"Everly Anne Brighton," a nurse called from midway down the hall. And the bright spot began to fade. "We're ready."

"You have the wrong patient," I said. "Her name isn't Everly."

Nurses generally don't like doctors. Residents? Even less.

She met us at the top of the hall and flipped Everly's plastic bracelet around to read her name. "Well, unless she swapped I.D. bracelets she is indeed the patient I'm looking for." I held out my hand for Everly's arm. Of course she played along.

"Says her name is Princess Tiger Lily." I looked Everly head to toe. "Seems legit to me."

The nurse gave me my own inspection, and then wrote my name down on her chart, purposefully spelling out each letter with an exaggerated, slowness.

Everly looked at me once and was serious. Twice was a smirk. The third was charm and then fits of laughter. "You are in so much trouble now." And mocking. She mocked the nurse with finesse. "A med student messing up . . . who would ever suspect such a thing! I'm sure Dr. Brighton will be- " Everly bent over in hysterics. "-I'm sure he will just LOVE to hear a nurse griping about a med student getting on their nerves."

The nurse huffed, shoved her chart under her arm and then pointed toward the end of the hall. "I'm going to be in your room waiting. You have thirty seconds to meet me there or I will report this to Dr. Brighton."

I was still up on Cloud Nine when Everly faced me, the two of us alone. "Save me," she said, all playfulness muted.

"From what?"

"Myself."

The familiar cord returned to my chest. And although I had no idea why or how it got there, it was powerful enough to listen when she needed a place within me to confide. It was strong enough to push away all he what-if's attached to me doing something that wasn't particularly smart or good for myself. And despite not being able to see it, exam it, or hold it in my hands, I knew it was just as tangible and lively as the girl who stared up me.

It's Called Coercion Bed 708 belonged to a pale, skinny boy Everly's age named Truscott Zoe. His smile understood what I felt whenever I first saw her. His eyes lit up in the same fashion, and he made me wonder if I were still a boy just dreaming of this girl.

"This is the doctor I told you about," she announced, sat on his bed.

"So it's a co-conspiracy," I said.

His pale face smiled. His weak hand reached for hers. "You bring coffee for me?"

She placed his hand back on the bed, but kept her palm on top. "You know you can't have that stuff."

"You're becoming too much like them. Stop going to school with your dad every day."

She smiled at Truscott and then faced me. "I can't. That's where I found this doctor who is going to save your life."

"But if he's still in school he's not really a doctor, and therefore can't really save my life."

I raised my hand. "Right here. Hearing fully works."

Everly chuckled, and then got down to business. "This is my friend, Truscott, and he needs a new heart."

"Well, I'm sorry but mine is kind of in use right now, Everly Anne. I'm sure it'll be available once your father finds you missing from Nurse Ratchet's care, though."

"You see," she looked at Truscott, "he's perfect for the job."

"Exactly what job am I being assigned to, Everly Anne?"

"I told Truscott he can have my heart when I die." Guilt overtook the poor kid's face. "Don't," she said to him. "I'll be dead. Better it save you then just become some deranged science experiment."

Truscott looked at me. "Don't you think it's like wishing for someone to die? I mean, I need a heart to live and the sicker I get the more everyone wishes a heart will become available for me. So if it's Everly's heart, then it's like we're all wishing for her to die . . . right?"

I didn't answer that question because the truth would have upset her, and a lie would have been pointless on this kid.

"What do I have to do with this?"

She stilled, but then suddenly sweet nineteen year-old Everly Anne Brighton transformed into her father 2.0.

"You have a differential due, yes?"

"You're gonna hold my grade hostage unless I agree to whatever you'd like me to do?"

Everly shook her head. "I already made sure you wouldn't pass. Have you checked your notes lately? Not much there, right? Too many days spent wondering about the girl and not her condition. Even if Logan liked you-which he doesn't-his notes aren't much better. He'll be lucky if they let him become a janitor in a hospital."

"I'll just go to your father and tell him-" She cut me off. "Tell him what, Callum? That you were too smitten with his daughter to pay attention in class?"