I swear I didn't mean for the chapter to get longer and longer. It just. . . Kinda happened that way. I write down the basic story in a notebook (just like Theodore and his songs, LOL) then I will type it up and embellish along the way. . . I haven't even finished the whole story on paper yet. . . Anyway. . . Enjoy!

Chapter 4

"Cody," Theodore turned to the human from the window seat of the airplane, concern in his green eyes. "In want to tell Ellie about our partnership." The chipmunk sighed. "You know I hate to keep secrets from her. She and I both feel that it's bad to not tell the one you love everything that's on your mind. Right now, it's hard to even talk to her. . . I know she knows I'm not telling everything that's going on."

"How?" Cody asked.

"She went to the 'Dave Seville School for Reading the Emotions of Chipmunks'", Theodore smiled. "She passed 'Theodore 101' with flying colors" The chipmunk watched his human friend laugh. "In other words, she can read me like a picture book. . . She can tell something is wrong, she just doesn't know what. And she won't push because in her mind, it's none of her business."

"Does she know about Alvin and Simon?" The human's eyes filled with concern.

"Yes. . . Well, sort of. She knows that they fought and I got hurt. . . I haven't told her that the fighting has been going on for months. Or why they are fighting at all, she only knows that they're arguing more than normal," He sighed," I hate telling her half-truths." Then, Theodore suddenly looked straight ahead.

"Uh-oh" Cody smiled. He knew what that meant. He had seen the Chipmunk do it many times before.

Like He predicted the chipmunk reached down into his carry-on bag and pulled out a dark green spiral notebook . . . But, Cody knew it as the youngest chipmunk's songwriting book.

The youngest chipmunk had been writing song lyrics for the better part of two years. In the beginning no one knew about it, not even Dave. Until a little over a year ago, when Cody discovered his secret. . .

Having finished another song, Theodore closed his notebook and smiled. He felt really good about the lyrics he just wrote, feeling they were some of the best he had ever come up with. Just as he put the notebook down, the doorbell rang. . .

"Alvin, Simon, Theodore, can you come down here please?" Dave yelled from downstairs as he answered the door, "Come on in guys. . . Nice to see you again" He smiled as he and Matt embraced for the first time in years. "And nice to meet you Cody," He shook the teenagers hand.

"Nice to meet you sir," the shy boy responded.

Dave yelled upstairs again "Boys, come downstairs" The father of three was growing frustrated as his youngest descended the stairs. "Where are Simon and Alvin?" He asked the youngest chipmunk.

"Simon is in his room working on an experiment" Theodore said quietly." And I think Alvin is listening to music. . . I tried to get them to come, but they ignored me."

Dave sighed. "Alright, I'll tell them later. . . Theodore, this is a very good friend of mine, Matt Richardson." He then motioned to the human teenager. "And this is his son Cody."

"You must be Theodore," Matt nodded. "He's told me so much about you."

"Hi. . ." Cody said.

"It's nice to meet you both." The youngest chipmunk responded shyly by casting his green eyes down at the floor.

After a few moments of silence, Dave spoke again. "Theodore, why don't you take Cody up to you room?" He glanced at his longtime friend, then back to his son. "Matt and I need to talk."

The chipmunk nodded, and then turned to the teen. "My room is upstairs. . ."

"Lead the way" Cody gave a small smile.

At the top of the stairs, was a large landing that was furnished as TV room. Pointing to a doorway on the right, Theodore spoke again. "That's the way to Dave's room. And this," he motioned down the hallway to the left, "is our wing"

Cody immediately noticed three doors. The first one on the left was fire engine red with a bright yellow 'A' on it. The second, also on the left, was pale blue with a dark blue 'S'. The final door was on the right, and was beige with a forest green 'T' on it. Theodore opened the third door and said. "Come on in"

As he did so, the human was amazed at the size of the room. "Wow" was all he could say.

"It's really too big for just me." The chipmunk looked around, "but Dave insisted when we moved in the house, we draw straws for the rooms. Whoever drew the biggest straw got the biggest room and whoever got the smallest. . ."

