Journey To Excelsior

by AmbitiousAlvin

Everyone knows that Alvin's been through a lot of development to get to the point he's at today. However, a BIG question remains. How exactly DID Alvin become Alvin 2.0? What was he like at the start of the change? In the middle? How about the end? Well, look no further! I have all the answers right here in this story made of many mini stories! Narrated by: Alvin feat the other 5

57. Let The Nerdiness Commence Part 4

If all goes well, there will only be one more chapter after this! 2 more, but one's a table of contents to help people find a specific smaller story inside the big one. I think a story this COLOSSAL needs that.

When we last left Alvin 2.0, he had just made it into the advanced placement class. But now that he's in, how will he manage it? It's certainly more than he bargained for.

More hijinks are ahead and more obstacles. Also, more Dr. Wilson!

Let's finish this section of Alvin 2.0's arc! Here we go! Warning: This is the longest chapter of this whole fic. It's so worth it though!

Alvin 2.0's POV

Life couldn't be better! I was getting more and more used to my new schedule each passing day. Being back in Dr. Wilson's class (AT LAST) made at least some part of school entertaining. Thanks again, Eleanor! Your sneakiness saved the day! Thanks to all my friends and family too. I wouldn't be there if it wasn't for them.

Granted, not EVERY part of this was what I expected. Simon had been right, unfortunately, about the class workload. Classic Alvin wasn't thrilled with my choice to take AP Science either. I tried my best to satisfy him with plenty of sports and videogames in between my rigorous studies.

To my surprise, which honestly should not have been a surprise at this point, I genuinely ENJOYED studying for AP Science! Everything Dr. Wilson taught was so fascinating! I just couldn't get enough. Probably because this was the physics unit. We'll see if I feel the same when I get to chemistry and biology. That's ages away though! I'm sure I'll be fine.

Without relying so much on sugar to boost my focus, it was hard to stay caught up on everything. Between school, homework, and chores, I was pretty busy. It wasn't ideal by any means, but I was managing the best I could. I just wish Dave had let me off easy on the chores.

It hadn't been that long since I joined the AP class. One day, I was working diligently through my homework while also taking plenty of breaks to play Masters Of Zolinda 6. I'd bought that game with my comic book money. After the management team tried to entice me with that as a reward, I couldn't stop thinking about it, and, well, here we are.

The fantasy game was really helping me increase my ability to concentrate tenfold. It felt awesome having a system that worked for me! Unfortunately, dear old dad had other plans for my time.

"Alvin, I asked you to do the dishes two hours ago, and they still aren't finished." Dave said, sounding perturbed.

I didn't look away from the TV screen. "Some of them are." I replied.

"Yes, but not all of them." He walked in front of the TV and caused me to swing my sword at the wrong target.

"I'm busy." I squeaked.

"It doesn't look like it." My dad glared at me.

I paused my game and shoved the stack of papers I'd been working through toward him. "I'm doing my homework! See? Isn't homework more important than chores?"

"Right now, it looks like you're playing a videogame." The dude in the periwinkle sweater looked suspiciously at me.

I slapped my forehead. "Well, yeah, how else am I supposed to stay focused?"

"I need the dishes done, Alvin." Dave was getting even angrier now.

"I'll get to them, I will, but AP Science stuff is more important right now." I found my half completed worksheet at the top of the stack and started to speed through the answers.

Simon and Theodore both entered the living room, likely to see what all the ruckus was about.

"Alvin, you can't use the fact that you take an advanced placement class to get out of your chores." My dad said firmly. I could sense his patience was all used up again.

I stopped answering homework questions and looked up at him. "I can't?"

Simon covered his mouth and muffled his laughter. Of course he found this hilarious. Of course.

"No. You can't." Dave responded.

"Aw nuts." I set the worksheet aside. I looked at the two stacks of papers. The finished pile and the still to work on pile were about the same height. "Are you sure I can't just keep working while I have the motivation?"

"You can work on it again AFTER the dishes and laundry are done." He folded his arms.

I hated being a good kid sometimes. "Okay, okay, I'll finish the chores."

Dad smiled at my compliance. "It won't take as long as you think." He promised.

I rolled my eyes as he walked out of the room. "Sure."

Turning my head, I was met with my brother Simon smiling a goofy "I told you so" grin.

Holding up my pointer finger, I snapped at him. "Don't, say a word."

My brothers followed me to the kitchen. Simon was STILL smiling smugly.

Theodore sweetly grabbed his apron and pushed a stool next to the sink. "I can help with the dishes and laundry." He offered.

"Me too." Added Simon.

My brothers were the coolest sometimes, even if one of them kept making an "I told you so" face.

I smiled. "Thanks, guys."

With them helping me, the chores took less time. I could get back to my homework and games and then head to bed. It seemed weekends were going to be my only free time now. I had to make those count.

Fridays were still pretty enjoyable. I had comic book club to look forward to in addition to Dr. Wilson's class. This particular Friday, there was a special assembly going on the later half of the day. Specifically, the last hour. This meant I'd miss art class, but that's no biggie. Comic book club is basically like a freestyle art class anyway.

On Friday morning, I decided to listen to my old self's impulse to do my hair again. Now that my rash was back to being freckles only, some nice hair would really elevate my look even more.

I did my usual routine of an 8th of an ounce of gel mixed with a third of mousse. I swiped my fringe upward to give it volume at a 78 degree angle. Usually, in the past, that always gave me the perfect swoosh look. When I looked in the mirror this time, it was a different story. My hair, even gelled, had styled itself into a wild looking mad-scientist hairdo. It looked fine, but it wasn't what I was going for. I began getting frustrated.

"Stay! Stay in place! No, not there!" I wrestled with my hair, but the gel just refused to hold it in the way I envisioned. "Why can't you behave!? Stay! I SAID STAY!"

I finally got it styled somewhat nicely and smiled to myself. "There, see? Was that so hard?"

FLOOF! As if responding, my hair wobbled a bit and then exploded back into the messy Einstein-esque look.

I groaned in frustration again.

Someone knocked at the bathroom door and I heard Simon's voice. "What's taking you so long?"

"Are you having another hallucination?" Theodore asked. He must have been outside the door with Simon.

"I can't get my hair to cooperate!" I opened the door and let them in. "Anything I do, it just refuses to stay put! Even hair gel isn't working!"

My taller bro raised an eyebrow. He folded his arms over his blue T-shirt with the atom decal. "I thought you didn't care how your hair looked anymore."

"It depends on the day." I clarified. "I love switching it up. Today, I want it to be similar to my old style." I sighed. "But I guess it's stuck like this."

Simon smiled. "At least the mad scientist look kind of suits you."

"Not helping, Si." I frowned. Would my hair ever look stylish again? Or was this something else I'd have to get used to?

Theodore rooted through the basket of supplies under the bathroom sink. "It's thicker and fluffier now." He informed me. "I bet you need this!" He pulled out some Extra-Hold Super Gel.

"It's worth a shot." I rinsed my hair out and then applied the new brand of gel. It actually worked! It kept my red-orange mess styled in a perfect swoop! "Ohoho! Yes! Thank you, little bro!"

"Lookin' good!" Theo gave me a thumbs up.

"Feelin' great too." I said, strolling out of the bathroom with my brothers following.

The little chipmunk in green was excited. "Maybe you'll even get an invite to one of those parties people keep trying to invite Simon to!"

A little bit of jealousy crept over me. I shoved it away. "I wouldn't count on it, Theo."

"I already turned down four of those things." Simon groaned, because apparently being more popular wasn't his dream. "I wish people would get the message. I don't fancy myself a party animal."

"You'll never know how much fun they'll be until you try." Theodore pointed out sweetly.

Simon and I reached the bottom of the stairs with him trailing behind.

"I'm perfectly fine not knowing." My fellow genius bro replied calmly.

Our baby brother shrugged. "If you say so."

We hurried off to finish getting ready for school after that. I had no idea what the day would bring, likely more shocking realizations and more weird feelings.

And I was right! During math class, I flew through my assignment and decided to use that time to work on AP Science instead. It felt right and wrong at the same time. Miss. Smith was upset at first, but once I explained I really was finished with math, she let me do whatever! I was a decent student now! Excelsior!

When math class let out, the six of us Chipmunks mingled together in the hall. Brittany told us about how she told off Annie for trying to kick her off the cheer squad. I was impressed! Maybe she was finally gonna break out of her status quo rut too.

"And now, Annie's got a sprained ankle." The girl in the off-shoulder fuschia top, skinny jeans, and lighter pink tank top underneath quipped. "Which means she's had to take a break from the team while she heals! Haha! Serves her right!"

"Absolutely." Jeanette agreed. "It's great that at least one of them got their comeuppance."

I stared lovingly at the girl in the lilac peasant blouse and purple plaid skirt. She had some flower barrettes in her hair too. Gosh, she was gorgeous.

Eleanor was dressed in a mint green tracksuit with a yellow star on the breast pocket. She leaned against the wall, looking super cool.

"Amber's not actually that bad when she's not being Annie's second in command." The blonde with the twin ponytails revealed.

"Yeah." Jeanette twisted her long strands of brown hair that hung down, while the rest was up in her standard bun. "Maybe someday she'll realize that Annie doesn't have her best interests at heart."

"Doubt it." Brittany muttered. "They've been friends since kindergarten. She told me she can't remember life before meeting Annie."

"Bummer." Theodore stuck his hands in the pockets of his forest green hoodie. He was wearing it over a white shirt with a strawberry ice cream cone on it.

"At least Derek's improved now." Simon added in. "Kind of."

"He's getting there." I said. "And that's what matters."

Brittany started changing the topic again. I noticed she did this frequently, especially when stressed out. "Urgh. I wish I had more help setting up for the assembly. It's a big job for just three people."

"I can help!" Theodore offered.

"It's fine, Theo. I don't want you to miss creative writing. You love that class." The oldest Chipette replied. "Same with you, Jeanette."

"Well…." The kind brunette squeaked. "I don't mind missing a day of class if it means helping my sister."

"I can't ask you to do that for me." Brittany insisted. "I was just complaining, okay? Sheridan, Jesse, and I will be alright."

Simon nudged me and gave me a weird face. What? What was he trying to tell me?

"If you say so." Jeanette closed her locker and we started to return to class.

"Hey, Alvin." Eleanor nudged me. "Got all your homework done yet?"

I nodded. "Yeah, uh, most of it. Why?"

She and Simon exchanged looks. "Oh, no reason." She responded.

I didn't believe that for a second. They were trying to convince me to do something, but I still wasn't sure what.

"I would hope he got it done." Brittany commented as we entered the classroom. "He worked nonstop on it last hour."

"I've never seen him do math homework so fast before." Theodore quipped.

I felt a small wave of embarrassment that quickly faded. My new 2.0 instincts took hold and I said something I never thought I'd admit in my entire life.

"Calculating the square roots of integers is pretty fun." I smiled at Brittany.

She looked worried and nervous, but forced a smile back.

Simon squinted at me, trying to figure out how to respond to such an out of pocket statement. "You mean calculating integrals?"

Whoops! Okay, so, expanded intellect doesn't correlate to mixing facts up less. "Oh yeah, those things." I replied. "Love them! The calculations just make my mind, like, light up!"

Everyone except Jeanette was staring at me now. Yeah, the nerd-brain had completely taken control for a minute. So what? It does that sometimes. No biggie!

Simon's blue eyes were open wide. "...I can't tell if you're serious or joking."

"Exactly." I sat down at my desk. "Wanna know something frightening?" I said softly as I could muster. It wasn't that soft. I have a loud voice.

My brother in the blue shirt raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Neither can I." It was true! What I said was intended to be humorous, no doubt. However, it was laced with truth. I did find math fun now! I actually find math fun. I owe it all to physics, Dr. Wilson, and Jeanette.

