It's funny how our lives can change in an instant. The things that we take for granted are not forever, though sometimes they feel like they are; we spend four long years roaming the same halls and taking the same classes with the same people, but one day we walk across a stage, accept a diploma, and boom, it's all over. Lori Loud found this out first hand when she was seventeen.

Like any teenager, Lori Loud enjoyed throwing parties - music, food, dancing, and friends. Also like any teenager, she didn't particularly like her younger siblings being involved; they could literally be the most embarrassing people ever. She let them come to every one she threw, though, and things had always worked out - she thought Lynn, Luna, Luan, and Lincoln were annoying, but her friends loved them, so why not, right?

Then it happened.

A cold Friday night in early November; windswept leaves danced through darkened streets and the skeletal face of the moon peered through bare, interlaced treetops like a peeping tom through a sorority house window. Mom, Dad, Lily, Lisa, Lola, and Lana were visiting Aunt Ruth for the weekend (something about a surgery - no one knew or really cared) and Lori figured she'd host a party. Again, why not?

That had become her mantra over the past year because, let's face it, she could be kind of a bitch. She didn't mean to, but being the oldest and always finding herself in charge, she had to be - her siblings would walk all over her if she wasn't, something Lincoln found out for himself when he tried to take her place. I'm the premier of fun, he told her with his hands on his hips and a glint in his eye (she was literally tied to a chair), and you're the czar of lame. Pfft. Fifteen minutes later he came back on his knees. I couldn't even lead Cliff to the litter box, sis, ya gotta help me. She took great satisfaction in someone finally acknowledging how tough it was to keep the SS Loud House on course and may have lorded it over him, but after a little thought, she felt bad; maybe sometimes she did go a little overboard, so...why not loosen up?

Not too much, though.

Mom and Dad announced that they were leaving on Thursday afternoon, which gave Lori just over twenty-four hours to plan - more than enough, since her parties were never huge. She'd invite her friends, they'd listen to music and hang out, and that would be that.

Only she didn't count on one thing.

She was standing at the kitchen counter filling a wooden bowl with chips when the first guests arrived, her friends Dana and Becky; Dana held a covered dish in her hands and Becky a plastic grocery bag. They came in and sat their things on the counter.

"Hey, Lori," Becky said and lidded her eyes. "I brought something special." She drew the last word out in a playful singsong.

Lori rolled the chip bag, tossed it aside, and grabbed a box of cookies from the cabinet. "What?" she asked over her shoulder.

Grinning, Becky pulled a twenty-four pack of Smirnoff Ice from the bag. "Refreshments."

"Seriously?" Lori asked sharply. "My brother and sisters are gonna be around, and you brought alcohol?"

Lori wasn't a prude or anything, she drank from time to time, but she'd specifically forbidden her friends to bring that or weed to her parties. If it was just her and them, fine, but it wasn't: It was Lucy and Lynn and Lincoln and everyone else. She didn't think any of them would snitch her out, though she didn't put it past any of them to use it for blackmail fodder. Give me a ride to the cemetery or I'll be forced to tell Mom about the raging kegger you threw last week. That aside, she was still in charge, which meant she couldn't drink, and there's no feeling worse than hanging out with a bunch of people drinking and having fun while you can't. Except maybe for being really horny and sitting next to your best friend and her boyfriend on the couch as they make out and you have no one. Yes, Lori had been there before, and no, it wasn't very fun.

Presently, Becky rolled her eyes. "It's just a little Smirnoff. Will you lighten up?"

Lori opened her mouth to speak (excuse me, young lady?) but stopped herself. Maybe it was her newfound liberalness...or maybe it was the self-doubt that inspired it (am I too much of a stuck up bitch?), or maybe it was something else...but she sighed in acquiescence. "Fine," she said, "but...do not give any to my brother or sisters."

"We won't," Becky drew, and Dana smirked.

When Lori jammed her finger at them, they both jumped. "I mean it. If you get one of my siblings drunk, I'll beat your ass."

