Sloane is waiting in her room for Chase to come back in. It's Sunday, and her room is already close to being finished. With the help of Bree, of course. She ran around the room setting things up in no time. The only thing missing is her TV.
Sloane's lounging in her new desk chair, spinning back and forth. She's wearing a fitted purple tee shirt with tiny black skulls all over it, and black pants with zippers on them. Her new black converse are on her feet.
Chase finally opens her door and reenters the room. "Are you done with those?" Chase had given her four core subjects pretests. All four at once, and said, "Call for me when you're done." Sloane didn't want to do them at all, but knew she had to. Sloane was also not at all surprised Chase had made her up four different pretests in one day.
Sloane crosses her arms over her chest. "I called for you, didn't I?" She gives a forced smile.
Chase reaches for the stack of paper on her desk and backs up to take a seat on her sofa. He pulls out a pen from behind his ear and starts scanning the first page. Sloane decides to scan him. Once again, he's wearing a geeky polo shirt. It's red and white striped, which makes Sloane think of him as a candy cane. She sounds that giggle of hers.
"What?" Chase looks up. He's on the second page now.
"Nothing, peppermint stick," Sloane starts spinning back and forth again.
Chase returns to scanning the pages. When he's finally done, he gives Sloane a look that almost scares her. How dumb am I? Sloane thinks to herself.
"What?" She says.
His face turns sympathetic.
"This is so embarrassing," Sloane looks away.
"Sloane. You haven't been in school since 6th grade. And you seem to remember everything up until then, and you even got most of my 7th grade questions right. That's great. We've just got to study 8th and 9th."
"Really?" Sloane looks at him again.
Chase leans forward, "Yeah. But we've still got a lot of work to do. And we've got to work on your math specifically." Sloane sits straight up in her chair, almost as if she's trying to get a little farther away from Chase since he leaned closer. Chase leans back again, because this occurs to him. He looks into her big brown eyes as she stares into his. He gets a weird feeling in his stomach he doesn't remember ever getting before this moment.
"What?" Sloane says.
"Nothing."
"Then stop staring."
Chase snaps out of it and looks away, blinking a few times.
"Are we going to do this or what? Adam wants to show me how to play human bulls' eye bounce."
"Yeah," Chase looks back at her, "It shouldn't take too long. Since you have perfect memory."
"God, I hope not," Sloane rolls her eyes. Chase takes it personally, and thinks she doesn't want to be with him. Truthfully, Sloane hates schoolwork, but Chase has no idea.
"Alright then," Chase says. "Just reread every question and answer in these," he hands her the packets, "I marked the wrong ones right." He stands up and looks down at her.
"You're not going to help me?" Sloane says.
"I didn't think you wanted me to help you."
"Why, Chase?"
He sits back down.
She doesn't say anything for a moment. "Why were you staring at me before?"
"You were the one staring at me."
Sloane laughs, "No I wasn't." She lounges a bit in the chair, "You are cute though, Chase Davenport." She doesn't smile, or even smirk.
Chase looks at her for a moment, puzzled. He stands, "You should study," and he leaves the room.
About an hour later, Chase goes back to Sloane's room to see how she's doing with the schoolwork.
When he gets there, the pretests are all over the desk, and Sloane is nowhere to be seen. He hears Adam yelling from the game room next door. He rushes in, just to find Sloane and Adam playing Plants vs Zombies 3.
"Adam! What are you doing?" Chase says frantically.
"Kickin' Sloane's butt!" Adam says.
"You are not!" Sloane inputs.
"Sloane, you're supposed to be studying."
Sloane pauses the game and turns to face Chase. "I already studied." She says annoyed.
"Fine. But don't complain to me if you end up in the 8th grade instead of 10th." Chase leaves the room and runs into Bree.
"Whoa. You looked pissed," she's smiling with her arms crossed over her chest.
"I spent three hours making up tests for Sloane to study from, and now she's in there playing video games with Adam."
"She doesn't need to study all day."
"I left her for an hour. Who knows how long she studied for, if she even studied at all."