Miss. Smith started class and passed back our comprehension worksheets on The Odyssey. That was the book we were currently reading. A story by some dude named Homer. I'd prefer to read something written by Homer Simpson.

"It looks like most of you have grasped all the themes of The Odyssey." Miss. Smith droned on. "Aside from some of you, who think that reading a science book is more interesting than a hero's journey."

Oh crud! Was she talking about me?

The always crabby woman slapped my graded homework on my desk. I looked at the letter written on it. D minus. She was talking about me. Eh, ya can't win them all.

"Hey, it's been a very emotional couple weeks." I squeaked defensively.

"Do I look like I care?" Miss. Smith rubbed her head. "I need at least a C from you, Alvin. That's it. Can you do that for me?"

"I'll do my best, Miss. Smith." I promised.

"Good. Because if you get another D, I'm giving you DEE-tention." She turned away from my desk and continued passing out papers.

Simon looked at me with that confident all knowing "I told you so" face again.

After class, Jeanette came over to my desk. "We can read The Odyssey together if that'll be more interesting for you." She offered.

I smiled. "Thanks, Netta."

"I think you'll really love the mythology aspect of it." The girl in purple continued.

"I'm sure I will!" I rested my head on top of my hands as I gazed lovingly at my crush.

When lunchtime rolled around, Eleanor went off to sit with the soccer team and Brittany with the popular kids. I hung out with my friends from the comic book club, eager to tell them the details of my latest story. Simon stayed at the dweeb table with Theo and Jeanette.

"Wow, that sounds incredible. Mr. Yells A Lot's powers are really improving." Vanessa told me, while her pet myna bird echoed the last word.

You know, I wonder if I could take Warbie to school as emotional support too. I'll have to look into that.

"How many comics have ya made now, Alvin?" Issac asked in his cowboy talk accent.

I thought for a moment, then made a confused face. "I don't know exactly. I just know it's a lot."

Louis showed me his latest robot themed comic and then Isaac read us his latest satirical cartoon. It featured a lady that looked like Miss. Smith grumbling about "kids these days" and then going to a parent-teacher conference and grumbling about "parents these days."

Vanessa nudged the heavier girl with her brown hair in a ponytail. "Have you got any comics to share before the club today, Nat?"

Natalie shook her head. "I have like 13 in progress, but none of them finished." She confessed.

"That's okay!" I squeaked. "If ya wanna share some funny bits from the unfinished stuff, we'd love to hear it."

"And see it." Louis added. "You do…uh….r..r..really good work."

That gave Natalie the courage to show off a couple things too. A story about a mom and daughter going shopping until the mall is under attack by supervillains, was the first thing she shared. The others were stories about unrequited crushes. I didn't wanna think about Britt's unrequited crush on me. I was still glad Jeanette liked me back.

Eventually, just as I was about to dig into my lunch, Simon leapt over and landed on the comic club table. It wasn't that far of a jump, since the table was close to the dweeb table.

"May I borrow Alvin for a bit?" My brother requested.

"Sure thing." Isaac, Natalie, and Vanessa said. Louis just nodded.

I jumped with Simon over to the dweeb table. "What's up, Si?"

"I have a job for you." He told me with a friendly smile. "Are you up to the challenge?"

My ears twitched happily. "Is it an inventing job?"

"No, not exactly." He gripped the handle of his lunchbox while he spoke.

"Well, I am itching for a chance to prove how responsible I am now." I reasoned aloud. "What is it?" I could barely sit still! The anticipation was building!

"You can help Brittany and her friends set up for the assembly." Simon finished.

The anticipation was gone in the blink of an eye, replaced with dread. "But…But…" I stammered.

My brother in the striped undershirt with the T-shirt on top, put a hand on my shoulder. "She'd appreciate the help a lot…and the fact that you offered instead of her asking."

"I didn't offer." I pointed out, chomping into the banana from my lunchbox. "You told me to make the offer."

"Eleanor and I tried to make you think of it yourself." He explained. "Come on."

"No." I took another bite of banana and chewed. "I'm too busy."

"Alvin, it's ONE day. Plus, with all she's going through, she needs someone looking out for her." He looked at me and rested his head on one of his hands.

Theodore spoke up now. "He's right."

Jeanette nodded without saying a word.

My urge to be sarcastic kicked in suddenly. "That's the perfect use of a genius brain." I muttered. "…to look after a girl who thinks Dark Matter is a new color of eyeshadow."

"Brittany is smart, she's just highly specialized." Simon told me, sounding irritated. "I have explained dozens of times."

"Yes." Jeanette smiled. "My sister is very talented, even if she isn't a scientific person."

"Why can't someone else help her?" I groaned, moving on to eating some cheese cubes and uncooked green beans.

Simon's piercing blue eyes sliced through me metaphorically. He was glaring again. "Because working together and learning to tolerate each other again will do you some good."

"Or, it'll put me exactly where Brittany wants me, so she can sink her teeth in me and make me sell my soul again." I murmured darkly.

Jeanette sighed. "I understand your reluctance, but I know she won't do that."

The Chipette in purple looked upset that I was ragging on her sister.

"I wish I could trust her." I sipped my fruit punch juice pouch. "But every time I do, she suckers me into stuff."

"She's learning though." Theodore insisted. "She's learning to do that less."

My taller brother nodded. "Alvin, Brittany is a kid. I think sometimes you forget that."

I rolled my eyes. "I think sometimes SHE forgets that." I pointed to the 9 year old dressed like a teen, gossiping with a bunch of other teen girls.

"It's only for one hour." The chubby chipmunk finished his veggie sub sandwich.

I slumped my shoulders. It seemed there was no getting around this. "Urgh, okay." I said bitterly.

I rejoined the comic book club table after that and finished my lunch period on a high note. I didn't think about Brittany again until after AP science.

My new class for higher level concepts continued to surprise and delight me. I greeted Dr. Wilson and turned in my homework.

"Well done." He complimented my stack of completed papers.

"Thanks. I struggled a bit staying motivated on it, but I pushed through." I replied.

The wavy haired teacher smiled warmly. "That's what I like to hear."

I jumped off his desk and caught up with Simon. I climbed into my human size desk, next to my fellow smart bro. I was starting to get used to it. It was fun being taller, even if it was only an illusion provided by the pile of books I sat on.

I felt perfectly at home in this class. It was like meeting an old friend, back again after so long. Plus, sharing it with Simon was exciting. Now, Simon could have a front row seat to experience what I acted like in an academic class that wasn't headed by a fun-crusher extrordinare.

"This still feels uncanny." My brother said softly to me. "Coming from Miss. Smith's class to this one is like night and day."

"Indubitably." I adjusted my glasses and winked.

He studied me curiously. "You're so…"

"Well behaved?" I filled in for him. "Funny how that works."

"And you really think you can do this the entire year? The work only gets more difficult." Simon nibbled his lip.

I grinned. "Bring it on." I tapped my fingers on my desk. "Hey, do you think we'll get our quizzes back today?"

"Most likely." He flipped through his textbook, preparing for the lesson.

"Do you think I passed?" I asked, discreetly taking out a container of red glitter thinking putty from my backpack.

His expression was blank, hard to read, but maybe slightly confused. "I don't know what to think."

I chuckled to myself. Simon was finally seeing me in a whole new light. The transformation was nearly complete now.

I continued to blow my brother's mind during class. Dr. Wilson "lectured" although calling it a lecture implies he was scolding us or something. It was quite the opposite. He talked for a long time and told us what sorta stuff to take notes on. He sounded so absolutely mesmerized by the material that his energy was contagious. I soaked in every word, while I squeezed and pulled at the red glitter putty in my hands.

Simon saw me fidgeting and instantly assumed I was distracted. "Alvin, pay attention." He whispered harshly.

"I am." I responded.

Our teacher caught us talking to each other. "Is there a problem, boys? I don't want to have to separate you two, but if you keep this up, it may come to that."

"No, no." I begged. "Please don't separate us."

"There is a problem, Dr. Wilson." Simon said politely, pointing at me. "He's been playing with silly putty throughout your entire lesson."

"It's called thinking putty." I corrected him angrily.

My brother ordered me around again. "Pay attention!"

Luckily, I had someone ready to come to my aid and remind Simon I learned differently than most people.

"He is." My favorite teacher quipped.

"There's no way." My brother was still skeptical. "He isn't even looking at you."

Dr. Wilson smiled. "A keen observation, Simon." His eyes twinkled playfully. "Nevertheless, he IS paying attention."

The brown haired chipmunk's eyes narrowed. "Prove it." He demanded.

Our teacher humored him. "Very well." He looked at me. "Alvin, what is the definition of Simple Harmonic Motion?"

I recited it without even glancing at my notes. "It's a periodic motion of a point along a straight line. Its acceleration is always towards a fixed point in that line and is proportional to its distance from that point. Granted, there's a lot more to it than that, but those are the basics." I finished, looking at Simon with a mirror image of his "I told you so" face.

"WHAT!?" My genius brother's jaw dropped. It stayed that way for a good minute and a half.

Dr. Wilson continued his lesson, only interrupting it one more time to address the Chipmunk in the royal blue shirt.

"Close your mouth, Simon." He chuckled. "You'll catch flies."

When class ended, my brother was still pretty shell shocked. "How on earth…can you do that?"

"Beats me." I shrugged. "It helps the information stick, but Jeanette and I haven't quite figured out why yet."

"Unbelievable." He murmured.

"Oh, come on." I grinned. "That's not HALF as impressive as…this." I held up the quiz I'd taken a few days earlier. A shiny gold star sticker was plastered on it, next to my grade. An A minus.

My brother's eyes just about popped out of his head. "How….how….HOW!?"

"Hey, I made it through the giant exam of doom." I bragged. "After that, this was as easy as skateboarding."

"I suppose that stands to reason." Simon and I headed for our lockers.

I poked Simon in the back. "So, what grade did you get?"

"That's not important." He replied nervously.

"What? Is it lower than mine? Did you get a B?" I teased. "Did the great and powerful Simon Seville get a B on his quizzy quiz quiz?"

"I wasn't going to show you, but since you INSIST on being a thorn in my side…" Simon whipped his quiz out to show me a gold star sticker next to a solid A. No minus in sight.

"Awesome work, bro." I congratulated him. "Why hide that?"

"I didn't want your accomplishment to feel…less special." He admitted.

"Are you kidding?" I gushed. "I got almost the same grade as you on a physics quiz! It couldn't be more special! I know there's no way I can get everything right. I don't have the same memory skills you do." I explained. "But this? This proves I'm literally doing the best I can! And, AND it's paying off."

"It is." Simon reached into his locker and pulled out an envelope. "They just keep coming." He sighed. Another party invite. "When will it end?"

"You should go to one." I told him. "Just to check it out."

"Would you like to go dressed as me?" He asked, wiggling the envelope enticingly.

I wasn't taking that deal. "Nuh uh."

"You should!" Theodore interrupted us, joining us at the locker.

"I would love to go to a party." I said truthfully. "But not pretending to be Simon."

"But your Simon impression is so good!" My littlest brother squeaked.

"Theo,…" I groaned. "Go to class."

"But I wanna hear how things went in your smart guy class." My baby brother requested.

Simon smiled. "They were extremely interesting, in a good way." He rubbed his neck. "And also, an unsettling way."

"But mostly good!" I finished.

"Yaaaay!" Theodore hugged both of us. "I am so happy for you guys!"

"Think Dave's gonna faint when I show him my A minus?" I asked, stuffing all my things in my locker.

"Oh yeah." Theodore and Simon both agreed.

My baby bro giggled. "He's gonna be on the floor."

We parted ways from Theodore, and Simon continued to walk with me to the gymnasium. That was where the assembly would be held, which meant that's where I was meeting Brittany.

Along the way, Simon sighed wistfully. "You know, I still remember the day when you told me you were interested in science."

