Page 17 of Juliet's Echo

Gina led Juliet into the classroom, Ms. Faye right behind them.

I reached out softly and grabbed her arm, prompting her to turn back around.

For a split second, uncertainty crept in.

I glanced down the hallway—my parents walking hand in hand toward the exit like this was just another normal day.

Then I looked back at her.

Ms. Dionne Faye.

And just like that, something in me settled.

Her warm, dark eyes held mine, and for a moment, it felt like I could tap into whatever energy she carried. There was something there—calm, intentional, loving. She cared.

That… and the soft floral scent she wore settled the protective beast inside me.

“Don’t pacify her,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “I don’t want anyone feeling sorry for her, because she doesn’t walk around feeling sorry for herself.”

“Okay,” she said softly, almost a whisper, not breaking eye contact.

“Again, Echo, I promise—she’s in great hands.”

I nodded once and let her arm go.

As I walked down the hallway, her voice called out behind me.

“Echo—please have everyone involved in Juliet’s educational experience download the school’s app. That’s where you can track her progress, weekly curriculum, and send private messages to her educational team.”

I turned around, now walking backward, a smirk creeping onto my face.

“So that means you’ll be in my DMs, Ms. Faye,” I said with a wink.

Juliet Simone Everette

Junior year at Havenbrook University...

Glaring out of the wall-to-ceiling glass window in front of me, I mentally traveled somewhere beyond my current habitat. Past the sparkle of porcelain revealed from boisterous laughter, beyond the vibration of the floor caused by sliding chairs—why couldn’t land walkers just pick the chairs up slightly to remove them from under the table? And even through the discomfort of trying to drink my smoothie through a paper straw. I mean, sea life aside, who thought it was genius to pair paper with liquid and expect it to work?

But my ultimate warriors were the smells.

The mixture of florals, cedars, sugar, and fried meat could break a bear’s hibernation. And about one hundred feet to my left, I could smell someone's baby needed a diaper change. Butnot even the smell of digested strained peas and chemically produced baby formula was a match for the daydream I was currently locked in on. That was the magic of being hearing impaired—while my ears showed up late to the party, my other four senses arrived early to help set up. However, they were no match for my mind.

When my unconscious kicked in, I had the ability to completely turn the world off and travel.

No, I couldn’t recall what I was daydreaming about, but it felt comforting. As if someone was hypnotizing me through song—but with no words and no melody. I couldn’t tell you where I was in the dream either, but it was warm… and peace was its leader.

Feeling myself going deeper into Wonderland, I didn’t put up a fight. I let all self-control go and allowed myself to float.

Until a heavy nudge on my shoulder caused me to blink back into reality.

And instead of my Wonderland…

I was staring at the decorative window decal that read:

Flip’d.

Flip’d, Havenbrook’s burger bar, was where you went to unfold.