"She probably did, Chase. I don't think she wants to end up in middle school. She has a perfect memory. All she had to do was read it once."
"But what is with her, anyway?"
"Whoa, subject change. What are you talking about?"
"She's been here for a day and a half, and she's already acting like this is her home."
"This is her home. Get used to it."
"I just don't get it. How can she already be this comfortable? Especially considering she hasn't even had a house in three years."
"Good for her. Stop looking into everything so much and be happy we're doing something really good for someone. Sometimes you're so insensitive."
Chase doesn't say anything.
"Wait. Are you jealous she's hanging out with Adam? And not studying with you?"
Chase forms a smile on his face, "Like I said. She's been here for a day and a half. I don't even know her." He walks away down the hall.
Bree goes into the game room and sits on one of the lounge chairs. "I think Chase is getting a little crush on you."
"What?" Sloane says. "You must be joking," she laughs a little. A rude laugh. She keeps her eyes on the screen.
"Why would I be?" Bree says.
"Sloane's way different than Chase, Bree." Adam tells her.
"Whatever," Bree shifts uncomfortably in her chair.
On Monday morning, Sloane wakes up with no excitement for school. She still gets up, gets ready, and has a bowl of cereal. As she eats, Chase is one seat down on the island, eating the same cereal in silence.
"You two are quiet," Tasha says.
Neither one of them says anything.
After Davenport drives them to school, he comes in while Sloane takes her evaluation tests. She amazingly finishes in just under an hour and a half.
"You're finished?" Mr. Davenport asks as Sloane walks back into the main office from the guidance room.
"Yep," she sits next to him in the waiting chairs.
Sloane had to fill out the answers in a scantron sheet, so that they could easily calculate the results. In 5 minutes, Principle Perry, whom Sloane already doesn't like, comes back with the results.
"Alright, I've got your evaluation results," she says. "You got 70% correct, which is above passing grade, but we think it's best if you enroll in the 9th grade here at Mission Creek High."
"Sounds reasonable," He looks at Sloane who has no emotion. "Can she start today?" Mr. Davenport asks.
"I guess. Although I don't want another one of your delinquents running around here."
Davenport and Principle Perry exchange a look.
"I'll go make you a schedule," she says.
"Wait," Sloane says, "If I get really good grades can I move up to the 10th this year?"
"That's negotiable," she says and walks away.
"I know you might not want to be in 9th grade instead of 10th," Davenport says.
"I don't."
"But it might be the best thing for you right now. If you do well, they'll move you up no problem."
Sloane just looks at him.
Principle Perry returns with a few pieces of paper in her hands. "Here's your schedule. I also gave you a map and student guidelines. You don't follow them, you don't stay at Mission Creek."
Sloane takes the papers and again doesn't say anything. Third period just started, so she uses the map to find her third period glass, which is P.E.
She was happy to find that Adam, Bree, Chase, and Leo were all in that class. Perry must have placed her in this class intentionally. Bree waves as soon as she spots Sloane. Everyone's just dribbling basketballs and doing whatever. She walks over to the P.E. teacher and gets a locker and two Dingo shirts and shorts. Sloane changes in the locker room, then walks over to Adam, Bree, Chase and Leo.
"How did the tests go, Sloane?" Leo asks.
Sloane slouches a little, "They put me in 9th grade." She makes sure not to look at Chase.
"Oh. Well that's not bad. You'll be with me and Janelle."
"Who's Janelle?"
"She's basically my girlfriend."
"Basically?"
"We haven't exactly confirmed it."
Sloane nods once, "If I do well they'll move me up to 10th." She does look at Chase now, who's already looking at her. This is her way of asking for his help. She desperately wants to get out of 9th grade already.
"Then Chase is going to help you do it," Bree, who's standing next to Chase says and smacks him on the butt.
"Bree." He says. He looks to Sloane, "What did you get exactly?"
They're all staring at Sloane, waiting for her response. She crosses her arms over her chest, not wanting to tell them what she got.
Chase touches her shoulder and walks her a few steps away from Adam, Bree, and Leo.
She just looks him in the eye for a moment. "70." She tries not to be embarrassed, since school already isn't her thing and she did read through all those questions he gave her.
