Chapter 1: A Loud-Esque Day
Monday (August 19, 20XX)
The sun peeked through the curtains of the Loud House, casting a warm glow over the busy household. It was the start of another Loud House Monday morning. The sounds of laughter, chatter, and the occasional thud echoed through the halls, signaling the start of another typical day for a certain whitehaired boy.
Lincoln Loud woke up to the familiar hustle and bustle of his family seeping in through the gaps in his door. A smile forming on his face as he stretched and got out of bed. Taking off his sleep wears, before rummaging through his drawer and putting on his daily outfit;
He walked out of his room and headed to one of the two bathrooms on the second floor, now designated for the older siblings that remained at the house. Like every morning, he would have to dodge the chaos of his house, leaping over laundry piles, and other assorted nonsense just to reach the bathroom.
Since his dad's restaurant business took off, they finally had enough money to renovate the house. Thankfully allowing Lincoln to get a bigger room by extending the size of his old one. It was much needed improvement, and it was better than living in the small linen closet. It also gave the loud family a chance to install another bathroom on the second floor, finally helping shorten the usual long lines for the bathroom. It was nicely placed next to the old bathroom, basically dividing the wait time.
Lincoln made his way inside the bathroom, thankful, since it seemed that his sisters were either already downstairs or they were all in their own rooms, which left the hallway mostly empty;
Entering the bathroom, he took a second to look at himself in his mirror.
'A lot has changed...' He thought;
Lincoln, now 15, had short, white hair with a few strands of hair that stood up. Lincoln had hit a big growth spurt, since puberty had started. He was now tall as Luna was when she was 15 years old;
Besides his height, his voice had changed as well, now becoming a bit deeper; it was a telltale sign of him getting older.
As his body changed, so did his wardrobe, he still wore the classic orange t-shirt, but now it came with a red open button-down shirt over it, and some blue jeans to match. While wearing a bigger pair of his usual white with red stripes sneakers.
Grabbing his orange toothbrush, he brushed his teeth and freshened up, making sure to wash his face with the facial cleanser Leni had given him. It was supposed to help stop any pimples from breaking out.
'So far, no zits...guess it's working. I am in no rush to get to that point in puberty!' He thought.
Finishing up, he walked out of the bathroom and made his way downstairs;
Walking off the stairway, in the living room, Lincoln found Lori and Leni lounging on the couch...
Lori, now 21, had shoulder-length blonde hair with bangs that framed her face. She was wearing a blue blouse with brown slacks and white steady high heels. She had gotten a bit taller, resembling a younger version of her mother.
Leni, now 20, still had her long, flowing blonde hair but with a more sophisticated style, wearing a light green sleeveless top and matching light green pants, along with large, round orange earrings, a pink choker and multiple gold bangles on her right wrist. She had grown up a little taller, nearly the same height as Lori now.
Lori sat on the couch with her phone out, most likely texting her long-term boyfriend Bobby, while Leni sat next to her watching the latest episode of the show; [Romance Island.]
Like other parts of the house, the family had given the living room a much-needed makeover, transforming it from a well-loved but heavily worn space into something modern and refreshed.
The old, torn, and sagging couches they had were replaced with some sleek, comfortable sectional sofas which were in a neutral gray, accented with colorful throw pillows that matched the room's new design. A set of modern coffee and side tables now occupied the space around the couch, this was also where the old scuffed-up wooden ones used to be.
Thanks to Lily finally reaching her toddler years, the family no longer had to worry about the constant messes, sticky hands, or things being ruined by accident. This newfound freedom allowed for the addition of newer, more delicate decor for the house; like abstract wall art, small indoor plants, and decorative vases around the living room.
The living room's old worn out walls which had stains and holes in them, had been fixed and repainted in a warm cream tone, which brightened up the space while helping to complement the darker furniture.
The fireplace, once outdated and rarely used by the family, except for around Christmas time, had been completely renewed with a chic stone facade and a mantel. Which was now adorned with family photos and other decorations. Above it, a new flat-screen TV was mounted replacing the old tv, while also eliminating the need for the bulky old entertainment stand. Which was now replaced by a modern entertainment unit that wrapped around the fireplace.
The unit featured built-in shelves which were adorned with more decorations, being a few a few carefully arranged books, and some more family photos. It also came with Integrated surround speakers which were placed around the room for the most immersive watching experience. The family now basically had a movie theater like area right inside of their house.
Modern lighting fixtures were now placed throughout the living room which included sleek standing lamps and a statement ceiling light, which would bathed the room in soft, even light. Finally a plush area rug tied the entire space together.
"Morning, Lori, Leni," Lincoln greeted them.
"Morning, Linc," Lori replied, looking up from her phone with a warm smile.
"Morning, Lincy!" Leni added with her usual bright smile.
"How's it going?" he asked, plopping down in a nearby armchair.
"It's been a totes amazing Lincy! The new season of Romance Island just released! Do you wanna watch it with me?"
"Uhh, maybe later?"
"Okay!" Leni enthusiastically responded, before putting her focus back to the TV.
Lori *sighed* putting the phone down, before answering Lincoln's question. "It's been great, but I can't believe we have to leave again in a week. Summer break went by so fast."
"OMGeee! I know, right?" Leni chimed in, tearing her attention away from the TV. "But, it was, like, sooo fun having everyone home!"
"Yeah, it's been awesome," Lincoln agreed, though he felt a pang of sadness thinking about their impending departure. "I'll miss you guys..."
"Aww...we'll miss you too, Lincoln," Lori said, giving him a reassuring smile.
"Totes going to miss you, Lincy!" Leni exclaimed, getting up from her seat and pulling him into a tight hug. Lincoln blushed a bit as she hugged him tightly into her chest. "I wish we could stay here for like...ever!"
Lori reached out, patting and messing with his hair. "Take care of yourself, little bro. And don't get into trouble while we are gone!"
"Me? Trouble? *Psshh* Never heard of it!" He smirked, as Leni let him out of the hug.
"Whatever you say Linc..." Lori answered, rolling her eyes, when a mischievous smile crept onto her face.
"...we were just worried...with you going into high school and all...you know, one day you might come home with, I don't know...a girlfriend...?"
"W-What..." He answered, his face now red as a tomato...
"I mean...we don't want a lil Lincoln Junior running around the house or anything..." She replied, covering her mouth to contain her giggle.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Lincoln's face was completed red, he was absolutely speechless!
*HahAHAHAHhahAH* Lori couldn't contain it anymore as she busted out laughing.
*haaaaaa* "You should see the look on your face!" She answered, with a big grin on her face, wiping away tears of joy.
"Ha-Ha, very funny..." Lincoln replied, rolling his eyes, though he was still blushing at the meaning behind Lori's teasing.
He couldn't help but distinctly remember "The Talk" he had gotten from his dad when he turned 12. 'Most awkward thing ever!' he thought, cringing at the memory.
"Aw, don't be mad, Linc. I was only teasing you, *giggle* " Lori said, "But seriously, be careful Lincoln… you know… teenage pregn-"
" *GASP* ...Wait! We have anther brother named Lincoln Junior!?" Leni questioned, as Lori's little joke went right over her head. "Why did no one tell me!?"
