Brittany's Point of View
Alvin's been acting differently ever since I almost drowned two days ago. Everyone could see it and I knew why. Obviously he thought it was all his fault; it was for the most part, but how could I be angry? I willingly stepped out onto that ice, knowing the risks. Normally, I'd have gotten red in the face out of pure anger towards Alvin's responsibility, but I acted just as responsible. When I was told that after all the irresponsible actions that Alvin saved me, I reasoned with my common sense and decided to give him a second chance. Why did he save me instead of taking his usual route by leaving everyone else to do the work? The answer seemed simple: he could have been guilty or he didn't want to lose me, however it was more complicated than it seemed. I was so much more than grateful, but it raised so many questions about him and me.
His actions now were more different than I'd ever seen him. I had no idea what came over him lately; didn't he know I forgave him? I figured we were good after his action, but something bothered him. He wasn't as mischievous -he just sat around either in our room or in the open area-, he avoided me whenever he could, giving us no chance to talk, and the general mood he brought with him when he entered the room, it just wasn't as… Alviny. I was positive that I could cheer him up, but I needed to do it at the right time.
"You guys know what today is, right?" Dave asked enthusiastically as we all sat at the breakfast table in the kitchen. With all these thoughts about Alvin, it took me a while to realize how important today was. Before anyone could speak, Theodore opened his mouth and nearly shouted.
"Christmas Eve!" The innocent, childish way he said it, yeah that was more than enough to cheer anyone up; even Alvin had trouble suppressing a smile. Theodore's innocence was like the rattle that a baby so desperately wanted. It always sprung smiles and laughs, but at times could be completely confusing.
"That's right!" Dave exclaimed, "Eleanor, if you don't mind, would you help me start cooking tonight's dinner?"She nodded excitedly and hopped from her spot away from me and Jeanette and onto Dave's shoulder.
"Chef Eleanor at your service, sir!" She stated, giving Dave a salute.
"Ooh, I wanna help too!" Theodore piped up and soared to Dave's other shoulder. No objections were said and Dave asked us if we wanted to all help too, which we all quickly denied. That meant for today it would be me, Alvin, Simon and Jeanette spending some "quality time together." Obviously we wouldn't be doing that. What could four chipmunks do at a huge cabin with a hot-tub on Christmas Eve?
Alvin finished breakfast early and ran off quickly afterwards. I couldn't stop worrying about him. The geeky couple that consisted of my sister and Alvin's brother left for the outside world, something I wasn't quite ready to go back to yet. And Dave and Eleanor and Theodore ditched everyone to cook, kicking me out of the kitchen to find something to do alone. Something to do… Something to do… Sing? No one to sing for… Plan for Alvin's surprise! How do you plan when you give someone your heart? It wasn't literal, so that left out surgery. Do I just go for broke? I was debating asking Jeanette for advice; she was the only one here, who has actually dated a boy. I'm not saying I was all talk… I was just no action. I decided to wait for her to come back inside and started to the open area to dance.
Singing and dancing; both were what relieved me of my stress. They were both fun and got rid of any extra energy that I really didn't need. I twirled my way to the open area, not worrying about tripping over anything. What was there to trip over?
"Oof." I grunted, bumping into a mixture of fluffy brown fur and a red hoodie.
"Careful!" Alvin complained and glared at one of the mistletoe's in the Christmas tree. Then, realizing it was me, gently apologized, "Sorry for bumping into you." He stammered and started his way out.
"Wait," I called and he stopped, "Can we talk?"
"What about?" He asked, his mannerisms becoming a little more squeamish. His eyes fluttered to various sides of the room, but his head was lowered, keeping me from actual eye contact. He fidgeted a little with his hands and arms, though soon calmed down when I stepped closer. Never was he like this. I was sick of it; I wanted to scream at him, to tell him to snap out of it, but this kind of thing had to be handled gently.
"You just haven't been the same ever since our bet. You know you won and that I forgive you for making me go out, right?"
"You do?" He lightened up, but more with surprise and then quickly sank back, "I didn't win, you did. You were braver." Okay, I think he must have hit his head at some point, I clearly was NOT braver.
"Of course you won, you not only stayed on the ice longer than me, but you were brave enough to save me."
"No, that's not it. I lost the second you stepped near the ice." His voice was cold and I thought I could see a tear form, but like always, I was likely just imagining.
"But-" I started.
"Brittany if it weren't for me in the first place, you wouldn't need saving! I'm reckless whether I mean to be or not, but I'm also scared." He gently caressed my cheek with his shaky hand, "I don't want you out of my life, especially because of something I did. I'm scared to lose you. I-I-I," He stuttered, turned away from me, and sank. His tail folded around his feet and he shook, but did his best to cover up his sadness, "I'm just not right for you." He ran off, but I couldn't follow, too stunned to even know where I was. I couldn't think, I couldn't cry, I couldn't even move. I needed to slap the sense right back into him -he was out of it- but my conscience kept me from any form of attack.
