"Hey guys, why haven't Alvin come down for dinner yet? It's been five minutes!" Dave remarked as he went up the stairs.
"Alvin, come on out for dinner!" Dave knocked on the door.
Silence.
The house was way too quiet.
As quietly as possible, Dave opened the door to find the red-clad chipmunk on his bed sleeping peacefully. He's wheezed breathing lead to Dave's conclusion that his nose was blocked and he had to breathe through his mouth.
"Alvin, wake up, it's time for dinner." Dave gently shook Alvin awake.
Alvin groggily rubbed his eyes awake, "Urgh, what time is it?"
"7pm."
"Okay, I'm going."
"Wait Alvin, are you feeling okay? I mean, it's unusual for you to take a nap. Are you feeling okay?" Dave stopped Alvin's pathway before Alvin could go any further.
"Why bother Dave? I'm perfectly fine." Alvin claimed.
"But Brittany did catch a pretty bad cold and I hope you're not coming down with one."
"Alvin Seville being sick? Never in a thousand years!"
"Okay fine but can you at least come down for dinner?"
"Sure."
Alvin knew he'll regret that, but his stomach was growling and he needed to eat something. Hopefully no one will notice if he actually throws up.
At the dinner table, Alvin was poking around his peas and resting his head on his palm as he looked down at the miserable dinner.
Dave sensing this, tried starting a conversation with Alvin, "Alvin, how's your day?"
"Bad, Brittany's still sick."
"Ooh, so you're worried?" Simon and Theodore teased.
"Of course not! You know what, I'm gonna go upstairs." Alvin snapped as he ran up the stairs. He felt something coming up to his throat and quickly too, but he wanted to keep it as discreetly as possible.
"Woah woah chill Alvin."
"Isn't it weird he barely ate anything for dinner?" Dave inquired as he looked at Alvin's not even half-empty plate.
"Oh don't worry Dave he's probably too worried for Brittany to eat. Those two lovebirds. Alvin and Brittany sitting on the tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G." Dave looked at Simon and Theodore with a glare as the duo laughed.
"Maybe you're right I shouldn't worry that much." Dave stated before the peace returned to the dinner table.
After dinner, Simon went back up to the room to see Alvin playing with his baseball and holding his temple before groaning. "You all right there, Alvin?"
"Huh? Yeah I'm fine just a little headache probably due to stress." Alvin waved him off before continuing playing.
Simon shrugged before walking out of the room and to his secret lab to start on his experiment.
Nighttime soon ensued. The trio went to bed. One time Theodore was thirsty and he started making his way out of the room when he noticed Alvin moaning and rubbing his tummy. Thinking it might be a nightmare, Theodore left the room for his drink.
He was surprised when he returned to an empty red bed. Where was Alvin?
Then, as invisible as the light seemed to be, a pang of realisation hit him.
The bathroom lights!
Theodore could faintly hear retching at the other side. That was soon followed by dry-heaving.
"Alvin, you, all right in there?" Theodore asked.
Silence.
No, enough of this, this house was way too silent.
Theodore knocked on the door.
"Alvin?"
Theodore tried one last time.
"Alvin, if you're not gonna respond, I'm coming in."
"NO THEODORE NO!"
"Alvin, you haven't replied. Are you okay?"
The bathroom door opened after the sound of running water.
"Yes Theodore, I'm fine. It's probably something I ate at the cafeteria today."
"Okay then let's hit back on the road of dreams."
Both returned to their beds before each returning to their slumbers.
The sunlight entered the trio's bedroom.
"Fellas! Time for school!" Dave called out.
Simon and Theodore were obedient, but Alvin groggily remained on bed.
"Alvin, I don't want to deal with this again. Get up now!" Dave instructed.
Alvin, sighing, slowly dragged himself out of bed, slowly stifling a yawn as he headed to the toilet to get washed up.
His hair was a mess and he couldn't bring himself to the mood of his usual cheery self.
"Um Dave, I'm gonna go to school now. I'm meeting my football mates today." Alvin called out before leaving the door.
"Um Alvin, your cap." Simon passed Alvin his cap.
"Oh thanks for the reminder Simon." Alvin arranged his hair neatly before he wore his signature cap.
He dragged himself out of the house and on the skateboard. He looked past the kitchen but slowly walked away. Yes, he still liked toaster waffles but his stomach just wasn't behaving today.
"That's weird, Alvin had almost forgotten his most prized possession of all time." Theodore remarked before stuffing another toaster waffle in his mouth.
