A/N: 20 reviews for 4 chapters! I don't think I've ever had a response like that before! Thanks to everybody for being so responsive and I apologise for the shortness of the last chapter.

So, this is part 2 of Dave's first day back at school. Enjoy!

Chapter 5: A Force To Not Be Reckoned With.

Things were very much how Dave had expected things to turn out. The first class of the day was Science, the only subject the gang all had together. When Dave bounded into the room behind Brittany, everybody's reaction was no different to homeroom. The table he shared with Theodore and Eleanor was instantly surrounded by adoring girls, remarking how the Chipettes cousin was so cute. 'If only they had reacted like this 20 years ago, I'd have been married by now,' Dave thought.

Alvin and Simon rolled their eyes as Dave unknowingly was putting on the charm. They knew that he wasn't doing it intentionally and will stop as soon as he realised that he was doing it. Besides, Dave was always stuck in the background and it was about time he had his time in the sunshine. Alvin, who used to relish in the limelight (still did, but not as much) smiled warmly as he watched Dave enjoying himself.

The Science lesson went along without much of a hitch. They were currently extending their learning of the elements and their chemical reactions. Dave had never really paid attention in this subject and he wasn't about to start now. Instead, in between taking notes, he observed what he kids were getting up to. Simon and Jeanette were, of course, hanging on to every word Mr Johnson said like their lives depended on it. Simon's pen was flying across his notebook so fast it looked like a blur.

Then, Dave looked over his shoulder to the table behind him. Alvin seemed to be taking notes, but Dave could see that he was really just creating a design for his dream guitar. Alvin felt eyes watching him and suspiciously looked up to see Dave smirking. "Do your work!" Dave mouthed and playfully sent him a stern look. Alvin silently laughed before going back to his design. Dave rolled his eyes before looking at Brittany.

She wasn't paying attention either and seemed to be sketching something on her own notebook. She kept taking sheepish looks in between drawing. She was trying to hide it, but Dave's new perceptive eyesight allowed him to see the secret drawing. It was a pink love heart with 'Alvin' placed in the middle. Dave smirked again as Brittany shot a quick glance at her counterpart and smiled lovingly.

'Are they ever going to admit their feelings?' He asked himself. Anybody who knew Dave seemed to think that he didn't want his kids to get too close and become couples, but that couldn't be further from the truth! He just wanted them to be happy and if that meant falling for each other, then so be it. He was actually a little jealous that his boys had found the true loves so easily...and they were only 13 at the time!

He just sighed and turned his attention back to the teacher. By lunchtime, more students 'discovered' Ross and the news had finally spread like the plague. Everybody was talking about the Chipettes cousin. Just like Toby and Julie, people started bombarding Dave and the gang with questions about where this mysterious black chipmunk had come from.

Dave was quickly becoming sick of telling the story, but stayed in a polite and charming mood. His charming skills were nothing like Alvin's, who was prone to talking French and finger kissing. Dave just seemed to have a certain quality to him that the curious students seemed to like. He was being completely normal; kind, polite and stuttered around girls. But as a chipmunk, all it took was a swish of a tail and a toothy smile and everybody was putty in his hands. To him, it was like having a superpower.

After an English and History lesson, both with Julie, everybody headed to the cafeteria for lunch and darted toward the table in the corner. Simon waited behind to save the table while the rest went to get their food. Once they came back, Alvin and Simon started a heated argument that sent everyone else cracking up on their trays. Everything was going fine...until Ryan and Jeremy turned up.

Dave looked alarmed as the Chipmunks suddenly started growling and arched their ears menacingly, all three backing in front of their counterparts. Dave slowly put the grape he was about to eat down, wondering whether or not to join the boys. Ryan was sneering at Dave with a face that made his fur ruffle up. For the first time since becoming a chipmunk, he felt a sense of cold dread and knew his instincts were telling him that this was a person not to be trusted for anything.

Both Ryan and Jeremy were giving off bad vibes and Dave didn't like their dominant body language. Ryan bent down to the black chipmunk's level and jeered, "I see you've made yourself at home. Everybody is talking about the new rat in town."

The Chipmunks started growling again, but a look from Dave shut them up. He stepped forward and asked, "What's it to you?"

Jeremy smirked, "We're just wondering why anyone would be pleased to have yet another flea infested rodent in this joint. Especially, one that looks like a demented skunk!"

Dave snarled. He was perfectly aware of what these morons had been doing to his boy's every chance they had. Swirlies, name calling and pranks were things that Dave did not take lightly and never punished Alvin harshly for getting revenge. He was only sticking up for his brothers and friends after all. Dave remembered pranking the hell out of Buzz Polanski and his friends for sending Ian Hawke up a flag pole with no pants on.

"Why don't you leave Ross alone?" snarled Brittany, pushing her way past Alvin and placing her paws on her hips.

"Exactly! In fact, why don't you go to the gym! The dodge ball team has needed new targets and your heads are the perfect size!" Simon added, making the rest laugh. "But that's only if they don't hit your ego's first!"

