The Swap That Sentenced Them

Before I could react, her nails dug straight into my wrist.

Everything froze. My mind blanked. My limbs went numb. My heart slammed so hard it felt stuck in my throat.

Dying does that. It flips a switch.

I kicked.

My foot barely brushed her before she clutched her stomach and dropped backward like her bones dissolved.

"Ah! It hurts!"

"Juliet Bowen! Are you insane?" Hampton shoved me aside and scooped Lily up. "Bullying her in front of everyone?"

My back smashed against the metal edge of a chair. Pain detonated under my ribs. My vision went black. I couldn't breathe.

In his arms, Lily whimpered, "My ribs... I think they're broken. Does Juliet hate me? She didn't have to kick me that hard..."

Hampton turned and kicked my shin.

"Stop playing dead. Get up and apologize."

The crowd lost it.

"She seemed so gentle."

"Didn't know she was this vicious."

"Competing with a freshman like this? Trying to ruin her?"

"Lily's crying and she's pretending to faint?"

My heart still wouldn't steady.

After a few ragged breaths, I forced the words out.

"She... She dug her nails into my wrist..."

Lily's sobs shot louder, drowning me.

"I was just helping you relax! How can you accuse me? Did I upset you? I'll change, okay? I'll change!"

Hampton's face tightened. "Juliet, you've really disappointed me. I even adjusted the program schedule for you. And now you're strong enough to kick someone across the floor? You've been faking it this whole time."

One of his dorm bros piped up, "Mr. Thompson's here! Perfect. Kick her out—she's killing the mood."

The pacemaker shrieked again. Louder.

3 percent.

My eyes burned. I ignored everything and grabbed the nearest guy's pant leg with shaking fingers.

"Michael... my pacemaker's dying. Please... help me find a battery..."

Michael. Our class rep.

He yanked his leg away like I'd stained it.

"Stop acting, Juliet. Everyone saw you kick Lily so hard she can't stand. You don't get to play helpless now. Just admit you were wrong."

He shook his head. Disappointed.

My hand dropped to the cold floor.

A tear slid from the corner of my eye.

It's over.

"What's going on? Why's everyone crowded here?" The voice cut through the noise—Mr. Thompson, the student affairs advisor.

I jerked my head up, nails digging into my palm to stay awake. "Mr. Thompson... help me..."

He froze when he saw my face—white as paper, hair plastered to my forehead—then rushed over and caught me.

"What happened? Why are you this pale? Someone call 911!"

I opened my mouth. Nothing.

Breathing alone drained whatever I had left.

Through the chaos, one sharp, wounded voice rose above the rest.

"Don't crowd me... my ribs..."

Hampton stepped in front of Lily like her personal bodyguard, blocking everyone out. Then he looked at Mr. Thompson.

"Sir, don't worry about Juliet. She's faking it. Trying to scam Lily with this stunt."