Alright. Let me post this before I have second thoughts. btw. That's how you pronounce lover boy's name. XD I mispronounced it when i first saw it in a book (which is where i got it from btw) but someone corrected me so... yeah.

STEPHEN (ste-fen) got it? lol

Just days later, Brittany Miller found herself casually walking through the hallways of Phillip Brew High squished between her two sisters. Her hair was tousled and hung loosely at her shoulders; her cheeks, big, rosy, and sun kissed. She turned, tossing her locks to the side as she spoke. It was like she practiced it in the mirror. The casual, but completely fabulous hair flip that caused all the attention around to be sucked to her like a sponge. She had this way of looking beautiful effortlessly that had been carefully perfected over the years. They all did.

They all had this bright, brilliant, cute, bubbly way of talking, speaking, and just walking. Brittany would tell you that it was her influence on her sisters that caused them to behave this way. While different interests had shrunk the time they spent together, their undeniable bond had never dissipated.

Eleanor raised a curious eyebrow at her eldest sister. "So when are you and Alvin getting back together?" She asked.

"Yeah, it- it has been awhile." Jeanette murmured.

"We're broken up. What do you think that means?" Brittany replied with a snort.

"How long are you going to drag this out?" Eleanor said shaking her head. "Just make up already and get it over with."

"We're not getting back together!" Brittany shaped.

Eleanor sighed, disbelief written all over her face. "Sure…"

"No." Brittany told them. "That was it. I'm done with him."

"For good?" Jeanette asked.

"For forever!" Brittany stormed. "I was thinking about it all the other day and I realized… he was a horrible boyfriend. Name one, just one thing he did for me."

Before Eleanor could answer Brittany let out a loud groan.

"It's like he lives in his own little world!" She cried. "He never calls! We walk together and he says nothing! He always more concern about him and his stupid sports! Can you believe that?!"

Jeanette opened her mouth to say something but Brittany quickly cut her off. "It was like he was a different person! He was complaining about everything I did! Like I was the one that had changed!"

"And you're sure you're over him?" Eleanor asked.

"Absolutely" Brittany muttered.

"Or so she says" Eleanor remarked, sending Jeanette a sideways glance.

"No." Brittany said, suddenly serious. "It's different this time."

Eleanor looked up.

"I don't even think we can be friends…" Brittany murmured.

"So that's it…" Jeanette asked. "You're done?"

"Like… completely?" Eleanor added.

"Completely" Brittany assured them. "I'd be fine if I never even saw his stupid face again."

An eerie silence snuck up on them, pulling the girls into their own thoughts.

Jeanette looked down, stumbling to think of something comforting to say. Maybe even something snappy and funny… but it never came. Jeanette sighed. Her sister seemed sad; she wanted to reassure her that everything would alright. That she'd find someone else who was better… but… Alvin had been around all their lives. She wasn't so sure there was anyone better for Brittany than well… him.

Eleanor rolled her eyes. It wouldn't last. She knew whatever mood Brittany was in, would end soon. And the two chipmunks would be back together, like nothing had ever happened. She just hoped it would happen quickly… Brittany could be such a drama queen sometimes. She was actually about to say so… when something stopped her.

Eleanor crinkled her brow. "Is that guy looking at us?" she asked aloud.

Brittany and Jeanette's heads shot up, following Eleanor's direct gaze. Standing, leaning up against the wall facing them was a guy. He had short, messy honey colored blonde hair and beige almost pink skin. His arms were folded firmly over his chest. He wasn't movie star, open-mouth-drooling, unbelievable irresistibly gorgeous. But he was defiantly not ugly. Just cute… in an eye catching sorta way. And he was… without a doubt, starring at them.

"What is he looking at?!" Brittany demanded her face contorted in disgust.

"Do I have something in my teeth?" Eleanor asked. She bared her teeth at Jeanette, gently running her tongue across them.

"My hair isn't doing that bird's nest thing is it?!" Brittany gasped, quickly running her fingers through her thin auburn locks.

Jeanette shook her head at her sisters. "You both look great." She assured them.

