Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Abby

Daniel and I fall silent as Bryan and Mr. Thompson suddenly walk into the room,

Daniel’s earlier remarks still ringing in my ears.

But as my eyes flick from Bryan, whose eyes are red-rimmed and swollen, to

Mr. Thompson, whose face is somber, I suddenly find myself forgetting all about

my argument with Daniel.

“Bryan, are you okay?” I ask, taking a step forward.

He looks up, his eyes full of an emotion that strikes me instantly. Bryan has

been the quiet sort throughout this entire competition, focused entirely on his

Enter title…

work. But now, he suddenly appears as though his very soul is slipping out from

him, like the rug was just ripped from beneath his feet.

“It’s private, Abby—” Mr. Thompson begins, but Bryan cuts him off.

“No, no, it’s fine,” Bryan says. “It’s just… um…” His voice quivers, and there’s a

pause before he finally takes a deep breath and speaks. “It’s… It’s my mom,” he

whispers, the words catching in his throat. “She passed away. Just now.”

The room tilts a little, my heart dropping to my stomach. The competition, the

rivalry, the argument with Daniel—all of it suddenly seems to fade into

nothingness.

“Oh, Bryan… I’m so sorry,” I murmur.

He nods. “She wasn’t doing so well, and has been in the hospital for a while. I

her side, but…”

“I was here instead.”

now, then?” Daniel asks, his posture stiff. I

glint in his eyes, something telling

now. Empathy isn’t in the cards for him; not today, and maybe

“I’m dropping out.”

bricks. I’m at a loss for words, my

my mouth agape.

speaks up, his usually jovial demeanor masked

urgency. “We’re very sorry to see you go, Bryan,”

your choice. Feel free to go;

Daniel blurts out, that glint

apparent.

clasped behind his back, a sure sign that

switch into his professional mode. “The final round

two, Abby

narrow. “But

scores of the second round will not be taken into account,” Mr.

Daniel a warning look. “Regardless

the two remaining finalists.”

a moment where I feel a bitter sense

my bitter tiramisu. But I push

on Bryan, whose world has

I start, taking a few steps toward

“I…

shoulders tremble slightly as I speak, and

I’m moving on autopilot, I step forward and wrap

awkward, unexpected—especially from me, to him, this

an odd way, I

just been slapped. But then, after a few moments,

tentatively wrap

a sense of surprise in his embrace,

one of

few moments, locked in this embrace. The

I can feel Daniel’s eyes boring holes into

shoulders