Chapter 2: Setting the Bait

"Hi Theodore. Hi Simon" Dave greeted as he walked into the kitchen Saturday morning as the two were in the kitchen. Theodore was working on a new recipe while Simon was double checking his homework

"Hi Dave" they greeted

"I need to go to the studio for a few hours. Simon. You're in charge"

"Okay Dave"

Dave left the two.

A few minutes later, they heard footsteps. Theodore took that as his cue

"Are you SURE that Brittany's in love with Alvin?" Theodore asked

On the steps,

Alvin had been coming downstairs to get some brunch and then to go watch T.V. However, his plan took a drastic turn upon hearing his baby brother ask that question.

Alvin ran to the kitchen doorframe and peeked in carefully so not to be seen. Sure enough, there were his brothers

"Oh yes" Simon said "That's what Jeanette said and you know as well as I do that Jeanette doesn't lie"

"I would have never guessed" Theodore said. "She always seems to hate him"

"Maybe she's only been pretending" Simon suggested said.

"Then she's a REALLY good actress because she's had me convinced that she can't stand our brother. What makes Jeanette say that Brittany's in love?"

"Well," Simon said as if trying to explain something "Apparently, Brittany gets up while the others are asleep and writes her name as well as Alvin's together. Then she paper to runs to the bathroom, tears the paper to shreds, flushes them down the toilet, and cries because she feels that Alvin will never love her back. It woke Jeanette up one night and that's how she knows"

"Someone should tell Alvin" Theodore said

"What will that accomplish?" Simon asked "He'll just tease her and break her heart. Brittany may be a bit of a brat, but she's really a sweet, caring girl who loves her family greatly. She's also pretty smart"

"Except when it comes to loving Alvin" Theodore teased

The two laughed at the joke. Alvin then ran back upstairs to think about what he had just overheard.

"Think it worked?" Theodore asked

"I hope so" Simon said. "Hopefully the girls are having as much fun with Brittany as we are with Alvin"

00000

While this was going on,

At the Miller's,

Brittany was heading to the front door so she could make a hair appointment. As she passed the living room, her destination was changed by a question Jeanette asked Eleanor.

"Are you CERTAIN Alvin loves Brittany?"

Brittany doubled back and eavesdropped from around the corner.

"That's what Theodore said. And Simon agrees" Eleanor said

"Then shouldn't someone tell her?" Jeanette asked

"No!" Eleanor said frantically

"But even Alvin deserves love"

"I know" Eleanor told her second older sister. "but he only has eyes for Brittany and you know her. She's so full of herself, I don't even think she knows what love is"

"True. Even Alvin doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. He probably just acts full of HIMSELF to hide the pain" Jeanette figured "Maybe I should just tell Alvin some of the downsides to Brittany and try to get him to change his affection"

"Don't do that. One day Brittany may come around" Eleanor said.

"Only time and maturity will tell" Jeanette said before heading out the back door with her sister leaving a stunned Brittany.

After Jeanette closed the door behind them, they giggled

"As a famous playwright once said, 'If it proves so, then loving goes by haps; Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps'" Jeanette quoted

"Let's go see how the boys did" Eleanor said

A/N: Here's a challenge hint: It's a play. In fact, Jeanette's quote is FROM that play.