I've really been looking forward to working on this chapter, and I'm so glad that I've finally written and posted it. I'll tell you why: Theodore and Eleanor are my absolute favorite couple out of the Chipmunks and the Chipettes. Now, among the aspects of the film series that I felt wasn't resolved in Road Chip were the relationships of the Chipmunk/Chipette couples. So, when I planned this story, I wanted to include affectionate scenes involving each of the chipmunk couples. Like I said, Theodore and Eleanor are my favorite couple, but to those of you who are fans of Simon and Jeanette or Alvin and Brittany, don't worry. There will be plenty of tender moments with those chipmunk couples. In this particular chapter, though, the focus is on Theodore and Eleanor. A final note: the song "Beautiful Soul," which is included in this chapter, is owned by Jesse McCartney (who, coincidentally, is Theodore's voice actor). Enjoy reading the chapter!
Chapter 10 - Theodore's Evening with Eleanor
The night before the Chipmunks and the Chipettes were to leave Myrtle Beach and move on to the next location, Theodore was seated on an armchair in the living room of the hotel suite, feeling rather bored.
The Chipmunks and the Chipettes were not performing that evening, so Dave had already brought them back to their hotel room for the night. As a result, Theodore had nothing to do. He wanted to hang out with Alvin or Simon, but both of them were busy with activities of their own. Alvin was playing a game of chess with Brittany, and Simon was reading one of his books. (Jeanette was also reading a book of her own.)
Theodore sat slumped in the armchair, trying to think of something he could do during this evening that could keep him entertained. As he sat there in thought, he wondered if Eleanor was doing anything at that moment.
As if by coincidence, Eleanor came into the living room. She noticed Theodore sitting in the armchair with an expressionless look on his face. "Hello there, Theodore," she greeted him.
Theodore looked up and saw Eleanor standing at the entrance of the living room. "Oh, hi, Eleanor," he returned the greeting. He slumped down lower in the armchair and sighed.
"Nothing to do?" Eleanor asked him.
"You got that right," Theodore answered dispiritedly.
"Yeah, I don't have much to do, either," Eleanor told him. "Since we aren't performing tonight, I've been wondering if there's anything I could do to occupy myself."
"Same here," Theodore responded. "Alvin and Simon are already occupied, so that leaves me to come up with something to do."
"Maybe there's something the two of us could do together," Eleanor said to him. "You know, we could hang out with each other."
Just then, Theodore quickly sat upright in the armchair with a bright smile on his face. "Eleanor, that's a wonderful idea!" he happily exclaimed. "Maybe there is an activity we could do together tonight!"
"What could we do?" Eleanor wondered out loud.
"Well, what would you like to do, Ellie?" Theodore politely asked her.
"Whatever you would like to do," Eleanor answered.
Theodore spent several moments thinking about what he and Eleanor could do together that evening. Soon, it all came to him. He hoped Eleanor would like his ideas when he told them to her.
"How does this sound, Eleanor?" Theodore began. "We could go down to the boardwalk and stop for a treat at one of the shops, then go down to the beach and relax on the sand for a while and maybe play some sort of game while we're there."
"That sounds lovely, Theo," Eleanor agreed. "But first, you should probably check with Dave and ask for his permission."
"You're right," said Theodore, as he hopped down from the armchair and left the living room to go and find Dave. "I'll be right back, Ellie."
Theodore promenaded through the rooms of the suite, looking for Dave. "Dave?" he called out a few times.
"I'm in here, Theodore," Dave responded. He was in one of the bedrooms, watching the news channel.
Theodore entered the bedroom, and Dave turned off the TV so that he could speak to his adoptive son. "What is it, Theodore?" Dave asked.
"I was wondering, could Eleanor and I go out for a little while?" Theodore asked. "We plan to go down to the boardwalk for a treat, and then relax on the beach and play a game."
"That's all right with me," Dave permitted. "Just don't be out long; you have to be back by bedtime, so you have over two hours."
"Yay! Thank you, Dave!" Theodore cheered. And he returned to the living room to tell Eleanor.
"Did Dave say we could go out?" Eleanor asked.
"Yes, he did!" Theodore reported, with delight in his voice.
"Hurray! So, do we need to bring anything with us?" said Eleanor.
"All we need is a beach blanket, and money for the boardwalk," Theodore answered. "I'm paying for both myself and you, though, so you don't need to bring money."
