iii. the bionic 500

——

Freya trudged through Mission Creek High halls, feeling exhausted from lack of sleep last night. A new neighbor was driving his car up and down her street all night, and it kept Freya awake. Freya's hair is not brushed, she has her sweats on, a baggy sweatshirt, and will punch anyone who makes any comment. Juliet, however, slept like a rock and is perfectly fine.

"How did you sleep?" Freya groaned to her sister and Juliet gave her a grin.

"You should infest in noise-canceling headphones," Juliet suggested, patting her shoulder. "And maybe a hairbrush."

Freya rolled her eyes as Juliet grabbed a piece of her blonde hair, before walking off. Freya walked out of the cafeteria and into the halls where she saw Chase, Bree, and Leo. It was locker reassignment day and Freya was not too fond of getting a new locker when she arrived three weeks ago.

"Hi," Freya wearily greeted her friends.

"Oh..." The three groaned at her appearance and she gave them a scolding look.

"Don't say anything. That new neighbor has got to go or else I will make him go," Freya threatened, curling her fists into a ball.

"Would you like a hairbrush?" Leo offered and cleared his throat, backing away when he saw her death glare. "Or not? You look great."

"Not in the mood, Dooley."

"Here's a hairbrush," Bree offered and Freya accepted it. She began to brush her hair as Leo stared at the lockers behind her.

"There she is: Locker 106. Away from the traffic, near the cheerleaders, and I can see Principal Perry before anyone else," Leo told them. "And a two-second head start can save a life."

"This hairbrush saved my life," Freya added and handed it back to Bree after her hair was fully brushed. "Thank you. Now, excuse me as I go change."

Freya scurried off to find a restroom to change into different clothes.

——

Freya changed into ripped jeans, a black and white striped sweater, and white Converse. She put on mascara and lip gloss and used Juliet's bodyspray. Freya was still exhausted, but she did not want to go the rest of the day looking like trash.

School had ended and Freya did end up switching lockers, but it was close to the one she had before. She thinks it is stupid and thinks Perry is even stupider.

Freya was at the Davenport house after school because Davenport invited Pierce over. He is the super-rich guy who has been racing his car up and down the road and Freya wanted to be there to either take his shoes, his car keys, or his hands when she rips them off him.

The doorbell rang and Davenport got up. "Okay, that's Pierce. Now, watch as I handle this like an adult."

"Okay, but what do you want us to do when you start crying?" Bree asked and Freya laughed.

"I'll get his pacifier," Freya joked and the others laughed as Davenport frowned at her.

Davenport opened the door and Clayton walked in with a smug look and Freya rolled her eyes.

"Clayton? What are you doing here?" Leo asked, standing up.

"Looking good and smelling great." Clayton chuckled.

"Neither of those are true," Freya reasoned.

"My dad came to talk to your dad," Clayton continued as he walked further in the house.

"Wait, Pierce is your dad?" Chase asked.

"Makes sense, Rich Jerk. Rich Jerk's son," Adam stated and Clayton walked closer to Adam, who sniffed him. "Oh. He does smell good."

"Hello? Isn't anyone going to take my coat?" Clayton asked and Freya smirked, raising her hand.

"I'll do it," She grabbed his coat and turned away, ripping it in the back. Clayton frowned at this and Freya swiftly gave it to Adam, who put it on.

"You better get a new jacket," Freya shrugged and when Adam adjusted the coat it ripped more.

"She's right. It has a lot of give."

Freya gave Clayton a sweet smile and he just glared at her as Adam walked away. Clayton followed him to get his coat back.

"I love having you around," Leo grinned at Freya.

Pierice walked in casually and tossed Chase his car keys. "Two coats light wax, and shampoo the carpets, and don't touch the radio-- I'm an easy listener."

"I'm not washing your car," Chase replied.

"Me neither," Adam agreed. "But may I take your coat?"

