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

but…” He shakes his head now,

“I was here instead.”

asks, his posture stiff. I glance over at him,

in his eyes, something telling me that he’s

cards for him; not today, and maybe

“I’m dropping out.”

ton of bricks. I’m at a

my mouth agape.

Mr. Thompson speaks up, his usually jovial demeanor masked by a

sorry to see

it’s your choice. Feel free to go; we’ll handle

the contest?” Daniel blurts out, that glint in his eyes

apparent.

Thompson turns, his hands clasped behind his back, a sure sign that

his professional mode. “The final round will

Abby and

narrow.

of the second round will not be taken into

look. “Regardless of scores,

the two remaining finalists.”

where I feel a bitter sense of relief mingled with guilt,

that of my bitter tiramisu. But

on Bryan, whose world has

few steps toward him, my

now. “I… If there’s

Bryan’s shoulders tremble slightly as I speak, and

I’m moving on autopilot, I

a hug. It’s awkward, unexpected—especially from me, to him, this

know—but in an odd way, I know

stiffens, like he’s just been slapped. But then,

wrap around my shoulders,

surprise in his embrace, as

from one of his

for a few moments, locked in this embrace. The room is

can feel Daniel’s eyes boring holes into the back

anything, I can feel Bryan’s shoulders tremble, a silent sob quaking