As the shipping wars heat up between students, Brittany might finally be honest with people about her feelings!

Meanwhile, Alvin's got other things to think about. A TON of other things to think about. As for Simon, he's still adjusting to having Alvin as his inventing buddy.

You're all gonna be on the edge of your seats for this chapter, I think.

Stuff is about to go DOWN!

Alvin 2.0's POV

I HAVE MY OWN LAB! I still couldn't believe it! Even a couple months later, as I was hanging out there with Jeanette and Eleanor, it still felt like I might be dreaming! It was so cool! Besides the lab tables, I had enacted my plan to move in beanbag chairs and a TV with a game console. It formed a nice lounge area. I also stuck with my ideas to add a bunch of fun neon signs that said science-y things, a golden disco ball, and a really cool red carpet! It was a pretty large space, and thanks to my dear brother, it was ALL MINE!

I'd bought a small set of test tubes and beakers and filled them with some soda. I also had my own mini fridge! Which was awesome! The concert money had not only been able to pay back the department store for my little accident, it had also paid for all my cool new stuff! SO MUCH STUFF!

As I hung my favorite red electric guitar on the wall next to the place where my flying skateboard was displayed, I smiled at the two Chipettes. "I really like this place."

Eleanor sat in a bean bag chair and put her feet up, sipping some cherry soda from a beaker. "It's a great hangout spot. I like how it's not JUST for lab purposes."

"Heck no!" I agreed, pouring myself some root beer in a test tube. "I finally have my own space! I am gonna live it up! I might even throw a party in here. I mean, Kevin, Cheesy, and the comic club could fit, right?"

Jeanette nodded, pacing around and looking captivated by the neon signs. "I think so. It's surprisingly spacious."

"So, have you and Simon worked on any more invention ideas?" Eleanor asked, before burping loudly. "Haha. 'Scuse me. But, you guys know how soda works."

I sat myself down in another beanbag chair. I had three of them. One crimson, one gold, and one cyan. I thought about how to answer Eleanor's question.

"Well,…" I began. "Si and I have a few ideas, but nothing's come of them yet. I have a feeling we'll work on something again before too long. I just hope it's not a weird serum or potion or whatever."

"What's wrong with that?" Jeanette sat in the third beanbag and tilted her head to the side.

"Simon thinks Chemistry is cooler than Physics! Can you believe that nonsense?" I asked, chuckling.

"Chemistry IS cooler." Eleanor responded with another sip from her cherry soda.

I was shocked. How could she think that? Why did people still take Simon's side? "But physics is all about how the universe operates!"

"But Chemistry has cool explosions." The pigtailed blonde in the leather jacket and striped shirt smiled.

I fumbled out the next words. "But physics can explain why those cool explosions happen…..drat. Maybe it's not as cool as I thought." I admitted.

The sassy blonde gave a chuckle. "You're just now realizing that?"

"M….Maybe." I wanted to talk about something else, so I did. "Anyway, uh, do you two have any plans for Valentine's Day?"

"Whoah whoah whoah." Eleanor held up her hands. "You know I don't want anything to do with that holiday. Not after Theo made me pretend to be the fake girlfriend he made up for Cheesy. I'm nobody's girlfriend. The single life is my jam."

"I wasn't aware having plans for Valentine's day was a requirement, so…I don't have any." Jeanette softly murmured in that delightfully gentle voice of hers.

I chuckled. "It's not a requirement. I was just, ya know, thinking we could hang out as a group…if you'd be down. That way, I don't have to deal with….your sister."

"You really should talk to Britt about how you feel." Jeanette fidgeted nervously with her friendship bracelets.

I stared at her with a slight bit of irritation. "I've tried! She doesn't CARE how I feel. She won't even listen."

Eleanor rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath. "Maybe Brittany should tell him how she feels."

Her taller sister in purple looked confused. "Hasn't she been doing that already?"

"You'd think so, but no. She's leaving out some REALLY IMPORTANT information." Eleanor stood up from the beanbag chair and stretched. "Anyway, I gotta go. And, uh, don't take this the wrong way, Alvin, but I don't wanna do anything for Valentine's Day, not even with friends. I want to hide in a bunker until the mandatory romance fest is over."

I sighed. There went that option. "It's alright, Ells. I get it."

The pigtailed girl hurried out of the room, tapping the keypad to open the door. Unfortunately, she forgot to close it.

I didn't realize it, because I was busy staring at Jeanette. "I wish I could spend Valentine's Day with you." I said out loud. "But, if it's just the two of us together, people will think we're a couple. Then, I'll be teased about cheating on Britt, even though we aren't even dating!"

"Wait, wait, are you and Brittany dating?" Jeanette's beautiful midnight blue eyes clouded with a sadness.

I shrugged. "The entire school seems convinced we are. Yeah."

"But you're not ACTUALLY official?" She put a finger to her lips. "There must be a way to dispel the rumor."

I sighed. "I'm too tired to fight it."

"I see." Jeanette looked up at the ceiling, before a loud and obnoxious sound shook up both of us.

"YOOOHOOO!" Brittany came waltzing into MY lab without an invitation.

"Oh no, no no no." I stomped over to her. "Get out. You're not invited."

She easily pushed me aside and walked further into the room. "I just wanna see what it's like down here in the nerd cave."

"And you've seen it, so….leave." I ordered as calmly as possible.

"Wow, it's so much less dorky than I expected. It actually looks like a fun hangout spot. Maybe your Classic Alvin side is finally coming back!" She looked excited.

I felt my lip twitch. I was getting pretty irritated. Plus, my feelings regarding Classic Alvin were still complicated.

"Why are you even here?" I asked the pink intruder.

"Oh, you know, I was wondering if you'd like to go to the Valentine's Day Dance with me. Jeremy turned me down!" She said dramatically.

I saw right through her little game. "After the last dance we went to? No way. No how. Not happenin'."

She pouted. "Why not?"

"Because I have no interest in it." I fibbed. There were at least 10 other girls I wanted to go to the dance with, but I was repressing my crushes on all of them because romance for me….had a way of ending with me crushed or in trouble…or both.

"Since WHEN!?" Brittany folded her arms.

Jeanette sighed and stepped over to break up our little discussion before it turned into a brawl. "Britt, you have to respect Alvin's wishes."

"Not unless he can explain himself." Her sister challenged.

Jeanette frowned. "You're putting too much pressure on him. He's under enough already."

I let myself slip into scholar mode. "I have various other obligations that require my full attention."

"So what you're saying is…" Brittany fumed. "You'll only do what makes me happy if you're obligated to?"

I nodded. "Pretty much, yeah."

"You are the worst friend ever!" Brittany stomped out of the lab. "I don't know why I even try with you! I guess I'll spend Valentine's Day alone like a pathetic loser."

I flashed the loser sign at her, by making an L shape with my fingers on my forehead. Then, a cheeky grin spread across my face.

"Well…." Jeanette glanced at me nervously. "That didn't go as badly as it could have." Little did I know, things were about to get worse. Much, much worse.

I dunno how Britt spent that Valentine's Day and frankly I don't care. Simon, Theo, and I spent it together, talking about how much none of us were equipped to handle romance. We did make cards for each of the Chipettes though. Friendship cards, not Valentine's Cards. Sigh. Maybe someday I can spend Valentine's Day with the Chipette of my dreams, errr, I mean, girl of my dreams. It doesn't necessarily have to be a Chipette.

February turned to March and things between Brittany and I didn't get any smoother. Meanwhile, my brotherly bond with Simon and even Theo was tighter than ever before. Theo and I would bake together, Simon and I would work on sciency stuff. He taught me so much that I didn't know before! I couldn't wait to use it to annoy Brittany. Yes, I was very petty, but I had to do SOMETHING to get her back for all her aggravating quips.

I walked up to her while she was at her locker getting ready for class, absolutely thrilled to share this fascinating tidbit of physics info. "Did you know there are 26 dimensions of the universe?"

"Are you on that multiverse crap again?" The girl in the glittery pink leggings and lighter pink dress asked. The dress had a belt with six little red hearts decorating it. Urgh! No! Don't get distracted by her pretty clothes.

I shook my head to dispel the pesky thoughts. "No, no, the multiverse is different. The 26 dimensions I'm talking about exist right here in our own little universe….you can't see them, but there's a popular theory…." I rambled.

Brittany wasn't interested at all, as I expected. "Look, if I can't see it with my own eyes, it doesn't exist." She sassed.

"So you have a problem with object permanence?" I taunted with a smile.

She gripped the straps of her backpack. "I don't know what that is."

I adjusted my crimson cap with the cyan atoms drawn on. "Of course you don't. Well, let's put it this way….it's something most people learn when they're toddlers."

Without warning, she PUNCHED my arm.

"Ouch." I squeaked, in a much higher voice than I intended.

Brittany glared at me. "That's for using your big brain to make me feel like an idiot." She spat.

"I'll explain it to you." I offered as kindly as possible. Now, I felt bad for making her feel dumb.

