xviii. not so smart phone

——

Freya was in the lab with Adam and Leo setting up bowling pins. Freya was sick all last week with a horrible sinus infection. She missed Chase and Bree getting jobs at Tech Town and an awesome zip line course Leo, Adam, and Davenport played on instead of doing chores. She misused them getting hurt and it upset her.

Chase and Bree walked into the lab. Freya blushed at the sight of Chase in his Tech Town uniform. She quickly shook her head and smiled at them.

"Hey guys, check it out. We just got our first paychecks from Tech Town." Chase smiled, holding up his pay check.

"Nice! What are you going to spend it on? A video game? New kicks? A birthday gift for a sibling who wants a video game and new kicks?" Leo smiled at Chase, gesturing to himself.

"Way to be subtle," Freya remarked.

"Nope. I'm gonna open a savings account." Chase smiled and Freya rolled her eyes as Adam hung his head down.

"I want to like you, but you make it so hard." Bree sighed and walked by him.

"I wonder why I like you," Freya frowned and Chase's smiled faded.

"The job also comes with perks." Chase held up the new ePhone 7 and Leo and Freya's mouth opened in shock at the sight.

"The new ePhone 7?! Those aren't even out yet!" Freya gasped. "How'd you get one?"

"Well, Rey, as a rising star of the Tech Town empire-" Chase started.

Bree held up her phone. "We all got one."

"People are already lined up for the big release Friday. You should've seen the crazy looks in their eyes when I walked by with this thing." Leo was staring at the phone with a crazed look as Freya moved away. "Yup that's the look."

Leo grabbed the phone from Chase. "This version's got a new auto-centering feature to help you take better selfies."

Leo took a selfie, which turned out to be horrible. Freya chuckled.

Leo cringed. "Yeah, I don't photograph well."

"We know," Freya patted his shoulder.

"Point that bad boy over here." Adam called , holding a bowling ball. "You're gonna want to record this perfection."

"Can't wait to see this disaster." Freya chuckled.

——

"I'm Adam Davenport, and this is "Bionic Bowling.'" Adam announced to the phone that was recording. Leon as filming and Freya was doing a voiceover.

"Adam is six-foot-two, a rare combination of incredible strength and not much else." Freya announced and Adam's smile fell at the last part.

Adam prepared to bowl, but instead threw the ball and got a strike.

"Oh yeah!" Leo cheered and Freya clapped.

"Nice. Nice." She smiled.

Adam cheered loudly. "Whoo!"

——

"I'm Chase Davenport, and this is "Molecular Kinesis Bowling." Chase announced, now holding the bowling ball.

"A native of Mission Creek, Chase's hobbies include being a tattle-tale and creeping out girls." Freya spoke with a sly smile and Chase glared at her.

Chase rolled his eyes and put the the bowling ball on the floor. He head with his molecular kinesis to roll the bowl and it knocks all but two down.

Freya shook her head. "Ooooo. How horrible."

Leo sighed. "Oh! Oh, the dreaded 7/10 split! Devastating. Just devastating!"

Adam mock whimpers at Chase as Freya was laughing. Chase swiftly moves the ball with his molecular kinesis and knocks the rest of the pins down.

Chase smiled at the camera. "You were saying?"

"Show off," Freya muttered.

"Oh, it's on!" Adam exclaimed.

——

"I'm still Adam Davenport, and this is 'Blastwave Bowling.'" Adam announced to the camera.

Adam drops the ball and instead blast waves Chase across the room, knocking over the pins. Freya started to laugh hysterically and hi-fived Adam. The three ran up to Chase who was on the floor groaning.

Leo pointed the camera at Chase as Freya laughed. "And we have a loser!"

——

~The Next Day~

Freya, Leo, and Bree walked into school. There was a limo outside the school, blocking the bus lanes.

"Whose limo's blocking the bus lanes?" Leo asked.

Bree shrugged. "I don't know but I've always wanted to ride in one. They look so classy."

"For my sister's 13 birthday party, I got to ride in a limo." Freya told them and Bree gasped.

"That's so cool!"

"Still bitter I couldn't go," Leo pouted.

"It was an all girls party," Freya reasoned. "But with your high pitched voice, you could pass as one."

