I'm not even going to promise to try for shorter update periods, because it seems that every time I do, they just end up being longer. I hope this chapter makes up for it? I already have the next one written and ready to go, however I like to space them out to add for effect! :P

And yes, I'm aware that a lot has happened. Everything with the academy, Sebastian, the whole bionic army turned nice… Yet in this story, it's still how it's been going. Meaning no mention of the previous events I just listed! (Although I will write some new stuff for season four ;)

So…yeah! I hope you enjoy this latest installment or whatever you want to call it. Oh! And a big shout out to ByEmiWithLove for reminding me to update! If it wasn't for you, I may have forgotten about this story altogether! XD So thank you!

Here we go…

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Chase sighed as he walked out of his third period class, all of his books clutched under one arm. Yes, he had wanted to come back to school and graduate in time. He knew that was the smart thing to do.

It just wasn't the fun thing to do.

He'd been back only two days and already his homework pile was mile high to the ceiling. Which made sense; he had missed a whole month of the stuff. And it wasn't like it was too much of a problem either since he was the smartest person on the planet, something he made sure to thank Mr. Davenport for later. But he knew that he was going to have to kiss his social life goodbye in order to get it all done on time.

Just as that last thought passed through his mind, he was being tapped on the shoulder and turned to meet a face that wasn't familiar.

"Yes?" He asked, raising his eyebrows a quarter inch.

It was a girl, with blue eyes and light hair, and she was smiling sheepishly. "Um, hi. I'm sorry to bother you but I don't think we've met before."

She stuck out her hand and Chase shifted his books to his other arm in order to shake it. "I'm Diana."

"Chase." He nodded, letting his hand drop to his side. "Are you new here?"

"No, we've just never had any classes together before hence my probably unfamiliar face." She laughed lightly, gesturing to herself. However when she saw his slight look of confusion, she cleared her throat. "Uh, we have chemistry with each other."

He rose his eyebrows again, and she realized what she had just said. "I-I didn't mean we have chemistry with each other, I just meant we have the same chemistry class. Not that I wouldn't mind if we had chemistry! I mean – oh crap."

She averted her gaze in embarrassment and Chase felt the corners of his mouth turn up before a laugh erupted from him. "It's okay, I knew what you meant."

Diana looked up gratefully. "Good."

They stood awkwardly in the middle of the hallway for a few seconds before both of them spoke up at the same time.

"So what-"

"I heard about-"

Both of them laughed. "Sorry, go ahead." Chase said after the laughter died down a little.

"No, you go ahead. After all I am the weirdo who approached you out of nowhere."

Chase smiled at her before glancing at his locker, which was close by, and nodding toward it. They walked over to it together as he asked, "I was going to ask you what grade you were in?"

"I'm a senior, like you." She clarified. "Can you believe we're already at the end of the line?"

"No, I really can't." He chuckled as he turned the lock, opening the small blue door. "But I can't say that I'm sad about it either."

Diana nodded, smiling. "I feel the same way. It was fun while it lasted but it's time to move on."

"Exactly." He nodded, putting his books into his locker. He then leaned against it, looking at her. "Okay, your turn."

She looked down at her feet, wringing her hands in front of her as if she was unsure about something. Chase noticed and asked, "Are you alright?"

"Oh yeah, I'm fine." She waved him away. "It's just..I don't mean to be nosy or anything but…"

She trailed off, although he had a feeling he knew what she was about to ask.

"I heard about what happened." She finally said. "Well, actually, I watched it. I was in the hallway when it happened."

"Oh great." He muttered, shifting uncomfortably.

"No, it's okay! I don't judge you or anything like that." She quickly added.

He had to admit, he was grateful for that.

"You just took a month off, right?"

He nodded, letting out a small sigh as he did so. "Yep, that's why all of these are here." He pointed to the mountain of books in his locker and she smiled.

"Right. And, like I said, I don't want to be nosy. And you don't have to answer me if you don't want to! It's just…it had to do with your sister, right? Bree?"