But that didn't please Miss. Beauty Queen either. "I don't want you to explain it." She scoffed.

I couldn't imagine why she wouldn't want an explanation. "So you'd rather just not know?"

"Exactly." She sashayed away from me, with some extra exaggerated hip swing. Though, to be honest, she didn't have much to swing. Didn't stop her though.

I sensed she wanted me to follow her, so I chose not to. "Okay, suit yourself."

Predictably, she turned around and walked back toward me, flipping her hair as she tended to do so much that it was getting old. "Hey, Alvin, Do you know what the bias of fabric is?" She asked.

What? How was I supposed to know that? What's that thing Jeanette said again? Context clues. Oh!

"Yes I do." I replied. Emphasis on the LIED. "It's when one fabric is sure that it's the best fabric for the job."

She laughed so hard at my words. "That's completely wrong."

Oh well. I tried. I closed my locker and walked with her down the hall. "What? Well, can you tell me what it actually means?"

The pink clad girl laughed harder. "No. I don't think I will."

"But, if you don't tell me what it means, then I'm gonna go crazy thinking about it!" I told her, starting to panic.

"Yep. Sucks to be you." She walked away from me and disappeared inside Miss. Smith's classroom.

I was about to enter the room, but before I could, one of the popular kids stopped me. "Are you and Britt dating now or what?" The boy in the black baseball cap asked. What's his name again? Oh! Logan.

"Or what. Definitely, or what." I felt my fur bristle.

Logan looked concerned. I dunno. His expression was kinda hard to read from my spot on the floor staring up at him. "Even after what happened at the dance?"

Flashbacks to the homecoming disaster replayed in my mind. "I don't want to talk about it." I said, trying not to snap. My nerves regarding all things Brittany were shot.

Then stupid Jake, that doofus of a drummer Britt likes, had to go and add into our convo. "Dude, I wouldn't let her go if I were you. You don't exactly have much luck with girls anymore."

Uh. OUCH. I sucked in a breath. "…a fact that I don't need everyone reminding me." I muttered. Pain coursed through me. I was a ladies man no longer. Now, I drove the hotties away with my awkward charm.

Logan picked me up and set me on the drinking fountain outside the classroom. "Why are you rejecting her?" He asked, putting me on trial.

I folded my arms. I hate being manhandled. Dave does it, but that's different because he's my dad.

I decided to tell this dude to lay off. Britt and I weren't a couple! We never would be! "I'm writing my own story. If she wants to be part of it, she'll have to change her attitude." Which she wouldn't, because she's Brittany.

Jesse Sorbel, that pretty curly blonde haired girl who wants to be an actress and hangs with Britt, also decided to give her opinion on the situation. "That's pretty selfish of you, Alvin." She said, looking disappointed in me.

"Is not!" I protested. "It's self care. You guys have NO idea what she's put me through." I jumped down from the drinking fountain as the bell rang. They could ship it all they wanted, Albrittina or Alvittany or whatever was a sinking ship headed straight to the lowest level of the gosh dang ocean.

I hustled my tail over to the classroom, but this time, I got distracted by a poster on the bulletin board outside. It said Junior Inventors contest! Grades 9-12! I'm in 10th grade! I could totally enter! I jumped up and tore the poster off the board. Rolling it up, I slipped it into my backpack. But before that, I got a closer look at the fine print. It said "you can enter in groups of 2 to 3 people." Ohhh so it was a team contest! I'd definitely ask Jeanette and Simon to be my partners!

Taking my seat, I whipped out my phone to send a text to Jeanette. [Do you want to enter the Junior Inventors contest?] I hoped she'd say yes.

It didn't take long to see a response from her. One smiling kitty face and a green checkmark. That meant okay! She was in!

She smiled at me from across the room and Brittany rudely held up her economics textbook to block my view of her sister. We were currently doing an economics unit in math class. At least the economics book is thinner than the epic chonker of a usual math book.

Since I knew I wasn't going to get to send signals to Jeanette anymore, I decided to talk to my fellow science bro. "Pssst!" I tapped his arm.

He turned his head to look at me. "What is it?"

I took the poster from my backpack and unrolled it, shaking it at him enticingly. "Oh, Simon! Look at this! A Junior Inventors contest! For teams!"

"I know what you're thinking and…." The boy in the round blue glasses rubbed his chin. "It's not an awful idea." He admitted.

"Did I hear you correctly?" I asked, taken aback by how EASY he was to convince. "It's NOT an awful idea?"

He chuckled lightly. "That's right. Yes." He raised an eyebrow and shot me a playful grin. "What? Did you think you'd have to badger me for hours to talk me into this?"

"Does this mean you'll actually do it?" I wagged my tail and could hardly sit still. How often does Simon agree to my ideas without pestering!? Hardly ever!

My taller brother then proceeded to flip his opinion and go back to being ol' stick in the mud Simon. "As much as I want to, I'm not sure we could pull something off in time." He confessed.

I HAD to raise his confidence somehow, even though my confidence still felt unnatural and easily malleable. "Sure we can! I mean, we just made Dave an incredible Christmas gift at the last minute. Face it, Si. We're a terrific team!" I boasted.

He considered my words and then frowned. "I have to think about it." I could tell he REALLY wanted to, but something was holding him back.

So, being the awesome brother I am, I decided to push Simon into the best choice. "I asked Jeanette to partner with me and she agreed." Let's see him try and resist this.

His ears twitched. "Jeanette will be part of it?"

"Yup." I grinned so wide that he could see my braces.

"Alright, sign me up." He agreed without more hassle. "The three of us working as a unit might in fact have a decent shot!"

"Fantastic!" I began to fidget with my phone, pulling up a website and entering in important information on the three of us. Then, I clicked the confirm button. "And done!" I announced.

Simon looked at my phone. "What did you do?"

"Oh, I already signed us all up for the competition." I explained cheerfully. "It said to register online."

"That was fast." He murmured.

"Well,…" I shrugged. "I am a "get things done" sorta guy now."

Simon stared at me blankly, not sure how to respond. Eventually, he said, "I, uh, look forward to working with you and Jeanette."

"Me too, bro. Me too." I sighed happily.

I wanted to talk more about the potential inventions we could make, but Miss. Smith entered and class was about to begin. If I continued conversing with Simon, I'd get myself in trouble. That was the LAST thing I wanted to deal with. Trouble had to stop following me around one day, right? RIGHT!?

BRITTANY: It did not.

ALVIN: It kind of did, just not as much as I was expecting it to.

BRITTANY: Is it my turn to narrate now?

ALVIN: As a matter of fact, yes.

BRITTANY: Great!

ALVIN: You know how I feel about this next section.

BRITTANY: Wait, is THIS the part we're at? Maybe you should write this.

ALVIN: I just wrote the whole last chapter and part of this one!

BRITTANY: But it's….

ALVIN: Brittany, it'll be okay. Trust me.

BRITTANY: Urgh, fine. I cannot BELIEVE I am agreeing to this.

Brittany's POV

My life was still an absolute nightmare! I kept throwing hints that I loved Alvin his way, but he didn't catch any of them. Does he REALLY care more about science than girls now? Or is that a lie? I never know what's going on with him! I've asked Simon and Theodore about it and even they aren't entirely sure.

I needed to think bigger. If my performance of All I Want For Christmas Is You didn't sway him, I needed to come right out and TELL the oblivious boy how I felt. But, I wasn't comfortable with that! What if he rejected me!? What if our friendship fizzled into nothing?

He WAS changing back. I could see it clearly. The change back was as slow as the change forward, that's for sure. His Alvin-like traits were beginning to resurface. The way he decorated his new lab (I AM SO MAD AT SIMON FOR GETTING HIM A LAB!) proved that Classic Alvin was regaining control.

Back to Simon for a second, I thought Simon and I agreed NOT to purposely encourage Alvin's delusional obsession with being a scientist! Now, Simon basically thinks that all this is what's best for Alvin! He's letting the mind overwrite thing continue on his brother, and he doesn't even CARE anymore.

He basically told me so, when I walked up to him in the hall that morning, before my banter with Nerdy Alvin. I just thought it was important to remind him that Alvin needs our help or we'll lose him forever. Maybe he was under so much stress at Christmas time that he forgot. I dunno. I needed answers. Urgh! I sound like Eleanor.

"Why did you give Alvin a lab?" I pointed a neatly sharpened nail at Simon.

The boy in the medium blue T shirt, with a weird atom design on it, and a darker indigo long sleeved colored shirt underneath, groaned. "Hello, to you too, Brittany."

Gosh! He and Alvin even DRESS alike now! In dumb graphic Ts with shirts layered under them. This is too CREEPY!

"Answer my question, Simon." I snapped, in no mood to be talked to like I was some immature toddler. I knew people usually say hello and I had chosen purposely not to give Simon a friendly greeting.

The Chipmunk rolled his eyes. "Well, firstly, to protect my stuff from his grimy hands." He said, walking down the hall with me. "And, uh, you know, he did prove he's serious about inventing and we make a better team than I thought. I figured it was time I let him know that…I kind of have grown more accustomed to his new self."

