Teenage Drama Chapter 39, an alvin and the chipmunks fanfic

Ooookk...YES I know it's been AGES...YES I know you've all been waiting ever so patiently and YES I know it's only ONE FREAKIN' CHAPTER...but there's a lot in this chapter and I'm getting onto the next one - times are slow though guys, I'm up to my neck in a whole lotta stuff - work, church, ministry, not to mention keeping my home in order and trying to organise things so my hubs and I can adopt - my life really hasn't as much time as i'd like to be able to write much...or as much as i wanna...but i'm giving it my damn best to put out a few more chapters - THANKYOU to loyal peeps who have stuck by me, checked in on me and keeping my morale up there - you guys know who you are ;)

Anyways, I hope this was somewhat worth it, and that you can keep bearing with me till the next ones come out

Rock on, Steph xx

Chapter 39

The two RVs parked outside a cafe when they'd reached Santa Fe and headed inside.

After ordering Alex said, "So get this, Steph had no idea her dad was still a cop"

Simon looked down at Steph, "Seriously?"

Steph looked questioningly at him, "You did?"

Simon shrugged, "Well, no, but I mean, I guess when you think about it, it makes sense"

Steph looked as though she'd been punched in the face, "What the %$# ?"

Alex added, "Actually come to think of it, the night of the break in, your dad was, like the only one not to totally freak out and headed straight over to the other cops on duty"

Jeanette nodded, "Yeah he did too, like he totally knew what to do and all" she smiled weakly at Steph, "Really no idea?"

Steph shook her head, "No, I had no %$# ing idea...until just now"

Bruno put his hand up a little, "If it's any consolation, I didn't know either" he attempted a smile at her as she couldn't help but giggle, "You don't count"

Bruno laughed and nodded, "Well if that's how you wanna be then"

Jeanette shrugged smiling, "Steph it's not that bad is it? He's a hard worker your dad"

Steph sighed nodding, "Yeah I know...just makes me think, if he's kept this from me for years what else has he kept from me?"

"Or keeping from you?" Bruno stated.

Steph looked at him and was about to say something as a waitress brought them their drinks and handed them around as Brittany pointed out, "Yeah but think about all the stuff you've kept from your dad too"

Steph shook her head.

She didn't want to think about all that.

There was a lot of sh*t she didn't want her dad to know about, and laughed nervously, "Touché. Yeah there's a whole lotta crap I'd much rather daddy never ever find out about"

She took a sip of her coke and folded her hands on the table, "Soo, what'd you all talk about then?"

The others looked around at each other as Steph rested her head on her hand, "Oh come on you can't expect us to believe that all you did was rehearse?" she glanced at Alvin, "Seriously, wha'd'ya take me for?" and raised an eyebrow.

Alvin held his glass up at her, "Know us too well...we just had a chance to...touch base and all"

Steph exchanged a glance between Bruno and Alex and raised her eyebrows, trying not to laugh, and speaking down into her glass, "And we all know what that's code for"

Bruno and Alex hid their laughter as Simon rolled his eyes, Jeanette hid her face, Theodore and Eleanor exchanged a look between them, Brittany shook her head and Alvin just joined in the laughter.

"But seriously you're all rehearsed and stuff?" Alex asked

Alvin shrugged, "More or less"

Simon added, "More on the less part for routines"

Alvin groaned, "For %$# 's sake Simon, stop freaking out, we have plenty of time"

Eleanor pointed at Alvin, "You say that now, and you'll keep making us put it off until it's finally time to go on stage and you'll be like, 'Sh*t we're totally not ready!'"

The others laughed as Alvin dismissed them, "Oh ha ha, I'm nothing like that" he turned to Brittany, "Right?"

Brittany just smiled silently and sipped on her straw as Alvin looked intently at her, "Britt, I'm not like that am I?!"

She giggled, and patted his arm, "Don't worry, we have plenty of time still"

Alvin twisted his mouth as Steph beamed and slapped the table, "Oh yeah!"

They all looked at her as she pointed to Bruno, "Bruno's birthday on Friday – what are we doing?"

Bruno shook his head slightly, "No seriously, I don't need anything"

Alex punched him lightly in the arm, "I'm in charge of you; you're getting a party man"

Bruno rolled his eyes, smiling, "Fine. Nothing big though"

Alvin clicked his fingers, a smile creeping over his face, "I have the perfect idea"

"What?" Eleanor asked

Alvin looked at her blankly, "Oh you girls aren't coming"

"And why not?" Brittany demanded, hands on hips.

"Just cause you're not" Alvin said, matter-of-factly, "We need to initiate Bruno into manhood"

Steph stifled a laugh, "You're going to a strip club aren't you?"

