Whoa! I'm Back! Ok...first things first...

YES! I know it's been a while

YES! I know you'd like me to update more often

YES! I am still continuing this story...

I appreciate your kindness, new followers, new favourites, support, respect and patience. I have quite a lot going on in my life at the moment and so finding time to write is pretty slim. I've got ideas racing through my head begging to be put into story form, and they're getting there slowly...very slowly, as you all know from the constant "UPDATE PLZ" comments - bear with me, a little more than usual.

But here you go, the next chapter...find out what really went on with Brittany and Kevin...

Chapter 40

Alvin was heading back to the RVs after getting the text from Steph and just finished sending a reply.

He was about to put his phone back in his pocket when it chimed, signalling another message had come through.

He stopped and leant up near a wall, opening the text and looked puzzled at the screen:

Finally! Wat took u & B so long? ;) Steph XX

"Me and Britt?" he thought and looked first in the direction of the RVs then back towards to marketplace.

He shook his head and started a reply, only to delete it and call Steph instead.

She answered pretty quickly, "No, Alvin, I don't wanna hear your lame excuse as to why you're both 'late'" she snickered down the phone.

Alvin looked out towards the fading light as dusk started to settle in, "Um, I thought Britt was with you guys?"

Steph was taken aback and shook her head, "Nooo, she said she was heading back into the marketplace to find you...I assumed when you texted back you were both on your way back?"

Alvin shook his head and stood tall from the wall, looking in both directions and pacing a little, "No, I went to find somewhere to take a leak so I haven't been at the marketplace for a while now..." he sighed, "I'll head back"

He started back down the street as Steph asked, "She hasn't called or texted you though?"

Alvin suddenly felt a twinge of panic; "No, no she hasn't" he quickened his pace and started jogging closer to the marketplace, "I'll keep you posted".

He hung up and began running toward the marketplace, entering at one of the openings and started pushing his way through the crowds to locate Brittany.

He stopped and tried calling her phone, but she wasn't answering.

He looked about in every direction, worried where she'd gotten to, when commotion caught his attention; a part in the crowds of people was thicker than the rest, but they weren't moving.

His gut urged him towards that part of the marketplace.

Pushing his way through the buzz of people he saw a small Chipette huddled into herself. She looked frightened for some reason, and had her ears covered and eye shut tight.

He managed to squeeze his way through and carefully went over to Brittany, crouching beside her and slowly resting his hand on her shoulder, "Babe?"

Brittany's eye shot open as she let out a piercing shriek; the sound causing Alvin to stumble backwards and land flat on the ground.

Shocked back to reality, Brittany looked about her, embarrassed by the swarms of people staring wildly at her.

Her eyes then focused on a bemused Chipmunk in front of her who was as shocked as she was.

Brittany looked about her, "Sorry, I'm, I'm sorry everyone" she slowly got to her feet, "I'm ok, thank you, I'm sorry" she stepped closer and knelt down next to Alvin, "Sorry if I scared you"

Alvin's eyes went wide, "Scared me? You almost gave me a %$# ing heart attack!" he gasped pulling himself up.

Brittany stood, helping him up as the crowds slowly dispersed and rubbed her arm, "I, I just panicked...I dunno why, I just, I couldn't find you, and then the crowd and it was getting dark and..." her voice trailed off as Alvin embraced her in a comforting hug.

He kissed the top of her head, "Yeah, yeah, it's ok, you're ok though?" he pulled her back at arm's length, "Nothing, nothing happened before right?"

Brittany forced herself to look into his blue eyes and shook her head, "No, like, like I said, I, I just panicked at not being able to find you"

Alvin looked at her questioningly; something didn't add up, but he dismissed the passing thought and smiled softly at her, "Come on, apparently we're a little bit late for our boarding call" he smirked, making Brittany give a small smile.

They started to head out of the marketplace and back along the street towards where the RVs were waiting.

Alvin turned his head towards Brittany, "Seriously though, you're ok?"

Brittany took hold of his hand, "I'm fine, I swear, but can you keep this between us"

Alvin tilted his head a little as Brittany rolled her eyes giggling, "Ellie would go all motherly and flip out and Jeanette would totally make a huge deal too, ok? I just got a little overwhelmed in there that's all"

Alvin looked down at the sidewalk to ponder the thought momentarily before looking back over at her and smiled charmingly, "What even happened back there?" he emphasised a shrug and confused face making Brittany laugh and huddle closer to him; his arm round her shoulder protectively.

She took a breath inwardly and told herself to calm down, and aimed to push those memories far beyond reach so that even her most subconscious state of mind couldn't reach them.

Walking up to the RVs Eleanor and Jeanette dashed towards Brittany hugging her, "You're ok!"

Brittany hugged them back and shrugged, "Um, yeah?"

Eleanor took a step back, inspecting her, "Well, we thought you were with Alvin, but he thought you were with us, so when he called to ask, we had no idea where you were?!"

