Since becoming bionic, I've had to get used to a lot of things. One of them is standing in a capsule for hours on end every few days so my bionics have less of a chance glitching. Since I don't live here, we made a schedule where twice a week I came over after school and stood in the capsule for a few hours. At first it was boring, until I got the idea to sleep through it like Adam, Bree, and Chase did every night. Strangely enough, I found that sleeping while standing up was rather comfortable.

Mr. Davenport was even nice enough to hang a curtain around the capsule so I could have some privacy while sleeping. I was sharing Bree's capsule and she didn't mind. We made up the day after the talk Chase and I had.

Adam and Leo were in the lab when I came in.

"Hey guys. I'm gonna go to sleep. Don't bug me." They smiled but didn't say anything which made me suspicious. I'd ask what they're up to but I could care less. I really needed some sleep.

Shutting the door to the capsule, I'm about to press the button that lowers the curtain when suddenly some sort of liquid spilled on me and I'm left standing there in shock. I'm not sure what it is, but it does not have a pleasant smell.

"Oh, Chase's capsule is the one in the middle." I heard Adam say and my jaw went slack as I wiped the goop from my eyes so I could give him a death stare.

Leo volunteered to get me a towel, though I think he was wanting to get away from my wrath.

I stepped out of the capsule, my shoes squishing with each step and I saw Adam grimace.

Chase and Bree walked into the lab as I sat on a stool and swiped the towel from Leo. I started wiping the mystery goo off my face.

"Rigged the wrong capsule again, Adam?" Chase asked.

"Maybe..." He said as I started trying to get the stuff out of my ears. Donny and Tasha walked into the lab.

"What happened in here?" Donny asked, not noticing me, "And why does my lab smell like a locker room in a gym that only cows go to?" Tasha saw me and came over to my side.

"Ah, honey, who did this to you?"

"Who... do you think?" I asked rhetorically and I pointed at Adam with a scowl.

"Wow... ruining pranks and blaming others. Not making any friends today are you, Harper?" I snapped and jumped from my seat to go knock his head against the cyber desk but Chase held me back.

"Grandma Rose is visiting tomorrow and I want this behavior to stop. You 3 go get the cleaning supplies. Now." Tasha ordered and all three boys went to do as she said.

"It's bad enough I'm usually the one to get caught in the crossfire." Bree commented from my side, "Last week, Chase was pranking Adam and I ended up in a pet store window." Donald laughed and he earned a glare from his wife.

"What, it was funny." He tried to say but none of us were laughing, "I'm sorry. Look, I will talk to them, I will lay down the law."

"Thank you." Tasha said and she left. Donny waited until she was for sure gone before talking.

"Look, don't tell Tasha I told you this, but the only way you're gonna get them to stop, is to fight fire with fire. You have to prank them, you have to prank them hard."

"Do you really think that'll work?" Bree asked.

"Oh definitely. Although I would act fast because I know for a fact that Adam has a barrel full of expired meat that he's dying to use." Bree and I grimace in disgust.

"I'm going to get them back if it's the last thing I do." I said with determination, sighing as some more goop from my hair made its way down my face. Those boys are so going to get it.

When Mrs. Unger asked me to talk to her during lunch, I wasn't sure why. Walking into the classroom, Mrs. Unger greeted me and asked me to pull a chair over to her desk.

"I want to speak to you about your schoolwork." She started once I sat down." In the last three weeks your grades have suddenly improved out of nowhere. You're acing every test with flying colors." Mrs. Unger didn't sound like she was happy about it.

"Is that a problem?" I asked. Mrs. Unger clasped her hands together and suddenly refused to look me in the eye. I didn't understand why.

"Harper, I don't want to make it seem like I'm accusing you of anything, but when a student with a C average starts getting As, it raises some red flags." It took Everything in me to not look troubled when it all made sense and now it was me who couldn't look at Mrs. Unger. I'm so stupid! How could I have not realized this sooner? Shifting in my seat, I cleared my throat uncomfortably before speaking.

"You think I'm cheating?" I asked.