"I'm glad one of us does, because I sure don't." I admitted. "So much has happened since then." I rubbed the sleeves of the cyan undershirt I wore underneath the letter A T-shirt.

"Indeed." Simon quipped, pacing himself so he could keep up with my speedwalking. "I could have never predicted any of this." He paused, then added…"I'm sorry."

I stopped in my tracks. "Sorry for what?"

"I'm sorry that I thought you were going through a phase." He stated. "I'm sorry it took me so long to adapt to the idea. I'm sorry I basically threw a fit upon learning you wanted to be an inventor. You proved me wrong in so many ways…and you know how much I hate being wrong." He admitted, looking at me with wonder.

"Hey, don't sweat it!" I told him. "Everything worked out for the best. Our lives are more interesting than ever!" I put an arm around his shoulder.

Then, Simon shocked me by saying something I never thought he'd say in a zillion years. "Ain't no doubt about that."

I froze, wondering if I imagined it. "Did you just use improper grammar?"

My brother in blue smirked. "Yeah."

I reached over and ruffled his hair. "Awww look at you, straying from your comfort zone." I teased.

"Haha, quit it." He wriggled away. "I'm still not going to those parties."

"And that's alright." I said sweetly. "You can leave your comfort zone at whatever speed you like. No rush." I grinned. "We have all the time in the world….quite literally." You know, on account of the floating timeline.

He patted my back again. "We sure do."

I felt like I had to apologize now. Since he did it, it was only fair. I couldn't remember if I did apologize before or not. I probably did, but another couldn't hurt.

"Also, uh, sorry again, for all those times I teased you for being a Geeknerd." I said awkwardly. "Jeanette thinks I may have been projecting."

"I forgive you." He said, as we arrived at the gym. Then, a sly smile twisted his lips. "So, how does it feel being as nerdy as I am?"

How did it feel? I had strongly mixed feelings, but they were leaning more and more towards only good ones. Classic Alvin still didn't accept what we'd become, but even he was beginning to adjust. He was a little less pushy now. It helped that I made time for him to just relax and chill as much as I could.

"Unreal, bizarre, but…freeing." I told Simon looking down at my clothes. I looked back up at him. "Despite there being, you know, lingering bits of crisis."

"You'll adapt to it." My brother promised gently.

I smiled. "It has been getting easier lately." I admitted.

"That's what I like to hear." He waved me away. "Now, go find Brittany."

I switched back into the mode I used to go in whenever Dave tried to make me do chores. "I don't wanna." I whined.

"Alvin!" Simon scolded.

I let out an exaggerated sigh. "Fiiiine."

And with that, I opened the doors to the gymnasium and went to meet up with Brittany, Jesse, and Sheridan. Simon was right, Britt would probably appreciate my help. Or, she'll get mad at me. That's another option. I hope she doesn't try to provoke me, but what are the odds of that happening.

What do I say to Brittany? I wondered to myself as I walked through the gym. I remembered what Simon told me about channeling my old self more around her. I just didn't wanna do it too much, or she'd get false hope of me changing back. It was like walking a tightrope. One wrong step, and I'd fall.

This Alvin 2.0 brain is tricky to work with, especially around Britt. I have some of the same thoughts, but I process them entirely differently. Think! What would Classic Alvin do? What would he say to her? Why is this so hard? It used to come naturally!

I scampered up to the girl in the off shoulder top and skinny jeans. I ignored the two human teen girls with her, and mainly focused on her. My best frenemy.

She noticed me, but said nothing, she continued to work setting up this rolling stage doohicky for the welcome back to school assembly. Don't ask me why they couldn't hold it in the auditorium, which already has a stage. I guess they have their reasons.

Alright, here goes…I stared up at the pink clad Chipette on the ladder. I called upon my old impulses, which I felt like I hadn't done in a while. It felt good, but also a little frightening. It wasn't the best idea

I opened my mouth and blurted out. "Hey, hot stuff. I'm here to make your day more awesome."

Okay, that sounded like Classic Me, but THAT WAS FLIRTING! ABORT MISSION! ESCAPE! NOW!

Brittany climbed down the ladder and then hopped off. She faced me with a confident grin. "I knew you'd come crawling back to me. Does my sister not do it for you anymore?" She asked.

"I didn't mean to say any of that!" I covered my mouth. "I'm still very much attracted to your sister and not you."

"If you say so." Brittany struck a sassy pose. "If you want me, you can't have me anyway. I'm through with boys who break my heart. Now, I'm just waiting for Mr. Right."

"Phew." I breathed a sigh of relief. Okay, now maybe being around Brittany wouldn't stress me out as much. If she'd gotten over her crush on me, then I could hopefully start showing her my fun side again!

"What are you doing here?" The strawberry blonde haired girl in pink crossed her arms.

"I….I came to help." I admitted. She doesn't have to know Simon sent me. "I finished the last creative writing assignment, so I have nothin' to do 6th hour." That was true! I had! "I might as well do something productive." Drat, no! I was slipping back into 2.0 mode! Holding onto those Classic Alvin impulses was tough!

Brittany studied me with her ice blue eyes. "Oookay then." She said finally. "You can help."

"Hi, Alvin!" Sheridan finished setting up the podium and climbed down her ladder to reach me. "How's it going?"

"Things are…uh…" Why was it so hard to think of what Classic me would say? "Totally epic! Did you hear how I smoked Ray Ray's butt playin' dodgeball?"

Jesse had retrieved some folding chairs from the janitor's closet. She was setting them up on the stage. She stopped when she heard me and peered down, waving.

"Are you going to try out for any school plays this year?" She asked. Jesse was big in the drama department. I'd kissed her on the cheek once for a school play because Simon didn't want to.

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "I dunno. I was, but now AP Science has me swamped with homework."

"Aw man." Jesse said sadly. "I understand."

"Theo and I will definitely be in some." Brittany reassured her.

"So, anyway, what can I do to help?" I asked. It looked like they had stuff covered without me.

"You can put up the banner." The pink clad Chipette suggested. "Sheridan could use a hand."

The medium tan skinned girl with the dark brown hair nodded. We both climbed up the steps to the stage and then climbed a ladder to reach the arch where we were supposed to hang the banner.

When that was finished, Sheridan sat down on the stage in one of the folding chairs.

"So…" She began. "I know two years ago, you wanted to ask me on a date. If you're still up for it, we can…try it out."

Oh sure NOW Sheridan wanted to date me. She was very pretty, but I knew I had to let her down gently.

I frowned. "Thanks for the offer, but…there's another girl who's won my heart. Didn't Britt tell you?"

The beautiful teenager shook her head. "No, she hasn't said anything besides the fact that you dumped her."

"Yeah, and even that's not the whole truth." I murmured, twisting at my shoulder length hair. "It's way more complicated than that."

Sheridan stood up and we walked around on the stage. "Does the girl you're crushing on like you back?"

I felt that giddy and goofy look spread across my visage. (That's a fancy way of saying face.) "She loves me more than anything in the world." I replied.

We continued to spend the rest of the hour setting up. Then, near the end of the hour, Brittany tugged on me.

"I forgot something really important." She said urgently.

I tried to stay as relaxed and chill as possible. "What did ya forget?"

"THE MUSIC!" She exclaimed. "I was supposed to get a DJ to work out a score for the assembly."

"No sweat, Britt." I told her sweetly. "I got you covered."

"H…H…How?" She stammered.

I rested a hand on one of my hips. "Did ya forget one of my best friends is a DJ?" I squeaked. "The incredible DJ K?"

She facepalmed. "I can't use Kevin!"

"Why not?" I challenged.

"Because I don't want sci fi music backing the assembly, nutjob!" The irritated Chipette shouted.

I looked at her with my eyes half open, she was so tiring sometimes. "Kevin can do more than just sci fi stuff."

"He can?" Her ice blue eyes filled with hope.

"Uh, duh!" I walked around her in a circle by the gym door. "Nobody is just ONE thing. Kevin's got other hobbies too. You should hear some of the remixes he plays for Theodore." I informed her.

She looked at her clipboard. "Can he do classical music?"

"Definitely." I responded. "Well, classical-esque. He can come darn close though. His mom loves classical stuff."

She brightened up. "Okay. Text him."

"Aye aye, Princess." I typed off a quick text to Kevin. He was happy to help.

A little while later, instead of the last class of our day, we were all forced to sit in the bleachers and watch the assembly. Luckily, I sat next to Jeanette and was able to lean on her shoulder while I dozed.

About halfway through the hour, she gently shook me awake. "They're announcing awards."

"Huh?" I blinked my eyes open. "What?"

"You won Most Improved two years in a row." Jeanette nudged me again. "They're going to call you up."

Gasp! She was right. I pulled my red compact mirror from my jean pocket and checked my reflection. Phew, my hair still looked good. However, I needed a second opinion.

"How's my hair?" I asked my crush.

She tilted her head. "Looks fine to me."

I saw a few stragglers sticking out from under my cap and retrieved a miniature comb from my pocket to deal with them. There! Now, I looked stupendous!

Principal Meadows stood onstage next to the superintendent, who was an old grey haired lady with a sharp looking maroon suit. I didn't know her name. I saw a bunch of students get called up and sit onstage in the folding chairs, holding their medals, certificates, and awards.

"I would now like to welcome up Pricipal Meadow's assistant and last year's Homecoming Queen." The superintendent announced. "Give a round of applause for Miss. Brittany Miller."

I rolled my eyes as I watched Britt scamper up the steps we'd set up and jump eagerly onto the stage. "Hello, everyone! Welcome back! I hope your summer was as amazing as mine!" She said happily. "Anyway, it is my pleasure to announce the next award. This is a tough one to win. Don't ask me how he did it, because I don't know, but this guy managed to win Most Improved Student TWO years in a row." Wait, she was talking about me! "I guess that's why he calls himself TWO point oh now. Give it up for Alvin Seville!"

Jeanette and Simon both nudged me toward the stage. Theo and Eleanor flashed encouraging smiles and two thumbs up each.

I walked up the steps and stood there, looking out at the sea of faces in the bleachers. They knew now. Anyone who didn't before, knew I'd become a complete geeknerd. My new reputation was locked in place, even though my old one was still making some folks doubt my changes.

"Uh, hello!" Brittany waved her hand in front of my face. "Aren't you going to say anything?"

I blinked, startled by her words. I couldn't have stage fright now! Not in front of everyone. I took the microphone that Brittany gave me in shaky hands. I swallowed hard and then…I channeled my fun side.

"Ohoho! It is great to be here! Seriously! I'm glad that my spectacular transformation has been recognized! Being a good student is a pain in the tail! I don't know how I manage to keep it up!" I babbled. "Who knows? I may even win the award a third time this year, but, well, I think someone else should get a chance. After all, it's tough to complete with a genius!"

I handed the mic back to Brittany. She groaned into it. "Do you ever get tired of bragging about your genius?"

"Not really." I puffed out my chest proudly. "I think, after working SO HARD, I am entitled to bragging rights."

Our principal sensed something was coming, so she grabbed the superintendent's hand and they hurried away from Brittany and I.

Britt's tail was fluffed and spiky. She was super mad. "That's not how it works."

"Is so." I winked.

"Is NOT!" she retorted.

"Ohoho! Is SO!" At this point, Classic Alvin was in control, ready to push Britt's buttons until she exploded. I'd also forgotten where we were and how absolutely inappropriate this timing was. I just wanted to ruffle Britt's fur. It was like there was nobody in the room except me and her. And Kevin, our very accommodating DJ.

Brittany stood nose to nose with me. "Is NOT! Now, stop bragging!"

"Why?" I smirked, wiggling my eyebrows. "I thought you're attracted to my confidence!"

"Alvin, stop this, right now." She fumed.

"Face it." I said, my smirk growing wider. "You find me irresistible. Nerdy or not, you looooove me." I laughed. "And you can't have me. It drives you crazy!"