"I'll do it!" Freya smiled, grabbing the keys from Chase, and walked toward the door. Davenport stopped her and turned her back around.

"Try to be nice."

"Being nice to something I can't do," Freya mumbled back to him as he let go of her arms.

"Can we move this along? I got golf in the A.M., and I like to show up early to scream during other people's swings," Pierce walked past everyone and to his son. "AHHH! Drives them crazy."

Adam jumped back as he screamed and Freya put the keys down her bra, hiding them there.

"Look, I'll get right to the point you have been driving your car across my lawn at night, and it needs to stop," Davenport explained in a calm and stern tone, walking up to Pierce.

"Not gonna happen."

Freya went to attack and Leo and Chase stopped her, both grabbing one of her arms.

"But I will pay you to stop talking," Pierce continued. "What's your price?"

Davenport laughed. "Are you trying to pay me off? I'm a billionaire."

"Wow," Pierce said, shaking his head. "Just a billionaire. Must be rough. Well, if you ever need a loan, you know where I live. It's the castle at the top of the hill that casts a shadow over your entire existence."

Freya snarled quietly, "I will end your existence."

"Well, please, you do not have more money than I do," Davenport chuckled and Pierce got out his phone.

"That's my networth." Davenport scoffed at the sight of the phone. "Well, not all zeroes fit on one screen." He turned his phone sideways.

He swiped.

"Woah!" All five kids said.

Swiped again.

"Woah!"

Swiped a third time.

"Woah!"

Davenport stood there in shock from how many zeroes he saw on the screen.

"Oh yeah? Well, I see one zero that's not on that screen! He, take that!" Davenport laughed and his smile faded immediately from humiliation.

"Someone's about to start crying," Bree teased.

"Pacifier time," Freya grinned.

"Look, okay. Enough is enough," Davenport said. "What is it gonna take for you to stop driving on my lawn?"

"I can't think of a thing. Goodnight-"

"No! No!" Davenport protested to Pierce. "You are not leaving until we resolve this."

"You can't leave anyway. I have your car keys," Freya laughed and tapped her chest. "In my bra."

Pierce glared at the blonde girl and she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Fine!" Pierce sighed. "How about a contest? We could settle this on the racetrack. My stock car against yours. You do own a stock car, don't you?"

Davenport let out a forced laugh. "Of course... I own a stock car. And when I win, you stop driving on my lawn."

"Oh, no, no, no. I think we should play for much bigger stakes- like the deeds to each other's houses." Pierce negotiated and Freya shared a nervous look with the others. "The winner stays, the loser... goes."

"Deal!" Davenport agreed and the five kids stood there in shock at his response.

"See you on the track," Pierce smugly smiled and went to leave, but stopped. "Or later tonight when I tear up the rest of your lawn. Hehehe!"

"Not without your keys!" Freya exclaimed and went to run, but Adam grabbed the small girl and she groaned loudly. "Fine!"

She pulled out the keys and tossed it them to Pierce, who caught him and gave her a disgusted look. Pierce and Clayton left after that.

"Mr. Davenport, are you sure about this?" Bree asked Davenport.

"Yeah, if you don't win, we lose our house," Leo added.

"Guys I got his. Don't worry about it," Davenport assured them. "I just have one question, though. What exactly is a stock car?"

The kids groaned and Freya folded her arms. "I'll help you figure out a place to move to."

——

~The Next Day~

Freya was down at the racetrack with the Davenports to support them. Freya was planning to throw them a going away party because she knows he won't win. She wants to have faith, but she knows Davenport will crack under pressure. She did admit that his stock car was pretty sick. It was white and blue with the Davenport Industries logo on it.

"Sweet ride, Mr. Davenport," Freya praised. "If you are gonna lose, may as well do it in style."

Davenport frowned at her.

"For a second there, I forgot you weren't cool," Leo added and this made Davenport frown more.