"It was a joke Leni." Lori said, face Palming at Leni's cluelessness.
"So we don't have another brother?" Leni answered.
"No Leni..." Lori added.
"But why did you say there was a Lil Lincoln running around the house?" Leni asked confused.
"weelllll have fun explaining that to Leni, Lori..." Lincoln said smirking, "I'ma head to the kitchen...cya!"
"Wai-" Lori tried saying before getting cut off by Leni
"Okay Lincy! Let Lincoln Junior know, I said Hi!"
After the conversation between the three, Lincoln headed to the kitchen where he found his parents preparing breakfast. The smell of breakfast wafted through the house as Lincoln's dad cooked up a storm, with his mom there, assisting him.
The kitchen, like the living room, had undergone some subtle yet impactful changes over the years. The once mismatched appliances were now upgraded to sleek stainless steel. The old countertops had been replaced with durable quartz, and the cabinets were given a fresh coat of white paint, paired with simple black handles.
The walls were repainted in a soft, pale green that brightened up the space. New tile backsplash was added behind the stove and sink. The flooring, which had been scuffed and worn down from years of foot traffic, was replaced with durable, waterproof vinyl planks in a warm oak finish.
Despite the updates, the kitchen still retained its homely charm. Old drawings and magnets, some of which Lily had played with during her younger years, still adorned the new stainless steel fridge, adding a touch of nostalgia. A well-used rack of cookbooks sat by the counter, a testament to the many family meals prepared over the years.
Next to the fridge hung a calendar, marked with colorful notes and reminders for the busy household. Below it sat a trash bin with a foot pedal. Despite the updates, the old dinette set remained in the kitchen, a comforting relic of the past that still served its purpose for quick meals and casual use.
Both Rita and her husband, Lynn Sr, have remained the same; they looked exactly like they had a couple of years ago; they had barely aged over the years, well maybe except for some added strands of white hair here and there.
"Hey, kiddo! Ready to feast on some of my world famous breakfast burritos!?" Lynn Sr. called out as Lincoln entered the kitchen.
"Sure am, Dad!" Lincoln replied, smiling at the sight of his father cooking, he always admired his dad's love for the culinary arts.
Lynn Sr had always had a passion for cooking, and after finally having enough of his corporate job, he had quit, and opened his own restaurant called [Lynn's Table], through a huge investment; which was all thanks to the famous food critic Timothy McCole. Since then, a few years have passed and now his dad was the proud owner of a chain of restaurants, all throughout the state of Michigan, and a few out of state as well.
As he worked, Rita asked, "Lincoln, could you set the table and call everyone down for breakfast?"
"On it, Mom!" Lincoln answered, swiftly grabbing plates and utensils. As he rushed into the Dinning room, quickly beginning to set the table.
As he set the table, his mom called out to him,
"Make sure you set the table nicely Lincoln!"
"Yeah I got it mom!" Lincoln replied, "You worry too much, I've done this like a billion times!"
Lincoln couldn't help but slightly feel that his mom was doubting his capabilities, but then again, he might be just overthinking it. His mom cared a lot about him, and he was doubtful that she was thinking about him in that manner.
Since Lynn Sr's business was booming, there was a lot less of a need for Rita to work long hours at the Dentist Office. Due to this, Rita was spending a lot more time at home, being a regular stay at home mom. She barely worked nowadays, and was contempt with making up for some lost time with her kids.
Once Lincoln was finished setting the table up, he called out to let his mom know;
"All set mom! Going to go call them down for breakfast!"
"Great! Thank you again Sweetie!" She said back from the kitchen,
"Yeah!"
Entering the living room he had found that Lori and Leni were now intently watching the romance island show.
"Hey guys!" Lincoln said, "Mom and Dad wanted me to let you guys know breakfast is ready. So make sure you guys wash up and head to the dinning room."
"Okay, we will Linc, thanks!" Both replied back, with their heads still completely glued to the TV.
'Guess one of the contestants are about to get kicked out off the island...kind of wanna see now...ehh later, gotta call the rest of the fam down,' He thought.
With that, Lincoln made his way upstairs, and began his rounds to gather the rest of his siblings.
Lincoln first headed to Luna and Luan's shared room; Reaching the door, he knocked, before he heard faint,
"Open..!"
With that he let himself in;
Walking inside the room, Lincoln noticed Luna sitting on her bed, tuning her guitar, most likely preparing for her next gig.
Luna, now 19, had short, tousled dark brown hair with a side fringe. She wore a dress with the Union Jack design on it, paired with a purple jacket that had white lapels and cuffs, along with her usual rocker boots. She had become just an inch or two taller, but still shorter then Leni.
He then spotted Luan who was currently moving around the room, no doubt was busy setting up a new comedy routine, as evident with props being scattered across the room.
Luan, now age 18, had long, straight brown hair that fell past her shoulders. She was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with her FB Inc.(Funny Business Inc.) emblem on it and a yellow plaid skirt, since turning 18, she no longer wore braces. Luan had grown up to be just as tall as Luna herself.
Luna and Luan still shared a room, but the layout had changed significantly over the years. The old bunk bed they once shared was gone, replaced by two separate beds positioned on opposite sides of the room. Thanks to the renovations, the space had been expanded just enough to comfortably fit both beds, giving each sister a bit more personal space while they still shared the one room.
On one side of the room was Luna's area, where her bed was dressed with deep purple sheets and a cozy matching pillow. Surrounding her bed, besides the small nightstand, were a few pieces of her music equipment—her beloved guitar resting on a stand, a small amp tucked neatly into a corner, and her keyboard against the wall.
While some of her other items, like clothes and shoes, were stashed in the personal closet meant for her, the space still had her signature vibe; a little chaotic but undeniably Luna. The walls around her bed were covered with posters of her music idol Mick Swagger, along with other iconic rock stars and bands. Dominating one section of the wall was a large Union Jack flag. (United Kingdom Flag)
There was also a small wooden table holding various college textbooks and notebooks, with a simple yet very comfortable purple chair tucked underneath. The middle of the table sat her laptop, the front side adorned with a mix of stickers, from music equipment like guitars and drums to rock band logos, and other music-themed designs.
On the other side of the room was Luan's area. Her bed was dressed with dark pink sheets and a white pillow. The walls above her bed were covered with posters celebrating theater and comedy. Prominently displayed above her bed was a large poster of the Funny Business logo featuring her face.
Her space also featured a vanity table set with a small makeup area, perfect for preparing her stage looks while also having a place for her laptop which had a large FB Inc. sticker on it and some school textbooks from the previous year school. Her personal closet was usually neatly stocked with clothes and various props for her shows, from clown noses to juggling pins, unless she was busy getting ready for an upcoming show. Completing her setup was a large glass shelf proudly displaying an array of different pies, each one ready to be used for a well-timed gag.
"Hey, bro!" Luna called out with her raspy voice, as Lincoln entered. "Mind helping me with this amp? It's acting a bit wonky."