By now, the students at nearby tables had started to watch. The feud between the chipmunks and the jocks had become a spectator event over the past couple of terms. It was another reason why the chipmunks were so popular; nobody else knew how to stand up to Ryan. Dave was determined to prove that he was no different.

Ryan was now looking furious, but the chipmunks didn't even falter under his deadly gaze. He moved forward so that he and Dave were nose to nose and whispered dangerously, "I don't care who you are or who your disgusting friends are. Step over the line once, and you'll wish you had stayed in the forest!"

"Is that so?" Dave whispered back in the same tone. Ryan nodded so Dave snarled, "Well then let me tell you this: I couldn't give a freakin' damn about what you do to me, but mess with my cousins and friends again, and I'll make your life such a misery that you'll lock yourself in a toilet and blubber for months!"

The rest of the gang smiled, knowing that despite his reduced age, Dave's paternal instincts had only strengthened with his new form. Ryan looked even more furious and Jeremy advanced on the table too, but Dave's protective stance never quavered. His ears were back against his head, his hackles were raised, his long tail whipped the air and a soft growl was bubbling in his throat.

Realising that 'Ross' was not kidding and meant every word, Ryan backed off and stood upright, Jeremy right beside him. Without saying another word, the jocks scoffed and stalked off, leaving behind seven satisfied chipmunks. The tables surrounding them applauded and to his very own surprise, Dave bowed graciously.

But everyone knew that this tiny face-off was only the beginning of something bigger...

Unfortunately, the rest of the day's lessons contained either Ryan or his other friend, Xander. During cooking, a couple of spit balls had been aimed at Theodore until Alvin took the liberty of biting Ryan's ankles, much to Dave's amusement. From this moment until Dave was human again, he was going to go with the flow. If he had to get his prankster on, then he would. If he had to take control, then so be it!

The chipmunks arrived home in a happy enough moods and decided to put off their homework until after the sun went down. They sat outside, enjoying the soft breeze flowing through their fur. Eleanor and Theodore lay on their stomachs side by side as they looked through their cookbook. Theodore kept whispering into his beloved's ear and she smiled warmly and kissed him on the cheek.

Dave looked over to Simon and Jeanette sitting against the oak tree. They were grasping each other's paws tenderly while talking softly. Simon smiled and rubbed his cheek against Jeanette's affectionately, which she seemed to like and did it back. They leaned into each other and continued like that for a while. Dave was a little confused. He had never seen it before.

Alvin walked over to him smirking. Dave's head was tilted in curiosity, so she decided to ask, "Wondering what that's all about?"

Dave turned to him, "Usually a couple just kisses to show they love each other. It'd look weird for humans to do that."

Alvin nodded, "Yeah. Nuzzling means more to us than kissing does. That's just a human thing we do to fit in a little more. Nuzzling the one we love shows not only affection, but gives an indication to a chance of mateship later on in life," He sighed, looking over at Brittany, "Usually, chipmunks meet their future mates by the age of 16, but some are lucky enough to get a head start."

Dave frowned. Alvin was supposed to be the 'Love Doctor' and he actually kind of was. He had given some great advice to his brothers and to Dave on few occasions. But it seems the one person his advice had never worked for was himself. Why did Brittany turn him into such a nervous wreck?

Alvin sighed again, "Anyway, at least Simon and Theodore don't have to fend off rival males. Those fights can turn rather nasty." Dave could see mischief suddenly fill Alvin's golden eyes.

Dave became rather alert as he asked, "How do you fight?" He wished he hadn't asked...

Dave was sent flying to the ground as Alvin pinned him, "Rough! How else?"

Dave returned Alvin's grin before flipping him off. The two males growled playfully and circled each other before lowering into a pouncing position. They both leapt at the same time, but Alvin went down low and tackled Dave in the stomach. Dave landed on his back with an, 'Oof!" Alvin laughed and did a victory dance, much to Brittany's amusement. Dave slowly rolled onto all fours and stalked forward, Alvin's back to him. Brittany watched as Dave crept up into the perfect position, signalled for her to stay quiet and pounced.

The other two couples turned their attention to the roughhousing as the force of Dave's tackle sent Alvin onto the ground. They both laughed out loud and continued to brawl. Soon enough Simon and Theodore joined in, wanting to challenge their father figure too. The girls were cheering for their counterparts, but soon enough it was clear who the dominant male in this clan was. Dave wasn't as muscular as Alvin, but he was a quick learner and already knew the boys weaknesses. In the end, the Chipmunks surrendered and they went inside for dinner.

Dave replayed the whole day in his head as he tried to drift off. Ryan and his friends were already a pain in the ass and that was just Dave's first encounter with them. School hadn't changed much, except that he was adored this time around. Last, but not least, Alvin and Brittany seriously needed help to find each other's warmth and love before they gave up on each other.

'Things need to change around here," Dave told himself as he closed his eyes, 'I wonder if I can be the one to change it..."