"Yeah, a guy with a huge ego and a sport where they put your name and face over everything. It's a perfect match," Bree mentioned and Davenport smiled warmly.

"Are you sure you're gonna be able to beat Pierce?" Chase asked Davenport. "I mean, you have no stock car experience. Not to mention you ger car sick going to the store."

"Please, look at this track. Even Adam can drive in a circle," Davenport reasoned.

"But this is an oval, and those terrify me," Adam protested, and Freya patted his shoulder.

"It's okay, buddy. Me too," Freya nodded and Adam put a hand on his heart with a sad look. She looked at Bree and shook her head.

"No, they don't."

"Driving in a circle gets exponentially harder at 200 miles per hour," Chase informed.

"Plus, not bathroom breaks," Adam added and pulled out a bucket. "You're gonna need this."

"Guys, don't worry about this, I have spent hundreds of hours training in a stock car simulator. I hired the best pit crew in town... I got this," Davenport assured the kids, walking over to the car.

"I found some nice houses for you all to move to," Freya smiled, showing him some houses and Davenport frowned, shoving her phone away.

"Well, Davenport, we just wanted to wish you luck." Pierce walked over with his son.

"You'll need it against our driver," Clayton added and Freya turned her attention to their conversation, making a confused face.

"Driver?" Davenport asked as the kids got up to stand with Davenport.

"Yeah, I said we'd race; I never said I'd be the one driving." Pierce clarified and turned away. "Joey!"

Stepping out of the car was Joey Logano and Freya's eyes grew at the sight of the famous racecar driver.

"That's your driver?" Davenport scoffed. "When does he get his learner's permit?"

"Uh-oh! I've seen that guy before," Chase told Davenport and did a scan on Joey to learn about him. "That's Joey Logano. He's been racing since he was six! He's the youngest NASCAR driver to win on the pro circuit-- ever!"

"Oh..." Davenport said.

"Should I text my mom to help sell your house now?" Freya asked them and Leo leaned over with a nod.

"I'll do it for you."

"We're gonna need a bigger bucket," Adam stated and Davenport nodded, taking the bucket with anxiety.

——

Davenport was getting his car ready to race and Adam was being Adam, yelling into a canister.

"Hello!" Adam called and his voice echoed.

"Really?" Chase sighed and took it away from him.

"I can't believe Big D has to race against Joey Logano," Leo stated.

"Guys, I can win this. You forget I hired the best pit crew in town," Davenport assured them and looked at one of his pit members. "Right... Pit Guy Number one?"

"Yeah, nothing motivates a team like a boss that doesn't know your name," Chase sarcastically replied.

"Whatever," Davenport shook his head. "Look, I'm ready, bring on the checkered flag."

"Morning, Grease Monkeys!"

Freya groaned, throwing her head back at the sight of Perry.

"I take that back," Davenport retracted.

"Principal Perry? What are you doing here?" Leo asked her.

"Workin. I moonlight as an announcer-flag waver-hot rod calendar girl," Perry explained and did a pose, which made Freya close her eyes.

"No!" She cried.

"No one sells lug nuts like me!" Perry smirked, fixing her eyebrows.

"Ahem!" Bree stepped over to Perry. "Principal Perry. Don't all of these side jobs you have take away your focus from being a school principal?"

"Oh! Absolutely," Perry laughed and walked past the Davenports. "Now, let's go over some rules. Hey, Logano! Rich Guy! Get your sassy chassis over here and let's talk some track."

Logano, Pierce, and Clayton walked over to Perry and explained the rules.

"In each of my precious paws is the dead to your house which makes your bet a square deal," Perry  explained, showing them their deeds to their homes. "It's 200 laps around, whoever crosses the finish line first wins."

"Well, good luck out there," Logano shook Davenport's hand.

"Thanks," Perry stepped closer to Joey with smirk. "I'll do my best."

Piece pulled Joey away and Perry turned to the others, wiping the nervous sweat off her face.

