Chapter 10

Bobby turned on the ignition and slowly backed out of the parking space, placing a hand behind the passenger's head rest to get a good view through the rear window. His eyes met those of his girlfriend, whose arm cuddled a lightly weeping teen comedy hopeful. He gave her a faint smile and switched the gear into drive, pulling out of the parking lot and into the lonely streets.

"How about some music?" asked Bobby.

Lori looked down at her sister, her head nestled on her lap. "You wanna listen to something in particular, Luan?"

Luan shook her head.

Lori sighed. "Put on whatever you want, babe. Just keep the volume down a bit."

Bobby nodded and turned the radio to a top 40 station, setting the volume to near inaudible levels.

Lori looked out the window and watched the street lights slowly tower over the car one by one before disappearing from her sight. The adrenaline from the night's earlier events had long since passed, draining her of every energy her body could give her. She looked down again upon her little sister, frowning as she saw her turn her head upwards, revealing red, puffy eyes.

"I'm sorry, Lori," Luan managed.

"For what?"

Luan began to weep, short sobs punctuated by soft gasps.

Lori brought the younger Loud into a near cradle, burying Luan's face into her chest above her breast. With every sob that pounded into her collarbone, she felt their power tenfold in her heart. She was about to say something when Luan finally broke free.

"I thought I could do it. You know, do a show like they do on TV. It looked like so much fun. But all I did was get you fired."

Lori opened her mouth, but was silenced by Luan's remorseful gaze.

"Is it really that hard out there?"

Lori mulled over the question for a second, scratching her cheek with an index finger. "Luan, I don't really think I can answer that for you."

Luan sighed and hugged her legs close to her chest. She focused on the way her pants wrinkled just the apex of her knees, like the waves of an ocean. Minutes passed before the silence was broken by the passenger directly to her right.

"Adulthood is just so fucking stupid."

Luan turned to her older sister and waited for her to continue.

Lori chuckled. "I'm not a very smart person, Luan. I don't even know how I became such a 'great Hooter girl'. I just thought that I could do it. It looked easy enough, even a little fun. But the thing is, so much is expected of you. Have the order jotted down perfectly. Smile. Be personally attentive to every single customer, even though you have like five tables. Smile more. Wear push up bras so your boobs cause alcohol sales to go up. Oh yeah, and fucking smile!"

Lori glanced at Luan whose wide, pleading eyes touched her soul.

"The point is, Luan. Sometimes, you just gotta try some things and see if it's really what you want. It might work, or it might bomb. But you have to go for it. I think that's what they call trial and error."

"I feel like such a huge error right now," Luan sighed.

Lori laughed softly and bear hugged her little sister. "Maybe, but that's okay. Maybe adult themed comedy isn't for you. Or maybe it is, and you have to try again. Who knows. I sure as hell don't. I'm just trying to make money so I can pay my god damn bills."

Lori held Luan's face up to hers and smiled. "But you. You have an amazing gift to make people smile and laugh and forget about how shitty this world can be. You don't have to have things figured out yet. Be you. The world needs it. Your family needs it."

Luan glanced down and back up, her weak smile meeting with Lori's wide grin and watery eyes.

"I need it, Luan."

Bobby's car eased to a stop in front of the Loud residence, a light drizzle pelting the car. He turned the ignition off and looked up at his rear view mirror. He smiled at the sight of two Loud sisters warming each other with their embrace, like something out of a festive family film.

Bobby opened the real car door for his two passengers, shielding them from the rain with his sweater jacket. They walked across the dampening walkway and up the front porch steps, pausing right in front of the door.

"Thank you, Boo Boo Bear," said Lori, kissing her man on the cheek.

"Don't mention it," he replied, hugging his girl with one arm while ruffling the already messy hair of the younger Loud sister with his free hand. "You too, Luan."

Lori and Luan smiled as they watched the sedan pull out into the street and vanish into a corner.

"You think I'll ever get a guy like him?" asked Luan.

Lori laughed and fished out her house key from her purse. "Not in a million years."

She stuck her key inside the keyhole and turned. Before she could put her hand on the door knob, the door flung open, whisking her keys out of her hand.

"Lori Loud!"

Lori shielded her eyes from the bight lights inside her home. Once she adjusted, in front of her were both parents, looking directly at her with shocked expressions. She was about to ask what the matter was when it hit her.

Her uniform.

She forgot to change out of it.

And Luan was with her.

"Mom, Dad, I can…"

"Kids," boomed Lynn Sr., causing the crowd of Loud siblings behind him to recoil in fear. "To your rooms. Mom and I have things to discuss with Lori."

The Loud siblings, sans Lori, all walked up the steps towards their rooms, pausing right at the top of the stairs, hoping to get a good view at what was about to ensue.

"Kids, I said to the rooms, now!"

The Loud clan didn't need another command as they scurried to their rooms, slamming their doors shut in fear of doubt settling in their father's mind. One Loud sister remained unmoved, and when she was sure the three remaining Louds left the living room to have their talk, she tip toed at a safe distance behind them.

"Please be okay," prayed Luan from her bedroom.