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.

beat. “The true

lovable personality…” he

me. “He will be a skilled

message is clear, and the gleam in his eye is

my cheeks as the crowd

mine. “Abby, you’ve become a

us, what

to the sea

signs with my name now thanks to my failures, and

leaves a hole in my

there she is—the little girl in the

are just as wide and

hand, a

lump in my throat,

here, even if I

I’m here for her.

my voice surprisingly steady,

a female chef in this incredible,

been here. To show that we—” I pause, my

can stand toe to toe

breath, the air tasting thick. “And maybe, just

here will inspire others. That future

our

also respected.”

the crowd, a murmur of acknowledgment, of

the sound

results.

then cuts through the

His eyes flick to the judges as he pulls a

of his

Logan’s eyes lock onto mine, his expression an

blink.

to tilt

looks on with

briefest of

me in a

a trick of the

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

little girl in the crowd, her eyes wide

I draw strength from her innocence, her belief in

The pause hangs for

as though drawing it out for dramatic effect. And then,