——

Both cars were at the starting line with both drivers in their seats. Perry stood between both of them, ready to wave the green flag.

"When I drop this flag, you guys burn rubber!" Perry yelled. "Oh, and by the way, this came off one of your cars. I don't know what it does, but it doesn't matter now."

Joey looked over at Davenport, who was checking his com mic and blew a raspberry into.

"Good luck!" Perry yelled and waved the green flag. Joey took off immediately and Davenport hadn't moved.

"Hands at ten and two," Davenport placed his hands on the wheel. "Check." He adjusted his mirrors. "Mirrors adjusted. Check." He looked over and saw Joey's car had took off already. "Oh! He's gone already!" Davenport tried to move the gear shift, but the car didn't budge. "This is very different from my simulator."

"GO!" Adam, Bree, Chase, Leo, and Freya yelled into the com set.

Davenport managed to get it and the car took off down the road.

——

"You're doing great, Mr. Davenport," Chase praised, looking into binoculars.

"Really?"

"No," Chase lowered the binoculars. "You're 28 laps behind.

"Please tell him he doesn't have to wave every time he passes us," Bree sighed in annoyance.

"No one wants to see you smile 200 times!" Freya exclaimed and right on cue Davenport passed them, smiling and waving.

Clayton walked up to the kids. "So, where are you guys thinking about moving?"

"According to Freya's choices, my gut says Cleveland, but I'm an Indiana man at heart," Adam responded.

"We're not gonna lose, Clayton," Leo remarked.

Clayton scoffed, "Keep telling yourself that, Junior."

"I'm the same age as you," Leo frowned.

"That's weird," Freya pointed out.

"Your wallet's not," Clayton challenged.

"That doesn't make any sense," Freya replied.

"My wallet makes sense," Clayton pulled out his wallet. "It talks to me all the time and right now it's saying. 'Can I have Leo's bedroom?'"

"Yes, you can!" Clayton kissed his wallet and Freya quickly snatched the wallet. She tossed it far away and Clayton gasped in agony.

"My baby!" He cried and ran after it as the Davenport kids laughed.

"Just so you know! You and your wallet have the same voice!" Leo teased and Freya and him hi-fived. "Thank you for throwing his wallet!"

"I'd like to throw him into the track!" Freya frowned.

"We all do," Chase replied and the two shared a smile.

——

Davenport arrived at the pit stop and his pit crew got to work on fixing the tires. The five kids went up to the window to check on Davenport.

"I can't believe I'm losing to badly!" Davenport said in disbelief.

"You do know that stepping on the gas pedal makes it go faster, right?" Bree advised.

"There must be something wrong with the car," Davenport mentioned.

"Okay, let's be smart about this and eliminate variables," Adam suggested. "First off all, are we sure the car is not in reverse?"

Chase looked into the window. "Wait, it's been almost a minute, shouldn't your pit crew be done by now?"

"Yeah, and where's your crew chief?" Freya asked, confused on why the pit is so slow and unorganized.

Freya and Chase looked around to find the crew chief chatting with Pierce and Clayton.

"What is he doing down there?" Chase asked.

"Listen to them," Freya suggested and Chase used his bionic hearing to listen in.

"This is going great," Pierce told the chief. "Whatever you did to slow down Davenport's car. Really worked."

Chase turned to the others and leaned into the window. "Pierce is cheating. He paid your pit crew to sabotage your car."

"I knew it!" Davenport groaned and climbed out of the car, looking at his crew. "You guys are fired! Get out of here, Ken! Ken! That was it!"

The pic crew walked away and noticed that all the tires were on the ground.

"Probably should've waited until they put those back on."

"Wait, Mr. Davenport. What if we replaced your pit crew with a bionic pit crew?" Chase suggested.

"Or we could start rooting for Joey Logano," Adam shrugged and Freya nodded.

"His plan seems easier."

" Just throwing out options," Adam defended when he saw Davenport's frown.

