Chapter Text
Forty eight hours.
Four kids rescued without incident.
Cold, hungry in the cases of Theodore and Eleanor, but safe.
Alvin and Brittany, recalled to be separated from the quad group hours earlier, by Simon, wrapped warmly in a blanket belonging to one of the ship’s cabins, hadn’t been found yet.
Two eight year olds with limited survival skills alone on an island.
It was too dark to send the search boats and planes out.
The captain would send out more at the crack of dawn.
Dave ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
If anything happened to either one of them….
Brittany shivered, the cold air hitting her fur like a beating drum.
She hadn’t been used to the cold since the old days in New York City.
Days she had wanted to forgot.
Their house of sticks or what was left of it had been used to keep her and Alvin warm while they used what clothes weren’t being used as a flag as covers.
It was more embarrassing to be sleeping on your favorite dress.
But anything was better than a park bench.
The SOS they created in the same after what dinner they could find glowed lightly because of the fire.
Alvin said that it was like they were on Gilligan’s Island minus everything else and the crazy schemes of getting off the island.
Brittany had to agree, the fire’s glow dancing as she drifted off to sleep.
The noise from the supposed jungle monster woken them up the next morning.
Neither aware of it belonging to a hotel unlike another universe, Alvin had taken off his sailor cap and threw it at nothing.
The wild hairs from years of being unbrushed were sticking out, causing Brittany to giggle.
“What’s so funny?” Alvin questioned.
“I thought you of all people wouldn’t be looking like you just got out of bed,” She snickered.
“I’d say the same thing about you sister.”
“Oh yeah?! Well I—“
Brittany stopped herself. Arguing with him yesterday had cost them a rescue.
She sighed, pulling her knees towards her chest as silent tears went down her cheeks.
“If this is about the photos, don’t bother crying about them. Besides Theo get seasick and I think the captain would’ve appreciated a stage covered in throw up,” Alvin snickered, attempting to light up the mood.
Brittany shook her head. “I cost us that rescue plane yesterday. I doubt anyone would come back looking for me at this rate. You’re the one person more well known anyway. I only copied your name when the girls and I first started out because I didn’t know better. I was just a dumb girl from New York City with a dumb dream.”
“You weren’t dumb just incredibly naive."
“In our defense Alvin, we didn’t have a radio or anything useful for that matter. It was just us against the world.”
Brittany wiped her nose, moving a stick around the sand.
She prayed the SOS she planned on writing would at least get some attention from passing search planes.
Alvin,setting the camera in place, cleared his throat as she looked up.
“Might as well get a picture for Dateline when our story’s on tv,” He muttered. “If we’re lucky, they might find us by this afternoon or sometime.”
Brittany nodded, standing up as Alvin gently wrapped an arm around her with one hand and took their picture with the other.
How many film had he placed in one small camera anyway?
As they waited for their photo to develop, Brittany turned towards the ocean.
“I heard Simon say that he and the others would come for us when they found help. M-Maybe in the rush of finding it, they forgot all about us by accident.”
She hoped that was the case at least.
…
“Don’t you think forgetting about them was harsh?”
Jeanette flipped on her stomach, her mind clouded with guilt.
Despite their best efforts, in between the warmth of beds and hot meals, finding their siblings had been forgotten in the process.
“Nan,” Eleanor sneered, brushing her pigtails. “We wouldn’t have been in that mess if it wasn’t for them. Besides, a little hard work shouldn’t kill Brittany when she and Alvin did absolutely nothing to help.”
“Eleanor!” Simon scolded.
“What? We were all thinking it!”
“Be as it may, I wouldn’t have said it out loud. Even if they are selfish and egotistical pains in the necks, Alvin’s still my brother and Brittany’s still your sister.”
“I’ve never seen Dave so worried before,” Theodore admitted, wiping away tears. “Forgetting them was an accident right?”
“Right. None of us were thinking clearly upon being rescued,” Jeanette assured. She sighed, fiddling with her glasses. “I’d hate to be around when the coast guard has to call Miss Miller and tell her that Brittany’s missing.”
“Yeah,” the others agreed.
They looked up, hearing a creak from their cabin’s door open as Dave walked in.
In his hands was Alvin’s sailor cap.
“Is he…” Jeanette paused, fearing the worst.
Dave shook his head as the children made room for him to sit down.
“One of the hotel employees found it this morning. Could’ve been thrown as a cry for help but we’re not entirely sure,” Dave admitted, running a hand through his hair. “I can’t imagine what it’s like for them out there by themselves.” He turned towards the children, seeing the intense guilt in their eyes. “What happened was nobody’s fault. These things happen for reasons we can’t explain.”
“But what if they’re cold?” Theodore frowned. “Or hungry?”
“Or need medical attention?” Eleanor added, her words from earlier coming back to haunt her.
Brittany had taken care of her and Jeanette their entire lives. She couldn’t imagine a world without her.
“Whatever they need, they’ll be given when they’re found,” Dave promised.
Nobody dared to ask about the concert or the ship they were supposed to give the night the six of them went overboard.
You couldn’t do one without the leads. In fact, the concert itself didn’t matter.
It was nothing compared to bringing Alvin and Brittany home.
Wherever they were.