'Now, then, girls! Have you learned your lines for your school performance?'
Miss Ortega stood next to a large music-player, arms crossed, a large smile on her face.
'Of course!' Brittany scoffed. 'We're, like, the masters at this song! Nobody sings it better than us!'
Eleanor rolled her eyes, brushing at paint speckles on her skirt. 'Yeah, we heard you the first ten times, Britt.'
The Chipmunks were sat on top of the music room's panio, chattering away about their own practice. They'd already learned their lines off by heart (like pure professionals) and were simply here for the fun of it. The Chipettes, however, needed the practice. Due to temper tantrums, Brittany's timing was off in several places, and the school concert was due for tomorrow night.
'If you'd practiced instead of messing with your hair,' Alvin snickered, 'you might be as good as us right about now.'
'As if!' Brittany yelled. 'Everybody knows the Chipettes are better than the Chipmunks!'
'Oh, really?'
'Yeah, really!'
'Why don't we propose a bet then?' Simon pushed his glasses up his nose. 'Whoever Miss Ortega pronounces the best, is allowed to make the others their servants for a day.'
'And the losers have to wear frilly aprons!' Alvin shouted.
'Oh, it's on!' Brittany seethed. Jeanette and Eleanor held her back by the arms, shooting each other a worried glance.
'W-Wait, I never said anything about maid-'
'Then it's settled!' Alvin slapped a hand over Simon's mouth to shut him up. 'We each sing our concert song, and the lovely Miss Ortega can decide who sounds better.'
'Do I get a say in this?' the teacher asked.
'I look forward to seeing you in a maid's costume,' Alvin winked, before settling himself down on the piano.
Brittany grumbled to herself as she dabbed at her hair. She pushed Jeanette backwards and pulled Eleanor forwards until she was satisfied they were in the right place. 'This has to be perfect,' she hissed, ignoring squeaked protests. 'We are so going to destroy those Chipmunks.'
'There's a strong sense of déjà vu,' Jeanette whispered.
'Alright, Miss Ortega. Play the music!'
(xx)
Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor jumped around, shaking their tails.
'I whip my tail back and forth.
'I whip my tail back and forth (just whip it).
'I whip my tail back and forth.
'I whip my tail back and forth (whip it real good).
'I whip my tail back and forth,
'I whip my tail back and forth,
'I whip my tail back and forth,
'I whip my tail back and forth.'
The pink Chipette stumbled slightly as she turned around, moving too quickly.
'Hop up out the bed, turn my swag on.
'Ain't no sense listening to those haters,
'Because we whip 'em off.
'And we ain't doing nothing wrong,
'So don't tell me nothing.
'I'm just trying to have fun,
'Just keep the party jumping. So what's up?'
'Yeeee-aaah.'
'And I'll be doing what to do, we just turn our back
'And whip our tails and just shake 'em off,
'Shake 'em off,
'Shake 'em off,
'Shake 'em off.'
After what seemed like an eternity of singing, the other two girls joined in, providing small dance moves to go along with Brittany's huge ones.
'Don't let haters keep me off my grind.
'Keep my head up, I know I'll be fine.
'Keep fighting until I get theeere.
'When I'm down and I feel like giving up, g-giving up...'
'I whip my tail back and forth.
'I whip my tail back and forth (just whip it).
'I whip my tail back and forth.
'I whip my tail back and forth (whip it real good).'
It was at this point that Simon stopped listening to their singing, and started watching Jeanette. He truly loved watching her practice and perform. Her face would light up like a Christmas tree, her furry chest would heave up and down, her curved feet would never stop dancing.
In fact, he'd zoned out so much, that he didn't start paying attention until the girls turned their backs to them again. He started, and guiltily realised that he'd missed Brittany singing the second verse. Not that it mattered; Jeanette hadn't been singing anyway, and she was the only girl he wanted to hear. Instead, he focused his ears to find her own, drowned-out voice. His eyes widened slightly as he caught Jeanette grinning shyly over her shoulder, flicking her tail backwards and forwards. Her face said she was embarrassed, but her eyes said she was secretly enjoying it.
They spun back around again, avoiding any trips or slips, and Brittany closed her eyes, dramatically stretching an arm out to her audience.
'All my ladies, if you feel me, come on, do it, do it, whip your tail.'
Behind those "fetching" purple glasses, Jeanette's eyes gleamed as she sung her own line. 'All my ladies, if you feel me, come on, whip it for me.'
'Don't matter if it's long, short. Do it, do it, whip your tail.'
'All my ladies, if you feel me, come on, whip it for me.'
'All my ladies, if you feel me, come on, do it, do it, whip your tail.'
'All my ladies, if you feel me, come on, whip it for me.'
'Don't matter if it's long, shoo-oort! Do it, do it, whip your tail, your tail, your taa-aaail!'
And like that, the spell was broken. Jeanette's eyes dulled slightly as she stepped back to fall behind Brittany, twisting round again. This time, she put less effort into shaking her hips. The chorus played yet again, until the music started to wind down.
'I whip it!'
(xx)
On the bus home, Jeanette was slumped against Simon, breathing heavily. She'd really tired herself out, trying to keep up with Brittany and Eleanor.
In the end, Miss Ortega had announced that both groups were equally amazing, and neither of them had lost. Therefore, she didn't want to be hearing about any maid costumes on Monday morning.
'Oh, Jeanette,' Simon sighed. 'You deserve more than the back of the line. You're such an incredible singer, but you can never tell because that pink tornado always drowns you out.' After a long pause of more snuffling, the chipmunk raked his hand through Jeanette's fringe. 'You deserve to be in the spotlight for a change.'
'It's okay,' Jeanette mumbled into his hoodie. 'You think I sound good. That's more than enough for me.'