Free The Hit List by Nikki Urang

with him?”
    “No.” I don’t want to go out with anyone.
    “Okay, then.”
    Brielle turns into the studio we’re in next. I follow her and sit down on the floor to stretch to keep my muscles warm.
    This is it—the partnership that can make or break me. The odds that it’ll be the latter are too high for me to think about.
    Luke sits behind me, but he faces away from me, completely absorbed by his cell phone, like he didn’t just pin me to a wall. Rachel tries to get his attention by telling an animated story about her bikini mishap on vacation, but she’s failing miserably. His eyes remain glued to his phone. Courtney sits on the other side of the room, equally enthralled with her phone. They seem to be playing a suspicious game of phone tag.
    I can only assume that he’s flirting again. I’ve never seen someone flirt as much as him in my entire life. And he seems not to care that everyone he flirts with constantly sees him with someone else.
    I mean, really. It’s not like we don’t have standards.
    Miss Catherine talks with another teacher near the front of the room. They look casual, like they’re not about to ruin my life.
    “I have the partner assignments I know you’re all eagerly waiting for.” Her eyes find mine, but I look away.
    If I’d stayed in New York, none of this would be happening right now. I wouldn’t feel so defeated. New York may not hold the fresh start I wanted, but right now, L. A. doesn’t either. Maybe there’s still an option to transfer somewhere.
    It’s easier to run than it is to deal with all this shit. That’s what my life has become. Running from one problem to the next.
    “Sadie.”
    My head pops up when I hear my name and I hold my breath.
    “Your partner is—” She glances down at her clipboard before her eyes flick back up to mine.
    It’s possible I won’t be completely screwed by this whole thing. Maybe Adam was already chosen as my partner.
    Please be Adam. Please be Adam. Please be Adam.
    “Luke,” she says, smiling.
    You’ve got to be kidding me.
    THE HIT LIST UPDATE
    September 10
    Welcome to the first point update posting of The Hit List. Each of our guys has been assigned a number for the time being. If our girls knew which guys were participating, the game wouldn’t be any fun.
    #4
3 points
#10
2 points
#2
2 points
#6
1 point
#9
1 point
#3
1 point
#12
——
#11
——
#7
——
#1
——
#5
——
#8
——
    As far as the girls go, here are their weekly numbers. There has been a ton of voting activity in the polls this week, but here are the standings as of right now. Whatever position a bonus girl is in when a Hitter scores points for her determines the amount of points that Hitter will receive. So if someone claims Rachel while she’s on top, they’ll receive the max of fifteen points.
    Rachel Barrons
23%
Brielle Watkins
19%
Sadie Bryant
15%
Jessie Freeman
11%
Rebecca Hemsworth
  8%
Noelle Sanstrohm
  6%
Ashlynn Jenkins
  5%
Courtney Turner
  5%
Samantha Jameson
  5%
Kate Williams
  3%
    Remember to keep voting to change up the positions of our girls and how many points they’re worth. Come back next week to find out who has taken the lead, how many points the guys have racked up, and which girls have fallen.
    In the meantime, happy hitting!
    ~THE HIT MAN

5
    The studio I’m using to practice with Luke is right down the hallway. Rachel and her friends sit in the windowsill outside the studio. She holds the latest issue of Jeté Magazine in her hands. I keep my head down, hoping I can disappear around the corner without them seeing me.
    But I don’t have that kind of luck.
    “‘Neither has danced without the other for two years. One wonders what kind of effect this separation will have on their dancing.’” She makes direct eye contact with me as she finishes quoting the article. Her brown eyes burn with dislike for me. I’d like to think it’s jealousy, but I think it’s just her.
    I keep walking, not giving her the