Chapter 1

Julian Whitmore, the most popular boy in our class, stood at the front of the room, trying to sound calm. "Everyone, stay where you are! The hallway's completely blocked. We can't get out. Find a corner and take cover until help arrives. We're going to be okay."

Panicked students rushed to the corners of the classroom. My head spun as I stared at Julian, who looked every bit the hero.

I was back at the moment the earthquake struck in my previous life. In that life, after Julian got drunk and drowned, Serena Myer had lured me to the edge of a cliff.

She pointed at my right leg, which had never fully recovered after I injured it saving her life, and snarled, "Adrian Valecrest, that limp of yours has been a constant burden! I've had to put up with it for seven whole years, and I'm sick of it!

"Do you really think I would've chosen you over Julian if I hadn't owed you for saving my life? If I hadn't been with you, Julian wouldn't have been so heartbroken!

"He wouldn't have gone drinking, and he wouldn't have died! You're the reason he's dead, you cripple! You should be the one down there with him!"

With that, she shoved me off the cliff.

"Adrian! What are you standing there for? Come on!" Serena's voice suddenly brought me back to the present.

My childhood sweetheart had grabbed my hand so tightly it hurt. Her eyes were bloodshot as she pulled me toward the back corner of the classroom.

I tried to pull my hand away, but she wouldn't let go.

"Serena, let go! It's not safe over there!" I shouted, but instead of letting go, Serena turned and fixed me with a furious glare.

Her voice dropped to a harsh whisper. "Stop arguing! I'm not letting you run off again. Not this time. Just stay in the corner with me. I promise you won't get hurt. And don't even think about taking matters into your own hands again. I'm not letting you put me in your debt."

My eyes widened.

Her words made it clear that she remembered what had happened before. She was determined to stop me from running off again, and she didn't want to owe me anything this time.

I stared at Serena's anxious face, my thoughts racing.

She'd come back to life, too.

In our previous life, Serena had also headed for the corner when the earthquake alarm sounded. I'd risked my life dragging her away and jumping out of a third-floor window with her.

I'd taken the brunt of the fall to protect her, breaking my right leg so badly that I'd been left with a permanent limp. She'd escaped without a scratch and promised to take care of me for the rest of her life.

But it hadn't been gratitude that made her stay. She'd felt trapped by the obligation to repay me, and she'd hated me for it.

Now that she'd been reborn, Serena didn't want me saving her again. She didn't want to feel indebted to me for the rest of her life.

She'd convinced herself that keeping me in the supposedly safe corner would somehow change what happened last time.

"Serena, are you out of your mind? Let go!" I gave a bitter laugh and kicked her hard in the shin.

Serena flinched, but she still refused to let go of my wrist. She stepped closer, nearly backing me against the wall, and hissed under her breath. "Adrian, do you really have to do this? You think jumping out the window will make you a hero? You'll break your leg!"