My better judgment was screaming! Why was I saying that stuff!? Why!? I'd slipped too far into my old self's pattern of thinking! I had to break out of it!

"Okay, that's it!" Brittany glared at me. "We're settling this once and for all." She grinned at Kevin and rushed over to him. "Do you know the music for Shania Twain's That Don't Impress Me Much?" She asked quietly.

I scampered over to him too, and whispered my request in his ear. "And Simple Plan's Opinion Overload?"

"Yeah, I do, but, you guys really shouldn't…" Kevin groaned to himself as we scurried back to the front of the stage. "Nevermind." He started to play the music Britt requested.

The Chipette in the off shoulder fuschia top grabbed the mic before I could. She'd be going first in this musical mashup battle.

"I've known a few guys who thought they were pretty smart,

But you've got being right down to an art

You think you're a genius, you drive me up the wall

You're a regular original, a know-it-all"

She definitely brought out all her moves and amped up her sass level. Her Shania Twain impression was pretty great too.

"Oh, oh, you think you're special

Oh, oh, you think you're something else"

She reached out and tapped my glasses with her finger.

"Okay, so you're a rocket scientist"

She belted out the chorus, dancing professionally while keeping a firm grip on the mic. Meanwhile, I had plans to get that microphone away from her.

"That don't impress me much

So you got the brains, but have you got the touch?

Don't get me wrong, yeah I think you're alright

But that won't keep me warm in the middle of the night

That don't impress me much"

When she was distracted by an instrumental interlude, I grabbed the mic and slid across the stage on my knees. My turn now! I jumped to my feet and began to rock and roll! I was singing the lyrics to one of the coolest Simple Plan songs ever!

"So you think you got me figured out

Why don't you go ahead and tell me what I'm all about?

You know I'm dying to hear it."

I taunted Britt through the lyrics, the same way she taunted me with hers. Gosh! I loved this! I hadn't had a song battle with Britt like this in AGES!

"I'm getting sick of all the sticks and stones you throw

Now it feels like it's an opinion overload

I can take it but but I'd rather leave it"

I shook my tail to the beat, letting all that pent up emotion out. I had been DYING to say this stuff to Brittany since she started teasing me and calling me Not-Alvin or Anti-Alvin.

"Get out of my face

Quit bringing' me down

I don't care what you say

So what part of that don't you understand?"

I jumped up on one of the empty folding chairs onstage. The students sitting in the others watched me and Britt argue in song, not sure what to think, but enjoying the free performance.

"Hey!

I'm doing things exactly like I want to

What part of that don't you understand?

Hey!

And I don't give a dang if you don't approve

What part of that don't you understand?"

Brittany tickled me and grabbed the mic, transitioning back into her song. She reached into my jean pockets (because she still can't keep her hands off me) and pulled out my compact mirror and comb. Then, she tried to touch my hair, and I jumped back from her. I was NOT enduring the FLOOF effect in front of everyone.

"I never knew a guy who carried a mirror in his pocket

And a comb up his sleeve-just in case

And all that extra hold gel in your hair oughta lock it

'Cause Heaven forbid it should fall outta place"

She shook her hips and pranced about, swinging around the microphone stand that the mic had been attached to earlier.

"Oh, oh, so you think you're something special

Oh, oh, you think you're something else

Okay, so you're Brad Pitt"

Back to the chorus, I watched the strawberry blonde haired diva get the crowd shuffling and dancing in their seats. The principal and superintendent glared up at us. Eventually though, the principal just facepalmed.

"That don't impress me much

So you got the looks but have you got the touch?

Don't get me wrong, yeah I think you're alright

But that won't keep me warm in the middle of the night

That don't impress me much"

Because I was in wild child mode, I climbed up to the Santa Barbara High banner and detached it. Using my uncanny ability to calculate and predict where I'd land, I grabbed onto the banner and swung, leaping off it and snatching the mic from an unsuspecting Brittany.

"You're so tough, you throw punches with your words

You think you're clever, let me tell you that you're not the first

Say something I haven't heard yet"

I resumed my taunts and flipped at her ponytail, hip bumping her afterwards and causing her to fall on her butt. I was totally winning!

"You're disrespectful, always quick to judge

I kinda wonder if you're doing it just because

It must be nice being perfect"

Was I still jealous of how perfect and popular she was? Maybe? But only half of me was. I really needed to get that half under control. I sang the chorus louder, giving Britt a shove when I saw her hand reaching for the mic again.

"Get out of my face

Quit bringing me down

I don't care what you say

So what part of that don't you understand?"

She tried to trip me with her leg, but I jumped over her. I spun around and freestyle danced around. This battle would be over soon!

"Hey!

I'm doing things exactly like I want to

What part of that don't you understand?

Hey!

And I don't give a dang if you don't approve

What part of that don't you understand?

Hey!"

Or not! Brittany successfully tripped me the second time she tried, recaptured the microphone and escaped to the other side of the stage. Kevin switched the music again to her song choice. He looked very sick of flip-flopping.

"You're one of those guys who likes to shine his machine

You make me take off my shoes before you let me get in

"I can't believe you kiss your car good night

C'mon baby tell me, you must be jokin', right"

I mean, I did make her take off her heels before riding in my hot rod. I had a good reason though! I just…didn't want her to look taller than me. Okay, I'm petty.

"Oh, oh, so you think you're something special

Oh, oh, you think you're something else"

She shoved me as I tried to sneak up behind her and steal the mic. Ouch! I tumbled back and tripped, falling on my face.

"Okay, so you've got a car,"

She faced the audience in the bleachers. I think they were cheering for both of us, but the cheers she seemed to gather were substantially louder. I guess that's to be expected, given her popularity.

"That don't impress me much

So you got the moves but have you got the touch?

Don't get me wrong, yeah I think you're alright

But that won't keep me warm in the middle of the night

That don't impress me much"

I engaged in a tug of war with the girl in pink, desperately trying to take the mic back. Her hands were gripping it too tightly. She was using her super strength! I was forced to resort to tickling her elbow and causing her to loosen her grip. HAHA! SUCCESS!

"I won't apologize

For what I feel inside

I won't be pushed around

I won't be backing down

Not doing what you say

I'll never change my ways"

I shouted the next part at her, so that she'd understand. She wasn't allowed to demand I act like Classic Alvin, nor was she allowed to throw a fit when I didn't.

"Get out of my face"

I stood confidently facing her, singing my little nerd-rockstar heart out. I was starting to get tired, but I pushed through.

"Hey!

I'm doing things exactly like I want to

What part of that don't you understand?

Hey!"

She yanked the mic from my hands again and raced away, with me chasing her. She taunted me more as she prepared to end her song choice.

"You think you're cool but have you got the touch?

Don't get me wrong, yeah I think you're alright

But that won't keep me warm on the long, cold, lonely night

That don't impress me much"

She got in one last bout of teasing, and I suddenly realized something amazing. The lyrics of the song were about getting over me! She WAS ACTUALLY OVER ME! She wasn't just pretending! I didn't impress her anymore! How about that?

"Okay, so what do you think you're Elvis or something?

Whatever

That don't impress me"

As elated as I was to learn her crush on me was history, the rebellious guy inside me couldn't let her have the last word. My competitive nature was back! At least, partially! I leapt over her head and grabbed the mic while she was startled.

"And I don't give a dang if you don't approve

What part of that don't you understand?

Hey!

Not doing what you say, I'll never change my ways

What part of that don't you understand?"

I finished the song while still running away, but all of a sudden, the other side of the banner came undone. I wound up trapped under it as it fell. What followed was a chain reaction.

Some of the other students all tried to run off the stage as I rolled around, attempting to shake the banner off. I was like a runaway bowling ball, knocking down the other students like pins. Eventually, so many people were fleeing that the stage itself collapsed from all the movement. It was just a flimsy thing.

"Alvinnn!" I heard Brittany and the principal scream together.

I finally peeled the banner off myself, noticing that I was sitting atop the remains of the collapsed stage, surrounded by a bunch of dazed and hopefully un-injured students.

The superintendent stood with her hands on her hips. "What do you have to say for yourself, young man!?" She snapped.

"Brittany started it!" My brain screamed, but I ignored it. Instead, I tried to channel my 2.0 instinct again. Classic had his fun…and would likely pay for it dearly.

"It was an accident." I quipped, looking embarrassed.

The old woman picked a pencil out of her hair. "This behavior is unacceptable."

"I know, I know, I just got carried away is all." I admitted.

The superintendent wrote something else on the clipboard. "I could have you expelled for this. It's hardly your first offense."

"W….What?" I gasped. "Expelled!?" Leave it to me to go from Most Improved Student to expelled. "Miss, uhhh…what's your name? You can't! It was! It was just a little accident."

She marched away with one last warning. "You best be ready to defend yourself at student honor court, Seville. I'll see you on Monday."

Student Honor Court? Did she wanna send me to juvie or something? Oh no! Nooooooooooo!

I located Brittany and pulled her behind what was left of the stage. "This is all your fault." I snapped. "I mean, uh, half your fault and half mine."

"I just wanted to have a sing off." The Chipette in pink replied angrily. "You're the one who took it too far!"

"How was I supposed to know that a banner was just going to fall on my head!?" I asked.

"I dunno! You have, like, really rotten luck." She squeaked.

I frowned. It was time to tell her the bad news. "That superintendent lady, she says I might be expelled! Kicked out of school!"

Britt's pink lips contorted into an O of surprise. "What!?" She looked worried. "This is terrible!"

"Yeah! I know!" I hugged myself. "I don't wanna be expelled! I just started liking school!"

"Don't worry, Alvin." My best friend who is basically a sister to me vowed. "We'll fix this….somehow."

That weekend, I didn't have a ton of time for fun. Dave received an E-mail from the superintendent. She said she wasn't going to expel me, she had picked a different punishment. Arguably, something I felt was WORSE than being expelled. She wanted to remove me from Dr. Wilson's class.

Her reasoning for it was so dumb! She argued that a student like me wasn't a good fit for AP anything. She claimed that I would be a bad influence on the other students. Now, I had to go on trial and defend my right to stay in one of my favorite classes…the very same class I worked my tail off to qualify for in the first place. It wasn't fair! It wasn't right! And all because of a tiny little accident and de-railing a school assembly? Come on! You can't write this stuff!

Luckily, I had an entire team of people on my side, Dave included. We worked the whole weekend gathering up my transcripts to show off my improved grades, practicing our speeches, and compiling all Jeanette's research and the lesson results. Together, we would prove just how much of a changed person I was. I hoped anyway.

I suffered through the school day on Monday, and asked Dr. Wilson if he could help me by coming to my honor court trial. Luckily, he said yes! It might have been my last day in his class, so I enjoyed it as much as possible with the looming threat of being kicked out hanging over my head. I wasn't in a great mood, but who would be if they were in my shoes?

After school, my posse and I reported to the room where the Student Honor Court was held. The judge was a tall, chestnut haired boy I'd never seen before. He was wearing a long black robe. Simon informed me that this guy ran the debate club, so he was well versed in seeing both sides of a situation. That gave me a chance, at least. His nametag said Rodney, but I'll just be referring to him as The Judge.

My family, the Chipettes and I were all dressed up in fancy clothes for the occasion. We were the only ones, but that's how it usually went. Brittany was rocking what I could only describe as lawyer Barbie chic. She had on a bubblegum colored suit jacket over a light pink pencil skirt. Her tie was light pink and covered in glitter and she wore pearl bracelets on each wrist. Next to her, Eleanor sat, wearing a dark teal pantsuit and teal and mint striped tie. Her hair was in low pigtails instead of high ones…for a more professional look. Miss. Miller wore a dark magenta blazer over her normal pink dress. It had a white rose in the lapel. Rounding off the Miller family, Jeanette was stunning in her grape purple blazer, cyan bowtie, and floor length blue to purple ombré skirt.