"That's very thoughtful, Theo," Eleanor affectionately responded.
"Well, I'm always happy to treat you, Ellie," Theodore told her.
Theodore motioned for Eleanor to follow him to the six chipmunks' bedroom, where all their suitcases were. Theodore opened up his suitcase and searched through it. He pulled out his small beach blanket with green stripes, and a handful of dollar bills. He rolled up the dollar bills into a bundle and slid them into the pocket at the front of his green hoodie.
Then Theodore searched through his suitcase again and took out a small green guitar with a strap. He slid the strap of the guitar around himself and tightened it so that it would stay there.
"What are you bringing your guitar for?" Eleanor asked him.
Theodore looked at her and smiled. "You'll see," he promised her.
Eleanor picked up the green-striped blanket. She noticed that it matched the green-striped clothing she was wearing. "I can carry the beach blanket, if you want me to," she offered.
"Are you sure you want to carry it all that way?" Theodore asked. "I can carry it for you."
"But you're already carrying a guitar," Eleanor pointed out.
"Eleanor, it's really all right. I'm the one who is taking you out, so I don't mind carrying everything for you. That's why I strapped the guitar to myself; so that I would have free paws," Theodore answered.
"That's so kind of you," Eleanor told him as she placed the blanket in his paws.
As soon as they were both ready, Theodore and Eleanor began walking toward the door of the suite. Dave opened the door for them as they were heading out. "Have a nice time, you two," Dave said to them as they stepped into the hallway. "Don't forget to be back by bedtime."
"We won't," Theodore told him. "Bye, Dave."
Dave closed the door, and Theodore and Eleanor strode down the hallway together. Theodore held the beach blanket with one arm, and held the strap of his guitar with the other. They took the stairs down to the main floor, and although it was a long way to walk for them, it was worth it, because they were able to converse with each other longer.
When Theodore and Eleanor reached the bottom of the staircase, they entered the lobby and exited the hotel through the main doors. Evening was progressing, so the sky was already a dark shade of blue. It was warm and pleasant outside.
Theodore and Eleanor walked along the path next to the hotel that led to the boardwalk. As they stepped onto the boardwalk, they were glad to see that it was not as crowded as it usually was. They would have a much easier time getting around.
"Where do you want to go for a treat, Eleanor?" Theodore asked.
"The more I think about it," Eleanor answered, "the more I'm in the mood for a sundae."
"Good choice," Theodore commended. "Let's see if we can find that ice cream parlor."
Theodore and Eleanor turned their heads toward the shops and eateries beside them and looked for the one they were searching for. Eventually, the ice cream shop came into view.
"There it is," Theodore announced. "Come along, Ellie, let's go in."
Theodore reached out a free paw and took Eleanor by one of her paws. He brought her to the door and opened it for her, escorting her inside. Eleanor was so pleased. Theodore was being a very good host for her.
As the two chipmunks entered the ice cream parlor, the small bell over the door rang. The lady behind the counter heard it, but could not see anyone. "Hello?" she called out. "May I help you?"
"Oh, sorry, we're down here," Theodore answered. The lady leaned over the counter and saw Theodore and Eleanor standing there. "Why, hello," she greeted them. "What would you like today?"
"My best friend and I would each like a sundae," Theodore told the lady at the counter. Eleanor nodded her head in agreement.
"What flavor of ice cream would you like in your sundae?" the lady asked.
"Eleanor, you can go first," Theodore told the Chipette.
"I think I'll go for vanilla, please," Eleanor asked.
"And I would like cookies and cream," Theodore stated.
The lady working at the counter scooped the requested flavors of ice cream into two cups, then walked over to the trays of sundae toppings. She sprinkled the candies, chocolates, and other toppings that Theodore and Eleanor asked for onto the ice cream, then placed the completed sundaes next to the cash register. "That will be six dollars total," she said.
"I'm paying," said Theodore. He pulled the money out of his hoodie pocket. The lady had to lean way over the counter to collect the money from Theodore. She placed the six required dollars into the cash register and handed Theodore the change. "Would you like me to bring the sundaes over to the table for you so that you can climb up without difficulty?" she asked.
"Yes, please. That would be nice," Theodore answered. The lady came around from behind the counter and placed the two sundaes onto the table that Theodore and Eleanor selected. "There you go," she said. Then she placed two plastic spoons down on the table, saying, "Enjoy your sundaes."