Suddenly a trumpet plays and everyone turns to the doors to see a man roll out a red carpet. Perry walked in with a fancy robe one and a pink boa.

"Mornin', sewer sacks!" Perry greeted and Freya scrunched her face in disgust.

"Then again, looks can be deceiving." Bree remarked.

"Sorry about blocking the bus lanes. Can't walk too far in these." Perry mentioned, showing off her heels and poked Freya's arm. "Now I'm taller than Thumbelina here." Freya rolled her eyes, frowning at her. "Haven't worn heels this high since I did the pageant tour."

"You were in beauty pageants?" Freya scoffed in disbelief.

"Yep, never won though." Perry told them.

"Shocking," Freya replied sarcastically.

"Apparently it's not a talent to squat-lift a 250-pound barbell while rocking a bikini." Perry informed them and Freya shivered in disgust at that image.

"It's a nightmare," Freya corrected and Leo and Bree agreed.

"And yet, look how far it's got you." Leo added.

Perry turned to her driver, handing him money. "Here's a fiver, Butch. Keep the heater pumping."

"So, how did you get a limo?" Bree asked Perry.

"Daddy Davenport just gave me a big chunk of hush money for keeping your bionic secret. I'm wearing your college funds, kids!" Perry grinned, pulling out her giant gold chain that had a 'P' on it. "Gather 'round, pus pockets." All students gathered in. "Since I have come into some recent moolah, I have decided to start giving back...to myself. I hereby announce that I'm retiring as principal effective the end of the week."

Freya and Bree stood there in shock as Leo screamed with delight.

"Yes! I dreamed this day would come! Oh, it's time, people."

Leo pulls out his phone. He starts to play music and begins dancing. Freya watched him dance and chuckled at his silly moves

"I sometimes question why I decided to be his friend," Freya told Bree, who snickered.

The song ended and Leo posed dramatically as Perry was horrified. "Are you done? 'Cuz I gotta wash that off."

"Me too." Freya said. Perry walked over to the circle bench and took of the top part to reveal a hot tub. Freya gasped at the sight and smiled.

"You bought the school a hot tub?" She asked.

"No, I bought it for me and I'm taking it with me when I go. Much like the vending machine." Perry put on a swimmers cap and took off her robe to reveal a bathing suit. She got in the hot tub and Freya cringed in disgust as Perry tossed her the robe. "Ohh. Ahh. Oh, yeah. Take the undiagnosed skin condition."

Freya yelped, dropping the robe and rushed to the bathroom to wash her hands. Bree followed her there.

Freya started washing her hands and Bree stood next to her.

"I got a question," Bree asked.

"Yes, I'll probably burn my hands off. I don't care," Freya corrected, not looking at her.

"No, no." Bree chuckled as Freya was finishing up. "It's about my brother."

"Whatever Adam did, I probably wasn't involved," Freya replied, shutting off the sink and drying her hands. "Well, maybe. Adam and I do a lot of pranks together."

"I mean you and Chase." Bree impatiently smiled and Freya froze, blushing.

"What?" Freya scoffed, getting flustered. "What about me and Chase?"

"You forgetting what happened on Christmas?" Bree asked and Freya refused to look at Bree, because her face was bright red. "The awkward yet cute hugs and present exchange. Not to mention your date to that planetarium-"

"Not a date," Freya laughed awkwardly, shaking her head and looked Bree, who was smirking at her.

"Really?" Bree asked.

Yes, I want it to be. Freya thought.

"It's just two friends going to see stars." Freya told her.

"Two best friends, who love astronomy, are going to stargaze together," Bree rephrased and Freya blushed deeply at the thought of stargazing with Chase. "Keep denying it but it's a date."

Freya stood there flustered and thinking of Chase. Bree noticed her soft smile and pink cheeks.

"I know you want it to be a date," Bree continued. "I can tell."

"Okay, fine. Maybe i think it's a date. But he doesn't think that." Freya protested.

Bree let out a laugh. "You're kidding? He definitely does. He talks about it all the time."

"He does?" Freya asked.

"Oh yeah. I have to yell at him to make him shut up," Bree scoffed. "Listen, I don't know what you see in Chase, but I don't care to know why. I'm rooting for this relationship to work."

"It's just a date. Nothing about a relationship." Freya corrected. "Moving to fast here."