Lincoln grinned. "Sure thing, Luna."
He made his way to the cube shaped box sitting next to Luna's bed. 'Hmmm...now let's see what's wrong with you...'
With that be began adjusting the cables and messing with where each one went. Lincoln was used to tending to Luna's equipment, as he had played the role of roadie for her band a couple of times when Chunk, the band's usual roadie, was either sick or unavailable. Though Lincoln was far from an expert when it came to stuff like this, he was still pretty good at getting things to work.
"Try it now." Lincoln said, finishing up.
With that, Luna, with her hands strummed her guitar, as the speaker played back a perfect tune.
"Well done bruv!" Luna said,
" *Heh* No problem Luna" He replied.
Luan looked up from rearranging her props. "Hey Lincoln, can you do me a favor? All you gotta do is check if my buzzer is working. I would do it myself, but my hands are kind of full. I don't want it to fizzle out during rehearsals."
"Yeah, I can check it." Lincoln answered, he picked up the buzzer and get is a press, but nothing happened. "Hey Luan, I think it needs to new batteries..."
"Shoot...uhh I don't remember where, but there should be some brand new batteries in the garage...could you get them for me?" Luan replied back.
"Yeah I can go loo-"
"No need dudes! Here you can use these!" Luna said, cutting Lincoln off, as she tossed him some batteries from the drawer of her nightstand. "They're not new, but they should still work."
"Thanks, Luna!" Both replied.
Replacing the batteries, Lincoln gave the buzzer a quick test;
*Ha* Letting out a chuckle as it made a loud, comical cartoon sound.
"All set, Luan. By the way you two, breakfast is ready!" Lincoln said before walking out of the room.
"Thanks, Lincoln!" they both replied in unison.
Next, Lincoln knocked on the door to Lynn and Lucy's room;
As he heard a muffled, "Come in..."
As he stepped inside, he saw Lucy sitting on her bed, writing in her gothic-themed journal. The room's, lights were off, and the window shades were closed, making the room almost fully dark.
"Morning, Luce." Lincoln announced as he walked into the room with a big smile on his face, his hand reaching for the light switch, turning them on.
Lucy, now 14 years old, had long, black hair styled into a high ponytail with bangs that covered her eyes. She was wearing a black short-sleeved top, a black skirt, fishnet stockings on her legs and arms, and black combat boots. She also had multiple earrings in her left ear. Like Lincoln, she had also hit puberty, becoming just as tall as Lincoln, but only a few inches shorter. She had, like all Loud sisters since puberty, become more feminine like.
Lynn and Lucy's room had remained mostly the same, though the renovations had extended the space, giving each of them a bit more room for their personal interests.
On Lucy's side, a dark-stained vanity table now stood near her closet, its surface adorned with an assortment of gothic items—a vintage hand mirror, black candles, small jars of mysterious powders, a collection of dark lipstick shades, and her black laptop. Above the table hung a small shelf holding her favorite poetry books and a few skull-themed decorations.
Lynn's side, in contrast, was packed with sports equipment. Her corner featured a freestanding rack overflowing with soccer balls, footballs, and baseball gloves, while a set of dumbbells were placed randomly across her side. Posters of her favorite athletes covered her side of the walls, along with a corkboard where she pinned schedules, team photos, and victory ribbons. The addition of a small storage bench near her bed helped keep her gear somewhat organized, though this was Lynn after all, so "organized" has a completely different meaning when it comes to her.
The room featured a single large closet, carefully divided down the middle. Lynn's side was packed with an array of her sports jerseys, each one representing a team she had played on, along with her collection of sneakers, cleats, and training gear. A row of hooks held items like her batting gloves, headbands, and team caps.
On Lucy's side, a lineup of black dresses, gothic ensembles, and darkly elegant outfits hung in meticulous order. Beneath them were neatly arranged black boots of varying styles, from combat boots to sleek heeled pairs, along with a small box containing her collection of accessories—lace chokers, skull pendants, and other trinkets.
"Sigh Alas it is, though the beginning of a new day is only a cruel reminder of our shortening time, as we inch closer to death..." She responded, blinking her eyes a couple times, as he looked at the clock on her nightstand.
"...uhhh...I guess it is. Anyways what are you up to?" Lincoln answered back, unsure of how to even respond
"Until a few seconds ago, I was deeply engrossed in writing down my gloomy existence."
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you..." He replied. 'Writing in the dark...? That's Lucy for you!'
"No, it's quite all right, though turning on the lights has removed much of the atmosphere I needed in polishing up my poem..."
"Oops...*heh* again sorry 'bout that..."
"So, what did you need?" Lucy asked, curiously.
"Oh yeah, mom and dad told me to let everyone know breakfast is ready." Lincoln announced.
"Sighhh I'll come downstairs...Thank you for letting me know" Lucy said, looking up from her journal. "Before you leave, do you think you could give my poem a read and give your opinion on it?"
"Sure," Lincoln answered.
"I want to make a compelling impression at the Morticians of Royal Woods club at our high school." she said, handing him a piece of paper, filled with her neat cursive writing.
Lincoln read the poem, it was a somber yet beautifully written piece;
[In moonlit graves, the shadows fall, A whispered sigh, love's quiet call. Beneath the earth, where dreams decay, We linger close, in softest gray. The stars grow dim, the sky fades black, No dawn will rise to bring us back. But in the dark, I find you near, Where time stands still, and hearts hold dear.]
'Wow...to this day I'm still amazed by her talent for writing poems...' He thought;
"It's perfect, Lucy. They'll love it." Lincoln replied,
Lucy, pleased to hear Lincoln's review of her poem, got up from her bed, and hugged him tightly. As she did, tinge of red appeared on her cheeks, which was hidden behind her bangs.
"Thank you dear brother..." she quietly expressed under her breath.
"By the way, have you seen Lynn?" Lincoln asked, coming out of the hug.
"...I think, she's out in the backyard practicing soccer." Lucy replied in her usual monotone voice, taking a second to remember what Lynn said before she barged out of the room earlier.
"Great! I'll see you at breakfast then?" He added, as Lucy gave him a small nod;
Before Lincoln stepped out of the room.
Leaving, he then headed to Lola and Lana's room;
As he entered, he saw Lola, now 10 years old, holding up two dresses, unsure of which one to wear. She had short, wavy blonde hair that fell just above her shoulders, with bangs that swept to the side. She was wearing a pink long-sleeved top, blue jeans, small stud earrings, and white boots.
Lana, also 10 years old, had short blonde hair tied into two pigtails with pink hair ties, and she wore a red baseball cap backwards. She was dressed in a light green t-shirt, dark blue overalls, and white sneakers.
Both twins had grown up and were a feet shorter then Lucy, unsurprisingly both were the same height. Lana was on the floor, her toolbox spilled open. Lincoln guessed it was probably from one of their usual morning fights.
Lola and Lana's room had remained largely the same, though the contents in which were present in their rooms had shifted as they aged.
