rest of the audience.
âBeyond reiterating that the US government is not holding any 2Bs in custody,â Dad said, âI have not negotiated with Charlotte. It is the policy of this administration never to negotiate with terrorists. Especially when they arenât even alive. The tireless men and women of our Cybernetic Defense Corps are doing everything they can to find Charlotte and wipe herâ it âoff the face of the planet. And today Iâd like to propose another important measure: the Protection of Humanhood Amendment, which would add to the Constitution a provision defining a legal person as an individual of the species Homo sapiens. I urge our Congress and the fifty states of our Union to pass it with all possible speed. The power to create life rests solely withour Creator. We must ensure that our laws reflect this fact, and that they continue to protect the inalienable rights with which our Creator endowed us. Thank you.â
The FUUWLs jumped to their feet again. The sound of cheering crashed through the auditorium. Dad smiled, his eyes crinkling behind his silver glasses, and raised one hand in an understated wave.
âGod bless America.â
Bex gave me the same searching, baffled look she always did when we happened to see one of Dadâs speeches on the Supernet. It said, How can that guy be your father? I could still feel the possibly imaginary wafts of heat emanating from Nico, but I didnât have the courage to turn in his direction.
The applause finally subsided. Headmaster Stroud returned to the podium and dismissed us to our second-period classes. The noise in the auditorium boiled up again as everybody crowded toward the aisles. Iâd started to follow Bex when I felt a hand on my arm.
âHey,â Nico said. âSorry if I came on a little strong. I shouldnât have just asked you for your handle out of the blue like that.â
I darted a glance over my shoulder. Bex had already reached the aisle. She raised her eyebrow a tick. I motioned for her to go ahead. âSo that was what you were doing? Asking me for my handle?â
Nico turned on his grin. âSorry, did I not make that clear?â
Usually when I saw a grin that big on people, it made me want to shake them and ask them what there was to be so damn happy about. But not with Nico. His grin just made my knees feel squishy. âLook, I know youâre new here and from another country and whatever, but you donât just start making moves on another boy in a place like Inverness Prep. Especially not while the president of the United States is in the very same room giving a speech about the need to stomp out threats to traditional human values.â
He took a step closer. âThat only made it hotter.â
My pulse quickened like a Geiger counter at his approach. âWho are you? Whereâs your normal, healthy, paralyzing teenage insecurity?â
âProbably trumped by my Latin American audacity.â He opened his hands. âIf Iâm barking up the wrong tree, you can just tell me.â
I pushed my chunky black glasses up my nose. My shirt collar felt tighter than ever. Part of me knew I should just tell him, Yes, youâre barking up the wrong tree , and walk away. I sometimes called that side of my psyche Gutless Lee. But another part of meâthe part I called Kamikaze Leeâwanted me to sink my fingers into his big, wild mop, pull him close, and whisper my handle into his ear.
Instead, I did neither of those things and said, âYou tied your tie wrong.â
He touched the blue-black silk. âExcuse me?â
âThatâs a single Windsor. At Inverness Prep, all students are supposed to tie their ties in double Windsor knots. Youâll get in trouble if youâre caught with your tie like that. Also, your tiepin is upside down.â
His fingers moved to his silver raven tiepin. Every student received one after enrolling at Inverness