A/N: Well here it is the final chapter of Everything Has Changed. I wanted to wrap this story up so I combined what was originally the last two chapters into this one chapter. Thanks for all the marvelous reviews! You guys are amazing! I may write a sequel to this story but only time will tell. So for the last time, your awesome reviews.
Simon wanna be- I'm not that cruel!
Brellanetterox-Sorry but the story is complete and I didn't really have anywhere to put you.
Alv Si Theo- Thanks!
rfollman- Well read to find out!
roguelover321- I did!
Lakeeyia- Who knows maybe Theo will get another girl someday but for right now he's chasing after taken Ellie.
MelsLuvsAATC- Lolz! No problem!
ChipmunksChipettes4Life- Yeah she did! I love it to. We all agree Charlene can be the devil.
Sonnygirl09- Wait no longer!
MelsLuvsAATC- Well Collin certainly did get a beating just to unconsciousness though.
Wendy- Thanks! I'm glad I got you right.
MeMyselfandI- I did! Geez!
Daddy'sGirl123- Yay! I'm so happy you're back! He really does.
mollyheartsengraved- Right now!
So without further ado, the final chapter...
She had ditched the over sized sweater and skirt. Instead she was wearing a pair of skinny jeans, a white v-neck, a gray vest, and lavender flats.
Her hair was no longer in a bun but was neatly layered, parted to the side, and fell just below her shoulders. A lavender headband was placed in the middle of her hair leaving strands framing her face.
She also ditched the familiar lavender round glasses. Now rectangular brown glasses covered her emerald green eyes.
Jeanette was standing beside the librarian's desk browsing through a book as she was singing.
Simon knocked on the bookcase beside him causing Jeanette to stop singing.
She bookmarked her place in her book before she turned around. "Yes how can I…" Her voice faltered when she recognized Simon. "Help you" She finished in a whisper.
"Hey Netta" Simon said breathlessly.
Jeanette bit her bottom lip as the tears began to flow. She ran and jumped into Simon's arms; catching him off guard.
He hugged her tightly as if she would disappear if he let go.
"Where have you been?" She asked.
"Coma" He whispered.
"I missed you so much Simon. It hasn't been the same around here without you. It should've been me that got shot" Jeanette sobbed.
Simon pulled away from her and looked into her teary eyes. "Don't you dare say it should've been you Jeanie."
Jeanette smiled weakly. "Thank you for saving me. I might not be here if you hadn't."
"I would do it all again." He promised her as he wiped his eyes. "But when did you….change?"
"What are you talking about? I'm still the same old nerdy, klutzy, Jeanette" She told him.
"You've changed on the outside though" Simon said slowly; trying to find the right words.
Jeanette gazed at herself. "I guess I have"
"So when did you," Simon began nervously.
She was so different. She seemed more confident and more into her looks then he remembered.
"I ditched the sweater and skirt first." Jeanette cut him off. "It was getting old and if I tried to leave the house in that outfit my mother would've grounded me in an instant. Then I ditched the shoes with laces. I kept on tripping over them."
"But that never bothered you before" Simon pointed out.
Jeanette lowered her head. Her eyes seemed to be clouded with sad memories. "There was no one to catch me when I fell."
Silence came over the two chipmunks as Jeanette stared at her feet and Simon kept on thinking about what she had just said.
"So where are you brothers?" Jeanette spoke up.
"I promised to meet them out front in a couple of minutes" Simon said. "They had to take some dude named Collin to the health room."
Jeanette sighed as she shook her head. "Michael really needs to control his anger in a less violent way."
"So what do you think of Michael dating El?" Simon asked.
Jeanette shrugged. "He really loves her and she really loves him so I'm okay with it. And the way he's always protecting her, and saying she has a secret boyfriend that could beat him up hidden somewhere, is really cute."
"But Theodore loves Eleanor" Simon protested.
Jeanette sighed. "I know that's the hardest part. I want them both to be happy but Eleanor lost her crush on Theodore years ago, while Theo's crush never left. Eleanor dates jocks now, not people like Theodore. I'm just glad she chose Michael over Alvin"
"So my brother isn't your sister's type because..."
Jeanette let out a frustrated groan. "Eleanor used to like guys like Theodore. In fact, she was in love with Theodore. But she felt like nothing would happen. So she just fell in love with Michael after they started hanging out, and hasn't looked at Theo in any other way, but a friend, since!"
Simon became silent. He had never heard Jeanette snap like that before.
Jeanette looked at him and let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry for snapping at you like that Simon. Things have been different since you left."
"I've noticed" Simon muttered.
