"What is it, Lola?", Lori asked.
"Your, uh Jimmy is here", she replied.
"Oh, thank you, Lola", Lori said.
Lola walked away from Lori's room. Lori looked down at her phone that was in her lap. Then she picked it up and looked through the contacts, though it wasn't a long look because the most important number to her was on the top – "Boo-Boo Bear". She pressed it and let it dial.
"Hey, Babe", said Bobby with happiness in his voice.
"Hey Boo Boo Bear, you sound happy this morning", she said.
"Yeah, it's been a good morning, did you have a good sleep?", he asked.
"It was literally wonderful."
"That's good glad you got your beauty rest, not that you need to be more beautiful than you already are."
"That's so sweet of you."
"Do you have any plans for the day?"
"Why, do you have something you want to do?"
"I wish, I could be there with you today, but it's a busy day."
"Oh, I hope I'm not holding up any customers."
"Nah, I'm checking the stock now, not at the register."
"That's good, listen there is something happening at my house today though."
"Oh, there's always something happening there, but what's going on?"
"You remember what I told you about Lisa's father right?"
"Yeah, I remember you guys found him."
"He's here at the house today, visiting."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No, I just thought it would be good to tell you, so nothing awkward happens."
"I love that about you, always so honest, don't worry I hope Lisa has a great day."
"I hope it doesn't literally fall apart."
"I'm sure it won't your family is cool."
"Sometimes, you mean, sometimes they do overact including me."
"You got this, Babe, I know you do."
"Thanks, well he's here, Talk you later, Love you Boo-Boo Bear."
"Love you too, Lori-pie."
Lori started hearing some drumming coming from down the hall. That wasn't unusual for her to hear. She put her phone in her shorts' pocket and walked out of her room and noticed the drumming wasn't how Luna normally sounded. Then She walked to Lisa's room.
"Lisa, did you hear, Jimmy's here?", Lori said.
"He's been here for about 25 minutes, "Lisa replied dryly.
"What? I wasn't on the phone that long, and where is he then?", Lori asked.
"I left him in Luna's room, I think she was little bothered by him and so he wanted to talk", Lisa replied.
Lori bolted from Lisa's room and ran to Luna and Luan's room the drumming getting louder with every step. She stopped in the doorway noticing something the drumming wasn't Luna but was in fact, Jimmy. Luna was ready to play her electric guitar. Lori was relieved that it was just a jam session going on and not something dramatic or bad.
"Hey, Lori!", Jimmy yelled.
"They just told me you were here", Lori said.
"Yeah, I've been here for a while", he said.
"He's pretty good on the drums, Sis", Luna said.
"Hey Jimmy, can I talk to Luna a second?", Lori asked.
"Uhh, sure Lori, I should see if there's anything else Lisa wants to do", Jimmy said.
Jimmy walked out of the room. Lori sat down on the bottom bunk of the bunk bed.
"Is, there something wrong, Lori?", Luna asked.
"Oh no, I was surprised that you two were doing music together, I take it you are alright with him now?", Lori asked.
"You could tell something was off?", Luna asked.
Lori nodded.
"Well, I mean yeah but we talked, and everything is cool, he's not changed much from when I last saw him", Luna said.
"So, you are alright?"
"Yeah, no use in holding up pent up anger he is still kind of like an older brother to me."
Lori went to Lisa's room to see if Jimmy was still there but apparently, they both were not. "Where could he have gone now?", she thought. For a house that wasn't that big, he sure got around. Lori went to check the next room, the twin's room, and luck was on her side. Lisa and Jimmy were in the room. Lola was yelling at Jimmy about the different shades of pink.
"Lola! Don't yell at him!", Lori shouted.
"What? He asked me to yell at him", Lola said.
"Sure, he literally asked you to tell at him", Lori said with sarcasm.
Lana and Lisa looked at her.
"Actually, he did ask her to yell at him, he's testing out my new earplugs", Lisa explained.