Moving over to the Seville family, Dave wore a sharp looking navy blue suit and a black tie with red, green, and blue music notes on it. Theodore had a green suede pantsuit that looked similar to Eleanor's and no tie in sight. Simon had on a royal blue suit in the same style as Dave's. His lighter blue tie had molecule designs. So cool! As for me, I walked toward the defendant's seat, fidgeting awkwardly with the yellow bowtie adhered to my red, orange, and cyan argyle sweatvest. At least I got to keep my light blue denim jeans and rainbow sneakers.

"I hate this outfit." I complained to Simon. I didn't, but the classic Alvin impulses convinced me I should, momentarily.

My brother put both hands on my shoulders. "I know, I know, but the more different you appear, the better. That letter A T-shirt is just a big reminder of how they used to think of you." He straightened my yellow bowtie.

"Urgh, okay. I get it, but I'm still uncomfortable." I responded, taking my seat.

"Give me the cap." My taller brother requested.

I put my hands on top of my baseball cap, protectively. "No!"

"Come on, Alvin." The boy in the blue suit urged. "You can't wear a cap to a trial. It's unprecedented."

I held back my tears, but my sad face said it all. "Si, I need it. It's my comfort item."

"It's only for a couple hours." He reached out to take it.

I pulled away from him. "I've already had so much of my Alvin-ness stripped away." I replied, sounding miserable. "Please, let me keep the cap." I clasped my hands together and begged.

My brother finally understood. "Okay." He said, with a curt nod.

"Are you ready for this?" Theodore asked, sitting next to Simon and talking to me.

"It doesn't matter." I moaned. "It's happening whether I'm prepared or not."

The superintendent sat in the Plaintiff's chair, staring at me with disapproval as she prepared to strike a punishing blow in exchange for my misdemeanors. In non wordy talk, she was gonna make her case that I was a fundamentally bad student.

"We're gonna save you, Alvin." Theodore promised. "Don't worry."

The Chipettes all smiled at me and nodded, confirming Theodore's statement.

I could win this. I had so many people in my corner. I looked at everyone who was arriving and taking their seats. Dr. Wilson, Kevin, Cheesy, Vanessa and my comic club pals, Officer Dangus, Ms. Croner, Miss. Miller, Coach Dopkins, The Concussion Specialist, even MISS SMITH! She actually was going to defend me!

"What's Ms. Croner doing here?" Simon asked me, tapping my arm. "She doesn't go to this school, nor is she a staff member!"

I shrugged. "Neither is Dave and he's here."

"He's your dad." He adjusted his round blue spectacles.

"Officer Dangus is here too." I pointed out.

My taller bro looked confused. "He's like…your other dad."

It was kinda true. Dangus always stepped in when Dave dropped the ball. He even showed up to cheer me on when I was Miss. Smith's golf caddy once. Many many seasons ago.

Speaking of Miss. Smith, she got to meet my awesome science teacher for the first time. That was pretty hilarious.

"Dr. Adam Wilson." The super friendly man said, holding out his hand to shake hers. "And you must be Miss. Bernice Smith. I have heard so much about you." Haha, yeah, and most of it was me complaining.

The middle aged lady in the teal checkered dress raised a black eyebrow. "So you're the one who actually taught Alvin something?" She asked.

The stout man nodded. He was about Miss. Smith's height. "Affirmative." He smiled. "I bet he's a dream to have in class now. Isn't he?"

"NO! he's not a dream!" The angry lady snapped. "In fact, I don't know how you did it, but you somehow managed to make him 10 times as annoying!" She sat down begrudgingly next to Dr. W.

Not to be confused with the other Dr. W. who was here as well. Dr. Walters, the concussion specialist. He was here to provide a clinical look at some of my shifts in cognition. Would he be the one to save my tail? Who knows! Anything could happen.

Once everyone had taken their seats, the trial began. Judge Rodney started to speak. "Let's begin. I now call to order the case of Alvin Seville Vs Santa Barbara High."

I won't bore you with the Superintendent's speech. It was basically the same old "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" and "clearly, Alvin's behavior isn't as improved as he wants you all to think." She talked so horribly about me, I wanted to plug my ears to avoid having the bad things stick in my mind. I knew I couldn't do that.

"Thank you, Mrs. Farrwell." The Judge said, dismissing her to her seat. "The defense may now speak."

I stood up and adjusted my bowtie, trying to seem as harmless and endearingly dorky as possible. "Sir, with all do respect. I have nothing else to say on my own behalf. I'm saving it all for my character witnesses."

The Judge frowned. "And why's that?"

"Because I'm Alvin Seville. You won't believe me anyway." I answered honestly. "Plus, I'd rather not get upset and emotional and say anything you could potentially use against me, since that's how my luck works."

"Insightful kid." The Judge remarked. "Well, alright, who is your first character witness?" I was glad he humored me.

I pointed to the one person who had been by my side watching my changes ever since I told him I loved science.

"My brother Simon."

Simon marched up to the witness stand with fire in his eyes. My fellow nerd bro was determined to make my case.

"I firmly believe my brother deserves to be in that AP Class. When this first started, I wasn't sure I could handle it. I mean, another genius in the family seemed absurd, ya know? I was certain that Alvin was just going through a phase as he tried to figure out how to cope with knowing he wasn't as popular as he thought." He cleared his throat and continued talking.

"It wasn't a phase. It may have begun as one, but it quickly shifted into true growth. Alvin has worked his tail off to accomplish so much since then. I didn't exactly take it in stride when he said he wanted to become a scientist or inventor either. I was, well, I was worried he would steal my thing."

Go Simon go! I thought as I listened intently to his words.

He smiled at me. "I know now that none of us are only defined by a few talents. We are multifaceted tapestries of everything and everyone we have ever loved.

Jeanette and I helped Alvin study for the exam. He passed it. I see no reason to rescind the offer now. It would mean EVERYTHING to this boy to be in Dr. Wilson's class again. And I would be honored to share an AP class with my brother. My extremely intelligent, unapologetically unique, stupendous brother.

Thank you."

As Simon walked back to his seat next to me, I dabbed happy tears from my eyes. Theo handed me a tissue. Little did I know, this was only the beginning.

The next person to take the podium, looking nervous as heck, was none other than my mutual crush.

"H…Hi, I'm J..Jeanette. F…Forgive me, speaking in front of large crowds isn't my strong suit. I would like to, uh, to talk about the lessons I gave Alvin. After learning he was smarter than he thought, he came to me and asked me to help him use his new skills for GOOD. I began to coach him and show him how to handle his impulses better. I would go into more detail, but my legs are about to give out." Her legs trembled like two tree trunks in an earthquake. "They are really, really, shaking."

She brought out two thickly packed folders. "Instead, I would like to give you all of my research to analyze before you make your final decision. I call these projects The Road To Self Betterment and Operation: Hocus Focus. Like a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, Alvin's also helped me learn how to safely leave my comfort zone. We both have gone through a metamorphosis into our best selves."

She hurried away to her seat between her two sisters.

"Good job, Jeanette." Brittany said softly.

Eleanor patted her back. "You killed it."

I gulped as the next witness approached the stand. It was the one guy I'd been struggling to make proud. He wasn't always the best when giving speeches. This one time, he told Miss. Smith's whole class that writing songs was tougher than robbing banks. I needed him to NOT screw this up.

"My name's David Seville. I'm Alvin's dad. Let me tell you, raising that kid was a handful. He was always full of energy and, well, he still is. That's how kids are though, especially when they're young. I did my best to discipline him, but it never worked….until now." Dave looked at me with admiration. It was weird, but it made me feel all warm and tingly.

My dad kept talkin'. "Somehow, likely through Jeanette's teachings, Alvin has learned how to also discipline himself. He does his homework now, even if he still has to take breaks to play videogames. He's learned so much in just two years. He even does more chores than he used to. It's like someone flipped a switch on him or something. I worried at one point the concussion was to blame, but I think that's only a small part of it."

Wow, Dave was actually NOT blowing this.

"The weirdest thing about all of this is how Dr. Wilson's class instantly changed his attitude toward schoolwork. The kid who constantly asked me "why do I need math?" suddenly wanted to study physics! He got his grades up and he managed to win Most Improved Student two years in a row. He loves learning now! He loves reading!"

Then, angry dad did what he does best. Get angry!

"How dare you try and take the one teacher who inspires my kid away? And over what? Something that was an accident? Something he apologized for and offered to pay for with his own money? Just give my boy a chance for once. He is a good kid."

Well, Dave may have still not SAID he was proud of me, but I got the next best thing. HE SAID I WAS A GOOD KID! TO A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE! Too bad I didn't have a chance to record it. It'll live forever in my head, at least.

"Hi, I'm Alvin's other brother Theodore." Theo came next. "I don't really know a lot about science stuff, but he and Simon do. I have always wanted them to get along more, and I think that helping each other through this really tough class will make their brotherly bond even stronger."

How can you not go "awwww" whenever Theo talks? He's so darn adorable.

"What happened at the assembly was an accident and Alvin won't do it again, he's learned from his mistakes because that's a thing he does now. He learns because of his cool teacher and also Jeanette. They inspired him and taught him so much. You gotta let him stay in the class! You just gotta!"

The little chubby chipmunk scampered back to his seat, smiling with a grin so wide you could see the gap between his two front teeth.

Bear with me, guys. The trial is far from over. Dr. Wilson had a lot to say next.

"Alvin is an EXCEPTIONAL student. Sure, he may not have the highest grade in my class, but he's passing and that's all that matters. This kid has an affinity for science! A beautiful, innovative mind. One that's gone overlooked for years, by everyone…including himself. It's astonishing! Especially regarding physics! He just GETS it! I've never seen anyone take to the material quite like him. He deserves a chance to show the world what he's capable of. His perseverance is unmatched."

He was followed by a redheaded and freckled dynamic duo. My pals Kevin and Cheesy. Warren's a bit too shy for talking at a trial. He was in the audience though!

Kevin started them off. "Alvin's my best friend. He's helped me out so many times. He's got a good heart. Even before Jeanette gave him lessons, he was all about making the world a better place. When my mom wouldn't let me throw a paintball party at my house, he offered up his house. It's because of him and his family that I have a girlfriend now. I wouldn't have been brave enough to ask her without their encouragement. I say, let him take AP Science. Simon and I cannot wait to team up with him for group projects and experiments."

"Alvin's a really fun person to hang out with." Cheesy began. "He's a comedian and he's really…inspiring. He taught me, Kevin, and our other friend Warren how to stand up to bullies. When he found out my family was struggling financially, he paid for my ticket to the amusement park so I wouldn't miss out." Oh, wow. Cheesy still remembered that? I'd long since forgotten.

The boy in the green T-shirt looked at The Judge. "There's so much more to him than the troublemaker everyone assumed he was."

"Yeah!" Cheesy agreed. "Now he only causes trouble sometimes instead of all the time. And what kid doesn't make mistakes, am I right?"

They were followed by a pretty girl in a pink dress, who thankfully remembered to leave her pal Birdie at home.

"I'm here to speak on behalf of the entire comic book club." Vanessa said. "We love having Alvin around. He helped me found this entire club in the first place. Before he joined, it was just a couple kids talking about comics in the library. He got us our own room reserved, and he's given us so many ideas for fun activities to liven up the club. He really is a big ideas guy, so it makes sense that being an inventor plays into that."

I sunk down in my seat as the next witness climbed up to the podium. My arch rival. Brittany! What would she say? Would she actually help? Would she make things worse?

"Hi, my name's Brittany Miller, but you probably already knew that. I was Homecoming Queen last year!" Oh my god, why do you have to repeat that so much? We ALL KNOW! "But, that's not really important right now. Here are my thoughts about Alvin."

I gulped.