I couldn't stand this. WHAT!? "Gr…Grown a…accustomed to it? Simon, he's barely your brother anymore. He doesn't even care about flirting with girls! Why are you suddenly okay with this? You were the last person on my side! You should be encouraging his old traits! Not his new ones!" I wasn't sobbing, but my voice did get very choked up.

"On the contrary." Simon smiled. He actually smiled. And not just a subtle smile either. "He's undoubtedly my brother. In fact, we're getting along splendidly. I know it won't last, but I have decided to enjoy it while it does."

I felt my heart break in two. This was it then? If Simon stopped encouraging Classic Alvin, then this weird halfway point between Alvin and total nerd was the new normal for my best friend. I hated it. This wasn't character development! It was a mistake!

"Simon, no! We have to save him! We have to make him realize he's ruining his life!" I grabbed onto Simon's arm and pulled him close. "We can do it, but we have to work together."

The stubborn chipmunk shook his head and caused his dark brown hair to swish. "Brittany, sometimes when we think we're rescuing people….we're actually hurting them." He told me softly.

Huh? Is that? Is that what he thinks now? That all this nerd stuff IS HELPING!? Did Jeanette accidentally brainwash him too?

"What are you saying?" I questioned, getting extremely aggravated.

"That things are different now." Simon replied in a strong and commanding voice. It was a bit annoying. "You don't understand them. You may never understand them. But, it's time to move on. For everyone's sake and for your own sanity."

Was Simon right? I felt my lip begin to tremble. "I miss him."

Simon patted my back before taking his hand away. "And you always will." He said sympathetically. "I know I always will. It'll get easier to handle the pain over time, but you have to allow yourself to take the final step. Acceptance."

"So this is it?" I looked down at my glittery high heel shoes. "This is him from now on?"

"I think so." Simon's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry. I know that's not what you wanted to hear."

"Do you think…if I told him how I feel about him? Would he change back for me?" I asked pathetically. "Not all the way, but like….more than this?"

The boy in blue seemed to get irritated by that. "I have no idea. I'm just trying to take everything one day at a time."

"You should talk to him." A voice behind both of us said. "Are you allergic to telling him you love him or something?"

I turned around to see the boy in the deep green jacket and lighter green T-shirt with a cookie design on it. Theodore. Why was even Theo making fun of my inability to accept changes that WEREN'T natural!?

"What? Ha ha, who says I love him?" I joked, knowing full well it wouldn't convince either of them. I don't even know why I did it. It was fully subcon…whatever that word is.

"Did you forget?" Theodore's brown eyes watched me. He was adorable, but also suddenly intimidating.

Simon chuckled dryly. "She didn't forget. She pretty much IS allergic to admitting it."

"Would allergy medicine help?" Theodore offered. "Jeanette has some."

"No." I muttered. "I'm fine. It's not….it's not that sort of allergy."

"Perhaps, before you reveal your crush to our brother, you could reveal it to someone else first. Someone trustworthy." Simon pushed his glasses up.

"Hmmm." I thought about his words. "That isn't a bad idea."

That's why, when I eventually ran into Miss. Smith while tidying the office, I told her everything. She told me about a project we were about to do for Economics class, and together we hatched a plan to help Alvin develop feelings for me again. It was a bold risk, but the old Alvin would have wanted me to take it.

So, after that, Alvin and I had our aggravating conversation where I beat him with my sewing knowledge. The bias of fabric is the diagonal angle that stretches the most. I'm surprised and delighted that Mr. Physics Wizard didn't know that, considering he's always babberling about angles.

As class began, Miss. Smith announced our new and long lasting project. We had to plan a wedding for ourselves and a randomly selected partner. Some couples were enthusiastic about the project. Others were upset that their crushes weren't their partners. The project sounded very fun to me. I've always wanted to plan my own wedding. The catch was, we had to stay within a budget, but how hard could that be?

Anyway, the teams between the 6 of us chipmunks were nicely color coordinated. As for the humans, Annie was working with Kevin, Amber with Derek, Vanessa with Tracy, Anita with Jesse, Cheesy got Bruce, but Bruce wanted Warren. Anyway, it doesn't really matter. They're not as important to the story as me and my future husband!

"And, Alvin, you'll be working with...Brittany." Miss. Smith announced.

As expected, Two point whacko didn't like that news. "No I won't. Didn't you get my letter about how I refuse to be partnered with her for any reason because she never listens to my ideas?" He replied in an angry way.

"I don't care! You're working with Brittany and that's final!" Our teacher was just as angry.

"But you ALWAYS pair me with her." Alvin whined loudly.

Miss. Smith was so DONE with him. "And I'll continue to do it until you both stop arguing! You need to learn to work with difficult people! It's a life skill."

Uh, excuse me? I am NOT difficult to work with. She better not actually think that. It better be part of the act.

"It's a sucky life skill." Alvin growled, his claws extended and scratching lines into the desk.

The middle aged woman in the checkered teal dress folded her arms. "One more comment like that, and it's detention for a week. I have had it with your foolishness."

"But I want to work with Jeanette!" Alvin two point weirdo whined even LOUDER.

"You can't." Our teacher sat back down at her desk.

Alvin's blue eyes blazed with that rebellious spirit. "Why not?"

"She's Simon's partner." I reminded him with a smirk.

"We could switch?" The redheaded chipmunk suggested.

"Switching partners? Don't make me laugh." Miss. Smith replied. "Your partner has been chosen based on your emotional and educational needs. Now, STOP COMPLAINING and work with her!"

At last, Alvin gave in. " …..Fine."

I pushed my desk closer to Alvin's, as all the other students had done with their partners. It was time to begin the project that would force Alvin to admit his repressed feelings for me. After all, he did say he would only spend time with me if he was OBLIGATED to. Now, he was.

"So, since our economics project is planning a wedding that fits our budget. How do twelve white doves sound? And pink tablecloths! And plenty of bows! Oh oh, I can't wait to pick out my wedding dress. I'm thinking a pale pink with plenty of tiny flowers…" I started sharing my list of ideas.

He didn't even listen to them. He just stared through me with a look of pain. "This is horrible. Get me out of here."

"Excuse me." I tapped him on the shoulder. "When your fiancé is talking, it's wise to listen."

"I don't want to marry you!" He exclaimed.

"Well, too bad. I already have half the decor picked out and the invitations designed." I sassed. I had been working hard on the project as fast as I could.

Alvin 's frown deepened. "I am not pretending to marry you for an economics project." He responded.

I just laughed. He wasn't getting out of this. "Uh, yes you are."

"No I'm NOT!" He stood up in his chair. "This is a violation of one of my rights. I don't know which one, but I know it's one of them."

Fine. He wanted to be difficult? I could still win. I raised my hand in the air. "Miss. Smith! Alvin refuses to listen to my ideas!"

"Alvinnn!" Miss. Smith held up a detention slip. "I WILL give you this. I'm not joking."

With a heavy sigh, the nerdy boy turned to look at me. "Okay, okay, I'll do the stupid wedding." He agreed.

"And our honeymoon!" I added.

All the fight was gone now. His rebellious streak hadn't lasted long. I was sure it would pop up again though. It was my job to keep him in line.

"That too." He looked miserable.

I pointed to the paper crown I was wearing on my head. "And you have to call me "your highness."

He glared at me. "No."

"Miss. Smith! Alvin won't cooperate again!" I tattled. Normally, I was against tattling, but I needed Alvin to plan a wedding with me so he would get lost in the excitement and his romantic passion would re-ignite!

"ALVIN!" Our teacher shook the detention slip in the air.

The chipmunk in the red T-shirt and cyan shirt underneath sighed. "Whatever you say, your highness."

"Much better." I patted his cap.

He growled at me again. "Now who's the snitch?"

I raised my hand a third time. "Miss. Smith!…"

Before I could finish, Alvin groaned. He was completely at my mercy. This was great!

During lunch, we all continued to work on the project. It wasn't due anytime soon, (it wasn't actually due until May 28th. It was March right now.) but I wanted to get it finished long before the due date. Just, not TOO long. I was very much enjoying my time with Alvie, even if he was only half Alvie.

"Have you selected a tux yet? I think you'd look great in this one." I showed him a photo of the outfit on my phone.

He was busy texting. "Add paint splatters to it, and maybe." He said, looking up for a split second. Ew. Paint splatters. Isn't it bad enough he was wearing messy jeans with splattered cuffs today? He was NOT ruining a perfect tuxedo with paint splatters on my watch.

"Who are you texting?" I asked coldly. "It better not be my sister again."

"It is." He stuck his tongue out at me.

"What!?" I grabbed his phone. "Are the two of you planning your own wedding behind my back?" I accused, not thinking very rationally. It was all a blind rage. "You're CHEATING on your fiancé!?"

"No." He grabbed the phone back before I could see what his texts said. "Also, and I cannot stress this enough" He took a deep breath and shouted. "WE AREN'T ACTUALLY GETTING MARRIED!"