Lola now had far fewer toys than before, most of which had either been donated or put into storage in the attic. Now her shelves had neatly arranged beauty products, jewelry boxes, and trophies from her pageant wins. A large mirror with built-in lights dominated one side of the room, making her side feel more like a mini dressing room.
A large vanity set, complete with another lighted mirror and an elegant pink cushioned stool. The surface was meticulously organized with various makeup products—rows of lipsticks in vibrant shades, neatly arranged palettes of eyeshadow, and a collection of blushes and powders. Small compartments held brushes of every size, along with nail polishes in a rainbow of colors. Beside the vanity, a jewelry stand displayed her favorite necklaces, earrings, and tiaras from her pageant wins.
Lana, on the other hand, had leaned even more into her love of being a repairwoman. Her shelves were filled with an array of tools, spare parts, and small models she was working on. The corner near her bed was a mix of organized chaos, with jars of screws, bolts, and wires stacked beside a small workbench she had squeezed into the space.
"Morning, Lincoln!" Lola said brightly. "Can you help me choose which dress to wear for my pageant training later?"
Lincoln looked at the dresses and pointed to the sparkly pink one. "Go with the pink one. It'll look great on you."
"Thanks, Lincoln!" Lola beamed, hugging him quickly. "You sure you don't wanna be my coach again? You were pretty decent...and so was your pay."
"I heard that," Lincoln replied with a smirk on his face, "It was fun, but it's been a while, plus I don't think I will have the time when school starts again."
"Well the offer still stands if you change your mind!" She replied, before going back to getting ready for the day.
Lana looked up from the mess of tools. "Hey, Lincoln, can you help me organize my toolbox? It kinda..uhh...exploded?" She said rubbing the back of her head.
"Sure thing, Lana," Lincoln said, kneeling down to help her sort the tools back into the box. "You two really need to stop fighting so much."
Lana grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Lincoln."
"By the way, breakfast is ready. You two should head downstairs," Lincoln said, getting up after helping Lana. He made his way back to the door.
"We will!" Both answering the same time.
After helping the twins, Lincoln found Lily in her shared room with Lisa. She was sitting on her bed, struggling to put on her shoes.
Lily, now 5, had short blonde hair tied back with a purple hairband. She was wearing a lavender dress with white frills at the sleeves and hem, along with purple boots and white socks. She had become tall as Lola and Lana, when they were 6.
Lily and Lisa's room had undergone a few changes as well. Long gone was Lily's crib, now replaced with a cozy toddler bed, adorned with light purple bedding and her favorite stuffed animals.
Her side of the room featured a low bookshelf stocked with picture books, puzzles, and toys, all neatly arranged and easily within her reach. A compact wardrobe in the corner held her clothes and extra blankets, while a wicker toy chest nearby housed most of her other toys. In the corner sat a small table with matching chairs. Crayons, markers, and paper were stored neatly next to the small table.
On Lisa's side of the room was her bed, it was simple but functional, dressed with green bedding and a crisp white pillow, neatly made as if it were part of a daily routine.
Beside her bed was a compact nightstand, which held a small reading lamp and a stack of academic books. Adjacent to it was her "lab area," where a large workstation dominated the space. The desk was equipped with a miniature lab setup, including a rack of test tubes, a portable Bunsen burner, and a small microscope. Above the desk, mounted shelves were filled with labeled jars of chemicals, tools, and various inventions in progress. A bulletin board hung on the wall, pinned with notes, blueprints, and diagrams from her latest experiments.
Below the workstation, storage bins and drawers kept her gadgets, spare parts, and prototypes neatly organized, ensuring everything had its place. Nearby, a tall bookshelf housed her collection of encyclopedias, scientific journals, and reference manuals.
"Need some help, Lily?" Lincoln asked, kneeling down to assist his youngest sister. She giggled and nodded, her bright eyes full of admiration for her big brother.
"Winky, can I ride on your shoulders when we go down for breakfast?" Lily asked.
"Of course you can," Lincoln replied, lifting her up onto his shoulders. "Let's go."
"Thanks, Winky!" she replied affectionately at her older brother.
Lincoln carried Lily downstairs, passing Lori and Leni who were still watching the tv, and dropped her off at the dinning table before heading through the kitchen and into the backyard to find Lynn.
He stepped outside, scanning the yard for his sister, but didn't take long before he spotted Lynn practicing her soccer drills. Lincoln could tell she was intensely focused. Even as they got older, Lynn's dedication to sports never wavered.
Lynn, now 17 years old, had long, straight brown hair that fell past her shoulders and was wearing a red beanie. She was dressed in a red sports jersey with the number 1 on it which hid her more feminine figure. She also wore red athletic shorts, along with red and white athletic shoes. She had changed a lot since she was 13, becoming just as tall as Leni and Luna.
"Hey, Lynn!" He called out to her, "Mom and Dad are finished cooking! it's time for breakfast!"
Lynn Jr., mid juggling the ball in the air with her feet, kicked the ball into the soccer net set near the fence one last time before jogging over.
"Thanks, Lincoln! I'll be right in, lemme put my stuff away real quick."
"Alright Lynn, don't distracted and start practicing something else, while putting your stuff away!" Lincoln replied.
"yeah, yeah, Lincoln I heard ya!" Lynn replied before going back to pick her equipment up.
After calling Lynn, Lincoln found himself walking back through the kitchen and into the dinning room.
Despite the hustle and bustle, Lincoln enjoyed these moments. With Lori and Leni far into their college careers and Luna often away for gigs, he cherished the time they all had together. It was rare for the whole family to be together, and he intended to make the most of it.
However, amidst the busy morning, doubt crept into Lincoln's mind. His sisters were all so amazing in their own unique ways; then there was Lincoln...
Lori was a natural leader, excelling in her business law studies, while managing a scholarship she received through her skills in golf; which also landed her on the university's Division 1 golf team. Leni's creativity shinned in her fashion designs and her ever so growing online fashion business. Luna's talent for music had made her a rising star in the Royal Woods area.
Luan's comedy, though sometimes a bit of an eye-roll for the family, was still a welcome source of joy, and her comedy shows have recently been a massive hit at the Royal Woods Theatre. Lincoln also knew she had something big coming up an important performance that could be a major stepping stone in her career.
Lynn's athleticism was unmatched and she was also the star player for almost all the Royal Woods High School sports teams...well besides the ones that required using your mind rather then brute strength. Even Lucy, with her at face value odd interests, was incredibly talented, crafting beautiful poems and maintaining her unique style with certain level of confidence he found to be very admirable.
Then there were Lola and Lana, who were each making a name for themselves. Lola was an up-and-coming star in the beauty pageant scene, already earning big titles and aiming for Miss Michigan in the future. Lana, on the other hand, had found her passion at the race tracks, working as a trainee in the pit crew for the famous racer Bobbie Fletcher.
Lisa, their resident super genius, continued to astonish everyone with her scientific achievements, often working on complex experiments in her lab. Due to this, many colleges and even big name science communities have been reaching out and trying to get her to either work for them or join their programs; and then there was Lily. She was still young, but Lincoln had no doubt she would find her special talent soon enough.
