This chapter isn't one of my favorites since it's more of an interlude than a pointed chapter. But still, I hope you enjoy it. I would like to have it known that while I was writing the beginning of this chapter I was listening to "I Miss You" by Blink 182. Oh, the irony is killing me. :)

Chapter 11: Contemplation

Alvin sat on the side of his bed in silence. His hand spun his phone around and around, waiting and hoping to feel a vibration. His fingers pinched the bridge of his nose and his breathing was slow and heavy.

Alvin opened his eyes and looked down at his phone, opening it to see if a message had come in that he hadn't felt. There was none. He made sure the device was on vibrate mode. It was.

The chipmunk's sigh reverberated around the room. Time seemed to be passing by so slowly, yet very quickly. Just last night…not even twelve hours ago he had burned his golden bridge.

Alvin dropped his phone, hearing it crash on the ground, and cupped his face in his hands. His head shook from left to right. He wanted to say something. He wanted to tell someone that he had done the right thing. He wanted someone to believe him and say, "Yes, it's alright. You will be treated fairly from now on." But even as he hoped for this he wasn't sure he deserved sympathy. He could barely remember why he had gotten angry. He didn't understand why he had thought Eleanor's tears were justice to what she had supposedly done to him. What had she done to him? Hell, did it even matter?

His eyes opened again, his fingers making way for his line of sight to go down to his phone. It lay silently on the carpet. A grave to the communication he had once had with someone wonderful.

Alvin didn't look up when he heard his bedroom door open. Footsteps came toward him, the sound of jean legs rubbing against each other and another person's breathing. The intruder knelt down in front of Alvin and took hold of his finger.

The red-clothed chipmunk looked up at his bespectacled brother. Simon was wiping his brother's fingertip with a sanitized wipe. They didn't speak. Something Alvin preferred, and Simon seemed to know that. Simon pulled out the glucose monitor and quickly cocked back the needle, placed it against his brother's finger and pushed the button. Alvin didn't flinch.

The glucose monitor accepted the drop of blood and began calculating. Five seconds later it beeped and Simon's eyes went wide. Alvin waited. He expected some sort of reproach or lecture about how he should be careful about his blood sugar levels. Whatever the glucose monitor was showing it obviously wasn't optimistic.

Simon looked up, his eyes having recovered his calm expression. "Do you want to talk?" Simon asked. Alvin grimaced, meeting his brother's eyes.

"What?" Alvin responded. The blue-clad boy turned the monitor's screen toward Alvin.

"Three-eighty-three." Simon spoke. "A bad mood affects your glucose levels, Alvin. And I don't need this thing to tell me that you're upset about something." Alvin looked away, outside his window. He willed his eyes to look nonchalant. "What happened?"

"Nothing happened." Alvin spoke quickly and automatically. Simon's eyes narrowed. He knew his brother. He knew that he hated feeling weak and emotional. He knew that he despised talking about his problems, following the philosophy that if you didn't talk about them, they can't hurt you. Normally Simon would take this opportunity to push, grilling Alvin with possible scenarios that might have made him upset, which would cause Alvin to be more upset and make him feel motivated to talk. However, Simon didn't feel that that was the best method of helping his brother this time. After seeing him and Eleanor spend so much time together he could easily surmise that something had happened between the two of them and, knowing Alvin, Simon knew his brother would not want to talk about it. Because the one thing Alvin hated to talk about on top of all his other problems were problems with girls, something he had always professed to know everything about.

"Alright." Simon told him. Alvin blinked and looked at him. "Let's go, we can't be late." Simon patted his brother's shoulder in a beckoning gesture and made his way toward the door.

Alvin watched his brother's back with a confused look on his face. Why wasn't Simon being the annoying know-it-all that he always was? He shook his head, choosing to take this blessing for what it was, and stood up reluctantly. His feet moved without his permission and before he knew it he was on the stairway.

