Abby

The buzzer goes off, and the contestants place down their dishes, stepping

back from their stations. The room is alive with murmurs, excitement from the

crowd as their eyes scan the three dishes on the stage. The judges step down

from their booth, their gazes inscrutable.

My hands tremble, still hovering over the tiramisu’s uneven surface— it’s a

mocking reminder of the chaos just moments before, but I could fix it, at least a

little. Maybe no one would even notice.

My dish is not even close to perfect, far from the image I had in my head, and

every fiber of my being screams to adjust the messy dusting of pistachios just a

Enter title…

little bit, just so I can make it look a tiny bit more presentable.

But before my fingers can act, I catch Logan’s cold glare, halting me, his

disapproval crystal clear. I quickly pull my hands away, feeling my face turn what

I can only imagine is the deepest shade of red ever.

We all stand back, the stage now eerily quiet. The judges begin to make their

rounds, and I can hear them before I see them.

“Delicious,” Logan says, slowly chewing a bite of none other than Daniel’s

delicious. You’ve outdone yourself,

Logan,” Daniel says with a nod. His eyes flicker

bubbling inside of me,

my spices? I wouldn’t put it

can’t quite make out

their expressions tell me that they like his dish. Vanessa rolls

subtle

it’s just me left; me, with my ugly tiramisu. How

they love the others’ dishes so

for last.” Vanessa’s voice is sweet, almost too sweet,

me out of my pit of dread. “Hello,

tense smile, nodding politely as Vanessa

a bit of the lumpy

thoughtfully, her eyes closing for a brief moment.

ever

feel my blood run cold. It’s not

either.

out of

the color drain from my face. “Just… Just nutmeg,” I reply, my

quivering.

Vanessa’s hum is low and confused as she beckons Logan

of her head.

as he approaches. I brace

of sabotage,

up when I added

I should have checked it just to be

out

spoonful. His eyes, a

tastes

flatly, putting the spoon

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