AN: First of all, thanks for your patience. After a long hiatus, I'm finally on summer vacation.

As mentioned before and set up in the last chapter, the Loud siblings are aged up one year and going into the next grade level! So for this chapter and the next 9 chapters (the twins will share one. Or it will be 8 if I got nothing for Leon), every sibling will have their chapter to shine in as they navigate their new school life. This chapter is my idea; a mix of the episodes "Schooled" and "Kernel of Truth". With some elements inspired by the Proud Family episode "Pulp Boot Camp".

So please please please keep sending your ideas in my PM! DON'T FUCKING PUT IT IN MY REVIEWS! AND PLEASE MIND THE RATING!

The sun rises in the east, painting the sky in a pretty blur of pastel purples, honey yellows, and bright pinks. A random rooster crows at the sky. The residents of Franklin Ave. are grudgingly getting up to start their day.

But in the home of our favorite 11 kids, things are already popping off. The Loud kids were creating a frenzy in the midst of getting ready for school. But for the first time in a long time, there's excitement in the preparation.

"LINKA! Get your ass out of the bathroom!" The athlete demands, pounding on the door.

"I was here first!" His sister screams back. Her day was already off to a great start. She'd never had the privilege of being first.

"You got five more minutes!" Lexx says behind Lynn. "And don't waste Mom's makeup on yourself! You ain't grown!"

Linka grumbles to herself as she pops the cap on the rose-colored lipstick back. "You've just tuned in for a very special time in our lives, readers." The twelve-year-old announces as she's brushing her hair.

"After the last chapter, our universe changed for the better. Your favorite bunch of siblings is growing up and moving on up! For instance, I'm going into middle school!" She squeals.

The bathroom door slams open making the little white hair preteen jump. A seven-year-old prince glares at her.

"TIME'S UP!" Lexx kicks her out then leaves momentarily. He comes back holding their two-year-old's brother hand. Who's walking on his own two legs; no more waddling for him! What's more, he has a pair of lavender trousers and a white t-shirt on instead of the usual diaper!

"There you go, Leo! Now use the potty like a big boy!"

"Thank you, Lexx." He says in a tiny baby voice. Lexx smiles and closes the door for him. He stares down at his sister on the floor.

"What? I wasn't gonna risk having a mess on the floor."

"I can't be mad at that," Lynn responds, picking his kid sister up. "You ready for the jungle, sis?"

"Like you're ready for the eighth grade!"

"Oh ho! You know it! I'm gonna dominate that school! Now, remember what I told you about coming to me about anything! If anyone has a problem with you, I'll have my baseball bat at the ready."

"Bro, I'm 12, not 2! I'll be fine."

"She's right, you know." Loki walks up next to the duo. "We can't always be there to protect her. Like how I'm not going be there for y'all soon."

"I still can't believe you got a scholarship for a golf college!" Linka cheers.

"The only sport I don't play." Lynn comments. "But congrats!"

"Thanks! I want to make a name for myself in the golf world! And the best part, it's close to the city. So Bebe and I don't have to worry about long-distance!"

His roommate comes up behind him and puts him in a playfully aggressive headlock. "Yo!" Loki shouts.

"And while Loki's gone, guess who finally gets to be the leader cause he's got seniority?" The platinum blonde states happily.

Lars opens his bedroom door and joins the scene. "Wait, you're gonna take over? Lord, help us."

Loki shoves him off. "Relax, Lons! I'm not leaving yet!"

"Why?"

"So I can be in the story longer! But for real, I got orientation, set up classes with my consoler. Not to mention I don't even have a car!"

"So your chapter is last in the series?" Linka asks.

"My chapter is last."

Loni scoffs. "I can't believe you guys still underestimate me! I could do it!"

"And I have the utmost confidence in you, little brother!" Loki chuckles awkwardly.

Luke and Lane join while chuckling amongst themselves at Loni's statement. The oldest nudges the rockstar to shush him.

"You're second in command." He whispers. Luke gives a quick salute.

"Atta boy, sweet little sixteen!" Lane says, messing up his hair.

"Bro! Chill out!" Luke grabs his hand. "And don't make song references. That's still my shtick."

Levi walks in to give his two cents. "I am also thrilled for the upcoming school year," Levi says, smiling brightly. "Finally, I'm officially in grade school. No more nap times and watching imbeciles eat glue."

"Lee," the little plumber arrives, picking his nose. "Moving up a grade is just moving from one group of imbeciles to a slightly smarter group of imbeciles. You're never truly away from them." Leif takes his finger out and wipes his hand on the scientist's lab coat.