Simon was already preparing a syringe with insulin when Alvin got downstairs. He groaned and sat down at the table, deciding not to fight the inevitable. His palm rubbed across his forehead wearily. He did not want to deal with today…

The small stab of the needle hardly affected him this time and Simon pulled it out quickly. Alvin grabbed the nearby band-aid and put it in place. He stood up and walked out into the hallway, grabbing his jacket and putting it on. Simon came out of the kitchen soon after. This was the fastest they had ever taken care of one of his injections. Alvin grimaced at the thought. Why did it take him being miserable for that to happen?

"Alright, we can take my car." Simon pulled his keys out of his pocket and opened the door for them.

"Why? Do you think I can't drive right now?" Alvin spoke in an almost-angry tone.

"I'm trying to be kind, Alvin." They walked outside, Alvin shutting the door behind them, and walked out to the driveway.

"Holy…crap." Alvin gasped. Simon looked up, wondering what had made his brother respond like that. He noticed it immediately. Simon's car was trashed. The windshield was broken, scratches were dug from the hood, along the sides, and to the trunk, the headlights were shattered, the tires slashed, and graffiti was scattered across the vehicle.

The martial artist in Simon came to the surface. His senses expanded outward and Simon's eyes flew everywhere, looking for the culprits or any clues that could lead to them. Anything from footprints, pieces of clothing, forgotten items, people in the street, behind bushes…anything that would point Simon in the right direction. He didn't notice that his body was tense until he felt a hand touch his shoulder. He spun around and automatically beat the hand away; Alvin looked stunned and cradled his hand.

"Sorry…" Simon muttered as he continued to look for the offenders.

"I'll, uh…go call the police." Alvin turned to go back into the house. Simon whirled around and grabbed Alvin's shoulder.

"I'll call the police. You go to school." Simon walked past him and up the porch.

"Simon—" Alvin spoke.

"Go to school!" Simon yelled as he turned and glared at the red-clad chipmunk. Alvin glared back.

"Don't yell at me. I wasn't the one who did this, alright?" Alvin spoke quietly, keeping his frustration down to a rumble. Simon stood up straight and willed his expression to calm down. He didn't say anything as he turned back to the house and went inside.

Alvin sighed again as he turned toward his own car, which sat there untouched. He looked at Theodore's, which also seemed to be left alone. He then realized that he hadn't seen Theodore wake up or wandering downstairs, and if his car was here…

Alvin felt a sickening feeling in his heart as he thought of where Theodore was. Immediately he felt a pang of jealousy. Knowing Theodore, he had most likely come to Eleanor's side when she had, most likely, texted him after last night's events. Alvin's hands cupped his face again. He did not want to have to go to school today…

*****

Simon walked into the high school during the first passing period. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to unwind after this morning's trauma. The police had come by and drilled Simon with the standard questions of who he was, when this had happened, did he see anyone, was there anyone he thought would target him. To the last question he hesitated. In Simon's logical mind it was likely to be the one boy he had humiliated a couple days ago. But in Simon's empathetic soul he was conflicting with the knowledge that there are always people in the world that will commit crime anywhere. He had answered the police officer's question with a negative. He figured that in the end he might be doing an injustice if he put Brett on the spot for a crime that he very well may have not done.

Simon walked down the halls until he came to a familiar sight. Jeanette was leaning against her locker, her arms wrapped around the textbook for her next class. She looked up when she saw him and beamed.

"Hi sweetie." Simon whispered in her ear as he hugged her. He felt Jeanette push her nose into his neck and move upward, nuzzling him and finally placing her lips against his Adam's apple. Simon smiled despite what he'd gone through earlier. She always had this affect on him.

Simon kissed her on the forehead and pulled back, looking at her directly. He opened his mouth to say something but he was cut off. Simon had always been good at knowing when his body was reacting to something. The hairs on the back of his neck were standing up on end. He suddenly felt exposed and felt a hypothetical pressure of two eyes against the back of his head. The chipmunk turned toward the other end of the hall and saw the gorilla-like Brett staring at him. The jock's gigantic hands with wrapped around the straps of his backpack, an apparently relaxed gesture. But his eyes were alarming, expectant and patient.