I sulked. He didn't have to remind me. I preferred the illusion. "Then why are you texting her?"

He stuck a carrot stick in his mouth and chewed. "For your information, this isn't the only project I have goin' on."

"Oh?" I slid closer to him on the lunch bench. "What else are you doing?"

"Something you'd hate." He sighed. "But I probably shouldn't hide it from ya, because it'll just blow up in my face." He admitted.

I tried to seem open to whatever dumb thing he was doing with my sister, but it was hard. I barely even knew the boy anymore. I didn't fully trust him either. He claims he's such a goody two shoes, but his Alvin side is always bubbling up to prove he's still a risky and gross dude. I could handle him. I could put him in his place. My sister couldn't. He would take advantage of her. That's why, I belonged with Alvin and he belonged with me. We NEEDED each other. It was obvious! Why was Alvin refusing something so obvious?

"So what is it?" I asked, between nibbling the chicken nuggets on my lunch tray. Disgusting looking things, but so tasty. This cafeteria did have some good stuff.

He answered three more texts and then looked up at me. "I entered a Junior Inventor's contest with Si and Netta." He mumbled out loud enough for me to hear.

I facepalmed. "Can't you think of anything besides inventing?"

"Plenty of things." He replied. "But this is a good opportunity!"

"To do what?" I sassed. "Wreck the contest like you did the department store?"

"I paid them back!" He started shoving the peanut butter and jelly sandwich he was eating in his lunchbox. "And it was an accident."

"You're not a good inventor. You know this. Everyone knows this." I pointed out.

"Simon says I am." Alvin firmly stated, before adding something that tore me emotionally into even more pieces. "And, currently, I value his opinion more than yours. Considering, you know, he actually understands me now! Maybe not all the way, but at least he's made more progress than you!"

"Alvin,…" I looked up at him with an expression of sorrow. "Please don't leave. I'm just trying to help you. You know you're my soulmate. You need my help. We're in this together."

He had stood up, but my words made him reconsider. He sat back down at the table. "Whatever happened to Masters of our own destiny?" He muttered bitterly. The overall tone of his voice was disturbingly Simon-like.

"That was before I found out how insightful you were." Wow! I almost admitted I was in love with him. Urgh. I wasn't ready to do that here.

Alvin blinked back tears. "You hate it when I'm insightful. You hate it." He rasped. Now, he sounded less like Simon and more like a tired old man.

And he STILL wasn't picking up my hints. "I hate when you're nerdy, not insightful." I explained with a flutter of my long and beautifully cared for eyelashes.

Then, my phony husband got angry. Downright furious. "AREN'T THEY THE SAME THING!?"

"You have so much to learn." I responded with a coy smile. "Now, can we get back to the project?"

"Fine." He texted Jeanette more on his phone. Or maybe Simon. I'm not sure which. "I agree to all your ideas. Let me know how much they cost and I'll do the math."

"You know, I'm ALSO good at math." I reminded him. "Especially money. When you shop a lot, you get very good at adding and subtracting using that little dot thing."

"The decimal point." He corrected me. "Cool. Then, you can do that and I'll make sure you don't blow our budget." His eyes drifted back to the phone.

"Are you sure you don't want any input? We're supposed to be a team." I pouted. This was blowing my plan! He was supposed to get caught up in the fun of wedding planning.

"Urgh. Okay. I'll do music." He finished his sandwich and then tapped out yet another text.

Well, at least that was something. Maybe I just had to ease Alvin in one small step at a time? "Fabulous. Okay, so, we need at least twenty songs for the wedding and twenty more for the reception."

"Uh huh." I could tell Alvin wasn't paying attention, so I wrote everything he needed to do down. He'd thank me later.

Lunch was over before I knew it and we weren't as far on the project as I'd hoped to be. At least we had a solid start. That would have to be enough.

As I was walking through the halls on my way to cheer practice after school, I caught a glimpse of Alvin and decided to follow him. He was trying to interact with the popular kids once again, but he was REALLY bad at it.

"Cowabunga, dudes! That was totally tubular! Hmmm…skater boy not doing it for you? How about, absolute drama king!?" He placed a hand over his heart. "To be or not to be? That is the question." He recited dramatically. "Hmm, not a fan of that either? How about I show off my mad gamer skills? I already know you aren't a fan of my intellectual side." He adjusted his clunky and unflattering red glasses. "By my calculations, I need to increase the coolness factor by at least 40%."

What was he going to do now?

I watched him pull his guitar from his locker. "How about I prove I'm a musical superstaaaaar?" He sang loudly. Gosh. This got sadder and sadder.

He spoke again, still strumming the guitar. "That's right, folks! You wrote me off as a one-note class A suck up. You were wrong! I've got range, mothermunker."

The popular kids were all confused and a few of them laughed.

"Alvin, stop." I begged. "You're going to make everyone think you're even more of a loser."

"What's that? I didn't hear you over the sound of me ROCKIN' OUT!" He sounded oddly like his old self. I kind of liked that.

However, when Annie and Amber both gave him the loser sign, I decided it was time to get him away before he got his delicate self esteem torn up.

"Alvin…." I called out to him. "Alvin?"

He either didn't hear me, or completely ignored me. Either way. I was not happy. Then, he started to sing as he played his guitar. I didn't know why he was doing this. What purpose did it serve?

"Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me

I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed

She was looking kind of dumb with her finger and her thumb

In the shape of an "L" on her forehead."

Okay, the way he was picking on Annie and Amber through song was surprisingly funny, and a lot like Classic him. I couldn't help but giggle. He played that guitar like a pro, and every note he sang was perfectly on key.

"Well the years start coming and they don't stop coming

Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running

Didn't make sense not to live for fun

Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb."

He finally got it? He understood how much he needed to just let loose again! THIS WAS AMAZING! My friend wasn't gone! I just had to keep poking and pushing and eventually the original Alvin personality would be BACK.

"So much to do so much to see

So what's wrong with taking the back streets?

You'll never know if you don't go

You'll never shine if you don't glow"

He slid across the hall, still playing his guitar wildly. It looked like the most fun he'd had since building that cruddy looking metal winged thing he called his "greatest triumph." He even pushed a button to change his glasses into sunglasses.

"Hey now you're an All Star get your game on, go play

Hey now you're a Rock Star get the show on, get paid

And all that glitters is gold

Only shooting stars break the mold."

I clapped and some of the other students joined me. Not all of them, because they were still unsure how to react to Alvin's constant unpredictable behavior. Still, I cheered loudly. My plan was working! Being around me more, must be helping him reconnect with his old self!

"Thank you, thank you!" Alvin put the guitar back in his locker and took a bow. "That was just a little preview, if ya wanna watch the full show, come see me in drama class tomorrow."

English class, actually. Mr. Dotson the drama teacher was teaching it though, so that's why Alvin confused it with drama class. We were doing a unit on songs and their meanings. It didn't surprise me that Alvin had chosen this song. It's one of his favorites. Apparently, that hadn't changed.

"Welcome back, Alvin." I said, smiling at him as I walked closer.

He blinked. "I wasn't aware I had left." He grabbed his shiny silver skateboard invention from his locker.

As we continued down the hall, I walked even closer to him, but he seemed to be purposely walking faster to avoid me. How rude.

"You know what I mean." I picked up my pace to match his. "Your Classic side is back, isn't he?"

"I dunno." Alvin shrugged.

"What do you mean you don't know!?" I was frustrated once more. "How can you not know?"

"Britt, stop buggin' Alvin." My sister Eleanor met us at the front entrance, holding her baseball bat and wearing her blue colored uniform with red trim. Theodore stood beside her in a matching uniform.

"Why don't you mind your own business?" I snapped.

"I will if you will." My short sister with the green eyes grinned like she made the funniest joke ever.

Why was EVERYONE trying to tick me off today!?

"I'm outta here." Alvin announced, awkwardly shuffling further away from me.

"Me too." I frowned. "I have cheer practice."

"I'm going to defy the laws of gravity while also following them." Boasted the nerdified chipmunk.

Eleanor tilted her head. "That makes no sense." Oh thank goodness. I wasn't the only one who couldn't wrap my head around it.

Alvin waved a hand in her face like he was some sort of magician. "Or does it?"

It was Theodore who finally solved Alvin's puzzling words. "I think he means he's gonna ride on his flying skateboard."

"There it is." Agreed my littlest sister.

Alvin jumped onto the silver skateboard and then pressed a button to cause the wings to unfold themselves and pop out. Straps secured his feet in place as he blasted off into the sky…and even further away from me.

"So how are you guys doing on the project?" I tried to make small talk with my sister and Theodore, before heading off to cheer practice.

"Better than you and Albert-Vincent." Eleanor laughed.

"It's fun. But I'm not sure I like all the other kids talking about us having kids together. We are kids." Theodore mumbled with a pout.

"Permanently." Added his future girlfriend with the blonde pigtails. I'm so glad she was wearing them up again. They suited her better up than down. Maybe I just hated the change more than I initially thought.

