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

fabric is

to look ‘camera-perfect’, much

comfortably worn down after years

that?” Karl offers, his own jacket

got it,” I snap, my nerves fraying. But after another failed attempt,

“Okay, maybe I don’t ‘got it’. Please

with a precision that

says, stepping back to examine his

feel like I’m about to come

yells from down the hall,

clipboard frantically.

minutes. The weight of the entire morning—the mad dash, the

last-minute change in

is

uniform is too stiff

own body

voice quivering. “I’m not ready. I

my station yet

to compete?”

says, taking my trembling