The Hit List by Nikki Urang Read Free Book Online Page B

his eyes meet mine. A small smile returns. “Well, Sadie Bryant, I’m off to enjoy the sunshine. Have a good weekend.” He jumps up to his feet and grabs his bag. “Don’t work too hard.”
    “See you Monday.”
    I don’t want him to go, but I don’t know how to ask him to stay.
    He disappears through the door as I gather my things. I walk through the empty halls. If I’d asked Luke to wait for me, maybe he would have walked me back to my dorm.
    And then what? It’s not like I like him or he likes me. We talked for like two minutes in a dance studio. It means nothing.
    I push through the door of my dorm room. Brielle sits at her desk with her computer open in front of her. She swivels in her chair to look at me.
    “I have good news and bad news,” she says. Her face is neutral. Apparently both options aren’t that exciting.
    I throw my dance bag onto my bed. Her news probably doesn’t even apply to me, but I humor her anyway. “Okay.”
    She jumps onto her bed. “It’s Saturday and we don’t have class for another two days.”
    I raise an eyebrow at her and dig through my bag to find my clothes. They’ll start to smell if I leave them in here until Monday. “I’m guessing that’s the good news.”
    “Yeah. The bad news is that you’re a target in the sex game.”
    I drop my bag. It thunks loudly onto the floor. “I’m sorry, what?” I didn’t hear her right. There’s no way she just said that.
    “Lots of people are voting for you. So that’s good news or bad news depending on how you take it.”
    “What?” I trip over my bag on my way to her computer. My hand comes down against the top of her desk so I don’t fall on my face.
    The Conservatory blog is open on her computer. The newest post fills most of the screen. She scrolls down to show me my name. She’s listed a few spaces above me.
    “What the hell? Aren’t you mad about this? You’re on there, too.” I scan over the screen. It has to be some kind of sick joke. I never did anything to deserve something like this. Who would do that?
    “Hell yeah, I’m mad about it. Some jackass just posted my name all over the internet so people can decide how many points having sex with me is worth.” She shuts her computer and turns toward me.
    “Who do you think did it?” I’ve only met a handful of people at this school, but I can’t picture any of them doing this.
    She opens the top drawer of her dresser and pulls out a tank top and some shorts. “It’s not like we don’t have plenty of options. Most of the guys here are dicks. I could see any of them doing it.”
    Obviously someone at The Conservatory has the balls to put this game out there. I wish there was a way I could somehow remove myself from it, but I know that will never happen.
    “I’m going to go see if a studio is free.” Brielle glances back at me as she swings her bag over her head and rests it across her chest. She chews on her lip.
    I know she wants to say something and I’d rather she just do it. “What?”
    She shrugs. “I wouldn’t get involved with any of the guys around here if I were you.”
    I guess it’s a good thing I already made that decision before I ever set foot in L. A.

    Monday morning comes too quickly. I can barely get out of bed. Every inch of my body hurts as I stretch to loosen my muscles. Fire shoots through my aching and overworked limbs. This is what happens when I push myself too hard.
    Today will be hell.
    I stare at the ceiling and debate emailing Miss Catherine to tell her I’m sick. That way I can avoid this whole partner thing and the entire male student body who may or may not be trying to have sex with me for points. Maybe I’ll sleep the whole day. I relax back against my pillow. Sleep sounds so much better than leaving this room.
    Brielle walks in with a towel on her head. “Morning. Are you ready for partner assignments?” She sounds excited.
    “I don’t really have a choice.” It’s going to happen whether I’m there