Simon hadn't given another thought to Alvin all day. He'd had all his lessons with Jeanette and they'd been lost in their own little world. Luckily they both knew all the subjects already because neither of them could concentrate on their teachers. It was only when they met their siblings after school they realised anything was seriously wrong.

"Jeanette. Britany wants us to walk with her today. Alone."

"But…" Jeanette glanced at Simon.

"It's Alvin isn't it?" he sighed. Theodore nodded.

"He's pretty furious with her."

"With her? Why's he furious with her?"

"Didn't you…" Theodore began before Eleanor whispered in his ear. "Oh, right. You weren't at lunch." Jeanette blushed and looked at her shoes. Simon simply fidgeted.

"So? What happened?"

"Well, you know Alvin told everyone he and Britany…" Simon nodded. "Only they didn't, but she found out and told everyone Alvin made it up…"

"In fact she said she'd have liked to…really… only Alvin couldn't…" Eleanor blushed and looked embarrassed.

"Oh no! She didn't?" Jeanette looked shocked.

"Alvin wouldn't have taken that well." Simon looked to Theodore.

"He didn't. Everyone's been ribbing him all day and I've never seen him so mad." The shorter chipmunk looked seriously worried. Simon sighed.

"We better go see whether we can repair the damage." Jeanette leant over to give him a kiss.

"Good luck," she smiled. He smiled back before reluctantly letting her go and following Theodore.

Alvin had already stormed off home so Simon and Theodore were walking alone. They walked in silence a little way before Theodore had to speak.

"Why couldn't we walk with the girls?"

"Because we bear the name Seville."

"That's unfair," Theodore pointed out. Simon shrugged.

"Britany can be irrational sometimes."

"I don't blame her for being angry with Alvin. He deserves it."

"He certainly does… though it doesn't help if they just retaliate all the time. Let it be a lesson to you though Theodore… a gentleman doesn't kiss and tell."

"You keep very quiet," Theodore said slyly. Simon glanced at him.

"Maybe that's because I have nothing to tell."

"Alvin said you went over there the other night when we were watching 300."

"So?"

"I spoke to Eleanor too. And she'd spoken to Jeanette…"

"Jeanette told her?" Simon was surprised. He looked at Theodore and realised he'd been trapped. His younger brother was grinning from ear to ear.

"I knew it!" Theodore exclaimed. Simon sighed, annoyed with himself.

"I promised Jeanette I wouldn't tell, Theodore."

"It's alright Simon. Eleanor's bound to get it out of her. It was her idea to suggest to you Jeanette had told her." Simon had to smile at that.

"I'm glad you're not that devious Theodore." They continued in silence.

"So?" Theodore prodded. Simon glanced at him. Though he was scarcely ten minutes older, he still thought of Theodore as a baby. He had to remind himself he wasn't.

"Do you swear faithfully you won't say anything to Alvin?"

"I promise." Theodore mimed crossing his heart. Simon smiled.

"It was amazing."

"Really?" Simon nodded then looked thoughtful.

"But it was more than that. I truly love Jeanette, Theodore. It wouldn't have been the same with anyone else. It just," he frowned as he tried to put his thoughts into words. "We were perfectly in tune with each other, you know? It was just right." They were each lost in their own thoughts as they continued to stroll home. Then Theodore asked,

"How did you know, Simon?" The older chipmunk smiled.

"From the light in her eyes, the timbre of her laugh, the feel of her heart… you just know."

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Sorry this has taken me so long. I had real trouble trying to work out which direction this story was going. Hopefully the next chapter will be up quicker.