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She hadn't meant to, but on the way back to the Chipette's room from the bathroom, Jeanette had overheard almost every word of Mrs. Miller's conversation with Dave. "Alvin's missing?" Jeanette whispered to herself. "I have to tell Eleanor and Brittany!"

"Okay, guys" Dave said, driving slowly through the neighborhood in his plain, white van-the one he used when he wanted to drive around town without being recognized. The Chipmunks' trademark red, blue and green van was only for public events. "Let's think; where are some of Alvin's favorite places?"

"The ice cream parlor!" said Theodore, raising his hand in the air as if to say "Eureka!" Then he sighed. "No, that's one of the first places we'd think to look. Alvin wouldn't hide there."

"A very logical conclusion, Theodore," Simon agreed.

"We can't be sure he's hiding, boys. Maybe he's hoping we'll find him."

"Yeah!" Theodore's spirits lifted. "That must be it."

"I admire your optimism, Theodore," Simon said truthfully. "But I strongly doubt he would want us to find him; he's run away from home several times in the past, and each time he returned a few hours later. Now…I doubt he's planning to return-not this time."

Theodore sighed.

"You're right, Simon. I've never seen Alvin so angry."

"Alright, alright, guys. We need to focus," Dave shook his head. "If you were Alvin, where would you be?"

"Hell's heart, apparently…" Simon mumbled.

"What?" Dave frowned.

"Nothing…"

"That's all you heard?" Brittany asked Jeanette.

"That's all."

"Oh, poor Alvin!" said Eleanor.

"I wonder why Mrs. Miller hasn't told us yet?" Brittany frowned.

"She probably doesn't want to worry us," said Jeanette, shaking her head.

"Well…let's go ask her!" said Eleanor, already walking towards the door.

"Ask her what?" asked Jeanette and Brittany simultaneously.

"Why-and what-she hasn't told us."

The girls knocked gently on Mrs. Miller's door.

"Girls?" came the elderly woman's voice.

"Yes, it's us; can we please talk to you?' Eleanor asked politely.

"Come in."

The girls opened the bedroom door and ran to Mrs. Miller's bed.

"You're here about Alvin, aren't you?"

"How…how did you know?" Brittany's mouth fell open.

"A mother always knows," Mrs. Miller smiled. "Oh, and Jeanette? I forgive you for eavesdropping."

Jeanette's face turned red as a beet.

"Sorry, Mrs. Miller."

"Of course, Jeanette," Mrs. Miller nodded. "I understand; in fact, when I was a little girl, I…"

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Mrs. Miller," Eleanor recognized that her adoptive mother was about to start one of her (very long) stories, "But…Alvin?"

"Oh, yes. Alvin," Mrs. Miller remembered. "Mr. Seville said that the boys had a bit of a spat; that's why Alvin left. David said that he was going to go out looking for him."

"Oh, no…" Eleanor cried. "I hope he's okay!"

Alvin wandered through the neighborhood, not particularly caring if anyone saw him. He wasn't sure if he cared about anything anymore.

"What the hell?" Alvin cursed as Mrs. Miller's car whizzed past him. "What is she doing out this late at night?"

Then Alvin bowed his head.

"They're looking for me."

"Stop!" Brittany yelled. "I saw him! I saw Alvin!"

Mrs. Miller screeched the car to a stop.

"Oh, I'm so glad we decided to help look for him! We found him! We found him!" Eleanor cried happily.

Brittany threw open the passenger side door.

"When I get my hands on him, he'll wish he'd never been born!" she said, starting to run towards where she'd spotted Alvin.

"Wait, Brittany!" Jeanette shouted. "We should call the police! Brittany!"

But Brittany wasn't listening. All she could think about was catching up with Alvin.

To her surprise, Alvin hadn't moved. Is he trying to be caught? Brittany asked herself.

"Alvin! Alvin!" she screamed. "You'd better not run, Alvin!"

"I'm not planning on it!" Alvin yelled back.

Brittany stopped only a few inches from her boyfriend.

"What the hell, Alvin? What is this about?"

"I'm sorry, Brittany…"

"No, no, no," Brittany shook her finger at Alvin. "No apologies. I want explanations."

Alvin sighed, then leaned back against a tree.

"Dave told you?"

"Told me what?"

"About the argument."

"I don't know much of anything right now, Alvin!"

Alvin rubbed his forehead.

"Okay, Brit. I guess I owe you an explanation."

"Hell, yeah you do!"

Alvin breathed deeply.

"I don't know where to begin, Brit."

"How about at the beginning?" Brittany's face looked compassionate for a moment, then fell back into a scowl.

"Alvin!" Eleanor shouted from the back seat of Mrs. Miller's car, which slowed to a stop near Alvin and Brittany. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Ellie!" Alvin called back.

Jeanette ran to him.

"What's going on, Alvin?"

"Did you run away because Brittany canceled your date?" Eleanor walked up to the group assembling on the sidewalk. "Did you guys make up?"

"Ellie!" Brittany gasped.

"What? Canceled our date?" Alvin frowned. "What do you mean, canceled our date?"

"You were grounded, Alvin!" Brittany looked at Alvin nervously. "I called. Dave told me you were grounded! I…I…decided to go out with Leon."

"What!" Alvin roared. "You canceled our date so you could go out with that schmuck?"

"There was nothing to cancel! You…were…grounded, Alvin!"

Mrs. Miller joined the group.

"Let me drive you home, Alvin. Your father's been worried sick!"

Alvin wasn't listening. He glared at Brittany.

"You…you…bitch! How long have you been dating Leon, Brittany?"

"My personal life is none of your damned business, Alvin!"

"It is when I'm your boyfriend!"

Brittany's shoulders slumped.

"I'm sorry, Alvin…" she said quietly.

"Sorry isn't good enough!"

Alvin grasped Brittany's shoulders and shoved her-hard.

WHAM!

Brittany fell to the concrete, hitting her head on the curb. Everything was a blur. The Chipette could only barely make out what was happening. She heard Mrs. Miller scream…her sisters shouting…Alvin's voice repeating I'm sorry…I'm sorry…

Then, nothing but blackness.