A/N: Hello everyone, I now present my next Loud House story. This is a prequel to my classic "Young Hearts Be Free Tonight" from last year/earlier this year. The title is a reference to the song "Take Me Home Tonight" by Eddie Money which was referenced in that story. This story begins two years prior to "Young Hearts Be Free Tonight" so the characters are all one year older than in the show.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Loud House
It was a dreary, dull day in Royal Woods. At Royal Woods Middle School, it was lunchtime and the kids where gathering their food. Lincoln Loud and Clyde McBride sat down with their friends Liam, Zack and Rusty.
"Is this supposed to be mac and cheese?" asked Zack skeptical.
"My pigs slop is better than this." said Liam disgusted.
"How did you do on the math test?" asked Rusty worried.
The other four shuttered.
"I bombed." answered Zack.
"Me too." sighed Clyde.
"My pa is gonna tan my hide when he finds out how bad I did." answered Liam.
"I won't get that, but I might be grounded." said Lincoln.
"Didn't you get help from Lisa?" asked Clyde.
"I couldn't understand a word she said." shrugged Lincoln.
"My pigs squeal makes more sense to me than math." said Liam.
The five boys let out a collective sigh.
"Geez, you guys are screwed." chuckled Ronnie Anne.
Lincoln moved over allowing Ronnie Anne to sit next to him.
"You sound confident." mused Rusty flatly.
"I studied." said Ronnie Anne confidently.
"What did you get for number five?" asked Zack.
"Seven." answered Ronnie Anne nonchalant.
The boys shared confused glances.
"It was 4 3/4 plus 3 1/2. Wouldn't it at least be eight?" asked Lincoln.
Ronnie Anne froze in place.
"Hijo de puta." sighed Ronnie Anne.
"Sounds like you're screwed too." said Zack.
"Mom is gonna ground me." said Ronnie Anne flatly.
"I wish we had Ms. Johnson." sighed Clyde.
"But your teach ain't so bad." said Liam.
"No, but Ms. Johnson was so awesome." said Clyde.
The others agreed.
"I'm glad Lucy will have her next year." said Lincoln.
"Same with Rocky." agreed Rusty.
"Not to mention your other four sisters." said Ronnie Anne.
"That is unless Lisa goes right to college." shrugged Lincoln.
"It must suck knowing you're not as smart as your five year old sister." said Ronnie Anne teasingly.
"Doesn't bug me." shrugged Lincoln.
"When I give you crap, it's not fun if you shrug it off." stated Ronnie Anne annoyed.
"Oh well." said Lincoln happily.
Lincoln suddenly felt gooey drop down his pants.
"Ahh!" cried Lincoln.
Lincoln began pulling hand fulls of mac and cheese out of his pants.
"That's more like it Lame-O!" laughed Ronnie Anne.
"Dang it Ronnie Anne." said Lincoln annoyed.
Lincoln got the last of the mac and cheese out.
"My clothes are covered in cheese." sighed Lincoln flatly.
"Seems like Ronnie is trying to get your pants off." joked Rusty.
Rusty quickly regretted this as a blushing Ronnie Anne kicked him.
"That's what you get jackass." huffed Ronnie Anne flustered.
Ronnie Anne and Lincoln shared embarrassed glances.
"Are you mad?" asked Ronnie Anne guilty.
"No." answered Lincoln, flustered himself.
The rest of the day went by as normal. Finally, school let out and the students departed. Ronnie Anne and Lincoln where talking and blushing as they walked. Ronnie Anne got a call from her mother and had to go home. Ronnie Anne hoped on her skateboard and took off toward her home. Lincoln waved goodbye to Ronnie Anne until she was far out of site. Even after she was gone, Lincoln continued waving.
"Ronnie's gone now." noted Clyde.
Lincoln stopped, blinked and stopped waving.
"Yeah. I guess so." said Lincoln.
"Are you okay?" asked Clyde.
"Of course." answered Lincoln.
Lincoln blushed red as a tomato.
"Why wouldn't I be?" asked Lincoln.
"You've been acting weird." answered Clyde.
"Oh." replied Lincoln flustered.
"Do you like Ronnie Anne?" asked Clyde curious.
"Of course." answered Lincoln calmly.
Lincoln again shook his head.
"She's my friend." noted Lincoln.
"I think you care about her more than as a friend." mused Clyde.
Lincoln gulped nervously.
"You've been spending too much time with Doctor Lopez." stated Lincoln.
Lincoln began walking away.
"Hold up!" called Clyde.
Clyde ran over catching up with his friend.
"It's fine if you are." stated Clyde.
Lincoln chose to remain silent.
"You remember how long I was attracted to Lori." continued Clyde.
"I'm surprised you finally admitted defeat." confessed Lincoln.