"Hey it could've been worse." She said before she placed a paw on his arm. "I'm just glad you're alive"
Simon smiled gratefully at her. "Thanks Netta."
"No problem. Just let me get my stuff then we can go meet our siblings." Jeanette said before she went behind the librarian's desk and grabbed a purple messenger bag.
"Bye Ms. Shaw!" Jeanette called.
"Bye Jeanette see you tomorrow." A voice called back.
Jeanette turned to Simon. "Ready to go?"
Simon nodded and the two headed towards the exit. "So is Ms. Shaw the librarian here?"
"Yeah. She's really nice and understanding. I help her in the morning." Jeanette said.
"Then why were you just there?" He asked as he opened the door for her.
"I needed to talk to her about some books she wanted me to read." She explained.
Simon nodded and realized they reached the front of the school.
Alvin was sitting on a rail beside Dani and Brittany, Michael and Eleanor were on the rail across from the one Alvin was on, and Theodore was leaning against a wall.
"Hey guys" Jeanette greeted.
Alvin looked at them and grinned. "Well if isn't the golden couple reunited once more"
"Shut up Alvin" Simon growled as he hit his brother.
Dani looked annoyed. "Hey Mike, can we get going?"
"You want a ride home Ellie?" Michael asked
Eleanor looked uncertain. "I'm not sure Mike…."
"Charlene won't be riding with us" Michael told her.
Eleanor jumped to her feet. "Alright then"
"Is Charlene dead?" Brittany asked.
Her sisters glared at her. "Brittany!"
"Well is she?" Alvin asked causing Dani to hit him on the shoulder.
Michael chuckled as he shook his head. "No she went to the dentist to get her teeth whitened."
"Darn" Alvin sighed.
Michael glared at him. "Dude that's my sister"
"And she's my ex. I have rights you know." Alvin objected.
Eleanor laced her fingers with her boyfriend's. "He's right bud."
"Whatever let's go." Michael said in defeat.
"Alright, be safe," Brittany said in a motherly tone.
"And be home by ten," Jeanette added in the same tone.
Eleanor rolled her eyes. "Yes Moms"
Michael nudged her. "Ignore them, let's get out of here."
"Bye guys" They called as they headed down the stairs.
Dani sighed as she turned to follow them. "Great a car ride with the lovey dovey twins."
"Bye guys, have fun Dani" Alvin called with a smile on his face.
Brittany stood up. "C'mon Jeanie, we have to get home before Mom starts building a scale model of New York in the living room again."
"Or she could start up another fashion show" Jeanette added but Brittany was too busy kissing Alvin goodbye to hear her.
"And for the last time I'm not wearing pink on New Year's Eve" Alvin told her after they parted.
Jeanette and Theodore both groaned.
"There's nothing wrong with a guy in pink!" Brittany exclaimed.
Jeanette shook her head. "That's not it. You just reminded us that we'll be all alone on New Year's Eve."
Brittany rolled her eyes. "You two are being pathetic; it's not that big of a deal."
"Yes it is!" They both exclaimed.
Alvin smiled. "Then find a date."
Jeanette and Theodore both gave him one of those, "get real," looks.
Brittany ignored the looks they gave Alvin as she gave her boyfriend another peck on the cheek. "Bye Alvie, text ya later."
"See ya Britt."
Brittany began walking down the steps signaling Jeanette to follow her.
"Bye guys," Jeanette said as she turned around and began to follow her sister. She stopped and looked over her shoulder, "Thanks again Si."
Simon watched as she caught up to her sister. "No problem Jeanie."
"Jeanette wait!" Alvin called.
The two chipettes stopped and looked at Alvin. "Yeah Al?" Jeanette asked.
"We need a tutor for Simon, you interested?" Alvin asked.
Jeanette folded her arms over her chest. "What do I get out of it?"
"You can go out on a date with him" Theodore shouted with a grin.
Simon's eyes widened as a blush spread across his cheeks. "Shut up Theo!"
Jeanette just laughed. "Text me later about the details"
The two girls turned back around and walked away.
"I can't believe you did that" Simon told his brothers as he followed them to the car.
"Don't act like you didn't want us to Si." Alvin said in a taunting voice.
Alvin pulled into Thomas Edison Elementary and Simon was immediately hit with memories from the days before his accident. He couldn't help but chuckle at the memory of when they broke the statue.
"Something funny Si?" Alvin asked.
Besides the radio the ride was quite before Alvin spoke up. The girls definitely added more chatter earlier in the morning.
"Just old memories" Simon replied as he gazed out the window.
Alvin turned into a small parking lot surrounded by trees.
"Where are we?" Simon asked.
"A secret parking lot we discovered awhile ago. We make the girls wait here so we don't have to go through that long car line" Alvin explained.
