Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Abby

We exit hair and makeup, and I can’t help but feel like an impostor beneath this

mask of perfectly-caked makeup. Just like yesterday, it feels like an

uncomfortable facade, a porcelain mask covering the real Abby. I can’t help but

wonder to myself: why is this amount of makeup necessary for a cooking show?

Shouldn’t my abilities be judged, not my face?

I glance over at Karl as we walk out of the hair and makeup room. He’s still

wearing his blue surgical mask, but the makeup that I can see on his face is

much lighter than mine.

“Geez, Abby,” he says as he looks at me. “You like like a…”

Enter title…

“Don’t,” I hiss. I don’t want to think about it, not now. Instead, I focus my

jacket. The fabric is stiff and a

put it through to look ‘camera-perfect’, much unlike

is comfortably worn down after years of

offers,

I’ve got it,” I snap, my nerves

I don’t ‘got it’. Please

my jacket with a precision

says, stepping back to examine his handiwork.

like I’m about to

minutes!” a production assistant yells

clipboard frantically.

the entire morning—the mad dash,

last-minute change in

are shaking and my heart is pounding, this

stupid uniform is too stiff and

body right

I say, my voice quivering. “I’m not ready. I didn’t

yet like

to compete?”

says, taking my trembling hands into his. His