"I see the way Chase looks at you. You don't know this, but he talks about you. Sometimes before we go to sleep, he'll talk about you." Bree told Freya, who started to smile and blush more. "He really likes you. And I see the way you look at him."

"I don't talk about my feelings. It took a lot out of me to tell him that I kissed him-"

Freya gasped, covering her mouth and Bree's mouth fell open in shock.

"You what?!" Bree gasped with excitement. Freya quickly shushed her and Bree was smiling from ear to ear.

"Shush!!!"

"You and Chase kissed?" Bree asked.

"Not exactly." Freya sighed, lowering her voice. "When you three were under the control of the Triton App, me and Leo were trying to snap Chase out of it. Leo tried and it didn't work. Words weren't working, so I did what I had to do. I kissed him and it worked. Only did it to save him."

Bree was very giddy and she let out squeal, which made Freya shush her again.

"Omg!!!" Bree giggled. "This is so cute! Does he remember?"

"He apparently does, because the triton app had been disabled right as I kissed him and there was a second that he remembered." Freya confessed.

"Did he say he liked it?" Bree asked and Freya frowned, wondering if he did.

"I... don't know," Freya tilted her head in confused. "That never came up."

"Did you like it?" Bree asked.

Freya blushed, remembering the kiss fondly. The feeling she felt and his soft lips.

"Yes."

Bree gasped at her answer.

"No! I mean-"

"To late!" Bree smiled at Freya, who groaned and covered her face. "You like Chase!"

"Stop it!" Freya exclaimed, walking out of the bathroom with a flustered face. Bree followed her with a giddy smile.

——

~The Next Day~

Freya stood at her locker, staring at the two tickets to the planetarium. It was only a few weeks away and she was getting nervous for it. Even more now since she thinks it's a date.. She's nervous Chase will bail on her or laugh at the idea of it being a date.

Juliet walked up to her and leaned against the other lockers. "Hey sis."

"Hi," Freya replied, not looking at her.

"Whatcha looking at?" Juliet asked, already knowing the answer.

"The tickets for the planetarium." Freya said and sighed.

"Your date with Chase?" Juliet smirked and Freya leaned her forehead against her locker door.

"It's not-"

"Don't even try with me. You are going expensive stargazing, it's a date." Juliet cut her off and Freya groaned. "What's wrong with calling it a date?"

"Because I don't do this stuff. I don't do feelings." Freya lifted her head up, looking at her.

"Well, better learn, because you have feelings and you need to just realize that it's okay to show them." Juliet remarked. "Chase and you are super close."

"I don't want to lose that. If we do date and break
up, it will be weird," Freya reasoned.

"Then don't break up?" Juliet asked with a scoff.

"Or don't date. Problem solved," Freya chuckled, shutting her locker, and walked away from her. "Run away from my problems as I do!"

Juliet rolled her eyes, following her to the staircase to see Leo and Bree. Leo was smiling from ear to ear, dancing down the stairs happily.

Freya chuckled. "I have never seen you this happy.... Stop it you're creeping me out."

Leo put his arm around Freya. "I'll never stop! With Perry leaving, this baby bird is ready to fly."

Leo imitated a bird flying and the three girls shared a look before chuckling.

"Well, I overhead who our new principal is and I think you need to clip your wings," Juliet informed Leo and he turned to her with a frown.

"What?

A trumpet blares and Perry is wheeled in on a carriage from the gym.

Perry got off the carriage as students gathered around. "Keep her legs warm in case we need to make a hasty retreat." Perry turned to the students. "Listen up. I am happy to announce that after an exhaustive 22-minute search, I have found your new principal!"

Trent walked in with a smirk and a blazer. "Hey-o!"

Freya's eyes grew in shock and horror along with Leo. "Trent?!"

"That's right, Dooley and Monroe. Dooley, your new schedule." He handed Leo a schedule. "First period: theatre, where you'll perform a one-man version of Annie for the entire school." Trent placed a red curly wig on Leo and Freya chuckled. "Then marching band, where you'll be the drum major's baton!" Trent laughed. "And then gym class where...well, your embarrassment there goes without saying."

"I told you," Juliet patted Leo's arm and he looked at her with a heavy frown.

——

Bree and Juliet were talking in the hallway when Trent walked in, blowing a whistle.

