“And also completely inaccurate,” said Ms. B. “The solar system isn’t just sitting there. It’s moving through space at something like fifty thousand miles an hour.” She swiveled the monitor so the principal could see an animation showing the sun moving in a straight line through space while the rest of the solar system corkscrewed around it. “This is what our solar system really looks like. The graphics cards in these Providias make projects like this possible. Our students could never have done this on our older computers.”

“Students created this video?” Principal Summers asked, surprised.

“Yes,” said Ms. B. “Not only are they learning computer programming, but they’re applying what they learn to other disciplines. In this case, science.”

Principal Summers smiled. “Promise me you’ll mention that when the ITV people come this afternoon. It’s something we’ll want everyone to know.”

“Rest assured,” Ms. B said.

The first bell rang, and Ms. B headed to her classroom feeling jubilant. Not only was interest in the eSports club growing, and not only would the ITV crew be interviewing her as the club’s faculty advisor that afternoon, but she’d also just proved how useful the new computers were educationally.

Alas, her jubilation was fleeting. Moments later, when she entered her classroom, she saw something that gave her pause. Gavin and Crosby were wearing matching red T-shirts with white lightning-bolt logos. What was that about?

In the hall after second period, Emma found herself stuck behind Gavin and his goon squad as they marched shoulder to shoulder like linemen on the football team. They were all wearing red T-shirts. Mackenzie, who was the second-tallest after Gavin, fit right in. Only, she’d added a gold chain to her outfit. Tromping down the hall, Gavin’s squad seemed to enjoy making everyone go around them.

Tyler pointed when they passed the custodian’s closet. “Ah, vas ist das?” He asked in a loud imitation of a German accent.

“Das ist dah broom room, mein freund,” answered Crosby.

“Jawohl,” said Tyler. The goons chortled appreciatively. Just then, Tyler looked back over his shoulder and saw Emma following them. He gave Crosby a nudge.

Crosby and the others stopped. They were like a human wall blocking Emma from going any farther. They crowded in so close that she could have reached out and touched them. A tremor of nervousness rippled through her.

“Prepare to be annihilated today, Allied vimp,” Crosby said in his stupid German accent. “From now on vee vant to be zee Axis full-time. Instead of switching back and forth.”

“Jawohl, no one can withstand the Axis might,” Tyler chimed in.

“And den vee can keep track of our vins und losses for zee whole season,” Crosby added.

It was hard for Emma to process what they were saying when they were so close and looming over her like a bunch of real-life Mario Bros. Koopas. She knew this was a form of bullying. But would they dare do something to her right there in the crowded hall? Pick on a girl who was literally half Gavin’s size? She didn’t know what came over her, but she straightened up and demanded firmly, “Would you all, like, take a giant step back?”