Thanks to my beta reader Scarlet Moon for living up the story.
It'll be two months now...Two months since Brittany left. I wouldn't say Charlene was a bad replacement, because she wasn't all that bad….she just wasn't all that great either. The only about her though is that she is trying to worm her way in. She is slowly trying to get her way, I can see it. Jeanette, Eleanor, and Theo can see it too. Alvin seems to see it also, which is quite the surprise, but he just chooses to ignore it. Charlene is going to try to run this group and when she does...Well, you can kiss us goodbye.
"Charlene, Alvin, we need to practice. Can the two of you pry off each other long enough to do that?" Jeanette asked, obviously annoyed by their wasteful antics.
"What's the point in practicing if we already know the routine?" Charlene snottily replied.
"It's late in the day anyways. Just take a break Jean." Alvin waved her off and continued his "wasteful" exploits.
Simon sighed and laid his journal beside him. "It's only nine-thirty, Alvin. We've barely even started."
"Here's an idea." Charlene chimed in. "You guys practice and we'll continue doing what we're doing."
Jeanette pinched the bridge of her nose. "What do you think we've been doing? This was much easier when you weren't here. I wish Brittany would have stayed."
"Get over it, Jeanette. She's gone." Charlene spat, adding emphasis to the word gone. "She made her choice to live her life without you. Deal with it."
Tears pricked at the back of Jeanette's eyes and she bowed her head. Charlene's words had the intended reaction.
Simon was quick to jump in to defend his friend. "Just because you're the lead singer for the Chipettes now, doesn't mean you get to tear her down."
"I wouldn't talk if I were you, Simon. After all, this is pretty much your fault. If you didn't get caught kissing Brittany, none of this would be happening." Charlene sniffed, holding out a hand to examine her nails in a bored manner.
"That's enough, Charlene." Alvin sighed. "Let's just practice. We could use a few more hours."
"Fine, but you know I'm right." She said walking to the front of the dance room.
That was only the beginning. A few months later, she wouldn't even allow Alvin to even speak against her. I knew I had to find Brittany. Even if she didn't come back to lead her sisters, she'd at least be able to get Charlene kicked out of her group.
With the time I was allowed, it took me about six months to find her. But through endless searching, I found her at the beginning of the cross country tour. As soon as the tour was over and I had the time, I booked a ticket to go get her. I'm actually on the plane right now.
This is a ten hour flight and I'm more than half way through it. Anyways, I wonder how she's doing. It's hard to stay in contact when one of us is still a professional singer and the other lives in a totally different country. I wonder…..has she even missed me at all?
-London-
"Hey, Britt, where's the fabric for that uh..." Kimberly trailed off as she racked her brain for what she was supposed to be making. "Damn. I forgot."
"The summer dress?" Brittany shook her head at her forgetfulness. "It's at your station."
"Thanks. Have you settled in yet?" Kimberly questioned, moving to get the fabric she needed.
Brittany sighed, outlining a shape on her fabric. "I'm as settled in as I can be."
"Have you called you're mystery man?"
"He's not a mystery, Kim." Brittany sighed.
"He is to me. So, have you or not?"
"Yes I did, but he didn't answer."
"Well, maybe he's busy." Kimberly hummed causing Brittany to shake her head.
"His tour is over. What can he possible be busy with?" Brittany sat the fabric pencil down and turned to look at her friend.
"Would being on a ten hour plane ride count as busy?"
-Back in New York-
"Alvie!" Charlene called from downstairs.
Alvin groaned and laid his head on the desk full of lyric ideas. "Sorry, but Alvin's not here right now! Can I take a message?" He grunted quietly.
"Aren't the two of you a couple?" Theo asked, entering Alvin's room with both hands occupied by cookies and a glass of milk.
"Yes." He lifted his head. "And it's very- beautiful person in the whole world!" Alvin quickly shouted, trying to sound cheery and bright. "What are you doing here?"
"I was just in the neighborhood and thought I would drop by to say hi." Charlene said wrapping her arms around Alvin's waist.
"Well hi. As you can see, I'm a little busy writing lyrics."
"To me it looks like you need a break."
"Yeah, from you." Alvin muttered, returning to his work.
"What was that?"
"A break from Theo's cookies." Alvin laughed, trying to inconspicuously cover his tracks. "He's made so many. If I eat any more I'll explode."
Theodore looked up shocked. "I've only made tw-"
"Twelve batches." Alvin interrupted, shooting a look to Theodore as to say, 'Play along!'
"Twelve...Right twelve. I just get like that when Simon's gone." Theodore laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head.
"Wait, he left?" Charlene raised an eyebrow.
"Just on a little vacation. No need to worry." Alvin sighed tiredly.
Charlene placed a hand on her hip and glared at the two. "Where did he go?"
"He didn't say. All he told me was that he's giving himself a little vacation." Alvin replied.
Before Charlene could say another word her phone buzzed. She pulled it out and sighed. "Fine, I have to go anyway. I'll see you later." She placed a kiss on Alvin's cheek before walking out the door.
"Why did we just lie to her?"
"About the cookies or where Simon is?" Alvin sighed, shuffling through his lyrics.
"Both. I thought you liked Charlene." Theodore asked, though his voice came out muffled through a mouth full of cookies.
"I did, but thing is that she's trying to destroy what we created. She's trying to destroy our family. Even if Brittany does show up, you know Charlene won't back down without a fight." Alvin admitted. "If Dave has taught me anything, it's that family comes first and you can't let anything come between those you love."