Only Emptiness Remains

Restless

The Monday morning after Easter, Alvin was pacing around the Seville living room. His fingers were also absentmindedly drumming on the tv, couch, coffee table, banister, anything he crossed the path of, really. He was like the Energizer Bunny as he bounced from spot to spot, unable to quit going and going.

This had seriously felt like the longest Easter ever to the eldest Chipmunk. All he wanted to do was carry on with planning out the whole intervention for Brittany. But he kept getting pulled into one family obligation after another by Dave.

First, he made them attend the Easter vigil on Saturday. He pretty much rushed them right out of the house to go to the Holy Saturday Mass as soon as Simon got back from the library with Jeanette. Not that Alvin particularly liked doing anything where he was forced to sit or stand still for long periods of time while he had to listen to someone else talk, but he really didn't feel like going to church this weekend. Easter or not.

And on top of that, they had to go to church again for Easter Sunday. Of course, Alvin found himself unable to focus during either Mass. His brothers didn't seem to have the same problem. Despite also being worried about Brittany, Theodore was still able to focus on singing every hymn as enthusiastically as he always did at every Mass the Sevilles attended.

Normally, Alvin would be using this opportunity to outshine him and everyone else singing in the church. After all, he knew he was always the best singer there each and every time. And he could never resist any chance he got to show off, even if it was just church. But this time, he just wasn't feeling it. He didn't even try, just stared down at the words without even opening his mouth.

Why try if he knew there was no way he was going to be the best one there? Not with all that was consuming his mind. He would never be able to focus on the lyrics or what notes he was supposed to be singing. He refused to try or even pretend to participate by mouthing it. He just wanted it to be over so he could get back to saving Brittany's life.

That was what he needed to be doing. Helping his ex-girlfriend. Not being cooped up in some church.

Hell, he had barely even been aware of his surroundings as it was. Not the music being played, prayers being said, the smell of incense, the words being spoken by those standing at the altar, not even the splash from the holy water being sprinkled on him and the rest of the congregation. He could barely even taste the bread or wine when he went up to take communion.

And to make matters worse, Alvin was fidgeting and shifting in his pew the entire time. And any time they were told to stand, he was practically ready to bolt from the building. And he probably would have if there wasn't a whole crowd of people blocking his path out of there.

He had been squeezed right between Simon and Dave during the Easter Sunday Mass. Simon was able to maintain his composure and listen intently to the priest talking, just as he was always able to do in school during any lesson. But since Alvin was unable to do the same, he had earned himself nudges, stern looks, exasperated sighs, and glares from his father. It seemed Dave had assumed Alvin was simply being his typical hyperactive and inattentive self.

In a way, Alvin guessed he couldn't totally blame his adoptive dad in this case. After all, Alvin still had not told him anything about Brittany. So he had no idea what was going on with the pink-clad Chipette and how much his own son had played a role in her downward spiral. He did not know how much danger Alvin's ex-girlfriend was in right now and it was all thanks to the oldest Seville boy's own recklessness.

It was so messed up how this must have looked to an outsider. For once in Alvin's life, he was not trying to cause trouble. No, he was desperate to fix it this time. On one hand, he wished Dave could see that. But on the other hand, he really didn't want his dad to know he was even more of a screw-up than he already thought he was.