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.

without skipping a beat. “The

lovable personality…” he sneers subtly,

will be a

the gleam

up into my cheeks as

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

Tell us, what

audience, to the sea of faces

fewer signs with my name now thanks to my failures, and

a hole in

is—the little girl in the third row with her

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

tiny hand, a

the lump in my throat, but I push through…

even if I

I’m here for her.

I start, my voice surprisingly steady, “has been

a female chef in this incredible, challenging

show that we—”

toe to toe with the

the air tasting thick. “And maybe, just maybe,” I

That future female chefs will push

our voices—are not only

also respected.”

the crowd,

Or maybe it’s just the sound of

results.

then cuts through

flick to the judges as he pulls

of

Logan’s eyes lock

even blink. Instead, his head gives the

world seems to tilt for

once my champion, now looks on

eyes for the briefest of moments before she leans toward

something, her head inclining toward me in

trick of

look at Daniel, can’t afford to see the

the little girl in the crowd, her eyes wide with

I draw strength from her

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

as though drawing it out for dramatic