"Yeah, it's kind of cool, he can hear us right now, but can't hear Lola at all", Lana said.
"It is kind of fun to yell at someone for fun", Lola said.
"Hey Lis, do you think I can get some of those for me?", Lana whispered.
"I heard that", Lola said.
"Well, uhh I am glad you aren't really yelling at Jimmy, I think", Lori said.
"I think that test went well", Jimmy said.
Lisa wrote in her notebook the results of her experiment. She had a pleased smile on her face. Lola took a drink of her fresh purified fancy water from France.
"Is there something you need, Lori?", Jimmy asked.
"Well, not really, I guess, oh Leni did want to see you she wanted to give you something, I think", Lori replied.
"Hmm alright, it was nice to see you twins again, uhh sorry I screamed when you showed me your snake, Lana", Jimmy replied.
"It's alright lots of people are afraid of snakes", Lana said.
"Why don't you guys come with me then, let's see what Leni has", he said.
"I have important things to do, you know", Lola said.
"Like what?", Lana asked.
Lola thought for a second. While the others walked away into the hallway where she then ran after them. The group went to Lori and Leni's room.
"Leni! It's so nice to see you again!", Jimmy said.
Leni was at first confused at who it was but then it ticked in her head. She ran up to the boy and gave him a hug.
"I made you something, it's a surprise though, I just hope the turtle neck fits", Leni said.
Lola facepalmed, while Jimmy played off that he didn't hear that last part
"Hmm, I wonder what it could be?", he thought.
"Didn't she just say…oww", Lola said then Lana elbowed her.
Leni gave Jimmy a box covered in red paper. She had a big smile on her face, Jimmy smiled back and started opening the paper on the present. Inside was a green turtle neck handmade by Leni. Jimmy held it up in pride.
"I hope you like it, I was thinking that maybe you'd want to match Lisa, so I made you that", she said.
"It's so soft, thank you very much Leni", he said.
"You should try it on", Lola said, "You know to see if it fits, correctly."
"Yeah, Jimmy try it on!", Leni said.
"Oh, alright", he said.
"Girls look away, he's a boy you know", Leni said.
"I am wearing something under this shirt, you know", he said.
"We've seen less on Lincoln", Lana said.
Jimmy removed his red turtle neck, showing that he was wearing a black tank top underneath. Then he placed that turtle neck on Leni's bed and put on the green on that Leni made. It truly was soft.
"Well it's not itchy, this is nice material, and it fits, if not a little bigger but that's good for the washing", Jimmy said.
"She's right you and are almost matching now", Lori said.
"What do you think, Lisa?", he asked.
"Hmm, we do have a match, I like it", she said.
Lori was slightly relieved that things seemed to be going well with her family and former boyfriend, but she had to make sure things stayed that way. She went downstairs to check on things. Lynn had just come back into the house covered in sweat.
"Hey Lori, is lover boy here yet?", Lynn joked.
"Don't call him that, Lynn", Lori said in annoyed tone.
"What's got your undies in a wad?", Lynn said.
"Nothing, Lynn", Lori said.
"Are you sure, everything is going alright, right?", Lynn asked.
"Yeah it literally is, just kind of worried something might go wrong", Lori said.
"He's been here before though, it's not like there's nothing he hasn't seen", Lynn replied.
"I guess so, I kind of want things to go well for Lisa's sake though", Lori answered.
"You sound like a mom", Lynn joked.
Lori rolled her eyes at that comment. "I just said for someone' sake didn't I?, Maybe I do sound like a mom", she thought.
"Where is he? I want to say hello."
"Upstairs, with the others, they seemed to have gathered in Lucy and your room", Lori answered.
"Really, wait for who?", Lynn asked.
"Jimmy, Lisa, Lola, Lana, and Leni.", Lori said.
"I didn't know there was that much interest in Lucy's poetry", Lynn said.
