-Bedridden Depression-

The next morning at the Miller's, Jeanette was finishing getting dressed for school while Eleanor was already downstairs with Miss Miller helping to make breakfast for everyone in the house. "Ellie dear, could you run upstairs and see if Brittany has gotten up yet, she's going to be late for school," Miss Miller asked. "Okay," she answered as she went upstairs to find Brittany's door closed. "(Knock, knock) Um…Brittany…a-are you awake, you're going to be late for school," she asked with concern. "Yeah….I'm awake…but I think I'm gonna stay home Ellie…I can't show my face anymore, look at what I've done to everyone," she answered back in a quiet voice. "But Brittany…don't you think you're taking this a little hard," she asked back as she walked into the dark lonely room as she had the blinds and window shades closed. "I'm fine Eleanor…really I am…I just wanna be alone," she answer from under her bed covers. "Well at least eat some breakfast, I-It will help you…," she started to say as she was cut off. "Please Eleanor…it would really mean a lot to me if I could just be left alone," she said holding back tears. "Okay," she replied as she slowly closed her door behind her and went back downstairs.

(Back downstairs)

"Um…she's not hungry Miss Miller," Eleanor told her as she made her way back downstairs. "Gosh, she's really taking this a little harsh," Jeanette said as she finished eating her bran muffin and packed her backpack. "Don't worry girls, maybe I can talk to her…I think the best thing for her is to stay home today and try it again tomorrow, she's going through a lot of guilty and grief," Miss Miller said as she sat down at the table to have a cup of coffee and read the newspaper. "But what if this gets out of hand," Eleanor said with a little fear in her voice. "Sometimes these feelings can really bring you down," she added. "I think she's going to be okay Ellie…she's a tough girl who needs a little rest today, she's just emotionally exhausted," Miss Miller explained to them. "Yeah…but I heard her softly crying all through the night, I mean it was so heartbreaking," Jeanette said while holding back tears.

"There, there Jenny…we'll all look after her. I mean after all that's what we're known for," Eleanor said while placing her hand on her shoulder. "Thanks sis," she said as she hugged her for comfort. "Well girls, you may want to get a move on before the bus comes…and don't worry, I'll be here all day with her so she's in good hands," she said as she gave them their lunch money and a kiss on the forehead as they headed out the door with their backpacks and down to the bus stop.

(Meanwhile at the Seville's)

"Simon…Theodore…are you finished getting your things together, the bus will be here any minute," Dave called upstairs for them as they we're in Alvin's room saying goodbye for the day. "So are you going to be okay Alvin…you sure seem a little…depressed," Simon said as he adjusted the pillow levitating Alvin's broken leg. "sigh Yeah, I'll be fine…I just wanna be alone," he answered while not looking at them but looking out of the window as you can see the Miller's house in view. "And close the blinds…I can't bear looking at that house right now," he said with a little frustration in his voice. "Um…okay," Simon fulfilled his request. "Well…we're off to school…maybe I can call and check on you while we're at lunch or between classes," he asked. "That fine…if ya want…it doesn't matter to me," Alvin answered while during over to go back to sleep. "Okay…well let's go Theo," he said to Theodore as they walked out of his room and closed his door.

At the bottom of the stairs Dave was waiting on them as he gave them their lunch money. "Um…Dave…I think there's more to this Brittany/Alyssa situation than he's telling us…he seems really depressed. "I'm sure he's just going through a lot of different feelings so maybe him staying home will help," he said as he fixed Simon's hair and sent them out of the door. "Okay, have a good day at school fellas," Dave told them as he closed the front door.

As Simon and Theodore crossed the street to walk to the bus stop they met up with Jeanette and Eleanor. "Hi ladies," Simon said as he waved at them. "Hello Si," Jeanette said as she barely smiled. "Hello Theo," Eleanor said as she walked with Theodore as they both made their way down the street. As they got closer to the bus stop Jeanette stopped as they all turned around to see what the problem was. "Um…w-what's wrong Jenny," Simon asked with a concerned look on his face. "I'm not getting on the bus with that girl," she said with a angry look on her face as she pointed down the street towards Alyssa who was standing there not aware that the chipmunks and chipettes were approaching the bus stop. "Um…maybe you can just ignore her," he suggested. "No, no, no," she said while shaking her head no. "I'M NOT RIDING THE BUS WITH THAT GIRL…she's got Brittany about ready to crack," she screamed as she folded her arms and stood there.

"But Jeanette, you're gonna miss the bus," Simon reminded her as he pushed his glasses up on his face. "I DON'T CARE SIMON…SHE HURT MY SISTER," she shouted at him. "I understand Jenny…p-please…you don't have to shout…I'm hurting too, she hurt Alvin…but how else will we get to school," he asked her. "I'll freakin walk if I have to…I will not share a bus ride with that…grrr…FORGET IT…I'M WALKING TO SCHOOL," she said sternly as she stormed off.