Simon gazed out the car window and saw Melody, Harmony, and Song sitting on a bench; waiting for them.
Melody was looking around ticked, Harmony had her nose in a book, and Song was babbling nonstop.
Alvin stopped the car and the girls stood up from the bench and headed to the car.
"Hey guys" Song chirped as she opened the car door and climbed into the back.
Harmony followed her sister to the back without saying a word while Melody plopped down in the seat beside Simon and slammed the car door shut. "You're late" She growled.
Alvin chuckled as he pulled out of the parking lot. "Sorry about that."
"You can make it up to us with ice cream" Song suggested.
Alvin shook his head. "Sorry kiddos I'm broke. I spent the last of my paycheck on my anniversary present for my girlfriend."
The memory of Alvin going into the jewelry store last night flashed in Simon's mind. "That's why you went in the jewelry store!"
Theodore rolled his eyes before he spoke up for the first time the whole car ride. "No he bought himself a pair of diamond earnings."
"Just because the only girl you want to buy an anniversary present for goes out with a jock, it gives you no right to make fun of Simon's stupidity." One of the girls spoke up.
Alvin looked back at the girls shocked. "Melody!"
"Hey it wasn't me, I swear" Melody put her hands up defensively.
Theodore looked back with a look of shock. "Harmony?"
"That's my name don't where it out" Harmony replied with her nose buried in her book.
Simon looked at his little half-sister concerned. "You alright Harmony?"
Before Harmony could respond Melody butted in. "She's been acting like this all day! She back talked Mrs. Wilson, refused to read aloud when she was called on in class, didn't have her homework for the first time ever, and she went off on Song and me when we asked her to jump rope with us at recess."
"I'm fine" Harmony insisted.
Alvin pulled into the Seville's driveway and parked beside a car that wasn't there in the morning.
Harmony quickly unbuckled and grabbed her backpack.
"Hey watch it!" Melody exclaimed as Harmony climbed over her and exited the car.
"She is not fine" Song said as she watched her sister run to the house.
"And to top it all of Aunt Beth is here" Alvin sighed as he got out of the car at the same time Theodore did.
"Who?" Simon asked as he helped Song out of the car.
Alvin and Theodore exchanged glances.
Melody hopped out of the car and looked at her three brothers for a moment before she answered Simon's question. "Your worst nightmare"
The boys Melody and Song entered the house to see Mona and another woman sitting at the table.
Mona wore a worried expression on her face as she looked up at them; her green eyes filled with concern.
The other woman looked remarkably similar to Mona except she was much older. Her blond hair had more gray in it, her thin lips were pursed, and her green eyes looked dull as she glared at the boys.
"Is everything alright? Harmony just stormed up to her room almost to tears." Mona asked worriedly.
"I can see how my granddaughter could be troubled with that slouch of a father she has" The woman said in a bored tone.
"My father isn't a slouch" Alvin growled fiercely while Theodore balled his fists.
Mona glared sharply at the woman. "Aunt Beth, how many times have I told you Dave isn't a slouch?"
Aunt Beth shook her head. "Sweetheart, he adopted three chipmunks, he didn't tell you about one of them-which I assume he was Juvie-, and he's taking you to the poor,"
"Alvin, Simon, Theodore," Mona interrupted, "please take your sisters up stairs and try to talk to Harmony."
"But give Aunt Beth a hug first girls" Aunt Beth ordered.
Melody and Song gave Aunt Beth a quick hug before they ran out of the room.
It didn't take long after Melody and Harmony left for the boys to follow her.
"Bobby pin" Melody demanded as she held out her hand to Song.
"Here" Song said as she slipped a bobby pin from her hair and handed it to her older sister.
Simon looked back from where they came from and heard his name. "I think I'll stay back guys."
Melody looked at her oldest brother. "I thought you said he stayed out of mischief."
"He normally does" Alvin told her before he nudged her towards the stairs.
Song grabbed her sister's hand and began dragging her up the stairs. "C'mon Harmony needs us."
Alvin and Theodore followed their little sisters up the stairs leaving Simon alone outside the kitchen.
Simon made sure they were gone before he crept back over to the kitchen doorway and pressed his ear against the door.
"I can't believe you would say that in front of the girls" He heard Mona's voice.
"They deserve to know who their father really is" Aunt Beth's calm voice replied.
"What do you have against my husband in the first place?" Mona asked harshly.
"He took in rodents dear. Those things that carry rabies and belong in the forest eating nuts! And he didn't even tell you about the other one,"
"He has a name and it's Simon" Mona interrupted.
