"No!" Cosette exclaimed in a panic, leaping to her feet.

 Mouths dropped open; had the usually quiet girl actually outright defied a teacher? 

"Ms. Maxon, please! I must have that back!" She reached for the communicator without thinking. 

Startled and unused to protests, Ms. Maxon yanked her hand from reach. In doing so, however, she accidentally brushed her fingers over several of the buttons, activating the still beeping machine.