"Well, I realized my actions where childish and I could never win her heart." sighed Clyde.
"Plus, she and Bobby moved in together." added Lincoln.
Clyde took a moment to keep himself together.
"That too." lamented Clyde.
Clyde shook his head.
"But, I'm not trying to dwell on the past." said Clyde.
"Good for you." said Lincoln.
"So, do you like Ronnie Anne?" asked Clyde.
"Of course." answered Lincoln.
Lincoln shook his head.
"As a friend!" added Lincoln.
"We've never been good at lying." sighed Clyde.
"Ronnie Anne is not my girlfriend." stated Lincoln blushing.
"Come on." said Clyde.
Lincoln let out a sigh.
"Maybe, I do like Ronnie Anne a lot." confessed Lincoln.
"Thought so." said Clyde.
The two reached Franklin Avenue.
"You can't tell my sisters!" declared Lincoln.
"They'd go nuts if they knew." noted Clyde.
"You have no idea." muttered Lincoln.
"But, two of of your sisters are in relationships so they might be able to help." proposed Clyde.
"Maybe." mused Lincoln.
Lincoln shook his head.
"I'd have to make sure they don't tell anyone." said Lincoln.
The two reached 1216 Franklin Avenue.
"Best of luck." said Clyde.
The two shared a high-five.
"Thanks man." replied Lincoln.
Lincoln walked into his residence and found ti as chaotic as usual. The twins where arguing, an explosion shook the house followed by Lisa affirming she was okay. Finally, Lucy appeared to greet her brother scaring him as she often did. Lincoln went to his room and got an early start on his homework to have room. Eventually, the girls got home and the Loud family had dinner. Lincoln went to Lori's room and knocked.
"Busy!" called Lori.
"It's Lincoln." noted the boy.
"Go away!" demanded Lori.
Lincoln opened the door seeing Lori and Leni on their beds. Lori was texting while Leni was reading the latest issue of Seventeen magazine.
"Hey Linky!" cried Leni.
"Please. It's really important." begged Lincoln.
Lori let out a groan.
"One minute." relented Lori.
"Leni, can you get Luna for me." requested Lincoln.
"Okay." shrugged Leni.
Leni left the room and to get Luna.
"By the time Luna gets here, it'll be too late." said Lori.
"Lori, I need girl help." revealed Lincoln.
Lori tossed down her phone.
"Oh My Literal Gosh!" exclaimed Lori.
Lori grabbed her phone and texted.
"Whitney, this'll have to wait." said Lori.
Luna knocked on the door.
"Yo, Leni said you needed me." noted Luna.
Lincoln led Luna instead and shut the door.
"Linky has a girlfriend." said Lori excited.
"Awesome!" declared Luna.
Lincoln hushed his sisters.
"Please keep it down." begged Lincoln.
The trio gathered around Lori's bed.
"So...is it Ronnie Anne?" asked Luna curious.
"Please tell me it's Ronnie Anne." begged Lori hopeful.
"It is." confirmed Lincoln.
Lori squealed in delight.
"I literally knew it." said Lori ecstatic.
"I'm pretty sure I like her." admitted Lincoln.
"Are you unsure?" asked Lori sympathetic.
Lincoln nodded his head in confirmation.
"It's dumb." sighed Lincoln.
"Be there..." began Luna.
"Literally done that." added Lori.
Lincoln smiled a bit feeling better.
'When I first saw Sam, I was confused. I knew what love is, but I never felt like this before." explained Luna.
"What about my tutor Hugh?" asked Lincoln.
"That was a crush." answered Luna dismissively.
"There's a difference?" asked Lincoln confused.
"Crushes come and go, but love is forever." answered Lori.
"I know it's gotta be confusing little bro." said Luna.
"Do you feel head over heels? Do you feel your heart fluster? Do you blush when Ronnie's around? Do you want to be with her for the rest of your life?" asked Lori.
"Yeah." answered Lincoln.
"You're in love little bro." stated Luna happily.
Lori hugged Lincoln.
"I'm so happy for you." said Lori.
Lori tightly hugged Lincoln.
"Can't...breath." wheezed Lincoln.
Lori released her brother.
"Sorry." said Lori.
"Since you're both dating, I was hoping you could help me." said Lincoln.
"No problem bro." said Luna.
"We'd literally be glad to help." said Lori.
"Also, can we keep the others out of this for now." requested Lincoln.
"I get why." admitted Luna.
"Okay Lincoln." agreed Lori.
"Thanks guy." said Lincoln.
A/N: That is where we'll end things for now. I took a bit of a break so I didn't burn out and this is what I decided to return to. I hope you like this. This story will be mostly be a slice of life story. By the way, the answer to the math problem is 8.25 which I had to look up because I hate math. Anyway, next time Luna and Lori help Lincoln. Please review.