Chapter 7: Class Assignment!

TWO HOURS LATER!

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore started to head for their first class when they heard a familiar voice calling out to them.

"Boys?" Brittany shouted.

The Chipmunks turned to see the Chipettes running up to them.

"I can't believe it!" Brittany says in shock at the sight of seeing Simon. "They let you out of the hospital already?"

"Well," Simon starts to explain. "I am feeling better. There was no other reason for me to stay there."

"I, for one, am glad that you are feeling better, Simon." Jeanette says in a shy manner.

"Cool shades, Simon. But, don't you usually need your regular glasses to see?" Eleanor asked.

"Yeah, what's up with that?" Brittany demanded with one hand firmly placed on her hip, and the other holding her schoolbooks.

"Well, honestly, I don't know..." Simon begins to explain. "It is like I'm having the opposite effect, or something. My eyesight is now perfect, but apparently only in the dark. During the day my eyes are sensitive to the sunlight. I can't really make any sense of it."

"Nothing about any of this makes sense." Alvin grumbles. "I over heard Dave complaining to the Doctor the other day when we were still in the hospital. They were talking about that the woman that had hit Simon with a car, then donated her blood to save him. Apparently she had disappeared without a trace."

"That's pretty strange. So, no one knows who this mystery woman is?" Jeanette asked.

"Nope." Alvin replied. "She didn't even leave her name."

"Will you all just stop fussing?" Simon snapped. He begins to turn and walk away from his brothers and Chipettes.

"Where are you going Simon?" Eleanor asked.

"To class. This is a school, isn't it? We're here to learn, right?" Simon turned back to them and spat. He quickly spun around and continued in the opposite direction.

"Boy, he sure woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." Complained Brittany.

"Sigh. I just wish I knew what was going on. Even Lily was acting strange towards him." Alvin said with a slump.

Jeanette looked onward to see Simon still walking away. Her heart filled with worry on what could be happening to Simon. When she heard the bell tone to indicate the starting of class, she and along with the rest of the Chipmunks and Chipettes, started to follow in the direction where Simon headed.

LATER IN THE MORNING...

"Ok, class," The teacher chimes. "If you remember last week we started reading poetry... If you would, please turn to page 56 in your book we can get started with our next poem."

Every student began to turn the pages in their book to find the page the teacher said. When it appeared that the class found the page, and is ready for their next instructions, the teacher continues.

"Alright, Simon?"

Simon looks up at the teacher through his shades. The teacher had to remind herself that Simon's eyesight is going through a struggle since the car accident he was in a few days ago. With a note from Dave, she accepted the idea that Simon now needs sunglasses in order to tone down the brightness of the sunlight.

"Why don't you read the poem today?" The teacher asks.

"Alright..." Simon says as he begins to stand up. He clears his throat in order to be able to project his voice clearly.

"'Dark Maiden Night' by Miriam Blackbird." Simon says as he reads the title and author of the poem:

Come to me, my dark maiden night,
Watch with me, as the sunsets.
We have been abandoned by the light,
No more will you fret.

I bring my hand up to touch,
You're cold, but accepting might.
Loneliness calls, too much,
Founded by the abyss of its twilight.

Take my hand, so we may dance.
Along the riverbed the redness flows.
Tonight we take the chance,
Where we go, no one knows.

Thirsty now, I drink from this cup,
The drum is beating with fright.
Thump, thump, thump,
Come with me, my dark maiden night.

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Simon's tone in his voice became soft and mature, while also darkened with passion from the poem. Without him even realizing, he sounded very seductive. Every girl in class, including the teacher, felt like melting in their seats. They all let out a swooning sigh and rested their heads on their hands.

The room became quiet; no one knew what to say. Simon turned to the teacher.

"Uh, Mrs. Tulane?" He asked her.

Mrs. Tulane shook herself back to reality.

"Oh, very nice, Simon. Please, sit back down."

Simon did as instructed and sat down in his seat. He looks around the room and notices that the girls are all looking at him in a dreamy expression, including the Chipettes. Confused, he leans over to his brother, Alvin.