As she got up on the bus stop Alyssa noticed her coming. "Oh…um…hello Jeanette," she said as she tried to forget about last night. Jeanette kept walking as she got up to Alyssa. "MOVE," Jeanette said as she didn't say anything else to her as she brushed by her and kept walking. "Well sorrrrry then…I see where you share your characteristics with then," Alyssa said as she quickly turned around to wait on the bus. "WHAT DID YOU SAY," Jeanette said as she turned around and was about to walk towards her as Eleanor and Simon held her back from fighting her. "Jeanette just let it go…she can't help but be a menace," he said as he glared at Alyssa. As Jeanette turned around to walk away again, Alyssa blurted out another comment to Jeanette, "You heard me…that Brittany had it coming to her…I mean jeez she can really act like a…," she started to say and Jeanette broke away from Simon and Eleanor and stomped up to Alyssa. "A WHAT HUH…SAY IT…I DARE YOU,"she screamed at her. "YOU KNOW YOU REALLY HAVE MY SISTER ON EDGE RIGHT NOW THANKS TO YOU…YOU'RE REALLY A PIECE OF WORK," she added as Eleanor is now pulling at Jeanette to get her away from Alyssa. As Eleanor got Jeanette away from Alyssa she turned to her, "Why don't you just stay away from us…you're the one tearing Alvin and Brittany apart," she said with her hands on her hips. "Brittany drove Alvin away…you all should know that by now…all she does is complain, complain, complain…," she was in the middle of saying. "Oh gag, I'm walking with you Jenny…I can't stand to be anywhere near this…waste of humanity," she said as they left. "C'mon Theodore," Eleanor said as she grabbed him by the hand as they crossed the street to walk to school.

(A little further down the road)

"Gosh I can't believe that Alyssa character, no wonder Brittany didn't like her…I mean all she wants to do is rub out Brittany and keep Alvin to herself…I mean now I know what she was talking about," Eleanor spoke out as they all walked down the street as the morning traffic in the neighborhood picked up as they got closer to school. "Well I know one thing for sure, I officially don't like this girl…ugh…she doesn't even deserve to be called a girl…more like a…," she was going to say until Simon covered her mouth. "Um…let's just try to get to school in peace and try to put "her" out of our minds for the day…she doesn't deserve to be thought about," he said as the turned the corner as they're about a half block away from the school. "(sigh) Yeah you're right," she answered back as she fixed her glasses on her face.

(Meanwhile as the chipmunks and chipettes made it to school, Brittany came out from under the covers and started back looking at pictures of Alvin)

"(takes a deep breath) I really screwed this up big time Alvin…I really miss you…I miss your laugh…your jokes…(tear comes down) I miss when I would blame you when we both get in trouble," she said as she laid there in bed as she wore red and yellow pajamas last night. By then, Miss Miller was coming upstairs to go to her own bedroom and just happened to over hear her talking. "Hmmm…I wonder if she's feeling okay," As Miss Miller quietly eased the door open a little, Brittany reminisced, to her Alvin doll, which she wanted no one to know she had.. "God if only I could turn the clock back and had been much nicer to you (sniff) and had trusted you…I wouldn't be in this situation right now," she quietly spoke to the doll as she just held it close to her heart and softly cried. She quietly pulled the door back up and continued to her bedroom, "Poor child…her heart is just as shattered as priceless china," she said as she went into her room.

(Over at the Seville's)

"(Knock, knock) Alvin…are you okay," Dave asked as he went up to Alvin's bedroom after he cleaned up the kitchen from breakfast. "sigh Come in," he said as he was wrapped in his bed covers with watery eyes as you can see he had been crying. "How are you feeling," Dave asked him as he sat on the edge of his bed and brought him a glass of orange juice. "I-I'm doing fine…if Brittany doesn't need me I sure don't need her…I've agreed to be with Alyssa now," he said as he tried to hide the truth from him and get over Brittany. "Alvin…it's okay if you feel hurt…but you don't want to say something you'll regret," he said as he check on his leg to see how its doing. "But she said herself…she didn't want to see me again…I think it's quite obvious what's going on," he said with a insulted look on his face. "But that doesn't mean she hates you…you just have to give her space to vent out frustration…I get upset at you…but that doesn't mean I hate you," he said as he took a wash cloth and wiped his face from where he had been crying.

"But I love…loved her Dave…she meant the world to me…and I think Alyssa befriended me in a way that she made me fall in love with her sigh I really screwed up this time…I've always been a screw up and always will," he said as he looked down while trying to hold back tears from crying again. "It's going to be okay Alvin…just give her time," he said as he consoled him as Alvin unwillingly started crying again. "I think I'll feel much better if I just stayed away from her and try to move on…she was really mad Dave wipes tears away, you weren't there…she's through with me…let's face it," he added as he let go of him and wrapped back up in the covers. "sigh Just get some rest okay," he said as he kissed him on the forehead and left his room and closed the door behind him. "Poor guy," he said as he walked back downstairs.

-THE END-