"I can't accuse you of doing so without proof. I just wanted to speak with you first and clear the air so to speak. I'd like to avoid notifying Principal Perry unless absolutely necessary."

"There's nothing to notify Perry about." I said without missing a beat. My voice was taut from the anxiety weighing on my chest at the grave mistake I might have made.

"So how would you explain the drastic change of your grade average?" She asked.

"I've...had help. Chase was tutoring me, remember?" Mrs. Unger hummed.

"I wasn't aware that that was still happening. After your recent disappearances over the last few months, your teachers have been more focused on you getting the work done instead of your grades which is why I haven't pushed for the tutoring."

"Well, I don't need it anymore. I'm... more motivated to do the work so that's why I'm doing better." She tilts her head and studies my face, and I don't flinch under her gaze.

"Harper, I don't doubt that you're a smart girl. I just want to make sure you're using your talents in a good way." I looked directly into her eyes as I spoke.

"I am." The feeling I got when I lied straight to her face wasn't a good one. Mrs. Unger pursed her lips, still not entirely convinced. But without anything to incriminate me there was nothing she could do. I left my seat and headed for the door.

Once I was out of the classroom I went to go find Chase. He was sitting on a bench by the lockers. Grabbing one of his arms I dragged him to somewhere we could talk alone without the chance of someone hearing us.

"Hey what are you-" I shushed him and glanced around for a place to talk. It ended up being a janitor's closet.

Chase made protests as I opened it and pushed him in after checking that no one was there. After closing the door I flipped the light switch that turned on a single light bulb above us that barely gave any light. I spoke before Chase could ask why I dragged him in here.

"There's a problem." I said and he raised an eyebrow.

"And let me guess, you caused it?" I dropped my head back so it hit the door and groaned.

"I'm such an idiot."

"What happened?"

"So you know how I gave myself superintelligence and I went from being below average to freakishly smart?" Chase nodded, "Well, apparently I'm not smart enough to know that if I suddenly started doing really well in school it would look suspicious." Chase facepalmed.

"Oh no."

"I know! I'm sorry, I'm really really sorry. I messed up but I'll fix it I promise."

"You already have a plan?" I bit my lip and shook my head.

"Well... no. But I'll figure it out."

"Maybe Mr. Davenport can help." I looked at him like he was insane.

"No! He doesn't even know I have superintelligence!"

"You haven't told him?!" I scoffed. I thought he knew this.

"Of course not! And I can't now, especially when I screwed this up big time! If he finds out he'll ship me off to an island in the middle of nowhere or worse, Antarctica! I am not going back there! I just have to figure out a way to fix this where our bionics don't get exposed and I don't get in trouble." Even though we were in a small place, I began pacing as I wracked my mind for an idea.

"I'll help." Chase offered, making me feel embarrassed. He must think I'm not capable of doing this on my own.

"Ugh! How could I have been such an idiot! I'm usually good at thinking ahead and covering my tracks!" Chase put a hand on my shoulder to stop me from pacing.

"Hey, don't worry. Adam, Bree, and I have done our fair share of slip ups and we've always found a way to fix it."

"Yeah well I'm not used to slipping up. I'm-"

"Don't say idiot because you're not." I sighed and dropped my head as he put his other hand on my other shoulder. "We'll figure this out ok?"

"How can you be so calm-AAHH!" I wasn't expecting the door to open behind me and next thing I knew I was falling backwards and hit the ground. It wouldn't have been so bad if a big weight hadn't fallen on top of me.

"What are you two doing in the janitors closet?" I groaned quietly and opened my eyes, expecting to see Principal Perry standing over me with that scowl she always had when she was around me but instead I was met by Chase's hazel eyes that were so close I could spot little flecks of green and brown in them. In my dazed state I thought his eyes were kind of nice. Someone cleared their throat which brought me back to reality. Then I realized the position we were in, people were around us and I gasped before pushing Chase off of me. I got up and offered Chase a hand, but refused to look at him or anyone else in the eye.

"Never thought I'd catch the two of you together. But, I guess uncool can only date uncool." I scoffed at Perry.