"Urgh. Be quiet about that." I whispered.

My sister just chuckled as we reached the baseball diamond. I'd turn off soon to head to the football field. "Oh, by the way." Eleanor added. "Theo and I are headed to the library after practice. I won't be making dinner, but there's some leftovers in the fridge you can warm up."

LEFTOVERS!? First they spend all day annoying me and now Eleanor forces me to fend for myself for dinner!? Why was everyone being this way? Was I really…that bad? People didn't want to be around me any more than necessary. It was all Alvin's fault!

"Oh….okay." I muttered.

Theodore waved at me. "Have fun at cheer practice! See ya later."

"Yeah…see ya." I tried to sound friendly, but I felt kicked out of my own friend group.

Only my sisters had come to watch my Christmas play. Everyone else was too busy. Or everyone else couldn't stand me? The more I thought about it, the more I realized that maybe I WAS more of the problem than I was willing to admit before. Maybe forcing Alvin to love me before I actually fully confessed WAS wrong…and downright mean. Maybe me telling Alvin I have had a crush on him for a while, was the key to finally getting my old friend back. It could make him agree to get his brain re-set or whatever Simon needed to do to un-scientist the poor boy.

So, at that moment, I decided that I would wait another couple days, and then actually get into the big talk. We NEEDED to talk. I didn't know if the talk would end the way I wanted, but the longer I waited to talk, the worse our relationship would be….and the worse HE might be. It was time. Oh gosh, I was SO SCARED!

BRITTANY: I'm not writing anymore. This is your story and I think you should finish this chapter.

ALVIN: You're finally getting some character growth! Don't you want to continue?

BRITTANY: Alvin, I am emotionally hanging by a thread right now. I need a spa day and I'm taking one. That's final.

ALVIN: Sure thing. Enjoy your mudbath.

BRITTANY: It's not a mudbath. It's a spa treatment.

ALVIN: Using mud, in a bathtub. Ergo. Mud-bath.

BRITTANY: Why do I talk to you?

ALVIN: Because you hate how much you love me….platonically.

BRITTANY: Urgh. I also hate that you're right.

ALVIN: Ohoho! Thanks for admitting it.

BRITTANY: And that's my cue to leave. Bye!

ALVIN: Have fun in the mudbath!

BRITTANY: GRRRR!

Alvin 2.0's POV

A day later, I was still forced to put up with Britt's malarkey at every turn. She wouldn't STOP. I got no break, no rest. Everything was wedding this and soulmates that. Boy, she was a good actress. But why was she acting like she WANTED to be my lover now? Was it just to drive me as crazy as possible? Because, boy was it working!

A shipping war broke out between the students at school. Most people shipped me with Brittany, but a really small percentage had started asking me if I was secretly dating Jeanette because we were always hanging around together whenever Britt wasn't ruling my life and siphoning away the fun from my very , there was a group who wanted me to stay single. I liked that group. Kevin and Cheesy and my comic book club pals were part of that group.

Needless to say, the entire thing was taking a toll on me. When I got home from school, I flopped face down onto the carpet in my bedroom. "I CAN'T STAND HER! I CAN'T STAND HER!" I screamed. "WHY DOES SHE HAVE TO MAKE EVERYTHING SO DIFFICULT!?"

"Maybe she thinks she's doing a good thing." Simon helped me get up and dusted off my shirt. "However misguided she may be."

It was another new shirt Netta had found for me. Red, with stars and big yellow letters that read "Only shooting stars break the mold." Just like the lyrics to the song All Star by Smash Mouth. The very same song I chose to sing in class today.

Not that I was trying to get my popularity back again. I learned my lesson the first time. No, now I was just making attempts to prove I was more than my new labels of snitch, loser, and freaky geek. It wasn't working out so well.

I stared at Simon in disbelief. "Then someone's gotta tell her she's actually RUINING MY LIFE!"

Simon paused and then sighed. "She is taking it too far, that's for sure."

"I just wanna work on the contest. This stupid fakeo marriage thingie keeps getting in the way." I paced around the room.

"While I agree the assignment is absolutely uncalled for and should be replaced with us being planners for someone else's weddings instead of our own…" Simon shuddered. "At the end of the day, it isn't only a school assignment. Brittany's feelings and your feelings are involved, and if you don't want a Bridezilla on your hands, you're both going to have to give a little."

"Currently, I'm doing all the giving and she's doing all the taking." I fumed. "She's lucky I don't really give a crap as long as we get a passing grade."

"Personally, I think this assignment could help you and Brittany learn how to actually be a good couple, if you both did it correctly." Simon climbed up into the swivel chair in the room. "It could be beneficial for the future."

I took a seat on the ground in front of the chair, and hit Simon with a sarcastic quip. "Oh great and wise brother Simon, tell me everything I'm doing wrong."

"You're letting her control the majority of the details." He frowned. "I think Miss. Smith will be able to tell it's not a team effort. Don't you?"

I let out a squeaky groan. "Yes. It's obvious." I felt my chest ache from the stress. "So what do I doooo?"

He grinned. "She's your soulmate. Suck it up, fella."

Oh come on! Not this again! "The magazine quiz was WRONG!" I insisted.

Simon jumped out of the chair. "It's not. It's based on a psychological study that determines patterns in behavior that lead to other patterns of behavior. Like it or not, you WILL wind up with Brittany in the end. I can almost guarantee it. Maybe not as a wife, but at least as a girlfriend."

I jumped to my feet, with terror shooting through my limbs. "No!" I cried out. How could Simon believe that dumb malarky!? (New word Jeanette taught me.)

"Yes." My sibling nodded.

I pointed to my head. Maybe this would make him understand. "Uh, I dunno if ya noticed, pal, but MY PSYCHOLOGY HAS ENTIRELY CHANGED!" I shouted.

A sly grin crossed his face. "Not as much as you think."

I stood there, dumbfounded. "I never did find out…" I began. "Who did the quiz match you with?" Ohoho! Turning it back on him! One of my best ideas. Maybe then, this conversation could wrap up.

Simon walked over to the window and stared out at the treehouse. "Jeanette." He said glumly. "I'm beginning to accept it. We would make a fantastic couple. Everyone's right."

I felt sick to my stomach. Simon and Jeanette? Look, I know I teased him about it on occasion, but I didn't want it to be real! If he became Jeanette's boyfriend, then Netta and I wouldn't see each other as much. Cuz like, you can't just hang out with someone's girlfriend more than they do? It's weird! Isn't it?

"You're not going to ask her out, are ya?" I whimpered softly.

My brother chuckled nervously. "No. I'm not ready yet."

"Phew." I let out a breath.

Then, Simon started to tease me. "Do you care?" He asked, nudging me and cracking a slight smile.

"Come on, of course I care! She's my friend! You both dating would throw me into a very awkward position!" I explained.

"I know." Simon admitted. "Which is why I am glad I don't like her that way….yet."

I gulped. Why did he have to add the "yet" part?

A little while later, we heard the doorbell ring. I hoped it wasn't Brittany. I figured it most likely was.

"Tell her I'm not home!" I yelped, hiding myself inside one of our kitchen cabinets.

Simon opened the door and I heard a friendly and familiar voice. "Hi, Simon. Are you and Alvin ready to continue brainstorming?"

"I am." My brother answered gallantly. "But Alvin's not home at the moment."

Urgh! Simon! You knew that wasn't what I meant! I scrambled out of my hiding place and raced to the door to meet up with Jeanette.

"Hey, Netta!" I squeaked, my voice crackling weirdly. "Nice to see ya."

Jeanette frowned at Simon. "I thought you said he wasn't home."

I decided to cover for my bro. "Oh, I just got back from the skatepark." I fibbed.

"Did you have fun?" Jeanette asked, while Pippi climbed from her backpack onto her shoulder.

"Yeah!" I nodded hyperactively. "Tons of fun!"

"Squeak squeak!" The mouse chittered.

Simon looked at Pippi, then at her caretaker. "Jeanette, what have I told you about taking Pippi to school? It's just not safe." He told the slender girl with the rich honey brown hair.

"She won't hurt anyone." The ethereal Chipette's voice was soft like a lullaby. Listening to it sent waves of calmness radiating through my core.

Simon scrunched his nose "I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about her getting hurt."

"Dude, pretty sure Jeanette can protect her." I insisted. "You underestimate her skills."

Pippi squeaked again, and I figured this time it was in agreement.

"Okay, okay." Simon agreed.

As we walked into my lab, where the brainstorming session would take place, I took note of Jeanette's cyan, medium blue, and purple tie dye top and her jeans with the embroidered butterfly decals. Her dark purple jacket was tied around her hips as well. She looked like a total flower child and honestly, the combo was one of my favorites on her. It complimented my color scheme while still being her color scheme.

"Here are all the ideas that Alvin and I have written down so far" Simon handed Jeanette a list once we were all in the lab. "Do you see one you think might work?"

"Wait!" I fished out a crumpled and dirt stained piece of paper from my pants pocket. "Here are all the ideas Netta and I have brainstormed together."