Brittany gave the back of her head one last smooth before turning back to the guy, satisfied.

"Then WHAT is he staring at!" Brittany stormed.

She quickened her pace, her eyes shooting daggers at the boy. Her sisters leapt up, struggling to keep up with Brittany.

"What are you gonna do?" Jeanette asked.

"I'm going to tell him to take a picture." Brittany said firmly.

As Brittany marched toward the boy; her lips twisted into an angry frown, her eyes full of fire, the boy's lips slowly parted… and he grinned.

"Brittany, right?" he asked her.

"Do I know you?" she snapped, attitude definite in her voice.

"Yeah," he nodded. "The party, remember?"

Brittany crinkled her face in confusion. "What?" she asked him.

"The … party…" He said slowly. He raised his arms, moving his hips back in forth as if dancing to some unheard song. "Remember?"

Her steamy blue eyes locked with his bold gold with specs of rusty brown. Her mouth fell agape, and like someone suddenly snapping their fingers. She knew him. That guy… the guy she danced with… Different clothes, new haircut, but the same eyes. How many guys in the world had those eyes? Now, what was his name? How could she have danced with a guy and not remember his name?

"Yeah…" Brittany said slowly. "You're…. you're…." she stammered, waiting for him to fill in the blank.

"Stephen." He replied.

"Yeah…" Brittany said again. She blinked, flashbacks of that night slowly replaying in her mind like an old movie. Brittany let out a slow smile. "These are…. my sisters…" She said, gesturing to the girls.

He nodded in understanding, though his eyes never left Brittany's. Jeanette and Eleanor shot the looks from the two then back to each other, awkwardness growing between them. Jeanette swallowed, Eleanor rolled her eyes.

"So what's up?"

"Not much." Brittany breathed.

"You know… the party wasn't as much fun after you left." He told her.

Brittany rolled her eyes at that. "Yeah, right"

"No." He said. "I'm serious. How have you been?"

"Good."

"And the ex?"

"Is still an ex" She finished.

"Alright, I gotta go so I'll um… see you around." He said. He turned, tossing a hand up behind him as he walked away. "You too, girls"

The chipettes stood there a moment, unmoving.

"So… who is that exactly?" Eleanor asked.

"Is- Is he why you're suddenly over Alvin?" Jeanette questioned.

Brittany blinked a few times, slowly coming out of her trance.

"No. No." she said quickly. "He has NOTHING to do with it. It was just time for us to see other people… I honestly don't know why it didn't happen sooner."

Eleanor was skeptic. "And the fact that this happened just as lover boy moves into town?" she asked.

"Is just an incredible coincidence" Brittany shrugged. "And I don't like him… I don't even KNOW him."

Jeanette studied Brittany's face for a moment.

Eleanor beamed. "But you want to" she concluded.

Brittany cleared her throat. "What I do and do not want to do is of no concern to you, Eleanor." She huffed.

Her youngest sister rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Brittany"

***********

The eldest chipette sat in the fourth row of chem lab 512, gazing dreamily at the tall poster of the Periodic Table of Elements that hung in the far left corner of the room. Brittany tapped the end of her pencil idly against her desk. At the head of the class, Professor Jenkins was saying something about atoms or maybe genes, but she hadn't been paying attention. She stared down at her blank notebook her thoughts wrapped in something else.

In him… It had been three magnificent weeks since that party… seven days since bumping into him in the at her locker. And no matter what anyone thought… he wasn't just her rebound. It had nothing to do with Alvin. He was completely different… completely… Her mind was a buzz. She couldn't stop thinking of him. It was impossible not to like him. Not to grin when she was with him. Not to laugh at all his corny jokes. He made her feel different…

It had only been a few weeks. Not even a month. So maybe it was too soon. But she liked him. The way he smiled. The way he walked. The way he talked. Now… even the way he scratched the back of his head seemed interesting.

And she just couldn't get him out of her head. She was constantly thinking about the last time they talked, the next time they would talk… wondering when she'd see him again. Purposely going out of her way to bump into him somewhere… Brittany sighed. He was on the football team… she was a cheerleader… Brittany blinked. If that didn't mean something when what did? What other sign was there?