Brittany felt her face burn and began to pull her phone from her pocket, as Steph added, holding up her phone, "Yeah I tried calling you a few times"

"Me too" Alvin added as Brittany unlocked her phone, noting the number of missed calls and smiled shrugging it off, "There were heaps of people in there, I couldn't move let alone reach into my pocket to get my phone" she snorted a little, "I knew you were calling, or someone was, but like I said, so many people in there – seriously they must have all the bargains come twilight"

Eleanor and Jeanette exchanged a quick glance at each other as Brittany pushed through them, "Geez, stop being so over dramatic, let's get this show on the road already" stepping into 'Hot Stuff'.

They all looked back at Alvin who simply shrugged and held his hands in the air, "I guess she's fine, I got nothin' more" as he headed into the RV.

With everyone on board, the RVs drove off leaving the twilight markets of Santa Fe behind and headed towards their rest stop for the night.

It was well into the evening when they arrived at the parklands chosen to be their designated campsite for the night after stopping off at a greasy joint for dinner.

The tents were pitched in a semi circle with the two RVs on either side, and a fire started on the allocated area central to the tents.

The group were all sitting around the fire, albeit not too close as it was a warm night already, and so the provision of the fire was more for light rather than warmth.

"So" Alvin started, settling into a chair as he stared into the night sky.

Everyone else sort of looked at him, some with slightly raised eyebrows and waited until Simon frowned, "So?" he dragged out the single syllable leaving it to drift off in means of encouraging Alvin to continue.

Alvin looked over at him, smiling smugly, "So, I wonder just how the sleeping arrangements should be?" he grinned as Simon groaned and shook his head a little; Jeanette patting him on the back.

Steph looked back and forth between the two brothers, grinning a little in anticipation, "What's going on?"

Alvin clapsed his hands and dismissed her lightly, turning his attention to Bruno, "Bruno, you've been on the road with us, for how long now?"

Bruno tilted his head back a little in thought, "Dunno, just over a week or something?" he laughed a little, "Seriously days blend into each other with you guys, I have no idea even what day it is" the others laughed as he quickly added, "But I know my birthday is on Friday"

Alvin nodded, "Right, so I think we should promote you to tent dweller like the rest of us"

Bruno frowned a little, "Isn't that a demotion?"

The others nodded as Bruno continued, "I mean, it's pretty comfy in the RV, even if I am laying on a cushion covered table"

Alvin shook his head, "Yeah, but this is where all the fun is happening"

Bruno looked warily between all the couples surrounding him, "Uh, don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think I wanna be involved in your kind of 'fun'"

Steph burst out laughing as the others snickered, waiting for Alvin to give a justified answer.

He sighed and rolled his eyes, leaning forward on the chair, and asked in a tone signalling he was fed up with trying to make a sell, "Look, dude, just askin', wanna camp out?"

Bruno shrugged, still laughing a little, "Yeah, sure, but uh, whose gonna trade with me?"

There was a pause as he looked around, Alvin raising his eyebrows in a gesture of coaxing Simon, and then reluctantly Simon put up his hand, "We'll trade"

Alvin smiled, proud of his achievements as Bruno leant back in his chair, "You sure?"

Simon nodded, "Yeah, it's no worries"

Alvin nodded, "So it's settled then, Simon and Jeanette will bunk out in the RV, while the rest of us camp out"

Steph leant over and whispered to Eleanor, Simon and Alex, "Alvin realises there's two Rv's right?"

Eleanor sniggered, "I doubt his logic can stretch that far"

Simon muffled a laugh and whispered back, "Look how proud he is, let's let him have this one"

Alex wipes a tear away from laughing as the night unfolds across the sky, illuminating more stars across the sky.

Alvin had been recalling his latest purchase from the markets while Jeanette helped Brittany get some drinks from 'Einstein'.

Jeanette turned to Brittany, "Hey Brittany?"

Brittany glanced at her before finding a tea towel to dry a few glasses from the sink, "Mmm?"

Jeanette looked out the window to the others and began to place the glasses on a tray, "What do I do tonight?"

Brittany looked over at her sister, midway drying a tumbler, "What do you mean what do you do tonight?"

Jeanette leant against the counter, "I mean, like, tonight? Like Simon and me tonight?"

Brittany's expression said it all; unamused, "Jeanette just say what it is you're trying to say, stop going the long way about it"

Jeanette sighed a little frustratingly, "Look, so it's been decided already that Simon and I will be spending the night in the RV, so we are, and that's fine, but I wanted to make the most of it and all, and I will show him the lingerie before you have a go at me, but I just want to know" she took a breath in and exhaled, looking at Brittany, "What do I do?"

Brittany stared blankly back at Jeanette, then started slowly, "Well, just" she waved her hands in a circular motion as she thought aloud, "Go with it" she shrugged as Jeanette let her body slump a little at the answer.

Brittany giggled involuntarily and stepped closer to Jeanette, "Look, Jen, there's no magic rule of what you need to do, or say, or anything like that. It's a whole play it by ear type thing. If your instincts say do it, go for it, if you have reservations then don't" she shook her head and picked up the next glass, "Seriously it isn't that difficult"

Jeanette picked up the clean tumblers and them on the tray, "But you can't tell me that you didn't have reservations?"

