Her Ex's Science Project

I begged the caretaker—Kenny—eyes red, voice cracking. Only guy in that place who didn't treat me like trash. Said I reminded him of his big brother.

But going up against Jeremy? Not an option. Getting me out? Dream on.

Then he saw me clutching my fake leg, breaking down like my chest was about to cave in. That cracked him.

He grabbed the freezer box and headed for the door—

Boom. Harper.

The metallic stink made her wrinkle her nose. She watched Kenny walk off, and only bothered to frown once he was long gone.

Still, she was beaming—like she just claimed victory in some game.

"Jeremy's experiment was a huge success," she murmured, dreamy-eyed. "His dream finally came true."

Since stepping in, she hadn't looked at me once—just stared out the window at the fireworks.

When I stayed quiet, she finally looked over, brows knitting. "Zach Zimmer, Jeremy just asked you for a tiny favor.

"You've been home doing nothing since surgery. Meeting some new friends and helping him out a little isn't that big of a deal. You don't have to look so miserable."

'Friends?'

Let's see.

The old lady who stormed into my room screaming her lungs out.

The old man who choked me out over money I'd never seen.

And the guy who knocked me flat accusing me of stealing his girl.

Yeah. Real wholesome bunch.

Jeremy had me swallowing pills like candy and zapping me until my leg started to rot off.

Doctor said if I'd gotten to a real hospital sooner, they could've saved it.

But how? I wasn't even allowed to leave the building.

Harper saw my red eyes, my head down, and looked ready to scold me.

"Za—"

She cut off mid-sentence. Her phone lit up. Moonlight hit her face, and just like that, she was glowing.

She stayed twenty whole minutes. Never noticed my right leg was fake.

I was dozing off when Jeremy's junior rolled in with the day's pills.

Thinking about my missing leg, I slapped the tray away.

Harper jumped at the noise, then stomped over, scooped up the pills, and pressed them to my mouth.

"This is for Jeremy's experiment," she said, dead cold. "If you won't take them, how's he supposed to write his report?"

My throat burned, but I turned my face. She grabbed my chin and shoved the pills down anyway.

She started to say something else, then froze. Phone buzzed. She bolted without even grabbing her coat.

Didn't need to guess.

Opened my feed—

Jeremy's selfie: tissues in his nose, dumb grin on his face.

Caption: [Watched fireworks all night, came back with a cold. Took an extra cold pill by accident. That won't kill me, right?]

And right below it? Harper, all hearts and panic:

[You caught a cold? Why didn't you tell me sooner, dummy? Go get checked, okay? I'm coming with you—don't go without me.]