Chapter One
Partner
The clock on the wall ticked too slowly for Alvin Seville, who leaning against his desk, waiting for the class to be over – Psychology, to be exact. He watched the teacher go over the lesson as she wrote the notes on the chalkboard. The words and definitions were all in a different language for him. He should have more attention in class on the first day. He figured it was too late now. Though he was physically in the classroom, however, mentally, he was somewhere else. He was thinking about the one and only, Brittany Miller. God, she was beautiful. Stunning crystal blue eyes, soft hair, smooth lips. He had urges to ask her out on a date, even had opportunities to ask her on a date. But the macho, confident cool guy in him chickened out. He was determined, however, to ask her out today, even if he had to –
"Alvin Seville." the teacher called from the front of the classroom. Alvin looked up at her, coming out from his daydream. She looked at him quizzically. "Tell me, what is the definition of the pleasure principle?"
Alvin blinked in confusion. "Um…when the principle is in pleasure…?" He smiled looked around when the class chuckled, but frowned instantly when the teacher was giving in an unamused look.
The teacher shook her head. A hand was raised and she smiled at the student, "Yes, Simon. Can you define the pleasure principle?"
Simon smiled. "The pleasure principle is an instinct in which we tend to find pleasure by avoiding pain for the satisfaction of our psychological and biological needs – an example would be my older brother…" Alvin glared. "…where he is not logically intelligent, therefore he satisfied his pleasure of answering the question with a joke by avoiding the pain of being an idiot in the front of entire class."
Alvin glared around the room when the class chuckled. Simon smirked at Alvin, who raised his hand. The teacher pointed at Alvin. "Yes, Alvin?"
Alvin smirked. "Well now that I know the meaning, I have my own example, in which I avoid pain of living with my nerd of a brother by giving myself the pleasure of pranking him. Like when I made him wear a dress at last year's Halloween party."
Simon blushed when the class rumbled with laughter and he glared at Alvin, who was too busy taking in the satisfaction of getting his brother back.
"Okay, that's enough from you two." The teacher commented. The laughter died down and the teacher continued. "Moving on to a different subject: your psychology project." The class groaned and moaned, but the teacher ignored it. "Each of you will work with a partner and research the topic of love and sex. The research question is: Can sex make two people fall in love with each other? If so, what is your theory? If not, tell me what sex can do to a relationship without love. This project is due a week from today." Before she could continue, the bell rang and the students began packing their book. She called over them, "Make sure you choose a partner before tomorrow's class!"
Simon smiled and looked over at the student who he would like to work with. 'I better get to him before…' In an instant, Alvin jumped in front of him. Simon rolled his eyes. 'Too late'. He sighed. "What is it, Alvin?"
Alvin smiled. "Be my partner?"
Simon feigned thinking and hummed before answering, "No." He walked passed Alvin, who grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Why not?"
Simon turned to face him and folded his arms. "Where do I begin? One, you make me do all the work. Two, you are extremely difficult to work with. And three, I would rather work with a monkey than with you."
Hurt was evident in Alvin's eyes. "Ouch…"
Simon sighed, "Well the truth hurts, Alvin." He looked back to see the kid was gone. 'Great' He walked out of the classroom, but looked back to see Alvin slowly putting his book in his backpack in deep thought. Simon frowned. 'Maybe I was too hard on him…'
000
It was lunchtime, and Simon smiled happily when he saw the kid he missed in his psychology class. As he walked over to him, he noticed Alvin sitting at the table next to him. He was surprised to find Alvin eating alone; but shocked to see him reading something while eating his meal. Walking closer to the boy, he glanced at Alvin again, this time noticing sadness in his eyes. 'Was he really hurt about what I said to him?'
No, duh, Simon!
Simon shook his head. 'But it was the truth – well, the monkey part was not true – but he not helping out has a lot of truth in it. I'm sorry, but it cannot be done.' Simon continued to walk near the boy.
He's your brother! Give him a chance!
Simon shook his head, ignoring the second voice on the back of his mind. As much as they are good brothers, he doesn't have to be his partner.
"Hey, Josh." Simon greeted as he stood in front of him at the table. The boy looked up at him and smiled. "I have a question for you."
"Go ahead"
Fine. Be partners with Josh. It just shows how much you really love Alvin. Jerk.
Simon tried to speak, but words being haunted at the back of his mind just kept on going. 'I do love him!'
"What is it, Simon?"
He looked over where Alvin was, then back at Josh. "Well, I, uh…" He then looked back at Alvin. 'Was he really willing to work with me this time?'
If you gave him another chance. Remember, brothers can always work things out - no matter how much work is needed. They stick together! But you would rather work with a monkey, right?
"Simon?" Said chipmunk looked back down at Josh, who was patiently waiting for Simon to ask him the question. "Are you alright?"
Simon sighed, "Yeah, I'm fine." He bit his lip. "What I wanted to ask you was, would you, um…be…able to lend me today's notes for math? I lost mine."
Good boy, Simon.
Josh smiled and nodded, "Sure. Meet me by my locker after school and I'll lend them to you."