"Did she let you see what you got wrong?"
She shrugs one shoulder, "I didn't ask."
"Oh. All we have to do is just study hard for every next couple of tests you have, do homework, and you'll move up in no time."
"I really appreciate it. I know I didn't really act like it—"
"You didn't."
"—but I do. Thanks."
"You're welcome." He puts his hand on her shoulder then turns back to the group.
While Chase had been talking with Sloane, Adam said, "I think you're right, Bree."
"About Chase having a crush on Sloane?" Answered Bree.
"What?" Leo said
"I think he has a crush on her. He was acting totally jealous yesterday."
"He doesn't even know her," Leo said.
"So? He sure as hell wants to."
Chase and Sloane then returned to them.
In fourth period English, Sloane is a few minutes late. None of the Davenports are in that class. While waiting for the bell to ring at the end of P.E., they read over her schedule to see what they had with her. When she walked in to room 107, the teacher put her in the back, next to some boy who looked too old to be in high school.
"Cool shoes," he says. She's wearing her pink zebra print vans. Sloane think's he's making fun of her at first, but he looks serious.
Sloane looks him over, "Thanks."
"What's your name?"
"What's yours?"
"Trent."
"Sloane."
"Where are you from?"
Shit, Sloane thinks and makes something up, "Arizona."
"Not too far."
"Nope."
"So how old are you?"
"Fifteen. You?"
"Trent," says Mr. Fitz, "Stop bothering Miss Mccarty."
"My bad, Mr. Fitz," Trent says, but doesn't act like he cares. He answers Sloane, "I'm 18 . . .give or take. . ."
"Give or take?" Sloane says.
"I'm 19."
"Not really surprised."
"Is that an insult?"
"You just look 19. That's all."
"Right."
"Trent. Don't make me ask again." Mr. Fitz says.
By the end of the day, Sloane was dying to go back to the Davenports' house. School was just as she remembered it, and she still hates it. Luckily, Sloane had her last period with Leo, so she wasn't lost and wondering where to go to leave. She was worried she wouldn't be able to find them at the end of the day.
"How was your first day?" Leo asks.
She makes a face at Leo.
"It doesn't get better."
This makes Sloane laugh.
Bree meets up with them. "Hey guys," she steps in next to Sloane. "On a scale of one to ten, how was your day?"
"Eh. . .4. Possibly 5."
"What makes 5 possible?"
Sloane shrugs one shoulder and looks at Bree as they walk to the exit, "I might have made one friend."
Sloane could tell Bree was about to ask who, but they got outside and Chase immediately found them.
"Guys! Guess what I got on my English test."
"A+," Leo says.
"Yes!"
"Good job, Chase," Bree says, "For the hundredth time."
"Actually," Chase says, still with a huge smile on his face, "It's the fifty seventh time you've told me good job."
Bree widens her eyes at him. Sloane tries not to laugh.
At the house, Bree and Sloane are hanging out in the lab when Chase comes down.
Bree was asking Sloane a bunch of questions, all ones Sloane avoided answering. But Bree wanted to know everything about Sloane. She's so different. She's brave, independent, and strong. Bree wants to be more like her.
"Hey," he says. "Sloane. I thought we should go study."
"Oh, give me a break," Bree says. "Leave us alone. We're talking." She waves her hand at him.
"Bree. Sloane wants to be in 10th grade. Not 9th."
"He speaks the truth," Sloane says.
"But we're hanging out," Bree insists.
"We can still hangout afterwards," Sloane hops off the counter.
"I was going to ask if you wanted to go to the mall afterwards," Chase says.
"Well, too bad. You don't even know her."
Sloane looks from Bree to Chase.
"It's Sloane's choice who she hangs out with," Chase says. They both look at her.
Shocked by even the thought of having two different people to choose from to hang out with, she just looks back. "Can't we all hangout?"
Bree and Chase look back at each other.
"Let's just go study." Chase says and leads the way.
