"Oh, Boy!"

"Say it Loud" chapter eight

Aaron, Joel and David held their ears after hearing an ear splitting shriek coming from upstairs.

"She must have told her." said Joel as he and his brothers resumed eating their snacks in the kitchen.

"No way! Who is he, do I know him? Is he cute? Is he tall?-"

Abby put her hand to Luan's mouth. "Calm down, girl!" said Abby with a laugh. "His name is Placido Bennett. I don't think you know him, he just started school here two weeks ago. And cute? Is the Empire state building tall? Is your family big? Is water wet? He is gorgeous!" Abby swooned as she and Luan let out another shriek, then hugging each other.

"So, where did you meet him?" asked Luan as she and Abby were now laying down on Abby's bed, facing each other.

"You know I'm on the swim team, and of course, the girls and boys teams usually practice separately, but yesterday both teams used the pool together, us girls in one part, boys in the other. When practice was over, we could either hit the showers and head home, or stay in the pool. I and a few of the girls were doing our laps and talking, while some of the boys came over and joined us. When all of the sudden, this, gorgeous, well sculpted boy, with a hint of chest hair, approached us, coming ever so close to me it seemed! I know I must have been blushing as red as my swimsuit! I was feeling like the water was as warm as a hot tub! I'm surprised I didn't faint right then and there when he jumped in right next to me! Next thing I know, we're exchanging phone numbers! When we were leaving, he kissed me on the cheek! I just melted right then and there!" said Abby as she hugged her pillow tightly to her chest.

"Could you turn on the AC? It is getting warm in here!" said Luan as she waved her hand in front of her face.

"I know, right!" Getting up to retrieve her phone, Abby showed Luan a picture of herself and Placido, taken in front of school. "Isn't he beautiful?!" swooned Abby as she took her phone back, staring at the photo.

"He sure is! Does he have a twin? I want one!" said Luan in a faux jealous tone.

"Get your own! He's all mine!" said Abby, as if a child of five, and playfully sticking her tongue out.

"If that's the way it's going to be, I'm going to have to take you out of the way!" said Luan as she hit Abby with a pillow, Abby responding in like manner.

Falling off the bed during their intense battle, Luan ending up on top of her 'foe', the two started laughing, all the while holding each other in an embrace.

"I am so happy for you, sis. I can't wait to meet him. You make a really cute couple." said Luan as she gave her friend a sisterly kiss on the lips. "What's he like, anyway? Is he a gentleman? Did he open the door for you?" asked Luan as the two sat up against the bed and the adjacent wall respectively.

"He opened the door for me, but other than that, I don't know a whole lot about him. He said he is an only child, living with his dad. His parents divorced when he was little. Maybe you can come along with me tomorrow. We're going to meet at BiggC Coffee after the swim meet. Wanna come?" said Abby as she finished fixing her bed covers and pillows.

"You bet! Not even a Red Skelton marathon can keep me away! I was going to your meet anyway to cheer on my all time favorite swimmer!" said Luan as she hugged Abby. "I better get heading back home, dinner's soon. Bye, sis. Love ya!"

"Bye, sis. I love you, too." said Abby as the two gave each other a parting kiss on the cheek, followed by yet another excited, and loud shriek.

The next morning, Luan, along with Luna, Leni and Lincoln were in the bleachers at Royal Woods high school for the meet, having been dropped off by Lori, who went on to meet with her friends Dana, Becky and Carol. It was planned that Luna accompany Luan to meet with Placido and Abby , if that was alright with them, while Leni and Lincoln would walk back home after the meet. Abby placed third in the individual competition for girls' breaststroke. Placido placed first in boys' backstroke. Royal Woods having won the meet over Hazeltucky and Lake Huron.

"Congratulations, sis! You did great!" said Luan as she hugged her friend after she came out of the locker room. Luna, Leni and Lincoln also joining in with praise. Sherri and her sons soon joining, hugging their daughter/sister with their own offers of congratulations.

"Thanks, guys. I'm glad you came." said Abby as she hugged Luna, then Leni and Lincoln together.

"You were rockin'!" said Luna with the sign of the goat horns.

"I am so proud of you, honey! To think you were once afraid to have your head underwater! My baby girl sure has grown up!" said Sherri with tears in her eyes while once again hugging her daughter. "Your father would have loved to have been here, but he sends his love."

"Thanks, mom, I understand." said Abby as she and her mother separated.

Coming out of the boys' locker room, Placido joins the group, and goes to hug Abby. "Congrats, Ab." he said as they released.

"Everyone, this is Placido. Placido, this is my mom, my brothers Aaron, Joel and David. And this is Luan, her sisters Luna and Leni, and brother Lincoln.

"Hey everyone!" said Placido with a wave.

"Hello, Placido. I hope you and my daughter get along well, and that you treat her with the love and respect she deserves." said Sherri as she offered Placido her hand.

