Chapter 2

Robin looked at me with some surprise,

a little caught off guard that I had agreed so readily.

But the next instant, a smug glint flashed in his eyes.

He probably figured I was really afraid my father would lose the only job that put food on the table, that I was scared, and so I'd caved.

"Smart of you to know your place."

He reached out to rub my cheek,

but I dodged aside at once and stepped back into my place in the formation.

Those intimate touches had once been the moments that made my heart race, but now they only made me sick.

The other students didn't know about my illness,

but Robin knew a thing or two.

After high school graduation, when Robin confessed to me, every word was firm and unwavering.

"Tabitha, let me protect you through college. Your health isn't good, and I swear I won't let anyone bully you."

I thought we would be like my parents, meeting on campus and eventually spending our whole lives together.

But that beautiful picture, on the first day of school,

shattered the moment Robin caught sight of Hannah among the freshmen.

Hannah said she was hungry, and Robin grabbed the meal I'd just gotten and carried it over to her.

Hannah said she'd overslept, and Robin forgot all about buying my medicine and went to save her a seat.

Hannah said it wasn't fair, and he used my dad's job to force me to take part in the orientation training here,

even though that training-exemption medical order had been issued by a hospital under the Delgado Group.

Real or fake, he could tell at a glance...

"Instructor, today's Tabitha's first day of training. Let her lead us on the three-mile run!"

Hannah's smug voice pulled me back to the present.

After yesterday, the instructor actually looked to Robin first.

"Robin, you're the squad leader. You make the call..."

"Just do what Hannah said."

Robin briskly cut in over the instructor, then turned to look at me.

"Tabitha Winfield, step forward. You'll lead everyone on the three-mile run today."

Those eyes, once full of tenderness and worry over me, now held nothing but cold.

My fingernails dug deep into my icy palm.

"Fine."

I stared at Robin and answered through gritted teeth,

then walked to the front of the formation.

As I passed Robin, I heard him murmuring softly in Hannah's ear.

"Hannah, now it's fair. Do you feel any better?"

"Much better..."

"Good. You're on your period today, so don't run. Go find a cool spot in the shade and watch her run..."

My nose stung all at once, and my eyes went red.

As I reached the front of the formation, I ran straight into Hannah, who was heading off to rest.

Her low, mocking laughter came at my ear.

"Tabitha Winfield, as long as I'm around, even for a single day, Robin's heart will be on me. Don't go dreaming about things that aren't yours! A girl out of the slums like you, what have you got to compare with me?!"

"Tabitha Winfield! No whispering!"

The instructor barked at me sternly.

"If you're leading the group, then act like it! If you're not running, what are you standing there for?! Trying to drag this out another day?!"

I forced down the emotions in my chest and took the first step...

I'd just had a heart stent put in last year. I thought I could hold on a little longer,

but I'd only run a dozen yards before my heart started pounding wildly, the rhythm heavy and ragged,

as if it were about to force its way out between my ribs.

With every step after that, a sharp, wringing pain tore through my chest.

I clenched my palm as hard as I could, trying to hold on,

but my feet felt like they'd been filled with lead, and my steps began to stagger.

The next second, a thick rusty-sweet taste welled up in my throat, and my breathing started to fall behind...

I gasped for air in great mouthfuls, but couldn't draw in a single useful breath.

The student beside me finally noticed something was wrong with me

and immediately turned and shouted to Robin.

"Robin, Tabitha really seems to be sick! Come take a look!"

"She's just being dramatic!"

Robin's cold voice came from behind me.

"You and the student next to her, hold her up. No matter what, she finishes the run today!"

The two of them squeezed to my sides in an instant and hauled me up.

Wave after wave of dull pain hammered at my heart,

but my feet still didn't stop.

By the time I reached the finish line, the toes of my shoes were worn through from dragging on the ground.

A fit of violent coughing seized me, and that rusty-sweet taste ran down the corner of my mouth,

but Robin acted as if he hadn't seen a thing.

"Tabitha Winfield, and to think I took care of you myself for three years in high school! Looks like Hannah was right, you were just faking it!"

"Hurry up and wipe the ketchup off your mouth! Disgusting!"

With that, he and Hannah turned and walked off, fingers laced tight together.

In the moment they turned away, I saw that smug smile in Hannah's eyes.

I knew this was far from over...