The Academy by Ridley Pearson

yours,” he said. “Wouldn’t mind putting it through the paces.”
    Steel felt himself blush, astounded that he might be the subject of gossip among the faculty.
    “We’ve all heard,” said one of the upperclassmen to Morgan’s right. She was a handsome girl with vibrant green eyes and a contagious smile. Steel felt a little jolt of electricity at being the object of her attention. Most upperclassmen wouldn’t give a Third Former the time of day. And here was an upperclassman girl staring at him like she was dying for him to say something back to her.
    “It’s not like I have a choice about it,” he said modestly. “It’s just one of those things.”
    “Nell Campbell,” she said, introducing herself.
    “Any relation to Seymore ‘Soupy’ Campbell, class of seventy-two, Yale graduate in astrophysics?” Steel said, showing off. He’d read about him in the alumni directory.
    Nell’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. Her teeth were as white as his mother’s best table china. Mr. Morgan cocked his head, clearly impressed as well.
    “So it’s true,” Nell said, as if she’d discovered some national secret. “How’d you do that?”
    “Is he your father?” Steel asked. He knew he was: he could see the similarity from the picture that had also been in the book. He was about to display this knowledge when a beefy guy with a freckled face came up behind Nell Campbell and laid his hands on her shoulders. The behemoth looked right at Steel and let him know to shut up. The hands on the shoulders indicated some kind of possession. Steel felt certain of it.
    Nell Campbell did not look pleased to be interrupted, and Steel suddenly felt in the middle of things.
    He was only halfway through the shredded wheat, but he asked the Bulb to be excused, and was up and away from the table before he did something stupid.
    The whole girl thing was new territory to him. He didn’t know all the rules.
    He ran smack into Kaileigh. She looked a little miffed as she said, “Who’s your new friend?” She was staring directly at Nell Campbell.
    All he’d wanted was a bowl of cereal. Suddenly everything seemed too complicated.
    “I’m out of here,” Steel said. It was the only thing he could think to say.

Today, Mrs. D. had come to the Corinthians to tutor the boys in math and reading. This was their least favorite thing to do. But the right to a bed and three meals a day came with this string attached. More important to the boys, she rewarded the two best students each week with tokens to a nearby video game arcade, or gift certificates to California Pizza Kitchen. For this reason, and this reason alone, competition was fierce. Some actually studied throughout the week in anticipation of the quiz that came at the end of tutoring.
    Now, with the quiz over and with Little Peter and Saul the week’s winners, the boys were eager to have Mrs. D. gone so they could get back to life at the boathouse.
    “Boys!” Mrs. D. announced. She never raised her voice. The mere act of addressing them as a group won silence and their undivided attention.
    “Taddler and Johnny. You nearly fouled up the Haymarket job. You took risks you shouldn’t have taken. You put yourselves in intractable positions that could have jeopardized everyone in this room.” She paused, and as she did, it seemed that no one but she was breathing. “But the fact is, you succeeded, and succeeded without being caught. You displayed bravery, cunning, and the ability to work under pressure, and for that you are to be commended.”
    From her purse she produced two small cell phones. “We can no longer risk using the walkie-talkies. These are push-to-talk cell phones, far more secure than the walkie-talkies. They operate on prepaid accounts, so there is no way to trace them to the owner, if found. Taddler and Johnny,” she announced to the others, “will be team leaders on this upcoming job.” She handed each a cell phone; the boys admired them