Swipe

lab.”
    “Yeah, I kinda hate it.” Logan smiled. “But the stuff is interesting once you figure it out.”
    Tom shrugged. “So . . . things seem to be heating up between you and Erin.”
    “We’ve hit it off,” Logan admitted, trying to stay casual.
    “You guys dating?” Tom asked, raising his eyebrows.
    “Hold this vial for me,” Logan said, refusing to answer the question.
    “I hear you two’ve been spending all of your time together.” Tom smiled, nodding a little in encouragement. “Good job! She’s pretty.”
    Normally, Logan would be embarrassed by this kind of teasing, but today it only served to make him nervous and edgy. The spy in Spokie Middle could be anyone. Including Tom Dratch.
    “We gotta finish this,” Logan said. “We still have the solvent, the gas, and the ink to go.”
    Tom scoffed. “Here, look. Solvent—cleans better, no residue. Gas—higher combustion temperatures, more efficient burn rate. Ink—aw, who knows what the nanoink is for anyway? They use it in Marks. Case closed.” Tom scribbled on his tablet as he spoke and turned it off when he finished. “Now stop being such a wuss, and tell me about Erin! What’s the deal?”
    Suddenly Logan became very uneasy. He narrowed his eyes at Tom.
    “Come on, man—I saw you two at lunch. What’s she like?”
    It was as if Logan didn’t even know who he was talking to anymore. Everyone was suspect. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” he said coolly.
    After that, Logan worked by himself until the bell rang.

    “People gossiped about me and my boyfriend at my old school too,” Erin said loudly, laughing casually. “I wouldn’t give it too much thought!”
    “Erin, this is serious. I’m not your—”
    “Stop talking to me, dimwit,” she whispered suddenly, trying not to move her lips. “Everything you say is a risk.” Then she giggled and grabbed Logan’s hand, twining her fingers in his.
    Logan felt himself begin to blush. “Right,” he said. “Ha-ha.”

    It turned out science & tech was just the beginning. Logan simply did not know who to trust. In gym, Hailey’s friend Veronica picked Logan first for her team in hover-dodge. Veronica never picked Logan first for hover-dodge. He tried to be nonchalant about it as he ran around the hardwood floor, but he couldn’t help bringing it up as he tossed the hoverdisk over the line.
    “Feeling generous today?” Logan said.
    Veronica kept her eyes on the disk, which zigzagged unpredictably through the air. “What are you talking about?”
    “When’s the last time you picked me for your team, huh? I honestly can’t remember.”
    “You’re good at this game,” Veronica said. “You used to play in the Spokie league.”
    “Yeah, in fifth grade,” Logan said dismissively. He dodged the disk but only barely.
    “Fine. Whatever. Chalk it up to random luck. Didn’t you wanna be on the winning team?”
    “I dunno,” Logan snapped. “Depends how badly you wanted the chance to talk to me. ‘How’s Erin, Logan? What are you doing with Erin ?’”
    Veronica gave Logan a disgusted look as the hoverdisk smacked their teammates and sent several players to the sidelines. “Get over yourself,” she said. “Your new girlfriend doesn’t impress me. Now pay attention to the game.”

    In the locker room afterward, Logan bent down to tie his shoelace and jumped violently when Tom approached him again, tapping his shoulder from behind. “Whoa, you okay, man? Listen, not here to bother you about Erin—I just wanted to say, the drama club still doesn’t have a full cast for Mark of a Salesman , and I really do think you’d be perfect for the—”
    “Tom, I’m not trying out for that stupid play and I never will, ever! Why do you want me to meet new people so bad, huh? I spend a little bit of time with the new girl and all of a sudden—”
    “Why wouldn’t I, Logan? We’re friends.”
    It was fear boiling up inside of Logan, immense, implacable fear, but when it came out, it came out as red-hot anger. “What is your problem, Tom? Can’t you take a hint? I’m avoiding you! I’m avoiding everyone in this lousy school, so just get lost!”
    Tom looked like he didn’t know what hit him. “Sorry, man. We’ll find someone else. I’m sorry.”
    And Logan tied his other shoe alone.

    Pretty soon, the whole school was abuzz with excitement and speculation over the budding relationship between Logan and Erin. Everyone had witnessed Erin’s scene at lunch. The