Exactly a week after I last updated. Yes, it's true I am awesome. lol. I wrote a lot of this slowly this week in-between fits of boredom and decided to finish it today. Incredibly nervous about a job interview later today (wish me luck) which means I probably shouldn't have stayed up as late as I am. lol. But what better way to relax the nerves and chase the chitters away than writing? so here we go.

Hope and pray it doesn't suck.

He said 'Goodbye' to her that night; walking Brittany back to her door and kissing her lightly.

"I love you…" he'd whispered slowly and softly, as if to draw out the meaning.

He hugged her again, hard. His arms wrapping so snuggly around her she almost lost her breath. As if he was afraid she may disappear if he let go. She hugged him back, afraid if she didn't she, herself would disappear. It was like he was reading her mind again.

Maybe sensing how troubled she'd been of the late.

Maybe he somehow knew about the dilemma with Alvin.

Brittany quickly diminished the thought. He was just trying to comfort her. He was letting her know he was here whenever she needed him. He was asking if she'd be there for him to, hoping this wasn't some kind of one sided relationship.

When he pulled away he said it again.

"I love you, Brittany." He whispered before adding. "No matter what."

"I- I love you too, Stephen." She murmured so softly she wasn't even sure he heard it.

But then when he smiled she knew he did.

Brittany couldn't put her finger on it… but there was something off about him. She just wasn't sure what it was. She even started to ask him but before she could get the words out he was gone. Brittany sucked a breath in as she watched his Mustang slide out of the driveway. She put up her hand and waved at him before departing into home.

The door shut swiftly behind her and Brittany slowly made her way back up to her room. She swathed herself in her thoughts, a tiny voice inside her screaming that something was wrong. That he seemed weird tonight. Why had he come to her in the middle of the night anyway? Because she had cancelled their movie plans?

No, Stephen…

He's never done that kind of thing before… And the way he'd said goodbye to her… Had that been her imagination? Maybe she was just over thinking things… being too dramatic again.

She could have sworn she saw her sister move when Brittany reentered the room. But when she cocked an eyebrow and starred at the green clad figure for several moments… nothing happened. If Eleanor was awake she didn't make any motion to her.

Brittany sighed, slowly climbing back into her bed.

Whatever was going on they'd deal with it in the tomorrow… Isn't that what Jeanette was always saying… or maybe it was Eleanor.

"Everything looks better in the morning."

Brittany stood in front of the round wall mirror hanging above the sink lightly dabbing powder on her face. She leaned in as close as possible, glaring viciously at her right cheek… a small blemish, unseen to the naked eye but completely and totally obvious to Brittany. She let out a strangled, frustrated cry and pouted her lips before sighing. She snorted, throwing her makeup brush aside and storming out of the bathroom.

"What's the matter, Brittany?" Jeanette called from just down the hall.

"Just a stupid pimple" Brittany grunted, slipping back into their room.

She found Jeanette standing next to a bookcase directly across from her blue clad bed. One pawned hand was placed on the shelf that was level with her chin, the other hand grasped a yellow hardback book. When Brittany entered the room the chipette had looked up and turned her body out to face Brittany. When her sister didn't make any move towards her, Jeanette quickly crossed the room to carefully examine her Brittany's face.

"I don't see anything…" Jeanette murmured after some time. "I don't think anyone will notice."

"Give the drama queen a break," Eleanor called from the other side of the room. "She was up late… sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night…"

Brittany grimaced just as Jeanette gasped.

"You snuck out!" Her sister exclaimed.

"She sure did," Eleanor confirmed. The green clad chipette quickly closed the distance between her and her sisters. "My only question is… why?"

Brittany hung her head.

"Yeah," Jeanette agreed. "Why? Mrs. Miller would be really disappointed if she found out."

Here we go…

"I messed up, guys." Brittany confessed.

"It couldn't have been that bad." Jeanette squeaked.

"It was bad." Brittany confirmed.

"Are we talking… like the time you broke Mrs. Miller's favorite vase," Jeanette asked.

"And when she asked about it you just shrugged" Eleanor added. "And responded…"

"What vase?" Eleanor and Jeanette chorused, throwing up their hands in sync.

Eleanor rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that plan lasted like three seconds."

"Or bad like the time Mrs. Miller gave each of us some money to spend on Dave's birthday present" Jeanette asked.

"And you came home with a pack of gel pens for Dave…" Eleanor said.

"And new shoes for you" Jeanette finished.

"Mrs. Miller was so mad!" Eleanor cried.

"Heh heh…" Brittany said in mocked laughter. "As fun as those times were… this was MUCH worse."

