Chapter 15: First Day of School
MONDAY MORNING
The entire past week was quite an adventure for the three chipmunk brothers. Alvin and Theodore, after been reunited with their brother, Simon, have had an emotional roller costar ride. The one thing they didn't count on was that Simon changed dramatically. The day that Simon's plane arrived minutes seemed like hours till the moment they saw the plane coming down for a landing. Having their brother home again was a-dream-come-true. With Simon back home things would surely get back to normal. The only thing that took away the joy from the reunion was the fact that Simon started showing major changes. He did things normally he would never do if he were not taken away from his home and family.
From what seemed to be the best weekend of the Seville's lives, turned out to the their worst nightmare. Simon had apparently taken up smoking and began drinking alcohol. The more they discover new things about this new Simon the more they worried about him. Alvin, Theodore, Dave, and even the Chipettes are nervous on what else they may discover about Simon.
Before they all knew it, Monday was upon them. Dave decided on Sunday that the boys should go back to school. He figured it would help Simon get settled in faster, since school was one of his favorite past times as a child.
The alarm clock went off at 7:00am and regrettably the three boys woke up. Alvin got up and turned off the alarm. He then looked over at Theodore, whom had just sat up to rub his eyes. Then he turned to notice that Simon wasn't in any hurry to get up. He was still under his covers and simply had just turned over to avoid the alarm and his brothers.
"Boys, time to get up and get ready for school!" Dave said as he entered the room.
Simon growled and threw the covers over his head. Alvin, Theodore and Dave gave each other a very confused look. They wondered if he could be still mad about the weekend and Dave's decision that he wasn't allowed to have any contact with his friends.
"Are you ok, Simon?" Dave began to ask.
Simon sighed, threw off his own covers, sat up, he then reached for his glasses. "Yeah, I'm fine! I'm up, I'm fine!" He said in a cranky tone.
As Simon grabbed his clothes and walked hurriedly into the bathroom. Alvin glanced up at Dave and says, "Boy! Someone sure gets cranky without his first cup of coffee in the morning!"
"Just get ready for school and come downstairs for breakfast, Alvin!" Dave sighed.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
Fifteen minutes later Dave, Alvin and Theodore were just finishing their breakfast. Then Dave got up after he finished his last sip of coffee and started putting on his tie. Alvin was still finishing his cereal and Theodore grabbed another piece of toast. Since Simon came home, Theodore's appetite had improved more so now then it ever did. Both Alvin and Dave gave a little smile knowing that the past five years was very hard and trying for all of them. It had gotten to the point where they were concerned for Theodore's health; he barely ate a crumb during the first couple of weeks when Simon was kidnapped. Gradually, Theodore began to eat at least half of his meal. At one point, Theodore had lost so much weight that he was almost as skinny as Alvin, but a couple of months later he was able to complete the entire plate. Once he started eating close to his normal amount again, Theodore began to plump out once more. It wasn't till this weekend that Theodore started eating like he used to as a child.
A few minutes later, Simon finally came down looking quit handsome with his hair combed back and blue sweater neatly hung over around the waist of his black jeans. His black leather jacket fit nicely, which gives him the complete 'cool' look. He attempted to give his family a smile and said "good morning" to them before heading for the fridge. He pulled out a small bottle of water, twisted the cap off and began to drink from it.
"You look nice today, Simon!" Dave said attempting to start a friendly confrontation.
"Ah, thanks!" Simon replied, after swallowing a mouth full of water.
"Are you hungry, Simon?" Theodore perked up, "Do you want some breakfast?"
"No thanks!" Simon obviously looked annoyed with everyone asking him that. The truth is everything that is going on in his body is scaring him. He didn't want to just tell his family the truth on the fact that he could die anyway if he did eat or not. Right now the only thing that keeps him going this long is the fluid he drinks. By remembering the lessons Mary-Anne and the other taught him and his friends, Simon was been able to survive the torture and brainwashing from the Founders. Not to mention the challenges of living on the 'outside' and away from the Island.
It's been just over six days since he was separated from the Island, and already he was beginning to feel some pain starting with headaches then a queasy feeling from his stomach first thing in the morning. Not to mention the dizzy spells he feels off and on during the day. At this point he even wished to have some of the green 'slop' that the Founders served the children to stabilize the chemically enhanced brainwaves. Without him knowing it his face started going pale.
"Simon, I'm worried, you haven't been eating much, if not anything, except a few bits from some waffles, since the day we picked you up! Are you sick?" Dave asked while trying to feel his forehead.
"I'm fine, Dave! I'm just not hungry right now!" Simon said tying to avoid Dave's hand from touching him.
"He's probably just excited to be going back to school, again!" Alvin said sarcastically before taking a sip of his orange juice.
"Actually, I could care less if I have to have anything to do with school ever again." Simon admitted with a cold tone.
Simon's words took everyone be surprise. Theodore dropped his half eaten toast, Alvin spat out his juice all over the table, and Dave stood there with his jaw hanging down as far as it would go. Simon noticed everyone's shock, and figured that they at least deserved an explanation.
"Well, if you had gone through what I've gone through, then you'd probable feel the same way too!" He took a deep breath to avoid himself from crying. "If it's all the same to you guys, I'll just wait by the car!" Simon stormed out of the room, but not before slamming the empty water bottle on the table. The bottle teetered for a moment before falling on its side and rolling off the counter.
