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

been by her side, but…”

“I was here instead.”

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

eyes, something telling me that he’s only thinking

in the cards for

“I’m dropping out.”

ton of bricks. I’m at a loss for words,

my mouth agape.

speaks up, his usually jovial demeanor masked by

urgency. “We’re very sorry to see

Feel free to

blurts out,

apparent.

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

his professional mode.

two, Abby and

narrow.

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

warning look.

the two remaining finalists.”

feel a bitter sense of relief mingled with

acrid than that of my bitter

whose world has

few steps toward him, my own troubles feeling

“I… If

Bryan’s shoulders tremble slightly as I speak, and I can’t just stand

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

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

in an odd way, I know

he’s just been slapped. But then, after a few moments,

to relax. His arms tentatively wrap around my

a sense of surprise in his embrace, as he was no doubt

one of his

stand here for a few moments, locked in this embrace. The

I can feel Daniel’s eyes boring holes into the back of

I can feel Bryan’s shoulders tremble,