked it away. Alvin watched as it rolled near a bookcase on the far side of the room.

He quickly scoped and saw a statue on the coffee table.

He reached for it and forced himself to stand up, and back handed the guy with the statue. He managed to connect with the guy's jaw and chin.

Alvin the threw it and it hit the guy in the shin.

The intruder reeled back as Alvin tried to regain composure. His ribs were aching.

He needed his bat, it was his only real weapon of defence, but he needed a way to get to it, and the coffee table was running out of defensive options.

The guy raised his arm and struck at Alvin.

Alvin felt a pop and a sudden dull ache in his shoulder. He looked and saw the letter opener jammed halfway into the fleshy part at the front of his shoulder. He could feel it pulsating in pain and he felt a sudden wave of nausea. His eyes widened and he immediately felt like he was going to throw up, but swallowed, and took a deep breath in.

He wanted to pull it out, but something clicked where he thought he should leave it in.

He looked up and saw the guy was again searching the room for a weapon.

The both eyed the bat.

Alvin summoned his strength and forced himself round one side of the desk, and the guy ran the other side. Alvin dove again, and felt the crunch of his aching ribs as he landed. He grimaced in pain at his shoulder and grabbed at the bat, swiping it away before the guy managed to lay a finger on it.

Edging himself up the bookcase to stand up, Alvin braced himself momentarily as he held the bat in his one good hand and swung it back handed at the guy, catching him at the back of the knees.

The guy fell forward, and Alvin slammed the bat down across the back of his shoulder blades. The guy fell as Alvin reached for a heavy book and dropped it hard on the guys head.

The guy flinched a little then fell limp.

Alvin had a slight moment of panic, thinking he'd killed the guy, but saw he was breathing. He lifted the ski mask carefully to reveal who the perpetrator was and almost heaved at the sight.

Butch.

Why the hell hadn't he filed that report?

He took this chance to get the hell outta the house and hope Brittany had remembered what to do.

He took a few steps toward the door of the Den when suddenly he became light headed. All the adrenalin had worn off and he felt his body become heavy, falling to his knees.

He pushed on and crawled part way down the hall, when he collapsed, exhausted from the fight.

Brittany had called the cops.

Three times.

Each time with more urgency, as time passed and she still hadn't seen Alvin emerge from the house.

She'd also called everyone else and left a bunch of panicked messages in a hope one of them would respond.

He eyes puffy from crying and her cheeks were red from the cold. Her feet were dirty from where she'd paced up and down the front garden. She had forgotten all she was wearing was her bikini bottoms and Alvin's top.

She glanced up and down the street and strained her ears to listen for the sweet siren call of relief.

Finally she could hear the sirens wail and saw the flash or red and blue lights turn round the corner as the cops arrived with a few ambulances.

As the officers piled out a few headed inside as two went over to Brittany.

"Are you the girl who called?"

Brittany whimpered and hugged them, "Yes, I'm sorry, but my boyfriend, he's still-"

She buried her face in the officer's arm.

He stroked her hair and pulled her away gently, "It's alright, we'll get him out. Now you said there was a gun?"

Brittany nodded and pointed to the bundled towel, "I wrapped it in the towel so it would be safe" she then froze and looked at the officers, "It has my prints on it too, I didn't do anything though" she started crying again, "I just did what Alvin said, he said to get the gun and run outside, so I did" she lifted he hands to her face and began shaking it from side to side, "Oh my gosh and then I just left him there, I just left him in there, how could I do such a thing?"

A female officer stepped in with a paramedic and they sat Brittany down on the side of the road. By now a small crowd had begun to form, as more officers started on crowd control.

The paramedic wrapped a blanket around Brittany and offered her some oxygen. Brittany shook her head, "No, I can't I have to see if he's ok" she tried to stand, but the paramedic and officer held her down, "Miss, you need to stay here, we've got our officers in there, they'll get him out"

There was a crackle over the officer's radio and she stood, walking away a little to listen and respond.

