The five chipmunks are chatting amiably in the detention room. In some ways, it's as if Alvin, Simon and Theodore had never left. There are, however, sudden lapses in conversation, as no one in the room dares to bring up the reason why the best friends hadn't spoken in almost three years. In the midst of one of these sudden silences, Theodore speaks up.

"I think we should really go and look for Ellie… she's probably calmed down by now, and needs a hug…" the chubby chipmunk blushes as he speaks.

'FINALLY… someone's talking some sense around here… what if Talbot sees her… she'll be stuck here in detention for the next month with Alvin…' Brittany sounds somewhat disturbed at the thought, while Alvin Seville just looks amused.

"Two of us should really stay here in case Talbot does decide to break his habit and actually check on us… and I nominate myself and Brittany."

Brittany Miller turns to look at the red capped chipmunk with an expression of assumed horror… cursing the thrill of excitement that shot down her spine. 'No way Alvin Seville, I am NOT going to be stuck here with you… why can't you go with Simon, while Jeanette and I stay here…or why can't Theodore stay?'

"Simon and I just moved back two months ago… we really need someone who knows their way around the school to find Eleanor quickly… and as for Theodore, he's probably the most likely to find her out of any of us…"

'I never thought this day would come… Alvin Seville is actually talking sense…' Simon grins at his brother, earning a mock glare before the red capped chipmunk turns towards Brittany with a lopsided grin. "Well, Brittany… you know I can't be trusted in here alone… I might set the building on fire!"

'I… guess you DO need someone competent to keep you out of trouble' Brittany tries to look reluctant as her heart begins to race. Simon, Jeanette and Theodore, having no time for their older siblings' flirty arguments, decide to leave, and split up outside.

"Ok, Jeanette and I will go left, Theo, you go right… whether we find her or not, we'll meet outside the detention room in fifteen minutes…" in the absence of Alvin, Simon is taking on the authoritarian 'leader of the group' role – a role that Jeanette feels absolutely suits him. She smiles shyly as she catches his eye, his cheeks turning slightly pink as he looks at her.

'Guys…' Theodore pipes up as they are about to head off, 'Don't get caught…'

Exchanging warm, wary smiles, the chipmunks head off in opposite directions.

Meanwhile, in the detention room, their older siblings are… not talking. Brittany has made a big show of filing her nails, while casting timid glances in the direction of Alvin Seville. Alvin, too, seems to have gone back to his scribbling, occasionally looking up, humming to himself, and frowning.

'Working on a new song?'

"Mmm hmmm"

Brittany is surprised. She knows that the chipmunks and chipettes have rarely performed original songs, the main exception being Girls of Rock and Roll ( her personal favourite… and not because she got to dance with Alvin in the video). She'd also never seen Alvin so hard at work before. Curious, she moves over to sit beside him, trying to peek over his shoulder.

"Now, now Brittany… I thought you were above snooping" Alvin snaps his notepad shut, turning towards the blushing chipette with his trademark grin.

'I wasn't snooping… I was just… doing my neck exercises…'

"Really… neck exercises…" Alvin turns towards her with a raised eyebrow, causing her to squirm. 'WHY does he have to have such blue eyes? I'm forgetting all my comebacks here!!!' she thinks (silently this time) to herself. Aloud, she speaks stiffly, 'Yes… neck exercises… what's the matter, can't a girl sit beside her former best friend and stretch her neck a bit?'

She turns to look at him with a challenging smile. Something in her voice, however, causes his eyes to darken slightly and he responds with a wry smile, "Yeah, I guess FORMER is the key word here, Britt…"

Brittany bristles at his sudden change in tone, but the sudden sadness about his air causes her to abandon all pretence, and heave a shuddering sigh.

'Yeah… former…'

Briefly, the two chipmunks look at each other, their eyes each revealing the depths of disappointment both feel at that single word. They quietly for awhile, lost in thought, before Brittany chooses, once again to break the silence.

'So… how was your date with Susie last night…'

"Susie? She's a great girl but… we both really knew there was nothing there… how did you know about it, anyway?" Alvin is surprised that his "date" with his former girlfriend had gone through the grapevine so quickly.

'Then why'd you ask her out?'

"Why not?"

'You think it's FUN just to play with people's emotions… to lead them on, to make them think you're the love of their lives… and then LEAVE without saying goodbye… and not one text, email or letter? Do YOU??? WELL SUSIE DESERVES BETTER THAN THAT!!!" flustered, Brittany seems to be fighting tears as she gets up, moving towards a seat at the front of the classroom, far away from the heartless Alvin Seville.

"Would you like it any better if I told you I was madly in love with her, always have been and always will be?" there's a sudden serious tone to Alvin's voice, which, in her emotional state, Brittany fails to notice.

'D-do you?'

Sighing, Alvin moves towards the front of the classroom, and takes her hand. "Brittany, Susie is just a friend. She needed a date for her mom's corporate dinner and her boyfriend was sick, so she asked me. She knows I don't have feelings for her, and I know it's the same for her…"

'Oh…' Brittany exhales in… relief? 'Well… it doesn't matter to me, Alvin Seville…'

"It shouldn't… apparently you've been dating Reuben since the beginning of sophomore year…"

Involuntarily, Brittany lets out a gasp. 'H-how did you know about that, anyway?'

"I may have moved away… but I didn't stop caring, Britt… I have my sources…"

'Yeah RIGHT you didn't stop caring… that's why you didn't bother to call… or text… or email… I could have been dead in a ditch at the end of freshman year and you'd never have known it…'

"If I knew you were dating Reuben… I think I'd know if you were dead in a ditch, Britt… I…"

'You what?'

"I actually came back for a visit… at the end of the year… I wanted to reassure myself that you were OK, and.... yeah… I found out…"

Brittany looks in shock at the chipmunk in front of her. According to him, he'd been in town to visit, and had never gotten in touch… yet… he'd always cared enough to make sure she was OK… Looking up into his sky blue eyes, she takes a deep breath.

'Alvin… Reuben and I actually broke up…'

Alvin's head snaps up, surprised. He'd been trying to keep himself from sounding bitter, but, for the first time in a while, his emotions get the better of him. Barely able to keep the hope out of his voice, he whispers, "why?"

'I… broke up with him… two months ago. Well a month and 29 days ago to be exact…' Brittany's cheeks are red, and she examines the floor.

"A month and 29 days ago… again… why?"

Taking a deep breath, Brittany decides to be honest; with Alvin and with herself. 'The day after I found out….youwerebackintown…' Blushing deeply, she turns her back to her best friend. She doesn't know WHY she just said what she did, but she knows it's the truth. She's just not quite sure what he thinks, and is suddenly afraid to find out.

As if he could sense her fear, Alvin reaches out and touches her shoulders, turning her gently but firmly to face him. With his finger, he lifts her chin, so that she's looking him directly in the eye.

He'd known exactly what he was going to say, but when he looked into her ice blue eyes, the words seemed to get jumbled up inside his head. For the first time in anyone's memory, Alvin Seville was tongue tied. Cupping her face in her hands, he leans down, showing her what he can't quite express in words, capturing her lips in a gentle but passionate kiss.