Secret Hideout

Chapter 20

"It was mostly because I've been too focused on my Secret Hideout to even pay any attention to my school work. So when I finally noticed how much homework had piled up on me, I took caution and started working on it and finishing what I could before the teachers wouldn't take it anymore. But of course, even more, recent homework was being placed on me so it was making me a bit overwhelmed. Sure it was my fault but what can I say? Working on something you love can ruin your social life." Alvin said, explaining part of the story. "But, where does Brittany get into the story?" Theodore asks while Jeanette pipes in. "I'm sure he's getting to that Theo. He was just explaining why he was in that state." Alvin nods "Right!" He chuckles "So you can see how that could have made me overwhelmed but that wasn't what was making me somewhat depressed. It was when you guys came to me worried asking me if I was okay and why I keep on disappearing all the time. I couldn't really tell you why so I kept on telling you that I was fine, nothing to worry about. But... That kinda made me guilty that I was making you guys feel that way. So every day I kept on thinking about it over and over again which now that I think about it now was a terrible idea to do. I kept on going to the skatepark to clear my mind a bit which helped somewhat but it wasn't enough. One day I was there relaxing by the tree thinking about stuff when Brittany came by and said 'Alvin, we're very worried about you... Your brothers, my sisters, and I are worried about how you've been acting lately. You look and sound very stressed, is something wrong?'
I told her that it was nothing serious, just stressed with classwork and homework piling up on me, and that I knew why but I couldn't help with why it was... not to mention that I had a lot on my mind. Also tried my best to get everything finished on time or late so I can get some credit but, I couldn't if Miss Smith wouldn't let me do anything in detention. *I rolled my eyes* Not to mention Dave kept on grounding me from it so I couldn't even finish any of it since he keeps on giving me chores to do. I kind of call it ironic since he keeps on trying to make me do my homework when he's keeping me from doing it. *I shrug* Funny right?" Simon raises an eyebrow in disbelief "Wait! Dave was actually keeping you from doing your homework and classwork?! I doubt that's true Alvin, you could be bluffing about that since you hate homework and classwork." Alvin huffs "That may be true, but I'm not lying about what I just said. If you want to get proof, ask Dave." Theodore pipes in "I do remember Alvin doing a lot of chores before. But I never really questioned it since he was grounded and usually has a lot of chores to do." Alvin smirks hearing that making Simon blink in surprise. "Oh, well... you can't really blame me for thinking that right? You do lie a lot." "Yeah, I know."
Brittany nudges Alvin 'Come on Al, get back on track. You're almost at the part!' He smiles at her then turns back to everyone else. "Anyway, after I told her about what's going on, she asked me what was going on in my head since that's what was technically making me upset. I kid you not, I freaked out! Maybe not so much outside but inside jeez it was a nightmare... I was so nervous" Brittany nodded agreeing with him "It's true! He was terrified! At the time I had no clue what was going on but when he finally told me after giving him a few days to think about it, boy was I shocked." Jeanette leaned forward in suspense "Really?!" Alvin nodded "Yup... I told her everything." "Everything? Wow!" Theodore asked. "Yup, was pretty intense as well... I told her about my Secret Hideout first before telling her how I felt about her." Eleanor smirks at him "What did you say to her?" Jeanette gasps "YEAH! How did you explain it?!" Alvin blushes slightly making his brothers smirk at him teasingly. "Yeah Alvin, what did you say?" "Yeah, what did you say?" Brittany scoffs "Can you not? You're embarrassing him." He turns to her with a smile on his face 'Thanks, babe! You're the best, love you!' She turns to him smiling as well 'No problem! Love you too!' Alvin sighs turning back to them "If I tell you, will you stop teasing me?" They look at each other and nodded in agreement then turned back to him. "Deal!" They screamed in unison.
Alvin sighs again and smiles slightly "I told her this... 'Brittany... We've known each other since we were in elementary school. We've always been there for each other even when we drove each other up the wall. *He chuckles* I remember doing everything we still do to this day. Sing, fight, argue, tease, hang out, help each other out, defend one another. But there is something that I've been keeping from you for years and that you should finally know... I-I have feelings for you... and it's not just as a friend... When I was younger I had this small crush on you that I just thought was puppy love at the time. So I didn't really think about it so much ya know? To ignore the feelings I had towards you... I w-well, I fought with you as we do now presently. Even though mostly nowadays it's just me teasing you even though I'm sure you noticed that by now. I mean whenever we do fight it's mostly stupid and useless. So, after all those years went by I thought that my feelings towards you went away, but boy was I wrong... The puppy love I had for you back then now became something more... Love. I've loved you for a while now... But just like my stubborn younger self, I've ignored my feelings towards you, and well... it went into denial. So what I'm trying to tell you Brittany is that I love you and our friendship means more to me than it's ever had and I could never take that for granted.' So now you know what do you think?" Brittany hugged and kissed him on the cheek, "I still love it as much as the first time you said it to me, Al."
He chuckles and turns to her "I know you do babe, but I was talking about our siblings." "Wow..." Simon and Theodore say out in unison catching their attention. Eleanor agrees "Yeah, wow... I can't explain how I'm feeling through that and it wasn't even for me." Jeanette smiles joyfully "Aww! That was so sweet Alvin, I didn't know you felt that way towards her! Brittany is so lucky to have you as a boyfriend!!" He blinks in shock but slyly smiles at her "Wow uh, t-thanks Jeanette, that means a lot!" "No problem!" Brittany smiles "So now that's out of the way. What else do you guys want to do?" Simon breaking out of his shock shrugs "I don't know? Practice soccer for when we play in gym class?" Everyone shrugs in agreement "Yeah sure." With that, they all went outside and played some soccer till it was time for lunch.