Simon, Theodore and Alex raised their eyebrows as Alvin tapped his nose.

Brittany rolled her eyes, "You can't take Bruno to a strip club!"

"Why not?" Alvin and Bruno said at the same time.

Brittany looked between Alvin and Bruno, then back at Alvin, "Because you have a girlfriend who wouldn't be very happy if you went"

Alvin laughed trying to calm Brittany down, "Babe I'm not going for me, we're going for Bruno, it's his birthday"

Brittany rolled her eyes, huffing as Eleanor looked down at Bruno, "You'd seriously want to go to a strip club?"

Bruno shrugged smiling, "I'm not entirely against the idea"

"Neither am I" Alex said as Steph looked over at him.

He shrugged and stated simply, "Guy thing"

Steph laughed nodding, "Whatever" she sat up a little more, "I wouldn't be against going"

The guys all looked at her, eyebrows raised and speechless.

Brittany broke the silence, "Steph, really?"

Steph shrugged, "Yeah why not?"

Brittany shook her head unapprovingly, "'Cause it's a dirty place that creepy old men and hormonal teenage guys go to watch tasteless women prance around on stage" she pointed out.

Steph nodded slowly, "Yeah and? What's your point?" she laughed as Brittany screwed her face up and shook her head.

Alvin broke the silence of the guys, "Wait, Steph, you're saying you'd actually wanna go see some chick stripping?"

Steph shrugged nonchalantly, "What's weird about that?"

Alvin shook his head grinning, "It's not weird, it's freakin' hot as!" he turned to Alex, "Imagine if-"

"Stop now!" Simon stated.

Steph laughed, "I'm not a lesbian Alvin, nor do I intend to swing that way, I'm just saying I'd have nothing against going to a strip club...some guys find it a major turn on if they have their partners come along"

Alvin cleared his throat, "Well as...interesting as that would be for you to come along, I think this will be a guy's only event"

"But I wanted to do something special for Bruno for his birthday too" Steph pouted as Bruno held his hands up, "Now, now, I'm open to multi celebrations"

Steph laughed, "Wait that totally just sounded like I wanted to strip for your birthday" she shook her head still laughing, "That's not what I meant" and turned to Alex, "Seriously not what I meant" and got distracted by her own thought patterns, "Ooh I should bake a cake!"

Theodore laughed, "You bake?" he questioned as the waitress brought them their meals, setting them before each of them.

Steph popped a few fries in her mouth, "Well, not really, but how hard can it be? Milk, flour, sugar, um eggs?...that's it right?"

"Gee sounds delicious" Bruno said sarcastically as Steph punched him in the arm, "Shut up, it'll be great"

"Want some help then?" Eleanor asked as Steph beamed, "Oh that'd be great!"

Eleanor giggled, "We'll find a supermarket when we set up for the night and grab supplies then"

Steph nodded as Simon asked, "Anyone have suggestions of where to spend the night this time?"

Alex cocked his head sideways, "Dude I thought you were all over the rest stops?"

Simon shrugged, "Well, yeah, more or less, but if anyone has ideas, I'm all open"

Alvin pulled his phone out and tapped through til he found the maps and tapped in their location, swiping to find somewhere, "Well, there's a National Park halfway between here and Colorado Springs?" he nudged Simon, "We could camp out hey?"

Simon glared at Alvin and nudged him, hard in the ribs, "%$# ow!"

The others all looked at the brothers as Simon simply dismissed their stares, "If no one else has any other suggestions"

Alex held his hand out to Alvin as he passed his phone over.

Alex began swiping around and moving the map around, zooming in and out, "Yeah, there doesn't really seem to be much else...unless we stay in some random little town"

Brittany shook her head, "No, can we not stay in some random town, please?"

"Why not?" Jeanette asked

Brittany shook her head, and picked up her wrap, about to take a bite, "Because they're too random...you never know what's going to be there" she took a bite and shook her head again, "No, no we're not staying in a random town"

Bruno smirked, "Ah, but Britt, you never know what you may miss if you skip over these little random towns"

Brittany nodded, 'Yes I do, a whole lotta nothing, that's what they do"

Jeanette shook her head at Brittany, "And sometimes they have some really interesting things to do there too Britt"

"Which I can't be bothered to find out if they do or not, so let's drop the subject" Brittany stated.

Theodore wiped his mouth on his napkin, "So camping again then?"

"Camping it is" Alvin said, winking at Simon, who just rolled his eyes and ignored him.

"How far are we travelling?" Eleanor asked as Alex opened Alvin's phone back up and looked at the map, "Looks to be another couple of hours drive ahead of us til we reach the Park"

"Can we look round Santa Fe a bit then?" Eleanor pleaded, "I need to walk around a bit and get out of them RVs"

Brittany nodded, "Yeah we should trek around and see what Santa Fe has to offer, see what fun things there are to do around here?"

