Lab Rats: The New Addition

A Perfect Ending...Almost

  After a few weeks of boredom, being the crazy family we are, we decide to throw a party! We invite all of the students and Leo's girlfriend, Janelle. The perfect time for a party is on a Saturday night, which is exactly tonight! I'm so excited! We are all dressed our best and everything is set up just as the doorbell rings. "I'll get it," I say, excitedly running to the door. I open it and there stands Janelle, wearing some pretty mascara and pink lip gloss. She is wearing a long, sparkly purple dress and black flats. Her hair is down, curly and fluffy, as always.

  "Hey," I say, giving her a hug. "You look so pretty!" "Hey, thanks," she says, happily. "You, too!" Everyone else runs to greet her, Leo giving her a kiss on the cheek, causing her to giggle. Chase, who is looking very handsome in a black tuxedo and dress shoes, wearing cologne, his hair slicked back with hair gel, walks over to me and drapes his arm over my shoulders. I hold onto his hand. "It's great to see you, Janelle," he says, cheerfully. "Great to see you, too, Chase," says Janelle.

...

  Later, as more of our guests arrive, Leo shouts, "Let's get this party started!" One of my favorite songs, Stand By You by Rachel Platten, blasts through the speakers and I immediately start dancing and singing along to it:

I'm gonna stand by
You. Even if we're
Breakin' down
We can find a way
To break through.
Even if we can't
Find Heaven
I'll walk through Hell
With you! Love,
You're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna
Stand By You
Even if we can't
Find Heaven
I'm gonna stand by
You. Even if we
Can't find Heaven
I'll walk through Hell
With you! Love,
You're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna
Stand by you.

  As I dance and sing and do my own thing, Bree dances over to me. "Hey," she yells over the music, causing me to stop singing. "Enjoying the party, Bestie?" "I sure am, Bestie," I reply. Bree and I dance and sing together until the song ends. Everybody claps just before Daddy Douglas makes an announcement. "Now it's time for one of the most special dances of the night," he says. He looks at me and smiles, "A Father-Daughter dance." My heart melts. I really do have a father. The song, Cinderella, by Steven Curtis Chapman plays through the speakers as all of the girls start to dance with their fathers.

  Daddy walks down the stairs off the stage. He walks toward me, stops, and holds out his hand, "May I have this dance?" "Yes," I whisper, wiping away my tears of joy. I take his hand and we start dancing as the song plays:

So I will dance with
Cinderella, while she
Is here in my arms.
'Cause all too soon
The clock will strike
Midnight. And she'll
Be gone.

  "Daddy," I whisper. He smiles, "Yes, sweetie?" I hug him tightly. He hugs me back and we keep dancing. "I love you, Daddy," I whisper. "I love you, too," he says.

...

  Daddy and I dance for a little while longer after the song ends. The guests are starting to leave and the party is ending, but we are still dancing. I see Chase walk up behind Daddy and tap him on the shoulder. Daddy turns his head to face Chase and groans, "What do you want?" "Daddy, be polite," I say, embarrassed. Chase chuckles, "No, it's okay." He turns his attention over to Daddy. "May I cut in," he asks, ever so politely. "No," Daddy says, childishly. I can tell that he is starting to be his overprotective self again.

  "Daddy," I whine. He turns to look at me and I pout. He can never resist 'The Pout.' After a few seconds, he cracks, "Ugh! Fine!" "Yay," I cheer, kissing Daddy on the cheek. "Thanks, Daddy!" "Yeah, all right," he says, as I walk over to Chase. Daddy gives Chase the evil eye like he did the day I was flirting with Chase, after I saved Chase by sneaking off to a mission. Chase is still phased by this. He looks very scared. "Watch yourself, boy," says Daddy. "Y-Yes, sir," Chase says, respectfully, his voice full of fear. I roll my eyes as Daddy walks away. The soft piano song, "Every Time We Touch," by Cascada plays through the speakers as Chase and I start slow dancing.

  Chase smiles. "Hey, Princess," he says, softly. "Hi, Little Genius," I whisper, smiling. "Did you have a good night," he asks. "The best," I reply. "Can I tell you something," Chase asks. "Of course," I reply. "Anything." "You're the very first girl who has ever loved me, or even liked me for that matter, for who I am," he says. "I've never met anyone so interested in listening to me go on and on about Math and Science and things like that. You risked your life to keep me alive, and that is something that I will be eternally grateful for. I am in love with you, Lyrica Mallard, and I'm stating the facts." My heart melts. Words can't even begin to describe the joy and deep love that I am feeling right now. I want to say something, but I can't come up with anything better than what Chase said, so instead, I show my affection physically. I reach up and press my lips gently against his, feeling excitement and sparks once again. He deepens the kiss.

  When we finish, words can no longer describe our feelings, so we just continue dancing. A few minutes later, Bree, Adam, Leo, Daddy, Uncle Donny, and Auntie Tasha crowd around Chase and I as we try to have a romantic chat. "Come on, lovebirds," Bree says. "It's time for a group picture!" We get up and all of us chaotically try to get in the correct position for a group photo. "Hey, get your butt out of my face," Bree yells, suddenly. "Get your face out of my butt," Adam snaps back. Soon, a fight breaks out between everyone. Now, most people may call this an imperfect ending, but I call it a perfect ending for an imperfect family, and I never want it to change. There are definitely going to be new adventures for us soon, and whatever they are, I'm prepared!

END OF BOOK 1