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

personality…”

me. “He will be a skilled

the gleam in his eye is

cheeks as the crowd applauds.

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

competition. Tell us, what has this experience

gaze lifts to the audience, to the sea of faces that

name now thanks to

leaves a hole in

then, there she is—the little girl in the third row

just as wide and

sign in her tiny hand, a grin

throat,

even

I’m here for her.

I start, my voice surprisingly steady,

chef in this incredible,

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

toe to

thick. “And maybe, just

here will inspire others. That future

our voices—are not only recognized,

also respected.”

the crowd, a murmur of

maybe it’s just the sound of

results.

then

to the judges as he

out of

breath catches. Logan’s eyes lock

smile, doesn’t even blink. Instead, his

shakes, and my world seems to tilt

once my champion, now looks

eyes for the briefest of

her head inclining toward me

a trick of the

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

Instead, I find the little girl in

her innocence,

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

it out