(A/N: Okay, I would consider this my first official AATC fanfic. I have written some in the past, but it was all junk and it didn't really make any sense. So this is numero uno. I know the song is originally done by Rascal Flatts, but if you go on YouTube to listen to it while reading, please use the Cascada version (the candlelight mix if you can find it). I find it so much prettier sung by her.)

Summary: Simon and Jeanette both had things to say, but now it's too late. Or is it? Contains "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts and covered by Cascada.

What Hurts the Most

A Simon/Jeanette Fanfic

by Jill Diamond

~Chapter One~

Alvin opened the door. There stood the Chipettes all huddled together, as usual, but with Eleanor in front instead of Brittany. Hers and Jeanette's faces where somber and stone-like, and Eleanor's was happy and awkward at the same time.

"Hey, girls," the eldest munk greeted, skeptical about the girl's faces.

"Hi, Alvin. Can we come in?" Eleanor, being the spokesperson.

"Sure." He led the girls into the living room, where Theodore was sitting on the couch watching TV. But as he noted the flash of teal in the corner of his eye, his attention was directed to it.

"Eleanor! Girls!" he said, getting up and embracing his girlfriend.

"Hi, Teddy," she started to say as the hug came to a close. "Um, can we talk in private, for a minute?" she inquired as she tucked a stray lock of platinum blond hair behind her ear. She awkwardly motioned to the boys' room.

"Sure!". He led her up the stairs, as Alvin made the notion for the girls to sit down on the old couch.

"So...what's up with you girls, lately?" Alvin, trying to make light conversation. He was currently on Brittany's good side and didn't want to make a comment about their faces.

"Oh, a lot...trust me." said Brittany. Alvin couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or not. But a somewhat real smile had actually cracked. Jeanette just sat there in silence.

Simon walked down from upstairs, as the youngest siblings had kicked him out.

"Jeanette!" he exclaimed, happy to see her.

"Hi..." she replied, under her breath. She got up to greet him in a friendly embrace, as usual, but she didn't have that sparkle in her eye and did it much more slowly.

"So, what's up?" Simon asked, feeling the room just lightened up.

"ALVIN! SIMON!" Theodore shouted from the balcony upstairs. He started running down the stairs with Eleanor at his heels.

"Theodore, don't!" she scolded him.

"Theodore, calm down!" said Alvin, stopping his little brother at the base step before he ran into something.

"Teddy, don't tell them anything!" Eleanor shouted.

"Don't you 'Teddy' me!" Theodore turned around on his heel, now facing the blond. Everyone else looked shocked. Never had Theodore ever talked like that to anyone. Especially Eleanor.

"Guys, the Chipettes are moving!".

"To where, Malibu?" Alvin said, lightly. Brittany slapped him on the back of the head.

"Florida, you idiot! FLORIDA!".

Simon was watching Jeanette's every move out of the corner of his eye. Every time someone said "Florida" or "moving", she flinched and made it look even more like she was going to cry. He felt her pain.

Theodore went on as Alvin and Eleanor tried to calm him down.

"We're never gonna see them again, and we won't go to school with them, and we're going to be all alone, and who's gonna be my partner at the big Clam Bake Cook-Off next year? Not Alvin, I'll tell ya that!".

"Hey!"

Jeanette was on the verge of breaking down. She started breathing heavily and both hands were up at her mouth. Simon tried to put his arms around her to comfort her, but that only made her sob more, and she ran into the bathroom, spinning Simon around in the process. He just stared, dumbfounded as she shut the door.

It was the day of the girl's departure. Everyone was sad. Especially Theodore. Dave had to grab a box of tissues from inside he was crying so much. Everyone hugged everyone. Jeanette took in each boy's specific traits.

When Jeanette hugged Theodore, she noticed he held tightly. Maybe he was just sad to see them go.

Alvin put his arm around Jeanette's neck and patted her back with the other hand. Supposedly trying to be tough-guy.

Simon was a whole different can of worms. He held Jeanette so gently, as if she was made of porcelain. He rung his finger around a small curl of her hair, then let it be. Jeanette also noticed a small motion in his face. Did he gulp, or bite his lip, or what? Jeanette took in that last whiff of that familiar smell of his sweater. Fabric softener with warm spices, and a little bit of deodorant. To anyone else, it was just a smell. But to Jeanette, it was Simon.

Miss Miller wasn't phased a bit. She just ushered the girls into her little pink convertible, babbling out loud if she remembered the directions to the airport or not. Theodore's wailing could be heard down the block by now. He watched Eleanor and the others be driven away.

Simon looked too. Though he didn't want to, he looked. He followed that little pink car all the way to where it turned. And even then, he still stood there. It wasn't until dinnertime, when Dave called him in, that he finally moved. Or realized that he had been standing there, motionless.

The whole ride to the airport, Jeanette just stared at the passing scenery and refused to talk. But she was having a brutal verbal war in her mind.

You should have just told him! Now it's clear you'll never be together!

Even if I had told him, that wouldn't have stopped us from moving.

You would have had him while you could! And at least he would have known how you felt! Now he's probably going to go date some other girl and they'll live happily ever after.

We were too good friends, it would've just ruined it.

How do you know he didn't feel the same way?

Jeanette squinted her eyes shut, trying to block out the voices inside her head, but it didn't stop the tears from falling down her face. She bit on the edge of her sweater sleeve. Now she'll never know if Simon felt the same way about her...

"Jeanette?" Eleanor asked, as she was sitting right next to her. "Are you okay?"

Jeanette didn't answer. She just planted her palms onto her wet eyes and cried harder.

"Just leave her alone, Ellie," Miss Miller told her. "She's probably just upset that we're moving."

Eleanor didn't ask Jeanette again, but she often gave her looks of worry that Jeanette never saw, for she was too busy crying into her sleeves.

(A/N: Wow, Chapter One was short. Don't worry, the other three will be longer, trust me. Now, we get to the song part of the songfic!)