"I don't know why he picked me as a witness." The girl in the pink blazer squeaked. "I haven't been a very good friend lately, but I'm trying. I'll get there eventually and I think the fact that I'm still his friend, speaks volumes about the sort of person he is now."

Okay, she hasn't made me sound horrible…yet.

"He's so nice! Like FREAKISHLY nice. Still annoying, but he's always there to cheer me up, sometimes even at his own expense. Real talk, I am the LAST person who wants Alvin to be in that AP science class. And yet, I think he NEEDS to be there. It's not about me. It's about what he wants for his life, and even though I have no idea WHY he chose this, I believe in him."

She believes in me!? She believes in me? WOWIE WOW WOWZA!

But, it couldn't be that simple. The Judge started browsing through the file the school has on me…and the file Officer Dangus gave him too.

"And you're all talking about the same Alvin Seville who's skipped school, filed numerous false police reports, been charged with at least a dozen or more cases of vandalism, several counts of breaking and entering, not to mention theft, and accidental destruction of property?" He flipped the page. "Oh, and apparently he's forged his dad's handwriting as well. That's hardly surprising."

"Your honor, may I speak?" I requested.

He folded his arms. "I'm listening."

"I'm the same guy who did all that stuff. But, I would never think of doing any of it now." I spoke solemnly and truthfully. "Granted, I didn't really THINK about doing any of it then either. It just sorta happened. I'm being 100% honest."

"I see." The Judge frowned. "And how can you be sure it WON'T continue to just sorta happen?"

Luckily, my unique genius had the answer ready and waiting. "I was thinking about the potential rewards of actions which led to unintended consequences. I think about the consequences of my actions more these days. A LOT more."

Theodore interrupted loudly. "Yeah! He even made a pros and cons list for deciding who he should date."

Eleanor also had something to add. "Spoiler alert: It wasn't Brittany."

Her pink clad sister elbowed her, looking annoyed.

I took a deep breath. "I see the world a lot clearer now, sir. Both figuratively and literally." I tapped my red hipster specs. "You know, on account of the glasses."

The judge continued reading the file."This says you were once described by Miss. Bernice Smith as "the most annoying and awful student who ever lived. Doesn't pay attention in class. Interrupts lessons. He's a pain in the neck and I think he's trying to get me fired." He folded his hands. "What do you have to say about that?"

"Uhhhh." I was at a loss for words. The sweatervest I was wearing suddenly felt itchy.

Miss. Smith marched up to the podium and answered for me. "Forget about that." She demanded. "I need him to stay out of my science class! PLEASE! When he was there, he spent the entire hour bored out of his gourd, cracking jokes, disrupting other students. He's a nuisance when he's not interested in learning. If that crazy man can handle him, by all means, let him handle him! I cannot take it anymore! I just can't take it anymore!"

Following my History, Math, Literature, and Writing teacher who wasn't looking forward to spending a 5th hour of the school day with me again, another adult stood up. He adjusted his cop hat and the keys on his belt jingled as he approached the front of the room.

Officer Dangus spoke in his distinct southern drawl. "Sure, Alvin and his brothers have had several run-ins with the law. Like he said, most of them are accidents. He ain't gon' be out there committin' crimes and vandalizin' stuff on purpose. That ain't who he is. Never was. This little guy has even helped me catch some criminals. Like that bike thief, and a guy poisoning a landmark tree, oh, and he single handedly saved the local toy store that one time with his toy unboxing video scheme!"

I felt the need to correct his terminology. My butt was on the line! It was imperative that I wasn't misunderstood.

"Not a scheme, it's a plan. A scheme implies I was doing something devious, which I clearly wasn't." I added. "Also, Simon helped as a toy tech support guy…and Cheesy was there too. I don't remember if he helped or not, but he was there."

"I think I helped." The teen boy with the food-based name quipped.

After that, Ms. Croner volunteered her perspective on the matter.

"This boy has aged a great deal in two years. He may still be a midget who hasn't grown an inch, but all the signs are there." The old crazy cat lady said. "Bad eyes, weight gain, he can't tolerate spicy food or even spinning carnival rides unless he takes motion sickness medicine."

"He's also got gray hair streaks!" Theodore took my cap off. "Show them!"

I lifted up my hair fringe to reveal the three pale gray streaks. "Count 'em. One, two, three." I said. "Stress did this."

"Ha! You see? Clear signs of aging." Ms. Croner continued. "I mean, listen to his voice! It's worn out and raspy. He sounds like a deflating helium balloon!"

I was so embarrassed. Was she right? Was my voice that bad? I don't think it's that bad. It is deeper now, but barely deeper. Most people wouldn't even notice. Would they?

"Uh….thanks, Miss. Croner." I coughed.

The old woman folded her arms. "If his body aged that much, I see no reason why his brain wouldn't have joined it. He's wiser now."

"He is." Simon confirmed.

"That boy may be a hooligan, but he's a good hooligan." Ms. Croner walked back and sat next to Miss. Miller. She urged her friend to go next. "You're up, Beatrice."

"Thank you, Louise." The Chipette's mother shuffled up to the stand.

What would Miss. Miller have to say about me?

"Alvin is an absolute sweetheart. He's just accident prone! And he's smart as a whip too! And so creative! My three girls are blessed to have Alvin and his brothers as friends. I wish I had friends like them when I was growing up."

Awww, that was touching. All of this was touching.

Even Coach Dopkins, my hard-arse gym teacher had something decent to say!

"Ever since he got that concussion, the boy's been a lot more careful. I don't understand why that's a good thing. He's less of a beast on the soccer field. In fact, he's not even on the team anymore. He still plays in gym class though. But, anyway, he's cautious now and people tell me that's an improvement." The grey haired man sighed. "I guess I gotta admit that. Maybe I was too rough on the kid. My parents were always rough on me growing up. I guess, what I'm trying to say, is that he's not the wimp I thought he was. He's strong."

Holy nuts! This is so AWESOME! Would Classic Alvin have had this much support? Maybe? He is me.

Another doctor, the medical kind, was up after the coach. His job was to discuss brain jargon.

"Hello, I am Dr. Walters. Alvin had some appointments with me following his concussion. The human brain, or chipmunk brain in this case, exhibits something called neuroplasticity. It's very possible that all the events Alvin's endured, such as Jeanette's lessons, the identity crisis, and the concussion, have re-molded the way he processes information. His personality has undergone a significant and dramatic shift. I think it's very important to take that into account when deciding what kind of person Alvin's likely to be in the future. Personally, I think he's likely to continue on this path of academic success."

When he finished talking, the door of the room slammed open. In rushed a familiar teenage boy in a purple and white varsity jacket.

"I'm here! I'm here!" Derek shouted. "The trial's not over yet, is it? I wanna talk." He asked, awkwardly shuffling to the podium.

"Alvin,…" The Judge looked down at me. "Would you like Mr. Smalls to speak?"

Derek? He was still kind of a jerk to me at times, but in the spirit of believing people can change, he deserved a shot at defending me.

"Yeah. I would." I answered.

"You heard him." The Judge pointed to Derek. "Proceed."

The teen boy ran his hand through his blonde hair. "I know, uh, I wasn't actually invited here, but I have something to say too. So, uh, you better listen up! Last year, Alvin helped me after my dad got arrested. When I was getting used to living with my aunt, he gave me like…tips and junk. He wanted to be my friend, even though I bullied him for years. He's a great guy, for a dweeb." The former bully chuckled. "He's gonna dominate that science class. I can practically smell the science nerd energy on him. So, yeah, just let him do it."

Derek shuffled around to take a seat next to Warren. The shy kid flinched at first, but stayed a little calmer when Derek stuck his hands in his pockets. He could tell the taller, tougher kid wasn't out for blood.

The Judge was stone faced. I couldn't tell if the testimony was influencing his decision or not. "Are there any more character witnesses you'd like to call, Mr. Seville?"

I thought about it. I knew there was one person left! I had a gut feeling. "Uhhhh…I know I'm forgetting someone."

"You are." Eleanor Miller raised her hand. Crap! She was supposed to go after Britt. Oh well, better late than never.

"Oops. That's to be expected." I squeaked nervously. "Savin' the best for last, here's Eleanor!" I introduced her, mouthing the words "I'm sorry." I know how much she HATES being last.

The girl with the teal pantsuit and pigtails resting against her shoulders began her speech. Honestly, it was one of my favorites. Although, it was hard to select favorites when everyone did so well.

"All of you have made really important points, but I'm here to remind you of the most important one of all. Alvin might be all "new and improved" and all "2.0" now, but he's STILL ALVIN." Eleanor declared forcefully. "You have to allow him to BE Alvin. To be funny, to be sporty, to sing, to dance. Don't get mad if you catch him slacking a tiny bit on his homework now and then. He needs his breaks. He has a system."

Yes! Yes! Finally someone said it!

"Bottom line, If you expect this kid to be some perfect student 24-7, you're robbing him of the ability to enjoy his life." She went on. "You're robbing him of an important piece of himself. Being mature and responsible shouldn't mean fully throwing away everything you were in the past."

Theodore added in another important bit of info. "A famous guy named C. S. Lewis once said "When I became an adult, I put away childish things…including the fear of childlike behavior and the desire to only act all grown up." Or something like that." He squeaked.

"Interesting." The Judge twirled his gavel around. "Does anyone have anything else to add?"

I stood up and smiled excitedly. "I can recite all the GCSE physics equations from memory! Wanna hear them!?" Okay, I may have been more nervous than I felt. And desperate. So very VERY desperate.

Everyone stared at me like I had entirely snapped. I realized that I shouldn't have said anything at all.

"Right, got it. Not the time. Carry on!" I awkwardly sat back down.

Jeanette pointed to me. "See? Right there. Personal growth."

"He used to talk our ears off about physics." Eleanor added. "Now, he only does it SOMETIMES."

"Hmmmm." The Judge murmured. "Mr. Seville, I'd like to ask you a question."

"Me?" I responded, fidgeting with my fingers. "You can call me Alvin, or Alvin 2.0. Mr. Seville is my dad."

"We are wasting time, Mr. Seville." He frowned. "Are you prepared to answer a difficult question?"

"Yes, your honor." I didn't like being talked to like this. I was getting bored. The trial felt endless. Still, I had to play along and be complacent.

"Can you guarantee that you're a completely different person now?" Leave it to Judge Rodney to ask THAT! Did he realize that wasn't just a difficult question, it was a question that triggered me. A question that fueled uncertainty in my identity. Also, a question I was SICK of hearing.

The worst part? I knew what he wanted to hear. He wanted me to admit I wasn't Alvin anymore. If I did that, he'd let me take the AP Class. If I didn't, it put this whole operation in jeopardy. I couldn't say what he expected. I just couldn't. If I admitted I wasn't Alvin anymore, it would haunt me forever. It wasn't worth it. Like Netta always says, honesty is the best policy.

"Not….Not exactly." After some deliberation, I found my voice. "Like Eleanor said, I'm the same Alvin I always was. I've just had a spectacular turnaround and a lot of personal growth. That wild rebel does still exist in me, but I do my best to make sure he…I don't get in too much trouble."

The Judge scribbled some notes down. "I see."

There was one last thing to say to try and save this. "I could have lied to you and said I was completely different in every way. That's what the old Alvin would have done. But, if I did that, I wouldn't have been true to myself." I admitted. "Plus, it might have really worsened my identity crisis. That fact that I chose brutal honesty even though it makes it look like you can't trust me, proves just how mature I am now. Don't ya think?"

"You make a persuasive case." The Judge rubbed his chin. "But, suppose you become this "wild rebel" again without warning someday. What then?"

Simon stood up and confidently faced the judge. He was sick of all these questions that were clearly intended to trap me.

"I know my brother and….he isn't going to." The boy in the blue suit confirmed. "He's TRIED to fully go back to the person he used to be, but he can never get there. It's off limits to him. Partially, maybe, but never fully."