Brittany looked out at Alvin through the window, and back into the sink, "Well, yeah, I did, but my feelings for other things were stronger than that, and I went with what my heart and head were saying"

"Shouldn't you trust your gut?" Jeanette asked, pulling her hair back over her shoulders.

Brittany laughed a little, "My gut? No my gut had no idea, it just felt queasy"

She dried her hands on the tea towel and reached out holding Jeanette's hands, "Look, this isn't about me and what I did or didn't do. It's not about Ellie, or Steph or anyone except you and Simon" she twisted her mouth into a sort of sideways smile, "I thought you guys had a chance to talk about all this?"
Jeanette nodded, "Oh we did; I just wanted some last minute sisterly advice is all"

Brittany smiled, and hugged Jeanette, "You're beautiful, I love you no matter what, just do what your body is telling you" she pulled back and held Jeanette at the elbows, "Now let's get these drinks out to everyone" and handed Jeanette two bottles of soda as she picked up the tray of glasses.

The girls headed out and began offering drinks to everyone then settled down to join the conversations.

As the night crept on talk came about of Bruno's birthday.

"So what would your ideal birthday celebration be then?" Simon asked.

Bruno thought a moment and smiled, "To have my Mama around" he looked about and shrugged, "But since that's not exactly a realistic possibility, I guess I'd just have wanted to share it with friends" he raised his glass slightly, "Which I will be"

Steph leant on her arm, "But if you guys are going to a strip club, what the hell do us girls do?"

Alvin added, smiling, "I have no objection if ya'll wanna come along"

"NO!" the Chipettes screamed in unison as Alvin let out a laugh, "But I guess cause you're not as classy as us guys, you can go and do whatever til we come back"

Eleanor screwed her nose up a little, "I'm almost afraid to ask, but how long would you be? Like this isn't going to be an all day event right?"

Simon and Theodore's eyes widened as Alvin did a quick calculation in his head, "Let's see, if we're there to watch a show for an hour then Bruno needs a birthday lap dance and hell we all may as well get one" Bruno and Alex laughed, shaking their heads as Simon and Theodore passed doubtful glances at one another, trying to avoid their girlfriend's horrified looks, "Add a few drinks into that and I reckon about 3 or 4 hours"

"3 or 4 HOURS?!" Brittany coughed, "What the hell? You are not going to lounge around for 3 or 4 hours while half naked-"

"They don't chose their uniforms Britt" Alvin interrupted, trying to sound all serious, which is why Brittany punched him in the arm, "%$# !"

"No Alvin, You can have 2 hours and that's it" she folded her arms promptly.

Alvin sat himself more upright, "But 2 hours is like only half a show and maybe two of us getting lap dances, that's not fair!"

Brittany gave him a glaring look as Steph added before taking a mouthful of soda, "Just hire a damn private room, then you can have the show and lap dances all in one package"

Jeanette looked at all the guys, focusing mostly on Simon and Theodore, "Isn't there a better way to celebrate, where we can all be involved?"

Alvin couldn't help but burst out laughing, "You girls wanna do a private show for us?! Be my guest I will not say no" he flinched as Brittany turned rapidly toward him, and glanced over at Bruno, "Albeit it'd be a bit weird for Bruno"

Bruno nodded, "I'm not gonna even attempt to answer that, however, considering it's supposed to be my birthday celebration and all..." he let his words trail off.

Alvin moved himself quickly as Brittany took another swipe at him, "See? So this is why we must go to a 'Gentleman's club' without you"

Steph rolled her eyes smiling, "Fine, whatever, so long as you're home in time for my cake"

Alex laughed, "Oh yeah the cake" he made a sarcastically stupid smile on his face as if overly excited.

Steph opened her mouth as if stung, "Hey, it'll be a great cake, right Ellie?"

Eleanor smiled and finished her drink, setting her cup beside her, "Yep, you've got nothing to fear, it will be edible, I promise"

Simon shook his head, "I'm still not sure about all this...a strip club? Really?"

Bruno reclined back, resting his hands behind his head, "Look, just come along, there's not harm in looking right? I mean, just don't touch anything I guess"

Simon looked at Jeanette who just shook her head slightly, "I suppose it's something you can tick off to say you've done it"

Simon rolled his eyes and noted the time, "Well, if that's going to happen, we have to make a good start in the morning, our next big stop over isn't until Colorado Springs and that's still a fair drive ahead of us"

Alvin added, "I'll Google and book something in Colorado Springs tomorrow then as we're driving so we're all ready to party by Friday"

Theodore added, "And if we don't reach there by Friday?"

Alvin shrugged, "Look we'll drive as far as we can tomorrow and Thursday so we can spend as little time travelling on Friday as possible" he looked Bruno's way, "Bruno's got a big day that day"

Alex asked, "Wait, we've got a strip club lined up for the evening, I assume, and cake afterwards...what else do we do?"

There was silence as everyone looked around trying to gauge what there was to do, when finally Steph piped up, "Bruno, it's your birthday, whatcha wanna do?"