"Date? Oh please, like I could date him of all people." I was saved by the bell ringing which put an end to this very uncomfortable situation. I briefly turned to Chase to say I'd talk to him later but he was gone

The next day was weird. I felt like Chase was avoiding me all day and I'm not sure why. When I came over to hang out with Bree, he didn't say anything or even look at me when I passed him in the hallway to get to the lab. Maybe Adam did something to make him grumpy. I figured it's best to leave him alone.

I walked into the lab and saw Bree spray something onto a towel and rub the floor with it.

"What's that?" I asked, pointing to the can.

"Grease. I'm so going to get my brothers." She said while grinning.

"Let's hope so." I said. It was an OK prank I suppose. I didn't want to burst Bree's bubble and say that they wouldn't fall for it. Adam maybe, but not Chase.

I grabbed another towel and helped Bree finish coating the floor. When the elevator doors opened we rushed onto our feet and threw the evidence behind the cyber desk. Adam and Chase walked in, and they didn't seem to be mad at each other. So then why was Chase acting weird?

"Oh, uh, hey guys, what are you up to?" She asked awkwardly and I sighed. Her terrible acting already gave it away, I saw Chase's suspicious expression. At least she tried.

"6 feet, 2 inches. Oh, Chase, you don't have to answer, I know growing's been a lifelong struggle for you." Chase ignored Adam and did a quick once over of the lab.

"Wait a second," he pointed to the chair, "whoopie cushion, bucket of ice water," I'd hoped he didn't notice the bucket hanging precariously over the door way, I'd thought of adding that one. " and a greased floor, nope, nothing suspicious here." He and Adam looked at us like we were idiots. Though I felt there was something more in Chase's expression when he looked at me.

"Seriously, did you think I was born tomorrow?" Adam asked and Bree groaned.

"Ugh, I hate you guys, but I'm so gonna get you guys back." Chase smirked at her.

"Oh please, by all means, keep trying. Your failure is adorable." Suddenly Chase's phone made an alarm noise. He pulled it out and gasped.

"Uh oh, urgent mission alert! There's a leaked lethal virus in Denver! Bree, you have the super speed there ahead of us or it'll be too late." Bree nodded quickly.

"On it!" Bree tried to super speed to her capsule but ended up slipping on the greased floor, falling. I winced then glared at Chase when he laughed.

"Ha! I set up a fake mission alert! I knew you'd fall for it." He laughed triumphantly and so did Adam.

"Good one, now stop messing around, we gotta get to Denver!" Adam ran off and when Chase went to follow I made a split second decision and when he was directly under the bucket of ice water I used my molecular kinesis to tip it over. I smirked until he activated his force field and not a drop touched him. Spinning on his heels, I expected Chase to smirk like he did when he outsmarted me, but instead he looked more annoyed.

"You're going to have to try harder than that." He said flatly. My eyebrows drew together at his sudden coldness but he left before I could ask what's wrong.

"So you tried to prank the boys, and it blew up in your face." I turned and saw Bree get up from the ground, looking rather defeated.

"Was it that obvious?" She asked.

"No, I was watching from upstairs. Man, you really ate it." Wow, Davenport sure knew how to comfort someone.

"Well, yeah, it's just not in my nature to be stupid and immature."

"Good thing it's in mine." Oh he finally admits to being a man child? "I'm gonna help you out because when it comes to pranks, I am the undisputed champ." He said smugly. Bree wasn't impressed.

"Help me out? Is that your nice way of saying you're gonna do the whole thing by yourself while I sit there and watch?" Donny shook his head.

"No, I wasn't trying to be nice. You're really terrible at this." He told her bluntly and Bree sighed as Davenport left to plan what he's probably going to call the 'best prank ever'.

"Hey, at least you tried." I said, attempting to comfort her but I'm not well versed in that sort of thing. She half shrugged and joined me at the cyber desk.

"Yeah." She said quietly.

"Hey, do you know if something is bothering Chase?"

"No, he's been like this since yesterday."

"Weird." I muttered under my breath.