"We won't, jeez," Beck said defensively, "I was only playing."

Umhm. Better have been.

Shortly, other kids started arriving, and before long the living room was packed. Lori stood at the counter and stared through the half wall like an architect watching her plans come to fruition. Becky appeared next to her, a bottle in her hand. "Great party, Lori," she shouted over the music.

"Thanks," Lori said, her chest swelling with pride and satisfaction. She splayed her hands on the counter and bent forward. "I'm pretty great, aren't I?"

"You sure are," Becky said and took a drink. She reached into the bag and pulled out a bottle, which she held out to Lori. "You've earned this."

Lori's eyes darted hesitantly from her friend's face to the proffered bottle and back again. "No," she sighed sadly, "I can't. I'm in charge, I have to make sure things don't get crazy."

"Oh, come on," Becky said, "we're not gonna tear down the house if you have one drink."

No, maybe they wouldn't; she was more worried about her siblings. She was responsible for them and she had to be in peak mental condition in case they needed her.

She scanned the room and found each of them like a mother sitting on a park bench and looking for her kids in a writhing mass of children: Luan told jokes to a semi-circle of kids; Luna sat on the arm of the couch and strummed her guitar; Lynn and some guy in a beanie and a sleeveless green jersey kicked a hacky-sack; Leni sat next to Chaz and prattling about God knew what, her hand waving and her eyes dancing with a happy light; Lucy read from a book of her poems; and Lincoln stood by the TV talking to Dana and a few other kids and being funny by the sound of their laughter.

"Loosen up," Becky said and nudged Lori in the side with her elbow.

Well...they were good kids and self-sufficient too. Plus, it was one drink; it's not like she was going to get sloppy falling-down drunk. "Fine," she said with a faux long-suffering sigh. "You peer pressured me into it."

Becky grinned as Lori took the bottle. "Atta girl."

Lori giggled. "Just one, though."

"Alright," Becky said with a wink, "just one."

Holding the bottle in her hand, her palm slick with condensation, she had one last burst of doubt, but shoved it away. Becky was right. She needed to loosen up - she was seventeen and sometimes she acted more like a mother than a teenager. Her brother and sisters would be fine even if she did get drunk.

Which she wasn't going to.

She twisted the cap off and took a long drink.

Just one, she said, but one became two, and two became four; warm wool swaddled her brain and the floor began to mysteriously pitch like the deck of a ship in a rough swell. She held onto the counter and laughed when Becky, loose herself, started dancing to the music, her head whipping back and forth and her hips gyrating. "You literally look like an epileptic," Lori said.

"Shut up, bitch," Becky laughed, "I look hot." Her reddish hair veiled her face and the center of her body rolled hypnotically. Lori took a drink and swayed. She felt good, really good, and she kind of felt like dancing too, but she wasn't that far gone, lol.

At some point, Dana stumbled in and slapped the counter to get her balance. "Hey, Lori," she drew thickly and leaned heavily against the edge, "awesome party."

"I know," Lori said, closing her eyes and basking in her well-deserved praise.

Dana turned and gazed into the living room - kids danced, drank soda from red solo cups, and shoveled snacks into their faces. Leni and Chaz were missing, and Lori briefly wondered if they were doing something somewhere. Oh, I better go look and -

"So," Dana said, "your brother."

"What about him?" Lori asked. Did he do something wrong? She looked around and spotted him playing beer pong with a bunch of guys. Well...soda pong, but you get the idea.

Dana shrugged. "He's...he's kind of cute." She bowed her head and giggled girlishly. "And funny."

"Yeah, he's -" her words cut off when she realized what Dana was saying. Lincoln? Cute and funny? Lol. "He's also a kid."

"I know," Dana said, "But he's still cute."

Really? Lincoln? Her brother? He's, like, eleven, and my brother, it's impossible for him to be 'cute.'

She squinted through the haze of her drunkenness and studied him, trying to see him as Dana did. To her, he was her little brother and nothing else, not even really a boy, like...he existed apart from that, you know? Same with her father and grandfather. They were all men, but she didn't see them as men, she saw them as Dad, Pop-Pop...and twep.

