Chapter Three: The Confession

Simon did his best to stay away from Jack for the next few day. It seemed that every time someone even mentioned his name it would send off a signal inside of him, and it was getting harder to control his temper. No one noticed this more than Alvin who confronted him about it.

"Simon, what's wrong with you lately?" Alvin asked.

"Nothing," he said. "I just don't like that Jack Harris hanging all over Jeanette."

"And why is that?"

"Because he's a snake," Simon said. "All he's going to do is hurt her."

"Yea, I know all about that, and if you just told her how you felt she wouldn't be going out with him," Alvin said. "And further more, my girlfriend wouldn't be going out with you."

"Alvin," Simon started. "I don't want to go out with Brittany. I have absolutely no interest in her."

"And why not?" Alvin shouted at him. "She's beautiful."

"And a pain in the ass," Simon said. "You should be glad I have no interest in her, especially when every other guy in school does."

"Okay, okay," Alvin said. "I get it. You only have eyes for Jeanette."

"That's not how it is," Simon said. "I'm just concerned about her."

"Yea, right" Alvin said with a chuckle. "Just admit that you're completely and totally in love with her."

"Well, I..." Simon couldn't go on. I sat down on his bed and thought about it for a moment. "Am I?"

"You are," Alvin said and left the room.

Alvin ran downstairs and raced for the phone. He dialed Brittany's number. "Hello?"

"Hey, Britt," Alvin said. "We have a problem."

"What?" she asked.

"It's Simon," Alvin said. "This whole plan of yours is a bad idea. Besides, I don't like my girlfriend going out with my brother."

"Would you get over it," Brittany said. "It's not a real date. I'm only doing this to help Jeanette."

"Okay," Alvin said. "But I'll be there."

"What?" Brittany asked. "You don't trust me?"

"Of course I do," Alvin said. "I just want to make sure you stay out of trouble."

"Okay, whatever," she said. "Besides, I need your help to pull this off."

"Sounds sneaky," he said. "My specialty."

"Then I'll tell you all about it tomorrow."

"Okay," Alvin said. "See you tomorrow."


The next day after the big football game Jeanette returned home to get ready for the party. Brittany was ready to give Jeanette a beauty makeover.

"How was the game?" Brittany asked.

"We won," Jeanette said.

"Well, that all I need to know," Brittany said. "I hate football." She took a different tone as she gave her sister an intense look. "Okay, Jeanette. Time to make you beautiful."

"Brittany," Jeanette said. "There's plenty of time before the party."

"That's what you think," Brittany said.

Jeanette now wondered what she got herself into. When it came to appearances, Brittany could be relentless. Brittany dragged her sister up the stairs and into the bedroom.

"First," she said, touching her finger to her chin. "We need the perfect dress."

"It's just a party, and not a grand ball," Jeanette said, trying to reason with her sister.

"Not for you it isn't," Brittany said. "You really have to look your best."

"Why?" Jeanette asked, feeling like there was something else going on.

"Because a girl should always look her best," Brittany said. She took out a dress from the closet. "This one's perfect." She handed the dress to Jeanette and motioned for her to go try it on.

Jeanette relented, knowing that there was no arguing with her sister. Brittany waited patiently for Jeanette to come out of the bathroom.

"Jeanette, I'm waiting," she said after ten minutes.

"Okay, I'm coming out," Jeanette said. "How does it look?"

"Fantastic," Brittany said. "I knew that lavender dress would look great on you."

"Are you sure?" Jeanette asked, looking at herself in the mirror. "I feel kind of silly."

"That's only because we haven't done your hair yet," Brittany said. "Now I thinking a french twist. It would like very elegant on you."

"Are you sure?" Jeanette asked.

"Well, of course," Brittany said, confidently. "You just sit down in this chair, and I'll take care of everything."

"O-kay," Jeanette said hesitantly.

Downstairs, Eleanor had just returned home for her weekend job at the restaurant. She heard her sisters' voices coming from upstairs. She walked up the stairs and entered her bedroom.

"Hey, what's going on?"

"I just gave Jeanette a makeover. That's all," Brittany said, swinging the chair around so Eleanor see.

"That's all?" Eleanor questioned. "Wow! Jeanette. You look great."

Jeanette got up and looked at herself in the full length mirror. She almost wanted to cry, but she didn't want to smudge her makeup. Brittany would have a fit then.

"Hmmm... Something's still missing," Brittany said. "Ah... I got it. Shoes."