Everyone nodded as they finished off their lunch and paid the bill.

Outside they stood in a group and looked up and down the street as Brittany asked, putting her sunglasses on, "So what are we gonna do?"

Jeanette scoped out a notice board on the wall near the cafe, "It says there's the Summer crafts market on today?"

Alvin groaned, "%$# no, please no!"

Jeanette looked a little rejected as Simon wrapped his arm round her, "Don't worry about him, if you'd like to go, I'd be more than happy to accompany you"
Jeanette gave a small smile, "That would be nice, thank you Simon" and took hold of Simon's hand.

Simon looked at the others, "Anyone else wanna come along?" as they all looked at each other and shook their heads politely.

Alvin rolled his eyes, "Yeah you have fun with that" and turned to the others, "Meanwhile, we'll go do something awesome"

"Shopping!" Brittany squealed, pointing down the road.

Alvin grumbled, "Not the awesome I was thinking of exactly"

"Oh shut up" she said, slapping him on the chest playfully, "You love shopping"

Alvin faked a grin, "Oh yippee" he said full of sarcasm and clapped his hands in an attempt to appear excited.

Brittany rolled her eyes and lowered her sunglasses, glaring at him.

Alvin knew well enough what that look meant.

And now Brittany held something over him that he really didn't want to be denied.

Sucking up his pride he rolled his eyes, "Let's go then" he said, defeated and headed past the group, turning and walking a few steps backwards, "Anyone else coming?"

Alex shrugged, "May as well"

Bruno and Theodore nodded, "Yeah unless there's something else to do?"

Eleanor tapped Steph on the shoulder, "Didn't you want to bake a cake?"

"Oh yeah" she poked Bruno in the arm, "Gonna bake you a cake"

Bruno raised his eyebrows forcing a smile, "Yeah, can't wait"

Steph smirked, "You'll see, it'll be amazing"

Bruno nodded, "I'm sure it will be"

Steph folded her arms and lowered her eyebrows, and pouted playfully, "It will" she turned to Eleanor beside her and wrapped her arm round her, "And if it fails, I have Ellie as a back up"

"You're going to bake me?" Eleanor asked, giggling.

Steph laughed aloud, "No I meant...oh %$# it, you're sweet enough" she looked at the others, "Have fun, we'll catch up later"

They watched as Steph and Eleanor headed off in the other direction towards the supermarket.

Brittany looked at the band of guys around her, and felt a chill run through her, "Well, this is gonna be interesting then"

Alvin looked at the other guys, "How's this interesting?" he asked, wrapping his arm round her waist as they started walking.

Brittany closed her eyes and shook her head, "Um, nothing. Never mind" she smiled curtly and pointed up ahead of them, "Look street markets!" and started walking towards them.

Alvin looked at the other guys, "You have the option to back out now"

Bruno just shrugged and held his hands up, "What else is there to do?"

Alex and Theodore nodded, "Yeah we only have a couple of hours to kill"

Alvin sighed, "I gave you the option, that's all I'm saying" he twisted his cap backwards and followed after Brittany.

Simon and Jeanette were busy wandering the stalls of the craft markets looking at the different pieces of art and culture immortalised in the forms of pottery, clay work, rugs and mats and in paintings and clothing.

After a while they found a vendor selling snow cones and sat in the shade near a fountain and watched as people passed by, acknowledging the odd passerby who asked for an autograph or photo opportunity with a smile and polite acceptance.

"I feel like I haven't really had a chance to talk to you" Simon said, as Jeanette watched the last of two girls walked away giggling and comparing their photos on their phones.

She turned to him, brushing the hair from her face, "What do you mean? We talk" she said, sipping at her snow cone.

Simon shrugged a little and adjusted his glasses, "Well, yes, we do talk, but I mean in the sense we haven't really had a chance to...be alone and spend time together as such" he watched as Jeanette's eyebrow raised slightly and added quickly, "And no that's not what I'm referring to, I am actually talking about us spending time and talking"

She nodded, understanding and sat back a little on the wall around the fountain, careful not to sit too close to the edge, "Well, um, what, what did you want to talk about then?"

Simon took a breath in, and paused before asking, "How you been Jeanette?"

She gave him a soft smile, "I've been fine"

He laughed a little, knowing if Alvin had been there he'd have cracked it after hearing another person give the simple answer of 'I'm fine' when clearly he wanted more information.

This also got him thinking of the conversation he and his brother's had been having just before lunch and wanted to make sure he had the opportunity to talk with Jeanette prior to that night, knowing full well what Alvin had planned.

