A/N: Thanks to all read the last chapter. Lots of people tuned in this week which is great to see. Here is Chapter 22. No big talk this week; all rights go to their respective owners. Without further adu, let's go!

Chapter 22: What is Happening?

It was a bombshell, none of them could believe what had just happened, no one could believe a word that had just been said. None more than the accused in Theodore, Ian just looked down at him which Dave did also to gain a reaction or tell. The only thing his son was showing though was complete disbelief, as everybody was. Simon was the first to break the silence which made Theodore turn to him.

"Theodore...that's not true is it?" Simon asked him with the others looking at him, more stern than others.

"Of course it's not true!" Theodore responded defensively and then turned back to Ian. "Why are you doing this?"

"I wouldn't have to do this if you had "munked up" and told them the truth." Ian told the young chipmunk using his fingers for quote marks. Theodore was taken back by such complete nonsense in his own mind.

"I am telling the truth!" Theodore pleaded his case, but Ian knew what to say next.

"Theo! Did you not say to me you wanted a concert for August the 1st? Yes or No." Pointing down at him with intent to getting answers out of him. Theodore stopped and thought about the question. Ian was...right. He did say that, but there was a reason.

"Well...yes, but you didn't..." Theodore started, but as soon as the wrong word came out, a certain Chipette in pink bellowed out his name which scared the life out of him and snapped his head around to her who was very upset. "Theodore!" She yelled stomping to him getting right in his face. "How could you?" Brittany confronted.

"He didn't tell me when our concert was." Theodore explained to her as well as everybody. Brittany though shook her head not believing it.

"Really!" Brittany mocked to him as Simon and Jeanette ran up to her trying to calm her to no avail as Alvin and Eleanor just looked in disbelief. "If our concert was so important to you, how would you not know when it was? I thought you were a jerk before, but this is going too far!" Brittany putting his loyalty in qustion which made the others stop as Jeanette covered her mouth before she said anything else hurtful. Simon though reluctantly turned to his brother looking at him with regret.

"Theodore...as much as I don't want to admit it...she's right." Simon remorsefully told his younger brother as Ian spoke again as they looked to him.

"Theodore, I've been on board with you from day one and I've done what you've wanted, but I'm not going to look like the bad guy this time. This was your idea Theo, and now it's time "you" tell your family the truth!" The words that came from Ian's mouth sent shockwaves through everyone's spines as the family turned to Theodore who was trembling with his mouth open as he took some paces backwards shaking his head.

"No! This isn't happening!" Theodore ran off into the darkness of the halfway bumping into Brittany doing so knocking her to the side really getting her blood boiling as Jeanette restrained her from going after him, Eleanor decided to go after him while the others were distracted amongest themselves to get answer of her own. She knew that if anyone could get answers from him, she could.

Ian sighed at Theodore's remarks and just looked over to Dave. "Guilty..." Ian said in a soft positive voice. The family was in shock as Dave needed answers.

"Is there any way you can change the date, if anything?" Dave asked trying for an exit plan, but got a shook of the head from Ian.

"Date's set in stone Dave, there's nothing I can do." Ian answered to them as everything was going downhill fast. Alvin saw Eleanor run off with the corner of his eye and chose to follow, though keeping a clear distance away from both parties.

XXX

Meanwhile, Theodore was stomping hard down the hallway as Eleanor started to head after him.

"That big jerk! He lied to me the whole time!" Theodore mumbled to himself as Eleanor called him, but Theodore wasn't sure who it was and thought it was Brittany snapped at her. "Leave me alone! I don't wanna talk to you!"

"Theodore!" Eleanor passionatly cried out which got his attention as he turned around unsure who had called him before as the two stared at each other, but in a manner they never shared before.

"Theodore, what is going on?" Eleanor reasoned with him as she looked into his eyes that hardly ever showed anger were now very upset.

"That big dummy Ian! He's trying to turn all of you against me. Making me say I wanted my concert the same day as ours, I mean-I...I did say all that, bu-but it's not like it sounds...he didn't tell me...Eleanor you know not to believe any of that stuff. Right?" Theodore pleaded to her, but the look she gave was still more of shock than forgiveness. "...Eleanor?" He pleaded again.

