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“It is,” Nick said, shoving Owen away after he flicked his ear. “It’s the best phase. Everyone says so.”

“Who is everyone?” Jazz asked.

Nick ignored her. He didn’t have time for things like facts. “I plan on implementing Phase Three this Saturday, and I expect all of you to be there. This could potentially be one of the most significant experiences of my life, and I will need your support when I make the transition from normal to Extraordinary.”

“How is this going to be any different than the other times?” Gibby asked.

“Because itwill,” Nick insisted. “The other phases were all child’s play compared to this. Phase Three is the big one.”

“What are you going to do?” Seth asked. Nick looked over at him, and then sighed inwardly when Seth turned away almost immediately.

“It’s a surprise,” Nick said. “Trust me, though. This time it’ll work.”

“Is it illegal?” Owen asked. “Because if it is, I am totally down.”

Nick glared at him. “No, it’s not illegal. My dad’s a cop. I wouldn’t do that.”

“You were looking up plans to break into a nuclear power plant,” Jazz reminded him.

“Right, but I didn’t do it. It’s one thing to think of doing something illegal, but it’s another to actually do it.”

“Your moral compass might need some fine-tuning,” Gibby told him. “Just for the record.”

Nick waved a hand dismissively at her. “Whatever. The point is that I’ve got the most perfect plan of all plans. You need to be there. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” Jazz said, because she was amazing.

“Fine,” Gibby said, sounding bored. She was slightly less amazing.

“Maybe,” Owen said, because he was a jerk. “If nothing better comes up.”

Nick turned to Seth, who was picking at a smashed sandwich. “Seth?”

Seth shrugged. “If you think it’s right.”

“Maybe try that with a little more enthusiasm.”

Seth scowled a little harder. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Good,” Nick said brightly, clapping his hands. “Then let Phase Three commence!” Then, “Well, not right this second. Because we still have school. And it’s not Saturday. So.”

“Nick!”

Nick turned to see Seth rushing toward him down the steps. He’d been waiting for his friends after the last bell before they headed for the train. Nick looked behind Seth to see if Gibby or Jazz were coming, but Seth was alone.

“Hey,” he said. “Where is everyone?”

Seth stopped in front of him and rubbed the back of his neck. “Um. They’re… not here.”

“I can see that. Thank you for stating the obvious.”

Seth sighed. “It’s just us today.”

“Oh. Okay. That’s… great.” It wasn’t great. Or maybe it was the greatest. Nick was instantly covered in flop sweat. Was this like a date? Seth loved him, and Nick… felt some way toward him back, and it was just the two of them, and what if Seth wanted to go get something to eat? At arestaurant? Nick probably had fourdollars in his wallet. And maybe, like, forty cents. Skwinkles Salsagheti had ended up costing more than he thought it would, but it was totally okay. Maybe they could get tacos or something. One taco. For the both of them. “We’ll have to split it right down the middle,” Nick said, slightly panicked.

“Split what?”

Nick forgot that Seth couldn’t read his mind. “Nothing! Absolutely nothing at all. Gosh, it’s certainly a nice day out today!”