Brittany sat there, still clutching the phone. It gave her a fright when it began ringing, she lifted it to her ear, "Hello?"

"Brittany? Thank goodness you're ok!" It was Eleanor, "We're about two blocks away from home, we all got your messages, we'll be there soon"

Brittany started crying again, "Alvin's still inside"

Eleanor tried to calm Brittany down, "We're nearly there, hang on Britt, he'll be ok. Dave's on his way too ok?"

Brittany blubbered down the phone and looked toward the house. She saw two officers dragging a disorientated guy out the house handcuffed. They lead him toward an ambulance as two cops escorted him.

One of the cops motioned for the paramedics to bring a gurney.

Brittany let out a small cry, "Something's wrong"

"We're here" Eleanor hung up the phone.

They all came running up to Brittany, as Eleanor and Jeanette embraced her in a comforting hug. Simon and Theodore were bouncing on their feet trying to look in the house, "Has anyone hard where Alvin is?" Simon asked. He began pacing and started wringing his hands; he turned to Brittany and grabbed her, "What happened? How did this happen?"

She shook her head, "I don't know, we were...and then...and Alvin"

Simon's voice rose, "Why did you leave him there?"

Jeanette yelled at him, "Simon!"

Brittany cried harder, "He told me to!"

Simon let Brittany go and sat down in the gutter, Theodore and Steph sat next to him with their arms wrapped round him, as Simon put his face in his hands.

Dave arrived and pushed his way through the crowd; he saw Simon and Theodore and ran over to hug them. Then he saw Brittany, standing there in one of Alvin's t-shirts and he asked the question she'd been hammered with by so many, "What happened?"

Brittany was now last for words, and simply shook her head and lowered it.

Dave tried in vain to see what was happening inside as Ron came round and tried to comfort him, "I just heard from the officer that they've apprehended the perp. Seems Alvin did some pretty good defensive work on him. They've taken him to St Charles Hospital"

Dave put his hand to his head and swept his hair away, "Thank Ron, thanks"

They were all looking at the house as the paramedics wheeled Alvin out on a gurney towards the ambulance. Brittany bolted towards him, followed closely by Dave and the others. Alvin looked groggy. His face was puffy and bruised and he was holding his side. His shoulder had gauze over it, and a paramedic was applying pressure to it, but through it they could see the small pool of blood forming.

Brittany began sobbing, "Oh my gosh Alvin, what did he do to you? I'm so sorry"

Alvin turned slightly and gave an awkward smile, "There's my girl, I'm so proud of you" he gripped at his ribs as the gurney hit a crack in the path, "I love you"

She wiped a tear and smiled, "I love you too" and held his hand.

Dave was frantic next to him, "What happened? My boy! Alvin, are you ok?"

Alvin hadn't even noticed Dave, Simon and Theodore were even there, "Dave? Oh hey, yep, yep I'll be fine" he tried smiling again. As the paramedics loaded Alvin into the back of another ambulance, an officer asked Dave, "Are you the boy's father?"

Dave nodded, "Yes, yes I am"

The officer nodded, "Ok well, you can ride with us to the hospital" and helped Dave into the back.

Brittany looked speechless, "No I wanna come too!"

But the officer stopped her, "I'm sorry Miss, but the boy's father is here, immediate family only. We need you to make a statement anyway"

Alvin tried to sit up, "Britt?"

Brittany called back, "Alvin!" as the paramedics closed the doors.

Brittany started banging on the doors, "Let me in, I need to go too!" when Alex, Eleanor and Steph came to pull her away. Eleanor turned her towards her and hugged her tight, stroking her hair, "Shhh, it's ok. He'll be ok, it's all over now"

She felt as Brittany's legs began to give way and slowly dropped with her to the road. Eleanor sat there rocking her big sister and singing quietly to her while everyone else stood around unsure what to do next.