Dead Girl Dancing Read Online Free PDF

out cheerfully. “If there’s time, we might even hop over the border for some serious partying in Mexico.”
    “Venice Beach? Mexico?” I repeated.
    “That’s all we’ll manage in a week, although I’d love to hit Lake Havasu, too. I’ve always wanted to try some of that boat-to-boat partying,” she announced with a jazzy dance move. “Bring on the beach, booze and badass dudes—spring break begins now!”
    Her tone was upbeat but underlined with a warning not to cause any problems, and I didn’t want to cross her anymore than I wanted to hang around and risk an attack from a stalker. Besides, if I didn’t go with her, I’d break GEM rule #1.
    1. Follow through on your Host Body’s obligations and plans.
    Apparently, one of my obligations was a vacation of partying.
    Sorry, Eli, I thought. I’ll call you later.
    Then I left for spring break.

    I followed Sharayah’s roommate (what was her name anyway?) down a steep stairway, then through a maze of dimly lit halls to double glass doors that led outside to the parking lot. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched and kept looking around, but never saw anyone. Still, my uneasiness lingered.
    It was foggy out and eerie lamps glowing like demon eyes around the parking lot added a gloomy theme to my personal nightmare. As we moved through rows of vehicles, their hulky shapes reminded me of crouching monsters. I shivered, wrapping my arms around a too-tall body that was so thin I could feel my ribs.
    I peered back at the shadowy dorm I’d just left; three stories of bricked housing surrounded by shrubs and walkways. It looked traditional yet modern, the kind of dorm I hoped to attend someday with my best friend. Alyce and I had toured half a dozen campuses together, dreaming about what we’d do once we graduated from high school to real life: share a dorm room, study together, and score prestigious internships. Alyce had a trust fund and (grades permitting) she could pick and choose her college. But until recently I doubted I’d even be able to afford night classes due to my family’s lack of finances, and I envisioned a future of flipping burgers at some dead-end job. Then a miracle had happened—I was offered a scholarship to a college of my choice.
    But being here wasn’t my choice. This was not how I imagined college life, isolated without my real friends and stumbling around in the wrong body. The simple act of walking felt all wrong, my strides so jerky that when I stumbled, only a quick grab on a rail saved me from a nasty fall. Fortunately my roommate didn’t notice, or else assumed I was too wasted to walk straight … and maybe I was.
    “What took you so long?” a petite girl with shiny jewels woven in her long brown braid asked, stepping away from the silver SUV she’d been leaning against. Gold bracelets jangled from her tiny wrists and she wore a designer chiffon blouse with a midnight-blue miniskirt and knee-high black boots.
    “Not my fault, Sadie. Blame Rayah.” The pink-haired roommate pointed an accusing finger at me. “She wasn’t dressed, then she whined that she had to wait for some new guy and just when we were finally out of the room, she wanted to go back for her purse.”
    “How could you forget your purse?” The other girl, Sadie, looked at me like I’d committed a felony. “I don’t care how wasted I am, I’d never ever leave my purse.”
    “I have it now.” I gripped the leather bag tightly, reassured to have this small connection to my new identity even though all the cash inside made me nervous. But that was the least of my worries. I had to contact Eli or think of a way to stall long enough for him to show up.
    “I still need a phone.” I turned to the pink-haired girl. “You said I could use yours.”
    She opened the back seat door and gestured for me to get inside. “Let’s wait till we’re on our way.”
    “But it’s urgent. He doesn’t know I’m—”
    “Don’t care. Don’t want to