TWO DAYS LATER:
It was already Wednesday and the teen did nothing but practice for tomorrow's big final show.
"Ok, Alvin starts, and then I come just after, correct?" Brittany asked as she glanced over the paper with the text. Alvin nodded.
"Yep," he said.
Simon smiled. He felt so brave. Course, he hadn't sung for an audience yet, but still. This was a whole new feeling, wanting to show the school his voice. He didn't care about Ryan. He didn't care about the bullies. No, they should notshot him down again. He felt he was on top right now. No one should bring him down again. After all he had his brothers and the girls. He knew he could trust them.
"Ready?" Alvin asked.
"Ready," Simon repeated.
The music started and Alvin began to sing his verse, "Life's like a road that you travel on, when there's one day here-"
"Fellas!" Dave called from downstairs. Alvin sighed irritated and turned off the music.
"WHAT?!" he shouted, a little too loud.
"Dinner's ready!"
Alvin sighed again. Theodore shrugged and they all went downstairs.
"So, how's it going with your song?" Dave asked.
"Great!" Eleanor said.
"Sounds good, Ellie," Dave nodded.
"Well, only if you could stop interrupting," Alvin added. Dave shot him a slight glare and Alvin only looked down again. "But yeah, we're doing great."
Dave turned around to his middle son. "And what about you, Simon?"
Simon swallowed his food before asking, "Yeah, what about me?"
"I mean, you're doing a solo. In the show?"
Simon couldn't help but smile. He nodded proudly, but looked down at the food again, not wanting to look like a boaster.
"Great! How is it going at school then?" Dave asked.
"To my surprise, it's going great!" he cheered. "I mean, I haven't seen Ryan in a long time, so I think it's getting better."
"Shouldn't it be? Dr. Rubin talked to your both, didn't she?" Dave furrowed his brows.
Simon hesitated. Those lies he had made...
"Uh, yeah! She did... hehe," he smiled. Dave gave him a weird look and Simon immediately went back to his food.
"Well..." Alvin started, helping his brother. "How was work, Dave?"
"Alvin, why do you ask that kind of thing?" Dave replied.
Alvin shrugged. "I dunno. It's not like a care- I mean!... Uh, forget it."
Dave him a weird look, too, but continued eating.
"Ihhhh!" Brittany greeted as she sat in her own room with her sisters. "We're totally going to win!"
Eleanor smiled, but playfully rolled her green eyes. "Britt, that's the fifth time you've said that."
Brittany shrugged. "I know, but... We're are going to win this!"
Jeanette giggled. "Yeah. It's gonna be great. Also with Simon."
"Yeah yeah," Brittany said. She stood up and walked over to the door. "Come on, girls. We should practice again with the boys."
"Again?" Eleanor sighed.
"Come on!"
Brittany went into Alvin's room, where they probably would be, without knocking on his door.
"Actually, I think it-"
"Guys!" Brittany interrupted Theodore. All three boys looked up at Brittany. "Come on; let's take the song from the start." She found he white iPhone and tried to find the song.
"Uh, Britt?" Alvin asked. "We've already practiced it, what, eight times? I don't think we need to do it again. It's also late, so-"
"Alvin, when did you care about being up late?"
Alvin shrugged. "Britt, don't worry, it'll be fine."
"But-"
"No!"
"Bu-"
"Britt?" Alvin raised a brow. She rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Fine. But we have to practice again tomorrow before the show!" she added while she pointed at him.
"What ever," he replied. Brittany walked out of the room again. Jeanette and Eleanor only gave each other a glance and went out too.
Alvin let out a slightly laugh and turned around to his two younger brothers. "I know how to treat the girls," he smirked.
Simon rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I can see."
"But why won't you practice again?" Theodore asked.
"Not you too, Theo," Alvin muttered. he went over to the youngest. "We'll win anyway. We're the best!" Alvin made a wild gesture with his arms.
"Oh," Theodore nodded.
Simon raised up and made his way towards the door. "I'll go to bed now. Good night."
"Good night, sleep tight."
"Night, Si!"
Next morning, everyone sat at their usual place in the kitchen and ate their breakfast in silence. Even though they'd performed a hundred times before, they were still nervous.
"Why so quite?" Dave asked as he entered to kitchen. He was used to hear a lot of talk by his six adopted kids.
"It's today, Dave!" Eleanor cheered.
Theodore nodded. "Yeah! You are coming to see us, right?"
"Of course I am. At four, right?"
"Correct." Theodore stuffed some toaster waffle in his mouth.