Dave and the others just stared at each other in shock. What ever happened to Simon was so dramatic that had seriously changed him. Not only his physical appearance changed, but also his attitude towards the one thing that he once enjoyed doing from his youth.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
FORTY MINUTES LATER
Alvin and Theodore walked Simon down to his first class of the day. Simon was caring a three ring binder and a pen, while his brothers carried each their own binders, books and pens with them. This all seemed very nerve wrecking for Simon, he had been very quiet all morning. He felt very tense ever since coming out of the car and seeing the new high school that he would be going too. The only thing that was on his mind was how he was going to see his friends. Just then he sensed a familiar presence.
Before Simon could turn his head to see who it is, he was jumped from behind and was put into a headlock. Simon's binder flew out of his grip and fell apart all over the floor. It didn't take long for Simon to realize who his attacker was.
"Arrg, Tom cut it out! You're messing up my hair!" Simon said, while receiving a noogie.
Alvin and Theodore then heard a female's voice giggling from behind them and turned to see who it is.
"Don't you boys get tired of playing these games?" Renee said with a big smile. She then noticed Simon's brothers standing there and decided not to be rude. "Hi Alvin!
Hi Theodore!"
"Hi!" Theodore said with a smile.
"Could you tell Tom to get off of our brother so we could get to class." Alvin said abruptly. Renee frowned. She was only trying to be polite and acknowledging them. Alvin really didn't have to be rude to her.
Tom also frowned as he looked up at Alvin and loosened his grip so Simon could break free. When Simon was freed, he first straightened his hair then his glasses. Then he looked at Tom with a half serious half jokingly expression.
"What, are you guys following me now! We couldn't hang out for one day so you have to stalk me, is that it?"
"Oh yeah, Simon, we are just so lost without you. And to find out that you had to spend the whole day cleaning the house by yourself just because you had a drink or two. Why, that just inhuman! Cruel and unusual punishment; not fit for man or beast! Oh my poor, poor, Simon!" Tom sarcastically wailed, while pretending to cry and giving Simon a hug.
"Oh brother!" Simon replied, rolling back his eyes. Renee stood and laughed at the whole scene then stopped suddenly to look at them in a more serious manner.
Alvin and Theodore didn't know what to think of all of this. Something didn't seem right. Theodore turned to Renee and asked, "How does Tom know that Simon had to spend the whole day cleaning?"
"Because we can read each other's minds." Renee explained as matter of fact. She also showed the same spaced out look on her face as she did during that night they all went out for ice cream after the movie.
"What?" Both Alvin and Theodore turned their heads in shock.
Renee came out her trance and looked at the two brothers and smiled. "Nothing!" She chirped.
Simon looks down at binder that apparently lost a couple pieces of paper. He pushed Tom back and pointed towards the floor. "You'd better help me pick up this mess, before I really make you cry!"
"Oh, please…" Tom mocked.
"Come on, Tom…This mess was kind of your doing?" Renee pointed out.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Keep your shirt on…" Tom paused for a moment and thought about his last comment to Renee and began to raise an eyebrow. "On second though?"
"Tom! Not now, alright?" Renee laughed as she slapped Tom on the arm.
Tom bent down and picked up the loose paper, Renee got down and helped too. As they picked up each piece, Tom noticed a sheet that had Simon's schedule for his classes. "Hey look, we are in the same chemistry class." He said with glee.
Renee looks at the schedule too and smiles. "Hmm, we are in…Oooh, Spanish class." She then looks up at Simon and spoke in Spanish, saying how easy the course will be and how much fun it would be to have him there too. Simon responded, in Spanish also, saying that the two of them could easily teach the course. Tom, Renee, and Simon start to laugh. Then Tom adds, in Spanish. that the three of them could probably teach every class in the whole school with no problems. Again the three of them laughed.
Alvin and Theodore stood there dumbfounded. Neither of them had a clue what they were saying.
After Tom and Renee helped gather the rest of Simon's papers, pen, and binder, they handed them to him. Tom then pats Simon on the back. "We'll see you later, alright?" He tells him.
Renee leans over and kisses Simon on the cheek. "Stay frosty!" She cooed. Simon smiles bashfully.
"Hey…where's my kiss?" Tom pouts as he leans up to Simon's face as close as he could nose to nose without actually making contact.
Simon laughs out loud as he pushes his friend away. "No way, you don't get one!" He then shakes his head in disbelief. "Man, I wish you'd stop doing that." The three of them start laughing again as they slowly separate in the opposite direction. "Take care, guys…we will catch up later!"
Slowly Simon's smile turns into a frown. He and his brothers watched Tom and Renee walk down the hall holding each other's hands. 'What a perfect couple they make.' Simon thought. He would watch them on the Island, as their love for each other would slowly blossom. Of course the relationship would always be kept secret in front of the Founders. Now that they were no longer on the Island, both Tom and Renee are free to express their feelings anytime they wish. Simon felt a hand touch his shoulder and turned to see Theodore. "Lets get to class, Simon." He told his older, smarter brother. Simon nodded slowly followed his brothers to their classroom.
As they walked Alvin turned to Simon and glared up at him. "Simon, Dave has forbidden you from seeing those two. So why are you making plans on seeing them later?"
Simon lets out a sigh and rolls his eyes skyward. "Alvin, school just happens to be one of the places that Dave can not control my social life." He then walked off ahead of his brothers and by following the schedule he made it to his first class on time.