Free Little White Lies by Jessica Burkhart Page B

said. “We’re going to have fun learning about the human body, nutrition, and exercise.”
    Paige and I traded grins and then looked back at Utz. She was way too excited about this.
    â€œYou’ll also learn CPR and basic first aid. Wouldn’t want your best friend to croak if you could help it, right?”
    Everyone’s eyes widened collectively.
    â€œLet’s get started,” Ms. Utz said. “Read the first chapter to yourselves. In twenty minutes, we’ll do an exercise. While you read, I’ll be readying the CPR dummy for the class after yours.”
    I opened my book. We read to ourselves, but really spent most of the time watching Utz try to assemble ascary-looking CPR dummy. I was
not
putting my mouth on that thing—no way!
    About twenty minutes later, Utz had finished assembling the dummy.
    â€œThe first thing we’re going to do is learn how to take someone’s pulse,” Utz said. “Turn to the person to your right. That’s your partner for today’s exercise. Introduce yourselves.”
    With a sigh, I turned to Jacob.
    He grinned. “Hi,” he said, sticking out his hand. “I’m Jacob Schwartz. And you are?”
    â€œStop it,” I said. I reached to grab a pen from the top of my desk, but Jacob grabbed my hand. His warm fingers enveloped mine until I jerked my hand out of his grasp.
    â€œEveryone, take your partner’s hand,” Ms. Utz said.
    Jacob shot a triumphant look in my direction.
    I shot him a look and gave him my hand.
    â€œPlace your second and third finger on your partner’s wrist, right below the thumb. Press lightly and you should feel a pulse. When you’ve found your partner’s pulse, then let the other person find yours.”
    Jacob turned my hand over and brushed two fingers down my palm to my wrist. I took a deep breath, but couldn’t stop goose bumps from appearing on my arms.
    He pressed his fingers lightly against my wrist and looked at me. “Your heart’s beating fast,” he said.
    I pulled my hand back. “No, it’s not. Let me do yours so we can be done.”
    Jacob offered me his arm and I pressed my fingers against his skin. Nothing. I moved my fingers around, pausing in several different places, but I couldn’t find his pulse.
    â€œI think you’re dead,” I said. “’Cause I can’t find anything.” I raised my hand.
    â€œYes, Sasha?” Ms. Utz asked.
    â€œI can’t find Jacob’s pulse.”
    â€œOkay, this might occur for some of you,” Ms. Utz said. “If you can’t locate a person’s pulse on his or her wrist, then you’ll need to check the carotid artery at the neck.”
    â€œPut two fingers below the ear, right below the jaw,” Ms. Utz said. “Go ahead, Sasha.”
    The whole class turned to watch me and I felt my face begin to burn.
    I leaned forward and swallowed, putting two fingers on Jacob’s neck. His skin was warm under my fingertips. Immediately, I felt a pulse.
    â€œFound it,” I said, pulling my fingers away and sliding back—waaay back—into my chair.
    Paige looked over at me.
You okay?
she mouthed.
    â€œTotally,” I whispered.
    Ms. Utz helped the rest of the students find one another’s pulses and I paged through my syllabus. If there was even the slightest hint that we had to learn mouth-to-mouth on someone other than Dummy Dan, I was going to find a way out of this class.
    Later in the day, I made my way to the theater building. This was just a brief informational meeting about the drama elective, then the class would be held on Mondays and Fridays. I’d been looking forward to the meeting all week. No one I knew was going to be in it—none of my friends were into drama. I’d finally have a class to myself.
    As I walked up to the theater building, I couldn’t help but stare. It was one of the most gorgeous buildings on