Author's Note:

Whew! It took forever for me to finalize this chapter. It's a bit longer than I meant it to be and had to kind of cut short as well. I'm hoping you still enjoy it though.

I actually caught the last few episodes of season 3 this week. I kind of feel like the writing in the show has gotten better? Or maybe the added characters have just brought more life to the show. Who knows.

Anyways, I hope you a have a good weekend!

Living a Loud Life

Chapter 12: Saturday Night Fever

As it turned out, Lana indeed was going to kill Lola.

Everything she feared had come true. Rather than even attempt any sense of modesty, her sister had adopted to finding the most embarrassing outfit possible for her to wear. Spaghetti straps loosely held up a low-cut lavender lace crop top on her torso. A denim mini skirt hugged her legs and a pair of black platform heels supported her.

"I look ridiculous."

"Puh-lease. If there's one thing you have Lana, it's my body, to a degree. You can rock any outfit I can."

"Thanks for the self-centered vote of confidence."

"Lola, are you sure about these pants? They feel really tight-" Clyde gestured to his family jewels "-in certain areas."

"They're meant to be tight. We're going for sleek and sexy. A bunch of layered, loose clothing covering us from head to toe isn't going to draw any attention."

"Which I'm fine with."

"But I'm not. I have to be the center of attention. It's my calling."

"That's one word for it."

"Regardless, I suggest you suck it up and get moving. The lines don't get any shorter where we're going."

And indeed they didn't. The trio had opted to take a cab into town and we're dropped off at one of the busiest boulevards in the city. Scores of pedestrians we're taking up the sidewalks looking for open bars, cheap clubs, and free music venues. The smell of booze, hookah, weed, and perfume wafted in between the alleyways on each block. The crisp night air sent chills up Lana's exposed arms, goosebumps dotting her biceps. Clyde tugged at the collar of his shirt, the overwhelming nature of the evening crowds making him a bit anxious. Lola, oblivious or simply uncaring of the two's problems, dragged them down the street towards their first stop: a club by the name of Sun Kiss.

The outside was unassuming enough, a brick wall with some music act posters and a metal door guarded by a heavyset bald bouncer. The club's neon signed hanged overhead like some forgotten relic of a noir film set. The only thing that distinctly gave off any suspicious vibes was the line, well close to reaching the end of the block and around the corner as the trio approached.

"Earth to Lola: I don't think we're going to make it in here anytime soon."

"No shit. We get in that line now, we'll be thirty once we're actually through that door."

"Oh, we won't have to be doing any waiting at all."

"Frank."

"Lola."

"B-but, how?!"

"I have my connections."

"You know what? I don't even want to know. I just need to pee, really badly. That drive was way longer than it should've been."

"On that note, I, am getting a drink."

"Woah, woah, woah. Slow your horses, party animal. We're not here to get wasted. We're here to impress."

"Okay, 'o great one'. How, pray tell, do you want us to do that?"

"Well first thing first, you don't drink to get drunk, you drink o you look like you want to get drunk."

"Oh, I'm already lost."

"Look, guys always go after the easiest of girls in places like this. They see a tipsy girl, try to make her full blown drunk, bring them back to bed, and dump them the next day. It's a classic, sleazy routine practiced from times before."

"Yeah, that's generally looked down on today for being done, oh I don't know, without consent!"

"It's classic male dominant power dynamics. And today, we're going to flip it."

"So…we're just gonna get a guy really smashed…to smash him?"

"What? No! I- uh, you're missing the point!"

"Well there isn't really a better visual in my head when mention flipping the scenario of a blackout drunk girl getting banged."

"Just follow my lead! It'll all make sense in a little while."

"Sure. As long as I still get my drink."

"You know what sis? This isn't half bad."

"Now do you get it? It's not about being dragged around like a sack of meat. It's about getting the real meatbags to slobber all over you."

"Flipping awesome."

"Shut up."

"Hey, I would, but it looks like these guys like practically anything I say. Isn't that right, boys?"

"Tch, don't let all that praise go to that big head of yours."

"No promises 'o great one'."

"That's it. The more confidence she gets in interacting with guys like these, the more self-confident she'll be in her romantic self. It won't be long before she's dating all kinds of guys and maybe just maybe…"

"Setting her eyes on one in particular."