"No really" Simon smirked, "How are you? I miss having time to spend with you" he crept his hand over and held hers against the seat of the wall.

Jeanette looked down and smiled then back up at Simon and nibbled at her snow cone, "I'm actually doing ok...I've missed spending this time with you too, so this is nice"

Simon nodded, and asked a little nervously, "Um, so ever wish we could have a night like that first night? When, um, when everyone went to that Bowling club place?" he looked away slightly.

Jeanette thought back and tried to keep her composure, "Um, yeah, sometimes...that dinner was really nice and...after...I, I liked that part too"

Simon smiled and nodded.

He looked over at her then, with a more serious look on his face, "Jeanette, I need to tell you something"

Jeanette raised her eyebrow and reeled her head back a bit, "What is it Simon?"

Simon let go of her hand and clasped it round the coolness of his snow cone, "Well, I wanted you to know, the other night, I went looking in your bag to try and find the lingerie you bought"

He looked over to see Jeanette's eyes widening and quickly added, turning towards her, "I am so sorry for invading your privacy Jeanette, I am, I feel terrible for that, but since you've told me you bought it, I've...well, see, I'm still a guy Jeanette. I try and be a gentleman, I do, but well, there are certain, natural urges, that I can't help and..." he could feel his face beginning to burn.

Then he felt Jeanette's hand clasp around his face and turn it towards her own; then the feeling of her icy cool lips kissing his and he felt himself relax.

Jeanette pulled away and blushed a little, managing to reply, "Simon, I understand. It wasn't fair of me to tell you about that and then hold it from you" she smiled a little and shrugged, "I had an inkling that my belongings had been disturbed, but I just put it down to Ellie searching for something" she placed her hand back in her lap and sucked on her snow cone, then said, "Simon you are more than a gentleman, and I understand the human body, including how the male body works with hormones and such...I kept putting off showing you because...because..." she turned her face away, letting her dark brown hair fall over her face and said softly, "I was afraid you'd be turned off by my body if I showed you myself in such a vulnerable position"

Simon took a moment to allow this to sink in before brushing Jeanette's hair behind her ear, and slid closer to her, wrapping his arm round her and giving her a comforting squeeze, "Jeanette, I don't think I could find anyone in this world more beautiful than you. I have fallen in love with my best friend, and have seen you grow from a young girl into a young woman and quite frankly, I'm very well pleased with what I see" he laughed abruptly to ease the tension, making Jeanette smile a little.

She slowly looked up at him as he twisted his body to face her, "Look, I talked with Alvin" Jeanette couldn't help but let out a giggle as Simon rolled his eyes adding, "Yeah I know, self proclaimed relationship guru and whatever, but well, he wants to try and set it up so we have a night without everyone in the RV" he cleared his throat, "Tonight probably"

Jeanette took a breath in to allow this to sink in as Simon added, judging her response as fear, "But he wanted it to be like a secret and then just happen, but I couldn't do that to you, so that's why I'm letting you know now" he looked down at his snow cone; it'd practically melted into a pool of coloured syrup water which he swirled in the cup.

"Thought I'd give you a heads up, so to speak"

Jeanette nodded, "Brittany wanted to give me a make over"

She looked up at Simon, who simply gave her a confused expression in response, "Why?"

Jeanette let out a nervous giggle, "To help me overcome being so self conscience about my body"

Simon shook his head smiling and leant in kissing her on the cheek, "Please don't change anything, I love you for who you are. I'll take you for who you are, flaws and all, on one condition"

Jeanette's smile faded as Simon shrugged a little, smiling softly, "You take me and my imperfections too"

This made Jeanette smile widely and she leant in hugging him as he laughed, "Because in case you haven't noticed, I'm not really a model for them protein shakes and whatever"

Jeanette laughed and kissed him on the cheek, "No, but you're a model for a great boyfriend, a realistic boyfriend, and I'm happy to take that"

Simon smiled and stood up, holding his hand out to Jeanette, who took it and stood up also.

he took her rubbish and tossed it into a nearby bin then turned to her saying, "So if things go to Alvin's 'plan' you'll, you know, you'll be ok?"

Jeanette bit her lip and nodded, "No pressure though?"

Simon shook his head smiling and kissed her on the top of her head, "Never" as they headed back into the thick of the craft markets to finish looking around.

Steph stood proudly in front of the supermarket, "And here we are then" as she and Eleanor walked inside.

Steph stood looking up and down the space of the supermarket, "So where's the cake aisle?"

"Cake aisle?" Eleanor repeated

Steph nodded, "Yeah, you know where they have all the stuff for cakes; I'm assuming they keep it all in one place right?"