"Thank you," Theodore and Eleanor responded in unison as they climbed up the chair and then onto the surface of the table. They sat down in front of their sundaes and happily began to eat.
So far, Eleanor had been impressed with Theodore's gentlemanly manner towards her. He had taken her out for the evening, carried everything for her, allowed her to choose where they went for their treat, held the door open for her, let her order first, and paid for her sundae. She was grateful to know someone as caring as Theodore, and she could not wait to thank him after their evening together came to a close.
When Theodore and Eleanor finished their sundaes, they made their way back outside. "Time for some nice, cozy relaxation down on the beach," Theodore announced.
Theodore and Eleanor walked along the boardwalk until they found the wooden stairs that went down to the sand. By this point, the sky was a very dark shade of blue and the stars were beginning to appear in the sky. The beach was sparsely populated now, which was perfect for Theodore and Eleanor to enjoy the peace and quiet they had been hoping for.
The two chipmunks laid out their blanket in an area where nobody else was, where they would be able to relax and converse.
As soon as their blanket was laid out, Theodore and Eleanor lay down next to each other and looked up at the night sky. It was very clear; there were no clouds at all. The stars shone brightly in the sky.
"It's so nice out here tonight, don't you think?" Eleanor asked Theodore.
"Yes, very much so," Theodore answered.
"So, what game were you planning on playing?" Eleanor asked.
Theodore and Eleanor played guessing games for the next hour. They had never shared such a calm, pleasant, and restful experience like this with each other before. To them, it felt wonderful to be out here on the sandy beach together, relaxing and playing games.
When they were done with one game, they rested their heads again and looked back up at the night sky above them. The sky was now sparkling with stars. It was a brilliant sight.
"The sky looks especially pretty tonight," Eleanor observed.
"I'm glad you said that, Ellie," Theodore told her as he sat up on the blanket, "because that gives me the chance to tell you something that I've wanted to tell you for a long time now."
Eleanor then sat up next to Theodore. "What is it, Theo?" she asked.
"Eleanor," Theodore said to her, "like I said, I've been wanting to tell you this for a long time. I wanted us to have the opportunity to be by ourselves when I told you this, because it would be more special that way."
Eleanor listened eagerly, wanting to hear what Theodore had to say.
"Eleanor," Theodore began, "before I met you, I always felt as though...my life was not complete yet. As though my life was missing something very important. Every day, I tried to figure out what was missing. Sometimes, my mind told me that I was not missing anything at all, that I had everything; siblings, a house to live in, someone to take care of me, and everything else to be thankful for. However, at other times, my mind just kept telling me that I was in fact missing something, and that I should keep trying to find out what it was. But I just couldn't figure it out. Then, one day at West Eastman High School, as Alvin and Simon and I were walking by the lockers, I found what was missing from my life. But it was not something, it was someone. It was you, Eleanor. I finally found you. My life was completed, and I was so happy."
Eleanor was deeply moved by Theodore's speech. Theodore was not finished yet, though. He still had more special words to say to Eleanor.
"In fact, Eleanor," Theodore continued, "not only did you complete my life. You brought more happiness into it than I could ask for. There's nothing about you that does not make me happy. Your cheerfulness always brightens my day, and the smile on your face always makes me happy whenever I'm feeling sad. But what I love the most about you is your beautiful soul. And that inspired me to write a song, a song that I've dedicated to you, Eleanor."
Theodore unstrapped his guitar from around himself and positioned his paws along the strings. "Eleanor, I've written this song just for you," he told her, "and I wanted you to be the first to hear it."
Eleanor listened with delight as Theodore began to strum a soft tune on his guitar. Then he started to sing for her:
I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
I know that you are something special
To you, I'd be always faithful
I want to be what you always needed
Then I hope you'll see the heart in me
I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
You're the one I want to chase
You're the one I want to hold
I won't let another minute go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
Your beautiful soul
(Yeah)
You might need time to think it over
But I'm just fine moving forward
I'll ease your mind if you give me the chance
I will never make you cry, come on, let's try
I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
You're the one I want to chase
You're the one I want to hold
I won't let another minute go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul...
Am I crazy for wanting you?
Baby, do you think you could want me too?
I don't want to waste your time
Do you see things the way I do?
