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 winner today will

lovable personality…”

at me. “He will be

message is clear, and the gleam in his

as the crowd applauds.

mine. “Abby, you’ve become a

competition. Tell us, what has this experience meant to

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

fewer signs with my name now

leaves a hole in

then, there she is—the little girl in the third row with her chef’s hat

eyes. Her eyes are just as wide and bright as ever, and she still holds

in her tiny hand, a

can feel the lump in my throat, but I push through…

here, even if I

I’m here for her.

I start, my voice surprisingly

female chef

been here. To show that we—” I pause,

stand toe

a breath, the air tasting thick. “And

others. That future female

our skills—and our

also respected.”

a ripple through the crowd, a murmur

just the sound of anticipation as everyone waits

results.

then cuts through

flick to

of his

catches. Logan’s eyes lock

doesn’t even blink. Instead,

my world seems to tilt for what feels like the millionth

once my champion, now looks on with a

eyes for the briefest of moments before she leans

something, her head inclining toward me in

been a trick of

hands are trembling. I can’t look at Daniel,

I find the little girl in the crowd,

draw strength from her innocence, her belief

the winner is…” The pause hangs for what feels like an

drawing it out for dramatic effect. And