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

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

which is comfortably worn down after years

Karl offers, his own jacket already

it,” I snap, my nerves fraying. But

maybe I don’t ‘got it’. Please

to button my jacket with a precision

he says, stepping back to examine his

feel perfect; I feel like I’m about to come

assistant yells from down the

clipboard frantically.

minutes. The weight of the entire

in sous chefs—crashes

is pounding,

is too stiff and

body

this, Karl,” I say, my voice quivering. “I’m not ready. I

yet like everyone else.

to compete?”

look at me,” Karl says, taking my trembling hands