In the living room, Lincoln tossed a ball and it landed in a cup, his buddies cheering him on. He smiled cockily and held up one hand. I know I'm great, gentlemen, no need to applause. He looked like a bunny rabbit, with his cowlick and chipped teeth, and his arm muscles were beginning to tone with puberty. For the first time, she noticed that his face was thinner, his features a touch more rugged, his baby fat suddenly gone. Wow, when did that happen? He opened his eyes and grinned smugly.

Okay, yeah, well, she guessed she could see where a girl, even one her age, would think he was cute. He also had a presence; when he walked in the room you were drawn to him. Charisma, it was called. And he was funny, even if he was a giant dork about it. Smart, too; kind; gentle; considerate. He always helped her when she needed it, and if she or any of her sisters were down, he took it upon himself to make them feel better.

"Yeah," she heard herself saying, "I guess he is kinda cute."

Dana nodded. "Umhm."

"He's also nice and kind and helpful and tender and loving." Her stomach began to flutter as she spoke, and her cheeks grew hot. Lincoln backed away from the table and watched with crossed arms as another boy took a shot, the ball bouncing off the rim of the cup. Her eyes darted from his freckled face to his chest, and as he uncrossed him arms, to his hands, his fingers long and slender. She imagined how it would feel to thread hers through them, and a electric jolt plunged into her heart like a lightning bolt from the heavens.

Dana took a pull from her bottle and sighed. "I really like him," she said, then turned, her eyelids drooping boozily, "is he single?"

For some reason, that question was like a buzzsaw in the pit of Lori's stomach. "No," she said quickly. "He has a girlfriend."

That was a lie. He did not.

Dana hummed. "She's really lucky." She pushed away from the counter and swayed. "I need to pee."

When she was gone, Lori took a drink and watched Lincoln play - her stomach ached and she felt warm all over. Dana was right. Any girl who wound up with Lincoln was lucky - he was perfect boyfriend material.

She lifted the bottle, but it was empty.

Time for another.

After that, she lost count as roaring good will filled her skull and her buzz consumed her. The whole time, she thought of Lincoln, rolling him slowly through her addled mind like a wine snob rolling 1898 vintage over her tongue, and as she watched him, she stared to feel even warmer, especially between her legs. You know who he reminded her of? Bobby. They were both sweet and cute and dorky but in a good way. Bobby moved, though, and that made her real sad because she liked Bobby a lot. She still had Lincoln, though. What a good brother. Did she ever show him her appreciation? She didn't think so. She was all you're a twep, you can't come to my party. What an asshole. He was really cool and she acted like he was the plague or something.

Well...forget that. She was going to go give him a big hug and a kiss in front of everyone. Look, guys, I love my brother. He's awesome. Jealous, huh?

Grabbing her sixth or seventh bottle from the counter, she started into the living room, her steps clumsy and unsure. Dana backed into her, and she almost fell over. "Move it or sister lose it," Lori grumbled and pushed her away. Lincoln was standing by the TV with his arms crossed and his back to her, talking to Lynn. Lori smiled as she swept over and snaked one arm around him from behind. He tensed, but relaxed when she spoke - guess he thought she was someone else, lmao. "You're a good big brother," she slurred. She knew he was her little brother, but big came out and felt better on her lips. Lynn arched her brow and smirked, her head shaking slowly from side to side, which kind of made Lori mad. Look at her! She's drunk! How dare the captain cut loose for one time. Pfft.

Ignoring her, she drew Lincoln close and took a swig. "Thanks," he said guardedly, "you're a good little sister."

Lynn snickered.

Was Lori weird for feeling all tingly when he said that? Little sister. She always kind of did want an older sister...someone she could go to when she had problems of her own, someone to look out for her the way she looked out for everyone else, someone to teach her and guide her. A big brother was good too, though; a sweet, kind, cute big brother with muscular arms and a cocky smile. A big, strong brother to hold her through those cold, lonely night and show her things...like how to use her body.