Bruno thought a moment then smiled, "I've heard there is this really awesome, like shooting range type thing and I reckon that'd be fun"

Steph mulled the idea and grinned, "Oh that could be serious fun" she laughed, "I love it, let's do that" she turned to Alvin, "Book that in too"

Alvin nodded and pulled his phone out, "May as well do all this now I guess"

The others all seemed to approve as Bruno added, "Maybe we could go to the movies? I heard-"

"NO!" everyone yelled, making Bruno reel his head backwards as Brittany coughed and explained, "Um, I'm, I'm sure we can find something else to do than sit around in a dark movie theatre"

Bruno raised an eyebrow, as Alvin nudged Brittany, "Oh I dunno, seems last time we were at the movies we all had a good time?" he winked as Theodore rubbed the back of his neck, "I think we can find something else to do"

Bruno looked warily at the others, "Umm, ok...I'm not even gonna ask about that one"

Steph laughed, "It's probably best you don't, but hey, I'll bet you can guess"

Bruno nodded and then shook his head, "Yeah I can...Look, I'm just amazed I'm going to be doing anything really, I honestly am"

Alex lifted his glass to him, "Man you deserve it"

The others nodded in agreement as Eleanor pulled out her phone noting the time, "Well, if we're going to make it to Colorado Springs before Friday, we better get some sleep in, I assume we'll need to head off early again?"

Simon nodded, "Well it'd be best to, just so we're there on schedule"

"Schedule? Man I am so lost for time I have no idea how long we've been on the road for, how long we have left and where we're even heading anymore" Steph laughed.

The others laughed as slowly they all headed off to their designated sleeping areas.

Steph looked over as Bruno unzipped his tent, which was the tent Simon and Jeanette had been using, "Look at you joining the ranks of us happy little campers"

Bruno smirked, "So long as you all don't become too happy a little campers, I'll be fine" he grinned as Steph shrugged smiling, "If this tent's a rockin'-"

"Shut up Steph!" Alex yelled from near one of the RVs, making both Steph and Bruno burst out laughing.

She walked over and crouched in the doorway as Bruno crawled inside, turning in a small circle and sitting at the end of the air mattress, "I've decided what I'm gonna get you for a present too" she said.

Bruno raised an eyebrow, curious, "Oh?"

Steph nodded, hugging her knees and rocking on her heels, "I'm gonna find you an awesome chick to hook up with" she beamed then added, "Of course she won't be as awesome as me, but you know, I'll see what I can do"

Bruno gave a small nod of acknowledgement and smiled, "Right"

Steph crawled into the tent, sitting on the tent floor with her back in the doorway, "Seriously, and if I can't find her on your birthday, you've got my word I'll find her by Vegas"

Bruno just nodded and started taking his shirt off, "Yep, well let's hope you have more luck than I have trying to find her"

Steph giggled, "Oh stop being so hard on yourself, any chick would want you" she smiled smugly, "Who could resist you?" she looked at him bluntly then added, in a low whisper, "If I wasn't with Alex, well I reckon you'd have a pretty good shot with me" she grinned as Bruno laughed shaking his head, "Annd since you are with him and happy with your choice, which you should be and I'm not complaining, then this conversation in over" he crawled forward towards her and nudged her gently to coax her back outside.

Steph rolled backwards, using her hands to balance her and crawled back out the tent, laughing, "I get it, sorry, my bad for going there, but seriously, I'll find someone for ya" she wrapped her arms round his neck and kissed the top of his head, "Night babe, sweet dreams 'kay?"

Bruno nodded and gave a soft sideways smile back to her, "Yeah, you too"

Steph picked herself up and headed back to her own tent next door and clambered inside as Alex headed out the RV, "Bathroom's free if anyone needs to wash up?"

Eleanor raised her hand and did a tippy toe barefoot race into the RV.

Alex crawled in the tent after Steph and pulled the zip down, "Just saying goodnight to Bruno then?"

Steph nodded and shuffled her shorts off, throwing them to a corner of the tent, "Yeah, tucking him in and what not" she beamed as Alex took his shirt off, "Right" he smirked as Steph pulled her hair tie out and shook her hair out, "Yeah I told him what I'm getting him for his birthday" she pulled off her shirt and threw it to the corner.

Alex started unbuckling his belt and dropped his jeans to the ground, kicking them away.

He raised his eyebrow as he crawled onto the air mattress, "Oh? And what's that then?"

"A girlfriend" Steph beamed once more as Alex shuffled under the sleeping bag, "Huh? And what the hell qualifies you to find what kind of chick Bruno's into?"

Steph shrugged, "Find someone who is almost but won't even be close but will be somewhat close enough to being as awesome as me, and I think I'll have found her" she reached up and unhooked her bra, tossing it beside her.

Alex opened his mouth to say something then decided against it, instead changing the topic slightly "Well, I thought I'd get him a phone"

Steph's eyes widened, "Wow"

Alex looked at her, as he looked blankly back at her, resting his arm behind his head, "What? He needs a phone, surely, so I'll get him one, what's up with that?"

Steph smiled and snuggled down next to him, "No, no I think it's a great idea" she paused a little before asking, "He's starting to grow on you now huh?"

Alex shifted his body to look over at her, "Yeah I suppose"

Steph smiled widely and wrapped her arm round Alex, resting her head next to his, "Naww, I love that my two guys are working things out and being all nice and sh*t to each other"

Alex kissed her head, "Yeah whatever" he smirked.