Eleanor smiled, trying not to laugh and shook her head, "You're not serious are you?" she touched Steph on the arm, "You have been to a supermarket before right?"

Steph nodded, "Pfft, yeah...'course..." she shook it slightly, "I know where the candy aisle is...and where they sell the con-"

Eleanor shook her head, and cut Steph off, "Just come with me" she picked up a basket, grabbed Steph's arm and pulling her through a turnstile.

"Can't we get a shopping cart?" Steph asked, pointing to the line of carts neatly pressed together in a corner near the entrance.

Eleanor looked over and shook her head, "No seriously, a basket is all we'll need, come on" she tugged Steph's arm, but she slipped through and jumped the turnstile, "Please can we have a cart?" she begged.

Eleanor rolled her eyes, "Oh for the love of...fine, get a cart, but you better push it around"

Steph beamed and pulled one from its line, pushing it through the turnstile once more and pushed it in front of her as Eleanor lead them to one of the aisles.

Steph casually leant down on the cart and pushed it steadily in front of her, as Eleanor scoped the items on the shelf for things they needed, "So..." Steph started.

Eleanor gave her a quick sideways glance as she looked at the different brands of flour, "What?"

Steph shrugged, "Just wanted to see how you're doin' and all"

Eleanor couldn't help but smile curtly, "Uh-huh, what do you wanna know Steph?" and placed a large bag of flour into the cart before pulling it further down the aisle to the sugar.

Steph watched as Eleanor picked up two bags of sugar and compared, something on the packages, "You and Theo getting enough time to spend together?"

Eleanor gave Steph a weird look and giggled awkwardly, "Huh?" she nodded, "Yeah, where's this going Stephi?" she placed a bag of sugar in the cart and pulled it again into the next aisle, Steph quickening her pace to keep up.

Shaking her head, Steph replied, "Well, you and Theo, I mean, you guys do heaps together usually and well we're all together and just wondering if you-"

"You wanna know if we're thinking of sex right?" Eleanor added, her hand on her hip and eyebrows lowered.

Steph was taken aback a little, "Um, now that you mention it-"

Eleanor rolled her eyes, and searched for her favourite brand of vanilla, "Look, I think I'm ready, but Theodore said he isn't" she closed her eyes and then opened them slowly and took a step towards Steph, "What's wrong with me, Steph?"

Steph looked blankly at Eleanor, unsure what to say by Ellie's sudden snap in mood, "Uh, well" she coughed to clear her throat, "Look Ellie, it's nothing about you, I'm sure of it"

Eleanor rolled her eyes again and turned her attention back to the vanillas, "Right, then how come he's not interested" she found the bottle she wanted and threw it into the cart, tugging it behind her as she marched on down the aisle, "I mean, last time I checked, he was the same age as his brothers, and well we all know Alvin was ready the moment he first laid his eyes on a woman, but geez I'm sure the thought has crossed Simon's mind a few times" she smirked a little, "More so now he's aware Jeanette bought that lingerie" her smirk left suddenly, "But Theodore" she stopped abruptly and closed her eyes, turning to face Steph, and opening them slowly, "How can he not be ready? Not even in the slightest?"

Steph stepped around the cart and pulled Eleanor in for a hug, "Babe, he thinks the world about you. He totally loves everything about you and everything you do; he's totally smitten with you"

"Smitten?"

"Shut up" she laughed, and pulled Eleanor away, holding her by the shoulders, "My guess, is he wants things to be just right"

Eleanor gave her a look of disbelief and started to turn to head down the aisle.

But Steph grabbed her by the arm and spun her back to face her, "Ellie, you have this..." she waved her arms around, "Thing about you that makes Theo unsure what the hell he's supposed to do next. I mean he got wood in the movie theatre after what? 5 minutes of you nibbling on his ear?"

Eleanor turned pink and hid her face, muttering; "Try about 30 seconds"

Steph laughed and leant on the cart, "See?! You have this effect on him" she smiled, "And yeah, so it's taking him a little longer to realise how to use those powers of hormones and just let loose with them...Theo is a great guy Ellie, but he's always been a bit of a late bloomer, but one that never disappoints right?"

Eleanor nodded remembering the first time she and Theodore had kissed.

He'd put it off for so long, Eleanor had decided to take the plunge herself by initiating it, but when it came to the moment, Theodore freaked out and wept into tears.

After much consoling and talking, Eleanor had managed to convince Theodore that kissing was actually fine and he wasn't going to get her pregnant or whatever bizarre reason he had against it.

And their first kiss was amazing.

Better than she'd expected, coming from a guy who only moments before was crying into her mint green handkerchief.

