I'm back!

Virtual high five to MexicanSwagg, doomforzombies16, AlienGhostWizard14, Sharon1234, Ra'Zara The First, UnknownForNow, rosepika13, brookeluvsbooks9, SongGeek324, Mia Teresa-Davenport, incinera, and BlueVanillaDetective for answering - or at least describing the answer - correctly! Leo did suggest that they use ballistic gel to trap Bree.

Thanks, too, to Lady Cougar-Trombone, BTRlover1122, misaai and 88keys for your reviews!

Special shout out to AllAmericanSlurp, because she probably broke some kind of record when it comes to submitting reviews. If I'm not mistaken, she posted reviews (posted a second one on some) for all thirty-five chapters of this story in a course of one and a half weeks. I have no idea what I've done to deserve that kindness, but I am very thankful. You are awesome ;)

I hope you guys enjoy this next chapter!

Episode Tag to: Cyborg Shark Attack

Chronicle #036

"Tidal"

05/31/14

8:36 AM

So the little skiff between Adam, Chase and I got a little out of control that I had to ask the adults of the house for advice. Don't get me wrong; it wasn't a full-on bro battle or anything like that. Adam and Chase were just…a little unhappy with me, and it made things a bit awkward. We were okay after the whole cyborg shark incident (their prank did nearly kill me and Janelle), but after my 'they're the ones who were screaming their heads off at the movie' lie drew in some more ridicule to them come Monday, they were back to being broody again. This time, they added a good dose of silent treatment and avoiding sprees.

Usually, saying 'I'm sorry' would be easy, but it was a little bit different this time around for two reasons: (1) unlike the situation with Danielle a year or two ago, my apology wouldn't have made their bad street cred any better, and (2) really, how do you apologize to your older brothers who don't even look like they're willing to forgive you?

So, I decided to talk to people who have experience in things like this: Big D, Douglas, and Mom (since she's had her share of sibling problems too).

I approached the task the way they told me how, and this is what I got.

.

Five Ways Guys Apologize and Four Ways It Backfires

by: D. Davenport, D. Davenport and T. Davenport

1. "Guys only need a punch on the arm."

Adam was sitting at the edge of the couch, frowning intensely at the TV as he played a videogame, while I was sitting on the counter at the kitchen when that advice came to mind. I wasn't very sure it would work, but when Adam started grinning, which I supposed came from his team scoring in the game, I walked over to him. I stood there, making sure it was the best time. Then, I hit him with sufficient force on the arm.

Unfortunately, it caused him to click to wrong button and lose the game.

"Dude! Wha—" Adam looked up at me, eyes wide with shock. He stood up. "You just made me miss that three-point shot! I was already at the finals!" he said angrily.

All I could do was stare, thinking about another apology I had to make because of Douglas.

2. "Sometimes, doing favors for them does the trick."

I did chores. I made deals with Big D and Mom for immunity for both of them for when they get grounded. But, of course, when I asked them if we're good after I did those things for them, their answer was still the same.

"No."

3. "Send in a middleman."

"This is so dumb," Bree complained after we got off the elevator at the lab.

"Oh, come on, Bree. Don't back out now," I pleaded. "You said you were going to help me."

Bree rolled her eyes. "I just don't get why I have to be in the middle of this."

"Because Adam and Chase would listen to you," I reasoned.

She scoffed. "Since when?" she asked.

I sighed. "Bree, please," I said. "I'm desperate here."

Bree stared at me. "Fine," she muttered begrudgingly after finally taking pity on me. Then, she walked towards the lab where Adam and Chase were talking.

I couldn't let them see me because they'd figure out what I was up to, so I stayed close to the elevators. I heard Adam and Chase greet Bree then Bree saying that she saw me on her way in. She casually asked if the three of us were still in our no hablo terms.

There was silence.