"Is it true that you and him were found in the janitor's closet yesterday?" She asked and I felt my face turn a dark shade of red from embarrassment.

"I-It's not what you think. We were talking about bionic stuff and didn't want anyone to hear." Bree nodded and dropped the subject, asking if I wanted to watch a movie. I said yes, anything to end this conversation.

After school the next day I was with Bree and Davenport, the latter having prepared a prank sometime that day. Chase had avoided me all day again and I was starting to wonder if I had done something wrong. But I couldn't figure out what I did. It was really starting to bother me.

"This is gonna be great, I hid a high-powdered airbag inside the couch cushion. Soon as Adam and Chase sit down for their after school video games, boom! They're gonna be airborne."

"Wait, isn't this dangerous? Please say yes!" Both started giggling like little school girls.

"This is going to be the greatest prank ever!" I knew he would call it that! I heard Adam and Chase about two seconds before they came into the room and sighed, knowing this prank was ruined.

"Oh prank? What prank?" Adam asked. Davenport and Bree shared panicked looks.

"No not prank, I didn't say prank, I was talking about my friend Frank actually. You never met a big guy German and enormous toes." I slapped my forehead.

"Oh please, give us a break. We know you're trying to help Bree get back at us and it's not gonna work." Chase said.

"Wait, if his toes are that big, I really need to meet him." I gave Adam an 'are you serious' look.

"Abort prank, abort prank." Donny whispered to Bree. I sighed at the man.

"Just 'cause you say it at the side of your mouth, does not mean we can't hear you." Chase told the man, voicing my exact thought.

"Is your whole family just bad at acting?" I asked Bree just as the front door opened.

"Are you saying that you would rather spend time with her than me?" Leo's grandma asked as she and Leo came in.

"No, you said it, but yes." Rose gasped and put a hand on her chest.

"Oh, this could be the big one. I need to sit down."

"Wait no!" It was too late. Rose barely sat down on the couch and then she was airborne. We all rushed over as she fell to the ground behind the couch.

"Rose, are you okay?" Davenport asked her.

"Do I look like I'm okay?" She retorted.

An ambulance was called and a few hours later Rose, Leo, and Tasha came back and Rose was on crutches. When she stumbled Leo said her name, very much worried.

"It's okay, sugar." Rose assured him. When Donny came over to try and help her he got hit in the leg with a cane.

"Get away from me. Can't you see I'm in pain?" She shouted and Donny backed away. Tasha glared at Adam and Chase.

"We're lucky it was just a sprained ankle. You two are in big trouble. An airbag in my sofa?"

"It wasn't us." Chase protested and Donny started edging towards the stairs.

"Don't do it... don't do it..." He whispered under his breath.

"It was Mr. Davenport." Adam told Tasha and Davenport grimaced.

"Donald, is that true?" Donny laughed nervously.

"What happened was... it... there comes a moment... it... it... it was all Harper." My jaw dropped.

"Excuse me?" I asked angrily. How dare he throw me under the bus like that!

"What happened? You said you were going to lay down the law. You lied to me."

"Oh, he lies to you about a lot." Adam said bluntly.

"I was just trying to teach them a lesson." Donny explained.

"What lesson?"

"Umm... the principles of flight?" Good one.

"Well... since Grandma won't be able to get around for 2 weeks, you're gonna be waiting on her. Hand and foot."

"What?" Donald cried.

"Yep, that hand this foot." Rose said and she pointed to a pillow next to her. " Now prop me up with that pillow." Donald didn't move and she raised her voice. "TODAY!" This made the man rush to do as she commanded. "Come on! Gimme that blanket. Where's my soup?"

"Yeah, where is her soup?" I mimicked Rose's high pitched voice then I laughed, "I'm sorry just got carried away, I'm having way too much fun with this." Rose's attention was on me now and she squinted her eyes at me.

"And who are you? Don't tell me you adopted another kid." She said to Tasha. Leo was quick to correct her and put an arm around my shoulders.

"Oh, Grandma this is our friend Harper. And my other woman if things don't work out with Janelle."

"Yeah keep telling yourself that Leo." I told him sarcastically. Rose looked at me with disapproval.