Steph smiled and hugged Eleanor, "Sweety, just give him time. He's old fashioned, likes to do things old school"

Eleanor frowned a little, "But I'm missing out!"

Steph stood straight and gave her a sideways glance, "On what? On the pain with the first time? Of bleeding afterwards? Of wondering how long that condom has been in that wallet? Of the sudden urge to want to take a shower straight after and throw up?"

Eleanor looked blankly at Steph, who sighed and smiled softly, "Ellie, you're not missing out"

"But you-" Eleanor started, as Steph held her hand up and cut her off, "I am NOT the best example, %$# , I mean, do not compare yourself to me. If I could go back..." she trailed off and said a little more modestly, "I'd probably have waited to be honest"

Eleanor looked up at Steph, "So you're saying if you could, you wouldn't have?"

Steph took a breath in, and thought a moment before exhaling, "I possibly would have waited a little longer than I did when I had my first time, yes"

Eleanor shook her head slightly, "Then why did you jump aboard so quickly?"

Steph sighed, "I dunno, I guess cause I'd built a reputation about myself and didn't want to be known as the chick who could talk the talk but couldn't walk the walk"

Eleanor gave a sideways smile, "You know that's total BS right?"

Steph nodded her head, "Yeah I know" she patted Eleanor on the shoulder, "Look this is me, but you don't have to be me"

"Phew" Eleanor gestured jokingly.

Steph smirked, "I mean it, you don't need to 'catch up' to me, or Britt, or Jeanette if she and Simon decide to...I dunno, make a scientific discovery"

"Ew, Steph" Eleanor giggled.

Steph shrugged and giggled, "Whatever, but Ellie, you gotta understand chicky, everyone is different, and even as a couple, each individual in that couple is ready at different times" she leant back on the cart, "So if Theo is the one who isn't ready and you are, you gotta wait for him, I mean you guys are awesome together and you've been together the longest, and well, you love him enough to wait right?"

Eleanor paused and let go of the tension, sighing and smiling, "Yeah, I do" she stepped beside Steph and helped push the cart along, reaching out for some ready to roll icing and tossing it onto the cart, "I guess with this being the hot topic of conversation, it's been playing on my mind why Theodore hasn't even tried to make any kind of move or anything, and that's frustrated me"

Steph nodded as Eleanor continued, "But I guess, I guess it's not that important huh?"

Steph smiled and shook her head, "Nope, it's not. Sex isn't everything, love's better than that any day. Hell I'd love to have what you guys have, it's sweet"

Eleanor smirked as Steph laughed, "What? I'm serious! I think it's cute what you and Theo have, and the fact that even at 18 it's still cute and not in some outdated gag-worthy way; it's seriously sweet watching you two together. You're just enjoying being with one another, sex changes things"

Eleanor carefully lowered a carton of eggs into the cart and looked up at Steph who shrugged, "It's true, I mean it can change in a good way, like me and Alex I suppose, but it can be bad and I have WAY too many scenarios there" she laughed awkwardly as Eleanor smiled and nodded, "Ok, ok, I get it, no need to rush, I get it"

Steph smiled and put her hands in her pockets, letting Eleanor push the cart, "And if you're really desperate, well there's always the Laundromat"

She winked as Eleanor burst out laughing and shook her head.

It had been a while since Brittany had last been alone with just the guys.

Usually she didn't mind; these guys were all well known to her, but for some reason, a memory was resurfacing, making her desperate for the company of another female present.

It was probably the fact that the markets were long, cramped and dark, considering the sunlight flooding the rest of the area outside the stalls.

But under the canopies of canvas, the light seemed to barely seep through.

Some stalls even had their own lighting to display their wares.

Alex and Bruno were checking out some photography of the area that a stall holder was selling, Theodore was sampling a few roasted nut varieties and Alvin was flipping through some old records.

Brittany was standing alongside him, staring into the boxes, but her mind was elsewhere.

The thoughts and actions of that one night were coming back.

Why now?

Even so, they haunted her like they did those years ago when it happened.

"Brittany, baby, just listen to me"

Darkness.

"I don't want to listen, I want to go home" she pouted, folding her arms in front of her.

"You said you wanted to help him right?"

Darkness and a single lamp on, illuminating it's immediate surroundings.

Shadows.

"You didn't mention any of this would be involved" she cried, her eyes widening as she looked around.

Shadows have eyes.

"All I know is you said you'd do anything if it meant he'd be left alone"

The shadows laughed.

A worried look crept across her face as she twisted her head around to survey the scene.

Impatience.

"I don't have all %$# ing day! Answer me, Brittany!"

She closed her eyes tight.

"Brittany?!"

"Brittany? Hey Britt?"

