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.

he says without skipping a beat. “The true winner today will

just a lovable personality…” he sneers

me. “He will be a

the gleam in his eye is sharp, almost

cheeks as

eyes meeting mine. “Abby, you’ve become

Tell us, what has this experience meant to

to the sea of faces

name now thanks to my failures, and

a hole in my

in the third

wide and bright as

hand, a grin spread across her

my throat, but I push through… because I’m

I’m here, even if I don’t

I’m here for her.

my voice surprisingly

journey. As a female chef

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

can stand toe to toe with the

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

here will inspire others. That future female chefs

our skills—and our voices—are

also respected.”

the crowd, a murmur

the sound of anticipation as everyone waits

results.

announcer’s voice then cuts through the

eyes flick to the judges

of

Logan’s eyes lock onto mine, his expression an

doesn’t even blink. Instead, his head gives

to tilt for what feels like the

champion, now looks on with a cool detachment.

eyes for the briefest of

inclining toward me in a

a trick

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

the little girl in the crowd, her eyes wide

draw strength from her innocence, her belief in

is…” The pause hangs for what feels like an

though drawing it out for dramatic effect.