Each of his sisters were extraordinary in their own right, and he couldn't help but feel inadequate to them...
'They are all so amazing...and...I'm just...well...me.' He thought.
Compared to them, Lincoln often felt pretty average. Sure, he called himself The man with the plan but more often than not, his plans went awry.
*Sighhh*
He couldn't dwell on that now, though. He was proud to be their brother and more than happy to be a part of their lives. What mattered most to him was spending time with all of them together, even if it wouldn't last long.
Lori and Leni would be returning to campus soon, which he knew would make him miss them a lot. He and Lucy would be starting high school in two weeks, a daunting but exciting new adventure for both of them. Luan too would be leaving and going off to college the next year...
The thought of all these changes sent a pang of loneliness and isolation through his heart, but, ever the optimist, he quickly pushed it aside.
'Okay! No more depressing thoughts! Come on Linc! Get ahold of yourself!' Slapping his face with his hands,
He loved all his sisters and wouldn't trade them for the world, even though he sometimes felt like he didn't have much going for himself.
"Here you go champ! My world famous breakfast burritos!" Said Lynn Sr placing a burrito onto Lincoln's plate, breaking him out of his stupor.
"Thanks dad!" Lincoln said before taking a bite out of his burrito. "*mMmmmM*"
'DELICIOUS!'
Lynn Sr was quickly moving around and placing all the burrito's onto the plates.
As he worked, Rita, who came in behind Lynn, asked her son; "Lincoln, did you tell everyone that breakfast is ready?"
"*mhm* I think I got everyone..." Lincoln paused. "wait...Lisa! I forgot to tell Lisa!"
Rita smiled. "She's probably in the basement. She's been working on something down there for the past few days."
"Right!" He Responded.
Leaving behind his half eaten burrito on the plate, Lincoln quickly made his way towards the basement door.
He descended the stairs to the basement, the cool air and dim lighting contrasting sharply with the warmth and brightness upstairs. The basement was a mix of Lisa's high-tech lab equipment and the usual storage items/customary basement stuff the family kept down there.
'Wow...when did she find the time to do this...?'
Lisa, now 8, had short brown hair tied into a high ponytail, with bangs neatly framing her face. She wore her signature black-rimmed glasses, a green turtleneck, slightly dark pink pants, brown shoes, and a crisp white lab coat that she rarely went without. Though she had grown a bit taller over the years, the twins still easily towered over her.
As he approached Lisa's work area, he saw her intently focused on a complex machine, various lights blinking and screens displaying data.
"Hey, Lisa, breakfast is ready," Lincoln called out.
Lisa barely looked up from her work. "Just a moment, Lincoln. I'm at a critical stage in my experiment."
Lincoln watched her work for a moment, his curiosity piqued.
"What are you working on this time?" He asked,
Lisa finally looked up, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "It's a dimensional portal. If I can get it to work, it will allow travel between different dimensions. I'm almost there, just a few more adjustments."
Lincoln marveled at her brilliance. "That's amazing, Lisa. But you should come up and eat. You can get back to it after breakfast."
'And I wanna go back to my burrito!' He thought in the back of his mind.
Lisa sighed but nodded. "Alright, I suppose a break won't hurt."
"Great, let's head back up" He said as he walked back to the stairway,
'Don't want to start relying on my energy supplements...' Lisa thought as she walked behind Lincoln.
As they headed back upstairs, Lincoln eyed the machine, he couldn't shake the feeling that Lisa's latest project was going to be something extraordinary.
Lisa and Lincoln made their way back through the kitchen and into the Dinning room and found the rest of their family already at the dinner table. They were talking to each other, and enjoying some delicious breakfast burritos;
"Take a seat, Lisa sweetie." Rita said noticing the two walk in,
"Yes mother, "Lisa replied,
"You too Lincoln, and thank you again for all the help" Rita added
"No sweat mom, all in a day's work" Proudly exclaimed as he took a seat on his chair.
'Now, time to finish enjoying this delicious burr-' Lincoln paused, and looked at his plate confused... 'hm...? Something's wrong...wait...'
"MY BURRITO!" He loudly exclaimed, getting the attention of his sister Lynn.
" *mMmMmmM* Sorry Stinkin, *mMhMHmMmHm* you snooze, you lose!" Lynn said, as she ate Lincoln's burrito,
"Lynn! Dang it!" Lincoln expressed, "I was barely gone for a minute... *facepalm*"
"Don't worry champ! I made extra." Lynn Sr said, placing another burrito onto Lincoln's plate,
"Thanks dad!" Lincoln replied, "Finally..." he said taking a bite out of his burrito, 'Soooo gooood!'
" *BUUUURRP* You gonna finish that?" Lynn asked, pointing to his burrito, Lincoln only responded by giving her a glare at her comment;
"Gas that's a no! *hahaha*" Luan joked, as she received an eye roll and a chorus of groans by the rest of her family.
"Tough crowd...anyways! I have something to tell you guys!" Luan said out loud. Getting the attention of the family once again.
"Tell us what?" Lori asked.
'I got a good guess at what it might be...' Lincoln thought.
"Well...you guys know how I've been doing comedy shows at the Royal Woods theatre?" Luan said.
"Yeah...?" Lana said.
"And you know how they've been a big hit?"
"Oka-" Luna said, before getting cut off;
"Would you just say it already!" Lola said cutting Luna off.
"Alright, Alright! Basically since the shows were doing so well, the general manager at the theatre asked me to put on a play, and just yesterday I got an email confirming that my script for the play got greenlit!" Luan replied.
'Knew it!' Lincoln thought. The previous day, Lincoln was walking past Luna and Luan's room when he overheard her yelling in excitement about her script getting approved.
"That's wonderful sweetie!" Rita responded.
"That's my girl! Great work Luan!" Lynn Sr, the patriarch of the household added with a classic dad one liner.
"Nice going sis!" Lynn Jr added.
"Bloody hell dude that's amazing!" Luna replied.
"That's just the half of it!" Luan added.
"What do you mean?" Lori inquired, curious to what else there was.
"Well, it's like this, I don't want to spoil too much about how the play goes, but it's going to be a comedic retelling of Romeo and Juliet!" Luan replied, "BUT! That's not all! I know it's a bit short notice and everything...but I'm going to have the play be on Friday! And I have got VIP seats already set for you guys!"
"OMGEE THATS TOTES AMAZING LUAN!" Leni replied. "But uhmm why so soon?"
"The thing is, since you and Lori are leaving the upcoming weekend, I didn't want you guys to miss out so I'm going to be setting up this entire play as fast as possible and I will most likely be insanely busy starting today..." Luan answered.
The room was silent for a second as some of the family members had there jaws hanging at what she just said. Planning, directing, and setting up an entire play took a lot of time but here she was doing this all in under a week.
"...Luan...That's really nice of you...Thank you!" Lori said, getting up from her seat and giving her a hug.
"Yeah Luan that's like so amazing and nice of you!" Leni said as she got up and hugged her.
