Pulse

ground and punch him a million times. He vowed to have his revenge but nodded his ascent. If Wade Quinn would have been smart, he would have taken Hawk more seriously, because people piss off geeks at their own peril. They know a thousand ways to ruin a life, and they have plenty of pent-up nerd frustration just waiting for a reason to get out.
    Hawk pulled himself free and yelled, “When are you going to grow up, man?”
    “Yeah, when are you?” Hawk heard Faith’s voice as she approached the field. All he could think about was how much he wished she would leave it alone. He knew her well enough to know that wasn’t going to happen, but he tried to shut her up anyway.
    “It’s fine, Faith. Just let it go.”
    Faith looked at Hawk as if to say This isn’t about you. It’s between me and him.
    Wade’s sister was walking up the middle of the football field. The scene was complicated enough, and he wished she’d just stay where she was. But then Dylan Gilmore appeared from the gym doors looking protective, and Wade started to feel outnumbered.
    “Answer him, Wade,” Faith said. She shoved him in the chest with both hands, but Wade barely moved. “When are you going to grow up?”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Wade said.
    “Sure you do. You gave me a Wire Code. What else did you do to me that I can’t remember?”
    “It’s not what you think,” Wade said. “It’s complicated.” He wanted to explain what had really happened, but how could he tell her he’d wiped her memory because he’d killed ten Drifters—not because he’d taken advantage of her? So instead he turned the focus away from himself and onto Hawk. “He’s the one you want to talk to. He makes the stuff. And he told me it was a really low-level set of codes—nothing big, just a fun time.”
    “You’re lying,” Faith said, but then she looked at Hawk and she just knew. “You didn’t,” Faith said, stunned and confused and angry.
    “I’m sorry, Faith,” Wade said. “But nothing happened. We only kissed, that’s it. Seriously. When I figured out it was strong stuff, I took you home. I swear.”
    Hawk was speechless. He had no words to convey his immense frustration and shame. It was true; he had made the stuff, but only because Wade had forced him to. His Tablet was destroyed, and it would be days before the Western State would send a replacement. And Faith, the only friend he had left in the entire world, was looking at him like he’d ruined her life. As Dylan Gilmore arrived from one side and Clara from the other, Hawk started running. He had to, because he knew it was only a matter of seconds before he started crying, and that was an embarrassment he wasn’t willing to risk.
    Dylan arrived next to Faith at about the same time Clara arrived next to her brother. The four of them stood motionless—two on one side, two on the other—and stared at one another.
    “Everything okay?” Dylan finally asked no one in particular.
    “Everything’s fine, right, Faith?” Wade asked, reaching a hand out toward her. She backed off but stopped short of leaving altogether. Dylan saw the smashed Tablet and raised a dark eyebrow.
    “I’m guessing that’s Hawk’s Tablet. Looks like it got hit with a hammer. Literally.”
    Clara started laughing, but when she saw that Dylan responded with curious indifference, she swallowed hard and backed off. “Don’t look at me. I don’t even know that kid. It’s him you want.” Clara hooked a thumb at her brother and walked over to pick up the ball and chain.
    “I’m doing this school a favor,” Wade said, playing a risky hand but feeling like he was all in whether he liked it or not. “He’s making Wire Codes, bad ones. I just put him out of business.”
    Dylan shrugged like it didn’t mean much, then lowered the boom.
    “I guess you’ll have to find another dealer then, won’t you? Too bad. I understand he was giving you what you wanted for next to nothing.”
    Faith shot a glance at both guys and put up her hands. “I’ve had it with this place. You people are crazy.”
    She started to leave, then turned and came back, standing in front of Wade. She looked up at him, and for a brief but fabulous moment, Wade thought she was going to forgive him. Then she slapped him, and the ringing in his ears sounded like a siren call.
    “Don’t you ever trick me like that again. And leave Hawk alone. He’s just a kid.”
    She turned to leave but found herself