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.

skipping a beat. “The true

personality…”

“He will

clear, and the gleam in

as the crowd

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

Tell us, what has this experience meant

lifts to the audience, to the sea of

with my name now thanks to

a hole in my

the third row with her

just as wide and bright as ever, and she

sign in her tiny hand, a

throat, but I push through… because

even if I don’t

I’m here for her.

voice

journey. As a female chef in this incredible,

happy to have been here. To show that we—”

toe to toe with the

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

here will inspire others. That future female

our skills—and our voices—are not

also respected.”

ripple through the crowd, a

just the sound of anticipation

results.

announcer’s voice then cuts through the

is…” His eyes flick to the judges as he

out of his

catches. Logan’s eyes lock onto mine, his expression

smile, doesn’t even blink. Instead, his head

seems to tilt for what

looks on with a cool detachment.

briefest of moments before she leans

inclining toward me in a nod so

been a trick of the

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

is there. Instead, I find the little girl in the crowd,

her innocence,

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

out for