tood perfe

ight as a steel rod. She looked like a marbl

. People shifted uncomfortably, sensing t

She crossed her arms tighter. "Posing doesn't get you points,

didn't

ly visible. Her eyes locked onto the micros

cold metal felt like an old friend. Years of muscle memor

a

he pistol echoed off

p to look at the electronic disp

bled wildly for a second

g red number ill

imum possible score, a sho

e. It was so quiet you could hear t

from his fingers and crashed onto the floor, spil

next to her and shook his arm. "Did

ared at the glowing 10.9. A slow, incredibly p

ntrolled exhale. The tight knot in her chest finally un

's face. She lunged toward the counter,

"That's impossible!

ntrol panel. He looked at Blair with a flat expression. "Se

ick. "It's a fluke! A lucky shot! She c

save her friend. "Wait! The referee never

oked at the two panicked girls a

e said, her voice light and completely unbothered. "I was jus

wd gasp

ew a perfect 10.9 just to feel th

grabbing a life preserver. "Exactly! Practice

d yelled, "Are you kidding me, Blai

chest heaving. "Rules are r

air a sore loser, the other half whisperin

. She turned around and l

ently asking if the fertil

e dark, filled with absolute indu

o words to he

un. With a fluid, lightning-fast motion, she ejected t

tly professional, it made the hair on

de was gone. Her eyes were filled with the

dropping to a freezing register.