"Don't worry about it you two." Luan replied. "We're family and I want you guys to see my first ever big time play"
"Sweetie...we are so proud of you! And we know you can do it!"
"Yeah Luan, that's a lot to undertake but we promise you we won't miss it!" Lynn Sr added.
"You got that right!" Lynn Jr replied.
"Yeah!" The twins added.
Lucy's usual stoic frown was replaced with a small smile.
"I believe I can make some time to attend your play. My project should be completed by then." Lisa replied.
"Yeah! We are all coming, right Winky?" Lily added.
"Huh? Yea-Yeah Luan, we aren't going to miss it." Lincoln replied.
"Aww thanks so much you guys!" Luan said. "I really appreciate all the support."
The morning continued with the usual mix of chaos and overall uproar. Lincoln continued to enjoy his food, as he over heard the conversation between some of his older sisters. They were discussing with each other about their plans for the day;
Luna apparently had an upcoming gig, and if it went well, she could possibly get a chance to play out of state with some big name stars. He also over heard how it was going to be a big surprise for Sam, who she evidently hasn't told;
"Wait you haven't told her yet?!" Lori asked,
Luna hesitated, her fingers fidgeting. "Yeah...It's a really big and if we get excepted we could be touring with them around a lot states."
"That's great! But why haven't you let Sam know?" Lori questioned,
Luna hesitated, rubbing the back of her neck. "I...I'm scared, okay? Sam's planning to start applying to Universities near us to see if she could get transferred in time for the winter semester, and if this gig works out, I'll be on the road for months. I don't even know if she'd want to come with me, or if it's even fair to ask her to."
She looked down at the floor, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "This could really mess things up for us, y'know? What if she thinks I'm choosing the band over her? What if she doesn't wanna deal with the distance, or me being away so much?"
Lori softened, placing a reassuring hand on Luna's shoulder. ""Luna, I get it. It's a tough spot. But you've got to talk to her about it. She cares about you, and keeping this from her might hurt her more than you think."
Luna sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I know, dude...I just don't wanna risk losing her. This band is my dream, but Sam, she's my everything..."
"Then trust her," Lori said firmly. "If you really mean that, you owe it to both of you to be honest. Who knows? She might surprise you."
Luna nodded slowly, her mind turning over Lori's advice. "Yeah... I just hope you're right."
Luna sighed, running a hand through her hair before forcing a small smile. "Anyways, that's enough about my problems. What about you, sis? What plans do you have for your second year?" she asked, eager to shift the focus.
Lori perked up at the question, her face lighting up. "Oh, I mean it's not as great as what you have planned, but... I'm actually already getting offers for some really exciting internships."
"There's this one at a big marketing firm downtown that I've had my eye on since my first semester, and guess what? They want me to apply! It's gonna be competitive, but I think I've got a good shot." She said proudly
"That's awesome, Lori!" Luna said with a genuine smile, happy to see her sister so enthusiastic. "Sounds like you've got it all figured out, dude."
"Well, not all of it," Lori admitted with a shrug. "But hey, it feels good to know I'm heading in the right direction."
Luna grinned, turning her attention to Leni. "So, Len, what about you? What's the plan for your online fashion empire? You're basically, like, a business mogul now, yeah?" she teased, giving her sister a playful nudge.
Leni's face lit up as well as she clasped her hands together excitedly. "Oh my gosh, Luna, it's been so amazing! My store is, like, totally blowing up on social media right now! A bunch of influencers have been giving the most awesome reviews, and sales are going through the roof!"
"Whoa, that's wicked!" Luna replied, genuinely impressed. "Looks like all your hard work's paying off, huh?"
"Totally! But, like, I still have so much to do," Leni said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I wanna expand my store with more designs and maybe even add a whole accessories line! And I was thinking about reaching out to some other influencers for collabs. It's gonna be a lot of work, but I'm so excited!"
"Sounds like you're smashing it, Len," Luna said with a smile. "You've got a good thing going, and it's ace to see you living your dream."
"Thanks, Luna!" Leni beamed. "And don't worry, I'll make sure to design some cool outfits for you to wear on tour! You'll look totes fab!"
Luna laughed, shaking her head. "I'll hold you to that!"
Lincoln slowly sank into his seat as he listened to it all. He again felt that he was falling short compared to his sisters, but he chose to ignore it.
' *Sighh*...let's head upstairs after breakfast...' He hold himself. 'Maybe give I'll Clyde a call...haven't called him in a while, after that maybe some comics...to get my mind off things...'
With that, Lincoln continued to eat, hoping to get through the morning without that nagging feeling coming up again.
Later that day
After a typical Loud-esque morning, the house got a bit less loud, well, as less loud as it could get.
Most of the Loud family had already headed out to start their day;
Lori and Leni went out to do some shopping, they were out getting some stuff for their apartment back at the campus. Luna was picked up by her band to go practice at Sam's place.
Luan also left about the same time to go to the theatre and begin production of her play; she was planning on doing casting and getting it done by the end of today, while also working on ways to get the word around about her play.
Then, Lynn made her leave as well to go practice with the high school's soccer team, since there was going to be a game during the first week of school, and the sports teams usually started before school began.
Next, Lola and Lana headed off as well—Lola to went to her pageant training classes, and Lana headed off to the race track.
Finally, Lily went with her mother to get groceries, and Lynn Sr. headed off to work at one of his many restaurant chains, "Lynn's Table." This left only Lisa, Lucy, and Lincoln at the house.
With all the other members of the family gone, Lincoln retreated back to his room to read some comics and catch up with his friend Clyde.
Clyde had been gone almost the entire summer vacation. His dads had taken Clyde with them on one of their famous "Trip's around the world" vacations. Clyde was out exploring and seeing all the wonders the world had to offer, from the pyramids to Stonehenge.
Clyde was currently in Scotland, so time was a bit off, but they were able to video chat and talk about what new things he had seen;
Booting up this computer, Lincoln gave Clyde a call.
"Hey Lincoln!" Clyde said through the screen
"Clyde! How's it going? Seen anything cool in Scotland?
"It's been AWESOME! And, you bet! There are so many castle's and almost everything looks so darn beautiful. I even got a chance to ride the train from the first Parry Hotter movie!" Clyde replied.
"WOW! See old Nessie yet?" Lincoln asked.
"Ha, no luck there, but I did get a chance to take a tour on the lake! It was amazing!" Clyde answered.
"That's awesome Clyde, make sure you get me some post cards from there." Lincoln said.
"Of course Linc, hey I almost forgot to tell you, you won't believe were we are staying right now!" Clyde replied.
"Where?" Lincoln asked, curious as to what Clyde was about to tell him.
"We are staying at a hotel, at a place called Loch Loud! It's a small town that once had a family of royals named the Louds that ruled over the place." Clyde excitedly replied.
"That's...woah! Maybe I have some family down there?" Lincoln responded, surprised at the coincidence.
"Yeah crazy coincidence ri- Oh crap my dads are calling, we gotta head out. Sorry we couldn't talk more. Clyde signing out!"
"No problem Clyde, signing out!" Lincoln said ending the call.