Chase's gaze was on the floor, yet his mind was somewhere else completely. Finally he absentmindedly nodded. "Yeah."

"What happened? Because I met her once or twice before, and she was really nice."

He smiled at that. "She was. She could light up a room just by walking in, and she knew it too."

She studied his expression, noticing how distant he was all of sudden and realizing that he was thinking about her. "Were you close?"

After another few seconds, Chase looked up. He seemed to snap out of his reverie and focused his attention on the girl in front of him again. "As close as two siblings could be, I guess."

"Well, adopted siblings."

"What?" Chase asked, looking at her with his eyebrows set into a slight frown.

Diana, upon seeing his confusion, began to feel some of her own. "That's what your brother has been telling everybody."

"My bro-"

"The tall one, not very bright?" She clarified. "Yeah, he said that she wasn't actually related to you guys. That she was adopted at a young age but was brought up just like your real sister."

Chase had to let that sink in for a minute. Adam told people that Bree wasn't related to them? While that was true – none of them were actually related to each other – why would Adam tell people that all of a sudden? And why did he say just Bree was the odd one out and let the school keep believing that he and Chase himself were still blood?

"I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?" Diana asked, feeling unsure of herself.

Chase looked at her. "What? Oh, no, you didn't. Sorry, I keep zoning out today."

"I noticed." She muttered.

"Will you excuse me? I have to go, but we'll talk again soon okay?" He didn't wait for her reply before he shut his locker and ran in the other direction – in search of one bionic brother in particular.

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Adam was bent over the water fountain when Chase, slightly out of breath, found him. One look and the older of the two raised his eyebrows.

"Did you just run a marathon?"

Chase didn't respond with an answer but instead with a question of his own. "Why have you been telling everyone that Bree was adopted?"

Adam suddenly grew tense. He averted his gaze and picked up his book bag which had previously been on the floor. "Um, what?"

"Come on, Adam." Chase placed a hand on his brother's shoulder and spun him around. "Don't play dumb, I know it was you."

"How?"

"Diana told me."

"Who?"

Chase shook his head. "Just a girl in my class – look, are you going to answer me or not?"

"Or not." Adam nodded before beginning to walk off. However Chase was right behind him.

"None of us are related! Why don't you tell that to everyone? Why just her?"

"Because I don't like to think of her as my sister anymore!" Adam shouted, stopping suddenly and facing Chase. An awkward silence followed his statement as they stared at each other, not saying a word. Afraid that, if they did, something catastrophic might happen.

Adam scratched his head as Chase just watched him. "What?" He finally managed to get out.

"Look, you saw her that day. Remember? She totally betrayed us by going with Marcus instead of coming home! She doesn't care about us anymore, Chase, so why should we care about her?"

"I know you're upset-"

"You of all people should understand! You spent months looking for the ghost of someone we used to know! The Bree we loved is gone, instead she's replaced by a stranger who's a million galaxies away. I just don't want to be associated with her, okay? That's why I've been telling the whole school that she's adopted."

Chase could only stand there and say nothing. Everything Adam has just said hurt him like hell, yet he knew it was true. Bree – his Bree – wasn't there anymore. And he knew that he'd never see her again.

"Maybe one day, if she changes her new ways and at least apologizes… I don't know." Adam shook his head. "I didn't mean to unload all of this on you."

"It's okay." Chase waved him away. "You're right, she's not here. She's not part of the team, and she's certainly not the girl we knew." A silence followed. "So..it's for the best that you told everyone that."

Adam finally cracked a small smile, however it looked grim. "I'm glad you see it my way. Now come on, let's go make Leo do our homework."

As he walked away, Chase laughed lightly and shook his head. However, Adam didn't see the look of pain in his eyes.

Yes, a new girl has come into Chase's sight. Right now she's just a stranger but could she turn into more…? (Don't worry, it's all part of my master plan :)

Anyway, sorry again for the delay! And I promise that, next chapter, Maree will make another appearance! So don't forget to read and review and have a spectacular day!