Jeanette's POV

In art class, we were all busy setting up for the show. I looked through my portfolio to pick out the best pieces. There were so many to choose from! I needed a second opinion.

"Anita," I began, walking over to my classmate. "What do you think about this one? Is it too personal? Do you think it'll make Brittany….meltdown?"

The short, blonde haired girl gazed at the piece I was most proud of. "I think it's very nice. Do you care what your sister thinks? If it makes you happy, then go for it."

Good advice. Alvin was right. Brittany would just have to get over herself. I got assistance from the art teacher to submit the piece without Alvin noticing it. I wanted the reveal to be a surprise. Oh! I hope he'd love it! I made it especially for us! I submitted the rest of my artwork that I deemed show-worthy and sat down at my desk for a slight break.

Alvin was scribbling away on a sheet of paper. He hadn't gotten up to help set up for the show. I assume it was because his legs were still mighty sore. He noticed me as I sat down and his ears twitched. He faced me with a slight frown. Something was bothering him, yet again. I wasn't sure what. Was it the usual? Homework? Bullies? Maybe he was stressing about the possibility of not making it to the art show. I was certainly stressed about it.

"Can you tell your sister to stop following me around?" He asked with a pout.

Oh, so THAT'S what was bothering him. "Uh….sure." I replied.

He sighed. "I know you don't like confrontation, but she is DRIVING ME NUTS!"

I reached out and patted his cap. "I know. She's driving me a little nuts too."

"How do we make her stop trying to wreck our romance?" He asked.

I didn't have an answer to that. "She'll….tire herself out….eventually."

He looked at the ceiling, it wasn't quite a full eye roll, but I could tell he was irritated. "Yeah. After she gets her way and we break up."

"Do….Do you want to break up?" I held back my tears.

"No." He said darkly. "But Brittany always gets what Brittany wants. I'm AFRAID, Netta. I don't wanna lose your sis as a pal, but I don't wanna give into her demands."

I had no idea what I should do. All my tries talking to Brittany only made the situation worse. There wasn't any way to avoid the drama. "Give her time."

Alvin scowled. "HOW MUCH TIME!?"

"Alvin, remember, you need to be patient. It's only been a few days, not even a week." I reminded him.

His eyebrows furrowed. "She gets one more day, and then I am locking her in the basement and not letting her go until she listens to us."

Now, that's an idea I didn't support. "Isn't that a bit….extreme?"

"Well, handling it nicely isn't WORKING." Alvin shouted, kind of hurting my ears. I love his passion….His passion is just too loud at times.

"I have faith in my sister, Alvin." I stated, calmly as I could, trying to diffuse my explosive partner.

Alvin let out a groan. "Okay, fine." He muttered. "I have other problems to deal with anyway." He meant the problem of regaining his popularity and making it to the art show. I HOPED. What other problems could it be?

"Do….you wanna come over to my place and do homework together?" I asked, making it sound like "my place" wasn't just a few feet from his house.

He frowned. "I'd love to, but I gotta take a rain check. I promised Si I'd be available today to finish our stupid chemistry project."

I understood. Bros before me. That was fine though. I wasn't jealous, I was impressed that he values his brothers so highly. Still, I thought he liked his chemistry class. "Stupid?" I questioned, raising a brow.

"Being teamed with Simon is….frustrating. He's always on me to double check my calculations even though I already DID. Then, he won't let me be creative with the project. Working with him is basically him bossing you around and you taking it all in stride because you need the grade. Because your dad only cares about your grades." He took a breath, running out of air after his ranting no doubt.

I frowned. Is that really what he thought? "Dave cares about you. Grades or no grades."

Alvin went back to scribbling on his paper. I think he was doodling a picture of Brittany with green skin and red devil horns. Wherever Brittany was, she was probably defacing pictures of him too. They are two of a kind when it comes to negative feelings and coping mechanisms.

"Then maybe he should ACT like it more." Alvin was in a bad mood. There's just no reasoning with him when he's like this.

I decided to bid him goodbye and let him sulk in peace. "It's been lovely chatting with you. I hope you feel better soon."

"Lovely?" He mused. "The only thing lovely today is you." He's so funny. He had to get in one last flirt before I left.

There wasn't anything noteworthy that happened after school. It was a very boring afternoon and evening. Brittany avoided me, I should have expected that. She was still hurting. How did she think I felt? I kept walking into rooms when she was there, thinking we could at least co-exist in the same space even if we didn't speak to each other. Unfortunately, every time I entered, she would exit with a huffy little noise. Eleanor didn't know how to help. She basically said the same thing I told Alvin. Now, I know how he must have felt when I said "she'll get over it." Bad. Discouraged. I'm not usually someone who complains that life isn't fair….I feel like everything happens for a reason. I couldn't fathom a reason for this. I hadn't purposefully done anything to set Brittany off. Why was my romance with Alvin hurting her so badly that she wouldn't even talk to her own SISTER! It really wasn't fair. Not to me or Alvin!

