After lunch, I feel like the new kid in every class. I have to ask my teachers where I sit, which is totally embarrassing, because everyone already figured that out yesterday. And in world cultures, we had homework, so I am unprepared, but Ms. Daniels says she’ll let it slide if I turn in the assignment—finding out where my grandparents came from—to her tomorrow.

In science, Mr. Milot tells me to sit at a lab table near the front of the room. A lab table with four stools, three of which are already occupied by two guys I don’t know and one girl I do.

“Hi, David,” Sophie says, moving her notebook out of my way.

“Fancy meeting you here.” Yes, I actually say this, but it’s okay, because it makes Sophie giggle.

Mr. Milot drops four papers onto each table. “Quick quiz,” he says, “to make sure you remember the safety rules I went over yesterday.”

Safety rules? When Mr. Milot is in the back of the room, I lean toward Sophie—she still smells pepperminty—and I whisper, “What’s with teachers giving so many quizzes in middle school?”

She giggles again.

When I read the questions, my stomach aches. I know four of the ten answers. Four! I look around and see other kids bent over their papers, scribbling. I can’t get a failing quiz grade.

Sophie’s paper is exposed, her answers showing. I’m about to look back at my own paper when Sophie pushes hers a little closer to me. And nods.

While Mr. Milot arranges supplies in a cabinet at the back of the room, I copy Sophie’s answers. Even though I’ll probably get a good grade now, I feel awful. In only two days of middle school, I’ve managed to get into a fight, get suspended, cheat on a quiz and, if you must know, have a few impure thoughts about Sophie.

I’ve got to shape up!

Mr. Milot says, “I want you to pick one person to team up with for our first project of the marking period.”

I look around and see everyone else looking around, too.

“It’s okay if you don’t know the person,” Mr. Milot says. “In fact, it’s probably better.”

I feel a soft touch on my arm.

When I turn, I’m looking into the green—green!—eyes of Sophie Meyers.

“Want to pair up, David?”

I know she’s talking about the project, but it feels like something more.

“Yes,” I say, mortified when my voice cracks.

“Together you will choose one scientist,” Mr. Milot says. “If you need ideas, ask me.”

“Ooh, a scientist,” Sophie says. “I’ve got an idea.”

“After you research your scientist,” Mr. Milot says, “you’ll create a project together and present it to the class.”

“Albert Einstein,” Sophie whispers. “He’d be perfect.”

I force a halfhearted smile. “But, Sophie, don’t you think everybody already knows about him?”

“That’s why he’s perfect, David. We won’t have to explain every little thing. We can just get to the good stuff.”

“But wouldn’t it—”

Sophie touches my arm. My arm!

Her touch is to me what Kryptonite is to Superman. “Albert Einstein’s a great choice,” I say.

Mr. Milot hands out instructions about the project.

Names_____________________

Name of your APPROVED scientist

________________________________

Once you’ve done research from at least THREE sources, you may choose one of the following projects to present to the class:

One: Write a play that includes your scientist as the main character. The play must explain why s/he is important and what major contributions s/he has made.

Two: Create a board game, using information about your scientist. You will need to explain your choices and demonstrate how playing the game will teach students about your chosen scientist.

Three: Create a picture book of at least ten pages, using art and words to teach others about your chosen scientist.

Four: Produce a three-to five-minute video that introduces your classmates to the achievements of your chosen scientist.

Most importantly, work hard together and HAVE FUN!

I stare at number four. I can’t believe that Mr. Milot is letting us do number four. It’s like he’s offering me—I mean us—an A.

Sophie taps the paper and leans close. “We have to do the second one.”

“Huh?”

“When Mom was homeschooling me, I made this awesome board game to learn Spanish.”

“Cool,” I say, but inside I’m panicked. No way we’re doing a stinkin’ board game when we can shoot a video.

“I’ll show it to you sometime,” Sophie says.

“Cool,” I say again, but I’m thinking, I’ll show you the videos I’ve made and you’ll want to pick number four. At least, I hope you do.

Sophie touches my arm again with her Kryptonite fingers.

Stay. Strong. Must. Choose. Video.

“We could even start making the game today.” Sophie looks at me with those green eyes. “If you want to.”

She lifts her hand from my arm, and the spell is broken.

“Must. Choose. Video.”

“What?” Sophie says, and looks at me like I have slugs crawling up my nostrils.

“Video,” I say. “I think we should make a video. Number four.”

Sophie waves her hand. “David, I’m hopeless with that stuff.”

This time I put my hand on Sophie’s arm and feel goose bumps on her skin. “I’ll teach you.”

Having my fingers on her arm works like Kryptonite on her, too, because she says, “Okay. If you show me how.”

Some kid is talking to Mr. Milot at his desk.

I lean close to Sophie. “If you want to come over after school, I’ll show you some of the videos I’ve already made.” Did I just say that? What if Sophie thinks they’re lame, like Tommy Murphy does?

“Cool,” Sophie says. “Let me get our scientist approved.”

Sophie writes Albert Einstein on our paper, rushes to Mr. Milot’s desk and comes back with his signature in red ink. “All set,” she says.

When the buzzer sounds, I barely have time to pick up my notebook before Sophie pulls me—pulls me!—down the halls and out the doors of Harman Middle School.