Couple Minutes Later
After the call, Lincoln went onto his bed to read some comics, fully clothed (he no longer read in his underwear).
Some time later, he heard a knock on his door;
"Come in!" Lincoln called out.
Lucy walked in, her demeanor showing slight anxiety only Lincoln could pick up on.
'What's up with her...?' He thought, seeing her anxious demeanor;
"Lincoln, dear brother...could you help me out with getting some supplies for school? I haven't had the chance to do so, and school is getting ever so closer."
Lincoln, still wanting to read his comics and relax, but never one to let his sisters down, agreed to help.
"Well...I was going to read comics today...but sure Luce, I'll help ya out." He said getting out of his bed, patting Lucy's head.
'It feels nice when he does that...' Lucy thought, she wasn't sure when Lincoln started patting her head like that. She assumed he started doing it because he saw her as his little sister, even though they were only a year apart. She wasn't against it by no means, it was comforting to her.
"Let's head out" Lincoln said, as Lucy followed suit.
"Thanks Linc..." Lucy said softly, with a small smile.
As they walked downstairs, Lincoln realized that it was just Him, Lucy, and Lisa at home. He was currently in charge, since him being the eldest in the house at that very moment. He wasn't allowed to leave the house unattended, but he realized Lisa was probably responsible enough to keep the house in check.
He walked into the kitchen and opened the basement door before calling down, "Hey, Lisa! I'm heading out with Lucy to get some school supplies. You'll be in charge while we're gone, okay?"
Lisa's voice echoed up from the basement. "Not a problem, Lincoln! I'll keep the house safe and orderly. However, I do advise you return before the arrival of our parents!"
"Yeah, I got it! Thanks!" Lincoln said before closing the door.
With Lisa's reassurance, Lincoln and Lucy headed out.
Lincoln and Lucy set out for the mall to get some school supplies. The summer heat was in full swing, but the siblings enjoyed their walk, chatting about their plans for the upcoming school year.
"Sooo...you're planning on joining the Goth club, huh?" Asked trying to start up a conversation with Lucy
"Sighh... The club is called the Morticians of Royal Woods, and yes, I am..."
"Well that's great! Weren't you part of a similar club back in middle school?" Lincoln asked
"Yes, I was...most of the previous members of the club, the one's that graduated middle school before us, went and created the new Morticians Club at the Royal Wood's Highschool." She answered. "...are you planning on joining any clubs?"
"Me? uhhh...not really...to be honest with you...I haven't really thought about high school much this summer...sort of avoiding the inevitable stress ya know?" Lincoln answered.
Lucy nodded agreeing, she could relate to that feeling...
With that the conversation ended, and the two siblings continued to the bus stop before getting on. Lucy, not sure how to start the conversation again, decided to keep quiet as they rode to their stop.
Seeing Lucy's quietness, Lincoln decided to hold asking questions to Lucy about her plans for Highschool, he couldn't explain why, but he felt that Lucy was really nervous about this whole high school thing. So with that he decided to stare out side the window of the bus as they made their way to the mall.
'...maybe we could do something after getting her stuff...' He thought to himself.
~Royal Woods Mall~
A while later
Arriving at their bus stop, the two siblings made their way out and into the mall, as the cool air-conditioned breeze greeted them. The mall was bustling with shoppers, and the siblings made their way through the crowd to their first stop, a store called [Back to School Essentials.]
"Alright, Lucy, let's grab everything you need," Lincoln said, taking out a paper with stuff lucy might need while also pulling out a cart.
They walked through the aisles, picking up notebooks, pencils, pens, folders, and all the essentials. Lincoln grabbed some stuff he might also need as well for this classes.
"Hmm...folders? Check! Penicils and Pens? Check! 2, 2 inch binders? Check! Graphing Calculator? Check! Graphing Paper? Check! Ruler? Check! Notecards? Check! Highlighters? Check! Notebooks? Check!" Lincoln said, making sure to check off each item on the list he made, as Lucy placed them into a cart.
"Well...looks like we got everything you might need Lucy!" He said with a smile on his face.
"Thank you Lincoln..." Lucy replied, happy Lincoln is helping her. She could always depend on him when she need anything.
"Don't worry 'bout it, now let's get this stuff to the register" He said as he pushed the cart.
After they had all the supplies they needed, Lincoln suggested they check out some other stores before heading home. "Let's take a look around, maybe we'll find something interesting." As Lucy nodded in agreement.
As they walked through the mall, they noticed a new store had opened up. The sign read "Ghostly Goods: Everything for the Supernatural Enthusiast."
"Whoa, check this out, Lucy. A supernatural oddities store!" Lincoln exclaimed, his curiosity piqued.
Lucy, her eyes lighting up with interest, nodded. "Let's go inside. It looks interesting."
The store was filled with all sorts of spooky and supernatural items—crystal balls, tarot cards, Ouija boards, and various other mystical paraphernalia. The atmosphere was dimly lit, with creepy music playing softly in the background.
Lucy wandered over to a shelf filled with jars and vials containing strange substances. One jar, in particular, caught her eye. It was labeled "Ectoplasm."
"Look at this, Lincoln," Lucy said, picking up the jar. "Do you think this could help me connect with spirits?"
Lincoln examined the jar, his interest growing. "Maybe. It looks pretty cool. If you think it might help, you should get it. Though it sort of looks like green slime..."
Lucy nodded and decided to buy the jar of ectoplasm. Who knows maybe there might be a chance of it being real. As they continued to explore the store, Lincoln found a section dedicated to supernatural comics and books.
"Check this out, Lucy. They have a whole section on ghost stories and supernatural adventures," Lincoln said, flipping through a comic book.
Lucy smiled. "Maybe you can find something new to read?"
"Yeah, Haven't read any of these yet. Going to see what to get," He said, as he continued to flip through the pile.
After some looking, Lincoln picked out a couple of comics that caught his eye.
As they went to the register to make their purchase, they noticed that the clerk, had a peculiar outfit...he wore a dark purple cloak, and a purple vest which held a stop watch. The cloak hid his face, as the only thing they could make out was his smile.
"Have a nice day..." The clerk said.
"You too." Both replied.
As the two made their way out, the clerk had an eerie smirk on his face.
'What a weird choice for a work uniform for a supernatural shop...and was it just me or did his voice sound off...almost if it was echoey...whatever...' Lincoln thought to himself.
With their purchases in hand, they left the store and continued their exploration of the mall.
They stopped by the food court for a quick snack. Lincoln got a slice of pizza, and Lucy opted for a beetroot smoothie. They sat down at a table, enjoying their treats and watching the people pass by.
"Lincoln...Thanks for helping me get my school supplies," Lucy said, blushing slightly behind her bangs. "You're always there to help out. I just wanted to...thank you for looking out for me." Her usual stoic frown replaced with a smile.
Lincoln smiled and shrugged. "It's nothing, Luce. I enjoyed coming out to help you find your supplies. Getting some fresh air and all that..."
Lucy hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "Maybe we could stop by the arcade and play some games. And maybe, if you're f-free tomorrow we could hang out and do some stuff you want to do?" She blushed again behind her black bangs, her smile not fading...
