The Swap That Sentenced Them

Lily's eyes filled on cue. "Mr. Thompson, I'm sorry. It's my fault. I borrowed Juliet's battery to charge the music player. I didn't want to mess up the show. Maybe she's mad about that."

Right. Of course she is.

Mr. Thompson frowned at me. "Juliet, how can you be so petty? Lily was thinking about the group."

Lily turned saintly. "Please don't be upset. It's all my fault. Juliet, let's shake hands and forget it, okay?"

One hand on her ribs, the other grabbed my limp fingers before I could move.

Head down.

Smile sharp as a blade.

A rasp scraped out of my throat. I needed him to see her.

Then Lily shrieked and flung my hand away like I'd electrocuted her.

"Juliet! I already apologized and you're still pinching me!"

She held up her wrist. A bright red mark glared under the stage lights.

Before Mr. Thompson could blink, Hampton stormed over and slapped me.

Smack.

The whole room went quiet.

Half my face went numb. My ears rang. Still nothing compared to my chest.

Hampton pointed at me. "Juliet! Are you insane? You touch her in front of a teacher? Apologize. Now."

A guy nearby chucked his latte at me.

Cold coffee ran down my hair and face. Sticky. Gross. I couldn't even lift a hand to wipe it off.

"Stop faking it!" he yelled. "If you're that sick, how'd you pinch her hard enough to leave a mark?"

Mr. Thompson's face went ice-cold. "Juliet, you've disappointed me. Don't bother applying for this year's national scholarship."

He pointed backstage. "You two—take her back there. Let her calm down. I'm calling her parents tomorrow."

The noise blurred.

In my head, the 1 percent battery warning screamed.

I gripped the metal chair leg with everything I had.

"No... my dad's a general... I'm going to the base tomorrow... to lay flowers..."

They laughed.

"Did boot camp mess you up or something? A general? Lay flowers? That's for fallen soldiers' families. Who do you think you are?"

"Even a security guard wouldn't claim you."

Hampton sneered and fisted my hair, yanking me back. "Keep lying. You're spending the night in detention."

Beep—

One long, flat tone.

My heart jerked once. Then nothing.

Black swallowed everything. Warmth slid from the corner of my mouth. My head dropped.

The auditorium doors slammed open.

The music cut off mid-beat.

A roar shook the room.

"Let go of my daughter!"

Doctors in white coats rushed in with a stretcher, straight for me.

"Pacemaker failure. Cardiac arrest!"

"Start CPR. Prep defibrillation!"

"One milligram epinephrine. IV push!"