Luna and Luan sat out on top of Vanzilla for a little longer under the stars, enjoying each other's company. They watched as Lisa was dropped off by Darcy's parents, followed shortly by Leni and Lynn who had both gotten rides from their respective friends. The three Loud kids entered the house, not noticing their sisters propped up on the family van's roof. Eventually though, the two of them decided that they better go back inside to get some sleep as it was getting late, and Luan had those birthday parties to tend to tomorrow. They slid down to the ground and made their way back inside the stuffy interior of the Loud house. Most of their younger siblings were already fast asleep, while Lori and Leni were quietly in their room. Luna headed off to the family's sole bathroom to grab a shower before bed. Deciding that she still had Sunday to complete her homework, Luan got ready for bed too. She changed into her pajamas and then sat on her bed, stroking Cliff, who had decided to visit this room for the night.
For some reason, her mind began to wander back…way back to her memories with Luna. They had been through a lot together growing up. They were extremely close and told each other everything. Problems they faced, emotions they felt, tons of girly giggles, and so much more. As kids, they were inseparable. As teens, though their interests had sprouted in different directions, they still held loyalty for each other with an iron fist. Luna wasn't really the type to appreciate the art of comedy as much as Luan did, but Luan would be lying if she didn't admit that despite this, Luna had always supported her during her time at clown school and building her way up in the entertainment sector, helping her in any way she could. She would listen to Luan as she rehearsed her acts and practiced new puns, offering pointers and constructive criticism. Equally, Luan didn't care all that much for rock and roll, but she did enjoy listening to Luna's music whenever she wanted an audience for a new song. As was the case with all the Louds, their hobbies did not fall short of getting on each other's nerves. Luna's rock-and-roll could give anyone a splitting headache. Luan's pranks tended to cross the line. But that didn't stop the two young artists from doing what they loved and looking out for each other all the same. Luan loved all her sisters and her brother dearly, but she definitely held a special connection with Luna. When it came down to it, Luna meant a lot to her and Luan couldn't imagine life without her big sister.
Luna stepped into their room, squeaky clean and in her pajamas, her regular attire folded up in her arms. Luan looked up at her.
"Luna? Could we…could we maybe do that again? Go outside at night?" she asked hesitantly. She felt a little silly asking this, like she was a child asking for another ride on the swing set.
Luna smiled warmly at her. "You liked that huh? It's not so bad, spending some time outdoors?"
"Yeah, I was on Cloud 9 the whole time!" Luan laughed while Luna groaned. "But it's not just that," Luan continued in a more serious tone. "We haven't really hung out lately like we used to. Just the two of us and…I kinda miss that."
Luna had to think for a moment before realizing her sister was right. They used to play together all the time in the past, but she couldn't recall the last time she had spent some quality time with just Luan alone…before tonight that is.
"Gee sis, I guess you're right. We really should chill more often."
Luan already had an answer to that. "How would you like to come with me to a couple of birthday parties tomorrow? You can play music while I perform my routine."
The rocker considered this offer. Birthday music wasn't her first musical choice, but she had been to enough parties and hang outs to know that music was a staple to bringing the fun out of anyone, young or old. Surely it would add a unique flare to Luan's performances and it would give the two of them the chance to do something they both loved together. Plus, if Luan got this much recognition with her business, this could be another step in boosting her own numbers.
"Sure dude, I'd love to do that! Just let me find some birthday tunes and I'm ready to roll."
Luan beamed and wrapped her arms around Luna, embracing her tightly. The older girl felt her heart melt as she returned the hug. Just as it had been the first in a very long time that they had hung out together, this was the first hug that they had shared in quite a while too.
Both girls suddenly found herself looking forward to tomorrow.
After that, Luna went downstairs to the kitchen to get a drink of water before bed. She placed her empty glass in the sink while pondering what songs she could use tomorrow to aid Luan's acts. It suddenly dawned on her that Luan hadn't told a single pun while they sitting outside together. The fresh air must really have had an effect on her. I should take her out there more often, she thought.
"Hey Luna."
The rocker girl jumped as she spun around to see her little sister Lucy, standing in the kitchen doorway clutching her poetry book, looking like a ghost in her white night shirt.
"Lucy! Didn't see you there, dude!" she replied after getting over her little shock.
"Sigh. Don't worry. I'm used to it." Lucy didn't sound offended or disheartened (or at least no more than she normally did), but Luna sympathized with her nonetheless. Ever since the 8-year-old had attempted to cast spells on her siblings in retaliation for stepping over her, Luna had made a bigger effort to look out for her. Not out of fear, but out of love, as she should have in the first place.