"Really?" Eleanor asked suddenly intrigued. "Tell us!" She exclaimed urgently.

"I-"Brittany began. "Maybe I should start at the beginning…" she proposed.

"Alright." Jeanette agreed.

As the girls readied themselves for the opposing day at school Brittany began telling her sisters in detail exactly what had transpired in the last few weeks. And she told them everything… How she'd constantly compared Alvin and Stephen… and it was only when she stopped doing so that she realized how wonderful Stephen was. She told them that she loved him which caused the girls to squeal with joy.

And then how suddenly Alvin had come crashing back into her life… disrupting everything she had planned… making her rethink everything that she knew… how she was in the middle of finally choosing between the two… when they kissed.

No, Stephen didn't know about it.

No, Stephen had hardly spoken to Alvin.

No, he didn't know she'd even started talking to the boy again.

Yes, Alvin did know everything.

Finally as they pulled on their coats, Brittany sighed… finally finishing with her story.

"I'm going to meet Alvin before school at the park." She told her sisters. "To finally… tell him… that I've made my choice…"

"And what's that?" Eleanor asked.

"You're not going to break up with Stephen are you?!" Jeanette gaped.

"None of this was fair to him," Eleanor pointed out.

Brittany shrugged. "I'll let you know when my mind finally makes up IT'S mind." She replied.

"Wait." Jeanette asked urgently. "Then what are you going to say to him."

Brittany shrugged again. "I don't know… I figured… I figure it out when I got there… I thought that maybe it'll just come to me… and I'll just KNOW what to do."

"Well…" Eleanor said. "If you want my advice."

"Which I don't" Brittany interrupted.

Eleanor rolled her eyes. "I think you should tell Stephen EVERYTHING. Even if you do choose him… he has the right to know… and if you don't tell him… someone else will."

"What?!" Brittany cried in shock, betrayal… Her own sister… She wouldn't…. "You'd do that?!" Brittany gasped.

"No." Eleanor said with a firm shake of her head. "Of course not, Brittany"

The eldest chipette seemed to sigh in relief.

"But he's bound to find out." Jeanette replied.

"If it comes from you… then maybe he'll take it… a little easier." Eleanor offered.

"Or maybe he'll hate me either way…" Brittany grumbled.

**********

They'd met in the park around the corner from their house… waving goodbye as their siblings departed without them. The place was deserted when Brittany got there. She waited on a swing, which was just a plank of wood attached to two long chains. Her feet dangled down… touching the woodchips scattered across the field where bits of snow lingered.

When he approached her she looked up, matching his eyes with hers. He seemed nervous… his hands fidgeting and his eyes darting around. Alvin wordlessly took a seat next to her on the opposing swing… and they sat there for a while… just thinking… their eyes staring straight forward into the horizon.

She clasped the chain tightly and slowly turned to him.

"I… still don't know what to say to you." Brittany admitted.

She bit her lip. Brittany just figured that once she got to this point everything would just come to her. All the answers she was looking for… but now… she wasn't so sure… Why did he have to push it? Why did he have to keep pestering her… changing things… drawing out feelings as she struggle to keep them at bay.

"Why can't you just leave me alone?" Brittany finally questioned. "Why do you have to keep doing THIS to me?"

"Doing this to you?" Alvin repeated. "You asked me to come here."

"You know what I mean. Why couldn't you have just left it as is…?" Brittany continued. "We could have just… just stayed where ever we were… Things didn't have to be like this."

"Where we were?"

"You could have moved on… we could have started dating other people… we could have-"

"But we didn't." Alvin interrupted. "So why are we even talking about it?"

"Because… I'm… confused," Brittany finished. "And you're not making it any easier."

She saw him move out of the corner of her eye… He spun the swing in a half turn, forming an 'X' with the chains so he could face her.

"I never meant to hurt you Brittany…" he whispered.

The wind suddenly whipped up and spun around them. Her hair flew up in a wave before softly falling around her as the wind died down.

"I didn't." Alvin assured her, leaning in to brush the hair out of her face.

Their knees were touching now, the sensation sent shivers down her spin. Brittany's stomach growled and she realized she hadn't had breakfast. She closed her eyes faintly, the gears in her mind turning. Brittany swallowed.

"Well, you did." She finally muttered, casting her voice off to the wind.

"You need to not do this anymore." Brittany whispered. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I can't take it anymore…"

Her voice cracked. "We- we broke up. And this… this proves we can't just be friends after… we just can't."

"I don't want to be just friends with you." Alvin finally said.

