Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Abby

The stage lights feel even more blinding now from the tears in my eyes. A

makeup artist darts around, dabbing my face with powder to cover the streaks

from crying. In more ways than one, I’m glad this hell is almost over; right now,

I’m just looking forward to getting this damn makeup off.

Finally, the director counts down from three, and it feels as though we’ve done

this a million times before. The crowd cheers, the music plays, the announcer

struts across the stage. And me? I’m standing here like a statue, my smile just

as fake as my manicured eyelashes.

Enter title…

Daniel stands next to me, shoulder to shoulder, and I can feel the hatred

emanating off of him. He stands tall and proud, the perfect picture of arrogance.

He doesn’t say a word to me, because he doesn’t need to. He already said

everything he needed to say earlier. He got his digs in, made his sharp words

stab me to my core. There’s no point now.

I can sense the satisfaction coursing through his veins as he stands beside me,

the realization that he won—not just in the competition, but in life—washing over

both of us. In just a few minutes, he’ll get exactly what he wants. Not only a

trophy, but to beat a woman down to nothing.

The announcer turns to Daniel first, his voice echoing across the studio. “Daniel,

you’ve shown immense skill throughout this competition. As we come to a close,

how are you feeling about your performance?”

Daniel’s lips twist into a smile that doesn’t even come close to reaching his

eyes.

says without skipping a beat. “The true

just a lovable personality…” he sneers

at me. “He will be a skilled

the gleam in his eye

creeps up into my cheeks as the crowd applauds. The announcer

to me, his eyes meeting mine. “Abby, you’ve become

what has

lifts to the audience, to the sea of faces that seem

signs with my name now thanks

a hole

in the third row with her

wide and

in her tiny hand, a grin spread across her

lump in my throat, but I push through… because

here, even if I don’t

I’m here for her.

voice surprisingly steady, “has

a female chef in this incredible,

happy to have been here. To show that we—”

toe to

thick. “And maybe, just maybe,” I continue,

here will inspire others. That future female chefs will

our skills—and our voices—are not

also respected.”

ripple through the crowd,

the sound of anticipation as everyone waits for

results.

then cuts

to the judges

out of

Logan’s eyes lock onto mine, his expression an

He doesn’t smile, doesn’t even blink. Instead, his

to tilt for what

now looks on with a cool detachment.

eyes for the briefest of

head inclining toward me in a nod

trick of the

trembling. I can’t look at Daniel, can’t afford to see the

I find the little girl

I draw strength from her

is…” The pause hangs for what feels

though drawing it out for dramatic effect. And