“Then you’re pleased?” Ms. B asked, surprised.

“Bewildered is more like it,” Mr. Bostwick replied.

Once again, Nathan was annoyed with the Allied squad. It was true that they’d agreed with his idea of dyeing a lock of their hair olive green for that day’s match. But Emma still insisted that they discuss strategy. It was so stupid. It felt like they spent more time talking than playing. And none of them would listen when he pointed out that as long as they were winning, they didn’t need a strategy. But they were a squad, right? So Nathan held his tongue.

Emma went first: “We need to keep communicating. Give callouts. Let us know where we’re getting shot from and by how many people. And where they’re deploying smoke grenades. And if you hear a sniper shot, don’t keep it to yourself. Tell us where a drone jammer is if he kills you, and where they’re spawning. We need to know right away if someone is flanking you. Don’t wait until you think a squad mate needs to know. Just assume they always need to know.”

“How am I going to hear anything with you guys constantly talking?” Nathan asked doubtfully.

“Just call out who and where,” Caleb said. “Keep it brief. No extra chatting.”

“And hold your angles,” Emma added. “The only way to win consistently is with teamwork.”

Nathan groaned inwardly. There was no point in reminding them yet again that they already were winning consistently. “Anything else?” he grumbled.

“Actually, there is,” Emma said. “Thanks to Zach.”

But at that moment, Nathan’s phone buzzed with an Instagram message:

UnPlug2gether Sat 7 PM

@WillBet17 @CPtendo @ShaProctor05

Get pumped!

Nathan stared at his phone in disbelief. Bethany Willis, Callie Potendo, and Tanisha Proctor were the most popular girls in the grade.

“Hey,” he said to the squad. “Anyone just get something on Instagram?”

No one else had. Nathan studied the message more closely to make sure it wasn’t fake. But everything about it appeared real. He felt a rush of excitement. The popular girls know who I am! They invited me to a party!

It was lunchtime, and Emma was at her locker when she saw Nathan talking to Tanisha Proctor. Tanisha was tall and shapely, and she wore beautiful clothes. All the boys were gaga over her. Of course, Tanisha knew that, and she usually laughed at them. Emma had heard that she had a boyfriend in high school!

Nathan had dyed all the hair on the top of his head olive green, not just one lock. He caught Emma’s eye and called out, “Hey, Emma, come here.”

Emma bristled. What am I, his dog? But she went. Tanisha gave her a friendly smile. Their lockers were close to each other’s, and she and Tanisha had been in school together since forever. While Tanisha had never expressed an interest in being friendly with Emma outside of school, she was always nice.