Sam couldn't believe she'd actually been invited to the legendary Loud House. It was a warm summer evening and she was taking the heel toe express at double speed because there was no way she wanted to miss an opportunity like this.
Sam was glad she'd dressed light it was a bit warmer out then she would have liked she wore a tank top and cargo shorts
Okay she thought to herself maybe it wasn't legendary but everyone at school seemed to know, have a sibling who knew, or even just a passing encounter resulting in an awesome story involving the at least one of the Loud siblings.
They were an entire seven degrees of separation unto themselves.
Okay technically she was only meeting Luna at Casa Loud before heading to the open stage night at Royal Woods only all ages club.
Sam had actually been a bit surprised when Luna had asked her to come she'd thought Luna didn't like her. Luna had never come right out and said anything mean to Sam but they shared a few friends in common.
Whenever they had reason to hang out Luna seemed to go pretty quiet, sometimes Sam would catch Luna starting at her then when Luna realized she'd been caught she'd look away pretending nothing had happened.
When Luna had asked her to the show she'd been acting pretty strange she hadn't seemed to be able to make eye contact and kept getting flustered completely different from the calm and confident girl everyone assured Sam Luna was.
Sam was so deep in thought that she barely had to react when a small ragamuffin with a red cap and overalls ran past her shouting a warning "gangway Lola's on the war path."
Sam spun around as she passed only to find herself being barreled down upon by a pink jeep she threw herself to the side in time and heard the driver shouting "Lana don't think you'll get away from me."
Catching her breath Sam stood up dusting herself off and realized she arrived at Casa Loud.
It was smaller than she had imagined; the paint was peeling, ihe grass was dead and marked with tread marks both caused by repeated use, there was sports equipment, and toys all over the place.
She pulled out her phone and sent Luna a quick text letting her know she had arrived. Luna seemed to reply instantly that she'd be right down.
As Sam walk up the stairs she realized she wasn't alone sitting under a black parasol on the railing leaning against the house was a goth girl quietly engrossed in her phone.
Sam smiled and approached her "Hi you must be Luna's sister Lucy." The goth didn't seem to have heard her do she tried again "That's a beautiful dress."
It was a black sundress with intricate silk patterns of skulls weaved into spider webs.
The goth girl sighed looking away from hey phone, "I'm not Lucy, I'm Maggie I'm hear for Luan."
Sam wasn't sure how to respond she'd thought she looked a bit old to be Luna's younger sister luckily she was interrupted before it became anymore awkward.
The door opened and Luna stepped out, Sam was stunned for a second she suddenly felt a bit underdressed Luna was rocking a heavy purple leather jacket over a black tee and a purple leather mini skirt.
Sam was glad when Luna spoke first "Hey dude sorry a family emergency came up it shouldn't be long, I see your already making friends with Maggie."
Before Sam had a chance to speak Luna had stepped off the porch and shouted for the twins attention "Lola, Lana sibling conference!"
The twins immediately stopped their bickering eager to be included in something that sounded so important. The three sisters were quickly back in the house.
Sam looked back at Maggie who had slipped from her perch on the railing and down on the ground with her back against the house.
Sam looked back at the door unsure what to do. She was caught off guard when Maggie spoke to her "You might as well sit down these conferences have a habit of dragging on."
Surprised but thankful for the olive branch Sam sat across from Maggie against the railing. She quickly realized conversation wasn't going to flow easily so she looked down at her The Whom tank and thought to herself that if Luna's outfit was anything to go by she was definitely underdressed.
Maggie chose to break the silence again this time even going so far as to pocket her phone "Luan says you're coming to the open stage with us tonight."
Sam nodded looking up from her poor fashion choices. "Yeah I guess though Luna didn't tell me about you or Luan."
Maggie brushed a wisp of hair from her eyes "yeah well I think Luan wanted to offer her moral support, Luna doesn't have much experience with this kind of thing and she's been a bit of a nervous wreck." Sam looked at Maggie curiously "Sorry experience with what?"
Sam saw the smallest flicker of what looked like realization cross Maggie's face. "Oh nothing really she's just been working on an acoustic song for tonight."
Then making no attempt at segway "sorry about earlier Luan has been encouraging me to try talking to people but it's not easy I've got what my shrink calls pragmatic social communication disorder which is a fancy name for I have trouble interacting with people I'm not used to."
For a moment Sam forgot her curiosity and wasn't sure how to react. She had her fair share of friends with problems, she took a point of pride when they trusted her with their secrets but most of tended to be embarrassed and closed off.
They only talked to her when they got to know her. She wasn't used to someone so forth right about there conditions.
