Caffeine, Karma, and My Second Life

On the morning of the National Finals, Chloe, the class Academic Rep, drags in cases of Red Bull and instant espresso and tells everyone to mix a "maximum brainpower" cocktail. Avery remembers her past life: she warned the class, no one drank, Chloe bombed the exam, and after Chloe's suicide Avery was blamed and driven to her own death. Now Avery has woken back on that same morning, and Chloe, reborn too, has doubled the supply and pointedly left Avery out.

This time Avery stays silent. When her deskmate Harper asks whether to drink, Avery only says it is up to her, and Harper sets the cup down. Chloe mocks Avery as a selfish snitch, and classmates turn hostile glares on her. Ms. Miller confiscates the badges and leaves the room to its choices.

At the testing hall, Chloe boasts she will outscore Avery, though it was Avery who once tutored her to an A-minus. Avery says nothing and climbs the stairs, waiting to see how long the smiles last.