After the Matterhorn - Chapter Four
by Cre8iveWriterX yahoo .com
Hello again and here is chapter four and five.
I thought it may help the flow if I write and upload these chapters together,
rather than write individually and space several days between them - they just seemed to fit together.
One thing about this story - it is rated K.
Not T, not MA, just K.
So if you happen to see Theodore talking to Brittany they are just two friends talking.
What this is is a sweet story - but not sugary sweet if you get my meaning.
It's a story I have had on my mind for a while.
They are also still young and go to school, remember? :-)
Deep romantic partner dilemmas are kinda beyond them at the moment.
But as we know, they do have special relationships for each other.
I'm just not going to bring in anything "hot".
That will ruin the story and character I am trying to build.
Well that is all, enjoy! :-D
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*** REVIEW RESPONSE ***
Kali101:
Thankyou for your encouragement, really! Your comment gave me a lift.
I had already written most of the chapter with Theodore, I thought it suited his nature, and Alvin does have a larger part next chapter.
But after reading your comment I extended it and gave Alvin a little bit more.
DiceRox09:
I know, poor Brittany. I feel bad for her too. But she lets it out and we start to see her lifting off again.
emmiexcutie:
I loved your comment, it's what I am trying to do - create a really interesting story and keep it focussed on plot and character developments rather than couples pairing and such.
And don't worry, I'll keep writing to the end. :-)
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Brittany was very upset. Eleanor and Jeanette had both gone separately to the toilet door to talk to Brittany. But Brittany didn't want conversation. She needed some time out. Being a large plane there were enough toilets available so vacancies always existed. But as much as Brittany needed some time to herself, remaining in a state of lonesome misery for too long was not a good idea. Eventually Theodore took it upon himself to help out a friend.
"Knock, knock".
Theodore gently tapped at the toilet door.
"It's occupied." came forth a wavering voice.
"Brittany?" asked Theodore in a quiet tone.
"Go away you two! Or which ever one you are!" Theodore's soft tone obviously had Brittany mistaken him for Eleanor or Jeanette.
"It's me Brittany, Theodore."
There was a glaring silence.
"What do you want?" Brittany's question was more of a cold demand.
"Well I saw you run up here, to the back of the plane, and Eleanor and Jeanette said...."
"What would they know!" came a forceful remark.
"Well.... they don't.... know." Theodore paused a little. "That's why I wanted to, um, talk to you myself."
Brittany took a while to answer. "You wouldn't understand. None of you do."
Then came the uncontrollable sobs. "It's not fair, I've always been the one. You three have always had it easy. If Ellie and Jeanette don't get it, what chance is there that any of you three would?"
"Don't get what Brittany?" Theodore was always so sweet and innocent.
Maybe that is what did it for Brittany. Some honest openness, from someone not as close as her sisters, but still understanding enough for some two-way conversation. Whatever the reason, the door opened – revealing a red eyed Brittany, her lips tightly pursed together in her best attempt to keep the rest of her face presentable.
She stood there for a split second, just long enough to take in her surroundings – just an empty rear end of the plane and Theodore with his mouth slightly ajar with concern. Then in what was a surprise for Theodore, she leaned forward and hugged him. Not a passionate hug, the kind of hug that is given to close friends and family out of relief or pressure release. Where eye contact is avoided out of awkwardness, and the fact that it is not an eyes-meeting romantic hug, but is still sincere through and through.
Brittany just cast her gaze above Theodore's shoulder, took a step and leaned forward in an act that seemed to take her worries and strip them of their power they had over her. Theodore being the warm sweetheart he is, gave Brittany this time. And just hoped Alvin wasn't watching and getting the wrong impression.
Truth be told, whether it had been Alvin or Theodore didn't matter that much to Brittany at this time. It was a friend whose shoulder seemed to say, "You're not alone. You don't need to be alone anymore." Which is what any good friend may say in a time like this. She stayed there there for a few seconds, her arms holding onto Theodore like a drowning person holding onto a life raft. Which is how she felt at this moment, letting out only an occasional sniffle.
Then the normal Brittany started to come back as she began to regain her composure. Her hand moved up to her face to wipe her eyes dry, then with her gaze still averted, whispered a quiet "Thankyou. Sorry."
"You don't need to apologise Brittany," Theodore began, "You're upset."
"No, no, I do." Pushed Brittany, her body language reinforcing her words. "I have been horrible, hiding things.... I didn't know what to say or how to say it."
Theodore thought Brittany may need another hug soon, the way she was beating herself. So unlike her.
"Well...." Theodore tried to find the right words. Comforting words, but not patronising. Theodore knew Brittany well enough to not go there.
"Well, we're going to be stuck on this plane for a long while, Eleanor and Jeanette are upset knowing that you're like this...."
Brittany quickly interrupted, "You mean unnerved that I have been planning things, and haven't told them yet."
Theodore looked oddly at Brittany. "No. They stopped talking about that the moment you ran here. They are concerned about you."
It took a moment for Brittany to take that in. Not because she wasn't aware how much her sisters cared for her, but because she was still very much in her state of thinking that the Chipettes career rested solely upon her shoulders. Although she was now starting to let it down.
After taking in what Theodore said, she smiled something that may be described as a smile that was wide and warm, but with a look on her brow that pushed it into a smile of relief. The kind of smile that is shown in gratitude to a person who has suddenly taken care of a large burden.
Theodore saw that Brittany was coming down and continued.
"No body is watching, they're all asleep or watching the movie. Come on, they're waiting for you back in our row."
Brittany took a quick look out into the aisle and saying a quiet, "Okay." moved back to her seat.
It wasn't until they were one row behind their seats that Eleanor and Jeanette noticed the two and stood upon their seats to let Brittany through to her seat at the window end. Of course they were listening for Brittany to return, but even inside a passenger cabin, jet engines have a way of silencing footsteps with their muffled thunder.
Alvin had to move out though. He was sitting in Brittany's seat talking things over with Eleanor and Jeanette. Brittany began to feel a fierce rising emotion of 'get out of my private life and stop talking to my sisters'. But then noticed Alvin's face and how it seemed to convey genuine concern. The same concern he showed the morning of their mountain hike.
There were times when Alvin let down his guard. When he let himself show his better nature. Although it may be more fun to have almost every conversation between him and Brittany take place as a two-person squabble, he knew when it was time to put that essence of his personal character aside.
And although she would never admit it, Brittany deep down inside felt glad – maybe even a little loved that her best.... well.... 'squabbling partner' saw this was a time to indeed be more of a friend.
Alvin moved moved back to his seat with no more than a gaze, in fact no one said a word. But after all were seated, it was Brittany who looked over to her sisters to say, "I'm fine." With that same smile of genuine relief and warmth she showed just moments before.
Ellie and Jeanette thought it best to let their sister settle for a while. Besides, as Theodore said, they were truly more concerned about Brittany than some unfinalised tour.