Brittany opened her eyes, drawing them out to look at him before slowly drifting down. She gulped. "I need time." Brittany whispered. "I don't think we should see each other too much anymore…"

"What?!" Alvin was obviously surprised. "You're- You're seriously going to do this. You're choosing him over me?"

Brittany shrugged. "I'm not choosing anyone."

"But- you're still gonna keep talking to him?" Alvin questioned.

Brittany nodded. "Yeah,"

"And you don't wanna talk to me?" He asked.

"Yeah," Brittany agreed.

"It sounds like you already made your choice then." He scoffed.

" I just- I need to not see you for awhile." She decided.

Alvin was silent for a while before abruptly leaping out of his seat and stuffing his hands in his pockets, turning his back to her. "Whatever," He muttered, quickly marching away.

The swing swung a little in his wake, twisting and swaying a few times as if it drifted back and forth. Brittany stayed where she was. Their first class would be starting any time now… but suddenly school didn't seem so appetizing.

Brittany rose from her seat, the swing drifting idly in her wake and stretched. She suppressed a sigh as she dug out her phone… quickly hitting the right number on her speed dial before holding it up to her ear. Brittany didn't know why… but suddenly she didn't want to be alone… and even though the walk from her street to the school was short… she didn't feel she had the guts to take it.

It was as if they had broken up all over again, memories flashing back across her mind like an old film strip. Brittany saw them walking to school together, holding hands… kissing… before quickly shutting her eyes, determined to focus on something else. Someone else.

The phone rang several times, the noise vibrating, echoing through her eardrums. First a quiet click interrupted the ringing of the phone. Then there was soft static and noises going in and out as someone fumbled with the receiver. Shivers ran down her spine and she found the ends of her lips lifting slightly in a half smile as it was finally answered; his voice suddenly in her ear.

"Brittany?" Stephen questioned. "What's up? Where are you?"

She could hear voices in the background; someone shouting, a loud squeal, locker doors slamming shut.

"Can you come pick me up?" She asked, cutting to the chase.

"What?" Stephen asked. "Do you know what time it is?"

Brittany gritted her teeth. "Yes. I know what time it is. Can- Can you just come?!"

Then as if reading her mind… or maybe it was some kind of sixth sense he had developed, he responded: "Brittany… what's wrong…?"

Brittany swallowed, pondering for a minute if she should spill her beans right then and there…. But instead she breathed, taking in a shaky breath. "Just get here…" She said quietly before adding, "…Please…"

She hadn't meant for her voice to sound so desperate, so weak, so pleading… but it had already been released from her lips before she had the chance to stop and correct it.

Stephen must have sensed it because before she knew it he was agreeing, no convincing needed. "Yeah, I'll be there in a minute." Stephen assured her. "Where are you?"

She told him, her feet weighing down on her with every step.

Brittany hung up the phone, pushing her thoughts and memories away… anything that had to do with Alvin. She needed to not think of him… but for some reason she did. For some reason she couldn't help it. Left alone with her thoughts they began to wander, fighting to elapse away from Alvin.

That was the point of this, she thought. To forget about him… to think of other things… to prove that she could really… move on.

She was only beside herself for several more minutes before she heard Stephen's car pull up, then the sound of his footsteps as he made his way toward the swing that she'd somehow wandered back to. He stood in front of her not saying anything for several seconds and then quickly bending down so they were at eye level. Stephen pulled Brittany in, his arms wrapping around her back, hugging her softly.

"I was really worried," Stephen said. "You said please"

He stood up again, tugging on her arm a little pulling her after him.

"But it's alright…" he managed. "It'll be OK."

Brittany paused. "I'm not so sure about that."

"Why?" Stephen asked.

Brittany shrugged again before looking down. "Because… of what I'm about to tell you…"

Stephen watched her curiously. "Tell me? What?"

She bit her lip. "But first…" Brittany murmured. "I have to show you something…"

She took a few steps forward, dragging him behind her like a suitcase on wheels. They made it just outside of the park before Stephen snatched his hand away, stopping Brittany in her tracks. She spun around to face him.

"What's so important?" He wanted to know. "Don't we have to get back to school?" Stephen questioned.

Brittany locked with his gaze. "Look, If I don't tell you now… I'm not sure I ever will." She admitted. "And… you deserve to know."

"Know what?" Stephen questioned.

"Follow me?" Brittany asked.

Stephen sighed, taking her hand again.

Brittany led him along the boulevard and several houses down until they were directly across the street from her own white paneled house. The clear windows seemed to blink at them as the wind blew causing the sheer lacy curtains to sway. Perhaps asking silently why she was returning home so soon. Why she wasn't at school where she belonged. Was she skipping? Where were he sisters?

