Lab Rats: The New Addition

Busted

  "You have BIONICS! What!? How!? Why!?" We just got home and Uncle Donny is scolding me. "I'm sorry," I manage to choke out. "I wanted to help." "How did you even get bionics," Davenport booms. My eyes flit quickly to Douglas and then back to the floor. I don't know what to say. Daddy Douglas sighs, "I gave them to her." Everyone looks at Daddy. "What," Uncle Donny yells. "She's my daughter now and she wanted me to give them to her, so I did," Daddy says, struggling to stay calm.

  Uncle Donny gives a frustrated yell. He gives Daddy the evil eye, which is what Daddy did to Chase earlier. "I'll deal with you later," Uncle Donny says to Daddy. Then he turns to me with an equally angry expression and I start to feel sick. I hate getting in trouble. "You," he says, furiously. "Did you ask him to give you bionics?" "Yes," I reply, honestly. "And you went on that mission after I specifically told you not to, with every student in the academy," he yells. I start to reply, but then I realize that he wasn't asking a question, so I keep my mouth shut. "Lyrica Mallard, I may not be your father, but I can ban you from training and take away your bionics, which is exactly what I am going to do," he says, sternly.

  I purse my lips and stare down at my lap to keep myself from crying. I really want to keep my bionics and keep training. Just when I think that I have lost the argument, Chase speaks up. "No," he booms. Everyone, including me, turns to look at him, shocked. "What did you say," Uncle Donny says, his voice rising. Chase looks scared for a moment, then he shakes his head. "Lyrica saved my life with her bionics," he says. "If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be alive right now. You are not going to punish her for that."

  There is dead silence after Chase's speech. I look up and my eyes meet Chase's. His soft brown eyes calm me. I want to thank him, right here, right now, but I am at a loss of words. Uncle Donny opens his mouth to speak, but Chase grasps my hand and whisks me away before he can say anything. Chase leads me into his bedroom and motions for me to sit on his bed. I do as he wishes. He starts to pace back and forth, muttering angrily. I can only make out a few words he says, such as, "preposterous," and, "absurd." "Chase," I begin. He keeps on talking, "You saved my life! And you're going to be punished for that!? Oh, uh uh. No way. Not if I have anything to say about it."

  He starts to talk again. I whisper his name, "Chase?" He stops talking and looks at me, concerned, "Yes?" I finally think of something to say, "Thank you." He looks perplexed. "For what," he asks. "For standing up for me," I reply. He gives a goofy grin, blushes and starts to stutter adorably, "W-well, gee, I-I just...i-it was nothing." I smile brightly. He makes me so happy! Chase's expression suddenly turns serious. "You saved my life, Lyrica," he says, sitting down next to me. "I am in great debt to you." "Aww," I coo. "Little Genius." He smiles at me. I smile back. Then, suddenly, we start to lean in. I don't even know what is happening and I don't know how to stop it. I'm not even sure if I want to stop it! Thankfully, Bree makes my decision for me when she hops into the room and says my name, causing Chase and I to jump away from each other.

  "Lyrica," she says, excitedly. "Uh, yes, Bree," I ask, rather stunned. "Come quick," she says. "Um, okay," I say. I get up and turn around to face Chase. "Bye, Little Genius," I say, cheerfully. He waves shyly at me before Bree grabs my arm and pulls me into her room. She shuts the door and I sit on her bed. "I have a surprise for you," she says, smiling at me. I start to get excited. "Bree, thank you so much," I say. "You shouldn't have!" "Well, I wanted to," she says, digging through her jewelry box. She shuts the box and turns around with something so beautiful that my eyes feel like they are going to pop out of my head when I look at it. She smiles brightly and says, "Surprise!"