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

is stiff

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

comfortably worn down after

help with that?” Karl offers, his own jacket already perfectly

got it,” I snap, my nerves

maybe I don’t ‘got

button my jacket with a precision that borders on

stepping back to examine his

feel like I’m

yells from down the

clipboard frantically.

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

in sous

are shaking and my heart is pounding, this damn makeup

is too stiff and itchy.

own body right

can’t do this, Karl,” I say, my voice quivering. “I’m not ready. I didn’t

my station yet like everyone else. How am

to compete?”

my trembling hands