"What's with the dark makeup, you look like a raccoon." I blinked and put my hands on my hips.

"Excuse me?" I asked, and from the corner of my vision I could see Leo do a cutting motion for me to stay quiet. I would have let it slide if she hadn't continued with a second comment.

"And those dark clothes? Are you going to a funeral?" I laughed dryly and ignored Leo who was now using both hands to motion for me to keep my mouth shut.

"Yeah, it's for an old woman who didn't keep her mouth shut." I retorted while smirking. Rose gasped dramatically while I headed for the door. "Nice chatting with ya." I said casually over my shoulder before heading out the door.

When I got a text from Bree to come over because she and Tasha teamed up to prank the boys, I knew I couldn't miss it. Maybe a good prank would make Chase forget about whatever it is I did. I know the easiest way to fix this would be to talk to him, but I'm not good at that sort of thing.

Once she told me the plan and I was even more excited. And I may have added an extra part to it. I couldn't help myself.

The boys had been playing video games but took a break to do some chores. When they came back to the living room Bree and Tasha got the tray with cookies that they made and went to meet them by the couch. I watched from the kitchen.

"Hello boys. Bree and I decided to make you some homemade cookies."

"They're fresh out of the oven." Bree added.

"Fresh, stale, hot, cold just put it in my mouth." Adam said and he reached for a cookie but Chase stopped him.

"Since when has Bree ever made us cookies?" Adam gasped.

"You're right. Thanks a lot, Bree, so kind of you." Chase prevented him from getting a cookie and scanned them like we expected him to.

"Just as I suspected. Not only did you use salt instead of sugar, but those chocolate chips are not chocolate. "

"So carmel?" Adam asked.

"No. You're going to have to try a lot harder than that Bree."

"Ugh, busted again. I give up." Bree said in defeat and I was impressed at how much better her acting was. I may have helped her in that area. I hid my smirk as I watched the boys head over to the couch.

"What an amateur. To think we'd fall for that." Chase and Adam grabbed their video game controllers and I shared a brief look with Bree and Tasha when the controllers stuck to their hands.

"Hey what's the deal?" Chase asked, trying to shake the controller off.

"Yeah I'm stuck." Adam said and he looked at his sister, not impressed, "Really Bree? This is your prank? Glue on the hands?"

"Oh no I guess we'll have to play more video games." Chase said in a mocking voice.

"Gonna be hard to do that from up there." I commented and Bree walked closer to them with her hands behind her back. They were unaware of the giant magnet hanging above them.

"Up where?" Bree revealed the remote she was hiding and pressed a button. Adam and Chase were lifted from the ground and the controllers stuck to the magnet.

"Up there. Your controllers are made of metallic components so all we had to do was find a powerful magnet." Bree explained.

"Good thing I married a guy with five floors of techno junk." Tasha said and Bree and I nodded with smiles on our faces.

"Ok. Alright. You finally got us. Good job Bree." Chase said.

"Oh no, it was not Brees' prank. It was mine." Tasha said.

"Well that makes sense since it actually worked." Bree rolled her eyes at Adam. In a way he was right.

"Look whoevers prank it is, can you just let us down."

"Fine, we'll let you down." Bree nodded to me and I superspeed into the hallway and came back with a small inflatable pool that's put directly under Adam and Chase.

"Right down to a pool of expired milk." Bree finished while i stepped back so I'm not in the splash zone. The magnet is turned off and both boys fall into the pool. Us girls laughed as they became drenched and had spit out the special surprise that ended up in their mouths.

"Ugh, it's disgusting!" Chase exclaimed.

"And much chunkier than I remember!"

"Yeah that's because I found your barrel of expired meat." Bree informed.

"That part was my idea." I said proudly and the three of us high fived.

"I was saving that!" Adam exclaimed angrily and I smirked as I walked closer to the pool while the other two left.

"Aw, you guys look adorable when you fail." Both boys glared at me. Chuckling, I reached into my pants pocket to get my phone out so I could take a picture to remember this glorious moment.