"Got the smallest room," Cody finished

"Right," Theodore gave a small smile. "I drew the biggest straw." His smile faded. "Alvin was pretty upset at first, especially since he drew the smallest room. I was willing to give Alvin this room, but Dave insisted I keep it. He also said I need to learn to stand up for myself, but it goes completely against my nature." He sighed. "I'm sorry. You can sit down if you want." A loud crash could be heard across the hallway, followed by a few swear words. "Alvin. . ." Theodore sighed again. I better see if he's O.K. I'll be right back." The chipmunk scurried out of the room.

As the teen sat down on the bed, he jostled something. He moved a blanket and found an open notebook. On the page was a poem. . .

You'll never see, just what you do to me.

You'll never know how much it hurts.

To hear what you say; to know how you feel.

You say sorry, but I know it's not real.

So, why do I still care?

I guess you know I'm not that strong.

So, why do I still come, when you need me there?

I guess it's just what brothers do.

So I just let you.

Walk all over me.

Cody read the poem twice. "Wow."

"What do you think?"

Startled, Cody turned to the chipmunk in the doorway. "It's ok. . . I'm glad someone is reading those." He jumped on the bed, and smile. "'Walk All Over Me'. In case you're wondering. It's about Alvin and me."

"I didn't know you wrote poems." Cody remarked, amazed.

"No one does." Theodore gave Cody his first real smile since the human arrived. "And, they're song lyrics. . . But I can't read or play music, besides the drums. And, because the content of the lyrics are what they are."

"You can't exactly tell Dave." Cody finished. "Well," The teenager gave his first real smile as well, "I may have a solution. . . I um. . . Play guitar, and piano, and, a few other things. . ."

"What else can you play?" The chipmunk's eyes grew wide.

"Well. . ." Cody blushed. "Just about anything I've ever picked up to play. . . I'm what you call a prodigy." Theodore looked into Cody's eyes and knew he was telling the truth. Besides cooking and singing, the youngest chipmunk's best talent was being able to read people like books. Cody continued. "Maybe I could help you with the music? I-I mean if you want me to."

"Of course, next time you come over you should bring your guitar." The chipmunk laughed.

A little over a month later, Theodore and Cody where sitting at a board table with Dave, Matt, one of the chipmunks record label executives, and the chipmunks business lawyer. The two fathers found out about the boys collaborations almost immediately and realized that their bond was magical. Now the boys were going to sign a song writing contract. But, there was only one problem. . .

"I don't want Alvin or Simon to know about this. . ." The chipmunk said quietly. "Things are already awkward between us. I don't want to make it worse. . ."

After a few seconds of silence, Cody smiled. "What if we come up with name that we can publish our songs under? Maybe something that represents both of us?" The teenager looked to the executive, who nodded.

"I'm fine with that." He turned to the chipmunk. "What do you think?"

"How about, the name 'T.C. Richards?'" The chipmunk responded, obviously liking the idea.

Cody smiled, "That works for me."

Since then, T.C. Richards had become huge hit. The mythical songwriter already had three back to back songs hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. The first was recorded by Kelly Clarkson. Then Bruno Mars took one of T.C. Richards's songs to the top spot. Finally, The Chipettes recorded T.C. Richards's 'Until the Tide Rolls in Again' giving them the biggest hit of their career when it too hit number one. It stayed there for five consecutive weeks, and is still in the top ten almost six months later.

All the while, the true identity of T.C. Richards remained a closely held secret. . .

"Any can inspire you huh?" Cody said with a soft smile.

Theodore only nodded, too focused on getting lyric to page. After a few seconds, he offered the notebook to the teen. "What do you think?"

"Is it going to be a chorus or verse?"

"Chorus," the chipmunk responded as Cody began to read.

A few moments later, the human smiled. "It's a little shorter then we've been doing, but I like it."

"I wanted it to feel like an old fashion country song," Theodore said, "short, simple, and devastating."

Cody smiled. "Well, it already sounds good to me, dude." Knowing that sometimes the chipmunk needed some encouragement to keep going on a song he added, "When you finish the rest, we'll add some music."

The chipmunk's eyes sparkled. "Thanks Cody", he said casting his eyes back down at the notebook in front of him.

Cody picked up the book he was reading a few minutes ago and thought, 'If the rest of that song reads as good as the chorus, and if I can make a worthy melody, T.C. Richards will have another massive hit on his resume.

Please review and critique!