"That's okay forget about it." A less awkward silence followed, Sam was okay with silence but she could tell from Maggie's fidgeting that she might appreciate further conversation.
"So," Sam broached "have you had to wait through many of these sibling conferences."
Maggie shrugged "in a family as big as the Louds there tends to be quite a bit of drama." Maggie looked wistfully past Sam "Ronnie Anne and Bobby used to keep me company but they haven't been around much since they moved."
Sam nodded "Must get lonely?" As much a question as a statement.
Maggie shook her head in a nonchalant manner, "it's not so bad sometimes Lincolns friend Clyde sits with me, we have the same phycologist, he's okay for a kid I guess; certainly seems to know his psychology."
Maggie broke off for a moment, "and sometimes Lucy sneaks out and visits me." She gave a curt nod to what Sam was sure had been thin air only a moment ago however when she turned her head a smaller goth girl had appeared sitting next to her.
Sam was so shocked she unintentionally slammed her back it to the railing cranking her head.
Maggie could not help but let out a giggle, Sam frowned at her only to recieve an eye roll back.
The new girl whom Sam took to be Lucy let out a sigh not just an exasperation of breathe but actually vocalized the word sigh.
"Sorry about that," said Sam, "you startled me."
Lucy repeated her sigh, which Sam decided must be an affectation, "I'm used to it, your Sam." Lucy said all of it as an acknowledgment of fact in a quiet monotone voice.
Sam nodded "you must be Lucy, did Luna mention we were hanging out today?"
The corners of Lucy's mouth moved upward not quite forming a smile but she sounded a bit more positive as she replied "More like she hasn't said anything else."
"Really?" Asked Sam bemused, she was definitely starting to come to the conclusion that she had misjudged Luna though she still couldn't make sense of her odd behavior.
Lucy started to say something else when Maggie gave her look and she closed her mouth. The two goths seemed to have a quick conservation between each other using only micro facial expressions which was all the more impressive with most of Lucy's face covered by her long black bangs.
The conversation seemed to end; Sam began to think the two girls knew something about Luna she didn't.
Well of course they did she told herself one was her sister and the other apparently a close friend of another sister. Sam decided to change the subject she didn't want to alienate herself when she was trying to become better friends with Luna.
"So Lucy if there's a sibling meeting why are you out here with us?"
Lucy rocked uncomfortably before saying "I usually leave for a bit to get a snack or visit Maggie, my sister's and Lincoln don't usually notice."
Sam thought of trying to say something to reassure the small girl but after the fright Lucy had just given her she imagined her family might not be in tune with her comings and goings either.
"So," Sam said trying her best not to pry "what's the family drama today" looking toward the house. Lucy looked at Maggie unsure of what to say.
Sam was starting to become frustrated but could see how it might be a bit private so once again she changed the subject.
"So Maggie how long have you and Luan been friends."
This seemed to get a much better reaction a grin actually seemed to form on Lucys face and Maggie laughed.
"What?" asked Sam not understanding.
Maggie smirked "It's not really funny it's just me and Luan are a bit more and less then friends if you know what I mean."
Sam's eye grew a little "your gay?" she asked quietly.
"Well," replied Maggie "I actually consider myself to be pan and Luan is bi but that seems to run in the family."
Lucy glared at Maggie who quickly realized she may have said more then she meant to.
Sam wouldn't consider herself to be sheltered she knew a few gay guys and girls but she had never heard anything about any of the Louds being gay.
She supposed in a statistical way it made sense but she couldn't help it , her curiousity got the better of her. "Who else is bi?"
Maggie had securely zipped het lips after her previous faux pas even going so ffar as to retreat back into her phone.
Sam looked back Lucy unable to read anything from the small goths blank expression Sam started to think of some way to take back the question but Lucy reprieved her.
"Would it matter if any of my other sister's or Lincoln were bi?"
Sam didn't even have to think on the question she automatically responded "of course not."
Lucy seemed reassured by this answer she looked to Maggie who refused to look away from her phone.
Then in a quieter voice, "and you wouldn't treat them any differently if you found out?"
Sam felt an ache in her heart it was obvious this little girl was carrying a heavy burden.
Before Lucy had time to process what was going on Sam leaned over and gave her a hug.
Lucy went stiff as a board, the hug went on for longer then she would've liked but when it was over Sam smiled at her and said. "Lucy you're a very special girl and no one should ever treat you different because of who you like, if anyone ever does you can tell me I know people who will clobber them."
From across the porch Sam could hear Maggie snickering from behind her phone.
Sam wanted to punch her if the face but before she even had the chance to shoot her a dirty look, she felt Luna to her arm.