"How could he think like that?" I thought, "Sure he lives a little on the dangerous side, but doesn't he know I really like him?" What was I doing that was pushing him away?
"I'm just not right for you…" That couldn't be him… It was his body, but those weren't his words. So what if I was at a little risk, every relationship had them. Could he not see that? I needed more than Jeanette, I needed someone who understood Alvin, even just a little, or at least let me know how to understand him. Simon.
"You see my problem though, don't you?" I asked the blue-sweatered chipmunk as he and my sister hung their coats. Hours outside, how the heck could they survive that?!
"I do." Simon answered simply.
"Then why won't you help me?"
"Brit, you're trying to get inside the mind of one the most impossible living creatures on the planet." He went along repeating what I had told him and Jeanette. All about how I was having these 'relationship problems' and that we couldn't communicate so easily. It sounded like an understatement to me, but that was probably because I was a part of it, "Really all you can do is take your time with him, be patient and hope that eventually he'll open up to you."
"You don't understand," I argued, "He said he was scared and that he wasn't right for me just because he threatened my life by accident. How can I convince him otherwise?"
"Just admit your full feelings for him." Jeanette chimed, "It worked with me and Simon and they're in the same gene pool, as are we. It shouldn't be all that different." She was mostly right. These two lovebirds really proved their feelings, they took down a twenty ton bulldozer! What the heck could I do?
"Well, I could give him his Christmas present a little early." I responded.
"That's a great start!" A start? Who was she kidding? It was perfect!
"Thanks, guys!" I said and hopped away with the satisfaction of knowing I could solve my problem.
The ringing of the dinner bell sung beautifully as we got the first scents of the platter Dave, Elli, and Theo set up. The dinner as a whole – unbelievable. Roasted vegetables and nuts, potatoes, and yes, even toaster waffles as well as all the Christmas classics; gingerbread cookies, candy canes (what was Dave thinking with all this sugar?) and chocolate. We ate to our stomach's content and finally, when we could eat no more, we sank in the open area with no sugar rush and listened to the crackle of another fire. Being a parent, I guess he found it relaxing to have with his family. Theodore was out quicker than the flicker of the fire, and my sisters and Simon sang a soft carol. Alvin acted like he had for most of this cabin trip, staring at the flames, while I was stuck under the tree, shaded from the light.
"Family time" didn't last long; the fire was put out even before it could reach it's peak.
Dave, carrying Theodore, was first to go to bed, soon followed by Simon, Jeanette, and Eleanor, who thought she was determined to stay up and see Santa. I hid behind the tree as I scouted Alvin watching the remaining embers and listening to the sizzling of the drenched logs. It was only when he finally stood that I took my plan into action. He walked past and I stepped out of the tree.
"Alvin," I said and he stopped dead in his tracks and turned around.
"Hey, Brit, why aren't you in bed for tomorrow?" He questioned me suspiciously.
"I thought we could... Hang out?" I fumbled with a response. Sure I planned out how the evening could go, but I forgot that he had a mouth to speak with, and a mind to think with. I didn't really plan out the important stuff, you know, the details!
"Hang out on Christmas Eve?" There was no way he bought it, "Really, what's wrong, Brit?" He was onto me already. Time for plan B. But was the best thing to do telling him the truth?
"I'm worried about you," I stated, "I want you to be comfortable around me and stop blaming yourself." I paused to wait for an answer, he looked up from the ground, finally giving me a view of his hazel eyes.
"I want that too, you know." He said, "I don't deserve you though."
"Ugh, are you still on that? Drop it. You saved me! You're more my hero than anything…"
"Hero?" He whispered and slowly walked up to me, "You honestly think I'm a hero?" I nodded and inched my way closer.
"Think of it this way," I pondered, "I'm still here, and I still want to be your girlfriend, no matter how many times you accidentally try to kill me." My voice dwindled to a whisper as I 'just happened' to look up. "Mistletoe." He looked up and gave it a strange look, like he thought it was dangerous, then, as he realized what I set up, he looked at me in my own soft blue eyes with his mouth wide open.
"Uhm…" I instantly shushed him with the tip of my finger then wrapped my arms around his neck. At first our lips only brushed past each other, but when he embraced me in a soft hug I knew I succeeded in my plan; pressing our lips together in a real kiss. I felt my knees go weak, but thankfully he held me up. The tingle in my lips and the soaring in my heart. These and the mere fact that I was kissing Alvin were what made me squeak once we parted.
"Wow…" I whispered, "That was…"
"Awesome." He said with a smile, but then added, "Whoops." A beep was sounded and before we knew it we were soaked with warm water from the hot-tub, "Aww, I knew it, wrong mistletoe." He looked at me apologetically, "That was kinda meant for Simon and Jeanette." Should I have been angry? Probably, I'd be going to bed unwillingly wet for the second time on the trip, but this was a good sign.
"It's okay," I forced a laugh, "You're being you again." My lips attacked his once more before heading off to bed, leaving him in bewilderment under the mistletoe.