"Wait." Brittany sat up abruptly.
"What is it, Britt?" Jeanette asked, almost concerned.
"What are we going to wear?"
All five sighed in union.
As the teens walked through the hall, going over to their math class. The last class of the day and then finally the moment of the day they waited for. The Contest. The final. The show would be in the big music room, as two other school came with each three groups.
Simon was much exited for the show. He hadn't slept very well last night, but this was big for him. After five long years with stage fright, he could finally show his voice for the school. Or even some people. Even Ryan couldn't let him down now.
As they almost were in the class, Simon suddenly said, "Oh, I forgot my book. Go ahead, I'll go get it,"
"K," Alvin simply replied.
Simon went the way back to his locker. He took notice of the silence, and looked up. No one to see. Everyone were probably in their classes.
'Better hurry up,' he thought and closed his locker.
"Getting a little brave, huh?" He heard someone said. Simon gulped. For the last week, he hadn't heard that voice, and he didn't miss it at all.
At the same time he heard it, he could hear it. It sounded too familiar. Ryan...
Simon turned around and saw him with a big smirk. He found it a little odd to suddenly see him. But after all, he was used to see Ryan come, quite spontaneously.
"What do you want?" Simon snapped. Ryan looked just as surprised as Simon did. Where did that came from?
Ryan huffed and looked at the wall beside him. Didn't he have something to say?
Simon kept looking at him, with a confident, but new, look he never ever, ever had had before. "But if you don't mind, I gotta go to class now, so..." Simon tried to walk away from Ryan, but Ryan stopped him.
"You really think you're cool now, huh? Just because you got confidence from your dear brothers and girlfriend, huh? Let's see how strong you are without them."
Simon could feel his heart race. "W-w-what do you m-mean with t-that?" he asked. 'Damn, why do I have to stutter like that?'
"Just be careful." Ryan replied. He was about to leave when he turned around again with a smirk placed on his lips. "You'll chickin' out. You're just not good enough."
Simon swallowed hardly, and looked down at his shoes. 'Don't fall out now, you're already inside,' he told himself.
As the bell rang out, Alvin threw his books down in his bag back and hurried over to his brothers and the girls.
"Okay, we have two hours to practice our song again. Is that enough?"
"Come on, Britt..." Alvin shook his head. "We'll be fine, ok? We just have to warm up our voices and that's that."
Brittany gave him a weird glance. "That's that?" Alvin nodded. "That's that?" she asked again. Alvin nodded again.
She let out a annoyed sigh.
"Britt, seriously, we practiced soooo much last night," he said.
"M-maybe we should," Simon added. Alvin turned around to face his brother and noticed the suddenly shy look on his face. "I-I mean we d-don't have to, b-but-"
"Is something wrong, Si?" Alvin asked softly. Simon let out a breath. He knew better than lying. After all, he found out it didn't work very well.
"Alvin, can we talk under four eyes please?" Simon asked instead.
"Yeah, sure."
The two brothers went out in the hall.
"What is it," Alvin asked, a little curios.
Again, Simon let out a breath. "I...bumped into Ryan today."
"What? Did something happen or..?"
"No, no he didn't... like... yeah, he just said that I should be careful and something else and... yeah,"
"What did he say?" Alvin asked again, looking directly into Simon's grey eyes.
"Uhm, like how strong I would be without you... and... you know... that I wasn't good enough. But that doesn't matter, I mean-"
"Simon, relax!" Alvin placed a hand on his younger brother's shoulder. "Listen, I don't know what Ryan meant with that, but no matter what he says, you are good enough, okay? I believe in you, we all do. And of course you're strong! Maybe not in your arms, but you probably know what I mean."
Simon let out a slight laugh. "Yeah, I know. Thank you, Alvin."
"No problem. Come on, we should get in again. If we don't, you know how Brittany would be.
"I thought you said we shouldn't practice anymore?" Simon laughed.
"Nah, I say a lot of things."
Theodore looked out at the crowd. A lot of parents, other people from school, teachers and many others were sitting and waiting. The show was starting in no time and everything was going as planned.
"Wooow," Theodore said. "There are a lot of people out there."
"Yeah. It'll be great," Jeanette said. She looked over at Simon. "You're alright?"
Simon first hesitated, but then nodded. "Yeah." Jeanette went up to him and gave him a hug.
"Remember we're right here, okay?"
Simon smiled. "I love you," he said.
"I love you too."
"Hey lovebirds? Be quite, the show is starting," Alvin teased as Dr. Rubin walked up on the big stage.