Brittany gasped and opened her eyes, jumping as Alvin placed his hand on her arm, "Whoa... you ok?"

He looked concerned at her as she controlled her breathing and nodded, "Yeah, yeah, sorry" she tried to smile convincingly at him, "Must've been off with the fairies"

Alvin gave her a look and nodded, "Yeah, ok" and turned his attention back to the record box, "Check it out!" and pulled out a mint condition Michael Jackson LP, beaming at his prize.

Brittany giggled and nodded, "Well, you could always add another to your collection I suppose" she looked beyond the stalls to the open street and spotted a drinks cart, "I'm, uh, just gonna get a drink ok?"

Alvin nodded, as he got the stallholder's attention, "Yep, sure, hey get me one too ok?"

Brittany nodded and gently pushed her way through the steady crowd of passers-by and breathed heavily when she emerged on the street.

She held her head slightly and willed herself to focus and headed over to buy two bottles of water from the drinks cart.

She pulled some change from her pocket to pay and turned as she heard, "Yo Britt!" and looked over at Steph and Eleanor carrying bags walking towards her.

She sighed relief on the inside and smiled as they girls approached.

Steph placed the bags near her feet and looked about, "Where's the guys then?"

Brittany twisted the top off her water bottle and tipped it back into her mouth, pointing aimlessly into the crowds of the stalls, and swallowed, coughing a little, "In there somewhere"

Eleanor instinctively patted her sister's back, "Doing what?"

Brittany shrugged, "Alvin found some new MJ memorabilia"

Eleanor rolled her eyes and smiled, "Yeah that'd be right"

Steph looked into the markets and back at Britt, "How come you're not in there bartering a bargain?"

Brittany looked at her for a second before noting the bags on the ground, "Um, couln' find anything –Hey! So got everything for the cake?"

Steph was taken aback that Brittany had sidestepped her question, but beamed and said proudly, "Yep, it's gonna be the most bestest cake ever!" and flung her arms in the air.

Eleanor giggled aloud, "Or else it going to be best whatever the hell Steph creates"

Brittany laughed as Steph put her hands on her hips and grinned, "Hey I'll just spread on some more frosting and chuck a few more candles on it; it'll be edible"

Brittany and Eleanor just laughed more, as Steph protested, "It will!" she shoved them playfully and giggled.

Steph rolled her eyes and flipped her hair back as Theodore, Alex and Bruno emerged from the market stalls.

Theodore held a small bag of roasted nuts he'd bought and presented them to Eleanor, "I got them for you"

Eleanor smiled, "Naww, thank you Teddy" and kissed him on the cheek.

Steph looked back into the thick of the markets and at the others, "Didn't pass Alvin in there did you?"

Bruno looked back and then at Steph, shrugging a little, "I think we saw him, trying to get a deal on something"

Alex laughed, "Yeah even though everything in there is pretty much a steal anyway"

Brittany smiled and shook her head, "Yeah that'd be right"

She felt her phone chime and swiped it open, checking a message and announcing to the others, "Simon and Jeanette are heading back to the RVs, said they'd meet us there in about 10 mins or so"

Eleanor nodded and looked at her phone's clock then into the markets, "Well, if Alvin isn't out in 5 minutes we're going without him"

The others laughed nodding as Brittany added, "With his charm he'll make a sale and be out in 3"

Alvin was still in the markets bartering after 15 minutes and the sun was casting long shadows over the pavement; a sign that the day was drawing to an end.

Steph groaned impatiently and picked up her shopping bag, pulling her phone from her pocket and started on a text, "Screw this" she texted to Alvin and shoved her phone back in her pocket, "I said we'd meet him back at the RVs, and if he isn't there, he's gotta make his own way to Vegas"

She turned and started down the street back to where the RVs were parked, the others reluctantly following suit.

Brittany huffed and rolled her eyes, grabbing Bruno's attention, "Tell the others we're on our way, I'll go back and get him"

Bruno nodded, "You want me to come with?" he looked into the markets, which had now become really busy.

Brittany shook her head, "No, no I should be fine, I doubt he's left that one stall, so I'll make my way there first"

Nodding Bruno added, "Well, if he happens to make his way back to the RV we'll give you a call"

Brittany smiled and nodded, heading back into the crowds of market dwellers, as Bruno watched her curl of red hair disappear into the thick of dark shadows.

She passed stall after stall trying to recall where the stall was she'd left Alvin at, as blurs of people brushed up against her, she heard people calling to her, trying to coax her to purchase their wares before the day ended.

Under the canopies of the stalls, Brittany looked up every so often, taking note of the fading light and suddenly felt claustrophobic.