"Yes, ma'am, I sure will." said Placido with a nod.

Abby's brothers looked at him with caution and suspicion.

"Placido, Luan is my very best friend, she and Luna are my soul sisters."

"Hey Luan."

"Hello, Placido." said Luan as the two shook hands.

"Rockin' performance in the pool, dude. Your arms were rockin' like a hurricane!" said Luna with her tongue out and the goat horns gesture.

"Thanks, Luna." said Placido as he eyed the rocker girl up and down.

"Well, we will leave you to your get together at BiggC. Need a ride, girls and Lincoln?" asked Sherri as she and the boys were about ready to leave.

"Luna and Luan are going to join us there. Is that alright with you, Placido?" Abby asked her guy friend.

"Sure, I guess so." said Placido in a non-caring tone.

"Great!" said Abby.

"Leni and I were going to walk home, getting lunch on the way." said Lincoln.

"How about you join us? We're going to stop at Burpin' Burger, then we can drop you off, no trouble at all." said Sherri addressing the two.

"That's fine with me. How about you, Leni?" Lincoln asked his second eldest sister.

"Like okay. I would totes love going with you, Mrs. Carpenter!" said Leni with her hands clasped.

"Taylor, Leni, Taylor." Lincoln corrected his ditzy sister.

"She's a tailor? How totes fabulous! I want to be a fashion designer, myself!" said Leni, gaining a facepalm from her siblings, and Abby and her brothers, along with an eye roll from Placido.

"But we can pay for our lunch." said Lincoln as the group left Abby, Placido, Luna and Luan with a wave.

At BiggC, the quartet was sitting at one of the tables by the window.

"So, Placido, how long have you been in Royal Woods?" asked Luan, sipping her mochanut, along with having a ham and cheese bagel sandwich.

"Just two months. My dad moved us here from Barcelona, where I was born." said Placido after taking a sip of his Neapolitan latte.

"Love that accent, bro! Sick!" said Luna as she sipped her raspberry mocha.

"Sick?" wondered Placido, with a slightly offended expression.

"Sick in this case means cool, Placido." said Abby with her berry white latte in her hand, turkey and cheese bagel sandwich in the other.

"Oh. Thanks, I think." said Placido, still confused.

"So, dude, what made you go for Abby?" said Luna taking a bite from her cinnamon roll.

"When I first saw her at the pool, I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Watching her swim along so gracefully, I almost walked right into the pool, I was so taken with her. Then I saw her face close up! She's the most beautiful creature I have ever laid my eyes upon!" said Placido, who then kissed Abby's hand, getting mayo on his lips. Luna and Luan laughed while Abby blushed.

"What is so funny?" he asked the two Loud girls, oblivious to the mayo 'lipstick' he now wore.

"Here, let me get that." said Abby as she wiped Placido's lips with a napkin. Placido blushing upon realising the gaffe.

"Were you on a swim team in school back in Barcelona?" asked Luan as she wiped her hands after finishing her sandwich.

"Yes. I have been swimming all of my life. My father was also on his school team, and taught me to swim starting when I was a baby. So when we moved here, and I was registered for school, I immediately signed up for the swim team." explained Placido, then taking a final gulp of his drink.

"Well, dude, if you don't mind me saying, you've got a pretty well sculpted physique. Did you have any lady loves back in Spain?" asked Luna with a wink.

Blushing, Placido replied "Yes, but none of them comes close to the Venus that is Abby!" he said while taking Abby's hand in his and patting it, not wanting another mayo incident.

"Placido! You're embarrassing me!" said Abby, blushing once more

"Well, it's the truth!" he said, this time with a kiss to her cheek.

"Aww!" said Luna and Luan as they looked on.

Later that night, Abby was in the shower. As she felt the cascading hot water run down her body, she could not get Placido off of her mind. That accent, those brown eyes, strong chin, the broad shoulders, bulging biceps, those pecs! That toned six pack!

"Sis!" shouted Joel while tapping Abby's shoulder, startling her out of her daydream. "You've been in here for twenty minutes. I've called your name five times. How about getting out before you use up all the hot water?"

"Sorry, Placi- I mean bro. "It's all yours." said Abby as she stepped out, making room for her brother, walking out of the bathroom without drying herself, returning to her dream state.

"Huh, girls!" said Joel as he stepped into the stall.

At the Loud residence, another dream was going on. A dream about that accent, those brown eyes, the strong chin, broad shoulders, bulging biceps, the pecs and that toned six pack!

Startling awake, Luan wondered "What's happening? Placido is Abby's guy. I can't be dreaming about him!" Laying back down, she tried to get those those pictures out of her head. Those pictures of that svelte adonis.

End of chapter eight

*I got the name of Abby's boyfriend from two favorite singers of mine, Placido Domingo and Tony Bennett.