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.

says without skipping a beat. “The true winner

lovable personality…” he sneers

me. “He will

the gleam in his eye is sharp,

cheeks as the

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

competition. Tell us, what has

the audience, to the sea of faces that seem to blur

with my name now thanks to my

hole in

little girl in the third row with her chef’s hat falling

just as wide and bright

her tiny hand,

in my throat, but I push

I’m here, even if I don’t

I’m here for her.

my voice surprisingly steady, “has

chef in this incredible,

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

stand toe to toe

thick.

That future female chefs will push

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

also respected.”

through the crowd, a murmur of

the sound

results.

announcer’s voice then cuts

is…” His eyes flick to the judges as he pulls a

out of his

lock onto mine,

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

and my world seems to tilt for what

my champion, now looks on with a cool detachment.

eyes for the briefest of

inclining toward me in a nod so

been a trick of

can’t look at Daniel, can’t afford to see the

the little girl

draw strength from her innocence,

pause hangs for what feels like an eternity

it out for dramatic effect. And