They were friends… they were more than friends… they were totally strangers… they belonged together. It was like their status was changing all the time. Sometimes he made her feel like she could tell him everything and that he would listen. But other times she was reminded how little they did know about each other. But then that was alright… because they were getting to know each other. He made her smile… made her laugh… he had her on her toes all the times… and she liked it.

The Professor was in the middle of a heated discussion, a wild grin on his face as he described what the next experiment would be. He waved his hands in the air as he talked, occasionally pointing vigorously at a symbol drawn on the blackboard. He might have gone on in this matter if a sharp knock on the door hadn't interrupted him.

Professor Jenkins' words broke off mid-sentence. Brittany head shot up just as the door was eased open. And standing there… perfectly messy hair… and smooth smile slipped under his nose… was Stephen.

"Speak of the devil…" Brittany sighed, sitting up tall in her chair.

The Professor crinkled his brow, quickly advancing forward. "Can I help you?" he asked.

Stephen nodded. "Yes, sir. The councilor made a mistake. I'm in this class now." He explained with a shrug.

Brittany's eyes grew incredibly large. A broad grin slowly emerged. "Science just got interesting" she murmured to herself.

Stephen held out a piece of paper which the Professor swiftly took. He looked it over for a few seconds before nodding. "Take a seat." he offered.

Stephen turned to face the class. His eyes locked with Brittany's and he winked. She watched him as he strolled down the aisle, counting the seconds until he passed her desk. He paused in front of her, his hand landed softly on her desk, tracing the side of it.

"Hey, you…" He whispered as he slid into the empty seat directly across from her.

Brittany tossed a smile over her shoulder. "Hey," shivers crept though her, she shuddered.

She looked down, studying the blank page in her notebook for a few moments before darting her eyes back at him. He caught her eyes and grinned before turning back to look at the board. No goofing around for him, no. He was defiantly not her Alvin. Well… not HER Alvin… because he wasn't hers anymore… she didn't have anyone anymore… Brittany's eyes darted back to Stephen. At least… not yet.

She went through this for the rest of class. Sneaking peaks at the way he dotted his i's or the way his eyebrow crinkled when he was stuck on a problem. The way he caught her eye and smiled. Oh, that smile. No. He wasn't Alvin. The way he smiled was different… it was this weird, wide grin that showed all of his front teeth and lit up his entire face. It made his eyes sparkle and her heart pound.

And soon… class was almost over… and she was watching him tuck his pencil behind his ear… then brush her desk as he made his way to the front of the classroom to turn in his sheet. He seemed so slick, so sweet, handsome… kind… safe… wonderful…

Then he was sitting back down… poking her in the back with his pencil. Then leaning in to ask if she was almost done with her work… and she was smiling… slowly letting her eyes fall to the blank sheet of paper still sitting in front of her with swirls, dots, and little hearts doodled on the corners.

"Yeah…" Brittany murmured. "All done." she said quickly folding her notebook closed.

She'd ask Jeanette for help later. It wasn't a big deal. This was serious. This was important. Brittany sighed, carefully watching Stephen draw his arm back and scratch the side of his head. He was turned sideways a bit, starring at something ahead of him… maybe empty space. As if he was thinking about something.

Then he turned to her. His lips kind of cocked to the side in a smile. Was he smiling at her? Or had he just been thinking of something that had made him smile? She wasn't sure.

"So hey, what are you doing after school?" He wanted to know.

"Why?" Brittany asked.

"Because," he began. "I've been in the town for a while and I still have no idea where anything is."

Brittany grinned.

"I was hoping you wouldn't mind showing me around."

"I guess I could fit you in somewhere." Brittany smirked.

"I'd be honored if you would." Stephen told her.

"Then… "Brittany hummed. "I guess I could make sometime…"

Stephen smiled. "Thanks, Brittany."

Brittany breathed in slowly. "You're- You're welcome."

Alright, a friend suggested I let you guys get to know the guy first so thats what I'm doing...

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