"Who are you telling?" Levi shoves him off.

"And you're gonna miss nap time. Trust me."

The sound of the toilet flushing interrupts them and the now potty-trained baby struts out to join his siblings. They give him light applause.

"Good job, Leon!" Loki cheers.

"Aright, let's get this day started!" Lynn says, looking at his watch. "This chapter feels like it's all exposition and no conflict!"

"Ok. But like, who's story is first?" Loni asks.

"Who do you think?" The white-haired girl asks smugly. To which all his brothers groan loudly.

"Really?"

"Seriously?"

"You're not exactly the best written."

"Shut up! I get top billing in everything!" Linka says back.


After breakfast, Linka boarded the bus with her elementary and middle school brothers. She sprints to the back to meet up with her four friends.

"What's up, girls? Up top!" They all share a five-way high five. "Ready to rock the first day?"

Claudia and two redheaded friends give uneasy murmurs.

"Totally!" Riley says confidently. "Middle school is like an aquarium, and we're the new tiger sharks!" She snaps her teeth as emphasis.

Zara was not amused. "More like baby krill just waiting to be eaten alive! Why can't you admit you're nervous like the rest of us!"

"Don't worry, guys! We'll still all be together in Mrs. Sultar's class. Lynn said she's like the most laidback teacher ever!"

"Linka," Leah begins. "We ain't big dogs on campus anymore! We're at the bottom of the barrel again! Going to school with teenagers!"

"We're almost teens ourselves! You make middle school sound like a war zone!" Linka argues.

"That's because it is!" Claudia retorts, hugging her knees at her chest. The bus stops and the girls take a nervous gulp at the same time. Linka hops out while her friends walk in a single file line behind her.

Of course, the middle school is bigger than the elementary school. What they weren't expecting is the marble columns guarding it. Teenage students on the steps looking down on them like they were gods judging the sinful folks. Needless to say, it scared the poor girls shitless.

"See, nothing to worry about!" Linka reassures but her voice is trembling.

"Welcome to the last years of our childhoods, ladies." Out of nowhere (well not really, Claudia had her phone behind her back), a military-style beat plays in the background. The kind of song you would hear before marching into battle. She sings as they enter the building. Dodging the riff-raft and teachers giving them weird looks.

Claudia:

Believe me, I know, we've sunk pretty low
But playtime is over, be prepared

Linka:
Claudia

Claudia
Not now!
I'm growing up, that's fine
It's no fault of mine

Just another reason to be scared

Linka:
Please, listen!

Claudia:

Now it's time to step up or it's time to back down
And there's only one answer for me
So I'll stand up and fight even though I am right
And I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready
Ready as I'll ever be!

Her voice cracked in that last line. She gives a worried look to her farm girlfriend. The latter looks up from the map she was using, visually confused by the layout of the school.

Leah:

Now it's time to rise up or it's time to stand down
But it seems that I'm lost out at sea

Linka:
But I swear by the Lord, we will make it to shore

Are you ready?

Riley:
I'm ready!

Leah and Zara:
We're ready!

Riley, Leah, Zara:

We're ready!

Linka:
Ready as I'll ever be!

Claudia:

Are you quite sure we can do this?

Linka:
Together we will guarantee!

Linka grabs Claudia's hand and the other girls grab each other's hands, forming a chain. They run down the hallways to their homeroom like this. Linka's high confidence infects them all as they belt out the last verse with gusto.

Linka:

I'll make you hear me

Her friends:

(now it's our chance to fly or we'll crash and we'll burn)

Linka:
Just have to trust me

Her friends:

(and the outcome will hardly come free)

Linka:
It's not that bad just wait and see

All:
Now the line's in the sand and our moment's at hand

Riley:
And I'm ready!

Zara:
I'm ready!

Leah and Linka:
I'm ready!

Claudia:
Ready as I'll ever be!

The bell rings on cue and the girls enter their very first middle school classroom. The girls' eyes sparkle at the layout. Colorful posters on the wall. Arcade games in a back corner. Even pitchers filled to the brim with delicious juice also in the back. The girls' insecurities about the sixth grade: swept under the rug.

A middle-aged woman with a hippie getup greets them. "Hey, guys. I'm Mrs. Sultar. So here's the low down. You'll find your desk with your name tag on them. Rip Hardcore style. Love the show and he is a personal friend of mine."

"Woah! She knows that badass hunter hunk from TV?" Riley squeals.

"What I'd tell you!" Linka says. Claudia, Riley, Leah, and Zara all sit down at their respective desks quickly. Yet, Linka stands confused.

