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

my chef’s jacket. The fabric is stiff

put it through to look ‘camera-perfect’,

comfortably worn down after years of

that?” Karl offers, his own jacket

my nerves fraying.

don’t ‘got it’.

with a precision that borders on

stepping back to examine

like I’m about to come apart at

production assistant yells from down

clipboard frantically.

of the entire morning—the mad

change in sous

heart is pounding, this damn makeup is

this stupid uniform is too stiff and itchy. I feel like

own body

my voice

familiarize myself with my station yet like everyone else. How

to compete?”

Karl says, taking my trembling hands into his. His grip is