Simon stared back, his face remaining blank and just waited for Brett to do something. There was no change in either of their expressions, no words shouted at each other, no hand gestures, or moving toward each other. Eventually, when Brett seemed to have had enough, the gorilla-man turned and walked out of sight down another corridor.

Simon blinked and felt his muscles relax. He turned back to Jeanette and saw the worry in her eyes.

"What was that?" She asked him. He shook his head.

"I don't know." Simon answered. He swallowed, wondering if he should tell her about his car. He debated, wondering if it was worth telling her now during school and have her worry about his well-being while they were still in the same building with Brett. "Let's go to class. We'll deal with this later." Simon took hold of her hand and guided her toward their next class. Jeanette leaned her head against his shoulder as they walked. Simon looked down at her and saw the same worry on her face. He couldn't blame her. He was starting to get worried too.

*****

Alvin felt like a ghost as he walked through the hallways. The bell ended its ringing, signifying the end of class and other students filled the hall, clogging Alvin's walkway. He had left class early, telling the teacher that his diabetes was "acting up." Which, in all honesty, wasn't true but he had no urge to sit in class and listen to an old guy talk about geometry.

His feet slowly carried him between people that were going hither and thither. In the back of his mind he was aware that at any point he might run into Eleanor. His heart stopped every time he thought of it. Again, for around the two-hundredth time today, Alvin wished he had the heart to leave half-way through the school day.

He realized with another heart-stopping jolt that he was heading toward the cafeteria and it was lunch period. She would be there. His heart sank as he wondered if he had the courage to see her, even talk to her. He knew right away that the answer to both was a negative.

Alvin pinched the bridge of his nose as he continued to walk. Why he was walking he didn't know. His body carried him closer and closer to the cafeteria doors. Against his better judgment Alvin decided to go with it, walking with a bit more strength as he went.

He stopped at the doors, leaned against the opposite wall and tried to look inconspicuous. People continued to walk into the cafeteria, keeping the door ajar enough for Alvin to peek inside. He scanned the cafeteria and tried to find her at her normal table. He didn't need to look for long. The normal shade of green he had grown to admire was right where he thought it'd be. He looked harder and realized with a saddening stab that Theodore was sitting next to her.

Alvin found himself pushing off the wall and walking closer to the doorway, peeking in at the two. Eleanor was saying something to him and Theodore had his head turned toward her, listening with his normal, caring expression. Eleanor looked down, seeming to be finished and Theodore chuckled. She looked up and shook lightly with her own giggle. Alvin felt a compression on his chest as she laid her head against his brother. He couldn't breath. A hot, wet feeling was brimming in his eyes and he felt the animal instinct to flee. So he did…

Alvin ran from the cafeteria, moving as quickly as he could with a backpack weighing him down. He flew through the doors leading outside and turned the corner, he sprinted behind the school, to an outer wall that no one went to during lunch. He sat there, against the brick and in his solitude as he felt rain cascade down his cheeks. Alvin lifted his backpack above his head to block the rain but he continued to feel the drops.

"Crap…" Alvin whispered as he realized he was crying. He set his pack next to him and rested his arm on it. He made no move to wipe away the tears. No one could see him here and no one would bother him. Alvin shut his eyes, trying to escape from his circumstance. He wished he could go back and stop himself from saying what he had to Eleanor. He wished he had her with him, next to him and speaking to him. He wished he could feel her head on his shoulder…instead of his brothers.

A dry, humorless chuckled shook in Alvin's throat as he realized the irony. Theodore had always been jealous of Alvin's success with girls…but the girl Alvin truly wanted to be with now…

The boy couldn't bring himself to think clearly. He hoped that Theodore understood how lucky he was, being able to talk to someone some good, being able to hear her laugh and see her smile.

