Hello people!

I've decided to try my hand at writing a bit. Nothing fancy. It will probably be a short story but who knows?

Anywho, if you would kindly leave a review, likes or dislikes, I would be most appreciative.

Other than that, please enjoy!

Alvin stood in the center of the living room, eyes cast down at the hardwood floor, hands tucked into his bright red hoody which donned his signature "A". Right in front of him was Dave, giving Alvin the look of disappointment and thinly veiled frustration with which Alvin has become so familiar as of late.

"You started a food fight?!" To say he was livid was an egregious understatement. This incident was simply the last in a very long line of rambunctiousness all courtesy of one Alvin Seville. First, there was the "incident" in his "Introduction to Baked Goods" course which he shares with Theodore (though Alvin swears he didn't choose it on purpose). Poor Mrs. Osgood, who was actually standing in for Mr. Rice who was absent that day, mysteriously became violently ill after trying one of Alvin's cookies. Then there was the issue with the alleged "bullies" who (apparently) constantly picked fights with him. So he defended himself...by beating the living tar out of each of them, earning him two weeks suspension. This was a bargain considering that the injuries inflicted on those kids by him were grounds for expulsion. Then there was that basketball player in the gym after school, (Ryan or Renald; something like that) that he just couldn't walk away from after he called both him and his brothers "fags". Alvin's refusal to discuss the details of the altercation was perfectly aligned with Dave' unwillingness to listen at that juncture. Unlike Alvin's apparent propensity for bad behavior, Dave's patience was slowly but surely dissipating.

"Alvin, you're thirteen. You know better than this!" Very seldom did Dave allow himself the privilege of an elevated tone, but enough was enough. "What's the story this time, hmm? Did they call your potatoes stupid? Or maybe they were looking at your Salisbury steak the wrong way?"

Though this routine was par for the course as far as Alvin was concerned, he was actually hurt by that comment. It wasn't as though he enjoyed making trouble for people. He just thought it was appropriate to defend his brothers when they weren't there to defend themselves. It didn't help however that his brothers didn't substantiate his claims when they were the targets of bullies. Alvin couldn't for the life of him figure out why. The worst part about all of this, even worse than being perpetually grounded for the past several weeks, was that Dave simply didn't believe Alvin's "good reasons" anymore. For as long as he could remember, Dave was always there for ALL of them. He could talk to him without fear of judgment or ridicule. Lately however, their relationship had become rather tumultuous due in no small part to these disruptions.

Despite his anger towards Dave and his uncharacteristically flippant attitude concerning Alvin's point of view, all he could do was bore a hole into the wooden floor with his eyes.

"Well its time to discuss you punishment. Obviously you are still grounded. T.V and video games are out of the question until further notice. Finally..." At this point, had Alvin been looking at Dave, he would've realized to his surprise that Dave actually visibly hesitated before continuing. "...You will not be performing at the festival this weekend."

Alvin looked up at his father with an unfamiliar expression hopelessness and indignation. "No...Dave please anything but that! I-I'll do all the dishes, I'll do Theo's and Simon's chores! Please it's the only thing that..."

Dave gently raised his hand to interrupt him. "Alvin stop. You don't get to choose your punishments." He took a moment to sigh and rub the bridge of his nose between his index finger and thumb. "I'm sorry that it's come to this, I really am. But sooner or later, you're just going to have to learn that actions have consequences even IF you mean well. Now, finish your homework. Then it's dinner time and bed for you. "

Being thirteen didn't really lend itself well to tears. Despite this however, Alvin had considerable trouble keeping himself together in front of Dave. As he walked past his caretaker, Alvin was powerless to stop the silent tears from falling. Just make it up the stairs without making noise, he thought to himself almost frantically. As he reached the top of the stairs he turned to the corner to his room only to find his beloved brothers eavesdropping on the fall of the proverbial ax.

There he stood, though only for a few seconds, in horror. They watched the whole thing...they watched and did nothing. Again.Feeling the last piece of his heart breaking, Alvin shoved past both of them slamming the door to his room shut. As Simon and Theodore exchanged worried glances, Simon began making his way to Alvin's room when his youngest brother grabbed his hand.

"Maybe we should wait a bit. Ya know, to let him cool off a bit." Though Simon understood Theo to be speaking more from fear than wisdom, he decided it was the best course of action. Tomorrow was a Saturday after all, he would have plenty of time to talk to him. That is, if Alvin would even listen.

As soon as Alvin closed the door to his room, secure in the solitude provided by his four walls, he laid on his bed and sobbed as loud as he dared into his pillow. It seemed like everything he did, no matter how hard he tried, just made Dave's life more difficult. Dave has every right to be ashamed of me at this point. But taking away the one chance he's had to perform ANYWHERE in months? He couldn't understand. If only his father understood how barbaric such a decision was. When he was on stage performing, the whole crowd screaming, chanting and dancing, it was the only time during which he felt like Dave wasn't ashamed of him. The only time where he could actually make his father feel proud. As he slowly but surely ran out of tears, he whispered into his pillow ever so softly: "Does he even still love me?" He quickly let sleep overtake him, afraid that his pillow would soon answer.