"Thank god, there was no line. Although moving the zipper in this thing is a bit of a stretch in these pants."

"Heh, Luan would like that joke. Now where, oh where, did Lana and Lola head off too…"

Luckily for him, he didn't have to look for long as the familiar rough voice boomed.

"Who's the best?"

"Lana! Lana!"

"I can't hear youuuuuuu."

"LANA! LANA!"

"Oh, this is beyond what I had in mind."

To Clyde's utter confusion, a group of guy had crowded around Lana who, herself, was standing on top of a barstool egging their cheering on. Lola sat nearby, facepalming from public embarrassment.

"Wow. I guess Lola wasn't kidding about drawing attention. It seems they've mastered the art of being social butterflies."

"So where does that leave me...?"

"No!" Clyde exclaimed, slapping his face as a sort of wake-up call. "No drowning in my thoughts! Not today! Today I've gotta show those two that I can do the same! I already got these clothes picked out for me. They should do at least half of the work, give or take."

Giving one last look towards the twins, Clyde turned away and faced the music.

"Right. Time to put in my own effort."

Regrettably for Clyde, that was easier said than done.

Every attempt at making a pass at a girl he made fell flat. A decent flirt he was not. His game, so to speak, was a bugged-out mess. Conversation starters often lend to conversation ends.

"Nice night after the daily grind, eh?"

"Excuse me?"

"I mean, y-you know, the 'daily grind'. I wasn't talking about grinding. Not that I wouldn't mind grinding with you, but I wasn't asking- I mean I would like to dance but I was just trying to open up with a conversation first- aaaand she's gone."

Compliments often registered as insults.

"If you asked me, that dress does not make you look fat."

And pickup lines failed.

"Are you a fallen angel? Because- wait, I messed that up. Let me start over."

In conclusion, Clyde's game was a poor experience that could not be recommend to most.

Dejected over his rejections, the four eyed man trudged over to a mini bar close to the outside section of the club. Ordering a shot of tequila, Clyde mulled over his actions.

"Seven lovely ladies later and not a single successful dance. Maybe this night was a bust. A real flat one at that."

"Hehe, tell me about it."

So caught up in his thoughts, Clyde failed to notice the lady who taken the seat to his left, startling him out of his thoughts. Reddish brown hair, curled at the ends, cascaded down her back. She was wearing one of those sequin cocktail dresses, dripping in rose gold. Diamond studs adorned her earlobes like stars in the canvas of space. She had a lax composure; whether it was because of booze or something else was unknown. To say the least she was dazzling.

"Oh, and with that sense of humor, I'm surprised you don't have more girls jumping your bones."

"Haha, sorry about that. I've been thinking out loud a lot this night." Clyde dismissively waved her praise off as he nervously chuckled. "Not that those jokes are the kind always in my head but-"

"Hey now. I liked it."

Surprise, yet again, overtook him. "Oh? Cool. And thanks."

The mysterious patron moved her elbow on the bar, resting her head in her hand. "So, you came here to pick up chicks?"

"Well, kind of? I was sort of manhandled here by a tiny blonde demon in order to get out more."

"A tiny blonde demon?"

"Yeah. Don't worry, she's with her sister. That should keep her busy for a while."

'"Are you guys related? Like step siblings or-"

"What? No, nothing like."

Lifting her head from hand, and one of her eyebrows up in skepticism, the woman slightly leaned in towards Clyde. "Okay, let me get this straight. You came here with two girls and your plan tonight was to hit on some other women?"

"Alright it sounds skeevy when you put it that way but trust me, this is just a friend scenario here. Heck, both of them went out of there way to start hitting on guys first anyway! It's not like I just ditched them. Plus, it's not like they are involved in my love life anyways-"

"Woah there, no need to get so defensive. I was just curious is all."

"Ah, sorry."

"It's alright. Not gonna lie though, from the sound of things you got a lot on your shoulders right now."

"Oh, you don't know the half of it." Clyde mirthfully spoke.

"So, humor me. I've got all night. Buy me a drink and I'm all ears."

Well, tell he did. Clyde unraveled the yarn of problems and adventures over the last week. There were laughs, gasps, but most of all, understanding shared. When Clyde finished his tale, his companion grunted while circling the rim of her glass with her index finger.

"Damn, your professor sounds like a real dick."