Alvin swallowed and continued to sit there, feeling the tears run down his face and feel his heart get ripped in two.

*****

Simon held Jeanette around her waist, his hands folded together behind her back. Her head rested on his chest, her arms around his neck.

"I'll see you soon, OK?" He whispered to her. She nodded, knowing that in a few hours he'd be tapping at her window. Simon kissed the top of her head and began retracting his hands. Jeanette looked up and went up on the tips of her toes. She kissed his lips sweetly for a few seconds and pulled back. He smirked at her and leaned down to kiss her again. He felt her smile into him as their lips connected.

"Don't take too long tonight." She whispered when they broke apart.

"You won't even have time to miss me." He comforted her. She smiled at him before turning and walking down the hallway toward the parking lot. Simon sighed happily. He was reminded once again, as he was a million times a day, how lucky he was to have her in his life.

Simon walked toward the hallway where his locker was located. He needed to switch over his textbooks for the homework he had tonight. Very few people were left in the school by this point, all of the students eager to leave and get home. When Simon turned the corner he immediately noticed an open locker near his.

"Strange…" He muttered. An open locker usually meant it was empty and expecting a new student to fill its place. But what was strange was that it was in a location that no new student would be assigned to. Usually the new ones were given lockers near the front of the school.

Simon walked forward, trying to understand what he was seeing. The closer he got he noticed little square pieces of paper scattered across the floor. He bent down and picked one up. Simon turned it over and saw a photograph of…himself…

The chipmunk looked up and hastily moved forward toward the open locker…why hadn't he noticed that it was his? He peered inside and saw something that looked nothing like his locker. The textbooks inside were burnt, the pictures he had hung from the walls and inner door were gone, a box of matches and cigarettes lay on the edge of the locker. Simon stumbled backward, not able to understand.

The photographs on the ground crackled as he stepped over them. He looked down and saw that several of them had small holes burnt in them. Simon bent down and picked up a burnt one. It was a picture of him and Jeanette…or was once Jeanette. The place where her face had once been was burnt away, leaving Simon standing next to a headless body. Simon picked up another and saw the same thing. He picked up another, and another. Every one that was burnt had the same marking.

Simon's body tensed for the third time today as he looked up and down the hall. There was no one. He wished for probably the first time ever that the high school had video cameras so someone could have seen who had done this.

Simon's hand flew to his pocket and he pulled out his cell phone. Hardly looking down at the device he dialed 9-1-1. He brought the phone up to his ear as he approached his locker again, looking at the cigarette box that was set inside.

*****

Alvin walked through the parking lot with tear stains on his cheeks. Did he care? Not really. He headed toward his car not able to really notice anyone else. He felt alone as it was. He figured he might as well live like he was alone and not care if anyone saw him like this.

Few people were left in the parking lot by the time he was walking through it. He spotted his car right away…along with something else. A blur of green appeared to his right, on the sidewalk in front of the school. Eleanor was alone, walking home.

Alvin stopped walking and turned, back the way he came and out of the parking lot. He curved around the lot and down to the sidewalk. What was he doing? He had no idea. His legs began moving hastily. Eleanor was half a block away from him and he could get to her before she walked across the street. Alvin half-jogged, half-sped walked toward her, trying to keep a cool composure as he went.

Eleanor didn't look up as he approached her, her pace didn't slow. She seemed distracted, her eyes falling down to the sidewalk below her. Alvin slowed his pace when he was only a few feet away. He opened his mouth…but there was nothing. Crap…what was he supposed to say? That he wanted her back? Did he ever actually lose her?

"Eleanor?" Alvin croaked. He stopped walking. He couldn't seem to do two things at once. His entire body was shaking. Eleanor stopped too and turned to see who had called her. The eyes that Alvin was surprised to find he had missed so much connected with his. There was surprise on her face, uncertainty…and fear.

