It's Not Over Yet Chapter 1: Times Change
Sometimes life can be an unexpected journey. Now in her twenties, Jeanette Miller had experienced more in her childhood, in her adolescence, and into the genesis of her adulthood than most people ever experience in their whole lifetime. Alot of it was not for the better, but the events that Jeanette had faced in her life had shaped her into the person she is today. Although she was always shy, tackling her past help make her far more tough around the edges than she used to be as a child. She had alot of growing up to do in a short time, but burying the past, and facing the challenges of the future ahead helped her grow into a stronger person. Jeanette had reached a plateau in her life. She continued working at the bookstore, and sharing an apartment with Simon, while he finished his final semester at night school. She did know that she was capable of doing more, and Miss Miller certainly had high hopes for her as well, but she decided to take it slow and steady. She will tackle new opportunities when they come along. Roberta, Jeanette's best friend, who also still worked at the bookstore, arrived late for her shift, and right away, Jeanette could tell something was wrong with the look on Roberta's face.
"How's life?" Jeanette asked.
"Don't even ask." Roberta said, as she dropped by the customer service kiosk, where Jeanette worked.
"Okay, I won't." Jeanette said.
"Ask." Roberta said.
"What's wrong?" Jeanette asked.
"Charleigh dumped me!" Roberta said, in reference to another female chipmunk she had been dating off and on for a few months.
"She dumped you?" Jeanette asked.
"Yeah, can you believe that?" Roberta asked, "apparently, I wasn't her type. Apparently, Charleigh prefers blondies instead of brownies."
"Sorry to hear that, Roberta." Jeanette consoled.
"Eh, screw it." Roberta said.
"It's her loss though,"Jeanette added, "you've got such a great and warm personality, your too good for her anyway."
"Your just saying that." Roberta said.
Actually, Jeanette was just saying that. Not to be mean, or to try and make Roberta feel better, but because she doesn't quite know how to approach the situation.
"Can you believe that even though I explicitedly stating I'm female seeking female on my chipmunk love dot com profile, I still get messages from guys all the time?" Roberta asked. "Some of them even have the nerve to say they're confident that they can convert me."
"Your cursed with attraction, Roberta," Jeanette said, "you have to remember as the old saying goes, men think with their penis, not with their brain."
Roberta nodded in agreement. "True dat."
"Excuse me?" A customed said, as she approached Jeanette's kiosk.
"How may I help you?" Jeanette asked.
After her shift, Jeanette decided to drive by Lori's condo, and pay her a quick little visit. Over the past two years, Jeanette and Lori would occasionally get together, and surprisingly, the two of them eventually developed a respectable friendship, despite what Lori had previously put her through when she became Tina years earlier.
"How's life been treating you?" Jeanette asked, while Lori handed her a cup of coffee.
"Pretty good at the moment," Lori said, as she sipped coffee herself, and smoked a cigarette, "if you can believe it, I got a new boyfriend. I mean a serious boyfriend this time."
"How nice," Jeanette said, "you have a new boyfriend, and my other friend Roberta just lost her girlfriend."
"Hmm. Lesbo?" Lori asked.
"Yep." Jeanette said, sipping her coffee.
"Ah." Lori said with a puff. "Well, anyway, Rollin is a really great guy, I met him a party about a month ago, and we really hit it off."
"Still partying?" Jeanette asked.
"Not as much as I used to," Lori said, "I still like to go out every once and a while though. All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl."
"And, does he know about your... past?" Jeanette asked.
Lori tensed up abit. For a moment, she didn't respond. She puffed away at her cigarette, and sipped at her coffee, until she spoke up.
"I haven't exactly told him about it," Lori admitted, "then again, I'm not exactly sure just how he would react to learning that he's dating a former hooker."
"It might not be something he's expecting to hear," Jeanette said, "but if he really loves you, and he really cares about you, he'll be able to look past it, and see yourself the way you are now."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Lori said. "It's still to be determined. But I'm not sure if I'm ready to spring it on him just yet... I feel like I need more time."
"You can take your time, Lori," Jeanette said, "but if your serious about a relationship, for once, and you'd like to spend your future with Rollin, you'll have to tell him about your past sooner or later."
"I know, I know." Lori mumbled, as she finished her coffee. "How have you been doing lately?"
"Not too bad," Jeanette said, "I've just been really tired lately. I've been going through an insomniac episode lately."
"Why don't you take a sleeping pill?" Lori asked.
"Because I don't want to develop a dependency of them." Jeanette said.
Lori nodded. "I see."
"I think alot of it has to do with Simon right now," Jeanette said, "he's going to be graduating from night school pretty soon, so we're both really excited about it. Lot of anxiety lately."
"Any idea where he's going from there?" Lori asked.
"We're not exactly sure yet." Jeanette said. "He's had a few offers from a number of different companies, he's even had an offer to participate in the next biosphere."
Lori shook her head. "I don't understand why people would willingly let themselves be locked up in a big metal ball for years."
"I don't think Simon is really interesting in accepting that offer," Jeanette said, "besides, I think I'd go crazy being separated from him for years. I don't like being alone very much."
The two ladies finished their conversation. Lori always appreciates when Jeanette takes the time to visit her. Lori had come to regard Jeanette as sort of a confidant, so a visit from her is always refreshing. Later that evening, Jeanette returned home to the small, but reasonable apartment she and Simon were still splitting. She could tell Simon was really anxious to graduate from his night school, and with graduation fast approaching, the nights couldn't pass quickly enough for him.
"How was work today?" Simon asked, as Jeanette walked in.
"It was kind of slow today," Jeanette said, as she hung her pocket book on the hall tree next to the front door, "but book signing month is coming up, so that will probably help things pick back up."
"Well, we got a package in the mail today." Simon said, as he handed a small package to Jeanette.
"Who's it from?" Jeanette asked, as she looked at the address. "Brittany Miller, c/o Stoner-Flackman Music."
"Do you suppose?" Simon asked.
Jeanette eagerly opened the package, to find a brand new copy of BMX: The Brittany Miller Experience. "It's out! It's finally out! Brittany's new solo album!"
It wasn't an easy road to travel, but Brittany was finally able to move past The Chipettes, and establish a name for herself as a solo artist. So many different producers and labels repeatedly turned her down, because they were only interested in signing on all three of the Miller sisters, wanting a chance at marketting The Chipettes. Finally, Irving-Flackman Music, a relatively new label, was willing to give Brittany a chance, and after sometime had past, and people were proven that Brittany alone still had it, she was on the road to success once again. Her solo album was her first major achievement since Jeanette went missing years ago, and Eleanor had decided she would rather want to pursue her atheletic career, as opposed to a musical one. Jeanette handed the CD to Simon for him to take a look. Brittany's glamourous head shot covered the front, with the fancy cut letters of BMX printed below her. Looking at the back, Simon and Jeanette saw there were ten tracks for them to listen to.
"This should be most interesting!" Simon said, as he handed the CD back to Jeanette.
"Want to pop it into the stereo, and listen?" Jeanette asked.
"Maybe tomorrow, I've got to be running." Simon said, looking at his watch, and seeing it was time for him to head to night school.
Jeanette observed the CD that was in her hands. She felt so proud of Brittany for her achievement, though at the same time, she also couldn't help but reminisce about the old days when she and her sisters were The Chipettes. It was almost a strange, and out of body experience for Jeanette to see her own sister on a CD of her own. This is my sister, she thought, she's going to be big!