"That would be my teacher evaluation. Thank god I'm not an actual student of his."

"Still, it sucks. God, I am so glad I'm done with school."

"Oh, where'd you graduate from?"

She paused, briefly, before replying. "I didn't. I went for two years before I got sick of it. I left, found a library that needed some help, and have been there ever since."

Clyde was nearly speechless. "Wow, to drop everything like that…that's a leap of faith I couldn't take. Or that my parents would allow."

"Eh, it's not like my mom and dad were too keen on the idea either. I just went with my gut on it. I mean I was going to school for statistics to please my mom when I decided I didn't care anymore. I had passion in literature and the classes I took weren't exactly advantageous towards that. When I left I went out on my own. No parental money, no friends by my side, just little ole' me."

"With every year I've been building back those relationships slowly. Some of my old school friends live close by and my dad and mom come to see me now and then. They're still overly cautious about, well, everything I do, but they've learned to accept it."

"Heh, sorry for rambling. And here I was harping on you for the same earlier."

"No, don't apologize! I'm honestly impressed."

Clyde stared at the empty drink in front of him, like an old fisherman over the sea.

"You took everything head on, regardless of the obstacle, and came out with something worthwhile. Meanwhile, here I am, moping about my research like I'm the only one in the world who's hit any walls before."

Glancing up, Clyde was startled by the lady's intense focus on him.

"What? Is there something on my face?"

"Come dance with me."

"Huh?"

"You heard me. Come on!"

Not waiting for an answer, the young woman grasped Clyde's wrist and pulled him along. After maneuvering through bodies after bodies of clubbers, they wound up in a pocket on the dance floor.

Clyde was visibly uncomfortable. "Uh, dancing isn't exactly my forte."

"There's no shame in that. Just move your body how you want."

"Heh well my legs don't always listen to me"

Though she didn't directly respond, the lady's eyes asking him to try said enough. Clyde began shuffling on the floor, moving with side to side steps. After a while he felt more at ease to move more than just one part of his body, bringing his hips and arms into the fray.

"See? You're getting the hang of it!"

"Yeah…I guess I am!"

Clyde wouldn't voice it, but he saw a change in the atmosphere. The air was charged between the two of them. Open eyes soon became half lidded. Smiles turned into sultry smirks. To his astonishment, he wasn't freaking out and she was into him. She took a bold step forward, bringing their bodies close together like magnets. Who was the positive and who was the negative in the relationship didn't' matter. All that did was that they were drawn together.

So caught up in their closeness was Clyde that he failed to take in his surroundings. An accidental shoulder check with a buzzcut dude, however, brought him out of his electric daze.

"Hey, watch it!"

"Oh, excuse me!"

"Did you just push me, man?"

"What-no!"

"Hey back off, jerk. He just bumped into you."

The shaved man gave a sneer. "Shut up, bitch. I'm not talking to you."

"What did you just call me?"

"You heard what I said."

"Hey chill out, man! Chill."

"Did you put your hands on me. Oh hell no, it's on now."

"Oh boy."

A few minutes earlier

"Hey, I haven't seen Clyde in a while. You think he's stuck in the bathroom?"

"Knowing him, he's probably too shy to pee in public. I have to work on giving that guy a backbone."

Lana and Lola were still at the bar. An outburst from the latter after being annoyed by the former's antics led to all the guys rushing away. Glumly, Lola decided to partake in drinking a few lime shots with Lana, who herself was thoroughly pleased with getting on her twins' nerves.

"He was plenty brave earlier this week when we saw Hawk."

Lola spun around. "Wait a minute, you mean Hawk from Royal Woods?"

"What other Hawks do you know? Anyways, we ran into him at a store he worked at. Dude still hasn't lost his temper. He and I were butting heads, but Clyde stepped into try and break things up."

"Really? We're talking about the same guy here, right?"

"Just because he's reserved a lot of the time doesn't mean he can't act manly."

Lana's face lit up reminiscing over the incident.

"He's a good guy."

"Go ahead and marry him why doncha. I'm sure you'd make a happy couple."

"Haha, yeah right." Lana laughed off.

"I'm serious. Besides its not like he's gonna find a girl on his own."

"Uhhh, you may wanna rethink that one."

Lola peeked over to where he sister had begun pointing. One the dance floor they could vaguely make out Clyde and a mysterious woman grinding on each other. "No way…"

"Who is she?" Lola inquired.