I yelped when my arms were grabbed by slimy hands and suddenly I'm falling into the pool with Adam and Chase. I spit the milk that managed to get into my mouth and I hear the two boys laughing. After wiping my eyes I glare at them both.

"Really?! I yelled, and I had to swallow back the contents of my stomach that threatened to make an appearance. Thank goodness none of the expired meat made it in my mouth.

Looking up at Chase who stood over me while still laughing his head off, I grabbed his wrist and he screamed as he fell back down into the mixture of expired milk and meat was music to my ears. There, now I'm happy.

But he wasn't and next thing I knew we were wrestling, trying to shove the other back into the milk.

Adam had to break us apart. "Hey! Knock it off you two!"

"What the heck is the matter with you!" I asked Chase, losing it.

"Nothing!" Growling, I grabbed him and super sped him outside so we could be alone. I stood in front of the door so he couldn't run back in. "Let me back inside." He demanded and I crossed my arms and shook my head.

"No, not until you tell me what's going on." I said sternly.

"Nothings wrong." Chase insisted, but his tone said otherwise.

"Chase I can't take it!" I exclaimed, just losing it. "What did I do to upset you! And don't say nothing!" Chase sighed.

"It's stupid." He finally said.

"If it was stupid you wouldn't be avoiding me." He sighed again. "Come on, tell me." I pleaded, tired of feeling anxious over what I could have done wrong. I must have sounded pretty pathetic and Chase probably thought the same thing because he took a seat on the bench by the door and patted the spot next to him.

"Remember three days ago, what you said to Principal Perry after she thought we were, like together?" I nodded slowly, the embarrassment of what happened still burned in my memory.

"I said I could never date you." I said and he looked away.

"Yeah." I was more confused now.

"I don't see how that could make you mad. We aren't together." Chase sighed harshly.

"I know, that's why it's stupid. It got me thinking about all the reasons why you would say that. I mean, I get it. I'm a nerd, I'm too short, and I don't play sports."

"Exactly. It's all of those reasons and more." I said matter of factly and he got grumpy again.

"You sure know how to make a guy feel better about himself." He muttered and my forehead wrinkled.

"What do you-ohh." Now I understand. He misinterpreted what I had said. "When I said I couldn't date you, I didn't mean it in a bad way." Chase looked at me, confused like I had been until a second ago. I now felt guilty for hurting his confidence. "I guess I could have said it differently. Who cares if you're a nerd or you don't play sports. And your height means nothing. What does matter is that you're a hero, you save people's lives. So you deserve someone who is worthy of being your girlfriend. In other words, not me. That makes sense right?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Good. I never meant to make it sound like I was dissing you. And no matter what everyone else says, I think you'd be a terrific boyfriend to the right girl." When that came out of my mouth, I surprised myself. Where did that come from? But it seemed to be the right thing to say because he smiled.

"T-Thanks. Wait, you said I deserve someone worthy of being my girlfriend, and not you." I nodded slowly, "Why would you say that?"

"Oh come on, it's obvious isn't it?" Chase shrugged tiredly.

"Apparently nothing is obvious to me." I chuckled before answering his question.

"You and I come from completely different worlds. Like I said, you're a hero. And me... I could never do anything to be anywhere near as good a person as you are." Chase seemed more bothered by this than I was. Suddenly I was worried why he would be upset. "Plus, it's not like we like each other right?" I asked. There's no way a guy like him could have feelings for someone like me. I relaxed when he shook his head.

"Right. We're just friends." He confirmed, though there was something in the way he said it that sounded off. I figured it was because of how weird a conversation like this was.

"Right." I said. We both nodded and an awkward silence fell between us. It sort of felt like those moments on TV where a boy and a girl have a conversation like this and it's obvious they secretly like each other. But that's not what's happening here. I could never like Chase, and he would never go for a girl like me. That thought made me frown a little. Wait, why would I frown? I don't like him.

"I should get going." I said, suddenly very uncomfortable. I said goodbye to Chase, making an excuse that I needed to go home and clean up. I wasn't sure what I was feeling, but I didn't like it.