She walked into her closet, riffling through the boxes of shoes, until she found the right ones. "Here we go," she said.

They were low heeled pearl lavender pumps that she bought a while back and decided she hated them after bringing them home. For Jeanette, they were perfect.

Jeanette sat down and tried on the shoes. She modeled herself in the mirror and decided Brittany was right. She did look great. She smiled at herself, which made Brittany feel good as well.

"You're going to blow them all away at that party tonight." Brittany said.

"Do you really think so?" Jeanette asked.

"I know so," Brittany.

Jeanette looked at the clock. It was almost seven. Then the doorbell rang. Jeanette immediately gasped. "Relax," Eleanor said. "I'll get it." She ran downstairs and answered the door. "Oh, hi, Jack," she said.

"Hi," he said, and walked in the door. He had a bouquet of lavender and pink roses. "Is Jeanette ready?"

"She'll be right down," Eleanor said. "You can have a seat in the living room. Eleanor led him to the couch. "Can I offer you something to drink?"

"Soda's fine," he said.

"Okay, I'll be right back." Eleanor disappeared into the kitchen and poured him a soda. She came back just as Jeanette was coming down the stairs. Eleanor handed Jack the soda as he stood up.

"Hi, Jack," Jeanette said from behind him.

He turned around and couldn't believe his eyes. "Jeanette?"

"Yes, it's me," she said awkwardly.

"You look... um."

"It's the dress," Jeanette said.

Brittany came down behind her. "Hello, Jack," Brittany said.

"Brittany," Jack said, trying to act cool. Brittany saw right through him. "I didn't see you at the game today."

"I hate football," Brittany said. She came up to him and whispered, "You better be nice to my sister."

Jeanette didn't hear what she said, she was busy getting her coat. Jack threw Brittany a look, but Brittany didn't flinch. She thought to herself that this guy didn't know what he was in for.

Brittany watched as Jeanette left with Jack. "That guy is in for it," Brittany said out loud.

"Brittany, what are you talking about?" Eleanor asked in confusion. "He seemed really nice."

"Looks can be deceiving, little sister," Brittany and walked off upstairs. Eleanor followed her.

She walked into the room but Brittany had already gone into the bathroom. Eleanor went over to knock on the door. "Brittany," she said. "I'd like to talk to you." Brittany came out a few minutes later. To Eleanor's surprise she was dressed up. "Where are you going?"

"To a party," Brittany said.

"Don't tell me..." Eleanor started, but Brittany cut her off.

"Okay, I won't," she said and flew down the stairs and out the door, leaving Eleanor to wonder. Brittany arrived at the Seville house in minutes. She rang the doorbell and waited. Dave answered the door.

"Brittany?" he said surprised to see her.

"Hi, Dave," she said, coming in.

"I didn't know you and Alvin had a date tonight," Dave said.

"We don't," Brittany said. "I have a date with Simon." She then spotted him. She walked over to him and grabbed his arm. "Come on," she said. "Let's get this over with." She dragged him out of the house and down the street.

Alvin approached the front door. Dave looked over at him. "What was that all about?"

"Not now, Dave," Alvin said. "Tell you all about when I get home."

Alvin also left the house and chased after his brother and girlfriend. "Hey, you two," Alvin said. "Not so fast."

"Alvin, we can't be seen with you," Brittany demanded. "That would ruin the whole plan."

"Well, first thing, I'm not so thrilled about this plan," Alvin fired back at her. "And second..."

"You're jealous!" Brittany finished for him.

"Am not!" He shouted.

"Are so," she shouted back.

"Would you two just shut up!" Simon yelled, losing his temper. "This isn't about your silly little drama. This is about Jeanette."

"Okay, okay, Simon," Brittany said. "You don't have to be so dramatic."

Alvin just laughed as Brittany walked ahead of them. Simon didn't see what was so funny.

Finally they reached Jack's house, where the party was being held. Alvin stayed out of sight, while Simon and Brittany entered the house. Alvin didn't like the idea but understood why they were doing it. He wait ten minutes before entering.

When he walked in he saw Brittany hanging onto Simon's arm. She was talking to Shelly Forstein, one of the cheerleaders.

She looked over at Simon. "Could you get me some punch?" She gave him a certain look, telling him that she needed to talk to Shelly in private. "So, did Jack dump you for my sister?" Brittany asked.

"Oh, come on, Brittany," Shelly said. "You know what kind of party with is. If you didn't would you be here with Simon?"