"Theodore...I told you I would always be honest with you..." Eleanor started as Theodore held her hands as he quickly nodded his head. "I'm sorry Theodore...but I don't know who to believe anymore...I'm sorry." The look on her face looked heart-broken with every word said and the face that Theodore gave was as if his heart had been ripped out. Theodore just began a string of continous "No"s, he couldn't believe what his best friend just said to him.

"You've completely changed Theodore, look at you..." As she pointed to his sweater. "This isn't you."

Theodore quickly grabbed her by the shoulders and gently shook her. "Does it look like I've changed!" He pleaded out, but he soon realized what he did and quickly let go and backed away as Eleanor looked scared at his sudden outburst. "Eleanor you don't understand, I..." Theodore reasoned to Eleanor but she stops him.

"What is there to undertstand Theodore? You told me a long time ago that you would never act like Alvin...because you felt a lot of the time he acted selfish." Eleanor asked with quickness in her voice. Theodore was taken back at her sternness. "And now look at yourself Theodore, what you just did. You're worse than Alvin...you...you have turned into a jerk!"

The harsh words were like a crack of a whip, he didn't know how to react to them.

"Why are you acting like this is my fault? I never wanted to leave. You're the one that said I should go." Theodore talked back to her, the conversation between them was getting very chippy. And not in a chipmunk sort of way either.

"So are you saying it's my fault Theodore?" Eleanor directly asked him.

"I made that song because I cared about you, I wanted to be with you...and all you did was tell me to leave. And now look at what's happened? Now my family hates me, and you and your sisters think I'm a jerk." Theodore opens up with is voice cracking up in some spots.

"So are you saying it's my fault?" Eleanor directly asked him again with more intent. Theodore hesitated as Eleanor waited.

"I have to go." He tried to run past Eleanor trying to leave as quick as possible, but Eleanor got in front of him and stopped him. "No Theodore! All running away does now is make you look guilty. I won't let you leave until you answer me!" Eleanor told him right to his face as he started wincing at the tone of her voice. Meanwhile Alvin had run off and stood next to the wall in an attempt to find out what was happening. Hearing the entire exchange, he felt he should break it up, but if they were find out he was spying on them, it could make them feel even worse.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Theodore admitted to her with his head down making her mood lessened as a bit of her upset look went away.

"Well then tell me Theodore." Eleanor now almost in a plead as she just wanted to know the truth about him once and for all.

"No, it's not your fault..." As he started to sniffle, "It's my fault. If I wasn't too scared to sing that stupid song to you, none of us would be in this mess!" Theodore looked to the side trying to avoid eye contact with Eleanor. "And now you all hate me."

Eleanor turned Theodore's frowned face to her as he opened his eyes. "Please understand, I don't hate you Theodore."

"But...you just called me a jerk. Just like your sister did." Theodore talked to her as Eleanor shook her head trying to explain.

"I hate "this" Theodore," Eleanor told him pointing to the sewed on yellow "T" on his green sweater with purpose. "I don't believe "this" Theodore. I think "this" Theodore is a stupid, immature, and a jerk." Continuing to point at that "T" each time she insulted him, almost talking like he was a different chipmunk. "That Theodore isn't the one I know, the Theodore I...really like." Which perked up his spirit. "If you really haven't changed, then prove it. Show me how much you care. Please Theodore?" She begged him cupping his paws together with hers. "Because if you can't..." She hesitated. "You're going to ruin everything."

It was a far from easy challenge that she placed in front of him, but Theodore nodded almost a light speed knowing what he needed to do which brought a tiny smile to Eleanor's face. "I'll show you how much I care for you, for all of you...I promise." With that, Theodore ran off back to everyone and told Ian that he was ready to leave not wanting to waste anymore time and wanted to prove himself as quick as he possibly could, but shot a look where Eleanor was with a look of sorrow for screwing up so bad. Unfortunetly for Eleanor, she had no idea what it was he was trying to show. The others were a bit teed at him for the way he left. They wanted answers, and instead got none. Little did they know that while leaving soon suddenly made him look guilty in their eyes, only his best friend and Alvin who heard bits and pieces of the talk knew that he was in a mad dash to show his innocence and care for them.

There is Chapter 22. Again another fairly short chapter, but again a chap that I felt needed it's own place. What will happen in Chapter 23, found out next time. Until then, thanks for reading! :)