A shortsie chapter-

Adam: Like Chase!

Chase: ADAM!

Adam: Yeah.. you're right. You have some catching up to do.

Chase: *fuming* At least. I know. What the chapter. Says.

Adam: *begins to retaliate. ..Can't*

Bit of a time skip again, but I'm going to more important parts.


"Dad! I'm going to the Davenports!" Astrid says as she puts on her shoes. "We're watching a movie."

"Does 'we' mean, you and Bree?" Jake asks, "Or does 'we' mean you and-"

"Dad!" Astrid complains, "'we' is everybody."

"But will-"

"Yes, Chase with be there," Astrid says, rolling her eyes at her dad's teasing. "I'm going!"

She closes the door and starts walking under the beautiful Saturday morning sun. She understands that there have been multiple study sessions where is was just her and Chase. But she doesn't have classes with anyone else. The past couple weeks were great. They'd really grown close. Chase brought up her avoidance pre-Spike and Astrid admitted she had no intention to do so.

'I'm glad that's behind us,' Astrid admits to herself as she looks up at the mansion from halfway up the drive. 'He's.. actually kinda cute.' She ducks her head, shaking it and chuckling to herself. 'In an.. annoyingly nerdy way, but..'

She reaches the door and knocks. Bree opens the door. "Ready to watch the movie?" She asks as Astrid walks in.

"Ready as I'll ever be, considering no one told me what it is yet," Astrid answers. She looks away from her friend and sees Chase walking over from the elevator. He's wearing a white t-shirt with red along the collar and sleeves, plaid shirt with a rainbow of colors criss crossing over it, jeans, and his high tops.

He stands by the tv and notices her staring. "What?" he asks, trying to not be rude.

"You're.." Astrid tilts her head a little. Chase tenses a little, uncomfortable with her staring. "..Did you get a haircut?"

Chase looks up briefly before chuckling. "Yep."

"He had that mop top forever!" Bree says, plopping on the couch.

"Yeah," Adam states, "now he looks like a lady golfer."

"Hey!" Chase yells, offended. Astrid smiles when no one is looking at her.

'Don't worry Chase, I like it.'

"What?" Chase asks. Astrid tenses up. Chase is looking at her and Bree is looking at him.

"What?" Astrid asks him.

"Did you just say something?" Chase asks.

"..No," Astrid lies, realizing that she did in fact say those six words came out of her mouth. "You must have glitched."

"..Oh," Chase says. He sits down as Mr. Davenport and Leo walk into the room.

"So, what movie are we watching?"


Next Tuesday, Astrid was over to work on Algebra homework with Chase. When they are done, Astrid stays over a little more and watches Adam, Bree, and Chase train. She still finds their uniforms ridiculous. Leo sits next to her, talking about how cool it would be to have bionics.

Astrid half listens, but she watches the training, in awe. Bree is working on stopping on certain spots on the floor. Adam is practicing his heat vision aim with moving targets. Finally, Chase is using the simulator, testing out shrinking and expanding his force field to different sizes, while blocking objects that get close to him.

All three are doing great with the training. Very few times does Mr. Davenport have to stop them to add a tip or correction. Sooner than later, the training is over for the day. "Great job guys, there's a lot of improvement going on," Mr. Davenport states, "go ahead and change out of your mission suits and the rest of the day is yours."

Adam immediately changes into a t-shirt and jeans, going upstairs to find something to eat. Bree speeds to her capsule and showers. Then she also goes upstairs. Chase takes his time, since he doesn't have much to do. He finished homework with Astrid before training. When he steps out of his capsule, Astrid is the only one still in the lab.

Chase decides to continue working on a personal project in the workshop area of the lab. He notices that Astrid is watching every few moments.

"Why don't you go upstairs?" He asks, "Bree is probably could use a shopping partner." Astrid smirks; Chase is only teasing. He knows Astrid isn't a shopaholic like Bree.

"Well.. I have a question," Astrid states. She fidgets on the silver stool as Chase walks over.

"What is it?"

"..Well.. -Nevermind, it's a stupid question," Astrid says.

"I'll be the judge of that," Chase says. He points to himself. "Smartest guy in the world, remember?" He says, smiling.

"..What does it feel like to use your bionics?" Astrid asks. Chase is surprised by her question.

"What? Really?"

"..Yeah," Astrid replies, "that's what I wanted to know."

Chase sits down next to her and thinks. "Well.. um, there's a bit of a tingle in the back of my neck sometimes," he tries to explain, "but after using my bionics so many times, I don't really notice it anymore."

"Okay.."

"But, it doesn't really.. Um," Chase puts his hand on the back of his neck, thinking. His fingers brush over where the chip is. "It doesn't really feel any different."

"Oh, alright," Astrid says, "see? I said it was stupid." She gets up and walks out of the room.

"You are not stupid," Chase says once the elevator doors close.


OoOoh! If Chase doesn't think you are stupid, that's a plus! (For the 'smartest guy in the world')

And I finally wrote that hair cut. ..Probably should have done that earlier but.. *shrugs* It works now.

And Astrid's question, speaking her mind.