"Hold on. Isn't using bionics technically cheating?" Leo reasoned.

"They cheated first!" Freya told him.

"Freya is right! Technically I'm just leveling the playing field," Davenport remarked.

"Okay, I'll tap into the car's central computer and optimize it for peak performance. You use your superspeed to change these tired and gas it up. And Adam-"

"Can do this," Adam lifted up the front end of the car and smiled. "Pretty cool, huh?" Adam's hand began to sizzle and he took a hand off. "Hot radiator! Hot radiator!" He blew on his hand and switched hands, blowing on that one.

——

Davenport was back on the road and the five kids were dressed in Pit Crew uniforms. Freya was digging the uniforms and now had some faith that Davenport could win.

She wouldn't be so happy if her best friends had to leave.

Perry stood on top of the announcers podium. "With 50 laps to go, Logano's lead is shrinking! Davenport is actually catching up! And don't forget your lug nut calendars are available at the concession stand. Keep your eye out for April— I'm wearing tires."

Freya groaned in disgust. "I'm definitely keeping an eye out. Literally, I'll take my eyes out if I see that."

"Great job, Chase! This car is flying!" Davenport praised. He and Joey were neck and neck now.

"Joey! What's going on?" Pierce asked Joey. "How is this clown catching up?"

"I don't know! He sped up out of nowhere!" Joey replied.

Davenport stopped at the Pit and Bree climbed over the barrier.

"Okay! We need to change the tires in under ten seconds, or-"

Before Leo could finish, Bree used her superspeed to change all the tires within seconds.

Bree smiled with oil on her face. "Done!"

Davenport smiled and waved before he took off again, blowing Leo back in the process.

Davenport was right on Joey's tail.

"This is incredible. Davenport has evened it up! I'm almost beginning to care who wins!" Perry announced and munched on her popcorn.

Joey pulled up to his Pit Crew and Pierce leaped over the barrier, leaning into the window.

"What are you doing? I sabotaged Davenport's car and you still haven't put him away?!"

Joey frowned. "Wait, you've been cheating this whole time?"

"Yeah! And apparently not enough!" Pierce remarked and Joey turned the car off. He climbed out the window and looked at him.

"I don't drive for cheaters, jerks, or spoiled rich guys." Joey took his helmet off. "Check. Check. And check."

"Where you going?" Pierce asked as Joey walked away. "You can't leave!"

"Just did!" Joey called.

"Dad! We're losing! Harringtons don't lose!" Clayton cried.

"I know! I'm a Harrington!" Pierce exclaimed. "I'll just have to finish off Davenport myself."

Pierce put on the helmet and glasses and turned it his son. "Son, can you go ask him for the keys?"

Joey went over to the Davenport crew and the five turned to him in shock.

"So, it looks like my afternoon just freed up. You guys need any help?" Joey offered and the teens stood there speechless.

"Uh...."

"Please say yes. I want to hide from that flag lady," Joey pleaded.

"Yoo-hoo!" Perry called to Joey. "Hey, Joey! Wanna go halfsies on a hoagie?"

Freya gestured for Joey to hide behind the barrier and Joey followed her instructions.

Pierce had began to drive and he was currently still in the lead with Davenport right on his tail.

"Two laps to go in the Rich Guy Jerk 500!" Perry announced. "Davenport and Pierce are neck and neck- It's anybody's race! And I think we're all wondering the same question: Is there a Mrs. Logano?"

Joey shook his head, looking at the other teens in confusion. Joey had officially joined their team and had put on headset.

"Davenport, you're doing great. Just please stop saying 'vroom vroom' every time you make a turn," Joey advised.

"Gotcha!" Davenport smiled. "I can't believe this I think I'm gonna win!" Davenport got too excited and popped the steering wheel off. "Ahh!"

Pierce glanced behind him and laughed. "That was stupid! I've got him now!"

Davenport's car was swerving back and forth and Joey spoke. "You do know it pops back on, right?"