Again, Alvin didn't know what to say. He tried several times, but each attempt came out as a stutter or sigh. Alvin hardly noticed the sound of hasty footfalls come up from behind him.

"Eleanor—" Alvin was interrupted by a hand against his chest. He jumped slightly at the sudden touch and saw Theodore standing in front of him, his brother's expression defensive and cold.

"She doesn't want to talk to you, Alvin." Theodore spoke. Alvin blinked. He looked over at Ellie, who had shifted her eyes away from the two of them and back down to the sidewalk. A silence appeared and Alvin continued to shake. His body urged him to say something that his mind could not fathom. How the hell could he fix this? Eleanor turned her back to them and began walking away.

"Eleanor!" Alvin cried. The chipette stopped again and hesitantly turned her head toward him.

"Alvin!" Theodore hit Alvin in the chest lightly with his other hand, halting Alvin's progress. The red-clad chipmunk didn't notice.

"Ellie…" Alvin felt the tears returning to his eyes. He was going to cry in front of them…oh god, not now. "…I'm sorry, Ellie."

A wave seemed to shake through each of them. All of them were surprised at what they had heard. Theodore turned his head toward Eleanor, measuring her reaction to see how he should respond. Eleanor looked at Alvin, her eyes brimming with an emotion that neither of the two boys could fully understand. Suddenly, Eleanor was shaking her head, her eyes torn away from Alvin's and her back was to them again.

"Eleanor!" Alvin called as she walked away again. Theodore appeared in his line of vision, coming to stand right in front of him.

"Stop…now…" Theodore spoke. The brothers locked eyes.

Neither of them knew what it was, whether it was the newfound growl in Theodore's voice or the fact that Alvin had lost the will to fight back, but either way Alvin stepped away. Theodore's hands fell from his brother's chest, his expression quickly changing to something apologetic. Theodore turned and ran toward where Eleanor had gone, leaving his brother alone.

Alvin turned around and began walking the way he had come. He kept his eyes down, only knowing by memory where he was heading. His mind swam in circles, trying to find some memory that reminded him of a time when he actually was happy. The blurry pain in his body made it impossible to find one.

*****

Simon closed his phone as he walked up the driveway. Dave wasn't answering his phone. Simon wondered if that was for the better. Dave would probably try to race home and deal with this situation in a way that would be overkill.

Simon took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He already had to call the police twice today. He didn't know what else he could do, but Dave would find something.

He jumped from one step to the other as he came up the porch. He walked forward and was about to put the key in the door when he noticed something on the door. There was a white piece of paper with his name written on it. Simon turned to look at the driveway. Alvin's car wasn't there. Maybe he had come home, written Simon a note to say where he was going, and left again. Maybe…

Simon ripped the paper off the door and broke the tape seal keeping it closed. The chipmunk unfolded it completely and saw that it was a note. But…not who he had hoped it was from.

Don't make me come after her.

Simon's mind went blank, his hand clenched so tightly his grip crushed the paper. His teeth became bared and his breathing was deep and haggard.

Jeanette…he needed to find Jeanette.

Simon threw his backpack to the ground and sprinted away from the house. He ran and ran and ran as quickly as he could, far quicker than he ever remember being able to run. Trees and buildings blurred by, his vision only seeing things that were getting in his way. Why the hell did the Sevilles and the Millers have to live a mile away from each other?

It was only a few streets away from Jeanette's house that Simon slowed down. A thought had come to him that made him rethink his tactic. If these things that had been happening today were because of Brett, or even if they were someone else, Simon could predict what they would do next. If Brett was smart enough to destroy a car, ruin his locker, and find out where he lived, then Brett was smart enough to realize that after reading a note like he had Brett could expect Simon to run to Jeanette's house and see if she was alright, thus showing Brett where she lived and giving him knowledge of where to hurt her.