She tried to reach into her pocket to take out her phone, but every time she was bumped and shoved into a swirl of people, unable to get it out.

She darted her eyes around and looked about to get her bearings, trying to locate something that would help her find where she was.

Brittany thought about calling out Alvin's name, but knew that would be pointless in the overwhelming noise of the people.

Eventually it all became too much.

She stood as still as she could and closed her eyes tight, putting her hands over her ears and humming to herself to drown out the confusion of noise and motion around her.

But it was while her eyes were closed, she escaped reality, and was instead pushed into the depths of her subconscious to memories she'd repressed.

Those memories she had tried to forget about, and again were resurfacing like earlier that day...

** About 18 months ago...**

She'd gone over late in the evening, as was the planned time and knocked on the door.

It opened to a solid and confident smile, with mischief laced lips, and deviancy tipped at the corners of the mouth; "Right on time. Please won't you come in?"

An arm swept by welcoming her; she neither thanked nor smiled at her host and stepped into the hallway.

She was lead down the hallway and through a door that lead to a set of stairs heading into darkness.

Perched on the top step she looked down doubtfully, "Why down there?"

Her host smiled smugly, "It's where all my business deals are made, baby"

She frowned fiercely at her host, "Don't call me baby"

A raucous laughter, "Ooh, feisty"

She rolled her eyes, took a breath in to boost her confidence and headed down the stairs, unaware of what was awaiting her at the bottom.

The room was dimly lit, by a small bare globe that swung lightly in the draught.

There wasn't much in the room that Brittany could make out apart from a worn mattress leaning against the wall, a number of rustic wooden and metal shelving with an array of cases, boxes, leads and cords stuffed on their galvanised shelves.

She looked around; her ears trained into the darkness and perking at the slightest noise, "Who else is here?" she asked.

Her host smiled absentmindedly and offered a seat on the worn mattress, "Take a seat, won't you?"

Brittany scrunched her nose up at the mattress and caught sight as her host frowned and eyes were rolled; her host disappearing into the darkness only to re-emerge with a soft blanket, whose colour was an odd combination of grey and yellow.

She decided it was a grellow colour.

It was thrown lightly to her; she fumbled with it a little before laying it on the mattress, smoothing her skirt and sitting down.

She sighed and folded her hands in her lap, "Let's just get this over with"

The host towered over her briefly, thick arms folded and a sickly grin plastered across the face.

It made Brittany doubt herself on coming here.

But she had to, she had no other choice.

The host slumped down next to her, relaxed and reclining.

Silence.

It made Brittany shudder, and she hoped the host hadn't noticed, so instead opted to restart the converstion, "Look, I'm here because I overheard what you were planning on doing"

A smirk and a nod of the head, "Your little ears did not deceive you; a plan was devised but you appear to have intercepted that"

Uneasily, Brittany continued, trying to remain confident and in control, "Right, I did. And now, now you won't do that right? We're going to work something out that means you won't hurt him?" she looked at the host, staring blankly at her, that smug smirk glued and mocking her.

Brittany heard something muffled and turned her attention around the room, darting her eyes around to try and cut through the darkness, "Right?"

Her confidence was fading, "Right?!" she yelled out, demanding.

The host chucked a little, "Relax, we'll sort something out" sitting up, hands relaxed over knees, "Now you said you'd be willing to do anything right?"

Brittany stared into cold eyes, and ignored her every will to call the deal off, set foot to the door and call for higher help; "Whatever it takes to mean he won't get hurt" she sighed, playing aimlessly with the hem of her skirt.

The host stared a moment longer at her then stood up, "Great, nice to see we're on the same page then"

Brittany followed her host as they paced back and forth in front of her, "Because you see, I like when things go to plan; I had a plan, a great plan that was going to see that so called boyfriend of yours freak out so badly before going on stage, he'd refuse to ever perform again. Then when his thousands of deluded fans find out, they'd be crushed and seek revenge on the fact of how many tours and shows would be cancelled. Then from that he'd become a recluse too tormented by the ever growing pile of hate mail and death threats that he'd never set foot outside again and I'd never have to hear his name, or see his face or listen to the tormenting chants of his %$# ing name again"

The host snarled the last comment and turned to Brittany, "But then you came along and just so happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and heard what I had in store, so" faking a smile, "We'll have to change that plan"

Brittany felt her heart pounding in fear; why the hell had she come here? It was too late now to get out, she'd buried herself too deep and lost any chance of escaping.

The host sat down next to her, and stroked her hair tenderly, making her feel sick and disgusted, "And you're going to help me do that aren't you?"

She turned her face away and closed her eyes.

"Brittany, baby, just listen to me" the voice was pretending to be gentle, like a wolf in sheep's clothing.