Over in the Brittany and Alvin's tent, Alvin was blabbing about something but Brittany's mind was off in the distance.

She jumped a bit when Alvin touched her arm, "Whoa! Babe you sure you're alright? You're off with it again, this is like the second time today your mind's been elsewhere"

Brittany smiled and nodded, wriggling herself out from her skirt and unclasping her bra, tossing it to one side, "Yeah I'm fine, sorry I have no idea where my mind is tonight"

She turned to Alvin and cradled his face with her hand, kissing him.

Alvin twisted his mouth, "Alright" he paused a little before asking once more, "You're sure there isn't anything, at all, you wanna tell me?"

"Yes, yes there is everything" Brittany thought, "A secret so dark I thought it had been lost forever in the depths of my mind" her mind screamed out at her.

But she forced herself to smile as naturally as possible and battered her eyelashes at him, "Alvie, babe I'm fine, honestly. I dunno, maybe it's just all the travelling, you know long hours on the road and what not" she snorted, "I mean I'm so used to flying in planes to get to shows, I forgot how much travelling on the road takes out of you"

Alvin nodded in some agreement, "Yeah, I'll give you that" he stretched, "At least you haven't had to drive, freakin' A that takes a hell of a lot outta ya!"

Brittany giggled and kissed him again on the cheek, "Yeah, you guys have done amazingly well, I'll give you that" she snuggled down and pulled the sleeping bag up, resting on her side, Alvin lying next to her, facing her, "But if there was anything, anything at all, you'd tell me right?"

She smiled, but remained silent and nodded, battling her mind and forcing it to remain quiet.

Alvin smiled and leant in kissing her once more before removing his cap and setting it next to him.

She watched as in the darkness Alvin's eyes slowly closed and the rhythm of his breathing evened out to steady assuring snore.

She sighed and pulled the covers up to her chin, hopeful of a cheery dream to flood her mind and push back the nightmare filling it.

Over in the RV, Simon was nervously awaiting Jeanette as she "readied" herself in the bathroom.

He'd gone from being under the covers, to lying on top, and was now settled back under them, although he'd left one leg out.

His stomach was in knots and he was giving himself a firm talking to; to ensure things wouldn't get too out of control or uncomfortable.

They'd been careful to close all the curtains, ensuring not a crack of light would come in, to help with Jeanette's insecurities and only had the small overhead light above the bed on to give off a soft glow.

Jeanette was in the small bathroom, standing in front of the mirror.

She'd been standing there in her lingerie for a few minutes, wrapped in her robe and opened it every so often to take a glimpse of her body.

Each time she looked a little longer, trying to get herself used to the fact she was standing in her underwear and was about to show her near naked body to her boyfriend.

She sighed and closed the robe again, rubbing her temple with her fingers, "This is silly" she told herself, "It's Simon, he loves me for me, he said so himself" she closed her eyes and hugged the robe tight around her sighing.

Opening her eyes she cracked open the door and peeked at the clock on the microwave.

She'd been in the bathroom now for almost 15 mins since she last said to Simon to head into the back bedroom to wait.

She flicked the light off and stepped out to be in front of the bedroom door.

Gripping the handle and taking another breath in, she slowly pushed the door open and looked in as Simon lifted his head to meet her gaze, "Ah, there you are. For a moment I thought you'd gotten lost or something" he chuckled nervously to break the tension.

Jeanette giggled a little and stepped into the room, closing the door behind her.

For a moment she stood near the door as Simon sat, waiting on the bed.

Eventually Simon, again, broke the silence, "You ok?"

Jeanette nodded as Simon patted a spot next to him, "Room for two?"

Jeanette smiled and knelt on the edge of the bed, Simon slowly looking her up and down and giving her a soft smile when he met her eyes again, "Would it help if I held my hands behind my back?"

Jeanette giggled, "No, that'd be weird, you don't need to do that"

There was a silence again before Simon brought his knee up and leant on it with one elbow, "Look, you're totally in control here Jeanette, I'm not going to rush you" he made a sideways smile, "But before you know it, it's going to be morning and we're still going to be sitting like this"

Jeanette bit her bottom lip smiling, "Yeah I know" she took a breath in and closed her eyes, slowly she shrugged out of the robe and inched herself closer on the bed.

Simon felt his breath caught and the knot in his stomach tighten.

Jeanette sat with the robe around her middle, with her shoulders exposed and neck begging to be kissed.

Simon knew he probably should have waited for Jeanette to give him the full go ahead, but even that small amount of flesh showing was enough to send his hormones racing.

He lunged forward and kissed her on her lips, giving Jeanette an initial shock, but soon she found herself returning the gesture.

Simon made his way down her neck and shoulders, kissing them softly as he made sure to relax his hands around her waist, forcing himself to keep the glued there.

Jeanette closed her eyes and ran her hands up along Simon's chest, over his shoulders and down his back as Simon carefully calculated the ease he'd need to slowly reveal more of Jeanette under her robe.

She allowed him to and helped by removing her arms from the sleeves.