Brittany turned Stephen so he was directly in front of her, perhaps blocking the view of one Mrs. Miller. Whom Brittany knew would be asking these same questions… except MUCH louder.

Brittany swallowed, directing her attention back to the task at hand.

"I have something to tell you…" She began. "You probably don't want to hear it but… you have to listen… alright?"

She stood starch still as he moved in… kissing her lightly… she let him… and didn't move for several seconds. She held his hand in hers, Stephen's back to the quiet street behind them.

"Ok," He agreed. "Shoot."

Brittany swallowed. "This house…" she began "Is Alvin's…"

Stephen's face literately dropped; his eyes went incredibly wide, his mouth fell slightly agape, and his eyebrows flew up almost meeting his hair line. She watched his eyes as they slowly moved, changing their gaze; which up till now had been locked on her. They carefully rose up, taking in the fresh abode behind her. When his eyes fell back down Brittany looked away, determined not to meet them.

"Here? You live… right across the street from him?!" Stephen exclaimed.

Brittany shrugged as if this somehow could serve as an answer.

"How? Why didn't you tell me?" Stephen wanted to know.

You never asked, Brittany thought. But realizing that wasn't exactly what he wanted to hear she avoided the question, instead choosing to move on.

"He has two brothers… you must have noticed them by now while we were in school?" She asked.

When Stephen shook his head Brittany sighed.

"Simon, and Theodore Seville… we all grew up together…" She explained. "We were more than just friends…"

When Stephen's eyebrows shot up she quickly added. "Best friends. All of us. That's what I was going to say. I've known him longer than anyone else other than my sisters… And… Dave?" She drew out the last words, watching his face for understanding.

Stephen nodded, signaling that he remembered. "Don't tell me… is he their brother or something too?"

Brittany chuckled for a minute. "No, he's their… dad… sorta…"

"So you lied." Stephen said.

It wasn't a question. His deadly stare told her that.

Brittany's face went serious. "No- I-"she stopped suddenly. "l… Just listen."

Stephen nodded again.

"When I told you that I never talked to him anymore…" Brittany murmured. "That was a lie."

His eyes went even fiercer, realization dawning… she could feel his mind connecting the pieces.

"Everyday… for the past month or so…" Brittany said. "I've been walking to school and talking to… and hanging out with- with… Alvin."

She waited but Stephen didn't respond. It was as if he had been frozen solid. She didn't think he was even breathing. He didn't blink. She could see what must have been water collecting in the corners of his eyes as if he knew what was coming. His bold, brilliant gold eyes dimmed somehow, fixed with a mixture of confusion and hurt. Brittany looked away.

"Then… the other day… She murmured, memories flashing in her eyes. "We… you and me… we were supposed to go the movies."

He dropped her hands. "I remember." Stephen managed.

"You called that day… asking when I wanted to go… but I'd forgotten and had to do something else." Brittany recalled.

Stephen nodded.

"I was with Alvin that day…" She said. "And… we didn't mean to. I mean- it's not like it was planned or anything. But- he kissed me… and… I kissed back… we kissed…"

She waited a few more moments but Stephen didn't say anything. She didn't expect him to… but it impossible not to see his expression slowly changing.

Brittany gulped. "Today, though. I told him that I didn't want to see him anymore." She waited for his response.

For what seemed like ages Stephen didn't say a word. He didn't flinch or nod. Brittany didn't even think he blinked. For a second she was going to check to see if he was still breathing but the slow rising and falling motion of his chest assured her that he was.

"Stephen?" Brittany questioned after sometime.

She watched him close his eyes, leaving them that way for several seconds before blinking his eyes open.

He took in a sharp inhale. "Is that all?"

Brittany swallowed before nodding. "That's all."

He locked in her gaze. Brittany took in his gold, gallant orbs as big and wide as the sun surrounded by specs of star dust. They were easily one of the most beautiful things about him. But that day… Brittany swore they the saddest things she ever saw.

"That's. All." He said repeated, wanting her to be sure.

"Yeah," she said quickly, immediately apologizing. "I'm sorry, Stephen. I'm so sorry."

"Me too…"

"Do you hate me?"

She expected to hear exactly what she knew she deserved. And even braced herself for it… but somehow wasn't surprised when Stephen took her hand.

"I could never hate you, Brittany." He assured her.

And just like that, all was forgiven.

And that's all she wrote.

What do you think?

I want to hear your thoughts about this chapter

and of course opinions on my writing. Good and bad.