Forever || Chase Davenport

19

The four mentors sat near the hydraloop when Leo entered the main area with S-1 right beside him. Harley smiles at the girl who smiles back at her. S-1, Harley, and Leo have grown closer throughout S-1's training. She was already at the top of her training, thanks to Harley helping her out. 

"Well, guys, it took a while, but we finally came up with S-1's new name," Leo explains to the four. 

"We went through hundreds before we came up with the perfect one," S-1 adds.

Harley smiles. "What is it?"

"Charolette."

"Taylor."

The four mentos look between the two confused. S-1 looks at Leo in confusion and he gives her a fake smile. "Right. Taylor. My... second choice." Harley stands up to smack his arm. "Well, at least her name isn't your choice then, Dooley."

"I like it." Bree smiles at S-1, now Taylor.

"Yeah, great name." Chase nods in agreement while Adam, on the other hand, shrugs. "Eh, it doesn't really matter to me. I didn't remember your other name, and I'm not gonna remember this one, either."

Davenport walks into the room and heads over to the group of teens. "Hey, guys. I have some very exciting news."

"You're finally eligible for senior citizen discounts?" Adam questions. 

"No." Davenport dramatically says before adding, "Maybe. I don't wanna talk about it. Look... The President called, and he's honoring you guys with a prestigious award for completing mission number one thousand."

Taylor turns to Harley and the Davenport siblings. "That's awesome. Congratulations, guys." She pulls Harley in for a hug, and the girl laughs as she returns the hug.

"Thanks, but technically, if you count all of the missions where our bionics were still a secret, then our number is actually two thousand-six hundred and four. But who's counting?" Harley pulls away from the congrats hug from Taylor and glares at her fiancee.

"You are. That's all you do is count."

"I do not." Chase denies quickly. "Just for the record, that's the fifty-third time you've told me that." 

Harley turns her head to Taylor and Bree, mocking Chase. "But who's counting?" The girls' chuckle at her comment and Chase playfully rolls his eyes. 

"This is gonna be great," Leo exclaims as he walks over to Davenport. "It's about time I got honored for something. So when is this little shindig?"

"Uh, in a couple of weeks. There's gonna be a big, fancy ceremony on the mainland. But the President's only honoring the original team, Adam, Bree, Chase, and Harley." Leo's face fell as he heard his stepfather's words. 

"What? How can he do that?" Leo asks. "I go on missions with them all the time."

Davenport claps his hand on Leo's shoulder. "I'm sure when they hand out awards for completing thirty-two and a half missions, you'll get yours." He pats his shoulder before walking away. Chase stands from his seat and walks toward Leo.

"It's actually thirty-one and a half, but who's counting?" He claps Leo's shoulder before turning to Harley and grabbing her hand. The two walk out of the room with Adam and Bree trailing behind. 

Harley glances over at Leo and notices how upset he was. She sighs sadly at how her best friend couldn't get recognized for the things he does.

*

Later that day, Harley hasn't seen Leo ever since he was informed that he wasn't getting an award. She wanted to be there for him, but she couldn't do that when he was possibly ignoring her.