They took a break as Simon sat back up, taking in Jeanette's beauty.

To her, she was pale, with an under developed chest and a gawky thin frame.

But to Simon, she was the epitome of gorgeousness and he wanted that moment of staring intently at her, clad in white and lilac, to continue forever.

He smiled again, unable to hide it and ran his hands up and down her sides, "You truly are beautiful, and all I want to do is kiss you all over, all night"

Jeanette felt her face flush, but couldn't hide her smile as she leant in, hugging into Simon, who needed to steady himself with one hand as he was pushed backwards.

He sat himself back up and held close to Jeanette, tugging the blanket between them to cover himself and hide any indecency.

He knew what he felt, and he knew what he wanted, but he also respected Jeanette too much to allow his own wants take over.

And so they spent the next hour or so kissing, caressing and admiring each other before falling asleep in each other's arms.

Brittany awoke.

Although she wasn't awake.

She felt like she was hovering above herself.

Like an out of body moment.

She watched the scene unfolding below and wanted to scream to herself to warn herself of what was to come and end the scene playing out.

She cried out then for her real self to wake up, but neither were working.

Instead she was forced to rewatch the horror once more.

She was sitting on the edge of the mattress and looked at Kevin, who was reclined back slightly, resting on his elbow.

"I'm glad you've agreed then"

"What do I have to do?" she said quietly, lowering her head slightly.

She heard a muffled snigger come from the shadows and frowned, "What do I have to do Butch?"

Kevin held up a hand as the sniggering came to an abrupt halt, and his face twisted into a tormented grin, "You will give yourself to me"

Brittany's eyes widened in horror, "I what?"

Kevin leant in closer, making Brittany scramble herself backwards, "You heard me; I've always wanted to see what it'd be like to pop that innocent cherry of yours"

Brittany shook her head, tears forming in her eyes, "You cannot be serious?!

Kevin's face lowered as he glared at her, "I'm dead serious" and he lunged towards her.

She rolled to the side and onto the cold floor, narrowly missing being grabbed.

Kevin twisted his head towards her and snarled, "I promise I'll be gentle" he smirked as the demented laughter roared up behind her, Kevin nodding with his head, "I can't promise they'll be as gentle though"

Brittany looked quickly behind her, looking up at a split second and swiping at the bare globe. The light now cascading over another four bodies all watching and waiting their turn with a sick look in their eyes and wild smiles across their faces.

She turned back to Kevin, who was getting to his feet, "You're sick. This is sick, and wrong! I'm not going to be a part of your perverted gangbang!" she called out

Kevin was neither listening nor interested in her whiny pleas, "You said you were willing to do anything. This is what I want. Give me what I want and we'll all be fine. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way" he stood up and stepped closer to Brittany.

She sized him up and flicked her eyes upwards then back at Kevin, who stood only an arm's length away.

"I choose…HARD WAY!" she yelled and batted at the globe so hard it shattered on the ceiling with an incredible pop.

Thrown into darkness Brittany ducked down and made a quick escape towards the stairs.

Kevin yelling out, "%$# ing b*tch!" his voice was thunderous as he called out instructions to the posse who were to be the audience and fellow participants, "Get after her, don't let her %$# ing escape you bunch of d*ckheads!"

Brittany heard them scramble and head off after her, she groped with her hands and felt the shelving, using all her might to rattle the shelf unsteady and push it away from her.

It began to fall slowly and she managed to grasp at something that felt like an extension cord pulling it free as she turned and scrambled up the stairs.

The shelf collapsed with a deafening thud and she heard the howls of pain as it seemed a few had been under it.

Brittany continued to clamber up the stairs and had reached the top step finally.

She stretched up and reached for the handle, turning it and pushed the door open.

She hoisted herself up and was about to head out the door to freedom when someone clamped around her ankle, "You're not getting away that easily you %$# ing skank!"

She turned and saw Kevin's white knuckles grip tightly around her ankle, squeezing it.

She screamed in pain.

It felt as if he could snap the bone.

He tugged back, making her slip and fall down onto her chest first, dropping the cord as she landed.

She hit the ground hard and immediately felt winded, gasping to regain a normal breathing pattern.

She felt her phone crack in her jacket pocket and her house key poked into her side.

She tried to kick with her free hand, but Kevin was quicker and reached up and grabbed on to her other ankle, pulling her back into the depths of darkness.

She cried, the tears staining her cheeks, as she felt her body slump back down one, two steps.

"When I say you'll do what I say, I mean it!" Kevin called out.

She looked ahead and noticed the cord she'd dropped within reach.

Desperately she swiped at it and twisted her body to lasso it back like a whip at Kevin.

The prongs dug into the side of his face as the plug itself whipped onto his jaw with the rest of the cord slapping around his head and neck.

Kevin let go momentarily and howled; Brittany seizing her moment and began to scramble urgently back up the stairs on all fours.

She scrambled to her feet and quickly shut the door, then in haste, pushed the hallway table in front of the door.

She quickly surveyed her options; she knew it wouldn't take Kevin or his mates long to get out, so time was precious in her getaway.

