Jeanette sighed bitterly. Some pancakes sat on her plate, barely touched.

'Jeanette?' Brittany chirped. 'What's wrong? You aren't eating!'

Eleanor stopped eating her own pancakes, and looked worried. 'Are you ill? If you feel bad enough, I'm sure that Dave would let you take the day off.'

'Yeah,' Brittany agreed, 'it's not as if one day off school is going to affect your work. You already know so much pointless stuff!'

Simon bristled over his toast. 'Just because Jeanette is smart doesn't mean you have to get jealous and be mean.'

Alvin whistled, chomping into a strawberry. 'Man, Si. You're snappy today.'

Simon bristled again, and was about to launch words at his older brother, until Jeanette rested a hand on his arm.

'Leave it be,' she whispered. 'Thank you for defending me, I really do appreciate it, but I don't want you guys to fight.'

'Alright. If you insist...' Sullenly, Simon took a large bite of his toast, butter spreading over his and Jeanette giggled, Alvin and Brittany snickered, and Theodore was too busy squirting cream over his toaster waffles to notice.

'You know, Jeanette, you would be able to get a boyfriend if you tried.'

Jeanette blinked at her older sister, confused. 'What do you mean, Britt?'

'I'm just saying, if you wore some makeup, got some classier clothes, made a bit of effort with your hair... You could look almost as pretty as me!'

Everybody started at the pink-clad chipette in shock. How horrible could she be?!

'Britt, what are you talking about?' Eleanor frowned. 'Jeanette is perfect just the way she is!'

Brittany examined her nails closely, knocking her breakfast bar wrapper away with the other hand. 'Yeah, if you class nerdy and messy as perfect.'

'Personally,' Simon snarled, 'I do. There is nothing wrong with Jeanette, Brittney. You should be ashamed of yourself.'

'I-It's okay,' Jeanette stammered . 'Brittany was only trying to be helpful.'

'She's basically bullying you, Jean! Why don't you stand up to her?!'

Jeanette was about to respond, but the bus horn blared outside. In a rush, every chipmunk grabbed their bags, and dashed out the door.

On the bus, Brittany made a point of avoiding her sisters. She ran straight to the back of the bus where the popular kids were sat, exchanging photos over their phones.

'That pink whirlwind drives me crazy!' Simon seethed, jumping onto a seat at the front. 'I'm sorry if I upset you, Jean, but she really annoys me.'

'It's okay,' Jeanette whispered. She shrugged her bag off her shoulders and pulled at her skirt.
Without warning, the bus lurched forward, and the purple chipette tumbled backwards, falling onto something soft.

She looked up into Simon's flustered face. Upon looking down, she found herself sprawled across Simon's lap.

'I-I-I'm so s-sorry!'

Simon looked away, his cream cheeks flushed a deep red. 'Don't worry about it. As long as you're alright.'

Jeanette nodded quickly, and tried to push herself up, but Simon grabbed her shoulders and kissed her.

'Jeanette, I want you to promise you that you'll never let somebody put you down like that again.'

'I-I-I could p-probably d-do that.'

Simon smiled gently at her. 'Good. And if somebody does, I'll get Alvin and Theodore to help me... teach them a lesson.'

Jeanette giggled. 'Okay, then. You know, I've never been so happy being bullied by Brittney.'

'I still don't approve, but I suppose I can let it slide this time.'

'Thank you, Si. You really are sweet.'