"I agree, Theodore, but maybe he isn't looking forward to something in school."
"I just hope he isn't coming down with something. He barely ate anything for dinner yesterday."
"He took a nap yesterday."
"I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of Alvin puking."
"And it looked like he also had a headache."
Dave looked at Simon and Theodore. Then realisation hit him.
"Of course, Alvin's sick. He probably caught it from Brittany while taking care of her. But he knows he has to be as healthy as possible so he can continue taking care and visiting Brittany."
"Now that makes sense." Both agreed.
"Okay Simon and Theodore please look after Alvin in school today. I can see what arrangements can be made after school." Both nodded their heads in agreement.
Just like that, they were off to school.
The school day went by slowly, slower than before, Alvin realised. He rested his head on the desk and he wanted to take a quick nap. He saw Simon and Theodore looking at him concerningly, so Alvin mouthed the words "I'm okay" to them. Simon and Theodore seemed to relented as they continued paying attention to the class. However, deep down, they were thinking the same as Alvin, when is school gonna end? The more the day drags on, the sicker Alvin is gonna become.
After what seemed like hours, the bell finally rang. Alvin dashed out of the classroom before stumbling a bit to catch his breath and ran back home in the direction of the treehouse.
"Wait Alvin! Wait up!" Simon and Theodore called out and Alvin turned his head around to find his brothers trying to keep up with him.
"What are y'all doing here? Aren't you going to go home with Jeanette and Eleanor?"
"Don't fake it Alvin. We know you're sick. You don't have to pretend. I mean, Dave will think of something."
"Oh fine!" Alvin slopped down on his bed the moment they reached home. As much as sleep wanted to take him over due to the incredible softness of the comforter, he knew he had to go visit Brittany. Going down the zipline, he no longer found the wind caressing his cheek fun. He had to take care of Brittany.
"Oh Brittany, care for another round of tea or soup maybe? Or do you want me to entertain you somehow?" Alvin asked Brittany, not noticing how much his voice cracked.
"Alvin you're sick come sleep with me."
"No I have to take care of you."
"Alvin your health comes first."
"NEVER IN A THOUSAND YEARS!"
"Fine, but at least sit by me and read me a story."
That Alvin could agree on. He plopped beside Brittany, and started reciting a familiar tale of his, adding his infamous song "Rise up" inside:
Rise up, let's rise up
Rise up, let's rise up
Follow me now, everyone
Feel it coming, better run
Destiny is calling
Can you feel it?
Victory is ours
It's all for one
And one for all
This is our time
We got this
Linking arms
We stand our ground
Together they can't stop us now
Victory is ours
Rise up let's rise up
Rise
Rise up let's rise up
We will be remembered for all time
Now let me hear your battle cry
Rise with them
There's nothing to fear, no
We were born to be heroes
Heroes
Make way for the heroes
Heroes
Nobody can stop us now
The cheering of the crowd
There's no turning back, no
We were born to be heroes
Heroes
Make way for the heroes
Heroes
Honest man of bravery
Alvin stopped to the soft and swaying snoring of Brittany. He kissed her forehead before leaning on her. Not until then he fell asleep too.
Simon walked in to find the cute couple sleeping. He decided to just leave Alvin a text.
Trotting back to the living room, he gave the rest not to go to the treehouse or they'll disturb their sleep which they could only silently agree upon.
Occasionally, Dave wanted to go to the treehouse to check on Brittany and Alvin and would instruct either Jeanette or Eleanor to go over, but Simon always prevented them from going over.
"Whatcha hiding, Simon? It's okay we won't tell." The two girls promised.
Simon could only sigh as he could only stop them so much. They were already at the door of the treehouse.
"Okay you promised."
He opened the door of the treehouse and saw their jaws dropping as they caught sight of Alvin and Brittany cuddling together.
"Well that part was settled."
"But don't you think we should tell Dave?"
"What if he freaks out?"
"Don't worry he'll be fine. Besides, he'll find out sooner or later."
"Well someone must stay back and take care of both of them."
"I'm sure they'll be fine. They have each other."
"True."
The trio went to tell Dave the apparently good news.
"Well that's settled. I don't want any of you going near the treehouse except for an occasional check-up on them. Y'all will share our bedroom so no one else gets a cold."
"Yes Dave." The chipmunks obeyed.
The song "Rise Up" was taken from the CGI Animation cartoon series episode called "Chosen Chipmunk". Don't ask me how it suits I thought it did.