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 and

to look ‘camera-perfect’, much

is comfortably worn

Karl offers, his own jacket already perfectly

I snap, my nerves

don’t ‘got it’.

moves to button my jacket with

stepping back to examine his handiwork.

like I’m about

minutes!” a production assistant yells from down the

clipboard frantically.

the

last-minute change in

is pounding, this damn makeup is

cakey, and this stupid uniform is too stiff and itchy. I

body

Karl,” I say, my voice

station yet

to compete?”

look at me,” Karl says, taking my trembling