They decide to study in the living room this time. No one else is around. Sloane's lying on the couch and Chase is walking back and forth asking her questions, definitions, formulas, and facts. Throughout it, they find themselves laughing and cracking jokes. They really hit it off.
"Can we take a break, already?" Sloane says, sitting up.
Chase doesn't want to stop, but knows not everyone shares his love for school. "Yeah. You hungry?"
"I guess."
"Want a snack?"
"Sure," she sits up and follows him to the kitchen area.
"I don't get how you like school."
"It's just something I get. I understand it," Chase opens one of the cupboards and grabs a bag of chips. Not even grabbing a bowl, he opens up the bag and sits next to Sloane at the island. Sloane didn't know what she was expecting, but she sure didn't expect him to just grab a bag of whatever and offer her to stick her hand inside a bag.
Trying to be polite, she takes one chip, but Chase grabs a few and puts them right in his mouth with no hesitation. Like a total boy. This immediately makes Sloane feel she doesn't need to eat like a total girl. She tosses the chip in her mouth and is shocked by the taste. She makes a weird face.
"They're salt and vinegar," Chase says.
"I noticed," she answers.
"Do you like them?"
"Yeah. I just wasn't expecting that." She reaches into the bag for another chip and puts it in her mouth. "So. How well do you get along with Bree?" She asks.
"Depends. It's way better when we're alone. When Adam's around, she usually takes his side. Seems like when you're around, she wants you to herself, and doesn't want me around."
Sloane doesn't know what to say, so she puts another chip in her mouth.
"Sloane?"
"What?"
"Did you mean what you said yesterday?"
Sloane looks like she has no idea what he's talking about. "What did I say?"
"You said uh," he stares at the chip bag, "I was cute."
"Well yeah. Why would I say it if I didn't mean it?"
"I don't know."
"Do you think I'm cute?" Sloane looks right at him. Chase seems shy, but Sloane isn't shy at all.
"Yeah," Chase finally looks at her after he gets enough courage to say it. "And I think you're really cool," he smiles at her.
Sloane is kind of surprised at first 8af640234f634518fbd2d59796f57385/tumblr_inline_ . "You do?"
He nods at her.
"Thanks. And I think you're. . .um. ."
Chase's smile fades, "What?"
"What?" Sloane says, trying to act like she never said anything.
"You know what. What do you think of me?"
"What do I think of you?"
He nods once, his face completely serious.
"I think you're really smart," she says slowly.
He looks at her weird.
"I don't like you. You're. . .Chase."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You're. . ." Sloane stands and walks a few steps away.
"What?" Chase says annoyed now as he gets up and follows her.
"Not my type. If that's what you mean." She turns to look at him
Chase doesn't say anything.
"You don't like me do you?"
"Like you?" He furrows his eyebrows.
"You're like. . . a total geek. No offense," she crosses her arms. "You're a good friend—if we even are friends."
Chase is so stunned he can't even say anything. He can't believe she just called him a total geek.
Chase must've looked hurt, because Sloane says, "I'm not trying to hurt your feelings. I'm just being honest with you. We barely have anything in common. And just, look at how you're dressed." She steps closer and pulls at his collar. Chase's eyes widen. "But I don't blame you for that," she looks up at his hair. "We've all had our bad haircuts. It kind of reminds me of Miley Cyrus in a way."
Chase's eyes darken, but Sloane doesn't think she actually sees it.
"Anyway. I think I've had enough studying for the day." She turns and heads for the stairs. "I'm going to go—"
"What did you say?!" Sloane hears behind her. It's Chase, but way raspier, and angry sounding.
She turns on the step back to him. "Chase?"
Chase's face softens once Sloane turns and he sees her face. "Spike. And what should I call you, baby?"
Sloane looks at him b9682c4e51c68914b01594cf2e785c26/tumblr_inline_ . He's pushing his chest out and has his hands in fists. She walks back down the two steps and bit closer to him.
"You're even prettier up close,"Chase—Spike—says in that same raspy voice.
"So, what? This is like, your alter ego or something?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, babe. But maybe I can shut you up," Spike grabs her waist and pulls her right against him. For the first time in a while, Sloane isn't minding being touched. She pulls away regardless.