I checked on the comment section for my story. There were a few more. Most of them were not nice, but I was already drowning in negative thoughts, so I deleted them and focused on the good ones. Someone said that my story inspired them to write their own story! Another said I was a very good storyteller! The positive reviews were welcome. Sadly, they didn't help lift my mood. Everything was a disaster. With Britt, with the art show…Why did I choose that special art piece to showcase for Alvin? There was no guarantee he'd even show up. In fact, I knew it was VERY UNLIKELY that he would show up. Being popular took priority over me. Had he learned NOTHING!? Whatever happened to 2.0? As angry that I was with him basically bailing on the art show, I was also scared and worried for him. What if this was all a trap? A trick? What if he was going to humiliate himself?

All this thinking about things was getting me nowhere. I needed to sleep, to relax, to recharge. I'd have a much clearer head in the morning. My sisters got ready for bed too. I decided to try something daring. "Goodnight, Eleanor. Goodnight, Brittany." I said.

"Night, girls." Eleanor replied, taking out her pigtails.

Brittany wrinkled her nose in disgust, like I was rotten food she was smelling. It's hard not to take offense to that. "Goodnight, Eleanor." She said sharply as she turned on her side, away from both of us. Yeah, she was clearly very very upset.

The next day was maybe the saddest school day ever. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. The night did not help ease my fears and figure things out. I woke up feeling worse than I did when I went to sleep. Alvin sent me texts and I didn't answer. Simon and Theo sent texts too. Even Eleanor. I couldn't bring myself to answer any of them. I waited anxiously for a text from Brittany, but it never came. Realizing that things weren't going to get better yet, I just focused on my classes...as well as I could. I didn't even draw. I wasn't in the mood. A giant gloom cloud was hanging over my usual creative rainbow.

Before I knew it, it was time for the art show. I trudged my way to the auditorium, which had the seats cleared out and all our art displayed on easels. It was a beautiful sight. Too bad the hanging gloom cloud was preventing me from truly enjoying it. I sat down on a bench and stared at a lovely painting of the ocean while I waited for the rest of the class. I was feeling so sorry for myself. Here I was, in my best and prettiest lilac dress with shiny silver accents….feeling like a princess….and my prince was nowhere to be found.

Anita joined me eventually. "What's wrong, Jeanette?" She asked.

"I don't like drama." I answered truthfully.

She tilted her head with inquisitive nature. "Is this because of Brittany?"

I sighed. "That, and other things." My lower lip quivered. "Alvin's not going to come. He promised me he'd be here, but I know he won't."

"He might surprise you." Anita was being so positive. I was thankful she could be when I wasn't. "Where is he, anyway?"

"With the popular kids." I answered sounding forlorn.

She looked confused. "But, I'm the most popular girl in school." She was, I had almost forgotten. "It's strange that they'd have a gathering of A table people without me."

I bit my lip. "I think it's a trap." I confided in her. "But he wouldn't listen to me."

"Poor kid." She murmured.

I was in for another surprise, as in walked Eleanor with someone behind her, obscured by the shadows by the auditorium door.

"Hey, sis! You'll never guess who's here!" The excited chipmunk in the teal sweatpants and lighter teal tank top ran up to me.

She came out from the shadows with a flourish, swaying her hips like a runway model as she walked toward me. She was wearing a ruffled pink chiffon gown with sequins and had a feather boa around her neck.

"Brittany?" I squeaked in disbelief. "You CAME!" All other thoughts deserted me as I ran up to my sister.

She looked down at the floor and then back up at me apologetically. "Of course I came. You're my sister. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Look, about how I was acting yesterday….and earlier today. I realize I was making a big deal out of nothing. I accept your decisions, however misguided…."

Eleanor elbowed her in the ribs.

Brittany quickly recomposed herself. "Uh...whatever they may be." She glanced around the room. "So, where is that little geeky gigolo? Has he ditched you for another girl yet?"

Eleanor and Anita both slapped their foreheads in unison.

I tried to keep calm, but I was pretty mad at her for implying Alvin would ditch me eventually. Still, she was here! I couldn't wait to show her all my art! Gasp! Except the big picture of me and Alvin. I'll just keep her as far away from that one as possible. Eleanor should be able to help me. This will go fine. It HAS to go fine. "Come along this way." I squeaked as I led my sisters to my first piece. "I have so much to show you."