I just want to know that you feel it too
There is nothing left to hide
I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
You're the one I want to chase
You're the one I want to hold
I won't let another minute go to waste
I want you and your soul
I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
Oh, your beautiful soul, yeah
Oh, yeah, your beautiful soul, yeah
Theodore finished singing his song for Eleanor, and then looked at her, smiling with warmth. "And that's my song for you. Did you enjoy it?" he asked her.
Eleanor was overwhelmed with feelings of happiness and love right now. Her eyes were filled with tears of joy, and she had that smile on her face that Theodore had told her he loved. "Theodore," she whispered, "that song was beautiful. No pun intended," she quickly added, making herself and Theodore giggle.
Then Theodore reached out with his paws and gently placed them on Eleanor's shoulders. "I love you, Eleanor," he told her.
The tears of joy filled Eleanor's eyes again. "I love you, too," she told him.
Then Theodore wrapped his arms around Eleanor and held her close. As he did so, he gently kissed her on the lips. Eleanor felt the emotions of happiness and love becoming stronger as she kissed him in return. For about ten seconds, Theodore and Eleanor stood there in each other's warm embrace, tenderly kissing. This had been the best moment of their lives.
When they released one another from the kiss, Theodore and Eleanor looked lovingly into each other's eyes before lying back down on their beach blanket. They silently lay there for a while, constantly replaying the wonderful moments in their minds.
Eventually, however, Theodore sat up again, except this time, he had a crestfallen look on his face. "Theo?" said Eleanor as she sat up beside him. "What's wrong?"
Theodore sighed. "Eleanor, as nice as it would be to remain here for the rest of the night and think about the delightful evening we just had, we really have to go back to our hotel room now, otherwise Dave will start to worry."
"Oh, that's right," Eleanor realized. "Well then, let's pack up and return to the hotel."
Eleanor folded up the beach blanket as Theodore strapped his guitar back onto himself. Then, Eleanor placed the folded blanket into Theodore's paws.
"Let's go," said Theodore.
Theodore and Eleanor walked over to the stairs that led up to the boardwalk and scampered to the top. Then they headed back in the direction from which they had come. The two of them did not converse as much on the way back like they had done on the way down; with the memory of that tender moment they had just shared fresh in their minds, all they wanted to do was continue reminiscing about it.
Theodore and Eleanor walked around to the front of the hotel and went inside. Then they sauntered over to the stairway. They climbed up the stairs until they reached the eighth floor, then ambled through the hallways until they came to their room.
Theodore knocked on the door as loudly as he could, to make sure that someone in the suite could hear him.
Dave opened the door and noticed Theodore and Eleanor standing there. "Oh, hey there, you two," he greeted them. "Thank you for coming back on time. Did you have a good evening together?"
"Oh, yes," Theodore answered. "It was fantastic!"
"Thank you for letting us go out, Dave," said Eleanor.
"You're welcome," Dave responded. "The others are already asleep, so don't make too much noise as you get ready for bed."
"Okay," Theodore and Eleanor agreed simultaneously, as they headed for the chipmunks' bedroom.
When Theodore and Eleanor entered the bedroom, they both went to their suitcases. Theodore put away the beach blanket and his guitar, then pulled out his pajama outfit. He dressed in his pajamas and got ready to go to bed. Eleanor was doing the same.
As soon as they were both dressed in their pajamas and ready to go to sleep, Theodore and Eleanor climbed up onto the bed where the rest of the chipmunks were asleep in their places.
"Good night, Ellie," said Theodore. "I sure wish our evening together could have been longer."
"Well, do you want to snuggle with me for the night?" Eleanor offered. "That's a good way to make it continue."
"Oh, of course," Theodore answered eagerly. "I would love that."
So Theodore and Eleanor walked across the bed and selected a place to rest themselves. Theodore lay down first and then Eleanor lay down right beside him. Eleanor pulled the bed blankets over herself and Theodore. "Good night, Theo," she whispered to him. "Thank you so much for that wonderful evening you spent with me."
"You're welcome, Ellie," Theodore softly told her. "I love you."
"And I love you," Eleanor gently replied. Once again, the sound of those sweet words filled their minds as they wrapped their arms around each other.
Theodore and Eleanor fell asleep, resting in the familiar embrace of each other's arms. They were quite happy to have spent that evening together, and they had smiles on their faces for the entire night as they slept.