"All right, I got some good news and I got some bad news. The bad news is I'm instituting a school uniform policy." Trent announced.

Bree and Juliet groaned with the students.

"You can't make me wear a uniform!" Juliet snapped and Trent backed up, chuckling nervously.

"Don't worry. The good news is, only Dooley and Little Monroe have to wear it. Come on out, sweet prince and sweet princess."

Leo and Freya walks in wearing pilgrim uniforms. Bree started chuckling and Juliet glared at Trent for making her sister do this.

"Trent!" Juliet snapped, stomping her foot angrily.

"You can't do anything or else you get detention," Trent grinned at her, poking her cheek and she smacked his hand away.

"I'll show you-"

"Juliet!" Freya snarled at her sister and Juliet huffed, folding her arms.

Trent noticed Bree laughing. "What are you laughing at? This is your new uniform." Trent handed Bree a shirt with Leo's face on it that said 'I'm related to him.' "And this is your new uniform." He handed Juliet a shirt with Freya's face on it that said 'I'm related to her.'

"Why are you dragging us into this? What did we do?"

"A: Juliet has tortured me for years and I can finally get back at her." Trent laughed, getting into Juliet's face and she glared at him. "B: You're related to Dooley. And C:... I don't even really know."

Trent walked away and Juliet ripped the shirt as Freya and Leo approached them. Freya wasn't embarrassed, the dress didn't make her look unflattering. It suited her nicely.

"I'll hurt him," Juliet threatened and hugged her sister. "You alright?"

"The dress is comfy," Freya shrugged.

"He cannot be principal! He is worse than she is!" Bree exclaimed.

"Okay, I cannot believe I'm saying this...but we have to make Perry stay." Leo declared and the girls nodded, comforting Leo.

"So, I can destroy him!" Juliet pounds her fist against her palm.

Freya put a hand on her shoulder. "He's still a teacher here."

"Outside of school I will hurt him," Juliet corrected.

"No, no, let her do it here," Leo remarked.

Perry emerges from hot tub with a snorkel and Freya groaned at the sight of her. Juliet frowned in confusion.

"That's something I didn't expect to see. I wish I didn't," Juliet mentioned.

"What are you doing down there?" Leo asked.

"Don't ask," Freya whined.

"Just checking on my veggie dumplings." Perry informed and Freya scrunched her nose in disgust.

"Principal Perry, are you sure you want to retire? I mean, the position of principal comes with prestige. You're shaping America's youth."  Bree reasoned with Perry.

"If I cared about shaping our youth, I'd still be teaching swim lessons down at the swamp." Perry remarked. "Hey, kid sees a gator comin', he'll swim!"

Leo turned to the three girls. "Look, this is not gonna work. The only way to persuade someone like that is with bribes, and she already has money."

"But what if she didn't?" Freya asked with a smirk. "We still have a few hours before her official resignation. If we can get her to spend all of her money, she would have to stay!"

"I don't know, seems kinda crazy." Leo hesitantly said.

"Look at your outfit." Juliet folded her arms and Bree nodded.

"I'm in." Leo hastily agreed.

"Principal Perry, to celebrate your last day, we would like to take you shopping." Bree offered.

"No, we are forcing our selves to take you," Freya corrects with a chuckle.

"Pass. Rather die." Perry denied.

"Glad we feel the same," Juliet mentioned and walked away, which gave Bree a chance to mention her bionics.

"Come on. With my super speed. I can take you anywhere: Beverly Hills, New York's 5th Avenue..." Bree negotiated, leaning on the hot tub and Perry frowned, thinking.

"Well...I am an uptown girl." Perry shrugged before agreeing. "Fine. But before we go, can you grab that stray dumpling bobbing around my big toe?" Freya moved back, shaking her head. "No, no, no, no, wait-- I can get it. Oh. There, got it." Perry used her toe to grab the dumpling and lifted it above the water. "Want a bite?"

"I'd rather die," Freya gagged, looking away.

"You know what's weird? I kind of want a bite." Leo said and Freya gave him a look of horror.

——

Freya and Bree had taken Perry shopping and it was the worse experience ever for Freya. She had to watched Perry try on clothes that did not suit her at all. Freya did buy stuff for herself, but it did not help the situation. She was wearing her new outfit now, she ditched the old one. Well, it got sent to the tailor with Leo's, but she will just burn it.