"You got me there," Brittany said with a laugh. "But you have to admit, the way my sister looks tonight, who's the real geek?"

She walked away from Shelly just imagining the expression on her face. She went over to a back corner out of sight of everyone. Alvin came up behind her. "Hey, beautiful."

"Are we ready to do this?" Brittany asked.

"Yeah," Alvin said. "The projector's ready. We just gotta switch the pictures."

"Okay," Brittany said. "I'm going back, now." She walked back casually just as Simon came back with her drink.

"So, what's this plan of yours?" Simon whispered to her.

"No time to explain," Brittany said.

Just then she heard Justin Gurth go over the makeshift stage and speak into a microphone. "Alright, everybody. Welcome to our first annual Geek Party." Cheers came from all the popular kids.

Brittany looked over and saw the horrified look on Jeanette's face. She approached slowly, seeing the tears running down Jeanette face.

"Is this the reason you asked me out?" Jeanette asked, tears still in her eyes.

"Lighten up," Jack said. "It's just a joke."

Jeanette ran off out of the house.

"The joke's on you asshole," Brittany said. "I warned you. Remember?"

"And for our first candidate," Justin continued with his speech.

Jack looked up and saw a picture of himself, but one from his junior high days. Everyone in the room started laughing, seeing him in broken glasses with acne cream all over his face.

"You, bitch!" Jack yelled and grabbed Brittany by the arm. "You did this!"

At that moment Alvin and Simon approached. "Hey, you son of a bitch!" Alvin shouted. "Let her go right now."

Jack released her. "This isn't over!" Jack shouted and walked off.

"Brittany," Alvin said. "Are you okay?"

"Yea," she said. "But my arm hurts."

"Where's Jeanette?" Simon asked.

"She ran out somewhere," she said, as Alvin helped her to sit down. "I'm not sure."

"I'll go find her," Simon said and ran outside.

Jeanette was still on the grounds, out by the water fountain crying. Jack approached her. She turned to see his angry face, but hers was angrier.

"Stay away from me," Jeanette said. "You just brought me here to humiliate me."

"Maybe I did," Jack fired at her. He grabbed her by the shoulders. "You should be grateful anyone would give you a second look."

"Let go of me!" Jeanette shouted.

"Why should I?" Jack said, throwing her on the ground. "You and your stupid bitch sister..."

Jack stopped dead. Someone had just grabbed hold of him from behind. Before he knew it he was on the ground. He looked up to see who had attacked him.

"Don't you every touch her again."

"Simon?" Jeanette said, picking herself off the ground. "Why did you do that?"

"You're all just a bunch of nerds," Jack said, getting up on his feet. He attempted to go after Simon again, but he easily blocked him.

"Like I said, Jerk," Simon said, shoving him back on the ground. "Don't you ever touch her again."

Jack got up and ran off. Simon looked back over to Jeanette. He saw still upset and not standing very steady. He ran over to her and stopped her from stumbling.

"Are you alright?" he asked her.

"Yes, I think so," she said. "Why did you do that... for me?"

They both sat down at the fountain. He looked deep into her eyes. "Because..." he hesitated a bit. "Because I'd do anything for you."

"But why?" she asked.

"Because I love you," he said. "I've always loved you. I just didn't realize it. Then when Jack asked you out..."

"Why didn't you tell me then?" she asked, taking his hand.

"Because I was scared," he admitted, lowing his head and refusing to look at her.

"Of me?" she asked. "What would you be afraid of me?"

She got up from her seat and walked a few paces. He got up and walked towards her, until he was standing behind her. He put his hands on her shoulders, not like Jack had but gently. His touch gave her goosebumps.

She turned around and looked into his eyes. "I was afraid that you wouldn't feel the same way," he said.

"Simon, I always felt that way," she said. "I guess I was a afraid, too."

"Then why did you go out with Jack? he asked.

"Only because I was mad at you," she said, looking ashamed. "I never wanted him, Simon. You're the only one I've ever wanted."

He smiled at her, putting both his hands on either side of her face. He leaned done touching his lips to hers. The kiss only lasted a few seconds, but to them it felt like an eternity. When it ended Jeanette looked into Simon eyes.

"I love you, Simon," she said. She looked as if she were going to cry again.

"And that makes you sad," he asked.

They sat down again together. "No, silly," she said, almost with a laugh. "It makes me happy." This time she leaned over and kissed him and realized at that moment she never wanted to stop.

Well, that's the end. I hope you all enjoyed it. Please read and review and tell me what you think. See you next story.