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.

a beat. “The

just a lovable personality…” he

at me. “He will be a skilled

is clear, and the gleam in his

up into my cheeks as the crowd applauds.

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

what has this experience meant to

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

signs with my name now thanks to

leaves a hole in my

the third row

Her eyes are just as wide and bright as ever,

her tiny hand, a grin spread

feel the lump in my throat, but I push

here, even if I don’t

I’m here for her.

I start, my voice surprisingly

a female chef in this incredible, challenging

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

stand toe to toe with

a breath, the air tasting thick. “And maybe, just maybe,” I continue,

inspire others. That future female chefs will push

our voices—are

also respected.”

ripple through the crowd, a murmur

it’s just the sound of anticipation as

results.

then cuts through the

His eyes flick to the

out of

lock onto mine, his expression an

He doesn’t smile, doesn’t even blink. Instead, his head gives the

world seems to tilt for

looks on with a cool

my eyes for the briefest of

toward me in

been a trick of

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

Instead, I find the little girl in the

her innocence, her belief in

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

though drawing it out for dramatic effect. And then,