Tutor (Lab Rats Fanfiction)

Chapter 17 Also Known as Blackmail

AN: Hey guys!!! It's been a while, hasn't it? I'm so sorry. I wish I could've updated this sooner. But it is what it is, I guess. But just for you guys, I made sure this chapter was extra long! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Lab Rats.

Chase's P.O.V.

I was sitting in one of the plastic chairs of the Misson Creek Emergency Room, eyeing the door that Avalon and her parents had dissapeared behind. Avalon's sister Tracy was slumped down next to me, carelessly scrolling through an Instagram page. She seemed unfazed about her sibling's injury. Every once in a while, I would see her look up from her phone out of the corner of my eye. Whenever she glanced up, she always looked at me before darting her eyes back to the little screen, resuming her swiping.

"So, do you think Avalon is okay?"

I turned to Tracy to see her looking up at me through her eyelashes expectantly. She stared at me, blinking once or twice, waiting for a reply.

"I'm honestly not sure. I think you would know better than me. You are her sister, after all."

She sighed. "Well yeah, but from what she said, you're a lot smarter than both of us. Especially Avalon. Plus you were the first person she called. You were there. I figured you would be able to tell what happened."

I shrugged, thinking about her words. True, when I saw Avalon's swollen wrist I knew what was wrong with it, but that didn't mean I knew what would happen to her here. She could be having a mental breakdown behind those doors this very second. I guess I didn't know her that well. Maybe I should hang out with her a little more so I can actually get to know her personality.

When I didn't respond, Tracy added, "I bet she's hyperventilating or something back there. She's never liked hospitals."

"Why not?" I asked. She slid her phone in her pocket and turned to face me better.

"Well for starters, my parents brought her to a hospital because they didn't know she had dyslexia. They thought something was wrong that could be fixed my tests and surgery, but she was sent to some therapy class instead. At least, I think. It might've been some clinic. I can't really remember the details because I was about two when this happened, but that's the gist of it. And then there was this issue with a drunk driver that had Avalon in and out of the hospital for months."

"Avalon was hit by a drunk driver?" I asked, surprised. This bit of information had me feeling strangly protective. She had never mentioned being in a car accident before . . .

"Oh, no," she said simply, like people always give her this reaction. "Our cousin was. They were really close and Avalon was at her bedside almost every day before they pulled the plug on her treatment. That's why she can't stand hospitals. They're depressing and they remind het of her worst memories."

"Oh," I said, not really thinking of anything else to say. I guess that's what most people thought of hospitals as. Depressing.

"Are you sure you're Avalon's tutor?" Tracy asked, her eyes glued back to her phone, which she had easily pulled out of her pocket again.

"What?" I was taken aback by this question, not understanding the reason behind it.

"I said, are you sure you're Avalon's tutor? She said the teachers got her the kid with the highest IQ in school."

"That's me," I said, grinning. I loved having superior intelligence.

"Well, you don't look like it," she said matter-of-factly, not bothering to glance up from the phone screen.