"Ah, Alvin? What happened?" He asks him.

"I don't know, you tell me? Suddenly every girl in this room went nuts." Alvin answered in a bit of a jealous tone.

"Interesting..." Simon muttered.

AFTER LUNCH HOUR...

Mrs. Tulane took the class to the library and instructed them to find a book to read for their English assignment. Every student must find a book, read it, and then write a report about it. After about twenty minutes of searching, some of the students have found their book and is now starting to read it at some of the tables in the library.

At one end of the library, Theodore has found the perfect book he feels would be interesting enough to read. He pulls it out from the bookshelf and turns to see Eleanor coming towards him.

"What book are you going to read, Theodore?" Eleanor asks as she hugs the book she has already chosen.

"'The Chocolate Wars' by Robert Cormier. It sounds delicious. What about you, Eleanor?"

"'Listen Up' by Barbara Findlen. It's about the next feminist Generation." Eleanor stated.

Meanwhile at the other end of the Library, Alvin, Brittany, and Simon are still trying to find a book themselves to read for their project.

"Any idea on what you're going to read for you project, Simon?" Alvin asks out of curiosity.

"I'm not sure yet...I was thinking of something like 'South: The Last Antarctic Expedition of Shakleton and the Endurance' or 'Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone'. I figure I'd try a little light reading for once." Simon said in a thinking posture.

"How exciting for you." Alvin grumbles. At least the accident didn't change his enthusiasm for schoolwork.

"Well, I admit they're more complex then the 'Cat and the Hat' and 'Go Dogs Go' stories that your use to." Simon jokes.

Brittany begins to laugh heartily.

"Oh, very funny...both of you..." Alvin spat in slight embarrassment.

"Boy, does Simon have you pegged, Alvin." Brittany laughs harder.

"Oh, really?" Alvin retorted to Brittany.

"Yeah, really..."

"Well, what are you going to chose...? Something on makeup, or shopping for shoes, perhaps?" Alvin smirks.

Brittany and Alvin stood eye to eye with a grinning glare.

As Alvin and Brittany begin arguing, Simon turns away. Something suddenly didn't feel right. It is over at one of the bookshelves in the last isle. It is there that Simon feels drawn to. 'Why is that so interesting all of a sudden?' He thought to himself

"Well, you know what they say about simple minds, Alvin..." Brittany adds in a cocky manner.

"Ha! You're one to talk..." Laughs Alvin.

"Harrumph!" Brittany glares back at Alvin for making that comment. She then realizes that Simon is no longer behind Alvin.

"Hey? Where did Simon go?" She asks.

"Don't know...He was just here a second ago..." Alvin stated.

---------------

Over in the last isle of bookshelves, Jeanette stood on a ladder in order to reach a certain book she plans to use for her assignment. Suddenly she slipped and begins to fall. Instead of hitting the hard floor, Jeanette finds herself in Simon's arms.

"Phew. Thanks Simon." Jeanette smiles.

She then does a double take. She swears he wasn't here a second ago.

"Simon?!" Asked in shock. "Where did you come from?"

Simon turned his head to where Alvin and Brittany still stand. "Um, over there."

"I-I-I don't understand..." Jeanette couldn't make sense how Simon can move so fast from one end of the library to the other.

"I don't either." Simon adds, also unsure how he had moved so quickly. "I suddenly just felt the urge to come over here. It was then that I realized that you were about to fall."

"Oh..." Jeanette says bashfully. She then realized that she is still in Simon's arms. Looking back up at him she smiles with a blush.

Simon caught on to what Jeanette is trying to say and blushes as well. "Uh, sorry..."

Gently, Simon puts Jeanette down.

"So, uh, are you ok now?"

"I am, thanks to you."

"Good." Simon smiles. He holds out his hand to her. "Shall we go find a book for our assignment over in the adventure section?"

"Alright." Jeanette takes Simon's hand and they walk off to a different section of the library.