ALVIN 2.0'S POV

It was the day my life would finally turn around! I could feel it! I was so hyped, I couldn't concentrate on any of my classes, not even gym. Eleanor yelled at me like 18 times to kick the soccer ball. I texted Jeanette, but she never returned my texts. I felt a little weird facing her in art class, so I got there early, signed my name on the attendance sheet secretly, and then bailed.

I loitered around the building, as I waited for the popular kids to show up. I was ready for initiation. I had been waiting for this a LONG time, ever since I improved myself. To be popular and nerdy! What an accomplishment!

They were on schedule, as soon as the bell rang, a small group of them, mostly faces I didn't recognize, met up with me by the basketball court.

"Well, well, well," a very tall guy with spiky black hair commented. "Looks like the little dork WAS serious."

The guy I met yesterday, who gave me the offer, grinned as he eyed me up. Kinda made me feel like a piece of meat they wanted to purchase. Not gonna lie, It made me feel….skeptical. "You ready to prove you have what it takes, four eyes?"

"You bet I do!" I replied with my usual gusto. "I am up for ANYTHING!"

A girl in a tight fitting fuschia tank top and skinny jeans so tight you could see her buttcrack, not that I was looking, put her hands on her hips and laughed. "There's no way this puny little runt can hack it. He's gonna go home cryin' to his mommy. I guarantee it." I had initially thought of her as pretty….I no longer thought that.

I tried to stop myself from looking sad. "I don't have a mom." I told them.

"Oh…." Spiky Haired Dude was starting to feel bad for me. This was not off to a great start. "Whatever. On with the challenges! Challenge number one! Jason, take it away."

Dude I met yesterday whose name was Jason held up a single wriggling pink worm. I immediately guessed he didn't want me to befriend it like Jeanette would. "You have to eat this….without spitting it out."

Easy peasy. In my research on chipmunks, I have learned that the average chipmunk actually does eat live earthworms. It would be gross, no doubt, but nothing my body couldn't handle. Plus, dirt has like….protein. I've heard of women who crave dirt to eat. This wasn't much of a first challenge.

"You mean like, this?" I took the worm from Jason and slurped it up, chewing thoroughly. It tasted funky, but I actually didn't mind. "Slimy, but oddly satisfying."

They looked at me, mouths agape. "Give him the next challenge, Jase" a reddish blonde haired girl with a huge chest exclaimed, sounding starstruck. Yep. She was hot, and probably nicer than Skinny Jeans Gal. If the worst happens and Jeanette dumps me, I'd definitely try for her.

"What next challenge? I thought he'd never get past the worm!" Jason was freaking out. Internally, I was chuckling. Serves the guy right for underestimating me.

A dude with an earring in one of his ears came up with the next "impossible task" for me. Our group moved close to the window of Miss. Smith's class and Spikey Haired Dude handed me a container of silly putty while Earring Guy handed me a slingshot. My task was to slingshot the silly putty through the open window secretly and into Miss. Smith's hair. I calculated the angle carefully, cracking open the container and not allowing the silly putty to touch my hands and leave fingerprints, and then I launched the bad boy right through the open window, ducking down as I heard Miss. Smith's scream.

The whole group of us ran away from the window as fast as we could before she could come and catch us. I had an advantage, being small enough to hide under the window. There's no way she caught me running away. She might, however, have been easily able to ID the other kids….especially the tallest guys.

When we entered the school building, we all ran into the boys' bathroom.

"Oh man!" Jason said, with a rather high laugh. "That was EPIC! Duuuude!" He high fived me.

I smirked. It was EPIC. "Yeah it was! So am I popular now?"

My better judgement kept nagging me. "Get out of there!" It begged. "Go to the art show, before it's too late. Stop listening to these buffoons." I didn't obey the voice. I assumed it was trying to zap all fun from my life.

"Not yet." Skinny Jeans Gal said, yeah she was in the boys' bathroom with us. "There's one more challenge."

The group took all the toilet paper out of the stalls and came back to me, snickering. "We're gonna go TP the teacher's lounge while they're at the LAME art show." Spikey Haired Dude said. "Come on."

It hurt my soul that he'd think something Jeanette and I worked so hard on was lame. Mostly Jeanette worked on it. She had several pieces submitted. I only had about 3, but they were 3 that I really put effort into….because I enjoyed it...and not just for the grade. In fact, all of the pieces I entered got Ds for not following directions. The art lady still let me submit them. She's cool.

Despite my doubts, I followed them to the teacher's lounge. We had a ton of fun covering everything there in toilet paper. We covered the lamp, the printer, the tables, the coffee machine, even the ceiling fan! Then, the worst possible thing happened. We heard footsteps.

"Quick, lock the door." Red-Blonde Chick said in her abnormally low voice for a teen girl.

