Story #2: "A Way of Saying Goodbye" (Lori x Bobby; one-sided Bobby x "Sara")
Plot: Contemplating whether love is worth it, Bobby takes Lori to meet a former girlfriend of his.
Characters: Lori Loud, Bobby Santiago, "Sara Summers"
Genre: Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Drama, Supernatural
Rated: T/PG-13 (for mature themes, suggestive material, and an overall bittersweet ending)
(5:00 PM)
He didn't call. He didn't call one bit today.
She didn't call. She didn't call one bit today.
How could she, though? She was dead.
Bobby stood in front of her grave, a gentle gaze sprinkling all over it. He wore a black trench coat and a black suit jacket above a white long-sleeve collared shirt, a black vest, and a pair of black dress pants with matching shoes. He had a bouquet of roses in one hand, a Colt M1991A1 in the other. He placed down the bouquet, but not the handgun. Like he did with the grave, he gently gazed at the firearm and then back at the aforementioned grave; he then proceeded to glance back and forth at the two objects. He sighed and began to gently murmur under his breath:
"Listen, honey... I don't know if you're okay with this, but... I'm seeing someone. She's just like you: smart, sensitive, and sexy. She has what I consider the trifecta - three qualities that make the perfect girlfriend. With that being said... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that you're here today. To be honest...I kinda wish you were here. If Lori wasn't available, I wish you were. But you're not. You're not here. You're there. Nobody wanted you to leave, but you needed to. For that, I have to move on. I had to. I hope one day..."
Bobby sniveled and wiped away his tentative tears, not caring a damn if the suit was stained.
"I hope one day that you'll understand."
Bobby leaned down and plucked out one single rose from the bouquet, holding it by his side with the intent of giving it to Lori. As he turned to walk away...
"I understand."
Bobby stopped dead in his tracks and, after a minute of hesitation, turned to find...her...floating upon her grave.
"Sunset...?"
"Hello, Bobby."
Sunset Shimmer hadn't aged a day, her soft smile being a testament to that fact. She wore a purple long-sleeve shirt tucked into an orange skirt, her red-and-yellow shimmering sun necklace hanging appropriately from her neck. Her vivid crimson with brilliant yellow striped hair, moderate cyan eyes, and light amber skin greatly glistened in the falling sun, mirroring her appearance two nights before her passing. She was as beautiful as a steel magnolia.
"Sunset...is that really you?"
"Yes, Bobby. You're not that much of an idiot."
Snarky. And snarky, too. Bobby couldn't help but mimic Sunset's soft smile.
"Thanks, Sunset." Bobby mock complimented his former love.
"Welcome, Bobby." Sunset mock responded her former love.
"Wow, you look beautiful." / "Whoa, you look handsome."
Bobby and Sunset's respective pairs of eyes widened at the same time they finished their respective remarks about each other. They both shared a laugh,
"Huh. Things never change, do they?"
"No, they never do. So...you're seeing someone? Who is she, and what is she like?"
"Her name is Lori. She's just like you: smart, sensitive, and sexy. Of course, I said this to you already. Though, I don't think I remember any times where she has let go of her phone."
"Hmm, she shares similarities with me? That's a good sign. That's kinda like me with either my journal or my guitar."
"Speaking of your journal and guitar... I don't know if you want or need me to give them back - "
"Oh, Bobby. You don't need or want to. You need to keep the journal, you want to return the guitar. I'm planning on playing some tunes in the good place."
"I'll keep that in mind." Bobby suddenly frowned and sadly sighed, something Sunset was somehow expecting, "Listen, I know I said this already, but... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that you're there and not here."
"Oh, baby..." Sunset floated towards Bobby and placed a kiss onto his cheek, "You don't have to be. It was my decision and my decision alone. Plus, you and Ronnie Anne needed to be save. Meeting Lori has to be the one of the greatest - if not the greatest - things you've ever experienced. It just proves that you've finally moved on. You and I... We're both free."
Bobby wanted to apologize even further when Sunset had said this (specifically that last part), but he stopped himself and took in what she had said. She had a point. She had one iota of a point. She wanted this to happen. She wanted to die in order to protect the people she held dear. She, even if she didn't admit it, knew this was necessary.
Sunset loved Bobby just as Bobby loved Sunset.
"Maybe you're right. I still can't help but feel that I could've protected you more."
"You have Ronnie Anne. Make her your motivation to try harder and better. Never give up and never go back, right?"
Bobby suddenly smiled and nodded, "Right."
The former couple shared a hug before Sunset pulled away, "Oh! I just had an idea! Close your eyes shut and hold your hand out. Your right hand, please."