Simon smiled at Mona trying to defend him as Aunt Beth continued her rant. "Whatever, David still should have given you a notice he had three rodents for children instead of two. Oh and let's not forget that David is about to cause your family to be broke!"
Simon took a step back. He was shocked. Was his family really…broke?
He shook his head and pressed his ear back up against the door to make sure what he heard wasn't another one of Aunt Beth's lies.
"But aren't both of your sons working as well as David?" Aunt Beth questioned.
Mona was silent for a few moments before she retorted. "Yes but we're doing just fine Aunt Beth. The boys give half their paychecks to help by their own way and the other half they keep. We are making it work."
"You're barely making ends meet!" Aunt Beth exclaimed.
"Aunt Beth," Mona's voice was calm but Simon could tell she was ticked off, "I invited you here to tell you that you have another great-nephew. Now you know so you can leave!"
"Alright dear. Remember I put Maggie's old clothes in the living room for the girls. So you can save some money for Christmas"
"Leave!" Mona bellowed.
Simon heard Aunt Beth stand up so he rushed over to the stairs. He ran up them knowing he had to talk to Alvin.
Simon knocked on his older brother's door. They had gotten their own rooms about a week before Simon's accident and he was hoping it was still Al's room because he really didn't want to talk to his little sisters or his moody brother.
"Come in" Alvin's voice rang and Simon could hear something like a piano playing.
He opened the door to his brother's room. It was sort of what he expected. There were clothes scattered across the floor along with other various things, the bed was unmade, and posters of bands and sports teams hung on the wall.
There were also things he wouldn't expect in his brother's room. There was a desk with a laptop on it and an open textbook, a colleague of photos on the bulletin board, a stuffed pink bear on a red futon, and Alvin sitting at a black baby piano.
"What the heck is that?" Simon asked as he looked at the piano.
"That is Bête Notre." Alvin responded as he stopped playing.
Simon's eyebrows rose. "You named your piano"
"It means black beast. Dave gave her to me as a present to make up for dating Mona for six months without telling me. Theo got a set of drums" Alvin said as he turned to face him.
Simon plopped down on the futon. "Whatever. Al, can I ask you something?"
"Sure little brother, what's on your mind?"
"Are we broke?" Simon blurted out.
Alvin was taken aback by Simon's question. It took a couple moments before he sighed. "Did the devil tell you that?"
"No Aunt Beth didn't tell me. I kind of overheard her and Mona talking about how Dave is no good because he's leading up to the poor house." Simon said uncomfortably. He looked back at his brother to see him running a paw through his hair. "So it's true?"
"Sort of. We're not broke yet but we're barely making it. Dave and Mona says it's only temporary though. But we've been a bit of a rut for three years so it's hard to tell now."
"So you and Theo both really have jobs?" Simon asked.
Alvin nodded. "I work at an auto shop downtown while Theo works at a diner that the chipettes' family owns."
Simon sat back. "Does Jeanette work there?"
"All the chipettes do. And Dani may work there, I forget."
There was silence for a moment before Alvin spoke up. "Si, the chipettes, Michael, Dani, Theo, and I are going to meet up in the park to keep Melody, Harmony, and Song preoccupied this afternoon to get over Aunt Beth's visit. Want to come?"
After hearing Jeanette was going Simon didn't give it a second thought. "Sure."
"Okay, we're leaving in ten." Alvin said as he turned back to the piano.
Simon took that as a sign he should leave. He got up and left his brother's messy room; leaving Alvin playing the Bête Notre in peace.
He walked slowly back to his room, stopping when he heard part of the conversation from the girls' room.
"I hate Simon!" Harmony's voice exclaimed.
Simon didn't want to eavesdrop two times in one hour but he couldn't go away.
"So some teachers compared you to him, what's the big deal?" Melody asked.
"I've always been the smart one now this dude is waltzing in here and taking that from me." Harmony cried. "Back me up Song"
"I'm not getting involved." Song said.
"Yeah just go into your lab and work on your latest experiment to calm yourself." Melody added and Simon began to hear some music.
He could only hear the music for a little bit and he was about to leave until he heard Song speak up. "What's wrong Harmony?"
"My lab wasn't always my lab" Harmony began.
"We already knew that" Melody replied like it was obvious.
"Did you know it used to be Simon's?"
"Get out!" One of the girls exclaimed while the other yelled out some gibberish.
"Yeah, I gave it back to him" Harmony said quietly.
At that moment Simon stepped back and thought over the conversation. He walked back to his room in a trance. He didn't snap out of it until he shut the door to his room behind him and something caught his eye.
"Hey Sevilles, Sevillettes" Michael greeted them as they met up with Jeanette, Eleanor, Dani, and Michael.