Brittany looked at the front door but figured Kevin would have locked it, so instead she kicked her feet into motion and headed towards the back of the house.

As she ran through the house trying to figure her way to the back door she could hear the heaving of Kevin against the basement door and him calling out to his mates to hurry up and help him; to not let her get away.

Racing through the kitchen Brittany rattled at the back door.

It was locked.

She stomped her foot in frustration and checked all around, hoping she wouldn't be caught.

She looked down and noticed the large dog door, and pushing aside the fact this was not the most dignified way of exiting, she forced her way through, hoping the Tommerson's dog was either really friendly or no longer with them.

Thankfully the dog had passed away a number of years ago, and the yard was an empty reminder.

Brittany ran into the middle of the moonlit yard and spun around, trying to calculate what the hell she was going to do next.

Then she heard a frightening crash and thud from in the house and Kevin yelling, "I'll %$# ing kill that whore!"

Brittany's heart skipped a beat or two as her mind was flooded with the possible scenarios of what would happen to her if Kevin found her; there was no way he'd ever let her live.

That was the scary thing about Kevin; the fact that he was so unpredictable, he would be capable of murder, and he wouldn't care.

Brittany noticed a scrap heap at the back of the yard, and ran towards it, scrambling up it as fast as she could.

Ignoring her fear of heights, the thought of creepy crawlies and snakes and the fact she could get tetanus just from touching the scrap, she steadied herself on the edge of the fence as Kevin burst through the back door, "Get back here, little b*tch!"

Brittany closed her eyes and leapt down, dropping to the ground.

She cried out as she landed, knowing she'd landed awkwardly, but managed to will herself up and began running down the laneway that ran along the back of the Tommerson's house.

She could hear as Kevin and his mates were climbing up the scrap head; Kevin yelling instructions, "Don't let the b*tch get away!" then calling out to Brittany, "I'll make you pay for thinking you could ever outsmart me, you %$# ing..."

Brittany ran full pelt as fast and as far as she could, but she knew those guys were faster than she was; they were all subs for the football team, and she could never out run them.

She needed somewhere to hide out.

Approaching the street she thought of heading left towards home, but quickly diverted her thinking and headed right, jumping a low fence a few houses up and pressing herself, quietly into the bushes.

From here she could see the opening of the laneway to watch and see where Kevin and the others ran to.

From there she could make a decision as to which way to go.

Brittany tried desperately to control her breathing.

"One, two, three" she counted to herself, "In, out, in, out"

She heard the rushed, frantic padding of their feet and pulled the branches more around herself as she watched silent and still the bodies emerge from the laneway; their faces flushed from rage and adrenalin.

Kevin looked up and down the street, "She can't have gotten too far" he said to his mates, who were also looking up and down the street.

"I reckon she'd be heading home alright" said one of the guys.

Kevin punched him in the arm, "You think?! %$# me" as he started left down the street away from Brittany's hiding place, the others in tow behind him.

Brittany watched as they searched behind walls and fenced, kicking in bushes and swiping in shrubs to check for a teenage Chipette body.

She watched as their bodies became smaller and voices trailed off.

Kevin Tommerson lived in a pretty dodgy part of the neighbourhood, so it didn't surprise Brittany that no one had come to her aid; the people around here were probably used to that psycho screaming and ranting and terrorising the neighbourhood to be bothered to do anything.

Turning a blind eye.

Brittany's mind wandered as she conjured up scenarios where by Kevin had done away with numerous other girls who tried to escape his demented plans and didn't, ending up at the bottom of the scrap heap; the neighbours simply turning their TVs up louder so as to drown out the noise.

She shuddered and clutched at her chest, realising her lucky escape.

But she wasn't home free yet.

She had told Miss Miller she was staying at Courtney's house, a girl from cheerleading, to prep some cheers for the pep rally in a couple of months' time, with the knowledge that only she knew Courtney was heading away with her folks for the weekend; something thankfully, neither Eleanor or Jeanette knew about either.

Or Alvin for that matter.

The thought of Alvin then made Brittany start to whimper and cry.

She pulled her phone out from her jacket pocket and checked it over.

The battery had come dislodged from the casing, probably when she'd been pulled to the ground, and there was a small crack on the top right hand corner of the screen.

She fitted the battery back in and turned it on, holding the screen close to her chest to avoid the light shining out.

Peeking through the bushes again, Brittany noticed the street was quiet.

She glanced down at her phone and noticed the time; almost 10:30pm.

Brittany looked up at the house and thought of running inside, demanding the owners to call the police.

But she didn't know them, and figured it they couldn't be bothered to come out and help her after the commotion of the house brawl, why would they assist her now.

She needed someone she could trust.

But also someone who wouldn't say a word about tonight to anyone.

She shook her head trying to think straight; knotting her hair in some twigs.

She pulled her hair free and smoothed it down.

"OK" she thought, her breathing becoming more regular, "I know Kevin lives on Swinebourgh Drive…who lives close by?"

Her mind raced through the people in her year, and finally she stopped at one name, "Emma Rigby"

Brittany peeked back through the bushes and noticing the coast was clear, she struggled out of the bushes as quietly as she could and started quickly in the opposite direction to Kevin.

