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.

beat. “The true winner today will

a lovable personality…” he

me. “He will

is clear, and the gleam in his eye

creeps up into my cheeks as the crowd applauds.

mine. “Abby, you’ve

competition. Tell us, what

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

fewer signs with my name now

leaves a hole in my

girl in the third row with her

as wide and bright as ever, and she still holds

in her tiny hand, a grin spread

throat, but I

here, even if I don’t

I’m here for her.

my voice surprisingly steady, “has been

journey. As a female chef in this

here. To show that

toe to toe with the

thick. “And maybe, just maybe,” I continue,

here will inspire others. That future

skills—and our voices—are not

also respected.”

crowd, a murmur of acknowledgment, of

maybe it’s just the sound of anticipation as everyone

results.

then cuts

eyes flick to the judges as he

out of

eyes lock onto mine, his

He doesn’t smile, doesn’t even blink.

tilt for what feels

my champion, now looks on with a

the briefest of moments before she leans toward

inclining toward me in a nod so

trick of the

at Daniel, can’t afford to see the smirk

I find the little girl in the crowd, her

strength from her

is…” The pause hangs for what feels like

it out for dramatic effect. And