Lori didn't pay any more attention as she walked into the dining room and saw the books that Jimmy brought laid there on the dining room table. She sat down in one of the chairs and decided to look at them. The first book was styled like an album but also like a yearbook where the pictures were printed on pages but high quality with captions. The first few pages were filled with pictures of Jimmy at various ages. Lori smiled at them noticing he used to wear things besides turtle necks at some point in his life. There were also some pictures that had Jimmy and some younger versions of two people she remembered, Scotty and Casey. There were pictures with his mother and father.
"Oh Lori, since you are sitting there, do you mind making the table, for lunch, think it would be good to have a family lunch since Jimmy is here", Rita said.
"Yeah, sure Mom", Lori said.
"What's in those books?", Rita asked.
"I've only looked in the first one, it's family pictures of Jimmy in that book", Lori replied.
"Hmm, you go get the plates, I'm going to find a safe space of the books", Rita said.
Lori came back into the room with some plates and set the stack down on the table to notice that Rita was looking through the book now.
"Mom, I thought you were going to move them", Lori said.
"Sorry, I was then I looked down and noticed how he kind of looked more like Lisa when he was younger", Rita said as she changed the page.
That page had a face that was familiar somehow to Rita.
"Hmm, no way", Rita said.
"What?", Lori asked.
"For some reason, I feel I like I know that person", Rita said.
"Why would you say that?", Lori asked, "What's the name under the picture?".
"It says Jimmy (age 12) spending time with his Aunt Kylie and Uncle Nathan", Rita read out.
"His middle name is Nathan, he must have gotten that name from his uncle", Lori said.
"Hmm, maybe I don't know them, that's strange, sorry honey, I'll put these up and help you", Rita said.
Lynn Sr came out of the kitchen and saw Lori texting on her phone.
"Hey, tell the others that lunch is almost ready and that they should get ready", he said.
"Alright", Lori replied.
She went up the stairs and it was easy to find Jimmy this time, he was with Lincoln playing a video game in Lincoln's room.
"Hey, could you two help me get everyone ready for lunch?", Lori asked.
"Sure, Lori, come on Linc, wait what does that entail?", Jimmy asked.
"Just make sure everyone knows about lunch and you know? Washes their hands", Lori explained.
"Hmm, maybe we should go do that first before we tell the gaggle, don't you think, Linc?", Jimmy asked.
"You sure know how this house works", Lincoln said.
Lori went to Leni first to tell her that lunch was ready. When she left the room, she noticed that Jimmy had gotten Lisa, Lola, and Lana, while Lincoln had gotten Lynn and Lucy out of their rooms. "They work quick, guess I'll get Luan and Luna", she thought. The Louds came down the stairs like a stampede while Jimmy had stayed back and walked slowly behind everyone. In the dining the others settled into spots, there were open spots possibly for the parents and one next to Lisa must have been for him. He sat between Lisa and Lincoln. Lilly was in her high chair in the spot where there were two empty chairs. Rita came in the room with a small bowl for Lilly. Lynn Sr. came out of the kitchen holding a covered plate.
"I honored to give our guest his meal first, hope you enjoy it", Lynn Sr said.
He placed the plate on top of the one already set there in front of Jimmy and removed the cover, showing his meal of Mac and Cheese bites, some French fries, and asparagus covered in cheese.
"I know you love French fries, but you've never tired my mac and cheese bites before, but I think you'll love them", Lynn Sr said.
"Thanks, Mr. Loud", Jimmy said,
Jimmy grabbed one of the mac and cheese bites put popped into his mouth and chewed.
"They're good!", Jimmy said.
"Glad you like it, I'm going to get the other meals now", Lynn Sr.
The Louds started eating their lunches. It seemed Lynn Jr. and Jimmy were the biggest eaters there. Lori was satisfied that things were going well. After Lunch was over, they dispersed around the house and Jimmy decided to help with the dishes in the kitchen with Lynn, Luan, and Lucy.
"Jimmy are you good at pitching?", Lynn asked.
"Hmm, not really why?", he asked.
"I wanted to practice for my game next week", she replied.
"If you need help, I can try", Jimmy replied.
