There once was a girl named Lynn Loud. She was a tomboy that liked to play sports and win trophies. She also felt a little inadequate about her femininity (but don't let her hear you question it).
One day, she heard about the dance that her school was holding and wished to go. Her sisters helped her the best she could, dressing her up in the prettiest dress they could find and putting make-up in all the right places. They even managed to get their brother to agree to chauffeur her.
However, even their magic couldn't pull off the miracle of getting Lynn a date for the dance. The athlete had to assure them that it was fine, that she didn't need a date for the dance.
So as long as he was there.
There once was a boy named Lincoln Loud. He was a boy that enjoyed all the things that boys usually would, from comics to video games. He also felt a little inadequate about his masculinity (but he had long made his peace with it.)
One day, he was reading his comic books when his other sisters came in and asked him to drive his sister Lynn to the dance. He accepted, and soon found himself suited up in the nicest clothes that they could find, with a little dash of dad's cologne. He then stood straight and helped his sister into Vanzilla.
One of his sisters called out to him, apologizing for the sudden interruption to his schedule. He called back that it was fine.
So as long as she was there.
As the two arrived at the dance, they broke apart, going off in different directions. She went to talk to her friends, while he went to the refreshments. Each time Lynn talked to a male, Lincoln stared out of the corner of his eye. Each time Lincoln talked to a female, Lynn stared out of the corner of her eye.
Finally, a song began to play, and the courtesy dance began. People started dancing with their dates, whether they were unrelated or not. Both Lynn and Lincoln found each other in no time at all.
As Lincoln walked Lynn walk toward him, he imagined a spotlight illuminating her, a veritable angel coming down for him. As Lynn walked towards Lincoln, she compared his posture to that of a storybook prince, waiting to greet his date for the evening. As the two finally came close, they both smiled at each other.
For Lincoln, not even the dirt and grime that she usually wore could contain her radiance.
For Lynn, his smile could rival the stars themselves.
She offered her hand, and he took it.
"May I have this dance?" he asked.
"You may." She said.
As the two joined hands and danced, they had to restrain themselves. Lynn resisted the the urge to lay her head on Lincoln's shoulder. Lincoln resisted the urge to let his hand slip lower.
After a few minutes of pleasurable torture, the music finally ended and it was time for Lincoln and Lynn to part.
"I think we can go now." "Yeah."
The two made their excuses and left the dance. Getting into Vanzilla, they drove out of the parking lot, and then took a left instead of a right. Both were silent, until they came to a secret spot, all their own.
Getting out, Lincoln looked through his phone, and selected a slow song. Putting it on Vanzilla's bumper, he smiled as Lynn offered her hand.
"May I have this dance?" He asked as he took it.
"Please do." She said, returning the smile.
With that, the two came together again, the moon their chandelier, and the clearing their dancing hall.
And the two allowed themselves to be lost in their own little world.
There was a woman named Lynn Loud, and she loved Lincoln Loud.
There was a man named Lincoln Loud, and he loved Lynn Loud.
But Lynn Loud was not Cinderella. She was Lincoln's sister.
But Lincoln Loud was not Lynn's Prince. He was Lynn's brother.
Even so, they would gladly repeat this same song, this same dance, again and again, to indulge in the emotion that they had for each other, and all the while, hope for a day when the clock would never strike twelve.