"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." ― Søren Kierkegaard
It was the third time Lincoln told Luna not to drip ice cream over his drawing. Drawing paper wasn't cheap and he was already on his last pages. Luna stuck out her tongue in form of apology.
"Apologizing isn't going to take back the ice cream stains, Luna!" He exclaimed as he grabbed napkins to lightly dab out the stains.
"Oh, relax, Linky!" The calm, relaxed voice came from Luna's girlfriend, Sam. Wanting the other side of the booth for leg room, she watched as others were going to and from their destination. It was Sam's idea to get a booth at Magnolia's. She also wanted a window view so she can be vigilant. What reason for it? Lincoln didn't have clue.
"Sorry, for being a bit antsy, girls." His voice was a little calmer. "If I want to have this name turned in by the publisher before five o'clock, I need total concentration." He paused as he gave a slight smug look to the ice cream stainer he called his sister. "And total mess, ice cream free."
Luna stuck her tongue once more. "Sorry, Linc." She pressed the cool sensation of double chocolate chip thin mint to his nose. His eyes widened by the shock. It was to be concluded as Sam leaned forward to lick the residue with her tongue. She giggled as she bounced back to her seat. "Yummy and delectable. The way I love my frozen sweets." She winked to the chagrined white-haired child.
It wasn't easy for Lincoln as his mother paid him in hush money to keep Luna distracted from her surprise birthday party. It also wasn't easy to have Sam in this charade as well as playing third wheel to them.
It definitely wasn't easy that he was also secretly participating in their relationship with the duo. And it was seriously wasn't easy of being a young American mangaka with another name due in the matter of hours. Fortunately, his manager was Thelma Aoyama. Mrs. Aoyama, or Mrs. A is the aunt of his best friend and right hand man, Clyde McBride. Because of her connection with the Japanese publishing company, leniency was in his favor. Not often, but it happened. However, ducking and dodging after a few days was making the silver lining near torn. He had sent a text to Mrs. A that he would be ready after getting his sister to their home for her surprise party.
He imagined the portly woman circling her thumb and index finger. A pain to my back end, Loud. A solid pain in my rear end. She was cautious for using curse words as he has yet to reach adulthood. Lincoln was seventeen. He could handle the pressure of curse words. They were easy comparing to babysitting two young adults and battling a deadline.
Sam patted both ends of her pockets. She was missing her cigarettes. She turn to Lincoln. "Babe, do you have my cigarettes?"
Lincoln was blowing the erasers from his paper. He shook his head. "I don't." He turned to Luna. "Do you?" Luna shook her head, stating that she didn't have them either.
"No biggie," replied Sam. "It's probably still in the car." She slid from the booth and step to the floor. "I am heading out for a smoke. Holler if you need anything."
Her response was met with Luna's texting on her cell phone and Lincoln working on his sketch.
She blew through her lips. "Well, don't speak all at once." She whistled a rock tune as she was stepping out of Magnolia's and into the parking lot.
The sun temporarily blinded her as she was going to her call in need of her cancer sticks. She was humming the second verse of Green Day's "Longview" when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Excuse me."
Sam turned to the person who tapped her. "Yeah, what's up?"
"I was wondering if you were familiar with the area," the woman asked.
Sam scratched her eyebrows as she pondered on the woman's question. "Yeah, I am. How can I help you?"
"You see, I am kinda new to the area. Haven't been here in a few years. But, I wanted to know where I can find the Final Frontier comic book store."
Sam sort of relaxed by the woman's simple question. Judging by her reserved and conservative outfit, Sam thought that she was a woman who was trying to invite her to church. "Oh, yeah. I can tell you that. You just passed it by a few blocks. Just head south on Main and make a slight left on Fischer. It can be easily missed."
The woman slapped her hand gently on her forehead. "I should've known that. Let's me know how long since I have been here."
"It happens! Plus, the location was moved there a couple of years ago. It was originally across the street."
The woman smiled, bowing humbly in front of Sam. "Thank you so much, precious. You see, my daughter is a fan of comic books. Particularly, manga." Sam was itching for a smoke. She didn't expect that this simple question would turn into a full conversation. She watched as the woman pulled out something out of her purse. "My daughter is a fan of this comic. Has you seen this before?"
Sam looked at the manga. "Kanojo no shikō no owari ni." She snapped at her fingers, as if a light bulb struck above her colorful hair. "At the End of Her Thoughts. I definitely know about that comic."