Davenport put the steering wheel back on and he on full control again.

"I knew that!"

"What is Mr. Davenport doing? Why is he slowing down?" Chase asked.

"He's gonna lose!" Freya panicked.

"No, he's obviously giving up. It's the honorable thing to do," Adam remarked.

"No, he's just drafting," Joey informed.

"It's something I learned from my racing simulator," Davenport told them. "I'm reducing my wind resistance by hiding behind Pierce's car, and then I'm gonna slingshot past him in the straightaway. On my control it's red-red-green-up arrow. But I'm pretty sure I can make it work."

"He does realize this isn't a video game, right?" Freya leaned toward Chase, who shrugged.

"I'm not sure."

Davebpirt shifted his gear and managed her side by side with Pierce. He waved at him and laughed as his car sped away.

"What the-" Pierce yelled.

"Vroom! Vroom!" Davenport cheered. "Sorry, Joey."

"Ah, it's alright. We all do it." Joey smiled.

Davenport and Pierce were approaching the finish line. Freya had grabbed Chase's arm in anticipation as she watched both cars pass the finish line.

"And Davenport crosses the finish line!" Perry announced and Freya cheered with everyone. Chase and Freya hugged.

Clayton groaned, putting his headset down.

"Great job, guys." Joey praised. "Now it's time for the real race. Getting away from that flag lady."

"You forgot your calendars!" Perry yelled as she ran toward Joey, who ran away from her.

Davenport pulled up to his pit stop and climbed out. The five teens cheered for him, but they stopped when Davenport fell out of the window. Davenport jumped to his feet and the kids cheered again.

"Man, nice work, Mr. Davenport," Chase smiled. "You totally showed those guys who's boss."

"Yes... yes I did," Davenport nodded. "Buts it's important to remember: always win with dignity." Moments later, Davenport pointed at Pierce. "Ha! I beat you!" He jogged up to them, bragging. "I beat you! I beat you! I beat you!" Pierce walked off. "Hey, need the number for a moving company? I own one!" Davenport followed Pierce, still bragging. "I beat you! Beat you!"

Leo went up to Clayton. "Well, Clayton. Looks like the corner locker is all mine."

"I'm still richer than you," Clayton shrugged.

Freya went up them, putting her arm around Leo. "And you know what that got you today? Nothing."

"Huh, yeah, well, your wallet's nothing," Clayton shot back and Freya laughed.

"Oh, it's something, and right now it's saying," Leo got out his wallet and pretended to talk with it. "Please have my locker cleaned out by 7 A.M."

Clayton groaned and walked away defeated.

Freya and Leo laughed and hi-fived.

"He won't get far. I have his wallet," Freya grinned, holding his wallet with a smirk.

——

~The Next Day~

Adam, Bree, Chase, and Freya walked up to Leo, who was enjoying his brand new locker.

"So, how does it feel having the best locker in school?" Freya asked.

"Oh, I'm not the only one with a good locker. I got primo upgrades for you four, too." Leo said. "Any locker you want until we graduate."

"No way! I get that locker for six more years?!" Adam gasped and Freya frowned.

"Maybe more," Bree smiled at him.

"Ahh!" Adam grinned.

"I just got my locker and then had to change it. I'm good," Freya scoffed.

"How'd you pull that off, Leo?" Chase asked.

"I don't know. Principal Perry is just in a really good mood," Leo remarked.

"I think I know why," Freya said and right then Perry walked out in a yellow and red suit with Joey Logano's number on it. 22.

"Hey Dooley!" Perry greeted.

"Where'd you get that?" Leo asked.

"Joey Logano left his racing suit behind," Perry explained. "And I customized it in all the right places." She struck a pose and Freya groaned, averting her eyes.

"And some of the wrong ones," Chase added as Perry walked away. Leo covered his eyes slowly, wishing he didn't see that.

——

Up Next: Bionic Showdown