"Hey Mikey, ready to play soccer?" Melody asked.
"You bet I am squirt" Michael replied.
Melody glared at him. "Don't call me squirt."
Eleanor dropped a soccer ball on the ground. "Alright Mel, what's the teams?"
"Me and Al against you and your boyfriend" Melody declared.
"It's Al and me" Harmony corrected.
Melody rolled her eyes. "Whatever, let's play!"
"Wait, where's my girlfriend?" Alvin asked as he glanced around.
Jeanette and Eleanor exchanged glances. "She's in trouble for losing our mother's nail polish" Eleanor said.
"Nail polish?" Dani repeated.
"Fifty dollar nail polish" Jeanette said.
"I'm wearing my cousin's old clothes and your mother spent fifty bucks on nail polish!" Melody exclaimed.
Song sighed. "Poor Brittany"
"Don't feel too bad for her, she's going on a shopping spree tomorrow with her friend Nataly." Alvin said.
Song perked up. "Okay! Can we go get ice cream now?"
"Dani's turn to pay" Theodore said in a taunting voice.
"I'll pay" Melody spoke up as she pulled some money out of her pocket.
Harmony looked at the money in her sister's hand. "Where did you get a twenty?"
Melody grinned triumphantly. "I took it from Aunt Beth when she hugged me"
Song snatched it from her sister's hand. "Thanks Mel"
Melody snatched it back. "I wasn't really offering it."
"That's my little sister ladies and gentleman" Alvin said with a smile as he wrapped an arm around Melody's shoulder.
"I'll pay Song" Dani told the little girl.
Song smiled brightly. "Then let's go! Jeanette you want some ice cream?"
Jeanette shook her head. "No thanks Song, I'm going to read my book for a little bit."
Theodore took Song's hand and began to lead her towards the ice cream parlor across form the park.
Dani was about to grab Harmony's hand but Simon spoke up. "Can I talk to Harmony for a second in private Dani?"
Dani nodded. "Sure, I'll catch up with Theo and we'll wait by the street."
Simon watched as Dani left then looked at Harmony who was looking at him expectantly. "I want to talk to you."
Harmony's eyebrows rose. "Obviously."
Simon pulled out the small package wrapped in tissue paper from his pocket and handed it to her. "This is an early Christmas present from me."
"What is this?" Harmony asked.
"Open it" Simon told her with a shrug.
Harmony tore off the paper to reveal the keys to the lab. Her whole face lit up as she looked back up at Simon.
"It's yours" Simon told her.
Harmony stared at the keys for a moment before she shook her head. "It's both of ours."
"What?" Simon asked confused.
"Alvin and Melody share the mischief making in the family, Theo and Song share the cooking, we can share being the brains."
"You're pretty smart you know that?" Simon asked her.
Harmony nodded. "I had the opportunity to skip a few grades but I decided to stay back. Melody and Song would be lost without me and I think I'd be lost without them."
"I feel the same way about Al and Theo" Simon told her.
"I'll admit it'll be hard not being the only kid in the family who knows how to use their brain but I'll get used to it. Right now, let's go get some ice cream" Harmony suggested as she looked at Theodore, Dani, and Song who were waiting on her.
"Go ahead without me, I have something else do to" Simon said as he looked at Jeanette reading her book under an oak tree.
Harmony smiled knowingly. "Okay, bye Simon."
She took off running to catch up with the others while Simon turned and made his way to Jeanette. "Hey Netta."
"Hi Simon," Jeanette said as she closed her book, "What's up?"
"Just made peace with my half-sister. Mind if I sit down?"
Jeanette shook her head. "Not at all."
Simon plopped down beside her and they watched the park around them for a couple moments in silence before Simon spoke up. "Everything has changed."
"What?" Jeanette asked confused.
"Dave's married, I have three half-sisters, Alvin and Eleanor are best friends, Eleanor is dating Michael, my family is almost broke, and everything and one has just changed." Simon rambled.
Jeanette was quiet for a few moments. "You know," She finally spoke up, "I think everything changes for a reason."
Simon looked at her for a few moments slowly moving his head closer to hers. In a split second Jeanette closed the gap between their lips in a kiss.
His eyes widened as he realized what was happening, then he closed his eyes and began kissing her back.
They parted and Simon could tell he had the goofiest grin on his face.
"ALVIN!" A voice suddenly yelled.
Simon and Jeanette both turned to see that Alvin had mashed some ice cream on Eleanor's head.
Eleanor balled her fists before she took after Alvin, yelling about how she would kill him.
Jeanette laughed as she laid her head on Simon's chest.
He smiled at her. "Something's never change."