"No, no, I get it. I said I didn't like you and your geekiness, so now you're pretending to be some cocky 'Spike' character."
Spike raises his palms and shakes his head.
"You can't just start talking all raspy and confident then expect me to like you as more than a friend."
Spike continues to act totally oblivious, "Will you just get over here with your pretty lips before I make you?"
Leo then walks downstairs and looks carefully at the two. "What's going on?" He comes the rest of the way down and looks closely at Chase. "Spike?"
"That's my name."
Leo flips his head to Sloane. "What did you do?"
"Whoa, slow up. I don't know what's going on either."
"Something must have triggered Chase's Commando App."
"Commando App?"
"Yeah. Chase turns all," Leo waves his hands in Chase's direction, "like that. We call him Spike."
"Why?"
"Because he's a little man full of rage and uncontrollable anger!" Leo comes to this realization and steps back from Spike and closer to Sloane.
"Doesn't look like it," Sloane says. She walks around Leo and stands next to Spike. He immediately puts his arm around her. Sloane makes a weird face, but doesn't move away.
"Maybe Bree was right," Leo says. As if on cue, Bree walks in.
"Right about what?" She then sees Spike and Sloane. "Yeah, I was right! Wait. Spike?"
Spike nods. Bree could tell it was Spike just by looking at him, because of that hardened facial expression that never leaves his face as Spike.
"Wait again. Why isn't he ripping apart the couch cushions and punching holes in the wall?" She says to Leo.
"I think it's because he likes Sloane," he says.
"Why would that do anything?" Sloane says.
"Well Chase turns into Spike when he's mad, but he likes you so I guess. . .I don't know," says Bree.
Sloane was about to walk closer to Bree, but Spike's grip around her shoulder tightened tremendously. "Ow," she looks up at him, and their faces are so close. Sloane doesn't like it at all.
"You're standing with me," he says.
"This was kind of fun at first but when is he going to switch back?" Sloane looks at Leo and Bree.
"You can't really say for sure. Just when the anger wears off."
Spike's grip on Sloane hadn't loosened, but it does just now. He lets go of Sloane confused, and takes a step back.
"Commando App disengaged?" He says. "What happened?" He looks at Sloane, "Oh. Yeah."
"Oh, yeah, what?" Leo says.
"Nothing," Sloane says calmly.
Chase shakes his head, "What did I do this time?"
"Nothing destructive, actually," Leo says.
"What?"
"All thanks to Sloane, here. So, I guess the secret's out."
"Oh please, I guessed it yesterday," Bree says.
"Guessed what?" Chase asks.
"You're madly in love with Sloane," Leo says casually.
"No, I'm not!"
"Really because you didn't break anything and wouldn't let her leave your side. And that's just what happened once I came in. And what happened before that, Sloane?"
"You called me baby, babe, and said I was pretty. Oh, and you also implied you could shut me up by kissing me."
"Oh!" Bree says with a huge smile on her face and claps her hands once.
"Sorry, Sloane. Really," he says.
"Oh, no need to apologize," Sloane says like she enjoyed the whole thing.
"Oh again!" Bree says and claps once more.
Sloane gets serious, "I'm the one who should apologize to you. So sorry. The whole thing is my fault anyway. I was really mean."
"It's okay," Chase says, although the things she said still offend him and will probably haunt his thoughts for a while.
It seems like the moment for a hug, and Sloane kind of wants to hug him. She takes him by the shoulders and pulls him in for one, and Chase doesn't hesitate for long.
"Oh!" Bree says and before she can clap, Leo says, "If you clap one more time, I'll clap your head against the wall." Bree puts her hands down to her sides.
Adam comes in from the elevator right when the hug is over, "Hey, guys, want to go to froyo-a-go-go? They got 5 new yogurt flavors."
"Yeah, let's go," Leo says, and they head outside together to one of Davenport's cars.
"I'll drive," Adam says as he hops in the front seat.
Chase, Sloane, and Leo end up in the backseat. Chase can't stop thinking about Sloane. Sloane can't stop thinking about Spike.