While Jeanette looked over the list Simon gave her, Simon looked over the dirt stained list, and then immediately used hand sanitizer.

"When did you write all this?" My brother inquired.

I chuckled nervously. "In class."

Simon looked grumpy. "Of course."

"The self flipping pancake pan sounds like something that would come in handy." Jeanette said, reading over the list.

"That was actually Theo's idea." I told them. "My favorite idea is a remote control that can enable us to travel to different dimensions."

"That sounds amazing!" Netta's midnight blue eyes glimmered.

"Yes, well, I think both of those things are all well and good, but let's keep thinking." Simon suggested.

"Can we do something robotic?" I asked. "Because the dishwashing robot hand sounds like a winning idea to me."

"Oh yes! As long as we program it to waste less water than your average person while washing the dishes." The Chipette with the purple glasses suggested.

"I don't know." Simon sat down in a beanbag chair, unprepared for how much he would sink into it. "Whoah."

I was getting irritated with Simon now, and my nerves were already on edge from the Britt debacle. (That's a fancy way of saying fiasco.)

"What's wrong with that idea?" I asked angrily.

"Alvin." Jeanette squeezed my arm ever so gently. "Control yourself. Remember, Simon's here to help too."

"Sorry, sorry. I mean, why aren't you sure about that particular idea?" I edited my words for my brother.

He continued to try and fail to get comfortable in the red bean bag chair, eventually standing back up. "I think we should try something simpler." He explained.

"But simple ideas don't WIN." I reminded him.

"I thought the fun was just entering." Jeanette interjected. "And showing what our three minds are capable of."

"Okay, yeah. I don't wanna win first place, but you know, second or third would be really cool." I sat down at the chair in front of my lab table. I played with the cyan colored fidget spinner lying on top of it.

"What if we made something small and simple, but something society will be shocked they've lived without for so long?" Simon proposed with a determined expression.

I was starting to get bored. "And what thing would that be? A machine that can calculate the romance vibes between two people?"

"Oh that's a nifty one." Jeanette began fidgeting with some of the purple slime I made especially for her. It sat on one of my shelves next to my red slime and some cyan glitter slime. "I bet that a lot of people would love to try that out."

"Romance vibes? Are you both nuts?" Simon asked with his eyebrows shooting up. "We'd be the laughingstock of the competition."

"What about a metal detector that detects alien spaceships and other forms of alien technology?" I spun the fidget spinner faster.

"Okay. That's enough." My fellow genius bro glared at me. "Please take this seriously."

"This IS me taking it seriously." I insisted. "I'm the best at making ridiculous and impossible things come to life!"

"Jeanette,…" Simon leaned on my color coded organizer, massaging his scalp as he tried to cope with our weirdness. "Please tell me you have an idea less outlandish than his." He begged.

"An automatic dog washing system." My purple companion proposed. "Like a car wash, but for dogs. It could also comb their fur when it finishes washing them."

"And we have a decent idea." Simon cheered. "At last."

"Wait!" I raised my hand and waved it around. "Netta's idea reminded me of something else. What about a baseball cap that can also massage your scalp?"

"No." Simon cringed. "That sounds like it would get tangled in your hair."

"Okay, okay." I smiled at Netta, happy her idea had been chosen. "Automatic dog washer it is."

"I can sketch it from every angle." Jeanette offered, very excited about bringing her vision to life.

"Excellent." Simon told her. "We'll also need a comprehensive list of materials."

"We can build it this weekend!" I suggested.

"Not the whole weekend. We still have our school projects." Si reminded us.

Jeanette had already put away the slime and sketched a front view of the invention. "Bit by bit, I think we'll make progress." She said.

A while later, I had no clue how long, I was helping Jeanette with the blueprints when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

"What ya makin' this time?" It was Eleanor.

I really wished this lab had a REAL passcode instead of just being accessed by the letter A on the keypad. I guess I had to complete another milestone in my quest before Simon would let me lock all my stuff up with a password. Though, honestly, I might forget the password anyway. I'd have to write it down.

"Hello? I know you can hear me because I am YELLING in your EAR." Eleanor's voice got uncomfortably loud.

"It's an automatic dog washer." Jeanette told her. "I can't wait to show you, whenever we get it built. Which, might take a while."

"But three heads are better than one." Simon quipped, while sorting through a box of spare gears and motors.

"Eleanor, not that I don't love your company, but…can you maybe NOT yell in my ear?" I asked, feeling my fur bristle.

"Sorry. Theo and I got our mandatory wedding all planned out and we wanted to see what was going on in Nerdtopia, or whatever you call this place."

"He calls it the Munkcave." Jeanette told her sister, even though I would have preferred she didn't.

"Nice." Eleanor responded, before rooting through my mini fridge to grab a soda like the intruder she was.

"Hey!" I scolded, sounding too Simon-y for my liking. "Did I tell you you could have that?"

The girl in the watermelon hoodie stuck the beaker of root beer back in the fridge. She looked as annoyed as I felt.

"Eleanor, you shouldn't drink unknown chemicals!" Simon's face went pale.

The mint clad Chipette laughed. "It's soda pop."

My brother's head turned sharply and he hit me with, you guessed it, another glare. "Why are you storing soda pop in beakers!?"

"Because, I can." I said proudly. "Don't worry. I literally just bought them. They've NEVER had chemicals in them, unless, you know, you count the chemicals in pop."

"You're lucky I don't pop you." He retorted, raising up a fist and momentarily threatening me.

"Hi, guys!" A very high and childish voice broke the tension. Theodore had arrived.

Oh come on! I wanted to focus on the contest with my best friend and my favorite science brother! Why was that so hard!? Even when Simon gives me my own space, it's not my own space.

"Have you and Brittany talked yet?" My baby bro asked, scampering into the room.

I groaned involuntarily at the mere mention of the Chipette's name. "Yes. We talk all the time. She won't go away."

"Oh….well, uh, she's in the kitchen right now, looking for you." The boy in the light green knit sweater with some clovers woven into the fabric looked down at his shoes.

"Oof." Eleanor commented.

Jeanette and Simon both exchanged pained expressions.

Meanwhile, all the rage inside me was creeping toward the boiling point. And FAST! I Tried to shove it down, but it bubbled and brewed even more!

"Why can't I get away from her!?" I screeched. "She's FOLLOWING me! I SWEAR! She is CLEARLY STALKING ME!"

"No she isn't!" Theodore insisted. Ha! Like I'd believe that!

I looked at my little bro with a crazed expression that probably creeped him out. "Then explain why she's EVERYWHERE! I can't take a break from her to sort out my feelings if she's always around."

My baby bro pouted. "She's your soulmate though. Why do you wanna take a break from her?" He asked.

"She is NOT!" I argued.

"B…B…But remember the magazine test?" My brother in green blubbered.

The next person to mention that STUPID SOULMATE TEST was going to get their butt kicked with my karate power! I was currently in a karate class. Now, I would never kick Theo's butt, but boy was he making it tough to hold back.

I frowned. I counted to three inside my head and then sighed. "The test said her Mystic Mate is incredibly cool. I stopped fitting that description a year ago." I murmured, trying to sound less angry.

Theodore touched my arm. "I still think you're cool." He said, sounding sincere.

"You're my brother. You're bias." I replied.

"I think you're cool too!" Jeanette added.

"Same!" Eleanor joined her, standing next to Simon and nudging him.

Simon looked up from the parts he was sorting. "Oh, Yeah, me too."

I put down my pencil and flopped into a beanbag chair. "Look, I don't wanna lose Britt as a friend, but I NEED a break from her." I let everything start spilling out. "I cannot take the insults, the weird looks, the bossiness, the whining about my life choices. And if she accuses me of being Diet Simon one more time, I might actually smack her….which I don't wanna do." It was the truth. She'd pushed me too far. This freakin wedding assignment was THE LAST STRAW.

And then, who should grace my presence but the relentless romantic herself? My lab door slid open and she ran into the room.

"Hey, Alvie." Even the sound of her voice was setting me off.

I let out the most bloodcurdling scream of anguish.

The evil princess in the fuschia off-shoulder top and bright blue skinny jeans, scoffed. "Is that any way to greet your fiancé?"

I pointed at the door, while still laying on my back, sideways on the bean bag chair. "Get. out." Punctuated. For. Emphasis.

"No." She smiled at me, with a hint of deviousness.

"Do you not understand?" I asked, trying not to clench my jaw. "I am hanging out here specifically to get AWAY FROM YOU."

She came over and stood above me, looking down. "But we have to work on the project."

"I'm working on something else right now." I told her, the anger returning to my words.

She put her hands on her hips. "Really? It looks like you're just being lazy."

"I'm. Not." I closed my eyes so I didn't have to look at her face.

"Can I help?" She brought her face so close to mine, that I could smell her disgusting floral perfume.

"Do you know how to synchronize several H2O distribution tubes?" I asked, cracking an eye open.