"Sorry Luce, I didn't mean it in that way. You just startled me, that's all."
"It seems to be what I'm good at." Luna could detect a hint of pride in Lucy's voice. "I saw you and Luan outside," she suddenly stated.
Luna smiled. "Oh yeah, we were just chillin' with the moon and stars. But I wouldn't have been out there tonight if you hadn't told me about how nice it really was.
The raven-black haired girl nodded. "I know. The undead always have secrets to reveal when the moon is full."
"No dude, I mean it was nice because it was so…quiet. It was soothing and calmed us down. Gave us time to talk with each other."
"Oh. Yeah, well I guess there is that. Fresh air has a habit of settling the restless mind." With Lucy being a poet and…well…Lucy, Luna didn't find herself surprised her little sister could pull that out at her young age.
"Did Luan like it too?" the she continued.
"She sure did. She even asked if we could go out and do it again."
Lucy was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "What do you think Luan's going to do to us next year?"
Knowing that she was referring to next April 1st to be precise, Luna shrugged. "I dunno dude. She's pretty cunning. Pranking someone from behind is her specialty."
"This year's prank was so harsh. This is the only time I hate being left in the dark not knowing what's coming for us."
Luna heartily agreed. Luckily, Sam and her fellow band mates had believed and forgiven her after that embarrassing day involving a Luna Loud look-a-like and a delivery of terrible polka. Much was the case with the rest of the family, their friends had forgiven them and forgotten the incident. But in the Loud house, Luan always needed to be monitored at that time of year, or avoided. Usually the latter was the better option.
"I don't like it either, dude. But as much as Luan is to blame each year, I can't really blame her. It's just her personality. It's what makes her unique. And besides, she's family and we Louds always stick together, no matter how much we mess each other up."
Lucy stared up at Luna without a word for what seemed like a long time before her lips curved into a tiny, yet noticeable smile. "I guess you're right. She's just being Luan. It's no wonder you're her favourite."
Luna smiled too as she tousled the young goth's hair. "Don't worry Luce. No matter what prank she pulls on us next year, we'll just do what we always do. Put up with it for the day and then forget about it in less than a week. And the best part is that we'll suffer through it together." She chuckled as she said that, actually initiating a small laugh from Lucy too.
Without further ado, she wrapped her arm around little Lucy's shoulders as she led her up the stairs. By the lack of noise in the dark hallway, it would seem that they were the last ones to go to bed that night. After bidding Lucy good night, Luna entered her room. Their bedside lamp was on, filling the room with a soft yellow glow, but Luan was fast asleep in her bunk, her hair all over the place. The rocker became amused at the sight of her sleeping sister. Tiptoeing up to her, a different image surfaced into Luna's mind as she gazed at Luan. It wasn't the 14-year-old sleeping before her, but instead a much younger girl. The little girl whom she would let sleep with her when thunderstorms broke at night. The girl whose hand she had held in the orthodontist's office while the former had her braces put in for the first time. And the girl who had stayed by her bedside trying to cheer Luna up with jokes when the latter had broken her collarbone on her bike. A little trip down memory lane proved full out that Luan and Luna had held each other's backs for many years and Luna didn't think that would ever cease, nor did she want it to.
Luan was more than Luna's sister. She was her best friend.
Luna thought back to her conversation with Luan and her previous discussion with Lucy as she slowly pieced together a full revelation. No matter how obnoxious Luan was with her comedic stunts, or how much the rocker gritted her teeth and vowed revenge on her for pushing the limit with her pranking, Luna simply could not find it in her heart to ever hate Luan. She was just being Luan, her silly little sister, and she wouldn't trade her for anyone in the world. In fact, they were all like that. Each and every one of the Louds had his or her own thing that made them special and out of the ordinary. It was what gave her family that awesome touch and made Luna proud to be a Loud.
Where's the fun of being normal anywhere? She thought to herself.
She slowly ran a hand upon Luan's cheek, caressing it gently and listening to her steady breathing. "I love you Lulu. See you in the morning," she murmured softly as she turned the lamp off. She climbed up to her bunk and settled comfortably under the covers, exhaustion suddenly taking over. As she slowly began to nod off to dreamland, her last thoughts were that she swore she heard a soft voice break the silence of the darkened room.
"I love you too, Lunes."
The end