"Let me just pull her I.D. for you."

"Hardy-har. Seriously, no one like that just dances with you. For all we know she could be trying to weasel him out of something!"

"Or maybe she's trying to weasel him into something…"

"Eugh, Lana!"

"I'm just saying! She looks pretty happy dancing with him is all."

Lola, although fairly disgusted, couldn't help but internally agree. The two out on the floor seemed lost in lust together. Could it be as simple as that? Lola squinted closer at the lady's face.

"Say, doesn't she seem a bit familiar?"

"Huh, now that you mention it, she kinda looks like…"

That train of thought derailed when the twins observed Clyde getting roughly grabbed by another dude.

"Uh-oh. Trouble alert."

At first, Lana and Lola were unsure with how to proceed with the situation. Of course, things escalated with the stranger throwing Clyde on the ground.

"Oh my god."

"Did he just-"

Lana tightened her fists. "Oh hell no. No way I'm gonna let some jackass wail on my friend on my watch!"

Snaking through the crowds, she approached the man from behind.

"Hey! Hippo head!"

"Huh? Who the hell-"

He was abruptly cut off by a cross to the jaw, rendering him unconscious.

"Don't even think about getting back up."

"Lana, Lola, what the heck? I had this under control!"

Lola, having caught up to the group, was unimpressed.

"You mean getting the snot kicked out of you?" "This totally proves your point about him being manly."

"Just looking out for you, Clyde."

"Wait, are these the sisters you were talking about?"

The second Lola heard that voice, a wave of realization crashed over.

"Lindsey SWEETWATER?!"

"Lindsey what now?"

"Ha! I knew I recognized I you!" Lana exclaimed.

"Lola Loud!? Why are you hanging out with him?"

"I could ask you the same question, skank!" Lola derided.

Lindsey scowled. "Uh you mind saying that again?!"

"Oh, I'd gladly-"

"Hey ladies-"

"WHAT?!" Both girls yelled at Clyde.

"In case you didn't know, it looks like we'll be having more company on the way."

Indeed, in the time they were yelling a circle had formed around them. A gang of bouncers were already on their way from the front of the club.

"Come on! This way!"

Lana took off towards the back and the three others quickly followed. In the midst of their escape, however, one of her heels broke.

"Lana! Those shoes were expensive!"

Grimacing at the complaint, she quickly took off the pair and lobbed them into Lola's arms. "Yeah well I'm the last person you should've lent them to."

"Less talking! More running!" Lindsey hurriedly suggested.

The quartet made their way out the back of the club, through the open-air courtyard filled with drunken adults engaging in merriment. Perhaps had things gone differently earlier they would have naturally made their way out here under calmer circumstances. Now though, they had no time to savor the mood. The four of them ran to the street in panic as a pack of rats fleeing a cat would. Once there, they scurried down several blocks, not once checking over the shoulders for any pursuers. After what felt like forever, the four finally rested at corner, tired and sweaty.

Lana, uncaring of any sense of decency, sat on the concrete sidewalk, massaging her soles from their bare trek. "Phew. I think we're in the clear."

Lola, irate and uncomposed, glared at Clyde. "Now then, mind telling us why you're saddling up to this cold-hearted witch?"

"Lola!"

Lindsey however interjected, resting a hand on Clyde's shoulder. "You know, I'm more curious as to how someone as sweet as you ended up friends with someone as foul as her."

"What are you even doing in this city, Lindsey? Don't tell me you're…stalking me?!"

"Stalk you? As if! It's more likely you're the one stalking me! I know how obsessed you were with beating me in every beauty pageant."

"You're the one who stole my dance routine in the junior high turkey pageant!" Lola spat.

"More like we had the same dance tutor which is, oh, so strange considering I was the one who mentioned getting lessons in the first place!" Lindsey countered.

"Hey! Hey! Calm down you two!"

Lindsey and Lola halted their shouting match as all eyes fell on Clyde.

"Now, I think we can have a reasonable discussion we're both of you explain everything. Of course, it'd be best if we found someplace indoors to talk, considering the chill."

"…Sure."

"Whatever."

"Fine by me." Lana lazily added. "So long as there's a bar there. I've had my fill of 'impressions' for the night. I'm itching to get trashed now."