"I don't think I can wash my brain enough times to erase those memories," Freya told Bree as they walked into the school with shopping bags.

"At least you got some cute clothes out of it," Bree reasoned.

Leo turned to them in his regular clothes and Bree noticed the attire. "Hey, where's your uniform?"

"Trent sent mine and Freya's in to the tailor. He didn't think they were 'snug enough'" Leo quoted with his fingers and Freya scoffed.

"Really needs to be tailored if it's gonna be snug on you," Freya joked and Bree laughed.

Leo ignored her comment. "Where's Perry?"

"Oh, she wanted to make an entrance." Freya rolled her eyes.

A trumpet trumpet blares and the doors open to reveal Perry dressed in a blue ball gown and her hair in a fancy updo with a tiara.

"Greetings, peasants! It's fashion time!" Perry greeted, in a posh accent.

"No offense, but you're 50 years late for the prom." Leo remarked.

——

After hours of spending Perry's money, the hallway was filled with random expensive junk. From golden toilets, jukeboxes, more clothed, popcorn machine, etc. They were almost to the point of Perry being broke.

"All right. We're almost there. We just have to finish booking this trip to Spain so Perry can run with the bulls." Bree smiled as her and Freya were checking the receipts.

"Poor bulls. They don't stand a chance." Leo shook his head.

"They'll run from her," Freya added.

Perry walks in with a sad sigh.

"Uh, we need your credit card for one last purchase." Bree told Perry.

Perry frowned sorrowfully. "Forget it. I'm done buying stuff. I thought all this junk would make me happy, but it doesn't. I'm outta here." She pouted and the three were confused as she walked away.

"Well, I...guess I should get used to Principal Trent. Better go freckle up. Got two shows and a matinee." Leo put the wig on  with a sad look.

"Guess I have to get used to that pilgrim dress. Wonder how snug it will be," Freya frowned.

"All right, you three, grab this stuff and toss it in my blimp." Perry instructed the three.

"You know what? No. Do it yourself, Terry." Bree protested.

Perry turned to her. "Excuse me?"

"You're not our principal anymore, so you can't tell us what to do." Bree reasoned and Freya grinned, folding her arms.

"Yeah, she's right. We're done taking order from you." Freya scoffed and the three turned away with proud smirks.

"I said grab my stuff, fungus pigeons!" Perry snapped, stopping the trio and she gasped. "Ahh! Wait. This feeling...It's what's missing! None of this junk will make me happy. What really matters in life is...treating people poorly for my own amusement. And nothing makes me feel more complete than doing it to you twerps." She hugged them and Freya shut her eyes, wishing this would end.

"What a wonderful life lesson." Bree smiled.

"Yeah. Guess I'm not gonna retire after all. It's back to my original plan of working till I drop and then getting stuffed and mounted over the gym door." Perry told them and Freya frowned at this.

"I'd rather die than see that," Freya remarked.

"You know what's weird? I kinda wanna see that." Leo grinned.

"No you don't," Freya shook her head.

——

~The Next Day~

"So, you're not gonna miss this stuff at all?" Freya asked Perry as all her expensive junk she bought was being taken away.

"Nah, just the hot tub. The school board deemed it "inappropriate". If cooking your dinner in the same vat of water you bathe in is "inappropriate", than I don't want to be "appropriate." Perry explained and Freya scrunched her noise in disgust.

"How'd Trent take the news?" Leo asked.

"Eh, he was upset till I decided to spring for a new gym teacher uniform." Perry shrugged and Leo and Freya shared a devious grin.

"New uniform? We can help with that." Freya chuckled.

——

"Come on out, Trent." Leo smiled and Trent walks out in the new uniform. It wads flashy blue robe with the Diego logo on it. Leo, Bree, and Freya laugh.

"I look ridiculous..." Trent began and then smiled. "-Ly awesome!!!" Trent cheered and hi-fived Perry, leaving the teens confused. "Best demotion ever!"

——

Up Next: Scramble The Orbs.

I changed the actress for Freya from Kristin Bell to Brec Bassinger! Some people saying she is too old and I don't to make any one uncomfortable. Brec is much younger. Remember the character is the same age as Chase.

I'm so sorry. Hope this helps.