Once again Simon sprinted, now certain that Brett was somewhere behind him, following him. The chipmunk turned at the next intersection, heading in a different direction than the Miller household. As quickly as he could move, Simon ran to the end of the block and turned again, now heading in the opposite direction of Jeanette's house, then finally at the first hedge he could see, Simon dove out of sight. He lay on his back, behind leaves and branches of thick shrubbery of someone's house.

His breathing was still ragged and Simon was aware that he needed to keep quiet in order to avoid Brett when he came around the corner to follow him. Simon quickly sat up and crossed his legs, resting his back against the shrub behind him, and took a long inhale through his nose, keeping sure make his breathing quiet. He exhaled through his mouth, watching the sidewalk and staying silent.

He didn't need to wait long. Lumbering footsteps came into earshot and Simon had to resist jumping out and pummeling him. Two seconds later, Brett came into view. The jock's face was covered in sweat and his eyes were wild. The gorilla-boy stopped practically right in front of Simon's hiding spot. Brett looked up and down the street, looking for where Simon had gone. Brett seemed to growl in anticipation. The guy was insane, appearing to be hungry for something.

Simon flinched as Brett roared in anger. He had lost his prey, he had moved too slowly. Brett stood up straight and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. He spat and grimaced at the street, as if cursing its existence for him having lost sight of Simon.

The jock walked off, in the opposite direction of Jeanette's house. Simon breathed a silent breath of relief. He waited a couple minutes after Brett turned the corner, trying to be sure that the oaf wasn't going to see him and run after him again.

Simon tentatively stood up and came out of the bushes. As soon as his feet hit the concrete he set off again, back on track toward the Miller household.

*****

Simon straddled his usual branch outside of Jeanette's window and tapped his fingernail against the glass. He waited a moment, feeling his heart racing in his chest. The silence outside made him feel vulnerable.

Jeanette appeared at the window with a jubilant smile on her face. Simon felt his lips being pulled up in a grin; he couldn't help it if he saw that she was happy. Her fingers fiddled with the lock for a few seconds before she opened the entryway for him. He slid inside; gracefully compared to the first time he had done so.

Simon didn't hesitate in wrapping his arms around her. He kissed her, her forehead, her hair, her nose, her cheeks, her lips. He continued to reassure himself that she was there, that she was safe, and whole. She giggled against him.

"Woah, you're never like this…" She whispered intimately.

"I…" Simon hesitated, but covered his pause with more kisses. "I missed you." Jeanette giggled again.

"That's my line." She poked him in the belly and he chuckled. Simon backed off slightly and held her face in his hands. She looked at him, with the eyes he loved so much. He felt her skin and the soft texture that would make any girl jealous, in his opinion anyway. Simon brought his nose to hers and connected their foreheads. He shut his eyes and breathed in her scent.

"Jenny…" Simon swallowed, suddenly feeling a surge of emotion come across him. He finally felt what his adrenaline had been suppressing. He couldn't find a word that could properly embody what he felt for her in that moment.

"Simon?" Jeanette spoke. Her voice carried a tone of wonder. She was worried about him. Simon chuckled.

"I'm alright…" Simon swallowed again and opened his eyes. "I've just…uh…" Jeanette looked up at him and smiled warmly. Simon felt a tear fall down his cheek. He was shocked, he hadn't even felt the tears develop. Jeanette put her hands on his face, wiping away the tear.

Despite the new emotion that was being shown Jeanette continued to smile at him, if anything with more happiness. Simon smiled back, taking in everything that he could of her face, her smile, her hair, and her body.

":Simon…" Jeanette's voice came to him in a tone that said, "Talk to me."

"I love you." Simon whispered through the shake in his voice. He had told her that before, but not that it was spoke Simon was aware of how much truth was in that statement.

Jeanette exhaled sharply in surprise. Simon leaned in and kissed her tenderly. Their lips came together and fit as perfectly as lock and key. She kissed him back, going up on her tiptoes before Simon picked her up off the ground. Jeanette wrapped her legs around his waist, Simon holding her tightly against his body. They kissed each other powerfully, almost willing their bodies to become one with so much force.

