Numbers Game Read Free Page B

crowd gently applauded. 636 was high-yellow range. Chan accepted his card and stepped back, head down. No one stood to cheer for him.
    “Poor guy,” Tali whispered, and I knew what she meant. Kids who scored less than their parents were what adults called “at-risk,” or the type to jump off the tower. I’d never quite understood their motivation, but today it made a little more sense. What could be worse than becoming a yellow, branded as mediocre, for everyone to see?
    Jumping off the tower. That was definitely worse.
    “Dresden Wynn.”
    My breath caught. He stood and strode to the front, his lanky frame seeming shorter from this far away. A silly grin was pasted on his face. I could tell it wasn’t entirely natural. The rustling movements in the audience stopped as every ear perked up.
    A figure behind the guys’ side leaned forward in anticipation. Dresden’s dad, tall and regal, just like his son. The Wynns wore some of the highest Ratings in the city, and they lived in the most expensive corner of Olympus.
    “Your score is . . . uh . . .”
    Professor Bold looked at his assistant and showed her the card. Her eyes widened, and she glanced at Dresden, shrugging her shoulders.
    My teeth began to grind. Tali put a gentle hand on my shoulder.
    “Your score is . . . 942.”
    There was a collective gasp from the audience. My stomach fell to the floor. What?
    Everyone around me exploded to their feet, screaming and jumping in their excitement. The applause was deafening. Someone grabbed my shoulders and yelled something in my ear. I just sat, staring numbly at the back of the student in front of me. The number echoed in my head.
    942.
    Professor Bold’s desperate voice came over the speakers. “Students, please. Give me your attention.”
    “Dresden! Woohoo!” someone yelled behind me. A girl.
    The chant started to rise over the noise. “Dres- den. Dres- den .”
    “Students!”
    “Dres- den. Dres- den.”
    942. Olympus’s previous record was 936, by a near genius. His assignment had been to the Leadership Academy. Some said he was training to become tribune, second only to the empress.
    Dresden, what have you done?
    One hundred points. My score would have to be at least 842, or the law said we couldn’t be together. The numbers ran through my head. Only 5 percent of the NORA’s population had scores that high, and I doubted any of them were freshly Rated graduates.
    “ Dres- den. Dres- den.”
    The monitors moved then, turning to face the audience and raising their stunners. The chanting broke down into confused conversation as everyone lowered themselves into their seats. Cheering and standing had never been against the rules in the past. Of course, we’d never had this many monitors in the audience before, either. Maybe they’d anticipated Dresden’s score and sent in extra security.
    “Students,” a younger voice came over the speaker. It was Dresden. Interesting how a number changed things. We were his friends one minute and students the next. “Students, thank you for your support, but please listen to Professor Bold. Thank you.”
    The tall girl in front of me sat down, and I could finally see Dresden’s face. Flushed. Triumphant. Very, very happy. He searched the crowd, looking for me. I sank lower in my seat. What was wrong with me? I should have been clapping enthusiastically, like everyone else. No, I should have been more excited than everyone else. Instead, I felt sick inside.
    Professor Bold took the mic back. “That is an Olympus city record, Dresden. Congratulations. We will watch you with interest.”
    Dresden’s beautiful voice replied, “Thank you, sir. I’m very excited for the future.”
    Tali turned to me with an enthusiasm I hadn’t expected and began to whisper. “That record will last what, fifteen minutes? You’ve got to be at least ten points above him.”
    My voice sounded mechanical. “As long as we’re within range of each other, it doesn’t matter.”
    The