"You must know I bat hard", Lynn said.
"Sigh, it's true", Lucy said rubbing her hand.
"I thought you were playing baseball not boxing, you don't want to give Jimmy a knock-out", Luan Joked.
"Let's finish these dishes, first", he said.
Lori saw that the kitchen was vacant after her sisters and Jimmy had apparently finished. "Maybe, I've been too tense things seem to be going smoothly, I'm glad", she thought. Back up to her room to check on her phone and noticed that both of Jimmy's turtle necks were on the bed. "Did Leni make him another one?", she asked herself. She looked at her phone which was now fully charged and checked if Bobby had left her any messages. There was a time she would have overreacted if he didn't call or text her multiple times in a day, but that was in the early days. It was less stressful to not worry so much. There was one text not from Bobby though, but from her friend Carol.
Hey Lori, wanna hang out this afternoon? – Carol Texted.
Sorry Carol, literally have a family friend over today, can't get out of it- Lori.
"It's not like I'm lying, I guess, but I don't think that's something you can explain as a text", Lori thought.
I understand maybe tomorrow- Carol.
Yeah. – Lori.
Outside, Jimmy wearing a bike helmet on his head and the pitcher's mitt on his left hand. He also had removed his green turtle neck earlier, wearing only his black tank top. In his right hand, he was holding the ball ready to throw it for Lynn to bat. Then he wound up and tossed the ball and the ball flew but sadly, landed before Lynn could attempt to hit it.
"Sorry, Lynn", Jimmy said.
"Need to give it a little more force, that's all", Lynn replied.
He tried again this time he threw the ball and it kind of flew and it hit the wall of the house. Lynn tossed it back again and he caught it this time. He threw it again and Lynn swung but she missed it He was improving at his throwing somewhat, not mastering but at least somewhat competent. When Lynn showed him how it helped a lot.
"Hey Jim, do you wanna bat, I have to practice my pitching too?", she asked.
"Sure", Jimmy said.
Jimmy knocked on Lori and Leni's door.
"Hey it's me, uh Jimmy", he said.
"Come in", she said.
"Hey Lori, I was playing with Lynn for a while and came back to get my turtle neck back now", he said.
"So, that explains why they are both here", she replied.
"Yeah, didn't want to get it dirty and sweaty", he said, "Leni does some good work."
"She is talented", Lori said.
"So, what are you doing?", he asked.
"Texting some friends", Lori said.
"Oh, is one of the friends your boyfriend?"
"Yeah, he's busy today though, he works his family's store in Great Lakes City."
"So, that's where you go every once in a while, to visit?"
"Yeah, I am planning to go to college there to be closer to him, oh I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, I asked in the first place, I am glad you will be close with him soon."
"You can be sad you know."
Jimmy then sat down on the bed next to her.
"I mean, I would like things to be different but, I would have felt bad if you still like standing by the window waiting for me to come back for years and couldn't open your heart for someone else."
"I kind of did that for a while."
"How did you meet?"
"At a golf tournament he was selling food for Flip and one of my golf balls whacked him in the head."
Lori started to laugh after she remembered that time.
"I found out he went to the same school and I guess we clicked."
"I'm glad you're not sad. Well, that's a funny thing to say, hmm but I hope you know what I mean."
"I do. Uh, Jimmy? I hope you don't think I stopped liking you, you are such a kind person and there's no way I could stop ever liking you, I'm literally glad that Lisa has you as her father."
"On the hand, I did wish things could have gone back to what they were that's what I kept thinking when I was in Indiana, I'll go back and be with Lori again. After a while, It did kind of waiver guess it was acceptance of my situation more than anything."
"You dated other girls, right?"
"A couple, not at the same time, mind you, but the first girl and I broke up she was about to go to college in California and didn't want to do the whole long-distance thing. The second was in my first year of college but we really weren't each other's type."
"You'll find someone."
"I remember a long time ago when Casey, said she wanted to marry both me and Scotty so we could stay together forever, that would have been a tempting offer", he joked.