Lincoln's smile widened. "Thanks, Lucy. I'd love to hang out with you. And yeah, maybe could could go mini golfing tomorrow or catch a movie."
Lucy nodded. "Alright, let's go to arcade then..." Eger to spend some more time with Lincoln.
Getting up from their seat, the two made their way out of the mall, and headed towards Gus' Games and Grub.
~Gus' Games and Grub~
A bit later
Arriving at the arcade a short while later, Lincoln decided to show Lucy the new grave hunter game, that was recently added.
"I'll go grab some chips," Lucy said.
"No need...I'll get some, it's on me." Lincoln replied with a small grin on his face. ' *heh* I got a feeling she's stressing over this whole high school thing, letting lose on some arcade games is sure to help! Plus, as the older brother it is my duty to help my little siblings! Even if only by a year, I can't let my lil sister pay for me...just doesn't work like that!'
"But I-" Lucy tried saying before, Lincoln cut her off, "Don't worry about it Luce..." He said, ruffling her hair before leaving to get the chips...
As Lincoln left, Lucy stood there, dumbfounded... 'It was my Idea to come...and yet he's the one paying...' Lucy couldn't help but admire her brothers unwavering selflessness, for her, and the rest of her siblings.
As she thought more about it, Lincoln was kind and considerate, he was always willing to help, above all he listened to all her problems...before long a thought popped into her head, 'I'm glad Lincoln and me are going into Highschool together...'
Lucy was happy to have a brother like Lincoln by her side. A warm feeling filled her stomach, a smile etching itself onto her face, a light blush covered her face, only concealed by her bangs.
Lincoln returned shortly after with chips in hand, they first tried out the new arcade, before moving onto various games other ones, enjoying each other's company.
As the sun began to set, Lincoln checked his watch.
"It's getting late. We should start heading back before everyone else gets home," Lincoln suggested.
"Okay..." Lucy agreed, but deep down wishing they could have spent more time together,
With their bags full of school supplies and new supernatural finds, they left the arcade, and made their way back home.
~Loud House~
Some time later
Returning home, they found that they luckily had been the first to arrive back. Lucy went upstairs but not before hugging and thanking Lincoln again for helping her out.
"Thank you again Lincoln...for spending the day with me; It was nice..." She said.
"You're welcome Luce, but you don't have to keep thanking me," He replied with a small smile, "I had fun, going shopping and hitting the arcade with you, so don't mention it. Plus, we going to be hanging out again tomorrow!"
"R-Really?"
"Yeah, sure, it was you idea after all." He replied with a slight chuckle.
"Y-Yeah, okay" She said, before going and giving Lincoln a small hug, which he reciprocated.
As she hugged Lincoln, Lucy got that weird feeling in her stomach. 'That feeling again...'
Breaking out of the hug, she made her way upstairs, but no before saying , "I'm going to head to my room, see you later"
"Yup!" Lincoln replied;
Back in her room, Lucy realized that having a jar of ectoplasm while sharing a room with a super energetic sister probably wasn't the best idea. She wondered where to put the jar but couldn't think of a place. The attic was the first place she thought of; however, it was filled with a ton of junk, and she didn't want to risk some of it falling onto the jar.
Still thinking of places to put her jar of what most likely wasn't real ectoplasm, 'though if by some chance it was, it would surely help with my seances...' She finally decided on putting it in the basement.
Lucy made her way down to the basement. When she got there, she saw that most, if not the entire basement, had become some sort of a lab-like room.
'Last time I was down here was a week ago...guess she works fast...' Lucy thought to herself,
There were tubes and paperwork littering the place, and a big circular portal-like machine near the back of the room. She called out to Lisa, who was still working and computing some data into one of the computers; but she didn't receive a response;
'she must have not heard me...'
Lucy walked up to her;
"Hello Lisa..." Lucy said, right behind Lisa, this however surprised Lisa;
"YEEK!" She yelled out, Lucy's greeting giving Lisa a jump scare.
"Sorry..." Lucy said in her monotone voice.
" *Whew* It's quite all right Lucy...good to see you both returned before our parents, though it shouldn't have been a problem since I am more then capable on keeping the house safe..."
"Yeah...me and Lincoln just got back...anyways, could you help me find a place to put this ectoplasm?" Lucy asked, showing Lisa the jar. The parts of the basement that hadn't become a lab, was absolutely cluttered with an assortment of stuff, most likely Lisa's doing in order to make room for her new lab stuff. Lucy was hoping that maybe she had a free spot to put her jar.
Lisa glanced at the jar and commented, "Sure, but just so you know, that jar of 'ectoplasm' you have, is probably just some slime mixed with green food coloring. Since, of course, ectoplasm can't exist due to ghosts not being real."
Lucy sighed, remembering what Lincoln had said back in the shop. "Yeah...anyways, where can I place it?"
"Hmmm..." She looked around her lab and the parts of the basement that remained normal. 'Not much room left...guess this lab took up more space then I thought.'
"You can place it there." Lisa finally said, as she pointed to a shelf on the wall above her computer. 'Not the best idea to keep something above the main computer, should be safe enough, and I doubt some slime would affect any of the components if it were to fall'
"Thanks..." Lucy said, agreeing and placing the jar on the shelf. She then said said bye to Lisa and walked back upstairs.
Shortly after Lucy went up to her room, Lincoln followed suit.
As he entered his room, he laid down on his bed and looked through some of the comics he bought today. This was just another typical day for him. He enjoyed spending time with Lucy, helping her get her supplies, and playing games at the arcade, but as he settled down, the doubts he had been pushing to the back of his mind started to surface.
He realized that while he had fun today, he still felt like he wasn't doing anything significant compared to his sisters.
'...all I did was go shopping...and played at the arcade.' He thought, as he slapped his palm on his forehead. 'I'm wasting away doing nothing!'
They all seemed to have clear goals and were actively pursuing their passions. Lincoln loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was just drifting along without a purpose. Being the only boy among such talented siblings made him feel overshadowed.
He tried pushing these insecurities to the back of his mind, but they kept creeping back. With overachieving sisters, it was hard not to compare himself to them and feel like he was falling short.
'Why don't I go out and do something? Anything! *augh*'
"So annoying!"
'The entire summer's gone by...and I don't remember doing anything of value! I could have gotten a summer job for goodness sake! But nooooo...'
*Sighhhhh* 'I mean it wasn't all a waste...at least I spent time with them...'
He was quickly released from his thoughts upon hearing the noise which followed;
The rest of his family came barging back into the house from their eventful day. Lori and Leni returned from their shopping trip, Luna from her band practice, Luan from her comedy show preparations, and Lynn Jr. from soccer practice.
Lola and Lana arrived from their respective activities, and Rita and Lily came back from grocery shopping. Lynn Sr. arrived a bit later after closing up the restaurant. The house quickly filled with the usual chaos and activity.
Lincoln, allowing himself to not dwell on his insecurities anymore, walked out of his room to join his family and finish off the day...
End Chapter