A pang rippled through her core and she giggled. Leaning over and pressing her lips to his ear, she rubbed a slow, sloppy circle against his chest, her palm tracing the outline of his developing muscles. Her breathing caught and her center pinched. "I like when you call me that," she said huskily.

Lynn's brow furrowed in confusion and Lincoln turned his head, craning his neck back and away. "Uh...yeah." He laughed nervously. "It was a joke because, you know, you...you accidentally called big brother and...and I'm not."

He tried to extract himself from her grasp, but she held tighter, resting her chin on his shoulder and flattening her breasts against his back; he was firm but soft, and warm, and smelled sooo good. Clean and fresh and like boy. She took a deep breath through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, imagining she could taste him. Her heart started to slam and her pussy trembled as if in anticipation; she could feel it slickening, readying itself for him. Lincoln's forehead crinkled and he looked at her as though she was literally the strangest thing ever. "You're really cute."

"Alright," Lynn said and took a step forward, her hand going up,, "Lori, you need to go lay down, you're drunk."

Lori shot her a withering glance, and she fell back. "I'm not drunk," she said, "I'm telling Lincoln how much I like him. He's a good brother. You should s-stop picking on him."

"I don't pick on him," Lynn said defensively.

Lori held Lincoln tighter, protectively to her breast. "Yes you do. You call him Stinkcoln and...and make fun of him."

"You came up with that name!"

Did she? "Well, now I'm done."

Lynn's jaw clenched and her eyes flashed. Lori gestured with the bottle. "Go bully someone else, football head."

"Screw you," Lynn said tightly and brushed past, her ponytail swishing angrily from side to side.

Lori watched her disappear into the crowd and shook her head, then turned to Lincoln. "I'm sorry I called you Stinkcoln," she said and touched her lips to his cheek, drawing his scent and taste in, her fingers dancing over his chest. "And twep. You're not those things." She kissed the side of his face, and a shiver went through his body. He broke out of her arms, taking his heat with him; she was suddenly cold and so alone she could cry.

"L-Lori, you really do need to lay down," he said. His cheeks burned crimson and his limpid brown eyes were misty as if with distant smoke.

She took a drink, realized the bottle was empty, then dropped it onto the floor. See what I mean? He was concerned for her - such a good big brother. "I'm okay, Lincy," she said thickly and stood to her full height, shoulders slumped and head hung. "I just want to show you how much I love my big b-brother."

Despite the gravity of the situation, one corner of Lincoln's mouth turned up in a sardonic grin. "I'm not your big brother," he said patiently.

Lori giggled and flattened herself against his body, her fingers running through his snowy white hair. "We can pretend," she said. He stared up at her in shock, his mouth open in a perfect O and his his eyes wide. Lori giggled again and leaned in, her forehead bumping his, their gazes locking, his breath filling her mouth and making her heart race. "You're so cute." She tilted her head and moved in to kiss him; Lincoln simply gaped, unable to move or even to think.

Her lips grazed his, then she was being dragged back, her heart leaping into her chest and her arms flying out; her feet tangled, and she tripped, but didn't fall. Flashing, she whipped away and spun on her heels. Lynn and Luna stood side by side, Lynn with her arms crossed and Luna with her hands on her hips; they wore matching glowers. "You're going to bed," Luna said. She grabbed Lori by the arm and started dragging her toward the stairs.

Lori tried to yank her arm away, her teeth clenching. "Get offa me, bitch,"

Lynn grabbed her other arm and together they guided her to the steps; Lori realized everyone was looking at them, but she didn't care. They were taking her away from Lincoln. "Fuck you," she slurred and thrashed. Luna grimaced and pulled harder.

"Knock it off, Lori," she said, "you're acting like a fucking idiot."

Sudden vertigo burst in her head, and all she could do was allow herself to be taken away, sparing a longing glance over her shoulder at Lincoln, who stood in the middle of the living room, jaw slack, eyes ten times their normal size.

He was literally the cutest thing ever.