"I've not heard those names in some time, do you, uh do you know how they are doing?"
"Yeah, In fact, they are together as boyfriend and girlfriend."
"Aww, that's literally sweet."
Lori's phone buzzed with a notification. She looked it was a notification about a new picture posted by Carol who had taken a picture with an oversized hat on her head. Lori pressed the like button.
"I've seen her before."
"What? You mean on the internet?"
"No, this morning at the gas station, the one that Flip runs, she was short 2 dollars and Flip being Flip wasn't going to be nice, so I helped her out."
"Oh, really? Are you sure, Carol Pingrey is my friend?"
"The Girl I helped was named Carol."
"She's in my grade, so she's graduating this year."
"She seemed nice, guess I was bound to bump into someone you know in this town."
Jimmy's phone started to ring.
"Hey, it's Tommy, probably to tell me how his soccer game went, excuse me."
Jimmy answered his phone while standing up still in Lori's room.
"Hey Tommy, how it go?", Jimmy answered.
Jimmy and Tommy talked on the phone for a few minutes, Tommy's team won the soccer game with a score of 5-4. Jimmy hung up after saying goodbye to his brother.
"Tommy did well?", Lori asked.
"Yep, his team won", Jimmy replied.
"That's great! He's the athlete of the family then?"
"Well, soccer yes, he's tried basketball umm no, he's tried a few things but never really clicked with him."
"Guess, everyone can't be like Lynn, probably for the best."
"That's mean."
"Then why are you laughing?"
"Just because it's mean doesn't mean it's not funny."
"Do you see him a lot or just during the normal college off periods?"
"Mostly the off periods, actually, I'll be seeing him soon because he's going to be spending the week of his spring break with me."
"So, he's going to be staying with you at your apartment or are you going to Indiana?"
"He's coming to me."
"That's great!"
"Yeah, it's always nice to see him honestly, the only reason I go back to Indiana is him."
Lori put her phone down and looked directly at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Guess you should know, I'm not on speaking terms with my mother been that way for some time. I decided it really wasn't worth talking to her anymore. It's the reason why when I moved to Indiana, I decided to take the accelerated classes and move up to get out of high school quicker, I felt there was no point anymore to do what I was doing. I graduated high school at 16 and went to college at 17."
"You said she got you that apartment though?"
"Well I was still a minor for a year, but she didn't want me staying at a dorm so she rented that apartment for me, I do have my own finances and things but she didn't want me to do it."
"She let you choose the college?"
"Yeah, the nice thing I can say about her is that she wasn't controlling at least, on everything."
"How about you and your father are you mad at him too?"
"That's harder sometimes yes, sometimes no."
"Do you two literally never talk to each other or more ignore each other?"
"I'll be cordial if we are around others like family members or something, I'll ask how's she doing when I visit but, I otherwise ignore her. Sometimes she'll try to talk to me when Tommy is talking to me on the phone and I'll just hang up."
"OK that doesn't sound like you"
"It's not that I don't feel guilty about it, it's just that I'm not happy with her for what happened at all."
"That's funny in a way you are this smart guy but at the same time still acts like a teenager, when you eat or with your parents."
"Kind of like Lisa, she still acts does things that fit her age."
"Yeah, that's literally true. I don't know how I couldn't get along with my mom or anyone in my family, sure we fight sometimes but we always work it out."
"You're saying I should just forgive her?"
"I mean, you might feel better if you aren't wasting your energy on being mad at her also, you may finally figure what exactly happened."
"I don't know, but I'll consider it, you are wise Lori Loud."
"I have 19 years of experience and also know a lot about conflict resolution from living here, though there's only one person here who I think does it better."
"Thanks, Lori."
"Glad to be of some help."
She leaned over and gave him a hug.
"Hey, Lisa might be up from her nap right now."
"Oh right, let's go and see!"
AN: This is the longest Chapter I've done so far, and there's one more with Jimmy at the Loud House. Thankyou for reading. Leave a review.