Then, "Oh, Leo…"

I slowly walked in when I heard Adam. He didn't sound upset, but there was something in the singsong-y way he called out that immediately sent me on alert mode. When the lab came into view, I saw Adam and Chase smiling widely—too widely—and both with their arms crossed. Bree, meanwhile, just stood beside them, watching, probably as confused as I was.

"Hey…guys," I said, still suspicious. Even if I was, I kept walking in.

They must have turned on the Davenwall again, because the next thing I knew, I was knocked off my feet and had to reel back from being electrocuted. It wasn't turned up as much as they had turned it up for Big D, but it still hurt like nobody's business.

Chase's eyebrows rose. "Does that answer your question?" he asked as I sat up.

I looked up at Bree, confused and somewhat shocked.

Bree shrugged. "I told you. They never listen to me," she said.

4. "Establish some sort of solidarity."

"Hey, this sounds pretty cool. Is this your new jam?"

"…It's a recording of Mr. Collins giving the lesson in Latin."

"Oh. Well, it's catchy?"

Chase just frowned lightly and narrowed his eyes.

5. "Boys find clever ways to get their friends to forgive them without saying anything. Men step up to the plate, own up, and say they're sorry."

After agreeing that all of these things won't go away unless I do something about it, I decided to risk it all Thursday evening and post online that it had been me who had been screaming like a frightened little girl at the movies. Most people believed it, some people don't, and some just unliked it. The football team had even personally let me know yesterday how much they did not like it by stuffing me in a locker.

It used to be okay in there because I had room to move, but after a year of getting taller and the school budget getting smaller, being trapped in locker 2036 was not as borderline tolerable as it had been.

I must have been there for a good twenty minutes. I tried to call Bree to get me out, but I dropped my phone while trying to get it out of my pocket and had no way to pick it up. Thankfully, before the heat and the proximity suffocated me, someone came in and broke the lock on the locker.

When the door opened, I saw Adam, Chase and Bree standing there.

"They still remembered which one's your locker?" Chase asked as Adam and Bree helped me out.

I nodded, slightly rotating my shoulder to make sure it hadn't accidentally merged with my spine. "You'll be surprised with how much these guys retain when it comes to the subject of torturing nerds," I said. I thought about what I was going to say first. Then, when I did, I said, "I shouldn't have lied about you guys. I'm really sorry."

"We figured," Adam admitted. "But you know, you didn't have to do all the things you've done. All you had to do was say what you've just said."

"I did apologize! But you two got upset with me again so – I had to do it," I said. I frowned. "I had to suffer the consequences of listening to bad advices, of course, but…"

"Let me guess," Chase said. "From Douglas and Mr. Davenport?"

I looked at him, confirming what he had said.

"You do remember that the two of them fight a lot, right?" Adam asked. "And that one of those fights ended up with them not speaking to each other for sixteen years?"

I sighed. "Yeah, I should have figured that," I said, stretching my arms a little bit.

Chase smiled. "Yeah okay. I guess we're good," he said.

Adam shrugged. "We're good too," he said.

I stared at them a while, not quite sure whether they mean it this time.

Turns out, they did.

Bree shook her head after scoffing. "Boys," she said.

.

So far, things are back to normal. Adam, Chase and I are on speaking terms again, my arms are still moveable, and two of the adults in the house are patting themselves on the back for 'resolving' the issue. Mom, of course, didn't even bother to correct them, but she did say she was glad I listened to her and was proud that I made the right choice.

Signed,

Leo Francis Dooley

05/31/14

12:01 PM

The Bree Chronicles

In Cyborg Shark Attack, how did Principal Perry introduce Bree and Donald to the woman at the country club? (Who were they to her?) Reviews and answers are appreciated!

For all those weeks I have not recommended any reads, many new stories had been posted. One of the best in the newly published is musewars' Brother's Keeper. It's a fantastic reflection piece, focusing on Donald's point of view (though not told in it), which is an area musewars shine in anyways. Check it out; you won't regret reading it.

Next chronicle should be up soon, especially now that I'm trying to play catch-up again.