"Welcome everyone to this years' song contest. This year, we're lucky to say that it will take place here on West Eastman School. Please welcome the two others schools, Skt. Germain School and Anthony Jewels' School!" The crowd clapped.
(A/N: I just made them up, I didn't really know what to call them, hehe.)
"The first one to perfome is the group called Fifth Avenue from Skt. Germain School." The crowd clapped again as the music started.
"They told him don't you ever come around here
Don't wanna see you face, you better disappear
The fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear
So beat it
Just beat it,"
"That's so my song!" Alvin exclaimed. Brittany went over to him.
"Then good we didn't choose that, right?"
"Haha, very funny, Britt."
"Uh, I'll be right back," Simon said as he went out from the backstage room.
Alvin followed him. "What's wrong? You're okay?"
Simon turned around to see him. Since he had a little 'talk' with Ryan, he'd just been so... uneasy. Before there were no worried. But now, he couldn't help, but think about what could happen.
"Yeah, I just need some water, I don't feel too well," Simon replied. Alvin nodded in understanding and went back to the others. Simon sighed and made his way out.
SOME TIME LATER
"Ihhhh, guys, it's almost us!" Brittany cheered.
"Yeah, I'm so excited!" Eleanor said.
"We'll kick their as-"
"Alvin," Theodore interrupted. Alvin looked over at him. "Language please."
Alvin playfully rolled his eyes. "You guys are ready?"
"Sure," Jeanette replied. Simon nodded, still a little uneasy.
"Wait a minute," Simon said again. He raised up and went out again.
"Wait, where's he going? We're on just in a few moments!" Brittany hissed.
"Calm down, Britt. He's just getting some water or something, he told me he didn't feel well," Alvin said.
"Oh," she said. "He- he is going to sing, right?"
"Yeah, I think so."
They sat all five in silence, only the sound of a group singing and some other talking, when Jeanette suddenly took notice of a sound.
"Did anyone hear that too?" she asked.
"What?" Alvin asked.
"Help," someone said.
"There it was again!"
"Help," it repeated.
"Who is it?" Eleanor asked.
Jeanette rose up and tried to get closer to the sound. The others automatically followed her.
"Where is it coming from?"
"Help."
"I think it's coming from the janitor's closet," Brittany said. Alvin went up to the door and listened carefully.
"Help."
"Guys, it's from in here," Alvin said.
Alvin, Theodore, Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor went inside the room.
"There's no one in here?" he said. Alvin went over to the table.
"A walkie-talkie? Is this some kind of joke?"
Suddenly, the door got slammed and there was a click from it. They all glanced over at it.
"What?" Brittany asked. Alvin ran over to the door.
"It's locked!"
"WHAT?!" Brittany asked again.
Outside, someone laughed evilly. "Let's hear how strong he is without his friends," Ryan smirked.
When Simon got back to the backstage room, his brothers and the girls were no where to see.
"Alvin?" he asked. He looked around, but couldn't find them. "What?" Simon was confused. where in the world could they be.
"Please welcome, The Chipmunks and The Chipettes!" Dr. Rubin said.
'Oh,' Simon thought. 'They're already up there,'
As Simon walked up to the stage, he noticed that they weren't here either. 'Shit'
Now, Simons stood in the middle on the stage, all alone, with a bright light shining on him, while people waited. The music wasn't started yet, so it felt extra awkward.
His eyes were wide open as he focused on one thing. The wall.
'I can't do this'
'You can do this'
'No! I'll only make a fool out of myself!'
'Simon, don't worry, you can do this. Just sing when the music starts'
'Ryan was right'
'No he's not'
'I can't do this'
'Remember what your brother told you'.
As Simon's inner voice kept talking to him, Simon remembered Alvin's words: But no matter what he says, you are good enough, okay? I believe in you, we all do. And of course you're strong!
Simon started smiling as the music began. 'I can do this'
The crowd whispered a little to each other. Of course, they excepted to see six teens, not one. But suddenly they stopped whispering.
"Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind"
Simon looked confidently out at the crowd. Right now, it didn't felt wrong to stay on a stage and sing out to people.
The crowd clapped along as Simon continued.
"I can't!" Alvin exclaimed to Brittany for the tenth time.
"But-! But-! We can't- We- I-" Brittany stuttered. Jeanette went over to her sister.
"Relax, Britt," she placed her arm around her.
"Who would do this?" Theodore asked.
Alvin thought for a moment, and finally got on a name. "Ryan."
"Ryan?" Eleanor asked.
