Chapter 2

Bobby drove up to the Loud house as the sun was just setting into a sky of purple and orange. Lori gave her man a kiss on the cheek and hopped out the car wearing a new sling backpack. She opened the zipper and smiled at her brand new Hooter's uniform.

"Hey Lori!" greeted her only brother, Lincoln, from the front door.

Lori zipped the bag shut and flashed a nervous smile. "H-Hey twerp."

Nearly knocking Lincoln on his bottom were the twins, Lana and Lola. They rushed over to the eldest sister and each took a leg in a warm embrace. "So, didja get a job, huh?" they asked in unison.

Lori gently pushed the twins away from her and walked inside the front door. "Well…not exactly," she lied.

"Wait, whaddya mean 'not exactly'?" asked Lola. The rest of the Loud clan looked up from what they were doing and gave their undivided attention to their oldest sister.

Lori chuckled. "I mean, I've applied like literally everywhere, and no one hired me. So I-I guess I'll go back tomorrow and try again!" She dashed up the stairs and slammed the bedroom door behind her. She threw her sling backpack onto the bed and quickly hid her Hooter's uniform underneath some clothes in a drawer. As soon as she closed the drawer, Lucy popped in beside her, causing her to yelp.

"Did you try the funeral home?" she asked in a monotonic voice. "I hear they're hiring funeral directors. it's like a dream job for me, but I have to wait another eight years to be old enough to get a job."

Lori shook her head. "Why would I want to do something like that? Besides, I literally only went to the mall to look for work. Now get out of my room, you creep!"

Lori pushed the sighing goth out of her room and closed the door behind her. As soon as she turned to her bed, she heard a faint knock on the door. "Lucy! I said I'm not going to become a funeral director! Now leave me alone!"

"It's me, Leni," said a cheery voice behind the door.

Lori opened the door and flashed her younger sister a remorseful smirk. "Sorry, Leni."

"That's okay, Lori. You just need new glasses, that's all. Because I look nothing like Lucy at all," she said as she walked over to her bed to take a seat.

Lori raised a finger, but decided against letting her thoughts be known. She laid herself on her bed and looked up at the ceiling, a deep sigh escaping her rosy lips. She eyed the drawer that hid the uniform of her secret job, thoughts of how long she could keep it occulted from her family. Her train of thoughts became derailed by Leni reaching a hand towards the very drawer she had her eye on. Lori's heart beat profusely in her chest as Leni grabbed the drawer by the handle and pulled it open. Lori bolted from the bed as Leni reached inside.

"Leni!" Lori screamed.

A startled Leni pulled out a pair of sleep pants and turned to face her sister, who was on all fours, reaching out to grab her by the arm.

Lori quickly retracted her arm, stood up, and dusted herself off. "Y-you shouldn't wear those pants to sleep. They, uh, literally clash with your…bra?"

Leni tugged at the collar of her white T-Shirt and looked down. "You're right," she exclaimed. "Poly cotton blend pants do not mix well with lacy undergarments."

Lori sighed in relief. She took the pants from Leni's grasp and switched them out with one of her own. "Here, this pair totally goes with lacy undergarments."

Leni flashed her a big grin and left the room to take a shower.

Lori opened the drawer and pulled out her uniform and slapped the side of her head. "Of course, I put these clothes in Leni's side of the bureau," she scolded herself. She decided her sling backpack would be the safest place to leave them since no one really went through any of her bags. She tossed the bag into her closet, making sure it landed on her side.

Lori heard a faint knock at the door. "Leni, I don't have any other sleepwear to go with your lacy bra!" She thrust open the door and was surprised to find her mother on the other side, scratching the side of her head. "Oh…sorry mom. I thought you were Leni."

Rita smiled. "It's okay, sweetie. Lincoln told me that you couldn't land a job today. Is that right?"

Lori nodded.

Rita gave her eldest daughter a hug. "it's okay, sweetheart. You'll find a job eventually. If you can't find one before the end of the month, we won't charge you for your phone. Just try to find something soon, okay?"

Lori broke the hug and scratched her shoulder. "Y-yeah, of course, mom."

"Just do me one favor, will you?"

Lori looked up to find her mother with a stern look.

"I want you to stay away from questionable places of employment. You know what kinds of places I mean, right?"

Lori gulped. "Um, like Hooter's?"

Rita let out a big laugh before returning to the same serious look that sent shivers down Lori's spine. "Exactly. No daughter, or son for that matter, will be caught dead working in a place that requires women to dress like street prostitutes and walk around having perverted men eye them like some kind of prized pig. You were raised with dignity, and I expect nothing less, okay?"

Lori felt faint, but managed to nod convincingly enough. She felt her mother's warm lips gently peck the top of her head before she bid her good night. As soon as her mother was out of sight, she closed the door and slid down to the floor. She felt her eyes water as anxious thoughts ran through her mind.

"What have I gotten myself into?" she said to herself.