Bobby could only nod and did what he told. He had held his right hand - the hand that clutched the rose - and closed both of his eyes whilst indirectly facing Sunset, who slipped off her necklace and went for the rose, pulling it away and placing her necklace in the palm of his hand. Bobby felt the rose slip out of his grasp and something else substituted for it in its place. It was cold, metal, and chain-linked. He opened them when she was presumably finished, opening up his hand and gasping upon he laid eyes on the accessory. When he glanced up and faced her, she smiled and shrugged,
"For Lori. She would love it... Well, not that I don't."
"No, Sunset. I can't take this. It's yours."
"No, Bobby. It's yours...for when you give it to Lori. Besides... I'm dead."
Bobby was taken aback by Sunset's explanation as to why she was giving the necklace to him, but didn't protest any longer, "Alright then. Thank you, Sunset. I owe you."
"I'm dead, Bobby," Sunset repeated and shook her head in disagreement, "Besides, you wedding Lori later on is you paying your debt."
"Then wish me luck, then." In thanks, Bobby hugged Sunset, who then placed a soft kiss on his lips,
"Happy Valentine's Day, Bobby Santiago."
"Happy Valentine's Day, Sunset Shimmer."
Bobby watched on as Sunset faded away from existence and soared into the heavens, her smile being the last of what he saw of her. He then walked away when he was mostly certain she was gone, a newfound confidence found within himself.
(7:00 PM)
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Bobby?"
"Lori, I highly doubt any serial killers or brain-eating zombies will find us here."
"Well, I'm sure that the cemetery is the birthplace of the latter."
"Hopefully, the serial killers in question would save us first...if they don't plan on killing us first, that is."
Lori and Bobby had (somehow, in Lori's case) found themselves at the town cemetery. Lori had absolutely no idea in the slightest why Bobby would lead her to a place like this (not that she found it offensive or anything of the sort), but she almost automatically assumed that he jumped the shark when it came to dates. She had given a chance, however, and knew to expect the unexpected.
Bobby did the exact same thing when it came to a family like the Louds.
Lori was led by Bobby to a tombstone labeled 'Sunset Shimmer'. Complete confusion overtook her until he elaborated,
"Lori, I would like you to meet my former girlfriend... Sunset Shimmer."
Lori's eyebrows furrowed at the revelation and slowly smiled, crouching down to her knees to get a better look, "Hello, Sunset. It's a privilege to meet you."
"The privilege's mine...to meet you, that is."
Lori's eyes widened and let out a short squeak, leaping into Bobby's arms as they both looked on as the tombstone glowed and the grave shook. A spirit slowly appeared. A spirit of a vivid crimson and brilliant yellow haired girl donning a date dress.
"Hello, Lori. I take it the date went well, Bobby?"
"Yeah, Sunset. Thanks for asking."
Lori glanced back and forth between her boyfriend and her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend before slowly getting down from his arms, "I'm not hallucinating, am I?"
"I asked myself the same question. I won't worry, though."
"Yeah, don't worry, Lori. I don't bite."
"Ha. I do when I'm frightened."
"It would make sense. So, Bobby... Did you give her your present yet?"
"Oh, no. I was about to. I wanted you to see." Bobby reached into his suit jacket and pulled out Sunset's necklace, hanging it out for Lori's full display. Lori herself marveled at the accessory, rendering herself speechless to the point where she almost didn't answer his question:
"May I?"
Lori could only silently nod, allowing her smile to grow and her boyfriend to slip on the necklace.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Lori."
"Oh, Happy Valentine's Day, Bobby. My Boo-Boo Bear." Lori smiled and planted a kiss onto Bobby's lips. Bobby returned Lori's kiss as Sunset witnessed on with both pride...and hilarity,
"Heh, heh. "Boo-Boo Bear"?"
Bobby broke away from the kiss and scowled at Sunset, who waved her hands around in innocence,
"Relax, relax. I'm just kidding, Bobby. Anyway, Lori."
Lori turned her attention from the necklace to Sunset's smile, "Take care of Bobby, okay? He's a keeper."
She nodded in response and watched as her boyfriend's former love faded away for a second time, lovingly resting her head on Bobby's shoulder as she did so.
Best...Valentine's Day...EVER.
A/N: Some of the review highlights:
1) Exotos135: "And here, in Loud habitats, we meet the Bobbus Lovelicus in his natural habitat, interacting with the Sunsetus Nonexistii while there's no sign of his usual mate, the Phonelous Lorilei.
This was good!
Keep up the good work. :)"
• Me: "Thank you! Honestly, I see Bobby and Sunset as a much cuter couple."
2) asperman1: "Nice surprise with the sudden crossover"
• Me: "I like to experiment."
3) Codymitchell1: "wow so sad now i want a sunset story lol :)"
• Me: "I'm currently working on a Sunset story that serves as a prequel."
4) LuminousShadow: "That was rather cute and interesting! I loved it!"
• Me: "Thank you! In another world, Bobby dates Sunset instead of Lori (no offense)..."