She frowned. "Well, no, but…"

"Then NO." I repeated. I felt like the universe was definitely punishing me for not listening when Simon said no in the past. And by the past, I mean, last Christmas.

"Good gracious." Simon groaned. "Just say hoses! We're aiming to make four garden hoses move at the same time." He told the pink clad girl.

I stood up. Apparently, there was no getting out of talking to The B Witch.

"Alvin, please-I bet if you showed me how to do it, I could." She begged.

I felt my rage boil even more. "Pretty sure ya couldn't. Now, scram."

"Absolutely not. You agreed we could work more on the wedding today!" She grabbed me. Why did I stand up? I should have seen this coming.

"You badgered me until I said "whatever" that's not an agreement!" Yeesh, maybe Diet Simon wasn't so far off from the truth. I FELT like Simon again.

I looked over at my brothers and the other two Chipettes. They'd sheltered themselves behind a lab table and as far away from Britt and I as possible. Good choice. All of them looked varying degrees of uncomfortable. Theodore and Jeanette looked like they might cry. Simon looked worried and tired. Eleanor looked interested, with a smidge of concern.

"Well, technically…." The pigtailed girl began.

"Shhh." Simon cautioned. "We cannot make this worse." He told Eleanor sharply.

Theodore gulped. "Should we give them privacy?"

Eleanor tried to suppress a snicker. "And miss the sparks flyin'? No way."

"Eleanor!" Simon facepalmed.

Jeanette plugged her ears. "I get the feeling this is going to be loud."

"They both look like they're gonna blow." Theo squeaked. Ohoho. He was right.

Brittany let go of my arm and then stared at me with a desperate and very weirdly infatuated smile. She must still be lost in her fake fantasy romance that I was unfortunately part of. "Alvin, please. Let's just talk this out." She begged. "In words I can understand, okay? I'm sure we can reach a compromise."

SNAP! Something inside me just BROKE. I faced her and prepared to give her a full on Reasons Why You Suck Speech. I've HAD it! I gave her the benefit of the doubt before, but now I was not only irked, I was APOPLECTIC! That means, WORSE than furious.

"FINE! you want me to "speak English"?" I hissed. "Okay, how about THIS?! You are a selfish, spoiled, manipulative liar who cares more about popularity than what's actually best for your FRIENDS! If you just told me I lost the Cutest Chipmunk contest, it'd be a blow to my ego, but I'd recover. But NOOO! You had to keep the lie going to the point of rigmarole status!" I went on and on, recapping the events that transpired to bring us to this moment. "Then when I started to discover and embrace who I truly am inside, suddenly you decided I'm not good enough for you because I'm not giving you what you want! Well I hate to pop your acorn, missy, but with an attitude like that, don't expect to stay popular! Because nobody, but NOBODY would want to associate with an insincere little brat who values their own entertainment over doing what's right! Trust me, I know!" I took a breath and then added. "Because I USED to be almost EXACTLY LIKE THAT!"

Now, brace yourselves to read her scathing rebuttal.

"I was trying to help you in the moment, dipwad!" Immediately, she insulted me right out of the gate. It wasn't even a clever insult. "I didn't think you ever WOULD find out. I busted my tail keeping this and that under wraps. It cost me a fortune! You know how many shoes and dresses and purses and how much jewelry I could have bought!? But noooo! I spent it trying to protect you because I didn't want to watch you give up on yourself! But you did anyway. I would think, Alvin, that you'd remember what it's like to make impulsive decisions without considering the consequences." She started to cry. "I do it all for you. All for you." Hey, that's the name of a song. Wait, those are LYRICS to a song. Urgh, focus. Then, she rocked my world in a way it had never been rocked before. All the changes couldn't prepare me for what left those pouty pink lips next. "Because….Because…..I LIKE YOU! No! I LOVE YOU! I just realized that….well….you never know how much you love something until it's gone."

HOLD IT! WHAT THE HECK DID SHE SAY!? SHE LOVES ME!? LIKE, LITERALLY? Britt….has….real romantic attraction….TO ME!? Which me? Urgh! Dumb question. It's Classic Alvin. Of course, it's Classic Alvin. Who could ever love Alvin 2.0? He's a mess.

"Brittany…" I sighed. My entire view of her actions had shifted. Of course she was crazy. She was in love with me! I couldn't continue to treat her like she was a maniac. I had to be the bigger person…even though those darn heels make her taller than me. "I'm sorry. I'm just going through a lot right now. I've already had a lot of baggage because it never feels like anyone cares about my problems." I explained. "Now I feel like I'm literally a completely different person, I'm constantly stressed out and instead of helping me through it, you just fall back on your old habits of mocking me and undermining what I'm going through. Is it so much to ask to at least TRY for me? I'm always trying for you."

"But, Alvin, you don't understand." She trembled almost as much as I was trembling. "Simon DID this to you! By accident! It's not real. It didn't come from the physics class. He like….tangled up your brain with his….uhhh particle bits." Oh come on! Back on that again!? She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt. "You ARE a completely different person. Because you aren't Alvin anymore, you really AREN'T! You're half Alvin and half Simon and Simon figured out, with some help from me, that the Alvin part of you is at risk of being completely erased. You're going to end up fully Simon on the inside. It'll be like having a freaky clone." Her voice cracked. "And I love Simon, but ONE of Simon is enough. Those hallucinations you keep having of Classic aren't fully hallucinations. It's classic trying to wake you up from this nightmare so that he's not ERASED!" She insisted.

Why? Why did she keep trying to convince everyone this was definitely going to happen. Maybe I was feeling like half myself and half Simon. Maybe I always would. Maybe it's HER fault I always would.

I crossed my arms and tried not to sob too. It was hard. Gee, if this wasn't such a stressful situation, it might be funny. For once, I was the angry one and Britt was reduced to tears, instead of it being the other way around.

"I didn't want to admit it anymore than you do, Brittany, but...maybe this is one of those times where the simplest explanation is the most likely. I tried something new, and I liked it. I'm broadening my horizons, and now I'm trying to be a better munk. Why can't any of you just be happy for me? Why do you always have to keep coming up with crazy stories to justify it? Do you really like me, or just the idea of me?" I gave her a lot to think about.

Spoiler alert. She still didn't get it. "Okay, smart guy. Then EXPLAIN your hallucinations of Classic Alvin!"

I almost laughed. "ADHD, man. It really makes your mind wander."

"Sure." She sassed sarcastically.

"Concussions too." I added. Wow, this was a huge recap.

Her ice blue eyes widened. "Maybe." Was this it? Did she finally understand?

"Don't you get it, Brittany? You're being an Alvin right now." I can't believe I said that. I always hated when people used my name as an adjective, because it was ALWAYS used as a shorthand for things like "troublemaker" or "liar". So if I'm doing it, maybe that's the point where she'll realize she's not going in the right direction.

Brittany still needed some convincing, though, because she fired back with: "Well, I might as well be since YOU don't want to be him anymore."

The anger retreated and my usual mirth returned. I felt good. It felt so empowering to tell her all this. "No. I AM Alvin. Because Alvin is complicated. He liked video games, sure. He also liked sci fi stuff and comic books, but wanted to pretend he didn't….or that he did, but that didn't make him a geek. He wanted to rub elbows with the cool kids, but he knew Cheesy and Kevin were better friends than they ever could be. Because he had more in common with them!" I put my hands on my hips, copying her position from earlier. "And now, he STILL likes skateboarding and music AND everything that makes it possible. I don't have to be some idealized cartoon character to know who I am." I finished. "I am a geek, a nerd, a hipster, a musician, an athlete, an actor, an artist….And being ALL those things makes me happy. I'm fulfilled!"

We must have looked really funny to the others watching, like two cowboys in a standoff….in the middle of a half science lab and half party room.

Brittany slumped those wide shoulders of hers, that I secretly am kinda jealous of. "If you say so. I'm trying to accept this, really I am. I just….don't do well with change."

"We know." Eleanor coughed out. I wonder if Britt heard her.

I finally got brave enough to step closer to her. Whether I could stand her at the moment or not, Brittany Miller needed me as a friend. "It's okay, Britt. I don't either….or, I guess "didn't" would be the more accurate way to say it. But at this point...I'm over WHY I'm like this. HOW I'm like this. What matters most is that….I am."

"You're just so different." She moaned. "The way you look, move, dress, act, even your VOICE….it's all different." She wiped her eyes again. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to fully accept it, but I'll try."

Try!? She said she'd try! I'll take it. "Thanks, Britt. Again, I'm sorry I blew up at you. It's just been a hard knock life." I said sincerely, voice still raspy from my excessive screaming.

Brittany took a ragged breath. "I feel so bad….for everything. I just….I wanna keep being your friend. I want to see you have fun. You're so stressed and scared and it doesn't seem real sometimes." She sniffled. "Do you think you could….once in a while be,…uh, more like classic? Outside of performances and stuff? Please? Just….to help me adjust. To remind me he's still….there."

I didn't exactly have control over my Classic self. Still, I needed to help Britt cheer up. Somehow. "I can't promise, but I'll try."