The woman blushed as if Sam gave her confirmation of something. Sam took a moment to give the woman a lookover. She was brown-skinned. Tall, slender, and attractive. She was a brunette. Judging by her accent, she was of Hispanic ancestry. She was older, but not too far from Luna's oldest sister, Lori or maybe a few years younger than Mrs. Loud.
"Really? My daughter can't stop talking about that comic. She says that it is gruesome in nature. More of physical and mental abuse, but I trust my daughter on her interest. For as long it doesn't affect her and realizes it is just fiction, then there is nothing to worry about."
Sam put her hands in her pocket. "One thing is for certain, lady." A boost of confidence was displayed in her voice. "Your daughter has nothing to worry about. The author wouldn't do anything to influence others to go to a dark side. Matter of factly, the author is really as sweet as he can be."
"You don't say? How would you know that?"
Sam motioned her finger to the woman to edge closer. She didn't want the others to hear their conversation. "Let's just say I have the low down on the author and I know him quite, quite well." She winked at the woman.
The woman blushed, displaying more of a pink, flushed cheeks. "I hope you are pulling my hide. There is no way you know the author. No way you know Lincoln Loud."
"Listen, lady. Check over head to the window, don't you? The proof is definitely in the sugar plum ice cream."
The woman put on a modest smile. She scanned to the window of the diner when she was the very thing Sam discussed to her earlier. She put her hands over her mouth. Sam felt good of being proved right.
"Like what you see, lady," questioned Sam. "Proof is definitely in the pudding."
"He looks so precious. No way that adorable boy is the same boy who writes this!"
"In the flesh and in the fur. Judging by your presentation, I suggest you have read some of his works."
The woman averted her eyes. "A little...a little...quite a bit." The latter of which she murmured.
Sam patted the woman on her shoulder. "It's okay. That's why it is manga. Manga is for everybody." She looked to the window. "If you want me to, I can introduce you to him. Would you like that?"
The woman widened her eyebrows. "I-I-I am okay. Really! This is quite enough. I don't want to be a bother."
"No bother," interjected the rocker. "He wouldn't mind. Plus the eraser fumes are probably getting to him and wouldn't mind some fresh air. I will be right back."
Sam decided to get her cigarettes later after she introduced Lincoln to a fan.
"Linky, Linky." Sam ran to the booth. She was jumping frantically to the now distracted Lincoln.
"Yes, Sam," asked Lincoln as he put his pencil down. He was grateful enough to be finished anyway. "You now have my full and undivided attention."
"There is somebody outside who is a fan of your works."
Luna looked to her girlfriend. She pressed her chin onto Lincoln's shoulder. "Babe, you promise to keep this kind of stuff on the hush. We are trying not to attract attention here."
"I know, I know," interjected Sam. "The fan wants to meet him though. She has a daughter that likes his work." She peered closer to Lincoln. "She's a babe, Linky. Might do you some good to dip your paintbrush."
Luna puffed her cheeks, wrapping her arms tightly around Lincoln's hips. "Hey, Sam! Lincoln is our dude. No one can share him. That is our role."
"Relax, Lunar babe," said Sam while winking. "Just having some fun. But anyway, she is outside of the diner. She wants to meet you. C'mon, please, please." Lincoln saw the pouty look she displayed when she wanted something.
Lincoln couldn't resist.
"Ok, for you."
His acceptance was met with a kiss to his nose. "Sorry, a bit of ice cream still there."
"Um, babe," interrupted Luna. "I don't see anybody outside."
Sam looked to the window and saw that the brown skinned brunette was out of sight.
"Seriously? I just saw the woman not too long ago." She went to her seat to scan the window. "Oh, man. I just saw her."
"Maybe she was pressed for time," said Luna. "And speaking of time, we have to go. We are going to be late for my surprise party."
Lincoln turned quickly to Luna as if a record player was scratched. "You knew the entire time?"
Luna stuck her tongue. "Surprise!"
Lincoln displayed a disappointed look. "What gave it away?"
Luna kissed the back of his neck. "Linky, Linky. Never give a person full access to your cell phone." She patted the table. "Let's go. I hope Mom has my double chocolate chip fudge brownie cake ready!" She hopped on Lincoln's back. "Homeward bound! Ho!"
Sam grabbed her keys from the table and followed the duo to the car. As she was walking, she knew that she saw that woman earlier. The scent of her perfume. Her deep voice. She wasn't daydreaming this. Was she?
"I may have to take a break from smoking for a little while." She pressed the button to her car alarm as she stepped inside of the Silver Porsche. She still couldn't shake that feeling in her head.
Especially her look when she mentioned the name of Lincoln Loud.
Lincoln doesn't use his real name in his works.