Simon walked forward toward her bed and set her down, coming to lie on top of her. Her tongue traced across his lips and he allowed her in. Her taste consumed his senses. Her scent, her feel, and the sound of her relaxed breathing dropped him into a reverie that made him swim in limbo between bliss and heaven.

If Simon had the capability to think in that moment he would be shouting at the top his lungs that this woman, this chipette was everything to him. She was his counterpart, his equal, his dream girl, and everything that he wanted and more in a partner.

Simon tore hid lips away from hers and kissed her neck, needing to consciously control the speed that he moved down the length of it. Jeanette sighed so heavily it could almost be considered a moan.

"Simon…" Her voice reverberated in his ears. "I love you."

Simon brought his head up to hers and looked at her. He smiled lovingly down at her and she looked at him dreamily. He caressed her face in his hand and kissed her again, trying to show in one kiss just how much she meant to him. She kissed back, seeming to know what he was doing and desired to do the same. When they broke Simon set his forehead on hers.

"I love you." He whispered again. She smiled wearily.

"I love you." Simon smiled down at her again, feeling his tears coming back and seeing Jeanette's own gather in her eyes.

"I never knew it would feel so good to say." Simon whispered to her. She nodded in concurrence. They snuggled together, kissing, hugging, whispering sweet nothings, and enjoying each other's presence, wishing that they could stop time and keep each other there until a time they determined for themselves.

*****

Simon sat awake on the edge of Jeanette's bed, looking down at her sleeping form. She had fallen asleep around an hour previous and he had been unable to follow her into doing so. His mind continued to race around Brett and what he was supposed to do. To be honest, he had a plan. But he needed help. Hence the reason he was sitting up, awake, waiting for someone.

Simon looked over at the clock and saw that it was a quarter past eleven. His eyes went back to Jeanette and he smiled at her. He never knew that he could care so much for one person…he never knew what it felt like to want to be near someone every moment of everyday.

The chipmunk stood up and grabbed a spare blanket from Jeanette's closet. Simon unfolded it and gently laid it across her body. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, careful not to wake her. He stood up straight and moved noiselessly toward the hallway, shutting the bedroom door behind him.

Downstairs Simon heard the front door open. He moved toward the staircase, continuing to be careful about not disturbing any squeaky floorboards. One by one he sidled down the steps and met with the newcomer.

Brittany turned from the coat rack and saw Simon standing there. The girl flew back in fear and nearly screamed in horror. Luckily for both of them it was a scream at such a high pitch that no sound came out at all. Simon put his hands out frantically and waved to her to be quiet. Brittany recognized him instantly and clutched at her chest to calm herself.

"Jeez, Simon…what are you doing here?" Brittany scolded him.

"I'm…" Simon looked up at Jeanette's bedroom to indicate his answer. Brittany rolled her eyes.

"Great, you guys are having sex now?"

"What? No!" Simon exclaimed but was able to keep his voice quiet. "No, OK? I just spend some nights here."

"Right…not weird at all…" Brittany raised an eyebrow and smiled in good humor. She walked past him and began walking up the stairs.

"I need to talk to you." Simon followed her. The chipette looked over her shoulder at him.

"About what?"

Simon remained silent until they reached her room and she walked in. Brittany whirled around to face him at the doorframe and put a finger up.

"You might be dating my sister and we've known each other for years, but you aren't allowed in my room." Brittany smiled at him, to show him she didn't mean to be offensive. Simon chuckled.

"That's fine." Simon leaned against the wall. "I need you help…"

*****

Chapter 11. Wow, this one ended up being a lot longer than I intended it to be. I am really, really sorry to all of you for not updating sooner. College and work are serious killing me with my free time. But luckily next week is my spring break so I'll have more time to write. With any luck I'll be able to finish this up within a week. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. I promise that the next few chapters will be better. PLEASE REVIEW!!!