Emma Rigby was a sweet girl.

She was friendly to everyone, and loved to help out those in need.

She was always hanging about the nurse's station to offer a tissue, or a hug or a lemon drop to whoever was waiting.

Emma had an intellectual delay, and she was exactly the person Brittany needed to be around.

Someone with a caring heart, whose simple mind wouldn't ask too many questions, but who would offer the compassion Brittany so desperately needed right now.

"Emma lives on Montegue Road, which is only 4 blocks away" Brittany thought, as she paced along, listening out for anything irregular sounds in the night, "I need to get there. I'll explain to Emma that I was out for a run and tripped into a bush. I knew she lived by and thought if she could help me"

Brittany shook her head, "Gosh I feel terrible using her charity this way"

Brittany eased herself making a promise to try and get to know Emma a little more after this night was over; to visit her at the nurse's station even when she wasn't sick, just to have a decent conversation with her.

As Brittany neared closer to Montegue Street she looked again at the time; 10:50pm.

Would Emma even be up at this time?

She'd come this far, she had to keep going; she'd create a story that her car broke down or something, and she walked knowing Emma's house was close by.

Brittany rolled her eyes, "Geez, even that's lame for you Brittany" she said to herself

She checked all the houses, studying them carefully in the moonlight, trying to recall which was Emma's, when she heard the sound of feet, moving quickly, like jogging, on the footpath and faint voices calling to each other.

"You cannot be serious" she thought, her chest suddenly tightening, "How have they moved so quickly?"

She looked about, trying to find somewhere to hide; but every garden in Emma's street was pruned back to perfection, with only small garden ornaments and birdbaths in the lawns.

Nothing to hide behind, or under.

She thought of running back the way she'd come, but realised if she could hear their footsteps, chances were they'd be able to hear hers if she tried to run.

There'd be no time to cross the street either.

She saw a tree up ahead along the path and decided to test her quick climbing ability.

There was enough foliage on the tree that she should be covered, so long as she remained perfectly still and silent.

Brittany was thankful that being a Chipette, it meant she had the advantage of being able to see a little better in the darkness; it appeared the group hadn't noticed her yet.

She side stepped onto the grass and padded along, launching herself at the tree and gripping at the branches before hoisting herself up.

She quickly and quietly sat high up in the branches and waited.

She was breathing heavily from that feat, but the years of cheerleading had paid off.

Brittany could hear the group coming closer, Kevin sounded majorly pissed off, "%$# I can't believe you idiots let her get away!" he whispered loudly, "I nearly had me some of that ass and you couldn't even keep track of her"

Brittany held onto the branch, holding her breath and keeping to a ninja like state of mind, as they regrouped under the very tree she was hiding in.

"Maybe we should give up" one of the guys said, "I'm %$# ing beat"

Kevin lashed out and punched the guy in the arm, "We'll finish when I say we're finished"

He looked about up and down the street, as another pointed out, "Told ya we should've split up, we could've found her quicker"

Kevin grabbed at his head and shook it side to side, "Stop telling me what we should have done! It's no %$# ing good now is it"

He grunted and let out a frustrated sigh before tuning and kicking the trunck of the tree.

Brittany grabbed tight and braced herself, ensuring she didn't scream in fright of falling right on top of them.

Kevin ran his fingers through his sweaty hair and took a breath in, "Fine. Fine we'll head home, %$# that was our only chance you know that?!" he whipped another of his mates with a back hand, "We could've tapped into something amazing there"

The group started off back down the street and Brittany could hear them asking Kevin, "But what about when we get back at school? Reckon she'll blab to Alvin? Or her sisters?"

Kevin shook his head, his mind focused, "Nah, if she knows what's %$# ing good for her, she'll keep her damn mouth shut. I'll %$# ing get her though. I'll get the both of them. If I can't have Brittany Miller, no one can, 'specially not that %$# ing rat Alvin" he took a swift kick at a flowerbed, sending petunias and clumps of dirt airborne, before the group wandered across the road and round the corner

Brittany, after a couple more minutes gasped for air before lowered herself out of the tree.

She stood a moment of two at the base of the tree, gripping her chest and catching her breath.

After another minute or so, she regained her composure and started walking quickly back towards the direction of her house.

She almost jumped at the tingle of a text message and pulled her phone out, "Jst wantd 2 say. Hope ur havin a gr8 time Courts. C u moro babe. Alvin xx"

Brittany felt her eyes tingle with the oncoming of tears.

She thought about heading back home and telling the girls she came home due to stomach cramps and just wanted to be home.

Jeanette and Eleanor would fall for that.

Brittany pulled her hair out, gathered it into a messy bun and pulled off the small twigs, leaves and such that had stuck to her jacket and skirt.

She brushed herself off as best she could and sent a quick message to Eleanor, knowing she'd probably be awake more than Jeanette, saying she was on her way home, with cramps and just wanted to get to bed.

In a matter of minutes, Eleanor replied, "Aww poor Britt :( I'll wait up 4 u. MM already sound asleep. So is Jen. Come in bak door. Xxx"

Brittany smiled softly and made her way silently through the night.