"Yes, Ryan."
"Why?"
"Simon told me that Ryan said something with how strong he would be if he didn't have us. Oh... Now it all makes sense!"
"But where's Simon now?" Brittany managed to ask.
"Oh no! What if Ryan is humiliating Simon!" Alvin looked over at the door.
"Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long"
Simon found it more and more fantastic to stay on that stage and just sing his heart out. No one should ever let him down, not even Ryan.
Ryan stood up at the wall with crossed arms and looked pretty pissed.
"Okay everyone, at three we push the door, ready?"
"Alvin, that's impossible, we can't just-"
"Jeanette!" Alvin cut her off. "We'll push at three, okay?"
"Okay!" They all said.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Three!" Everyone tried to push to door. "Come on, just a little more!" Alvin shouted.
Suddenly a sound came from the door and it almost fell off the wall. Alvin, Theodore, Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor were all lying down at the ground.
"Wow. It worked." Jeanette looked stunned.
"We did it! Come on, we gotta go!"
As they almost were over to the stage, Alvin stopped them.
"Wait!"
What is it, Alvin?" Brittany seemed quite annoyed.
"Look," he pointed up at his brother, singing as good as he could. Alvin smiled to himself. 'I knew he could do it'
"There's no load I can't hold
Road so rough this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors"
"Woow" Eleanor said. "He's good."
Alvin kept the smile on his lips.
"Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long"
The crowed kept clapping and cheering at him. And he loved it. How could he have missed so much in these years?
"There was a distance between you and I (between you and I)
A misunderstanding once
But now we look it in the eye"
Suddenly Simon found his brothers and the girl standing down there. He motioned with his head in a move that they should get up to him. They did as what he 'said' and they all enjoyed it.
"Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long"
The song ended and Alvin took his arm around his younger brother. "I'm proud of you," he said.
Simon smiled, but was almost out of breath. "Thanks."
The crowd kept whistling and clapping. Dave was also proud of his kids, and of course Simon.
'I did it' Simon smiled proudly out to them.
Jeanette went over to her boyfriend. "I know you could do it, Simon!" Simon smiled warmly to her and kissed her softly on her lips.
Dr. Rubin went up to the stage. "Can we get all the groups up here, please?" All nine groups went up to the stage and stood in a line.
"The winners are found. And this year's winners of the song contest are..." Dr. Rubin took the letter out from its envelope.
"The Chipmunks and The Chipettes!"
Simon eyes widened a little as she said their name. They won!
"Yeah!" Alvin shouted!
The crowd clapped and cheered and all of sudden there was confetti everywhere.
"I did it! I did it!" Brittany cheered. Alvin laughed and shook his head. He turned around to his brother.
"You did it, Simon."
"No. We did it"
They both smiled and hugged each other tightly.
Alvin, Simon, Theodore, Brittany, Jeanette, Eleanor and Dave were about to go out from the school.
"You guys were great!" Dave said.
"Thanks, but Simon was the winner tonight," Alvin said. He smiled to his brother and got a smile again.
Alvin noticed Ryan and took Simon's arm. "Dave? Wait a minute. We have something to say to someone. Come on, Si,"
"We're out in the car," Dave said.
Alvin and Simon nodded to each other and walked over to Ryan.
"Oh Ryan? You were here too?" Alvin asked ironically. Ryan rolled his eyes.
"What do you want, Sevilles?"
"First of all an apologize," Simon said. "And-"
"Ryan Edward Lush!" A woman voice said. Ryan turned around to see his mom, dad and Dr. Rubin. "I think you have something to explain to us."
Ryan gulped. "Yes mom," he followed his parents and Dr. Rubin.
Alvin smirked. "Aww, is mommy a little uptight today, Ryan?" he laughed. Simon laughed too, but stopped when his mom looked back. Ryan was almost red in his head of anger, but kept following the adults.
Alvin laughed. "And then, he's out."
"What do you think there will happen to him?" Simon asked with a little grin.
"I hope we'll never ever see him again."
"Yeah," Simon agreed.
They kept looking over at where they disappeared until Alvin took his arm around his brother. "Let's take home." Simon smiled and they walked out of the school.
Now Simon felt happy. Ryan wasn't there anymore and he could now sing out to the world. But most important of all,
he had his family. His brothers. His girlfriend. Alvin
He had all what he needed.
Oh My... This is the end of my first story ever! Whuh!
Sorry for the long wait, but yeah, I was kinda busy with all that Christmas stuff and new year and... yeah..
But that was it! Hope you like it!
Please review!