Simon smiled. "Thanks." With that, he walked over to the table where Alvin was sitting and let out a breath. 'I hope I'm making the right decision' He stood in front of Alvin at the table before sitting down. "Um, hey, Alvin."
Alvin looked up from his book before rolling his eyes and continue reading again. "What do you want?"
Simon could hear the annoyance in his voice, but pushed it aside in understanding. "What are you reading?"
Without looking up, Alvin answered, "My psychology book. You know, since I don't have a partner because I'm stupid -" Simon cut him off.
"I never said you were stupid, Alvin." Simon reassured.
Alvin glared at him. "Whatever. You said you would rather work with a monkey than me." Simon looked down. "So where's your monkey, huh?"
Simon looked over where Josh was sitting and saw him talking to another boy in their psychology class. They shook hands. "He's already taken." It was half the truth.
Alvin shrugged, "Well, poor you, Simon. What? Now that the partner you wanted is taken, you come back to me?" Simon was about to respond when Alvin stood up and closed his book. He glared. "Well, sorry, Simon. That's not how it works. Next time don't reject your own brother. Just because I'm not super smart like you, doesn't mean I want to fail the class." Alvin picked up his tray and walked away, but not before looking back at Simon and saying, "Oh, and by the way, calling me an idiot in front of the entire class is calling me stupid." With that, Alvin walked away.
He's right, you know.
Simon glared down at the table, getting fed up with the annoying voice in the back of his head. But he couldn't deny the truth. He was harsh to Alvin. His brother. They have may had their share of words before, but they held no meaning. This is one of the rare times where Alvin was truly hurt by Simon's words. And Simon felt extremely guilty.
000
Alvin forcefully pulled his locker open and place his book inside. The nerve of Simon to want him to be his partner after he was insulted earlier today. Only because the partner he wanted to be with was already chose, so he was stuck with the closest thing. Alvin felt like meatloaf at a school cafeteria, edible but not wanted. Sighing sadly, he closed his locker. As much as he wanted to be partners with Simon, he was not going to give in that easy. 'I am not going to give him the satisfaction'
Before he could turn to walk away, he heard his brother call his name from behind. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he turned to come face to face with his younger brother. "What is it, Simon?"
Simon searched his blue eyes before letting out a breath. "I wanted to tell you, that…" He paused briefly. "…I'm sorry."
Alvin nodded, willing to accept the apology. "Okay, fine. You're sorry. Is that it?"
Simon looked at him with an incredulous expression. "N-No. It's not." Alvin folded his arms and waited for Simon to continue. "Would you like to be my partner?" Alvin just stared at him. "Please?"
Alvin sighed, "Simon, I would love to, but-" Simon cut him off.
"Would it help to know that I was going to choose Josh as my partner before I decided to give you a chance?" Simon mentioned before looking down. "He was still available…" He shook his head and met Alvin's eyes. "…but I couldn't bring myself to ask him. Not after what I said to you."
Alvin mentally smiled, but kept a serious face, knowing that there was more to the situation that wanting to be partners with Simon. "You know, I was really hurt when you told me that you wanted to work with a monkey instead of me."
Simon nodded, feeling guilty. "I-I know. And I didn't mean that. Honestly." Alvin felt relieved. "But I did mean everything else. I was worried that you were not going to commit in helping me."
"I really want to pass the class, Simon. I was willing to help throughout the entire project. You just didn't give me the chance to show you." He paused. "But I guess my past experience as your partner was enough to make you think that…" Alvin replied, thinking back when he never helped Simon with academic projects.
Both chipmunks fell silent. Simon then looked up at Alvin with a small smile. "Want to prove me wrong?"
Alvin thought for a moment before smirking, "You know how much I love proving your wrong, bro." Simon chuckled, nodding in agreement.
"So, we're good?" Simon asked, letting his hand out for a handshake.
Alvin stared at Simon's hand for a moment before looking up at him with a smile. He shook his hand. 'We're good..." He smirked. "...partner." Simon smiled.
"Thanks, and about what happened in class, I shouldn't have embarrassed you like that. I'm sorry." He started to walk with Alvin down the hall.
Alvin shook his head. "It's fine." He was thoughtful for a moment. "And I'm sorry for telling everyone about you wearing a dress last year. I should have kept that confidential."
Simon rolled his eyes, but chuckled. "That's partly my fault, anyway. I shouldn't have made that stupid bet with you."
Alvin shrugged, turning left at the next hall with Simon. "True, but you didn't look that bad." Simon looked at him when Alvin smirked. "Actually, you looked kind of cute in a dress, Simon."
Simon blushed and looked away. "Not comforting, Alvin." He heard his older brother chuckle. He looked at him. "So, what's your thought on the project?"
Alvin smiled. "I think it's something we both could work on easily. And if we work together, we'll be sure to get a good grade." Simon nodded as they both entered the school library. "It's also about sex and love. I think I might have some knowledge of that." With that, Alvin quickly went straight to a computer.
Simon rolled his eyes, but smiled. 'Maybe working with Alvin was not a bad idea after all' He walked towards Alvin and sat next to him as they began their research.
