This story serves two purposes: one for being a midquel (interlude? interquel? idk) to Extreme Makeover: Theo Edition (for reference, read chapter 1 before this), and another for getting me back into the swing of writing again. So, sit back, relax and enjoy!

EMTE: An Extreme Makeover

The Beginning

When Theodore Seville agreed for Brittany Miller to make him over, this wasn't the idea he had in mind.

Then again, he had joked around before while not knowing anything about what was going around. It was a reflex that he had developed after people made fun of him: turn the joke into a positive and just laugh along with it. He hoped Brittany hadn't been serious about making him over, like an oversized doll…

So why was he sitting cross-legged on his living room floor listening to Brittany give a 30-slide presentation about changing his entire lifestyle?

"Well, as you can see from his chart right here, it's obvious that your BMI is off the charts," Brittany lectured, a laser pointer blinking over a colorful chart. "It would honestly take a miracle to get it down to a healthy size before the end of the year, let alone the end of the month. However, a diet should help to get rid of the excess water weight, and definitely a FitBit can help you keep track of your steps. Let's see…how can we reduce your calorie intake…"

While the beautiful redhead scratched her chin in thought, Theodore stared at the numbers in dumb bewilderment. BMI? FitBit? Calorie intake? Water weight? Water has weight? Does his body even have water?

"Maybe we should monitor his weight manually instead of trying to have him do it," Simon chimed, looking up from his notebook.

Theodore rolled his eyes secretly. Of course he would take notes. In fact, both of his brothers, Simon and Alvin, as well as Brittany's sisters Eleanor and Jeanette had been paying more attention to the presentation than he had expected.

He had kind of hoped to slide through the month without lifting a weight…

"What about him joining a sport? I could teach him soccer," Eleanor suggested, twirling a wavy blonde lock of hair around her finger.

"What?!" Theodore whirled around to face her, his already wide green eyes sizing into dinner plates. A sport! How dare his friend betray him! She knew he couldn't even kick a cabinet, never mind a moving ball.

"The only balls he can kick are Whoppers, and he'd rather eat his weight in those," Alvin panned, looking doubtfully at the group. "I'm telling you, this is a waste of time. He would never stick to this for more than 3 days."

"Well—"

"Um, he's right there," Jeanette said quietly, pointing to Theodore while chewing her pencil. "You could be a little more positive, maybe?" Her soft voice lessened the seemingly harsh words.

Theodore sighed. At least someone was on his side…

"Well hey, he volunteered for this, so I say we should work out the details later." Brittany turned back to the presentation. "Although something seems missing…Maybe we should add a sport as an extra regimen so he doesn't give up halfway into it. It is early into the spring season, after all…"

Theodore raised his hand, getting sick of people ignoring him. "Don't I get a say in this at all?"

"If we did, your diet would consist of candy and Cheetos and the only exercise you'd get is going up and down the stairs to get food." Alvin glared down at Theodore with his pool-blue gaze, daring him to argue. "This is for your own good. I've been trying to get rid of your fat for years."

Theodore bristled, but said nothing. Neither did anyone else. The silence that followed seemingly confirmed his thoughts – everyone thought it was time he had gone through that same "high school" transformation, even if they didn't want to say it out loud. He knew that he caused problems, but didn't think it was this bad.

Did they think he looked that bad?

It had seemed so simple when he didn't have to worry about looking good for a girl…

Theodore sighed and closed his eyes as he thought about her again, her gorgeous dark blue eyes, delicate face framed with mid-length dark-chocolate hair, gentle voice, petal pink lips…

He had to meet her. But who would want to meet someone as gross-looking as him?

"Be that as it may, I think it's good you want to make a change," spoke Simon, giving his red hoodie-clad brother a disapproving blue-grey gaze of his own. "I'm proud that you want to do this, and on your own terms."

Easy for you to say, Theodore thought bitterly. Both of you got the good genes. The only good thing I got was Mom's green eyes. He wished a little that his mom was here to give him some advice, and not out enjoying the countryside.