I gave her a hug. She really seemed like she could use a hug. She hugged me back and squeezed me as gently as she could. No cutting off my airways with her incredible strength. The hug seemed to last for ages, before Eleanor spoke.

"And now they're hugging?" She laughed. "These two, I swear…"

"So does this mean the fight is over?" Theodore asked, scratching his head and uncovering his ears. He likely heard everything through his ears being covered, but at least our volume hopefully didn't make his head ache.

Simon smirked. "For now?"

"Does this mean that Alvittany is FINALLY a couple?" The younger chipmunk in green asked excitedly.

I broke away from the hug. "It does not. No. Not….Not…" I saw those big beautiful blue eyes gaping at me like a puppy who hadn't been fed in days. "Not yet." I walked over to the cyan colored beanbag chair and plopped down in it. "I need time to think."

"You mean it REALLY took you this long to figure out she likes you?" Eleanor howled with laughter. "Dude, I thought you were FAKING."

"Wait, did you know?" I asked Britt's youngest sister.

"Uh….DUH. Yes. She told me." The girl with pigtails sat in the yellow beanbag chair.

Jeanette had returned to her sketches. "I did not know." She squeaked. At least someone was on the same page as me.

"I knew." Theodore proudly announced.

Simon was more reserved about his reveal. "As did I. Actually, I may have been the first to know."

"Nuh uh!" Eleanor gestured to her chest with her thumb. "She told me first."

"I forget who I told first." Brittany moaned. "This is so embarrassing."

"I can't believe this." I murmured as the memories of the past went sailing through my head at warp speed, each one taking on a new context. "How long?" I asked Brittany.

She sat in the red beanbag chair. "How long what?"

"How long have you liked me? Err…LovED mE." My voice faltered on those words. Something about the person who routinely made my life miserable being in love with me…felt WRONG. Very very wrong.

Brittany grimaced. "Well, uh, remember when you thought I was a body snatcher?" Her face turned as pink as her shirt. "Then. Way back then. Then, I repressed it and tried to get over it, but it kept coming on stronger and then…a few years later…you're….this." She gestured to me.

"Oh…." I felt my heart race. "Oh. Ohhhhh. That's why you were acting nice. I get it now, I get it!"

"So….do you have….any feelings for me?" She asked.

"Ooooooh!" Theodore's stupid sound effects were NOT helping.

I opened my mouth and nothing came out. Absolutely nothing. I was speechless.

"Alvin?" She poked at me. "Alvin?" She waved her hand in front of my face.

Simon came to my rescue. He motioned for Brittany to get up and led her to the door once she did stand on her shaky feet. "I think you really need to give Alvin that break he's been seeking." He advised. "It may take him some time to come to terms with this."

"Right. Yeah." She put on her sweetest face. "See you all soon. I didn't mean to cause this mess. I promise."

"Eh. Love can make ya do some crazy things." Eleanor left with her sister. "I mean, I wouldn't know personally. I'm aromantic. But, I have seen a lot of movies." She patted Brittany's back. "Come on, let's get you into a nice warm bath and soak away that tension. Alright?"

"Uh huh." Brittany sounded exhausted.

Now, only Jeanette and my brothers were in my lab with me. I broke out of the trance. "What….What do I tell her?"

Theodore and Simon sat in the yellow and red beanbag chairs the two Chipettes had vacated. Jeanette came over to sit on the floor, holding her sketchbook. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed what she was sketching. It was a doodle of me and her, dancing in the gazebo connected to the treehouse. I kinda wished I could go back to that night and dance for eternity there with Jeanette.

"It's really simple." Theodore said, snacking on a pack of gummies that he'd snatched from one of the drawers of my color coded organizer. "You tell her you love her."

"But…." I covered my face with my hands. "I don't." I expected the others to berate me, so when they didn't I nervously peeked through my fingers. Then, I set my hands down and tapped my fingers on my leg. "I mean, don't get me wrong, she's gorgeous. Any guy would be lucky to have her, but there's just…no spark between us. There may have been, a long long time ago. And, maybe, you know, if she stops tearing me to shreds all the time, there could be again, but for now…." I started to sob. "Nothing. She's totally friendzoned. She's gonna be devastated!"

"I'm sure she'll understand." Jeanette looked up from her sketch.

I felt a wave of panic come on. "HAVE YOU MET HER!?" I screeched.

The darling girl twirled a strand of her hair and blinked. "I, uh, I live with her."

"That's so sad." Theodore sniffled. "I always thought you both would make a good couple."

"You and the whole school. And our fans." I grumbled bitterly.

"It's a very…touchy situation for sure." Simon frowned.

"Si?" I asked in a small voice.

"Yeah?" He answered.

I swallowed. "Did you…mean what you said about the soulmate test? Or were you just kidding around?"

"I was…half joking." He admitted, pushing up his glasses. "I think, once you and Britt have matured more, you know, mentally, you'd make a fantastic pair."

"I genuinely feel sick right now." I gagged.

Theo slid off the beanbag chair and onto the floor. "You'll get used to the idea. She's really a nice person under all that meanish-ness."

"I don't think Alvin should have to "get used to it." Jeanette said firmly, surprising everyone. "If he doesn't want to be her boyfriend, she can't force him to be."

"Yes!" I stood up. "Thank you! Exactly!"

Simon and Theo looked at each other with equally shocked faces.

"Simon, can I get a security system for this lab?" I asked, pointing at the door. "An anti-Brittany security system?"

"Not yet." My brother replied.

I was about to stamp my foot, when I realized that was childish and would only reinforce the idea that I didn't deserve one.

"Why not?" I asked politely.

Simon folded his hands in his lap. "I might trust you with a lab, but I'm not sure I trust you enough to handle your own security system. For now, you just get the sliding door and the keypad."

I groaned. It was worth a shot. "Alright. I understand."

"So…." Jeanette closed her sketchbook and stretched. "Ready to return to our project?"

"Are you asking me? Or Alvin?" Simon pondered aloud.

"Both. I'm talking about the invention." She giggled. "Although, I look forward to getting back to planning our fantasy wedding." She told Simon playfully.

Ew ew ew. I really felt like I would lose my lunch. Wait, had I remembered to eat lunch? Drat. I honestly didn't know. Why did I feel this way every time the thought of Simon and Jeanette being a couple crossed my mind? So weird.

"Me too." He said to her face, before shooting me a look that read "HELP! I'm too awkward around Jeanette."

"I'm gonna go help Dave with dinner." Theodore beamed. "Good luck with your sciencey stuff. And, Alvin, think about what I said about Brittany. Okay?"

"Okay." I replied reflexively.

He toddled out of the lab and then closed the door behind him.

Now it was just me and my fellow nerdy crew again. Did I even feel like working on the invention now? Surprisingly, yes. It was just what I needed to take my mind off Brittany.

"Alright, you guys." I commanded as nicely as I could. "Let's get to work."

I was still reeling. Never in my life could I have predicted any of this. What would I do now that the truth was out? Would Britt and I stay friends if I (gulp) rejected her advances? Aw nuts! Even if I did reject her, we were still paired up on that frustrating project where we had to be a couple. This was too much. Too much. Classic, dude, where are you? I could really use some advice right now!

Focus, Alvin. You have to prioritize this Junior Inventor thing. It's your passion! Just tell Britt that you'll figure out how you feel about her over the summer. No, wait, she wouldn't want it to take that long. Why am I so concerned with what she wants? Maybe I DO have romantic feelings for her? Urgh, this is too much for one chipmunk to handle.

Just then, I thought I felt a faint, fleeting feeling of L-O-V-E toward Brittany. It turned out to be a gas bubble from all the root beer I drank. I burped and Simon gave me the stink eye while Jeanette laughed. Her laughter made me feel all warm and tingly. I focused on that feeling and slowly the thoughts of Brittany faded into the background. They'd be back, but they weren't gonna wreck this moment. No siree.

I apologize for how long this chapter was. Whew! And we aren't even finished with this section yet. The conclusion to this mess is coming up in chapter 41. Chapter 42 will be a fun summer themed chapter! Alvin's gonna have a blast to make up for, well, all this.

JEANETTE'S ART IS SO CUTE AND I WANNA DRAW IT! AHHHHH!

I'm so sorry for dragging you guys through this drama, but now that Brittany and Alvin have talked, perhaps their friendship can begin to be salvaged from the wreckage!

And before I conclude this, I wanna give a shout-out again to my buddy Torchu for helping roleplay out Alvin and Britt's entire confrontation from the Reasons You Suck speech to their eventual hug. Torchu did Alvin 2.0's dialogue! I did Brittany's. It turned out so well!

Also, Alvin may have learned what Britt's been hiding, but WHEN will he learn about his feelings for a certain special Chipette in purple? Only I know the answer to that. You'll have to wait a bit longer.

Don't forget to review! Please! I am dying to know how well you think these twists and turns are executed.

See ya all again whenever I update. You're awesome if you made it this far. Chapter freakin' 40 and we ain't done yet. We are getting there though! I promise!