Abby

As Karl speaks, my fingers worry the hem of my white chef’s coat, now no

longer pristine but splattered with sauce and tiny stains and the remains of

haphazardly cooked meals. It feels like a perfect representation of my inner

world right now: once untarnished and lily-white, but now stained and weathered

from the trials I’ve been through today.

We’re still standing in the supply closet, and the air feels thick. Karl is standing

over me still, his hand pressed into the door next to my head, sandwiching me

there with his body.

Enter title…

My wolf stirs ever so slightly, but now is not the time; I just found out that Karl

tried to talk to the judges for me, and I’m not sure how to feel about it.

“Abby…” he begins, his voice trailing off for a moment as his eyes search mine.

Finally, he pushes away from the door and crosses the small room, running his

hand through his hair for what feels like the millionth time in the past few

minutes.

“Just tell me, Karl,” I murmur, blinking away the tears that are threatening to

spill.

He pauses, then draws in a deep breath, and turns to face me again. “Abby,

yes, I did talk to Logan; but I never tried to bribe anybody. I hope you can

believe me in that regard.”

despite the whirlwind that this competition

Karl has no reason to lie to me right now.

he promised

talk to him? What did you

I can tell he’s choosing his

an incredible chef, Abby. The

you don’t deserve the way he treats

The word hangs

looks away for a brief

When he faces me again, it’s as

like there’s something that he wants to tell me

out.

got this idea about you, Abby. He doesn’t see things clearly. I just…

see that you are putting in

competition. That’s it.”

races, and I don’t know what to say. There’s

knotting itself around

but also dread because I

are, nothing Karl can say

this doomed

sous chef?” I ask, my

whisper. “What happened, really?”

crosses Karl’s face. “He was tampering with

the act, tried to stop

hand, but I swear, Abby, I never laid a finger

telling the truth; Karl,

sort of

especially not on live

didn’t believe

think I’m lying.

looks… Anyway, it doesn’t matter. They’re

Abby. I won’t be

at the floor unblinking, staring at my feet.

system crackle to life again: “Contestants, this is

to the stage in two minutes. I

can say anything, Karl’s hand reaches out and seems

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