"While I quite appreciate your sentiment I wasn't referring to myself." Lucy shrugged and continued, "I don't quite know what I am yet but I know we live on a small insignificant planet in a vast universe all I know is I'd probably like a companion for the long night though I don't know what form they'll take. "
Sam didn't know how to respond; between Maggie and Lucy she felt like she was on the world's most awkward merry go round.
"Well I only really know your sister Luna so . . ." Sam trailed off mid sentence the hamster wheel in her brain had just started spinning like like vinyl on a turn table; quickly and in multiple directions.
Hoping her face wouldn't betray her Sam pulled a folded up piece of paper from one of her pockets "Lucy you wouldn't know if Luna left this in my locker?" Sam asked already assured of the answer.
Lucy remained silent but turned to look at Maggie it was hard to say because her hair veiled her face but it seemed like she was imploring the older girl to help her.
At first it seemed Maggie deep in her phone and not planning to extract herself but finally Lucys silent gaze seemed to break the trance.
Maggie put her phone down and clasped her hands together. "I'm not good at things like this my brain freezes up and I can't find the words I want."
Maggie's already pale hands seemed to be turning white but she continued "officially I am not hear saying anything I'm at bat day at Disney World with my friends, but if I were here I would tell Lucy that sometimes things start spiraling and it seems like there's nothing you can do but be direct and hope for the best."
With the attempt at advice Maggie unclasped her hands allowing normal blood flow to return and went back to her phone.
Lucy nodded to herself then reached out and took the piece of paper unfolding it delicately and with a glance nodded to herself the returned it to Sam "Yes that does appear to be the crush letter Luna wrote for you."
Sam began to understand Luna's behaviour; the glances and the awkward silence started to make sense.
Sam couldn't wrap her head around how had she been so blind. Her feeling about being underdressed seemed to be confirmed.
"Why didn't Luna just say she wanted to go on a date." Sam asked this to no one in particular but Lucy came to her sisters defence.
"She wanted to but she loses all her confidence when it comes to courtship, especially when it's someone she really likes." Lucy put extra emphasis on the last part.
Sam shook her head, "but I've seen her play in front of crowds lots of times she's so brave."
Lucy shrugged "That's music it comes naturally to her. Dating is an entirely different monster, that's what the sibling meeting is about trying to convince her your not some terror in disguise."
Sam felt her self blush, "no way is Sam afraid of me she's like the coolest musician in our whole school."
Lucy pulled out what looked like a walkie-talkie "this is one of Lilys baby monitors I use it so I don't miss anything."
Lucy flipped the switch and the baby monitor turned on; a young boys voice could be heard Sam assumed it to be Lincoln, "Come on Luna you're just psyching yourself out."
Sam recognized the voice that followed as Luna's "Linc bro I love you but you just wouldn't understand."
"Maybe I won't but why don't you try to explain it." Lincoln sounded a bit hurt in his reply.
Luna could be heard to sigh exasperatedly "look I appreciate all your dudes help but I'm hopeless, can you guys just give me some space to think."
There followed a general sound of shuffling and indistinct murmuring followed by a door shutting.
There was a moment of silence broken by a new voice. " Lincoln might not bi the one to understand you but maybe I can help."
Maggie reacted immediately to the new voice putting her phone down and sitting up.
Lucy put her hand over the monitor and whispered to Sam "Luan", though her normal speaking voice would have been just as sufficient.
Taking her hand off the monitor Luna's voice could be heard "Luan how did you know Maggie would like you?"
There was a small laugh, "You should leave the jokes to me," Luan continued "I had no idea Maggie would like me, all I had to go on was that she laughed at my jokes so I took a risk."
There was a sigh and Luna said "Not like that I mean how did you know she wouldn't laugh at you and tell everyone that you like, you know . . ."
"Girls?" Luan said finishing Luna's thought "Like I said I didn't I just took a risk."
It went quiet again and what sounded like bed springs compressing was followed by Luan spesking "Luna I know it's scary but if it helps I'll be here for you, whether it's tomorrow or next month or next year I'll have your back when your ready to tell Mom and Dad I'll be ready to and Lincoln and the others will have our backs."
Sam wasnt sure but she thought she could hear Luna sniffling and she felt a tear run down her own face."
There was the sound of a small knock followed by dozen feet scattering then a door opening and creeks as a single tiny person entered the room and climbed onto the bed.
A younger but self assured voice spoke up "Luna I don't know why Sam is so scary but your the bravest person I know"
Lucy repeated her earlier actions letting Sam know this was Lana, one of the twins she'd seen on arrival.
Lana continued "remember the time we all played for that Mick Swaegger guy, he's like your hero I don't know if I could wrestle an alligator in front of Betsy Irwin."