"Yeah, I'm glad you could do this," Eleanor echoed, smiling as she slid her necklace pendant on its chain. She tended to do that whenever she got anxious, or when she told a little white lie. Theodore wondered which it was, because her tone didn't sound convincing enough, despite her initial enthusiasm.

Jeanette gave him a sincerer smile and added, "You'll do great, Theo. I know you will."

Theodore warmed to her, giving a small but slightly more confident grin.

Alvin groaned. "Well, I guess since we're dealing out compliments here, I guess…" He shrugged, as if to shrug off a previous thought. He then gave his green eyed brother a smirk. "I guess you're not a total loss. You can be pretty damn persistent when you want to be. We'll whip you into shape yet."

Theodore nodded, taking his brother's indirect statement as a compliment. He turned to Brittany, expecting a rousing speech from her.

But all she did as she sat on the fireplace, closing the PowerPoint on her pink MacBook, was flip her loosely curled hair and say haughtily, "I don't dole out compliments like some common peasant. If you want my respect, you have to earn it. And in order to earn it, you have to get through these next few weeks." She scooted away from her laptop and stared straight into his soul with her cold blue eyes. "I don't think I need to tell you this, but you're at a precarious position. You have no knowledge, no experience, not even an inkling of what you should do in order to become cool. You have a very narrow window, and believe me when I say that it's not easy. Sometimes I even have a rough time trying to keep up."

Alvin snorted at this line, but Brittany's warning cough and swift flashing glare shut him up. She continued. "There are a few rules I want you to keep in mind: number one, don't waste my time. I will have eyes everywhere, and if you cheat, I will know. Number two, no complaining. Losers complain. If you want my help, you don't talk back or give up in my presence. If you do, I quit immediately. Understand?"

Theodore quickly nodded, making a mental note to definitely not piss her off at any time.

"Number three, and even though this is kind of a stupid rule but one I should mention." She sighed, as if a weight was let off her chest. "Don't fall in love with me or anything dumb like that."

Everyone except Theodore and Brittany burst out laughing.

"Theodore? Fall in love with you?" Alvin heckled, wiping tears away from his face. "He'd be better off having a love affair with Satan!"

Simon chuckled, "I'm sorry Brittany, but don't you think that your request is a little too self-serving? Not that you aren't attractive, but there's no way…"

Eleanor and Jeanette chortled into couch pillows.

Brittany pouted. "It's happened before, guys. You just never saw it."

Alvin straightened up, smirking. "Seriously, what makes you think that this guy is gonna fall head over heels for you?" He nudged Theodore's back with his foot playfully. "Tell her, Theo. Tell her how stupid that sounds."

Theodore sat motionlessly, blinking. He always thought about that—what would happen if he truly fell for the elusive Brittany Miller? Sure, it was a small crush since middle school, but it wasn't without reason—she was the hottest girl in school, and although she obviously thought highly of herself, that didn't mean she wasn't one of the most sought after. She was the end goal, the unattainable, the unreachable…

But now that he could finally play at her level, did that even matter? Did this God-given chance—one that other guys in their school would kill for—mean that she would finally see him as a person and not just someone else's lesser sibling?

It certainly seemed like it shouldn't.

Which was why when Theodore spoke, it was the most confident voice he had heard from himself. It sounded separate from his body, like another, stronger person took over his shy, self-conscious soul. And the words seemed to float from his mouth, but they weren't solid, didn't feel tangible.

"I accept the terms, but I won't fall for you. You will fall for me."

That one statement shook the room.

Everyone fell into a shocked silence. Even Brittany, who normally had a cold poker face, widened her eyes in surprise.

Theodore desperately tried to think of something, anything to diffuse the sudden tension, but couldn't. He was just as stunned as everyone else.

Just as he was ready to retreat to his room and think of how to avoid high school for the rest of his life, Brittany's lips evolved into a smirk, her frosty eyes narrowing in acceptance of his challenge.

"Now that's what I like to hear."

This story is about 98% written, so look forward to weekly updates. Or daily. Or whenever I decide to post, idk.

R&R!