I placed my hand over my heart. "My conscience is too strong for that."

"Yes!" Theodore agreed. "He'd be overwhelmed by guilt."

I cleared my throat and walked up to the podium. I guess I had to defend myself through a speech after all.

"The arrow of entropic time means I gotta move forward. The way back to not thinking of consequences, has been walled off, taped up, roadblocked, and padlocked." I firmly stated. "This is who I'll be for the rest of my existence and I welcome it. Someday, the identity crisis might fade enough that I don't even hallucinate Classic Alvin anymore. Though, I'm hoping it won't, because I'd miss the guy terribly. He'd still live inside me, but it wouldn't be the same if I couldn't communicate with him. But, that point's tangential I suppose. I just wanted to throw it out there." I smiled a dorky half smile. "It's done. It's over. It has ended. That's all she wrote. I am an irrevocably changed guy."

"Alright, alright." The Judge looked at the superintendent. "Have you got anything else to say?"

The woman in the maroon suit sighed. She knew she was outvoted. "No, your honor." Then, a slightly soft smile appeared on her face. "I think, in light of all this support that I was not expecting at all, my grievances may have been an overreaction to the events of the assembly."

The Judge suddenly looked a lot happier. He slammed his gavel down. "Very well. I rule that, the defendant, Alvin Seville, is hereby permitted to remain in AP Science for as long as he chooses."

The room exploded into an uproar of cheers!

"We did it!" I squeezed my brothers' hands tight.

"Yeah, we did!" Theo said sweetly.

"I can't believe that worked." Simon commented.

"That's cuz you're an empty glass kinda guy." My baby bro sassed.

Simon's fur bristled. "Half empty."

"Nope." Theo squeaked. "Just plain empty. But, you're getting better."

"I think we all are." I remarked.

"Gosh." Jeanette joined us, jumping from her seat. "I was so worried for a while there."

Eleanor handed the purple folders with all the psychological study research back to her sister. "I believe these belong to you."

"I think it's safe to say, our experiment was a success." The Chipette in purple said to me, midnight eyes sparkling.

I pointed to myself. "It's me, right? I'm the experiment." I said proudly.

She put a finger to her rosy cheek. "In a way, I suppose so. Yes."

"Thanks for using your research to prove I'm not a disaster anymore." I said politely, tipping my cap like a gentleman.

"You were never a disaster." Jeanette insisted. "Merely, misunderstood."

"Oh, come on, Netta. I was a little bit of a disaster. It's okay to admit that." I replied with a chuckle.

"Wow." Brittany said with a shocked face. "That was just….wow."

"You did very well." Dave told us. "All of you."

"You saved my tail!" I declared. "And Dave, those….those were some of the nicest things you've ever said about me. You, you actually meant them, right?"

"Of course, Alvin." Dave said gently. "I meant every word."

"Yes!" I pumped my fist in the air. "I'm a good kid! I'm actually a good kid!"

Brittany stared down at her pink ballerina flats. "The more I listen to you talk, the more it becomes clear that you're not my Alvie anymore." She said sadly.

"I was never YOUR Alvie." I reminded her. I didn't belong to her.

She brightened up a little. It was obvious she was over me romantically, but still adjusting to the nerd thing. "But maybe that will be okay in the end. I shouldn't have tried to force you to be my Alvie. Curse or not, you're still my best friend."

I didn't know how to respond. So, I decided to wing it. "Uh….thanks?"

"Just…don't let the Simon genes consume you. Okay?" She warned. Oh, Brittany, there's more to 2.0 than Simon genes.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll do my best not to."

"I really must be going." Ms. Croner pushed her way to the exit. "I need to feed my cats. It's almost 5:30!"

Wow? That late? We'd been here a long time.

"Have fun in that class, Alvin." Cheesy told me.

"Oh he will." Kevin assured him.

"Nice work." Warren congratulated our group.

Officer Dangus reached down and fist bumped me. "Mighty fine job, little man. Keep it up."

"Ohoho. I got this." I bragged.

They all left along with Dr. Walters and Coach Dopkins. Both of whom waved to me. Dr. Walters was telling the coach how serious head injuries from sports are. Maybe he'd learn a thing or two.

Derek poked me in the back. "See ya round, nerd." He teased.

"Right back atcha!" I gave him finger guns. "I look forward to you TRYING to pelt me with dodgeballs. Key word there. TRYING."

"You're goin' down." He threatened. "In, uh, a friendly way."

Derek left and I sprinted over to leap into Dr. Wilson's arms.

"I'm so excited to get my SCIENCE on!" I shouted.

"I think you're going to love the lesson on The Fermi Paradox." My favorite teacher said with a broad grin.

I chuckled. "Would you believe I already studied it? Back when I was at Space Camp."

"Look at you." The man with the gold glasses was impressed. "Always getting ahead."

"Hey, Doc, ya ever wonder if we're so fascinated by aliens…because we feel like aliens?" I wondered aloud. "Zany, original, one of a kind, think outside the box people. Plus, I'm not even fully human, so of course I feel a little displaced."

"I'm certain you are correct." He agreed. "I've often caught myself pondering the same thing."

"Do you think we'll ever meet real live aliens someday?" I climbed onto his shoulder.

"As I always say, anything is possible." The man declared. "As long as it obeys the laws of physics."

And cartoon physics. I thought inside my head.

Miss. Smith came up and started taunting the short guy. Like I mentioned before, he was her height, which I learned is pretty short. I never realized that until I saw both of them standing next to my 6 foot tall dad. To me, being only a foot and a half, everyone seems tall.

The middle aged lady looked relieved. "He's your problem now, Dr. Wilson! Have fun!" She exclaimed.

"We will have a lot of fun!" My science teacher replied. I dunno if he picked up the sarcasm or not.

I grinned. "And do fun experiments!" I told Miss. Smith.

"I hope you have a fire safety plan in place." She commented smugly.

Dr. Wilson raised an eyebrow. "We do. Every classroom does."

"Be prepared to use it." The woman chided.

The wavy haired guy realized what she meant. "Are you trying to imply Alvin will set my classroom on fire?" He asked.

"Wow, look, Mr. PHD finally learned how to pick up context clues." Miss. Smith taunted.

Unfortunately for her, the Doc was no stranger to a little ribbing. "Jealousy isn't a good color on you, Bernice." He retorted.

"OHOHO!" I laughed. "Better brush up on your fire safety, Smithy. You just got BURNED!"

"Come on, Alvin." Dave called for me. "We've gotta get home."

"Five more minutes, Dave." I begged. "Please!"

He chuckled. "You'll see Dr. Wilson tomorrow."

"Oh yeah." I realized he was right. "Bye, Dr. Wilson! Thanks again!"

"See you soon, Alvin." He patted my cap.

Usually, I didn't like when adults did that. He was the one exception to the rule.

My brothers and I climbed into Dave's arms while the Chipette's climbed into Miss. Miller's. They carried us to their cars.

We watched Miss. Miller drive away first, knocking over the sign in front of the school.

I buckled my seatbelt and yawned. "Boy, that was a long day."

"Can we get pizza for dinner?" Theodore requested.

Dave entered the car and buckled himself in. "I'm too tired to make anything tonight, so…yes."

"Whooooo hooo!" I whooped. "I love pizza!"

After a lovely dinner at the local pizza joint, we returned home. Theodore and Dave headed inside first, while Simon and I walked behind them.

"So, now that you're being recognized as Alvin 2.0." My taller brother in blue quipped. "What are you going to do now?"

I threw both my hands in the air. My grin was so wide it actually hurt.

"Let the nerdiness commence!" I shouted excitedly.

Simon chuckled. "You're such a nut."

I ran into the house with him walking slowly after me.

A few days later, I finally redecorated my room with a bit more superhero, science, and space stuff. I even used a couple planks of wood and transformed the area under my nightstand into a bookshelf! Now, my books didn't have to go underneath the bed or on the floor next to my bed in a stack. Dave helped me hang some posters on the walls. There was one with an alien on a rainbow background and another featuring a rocketship. My final poster was one explaining the physics of music.

I stuck some more action figures on the shelf above my bed. Zargo, Dargo, and Thump from Brothers of Dagarack came first. Next to them sat Captain Picard from Star Trek Next Gen. Superman and The Flash sat above them on the highest shelf.

I added a crimson red and cyan blanket to my bed, underneath the brick red and pale salmon checkered one. I would switch the top blanket on a whim, whenever I wanted. I also used the cyan glitter glue to draw atoms on my nightstand to match the ones on each side of my cap.

"Is that everything you need?" Dave asked.

I looked at my room. It wasn't TOO different, but it was different enough. Classic Alvin and I made a compromise. We were both almost satisfied with it.

I frowned as I looked up at the ceiling above my bed. "It's still missing something."

"I'll look in the attic again for the glow in the dark solar system and stars." My father said. "But you might have to buy one brand new."

"Yeah." I sighed. "You're probably right." If only those weren't so expensive.

My dad left the room and I turned around to see Warbie perched on Simon's bedpost.

"The nerd pad is looking sweet." The little bird chirped.

"Can you please call it something other than a nerd pad?" I asked, sounding annoyed.

"Nope!" He tittered.

Lilly jumped up onto Simon's bed and Geizmo joined the puppy. The little robot toddled over to sit near Simon's pillow.

"It look very nice, uncle Alvin." The robot said in his baby-ish voice.

"WOOF! ARF! RUFF!" Lilly sat down on the opposite side of the bed, near Warbie and away from Geizmo.

"Did you guys have to get a dog?" Warbie complained. "I don't need another cousin. I'm already annoyed by the box headed tin can Simon invented."

"Warbie hurt my feelings." Geizmo sobbed.

I frowned at my son sternly. "Warbie, cut that out." I ordered. "Geizmo and Lilly are family whether you like it or not, buster."

"It's true." Simon joined me between his bed and mine. He was wearing his usual blue atom design T-shirt and the striped lime green and indigo shirt underneath. "And while families can argue, they should never go so far as to hurt one another without an apology."

"Uh huh. And?" Warbie sassed.

Theodore climbed onto my bed and then slid off on the other side, joining the rest of us. He was wearing a medium green long sleeved shirt and his rainbow colored patchwork vest.

My baby bro looked at Warbie, seeming annoyed. "He means apologize to Geizmo right now."

"Precisely." I quipped.

"Fiiine." The little bird turned his head and looked at the robot. "Sorry, Geizmo."

"Yaaay! The birdie like me!" Geizmo clapped his three fingered robot hands together.

"I like your new decorations." Theodore complimented me. "They look really nice."

Simon nodded. "Just the right amount of academic flair."

"Ohoho! Thanks, guys!" I pulled both of my brothers as close to me as possible, slipping my arms around each of their shoulders. "I've got a feeling this is gonna be the best school year ever! Don't you guys think so!"

"Alvin,.." Simon groaned, looking irritated. "Why would you say that?"

"Yeah!" Theodore added, seeming nervous. "You know bad things always happen when you say that."

"I know, I know." I smiled. "But I'm sure whatever happens, I can handle it. I get knocked down, and I pop right back up!"

Warbie flew off the bedpost of Simon's bed and landed on my bed. "That's your superpower!" He chirped. "Use it!"

"He does." Theodore and Simon chorused.

"Oh, hey,…" Simon started to walk to the door. "Alvin, follow me. I found something in the basement for you."

I wagged my tail and sped over to join him. "What is it!? What is it!?"

He said nothing in return and just continued walking downstairs.

I followed him into the basement and couldn't contain my anticipation.

My taller bro pulled out a cardboard box and opened it, revealing the glow in the dark solar system mobile I'd been hunting for! All the glow in the dark stars were there too! Oh my gosh!

"Dave couldn't find this because it was in one of my hidden labs the whole time." Simon revealed.