There was a pause, "You know what dude maybe your right maybe I can be brave." Luna replied to her little sister.
"And if she is mean to you we can always feed her to the gators and Lucy is getting really good at her grave digging!"
Lana suggestion was met with muffled laughter from her older siblings.
Sam looked at Lucy a little bewildered whom just blushed.
There was a thud from the monitor and Luna exclaimed "Its time to get this show on the road." "But first I think I should change, I am way over dressed. Lana can you get Leni and the others."
Luna was cut off as Lucy stood up and switched off the monitor. "I should get back there, they're going to need me, sigh."
Lucy left, Sam and Maggie both stood up settling themselves on the railing again.
Sam unsure what to say when she felt a tap on her leg she nearly fell off the porch when she saw Lucy had one again appeared from nowhere.
She didn't have time to catch her breath before Lucy began to speak "Though life is one long painful experience and I don't expect you to show feelings for Luna if you don't have them, if you cause her any more suffering then need be well I think Lana said it best, and remember there are seven more of us."
Lucy left again and Sam waited a moment unsure if she would reappear again.
She looked at Maggie who was once again looking at her phone. It occurred to her Maggie might have an idea what it was like being asked out an by another girl.
Sam cleared her throat, "Maggie I was wondering if I could ask you a question?"
Maggie looked back at the pop punk morosely "I suppose, though whether I answer to your satisfaction is something else altogether."
Sam decided this was the closest to a yes she was going to get. "So when Luan asked you out the first time how did you react?"
Maggie considered the answer for a moment and said "Sheer utter terror for all the potential social pitfalls, and then I said yes."
Sam wasn't sure how to use this answer so she risked a second question "but when she asked you out did you know it was on a date?
Maggie considered the question "I did consider for a moment that perhaps my friends had paid her off as some sort of cruel trick, then I considered sadistic and embarrassingly specific revenge scenarios for each of them but in the end I decided it was real."
Maggie took a moment to read Sam expression and said "I'm going to hazard a guess and say that wasn't what you wanted to hear all I can really say are no two lgbtp girls are the same, not to be presumptuous but if you are interested in Luna you might have to take it slow but those are just my thoughts."
Maggie trailed off and looked at her feet.
Sam was a bit surprised by Maggie's forthrightness "I mean I think I'm interested but I've never really thought about her that way before; she's always been so standoffish with me I didn't think she liked me."
Maggie prevented her from returning to her own thoughts jumping down from the rail; brushing and straightening her dress and unfolding her parisal.
She looked at Sam and said "I guess you'll be able to figure that out tonight." Then looked at the entrance expectantly.
The door opened Luan and Luna exited, however rather than done up to the nines Luna was looking much more comfortable in a Union Jack tank top and a regular purple skirt and her guitar case over her shoulder.
Sam smiled as she noticed one more changed. Luna now had a purple streak in her hair.
Luna blushed when she noticed Sam looking at it. "Do you like it," Luna asked uncertainly, "I mean I didn't have time to do a permanent one this is just a gel so it washes out if you think it's lame."
Sam could tell Luna was flustered so she cut her off "I think it's awesome also I wanted to thank you for inviting me we never seem to get the chance to hang out together."
Luna's face seem brighten further but she nodded enthusiastically, "Sorry dude I've been meaning to ask you out, you know to hang out for awhile."
Sam shook head, "no problem Lunes, were hanging out now and that's all that matters.
Luan and Maggie had moved to the end of the drive way to give the other two some space.
Luan took Maggie's hand and looked into her eyes.
Maggie smiled meeting her eyes for a moment before looking down.
Luna understood and broke the silence "I'm sorry for leaving you alone so long; was Sam nice?"
Maggie nodded "She was okay I would say it was an adequate social encounter."
Luan searched Maggie's face for a moment then nodded joking, "I guess you could say it was a Sam-tastic time?"
Maggie stifled a giggle and replied "I guess you could."
They both looked over to the porch where Luna and Sam were moving at their own pace.
Maggie checked the time and indicated it to Luan who nodded and called out "Hey you to if Luna's late for her set we might be in treble! Get it?"
Luna groaned at Luan's bad pun, Sam giggled and said "your sisters funny."
Luna nodded knowingly "Yeah well will see after you've known her awhile."
Stepping off the porch without looking back Sam replied "I guess we will."
Sam smiled to herself as she walked down the driveway towards Luan and Maggie wherever the day went from here this would probably be a loud house story she kept for herself.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Hope youlike this my second attempt a Loud House fluff. Still deciding if I want to add another chapter or if this is fine as a stand alone let me know what you think.
Thanks for reading. Comments appreciated.