Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

Jeanette groaned and wrapped her pillow around her head. When the beeping didn't stop, she looked out from under her pillow.

"Eleanor, hit the snooze button, just once, please," She moaned. When she received no reply, and the beeping didn't stop, she looked to Eleanor's bed to see it empty. Jeanette groaned and sat up, trying to blink the sleep from her eyes. She hopped out of her bed, and stumbled her way across the room to the alarm clock on Eleanor's nightstand. After fumbling with the buttons for a few seconds, it stopped.

"Whew….Brittany, do you know…." Jeanette started, before noticing that her other sister was gone as well. She made her way to her vanity and put her glasses on. She blinked at the sudden sharpness of her own reflection, and saw a folded slip of paper wedged into the mirror's edge. She grabbed it and unfolded it carefully.

Jeanette,

Eleanor had to leave early to meet Alvin and the rest of the team for soccer practice, and I have to meet Simon for my final tutoring (bleck!) session. We'll see you at school.

Love,

Brittany

Jeanette read the note a few times, unsure what to think. Finally she set it down and picked up her hair brush. Brittany hadn't mentioned it. Jeanette wasn't sure how to react, if she thought it was typical of Brittany, or if she should be more upset. It had been Brittany's idea for the girl's to celebrate individual birthdays, rather than have them all on the same day. Brittany's had been two months ago, and Eleanor's last month, and today was Jeanette's. She went through her morning routine, washing her face, putting on some blush and lip stick (she usually didn't wear make-up unless they were performing, but today was special.) and getting dressed for school. When she was ready she went downstairs looking for Ms. Miller.

"Ms. Miller! Ms. Miller, I'm ready for school!" She called out, but got no reply. She wandered into the kitchen, but she wasn't there. She sighed and sat down at the table, where she found another note

Jeanette,

Had to run some errands, and Dave was kind enough to drive me into town. You'll have to catch the bus with the boys.

Love and kisses.

Jeanette read it and sighed again. So far her birthday was off to less than a stellar beginning. She walked to the front door and grabber he blue and purple back pack from where's she put it the night before after finishing her homework. She opened the door and walked onto the porch, making sure to lock the door behind her. She stepped off the porch and squinted in the sunlight, raising a hand to shield her eyes. The bus was already at the corner, and Jeanette started walking towards it, when it started pulling away. She ran after it, waving her arms and screaming after it.

"Wait! Wait! I'm here! Please stop!" She called after the bus. She was about to give up when the buses brake lights came on and it stopped. The door opened and she heard Theodore calling to her.

"Jeanette, come on!" He called out to her, waving his hand. She ran to the door and climbed onto the bus.

"Thank you, Mr. Pheeny," Jeanette said to the bus driver.

"Thank Theodore, he's the one that saw you. Now hurry to your seat or we'll be late for school," He said, and shut the bus door. She and Theodore hurried to an open seat and sat down. They jumped a little when the bus lurched forward, but after that it was a smooth ride.

"Thank you Theodore," Jeanette said, relaxing back into the seat.

"Dave told me he was taking Ms. Miller into town this morning, and to make sure you made it to the bus. When I saw that you weren't on the bus when it started moving, I made sure Mr. Pheeny knew we had to wait for you," Theodore said, and then seeing that she looked upset, asked "Are you okay?"

"My day hasn't started well," Jeanette sighed.

"But, it's your birthday; your birthday should always have a good start," Theodore said.

"Nothing bad has happened, I just wish Brittany and Eleanor had been there to say Happy Birthday," She said, looking out at the houses that the bus passed on its way to the school. Theodore looked at her, then opened his back pack and brought out a small box tied with a green ribbon.

"I know I'm not them, but...for what it's worth, happy birthday Jeanette," Theodore said, and held the box out to her.

"Theodore…" Jeanette said, trying to keep a tear from her eye, "Thank you. Can I open it?"

"Of course. I was going give it to you at school before lunch, but you looked like you need a pick me up," Theodore said with a smile. Jeanette carefully pulled the ribbon, undoing the bow and allowing her to open the box. Inside were two pieces of cake.

"Theodore! Marble cake with chocolate frosting! My favorite, thank you so much!" She cried, and the hugged him, careful to not damage the box.

"Actually, it's chocolate chocolate chip frosting. I thought maybe you could share it with Simon at lunch," Theodore said with a slight blush. He knew that Simon and Jeanette hadn't seen each other much over the past few weeks. They had all been busy it seemed, Brittany and Simon studying for her math finals, Alvin, Eleanor and the rest of the soccer team practicing for the big championship this weekend, Theodore with his cooking classes. He couldn't wait for the summer break so that they could all be together again. That reminded him, he needed to talk to Alvin and Simon about his history class.

"Theodore, that's so thoughtful of you, I don't know what to say." Jeannette said, "Are you sure you don't want the other piece?" She asked.

"No, I already had two pieces…..um, last night…and another two this morning," Theodore replied with a sheepish grin.

"Oh Theodore…" Jeanette sighed with a grin, to let him know she was only teasing.

"Well, I had to make sure it tasted good…." Theodore said a little defensively. Jeanette opened her mouth to tell Theodore she'd only been teasing him, when the bus lurched to a stop.

"Okay, everybody off! Education ho!" Mr. Pheeny called out, his normal call when they had reached the school. Theodore slid his back pack on and stood up.

"I'll see you in social studies!" He called, and ran off before Jeanette could say goodbye. She hoped Theodore knew she was only teasing him; he could be so sensitive about his eating.