It was another morning for the Chipmunks and the Chipettes, who had just been dropped off at Thomas Edison Elementary School. However, for another little chipmunk new to the school, it was the worst possible day of her life. She had just been abandoned by her foster parents, who left her like the Chipettes and Chipmunks' parents left them. She went into the school building in a very depressed mood.
This very depressed Ally got Jeanette's attention. She cautiously walked over, not trying to tumble herself over due to everyone continuing to enter the building.
"Hi," she greeted. "I've never seen you around here before."
Ally turned up to see the chipmunk next to her. "Yeah," she managed to say with a smile. "I'm new here. I was hoping somebody could show me around."
"Well, I can help you with that... Oh, gosh, where are my manners? I'm Jeanette!"
"I'm Ally." She held out her hand. "Nice to meet you, Jeanette."
"Same here, Ally. So, you want me to show you around?"
"Oh, I couldn't possibly ask you to do that. I mean, I'm sure you're very busy, and I don't want to distract you."
Jeanette smiled. "No, really. It's okay. I don't mind giving you a tour... Hold on a second." She rushed over to her sisters and the Chipmunks excitedly. "Guys, there's a new chipmunk here who needs to be shown around. Maybe we could all give her a tour together."
"Sounds like fun!" Eleanor and Theodore shouted simultaneously.
"Awesome!" Brittany exclaimed.
"Of course we could!" Simon agreed.
"Maybe I can get a date out of her," Alvin mumbled to himself.
Simon sighed. "Why must you act like such a flirt?"
"I can't help it, Simon. I'm too handsome!"
"Ever looked in a mirror, Alvin? I've met skunks better-looking than you."
"Boys!" Jeanette interrupted. "Please, just cut it out for Ally's sake."
Alvin smirked. "So, that's her name, huh?"
Jeanette rushed back over to Ally, the rest of the group following behind. "Sorry about that. Anyways, these are my sisters Brittany and Eleanor, and behind me are Alvin, Simon and Theodore, respectively."
There was a look of confusion on Ally's face. "Why are they staring?" she asked.
Eleanor giggled. "I think they're love-struck," she answered.
"Oh, they can't possibly be looking at me like that. I mean, I'm not pretty, I don't look anywhere near as nice as you girls do, and I'm just not the kind of 'girlfriend' they'd want."
"Don't say that," Brittany pleaded. "You're much prettier than I am. Heck, you're probably one of the best-dressed people I know besides my sisters. And apparently, three boys are waiting on you hand and foot and just aching to be your brand new boyfriend."
It took a while for Ally to take all of the information in, and she still didn't quite understand what made her so special to the boys.
"Who says you're not any of those things, anyway?" Brittany asked.
Ally gulped. "My parents," she simply replied. "They always tell me I'm no good, and after a while, I guess I just started to believe them."
Jeanette hugged her. "Everything's gonna be okay," she said. "We'll never leave your side."
"Thanks a lot, you guys. You're the best."
School had ended and rain began to pour outside as the Chipmunks and the Chipettes were in the auditorium for another after-school practice. In only a week and three days was the annual Thomas Edison Elementary Talent Show, and they were deciding what song they were going to sing together for their audition. The finals of the talent show this year also fell on Ally (unbeknownest to the six of them) and the Chipmunks' birthdays. They were all going to be ten years old.
"We need a new edge, something a little... unexpected," Alvin said. "What about 'Beat It'?"
Brittany rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure because that worked so well when we did it the last time!" she yelled sarcastically. "That was the worst version of that song we ever did!"
Alvin growled. "Well, do you have a better idea, princess?"
"Yeah," Brittany sharply responded. "It's called 'I Hate This Part'."
"More like 'I Hate That SONG'! How about 'Crocodile Rock'?"
"Been there, done that, got my heart broken over that song."
"How about, like my brother said, 'There Isn't Anything Wrong With the Radio'?" Alvin chuckled a little.
Simon blushed a little. "That song was supposed to be private!"
"Well, the whole world knows about it, little bro."
"I ought to shave your fur off."
Eleanor could faintly hear something in the distance. "Is that a piano?" she asked.
Curious, the other five chipmunks also stopped to hear the music.
"You're right, Eleanor!" Jeanette exclaimed. "But who's playing it if none of us are?"
