Chapter 2: Insult to Injury

I agreed with Alvin that I could keep his secret. I mean, the worst thing that Brittany could do would be torture me with a feather, but I doubted that that would happen. When I stepped back into the bedroom, Brittany stood at the bed post, fully clothed with her hair lacing at the side of her face. It made her look kind of funny, actually. I wasn't used to her ginger hair being down. She gave the doorway a hard stare with her icy blue eyes and tapped her foot on the ground. She uncrossed her arms when she saw me and tackled me like a football player. Brittany snatched the barrettes out of my paws and took one out to pull her hair back carefully. She then brushed through her fluffy bangs before hugging me.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she cried. "I love you forever!"

I just stood there, not really paying attention to her prattle. I stared at Simon, who was reading a book rather intently. He lay on his belly and turned the heavy pages with his small paws every few minutes. His mouth cracked a small smile, making the feeling spread to me. I didn't even realize that Brittany had let go until about five minutes after. I shook my head and snapped out of it and walked off to don my daily attire. I still couldn't stop thinking about how I was going to keep a secret from my sister. We all trust each other to tell anything to one another in our family. But…this is just a little white lie, right? For the greater good? For love. I wired that thought process in my brain. I'm doing this for Alvin and Brittany's sake.

When my thoughts stopped clouding my mind, I found myself at Simon's bedside. A faint blush spread up my neck and across my cheeks. I smiled at him and wiggled my fingers at him in greeting.

"Hi," I said. Simon started and his eyes went wide, then he grinned.

"Oh, hello," he replied. "I didn't see you there."

I gave a short, breath-filled giggle, making me hold a paw to my mouth. I returned to my ungraceful stance and put my hands behind my back.

"Whatcha reading?" I asked, trying to be sweet.

Simon had to turn the book over to check the title and said, "The Funny One."

"Hm…Sounds like a good read." I commented. Simon began to laugh and I cocked my head to the side. My ears went lopsided. "Oh…" I said, finally realizing he meant to be humorous.

My cheeks began to get hot with blush and I looked at my feet. I smiled good-naturedly, though. I was used to being embarrassed by tripping over things all the time. Like my feet…and the floor…and the air…pieces of paper that appear out of nowhere… I glanced back up. Simon was still gazing at me, his mouth opened to say something. My heart pitter-pattered a little faster as I anticipated what he was going to mention.

"So," he began. I shuffled my feet, making my body waver from side to side. My tail and whiskers twitched, but I tried not to let Simon see. "There's that dance coming up…" Oh, here it comes! "and I thought…" my teeth grinded together, "that maybe…" my breathing was about gone, becoming shallower and shallower. Abruptly he lifted his head and his ears shot up from their relaxed places on his head.

"What?" I asked, trying not to sound too desperate.

His blue eyes were still fixed on the doorway, still looking surprised.

"I-I thought I heard something." he said. Simon put a bookmark in the page and propped himself up on his front paws. He stood on all fours, tail erect like he still lived in the woods and had spotted a predator. I could just see his teeth clenched together in his mouth. "Like…a crash." his tone trailed off.

I turned my attention to the threshold as well, but I didn't see anything.

"Maybe we should check it out." I suggested.

Simon nodded and slipped off the bed.

"Stay behind me," he warned. I accepted his invitation and followed slowly.

We stepped out into the hallway and glanced into the bathroom. Nothing. We kept going, finding our way into the kitchen. There Theodore, Eleanor, Brittany, and Alvin were. Theodore and Eleanor sat on the floor. Theo clutched his right arm achingly, as if he was in pain. Tears streamed from the green clad Chipmunk's eyes and his tail thrashed in anguish. Eleanor put a paw on his shoulder painstakingly and looked as though she'd weep herself. I was mortified and confused and subconsciously hugged Simon's arm in horror. He seemed too worried about Theodore to mind my tight clutch.

"Theodore! What happened?" Dave screamed, scooping Theo up into his hands.

The little green hoodie-wearing Chipmunk couldn't stop sniveling long enough to respond. I looked at Eleanor who acted guilty. She did not lift her head when she spoke and her hazel eyes seemed to show that she was ashamed.

"A-Alvin dared us to climb up in the pots and swing around…" she began.

Dave turned his head and glared at Alvin, who laid his ears flat against his head and making his brown eyes dart from side to side like a creepy cat clock. He sighed and his posture drooped.

"Y-yeah, I-I did…" I could feel Simon's growing hostility radiating off him. "I told Theo that I bet he couldn't catch and I ran around the kitchen. I went up onto the pots and started doing aweso-I mean-stupid, very stupid, flips and tricks and stuck the landing." Alvin was lying about what he thought about his acrobatics by the look in his brown eyes. "I didn't think that Theodore would actually follow me."

Alvin hung his head and let his shoulders sag. I think he was looking at the floor to escape Dave's death-stare. I glanced at Simon. His ears lay flat on his head, like Alvin, but he did not show shame. He was enraged, growling at Alvin and shooting daggers with his look. Simon clenched his fists and took a step towards his brother.

"Alvin." he said firmly. "I'm going to…"

"W-wait a second, Simon!" Theodore interrupted him weakly from Dave's comforting hands. "Don't blame Alvin… I was the one who followed him. It's my fault."

Simon's expression changed from anger to concern.

"Theodore, are you sure?" Brittany asked from the side of the room.

I looked at Theo's arm; it was bent in ways an arm shouldn't. The poor younger Chipmunk closed his eyes in horrid pain, and I couldn't help but feel it in my own appendage. Theo nodded, unable to speak anymore because of his injury's torment. I winced as if it were me.

"At least let me examine it," Simon inquired.

Dave looked thoughtful for a moment. "Do you think you can diagnose the problem?" Dave asked, taking a glimpse at Theodore in his hands.

"As sure as I can calculate pi." Simon said confidently. He then turned to me, "Jeanette, may I ask for your assistance?"

I nodded and smiled nervously, "I'd be delighted to help."

Eleanor sniffled and tailed us into the living room and onto the couch. We tugged Theodore into a nest made out of a soft blanket. Little Theo groaned and lay on his back.

"Okay, Theo, don't move. I'm going to check this out to see how bad the damage is." Simon said reassuringly. He looked at Alvin. "I need you to go get my medical supplies. I may just forgive you if you do."

Alvin huffed at his brother and scurried off to the bedroom. Simon and I turned back to Theo, sprawled out now and squeezing his eyelids together and grinding his teeth. Eleanor was at the opposite side of his injury, holding Theo's good paw between both of hers. You could see how shaken up she was in her hazel eyes, trying to hold back tears.

I was scared too, placing my bushy tail over my feet. I covered my mouth with my right paw and waited for Alvin to get back.

Hey, thanks to everyone who reviewed! Will Theodore pull through with Simon and Jeanette's help? I hope you enjoyed this chapter, see ya next time! :) -Kittypig