Elite Ambition by Jessica Burkhart Read Free Book Online Page A

going to shower and go to bed. I’m really, really tired after the first day back.”
    â€œMe too,” I said.
    Paige shut the door behind her, and I stared at it for a few seconds. She wasn’t mad that I’d gone to the Trio’s, was she? She knew Heather and I had become friends after I’d spent break with her. Plus, Paige had other friends too, and I’d never cared if she wanted to hang out with them. The situation with them
was
a little different, but as my best friend, Paige had to understand that it was my choice to hang out with Heather, Julia, and Alison and she needed to support me.
    I went over to my closet and busied myself with picking out my clothes for tomorrow—a welcome distraction from whatever was going on with Paige. And if she kept being weird about me hanging out with the Trio, I’d talk to her. But tonight, I didn’t want to let go of my good mood from hanging out in Orchard.

 8 
    THERE’S ALWAYS ANOTHER SEAT OPEN
    THE NEXT MORNING, PAIGE WAS BACK TO HER bubbly, cheerful self. There wasn’t a hint of weirdness from last night, and Paige chatted about classes and meeting Geena later. I was relieved that she seemed cool now.
    I started to reach for my phone to put it in my pocket when it buzzed. Flipping it open, I smiled at what I read.
    Just saying hi. Hope 2 run into u 2day.
    Jacob.
    I closed my phone before Paige could see the message.
    â€œHeather,” I said to Paige, feeling the need to say something. Paige was zipping up her peep toe ankle boot. “Our lesson is outside today. Hopefully jumping.”
    â€œThat’s your fave, so cool,” Paige said, smiling.
    I felt a twinge in my stomach about hiding the text,but I wasn’t ready to tell her about Jacob yet. I’d sworn to Paige that I was taking a break from boys to focus on riding and school. Paige had no idea that Jacob and I had decided to get back together.
    â€œReady?” Paige asked. She shouldered her bag.
    â€œReady.”
    We left the dorm and I blinked as we stepped into the bright sunshine. The campus was busy as students hurried to classes. Paige and I walked down the sidewalk. We’d gotten up early enough this morning to make it to breakfast. But I was going solo. Paige had to meet Geena at Orchard to swap recipes before their class.
    â€œSee you in English,” I said when we reached the split in the sidewalk.
    â€œBye,” Paige said.
    I got to the caf and piled three blueberry pancakes on my plate. I picked a small vacant table near the window and sat down. Once my pancakes were smeared with butter and syrup, I jammed a giant bite into my mouth.
    â€œMind if I sit here?”
    I looked up and Brit stood in front of me, holding her breakfast tray.
    â€œSit,” I said, my mouth too full to say anything else.
    I couldn’t believe she was sitting next to
me.
She couldhave sat anywhere—even with the Trio—but she’d chosen to sit with me. I felt curious eyes on us as everyone watched the too-cool-to-mess-with new girl sit with the former newbie-from-a-hick-town.
    â€œThose pancakes look great,” Brit said. “I love blueberries.”
    I glanced at her plate. She’d gotten pancakes too—banana.
    â€œThe banana pancakes are just as good here,” I said. “I’d recommend anything but the meatloaf. It’s just … scary.”
    Brit laughed. “Noted. No Canterwood meatloaf.”
    â€œHow are you doing so far?” I asked. “It can be so overwhelming.”
    Brit cut into her pancakes. “I’m doing okay. Still getting used to my schedule and the new curriculum, but otherwise, I feel like I belong here.”
    â€œThat’s great. You definitely seem to fit in with everyone.” I looked over at the people who were still staring at us. “It looks like everyone wanted you to sit with them.”
    Brit lifted her head, glancing around casually. “Oh,