Suddenly, Alvin looked over at the school piano to see Ally playing it. She began to sing:
Oh, oh, ooh, oh
The six chipmunks quietly walked over and stood next to her. Ally noticed them, pretending the tears weren't coming out of her eyes, and she continued:
I never thought that it'd be easy
'Cause we're both so distant now
And the walls are closing in on us
And we're wondering how No one has a solid answer
We're just walking in the dark
And you can see the look on my face
It just tears me apart
Alvin put his hand on Ally's shoulder as he and Theodore took over for a bit:
So we fight through the hurt
And we cry, and cry, and cry, and cry
And we live, and we learn
And we try, and try, and try, and try
The seven chipmunks sang the chorus in unison, each thinking about their parents as tears rolled down each of their eyes.
So it's up to you
And it's up to me
That we meet in the middle
On our way back down to Earth
Down to Earth, down to Earth
On our way back down to Earth
Back down to Earth, back down to Earth
Back down to Earth, back down to Earth
Back down to Earth, back down to Earth
Back down to Earth, back down to Earth
As surprising as it seemed, only two of the seven chipmunks knew the entire second verse, but only one of them had enough courage to sing it without crying.
"Come on, Simon," Alvin said. "I don't think she can sing it."
Simon sighed. "Alright." He took a huge breath before starting the second verse:
Momma, you were always somewhere
And Daddy, I live out of town
So, tell me, how could I ever be normal somehow?
You tell me this is for the best
So, tell me, why am I in tears?
Oh, whoa
So far away ad now I just need you here
Brittany and her sisters quickly took over, noticing Simon was on the verge of breaking down.
So we fight through the hurt
And we cry, and cry, and cry, and cry
And we live, and we learn
And we try, and try, and try, and try
The seven of them rejoined for the chorus:
So it's up to you
And it's up to me
That we meet in the middle
On our way back down to Earth
Down to Earth, down to Earth
On our way back down to Earth
Back down to Earth, back down to Earth
Back down to Earth, back down to Earth
Back down to Earth, back down to Earth
Back down to Earth, back down to Earth
"Simon, keep going," Brittany urged. "I don't think we've got enough voice to do it right now."
As if he had sung through the song millions of times before - and he really had gone through it just about that many times, just without his brothers - he continued:
Never felt so far away
From where we used to be
Now, we're standing
And where do we go?
When there's no road
To get to your heart
Let's start over again!
The remaining six chipmunks repeated the chorus as Simon sang extra parts:
So it's up to you
And it's up to me
That we meet in the middle
On our way back down to Earth
Down to Earth, down to Earth
On our way back down to Earth
Ally played as Simon sang the last few lines of the song:
I never thought that it'd be easy
'Cause we're both so distant now
And the walls were closing in on us
And we're wondering how...
"I miss Mom," Theodore said, wiping a tear from his eyes.
Simon, shedding a few tears himself, hugged Theodore. "I miss her, too."
Dave then suddenly walked into the auditorium. "Are you guys alright?"
"Yeah," Alvin responded, trying to wipe away as many tears as possible. "The song we just sang kind of... well, made us think about our..." He gulped loudly.
"Our parents," Ally said, finishing Alvin's sentence.
"Who is this, fellas?" Dave asked, pointing to Ally.
"She's a friend," the Chipettes replied.
"A friend who you guys might want to stay the night?"
There was an awkward smile from Alvin. "How did you know?"
Dave laughed. "Just a lucky guess."
Ally suddenly gasped. "I just recorded us singing that song!"
"May I see it?"
"Of course you can!" She gave the recorder to dave and let him listen to a sample. "Simon, did you do a solo?"
Simon gupled. "Yeah, that was me," he answered nervously.
"That's just what we need for your first official album!" Dave shouted excitedly.
All seven of them chorused in laughter and cheering.
"Um, Ally..." Brittany began, "there's something the girls and I were talking about during school... How would you like to be the newest member of the Chipettes?"
"Me?" Ally asked excitedly. "You want me to be the newest Chipette?"
"Well, sure," Jeanette answered. "You have a great voice, and besides, just the three of us wouldn't really be flexible with sound dynamic, anyway."
Ally rushed over and hugged the Chipettes. "Oh, thank you!" she exclaimed. "This is the best day of my life!"
Dave smiled. "That's very sweet of you, girls, but come on. We need to get home. It's going to be a long day tomorrow since you guys are on school vacation for the next few days."
The seven of them cheered. "AWESOME!"
"Now, come on, guys. We have to get going. I have dinner in the oven."