I hid underneath one of the tables and hoped I wouldn't be caught. What was I thinking? All this could set my 2.0 status back to square one! No one would trust me! Dave would be so mad! Simon would revoke my lab privileges!

It turned out to be a false alarm. "Just a couple of dweebs on their way to the art show." Jason reported as he peered out the window watching them pass by. "I recognized their stupid voices. That lisp is hard to forget."

Lisp? No! He was talking about Cheesy, and presumably Kevin. He just called my friend stupid! I should give him a harsh lecture about not judging a book by its cover and not making fun of a guy's speech impediment. I used to have a weird speech impediment too. I wasn't able to say long words with 4 or more syllables or I'd flip the syllables around. It took me a lot of practice to get better. When I'm stressed, I still mess up sometimes.

I came out from my hiding spot and didn't get the chance to say anything. Spikey Haired Dude picked me up and held me in the air like I was a prize he just won. Urgh. The downsides to being the size of a plush toy kind of outweigh the positives. "You did it, little man! You passed initiation! You're officially one of us! And, you can hang with us at lunch tomorrow. You know the place."

I did. The A table! Alvin Seville was back at the A table. I strutted toward the door. "I'll see you then." I squeaked confidently as I leaped up to unlock and open the door.

Red Blonde Chick and Skinny Jeans Gal looked at me with confused expressions. "You can hang with us right now, if you want. There's a sweet party goin' on at Jase's." Red Blonde Chick told me.

I needed an alibi and I needed one fast. Kevin and Cheesy were headed to the auditorium which meant the art show had started. If I didn't hurry, the doors would be locked and I wouldn't be able to get in. "Uh….I'd love to, but, I'm in such high demand that I'm already scheduled at another party."

Jason raised an eyebrow. "Scheduled?"

"Yes." I could feel the sweat beading on my brow.

He nodded at me, signaling that it was okay to go. "Alright then. Didn't realize you were cool enough to have parties SCHEDULED."

"I am full of surprises." I stated, as I raced from the room.

I slid up to my locker without a moment to lose and removed my jeans and my long red sweater with a yellow A on it and cyan accents. No, don't worry, I wasn't standin' there in my undies. I had on a sharp looking red and cyan ombre glitter covered blazer, yellow bowtie, and white suit pants with several strategically placed paint splatters on them. Wearing it under my casual clothes all day had been WAY TOO HOT, but this was the only way I stood a chance of making it to the art show on time, and still looking formal...ish. I kept my rainbow sneakers on and made a mad dash for the auditorium….just as Mr. Dotosn was closing the door. It locked the moment I reached it. Noooooo! Now what? I was SO CLOSE, and yet, so far.

"I told you not to listen to those rapscallions." The voice in my head taunted. "Now, you've done it. Jeanette will be so disappointed. It's all your fault."

I was almost about to slam into the door to break it down when….ding ding ding! I had an idea! My genius brain had formulated the perfect plan to get inside. I know there's a backstage entrance, three in fact. Theodore's part of the drama club and I have dabbled in it the way I dabble in everything. If I was lucky, one of the backstage doors would be unlocked.

I tried the door to the special effects booth, it was locked. I tried the door to the boys' dressing room. Still locked. I tried the door to the Co-ed dressing room for those uncomfortable being lumped with either all boys or all girls. No dice. "Come on, girls' dressing room." I muttered. "You're my only hope." Success! The door opened because obviously the guy who hates being called a girl has to sneak into the auditorium through the girls' dressing room. Just another crazy day in the life of Alvin.

I slipped around the curtain and peered out into the auditorium. I could see Jeanette! She was chatting with Anita, Kevin, Cheesy, and…..hold on...did my eyes deceive me? Was that Brittany? Simon, Theo, and Eleanor were there too, hanging by the refreshments table. Simon and Eleanor were probably making snide comments about me while Theo filled up on cookies. Back to Britt, why would Jeanette invite her? Did Britt just show up? Did Britt show up because Jeanette assumed I wouldn't and texted her? Oh gosh. It's awkward as heck and it's all my fault. I tiptoed around and tried to reach Jeanette while simultaneously avoiding Brittany. That was pretty tricky, to be honest. Along the way, I knocked over an easel by bumping it with my hip. Turned out to be one of my pieces, so nobody was mad. It did however, catch the attention of my girlfriend and her bratty sister with the pouty pink lips.

"Alvin!?" Both Chipettes were shocked. Jeanette sounded happy while Brittany sounded irritated to see me. Boy, is the feeling mutual.

Kevin and Cheesy helped me pick the easel and my painting of an alien spaceship up off the floor.

I threw my arms out theatrically. "SURPRISE!" I exclaimed with a grin. I had made it! Ohoho! And they said it couldn't be done! I am AMAZING!