I snorted. “Tanner knew I didn’t do it. Whoever jacked with his video had to break into his office last night or early this morning before the assembly, and I was with him setting up the system.” I watched every line of her face, wondering if she would give anything away. Her features were smooth as she stared right back at me.

“Sounds like a hassle for just a few laughs.”

I arched a brow at her. “A few?”

The entire school had found the updated presentation hilarious. Hell, it had shocked me—the fact that someone had the balls to pull that on Tanner—so much that I hadn’t gotten the vid down quick enough.

That had earned me a half-hour lecture in his office—an endless stream of negative criticism against my “computer skills.” Please, he would shit his pants if he knew half the things I could do with a cell phone, let alone my own perfectly configured laptop.

Still, he’d been pissed enough to punish—more like embarrassed enough. It wasn’t every day he was thrown off his crisp, pristine routine of perfection. He needed someone to blame and for now he only had me. Not for the vid, because I’d been at home last night—as he’d called and confirmed with my mother—but because I hadn’t checked the video before I’d hooked up his computer to the projector. Then again, neither had he.

Could’ve been worse, I suppose. He could’ve expelled me or refused to recommend me when MIT called to gather my stats closer to the spring—he had that much power. Instead he decided to “teach me a lesson” and ensure that my “skills” would improve at the same time.

“Code Club,” he’d called it. Said it with the same bravado as a frat-dude would say Fight Club. I was to hold an extracurricular club after school, three times a week, educating any student who wanted to learn more about anything involving computers. “No better way to improve your skills than teach. And after the horrid fiasco you let me walk into today, Mr. Winters, you clearly need more practice in all matters electronic. In addition, you’ll maintain, update, and streamline the academy’s website.”

His words echoed through my head as I glanced at my cell. “Tell Colt he’s a douche,” I said, glancing down at Tessa, who waited patiently as if I’d say more about Tanner. Almost like she wanted me to say more. I sighed, lowering my voice. “Tess.”

“What?” she snapped. “I’m not going to tell him that. He already knows you hate him.”