"It was yours, wasn't it?" I remembered. I don't know how, because my memory is terrible without constant repetition. "Back when Dave first met us."

"It was." He put the mobile back in the box and handed it to me. "And now, it's yours. From one AP student, to another."

"Si, you don't…you don't have to give it up." I told him truthfully. "I can just get one online."

"Alvin, it's okay." He smiled. "I WANT you to have it. I have dozens of other non glowing models that I enjoy more. So, here you go. It's all yours."

"Hey, it even has Pluto!" I looked in the box. I smiled a cheeky and somewhat mischievous smile. "Is that why you're getting rid of it? Does the inaccuracy bother you?" I teased.

"No." He rubbed his neck. "Maybe, maybe just a tiny bit."

"I knew it!" I exclaimed, taking the box back upstairs.

As we ventured back to my room, to put up my new mobile and complete the nerdification of my bedroom, Simon and I continued to chat.

"I know I don't tell you this a lot, because you're so busy saying it about yourself, but…..you really are brilliant, Alvin. Genuinely brilliant. Sometimes, it still shocks me when I think about just how smart you've gotten." My brother admitted, sounding sincere.

"…Really?" I asked, barely believing what I was hearing. Not only did Simon think I was smart, he thought I was brilliant! That's like HIS LEVEL smart.

"Absolutely positively." He answered.

Since he said something so nice to me, I HAD to reciprocate. "You helped a lot. You inspired me." I told him. Now, came the hardest thing to say. "I can deny it all I want, but….I did model part of my new self after you. Just, you know, a few parts of it."

"I'm glad you can admit that, at last." Simon smiled.

I smiled wider back. "It's really not so bad being more like you." A look of confusion widened my eyes. I felt a wave of disgust pass over me, but I tried my best to hide it.

My taller brother looked relieved. "Does this mean you'll stop having such a visceral reaction when people tease you about it?"

Considering the wave of disgust, I don't think so.

"….probably not." I confessed. "But maaaaybe. It all depends on the day."

That night, I slept, bathed in the eerie greenish white glow of my solar system mobile. The stars glowed along with it. And I dreamed about exploring the galaxy and inventing a device that allows us to contact aliens. Yeah, yeah, I know. I am at least a LITTLE predictable.

The next day, as I prepared for another eventful day of school, I took a little time to admire my first AP Science quiz hanging on the fridge. The one with the A minus, in case you forgot. It was positioned right between Simon's AP Science quiz with the solid A, and Theo's culinary arts pop quiz which featured another solid A. A for Awesome. A for Amazing. A for Academic!

I hurried away, grabbed my flying skateboard and I was off! I soared through the sky and landed at the front of the school. Tucking the board under my arm, I headed inside. Life was stupendous.

Later that day, I was walking with the Chipettes and my brothers through the halls to our lockers. We were all just chatting about, well, anything we could think of.

"I've already started asking people to nominate me for Prom Queen." Brittany gushed. "I think it's going well so far."

"Isn't prom still…ages away? Homecoming is closer." Jeanette pointed out. I caught myself staring at her new outfit. It was a light purple tank top with ruffled trim, an indigo skirt with purple stars and galaxy leggings.

I quickly stopped before Britt caught me. I didn't wanna start anything today.

Britt was back in that light pink T-shirt with her face on it, paired with a fuschia glitter skirt. "They've already decided to nominate Anita and if she's in, she's likely going to win. I have to get ahead somehow. Otherwise, I can kiss my chance goodbye!"

"Tough break." Eleanor, in her leather jacket and a teal shirt with the words Soccer Girl on it, next to a soccer ball logo, coughed under her breath. "Not really."

"I heard that, Ellie." Brittany snapped.

Eleanor stuck her hands in the pockets of her jean shorts and whistled. Her pigtails bobbed along as she walked, positioned high on her head again.

"Get back here!" Her angry strawberry blonde sister, with the super long ponytail and obnoxious big pink bow adorning it, began to chase her until Simon stopped them.

"Girls, please." He groaned. "Not today." Simon was in the same outfit as yesterday. I don't think he even changed into his PJs for bed.

"Spread Kindness Like Confetti." Theodore squeaked. "Like my shirt says." He was in his bright green T-shirt with rainbow sprinkles and those exact words he just uttered.

Simon opened up his locker and found yet ANOTHER party invite. He got extremely mad and ripped it to pieces. "Look, guys." He joked. "Confetti!" He tossed the pieces in the air and let them fall around us.

Theodore smacked himself in the forehead. "I didn't mean literally, Simon."

"I know." The boy in blue looked sheepish as he cleaned up the ripped pieces. "I lost control."

"How many invites is that now?" Brittany asked, looking between Simon and me suspiciously.

"24." Simon grumbled.

"They're just going to keep coming until you accept one." The most popular Chipette looked at her polished nails.

Eleanor laughed. "Yeah. Then, once you show up and poop all over their party, they won't invite ya anymore."

"I am not inherently a party pooper." Simon fumed.

Both Chipettes laughed.

"Keep it up." My taller brother threatened, "And I'll chase YOU."

"So, Jeanette." Theodore asked the girl in purple and indigo. "Did you finish the story yet?"

"I'm so close!" She responded. "Just one chapter to go."

"Good for you!" My baby brother exclaimed sweetly.

"You okay, Alvin?" Eleanor asked, smacking my shoulder gently. "You're pretty quiet."

"Oh." I blinked. "I was just…thinking."

"Were you?" Brittany teased. "Or did you strain your voice arguing with Miss. Smith about math problems?"

"She forgot a parenthesis! She was gonna get the wrong answer! I was HELPING!" I said.

"Whatever you say, two point whacko." Britt closed her locker door.

I rummaged through my locker and exchanged my plain letter A T-shirt for the sports jersey one. You may remember it from several stories ago. It was my favorite shade of red and said Alvin 2.0 in cyan letters. The Alvin part was small and the 2.0 was huge, giving it a sports jersey sorta vibe.

"Things are so wonderful now, aren't they?" Jeanette asked us all.

"If this is what you call wonderful, then sure." Brittany grumbled.

"It's alright." Eleanor shrugged. "Aside from all the new stuff, it feels, I dunno, normal again."

"Yes! Yes yes!" Her sister with the glasses quipped. "Everything is settled. We aren't just surviving, we are thriving!"

"We've all still got our things." Theodore announced. "But some of us share things now, and that's okay." He pointed to Si and I.

The Chipette with the pigtails laughed. "Theo and I always shared things too. Same with Simon and Jeanette."

"Eleanor's right." I commented.

"And Alvin and Brittany." Theodore added. "They shared stuff too…I think."

"We share less now." The Chipette in pink mumbled, before brightening up. "At least my popularity isn't going anywhere."

I said something that felt extremely wrong. "I've almost forgotten what it was like to be popular." I covered my mouth with my hands.

Simon nibbled his lip with uncertainty. "Perhaps, that's for the best."

"…I guess." I agreed, though every fiber of my being deemed it WRONG.

"Why is that so bad?" Jeanette asked.

I sighed. "It's like a sign that I'll never get it back." I said nervously. "That part of my life is over forever."

Eleanor tried to calm me down. "Not necessarily. And, well, you still have your popularity outside of this town. However weird and nonsensical that may seem."

"Oh right yeah yeah." I fidgeted with the hem of my sports jersey. "Wouldn't ever wanna give that up."

"It'll be okay." Simon gave me a comforting smile. "Everything is okay."

Now, it was Theodore's turn to look surprised. "Hey, isn't that my line?"

"Cheer up, Al." Eleanor put a hand on her hip. "At least you still get more recognition than me."

"Remember what everybody said at the trial!" Theodore squeaked.

Jeanette gazed at me lovingly. "You have a very bright future ahead."

"Yeah…" I felt the uncertainty and awkwardness calm down within me.

Classic Alvin's voice echoed in my head. "Even I have to admit, your life is…mostly great."

That inspired me! And I suddenly was in the mood to sing. I busted out a song by Timbuk 3. I'd been listenin' to it on my phone a lot. It was a real pick-me-up.

"I study AP science

I love my classes

I've got a crazy teacher

Who wears gold glasses"

Was I singin' about the legendary Dr. Wilson? You bet I was. Also, dancing through the hall, grooving to the beat.

"Things are going great

And they're only gettin' better"

It was true! My life was turned around, completely! I had so much to look forward to.

"I'm doin' alright

I get good grades

My future's so bright

I gotta wear shades

Yeah, I gotta wear shades"

I tapped the button to turn my glasses into sunglasses and continued running and jumping down the hall, on my way to Miss. Smith's class.

"Well, I'm totally blessed

Wordy and wise

I'm a cyberspace techie

Who also flies"

While I danced and made, you know, a complete fool out of myself, my friends and family all reacted in different ways. Britt rolled her eyes, Theo cheered me on, Eleanor laughed, Jeanette danced a little with me, Simon looked like he didn't know what to think. He probably didn't.

"Things are going great

And they're only gettin' better"

Theo and Simon joined in dancing beside me. Now, Jeanette wasn't the only one! Ohoho! Sweet!

"I'm doin' alright

I get good grades

My future's so bright

I gotta wear shades

Yep, I gotta wear shades"

Even Eleanor and Brittany joined in, and we all danced our way into the classroom. It was so much FUN!

We took our usual seats at our mini desks and got ready for our lessons. Miss. Smith turned her attention to me.

"Alvin!" She snapped. "Take off those sunglasses, right now!"

I smiled mischievously as I pushed the button to turn my sunglasses back into my regular red eye-glasses. "What sunglasses, Miss. Smith?"

She looked confused. "I could have sworn…"

She turned around and I activated the sunglasses again.

"Alvin, stop it." Simon cautioned.

Miss. Smith's eyes went wide upon seeing the return of my shades. "How are you doing that?"

"Doing what, Miss. Smith?" I feigned ignorance.

"Don't play dumb with me!" She demanded.

I let her in on the ruse. "Oh, you mean…this?" I pressed the button and deactivated sunglasses mode for the final time. "They're an invention. Simon and I designed them."

"ALVINNN!" My exasperated teacher shouted.

Yep, It was gonna be a great school year.

In the end, I did get the status quo shift I was hoping for. I'd still be stuck in 10th grade forever, but I have an amazing new AP science teacher and my new reputation is actually being recognized at last. I think there might be more changes on the horizon, and when they come, I'll do my best to be ready for them. It won't ever be easy, but with my friends and family by my side, I know I can get through it.

I just broke the record for the longest chapter in this fic. Well, I had a lot of loose ends to tie up.

THIS WAS SUCH A FUN, (ADMITTEDLY SELF INDULGENT) CHAPTER! Alvin's new reputation is being formed and now it's up to him to continue to prove he's grown up. Even Dave recognizes it! Ahhhh! Take that, poorly written Alvinnn TV show Dave.

I absolutely HAVE to write Dr. Wilson and Miss. Smith interacting again sometime because the two of them have the same bickering tendencies as Alvin and Brittany.

Speaking of the fashionista, let's all give a big hand for her personal growth! Even though she does still suspect Alvin is cursed. Haha.

I took you on a rollercoaster this chapter. It really has a finale feel, doesn't it? I brought back a ton of the supporting characters. Things reached a final climax. Everything in the last chapter is just fun wrap up bits. I could have easily ended the fic here, but I have one final song to serve as end credits.

I can't pick a favorite part of this chapter, but some standouts include Simon and Alvin in Dr. Wilson's class, the part where they compare their test scores, the very ending scene, and the hilarious Ms. Croner section at the trial.

Side note: The trial scene was inspired by a part in a book called Restart by Gordon Korman.

What scenes would you say stood out as favorites to you?

This is it, you guys! Only ONE chapter left. I'll be too busy the next five days to write. But, I look forward to posting the epilogue sometime after June 5th!

This is Jenna Mathews, AKA AmbitiousAlvin, signing off for now!