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 true winner today

personality…” he

“He will be a skilled

clear, and the gleam in his eye is sharp,

as the crowd applauds. The

meeting mine. “Abby, you’ve become

Tell us, what has this experience meant to

lifts to the audience, to the sea of faces that

are fewer signs with my name

leaves a hole in

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

and bright as ever, and

sign in her tiny hand,

the lump in my throat, but I push

here, even if I don’t

I’m here for her.

start, my voice surprisingly steady, “has been

a female chef in

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

I can stand toe to toe

the air tasting thick. “And maybe, just

inspire others. That future female chefs will push

making sure our skills—and our voices—are not only recognized,

also respected.”

crowd, a murmur

the sound of anticipation

results.

then cuts through the

winner is…” His eyes flick to the judges as

out of

eyes lock

doesn’t even blink. Instead, his

my world seems to tilt for what feels like the

now looks on with a

of moments before she

me

been a trick

can’t look at Daniel, can’t afford

I find the little girl in the

draw strength from her innocence, her belief in

pause hangs for

speaks, as though drawing it out for