"Uh, Mrs. Sultar? I can't find my desk. I'm Linka Loud."

She checks her roster. "Linka… Looks like you're in Mr. Bolhofner's class."

The little white-haired girl looked like she was moments away from an aneurysm.

"WHAT THE F-?! HECK, I mean. I requested this class!"

Claudia turns her around and shakes her by the shoulders. More freaked out than her. "For God's sake, woman! Tell me you turned in the form! Tell me!"

"I did! I made a list! I checked it off."

She pulls out her mini notebook that has her to-do list for her first day of middle school. Everything she did up until now (minus the song) has been checked off. Except for the pink stain next to "Turn in Form".

Claudia inspects the notebook. "This is a Flipee stain!" Linka grabs her chest in shock dramatically, leaning on her friend's desk.

"Please, Miss! Can't she stay! She's already here!" The African-American girl pleads.

"I mean, what was the point of the dang song if we're not facing middle school together?" Leah retorts.

"I'm sorry, girls. But Linka will have to report to Bolhufner's."

"Where's that?"

Sultar points to a rickety small box on the outskirts of the school.

"The trailer?" Linka gulps.

"Here's a juice for the road," Sultar says giving her an apple juice box.


So there goes little Snow White. Running down the halls to her assigned homeroom to make it before roll call is up. She takes a sharp right around the corner when the piercing sound of a whistle startles her.

"You're going 5 in a 3 zone, Stinka!"

"Lynn?" She straightens herself up to look at her jock of a brother. "Since when are you the hall monitor?!"

"Took the oath this morning!" He boasts, polishing his badge.

"Like this day wasn't bad enough already! I just found out I'm in Bolhufner's!"

"Sardine Breath? Yikes!" He stands, pondering for a moment. "I shouldn't be doing this but," he turns around. "Get on! This is a one-time-only escort."

Linka climbs on his back while Lynn puts on a police siren hat. He piggybacks his kid sister outside. When they arrive, he throws her on the ground like a football.

"Yo!"

"I'll take that as a thank you." He smirks. "Watch out. It's Arabian Nights in there." He sprints back to his post.

When Linka opens the door, she quickly understands her brother's comment. It was scorching hot! Her new classmates were being baked like cakes.

She takes the only empty seat next to the class' pet piranha. It looks and snaps her teeth at her. She flinches in response.

Linka suddenly feels a tap on her shoulder. She turns around to see an African American boy; his complexion the color of coffee and cream. He has on a black beanie and a fake gold chain necklace.

"Wow. You got nice hair."

"Thanks!" She answers brightly

"If you were 80!" He laughs obnoxiously. Linka instantly glares at him.

"I think she looks cute," his friend sitting at his right. A tall Filipino boy with slanted eyes and big black hair. The boy from before nudges him on the shoulder and glares at him. Linka suspected they must have a boss and henchman type relationship.

"I mean, she must get senior citizen discounts everywhere!" He forces a laugh.

"Good one, Stanley!" "Gold chains" comments.

"Not another goddamn bully chapter." She groans to herself. She doesn't say anything back to them yet. Not wanting to cause a scene on the first day.

The teacher makes himself known by scratching his nails on the chalkboard. He's a grungy-looking middle-aged dark-skinned man.

"Alright, class. I wanna start by saying I'm NOT PLAYING YA'LL'S GAMES! SHUT UP AND LISTEN!" He screams intensely.

"I'm Mr. Bolhufner! And I didn't spend 15 years in the military just to be bossed around by a bunch of snot-nosed brats! And to those who doubt me, try me and see what happens! Am I clear?!"

"YES SIR!" The class answers him except for Linka.

"This class sucks already." She whispers to herself.

"WHAT WAS THAT?!"

"Nothing! Uh, YES SIR!" She gives an involuntary salute.


Later, Linka was attempting to do the assignment on the board during the quiet study, when she felt her chair being knocked into her back. She groans quietly but ignores it.

When it happens again, she turns around to face the boys, specifically the one in the fake chains.

"Look man, I'm stressed enough as it is. I don't wanna cause any trouble cause it's the first day. So would you please stop kicking my seat?"

She turns back around and not even five seconds have passed when she feels his foot on the back of her seat.

This time, she turns around sharply her hair whips around. "I said stop, kid!"

Stanley looks taken back; He's never seen anyone stand up to his friend before. "Uh, she sounds serious, Kevin." He tells his leader.

"Oh! Of course, your name is Kevin!" If you're a cartoon or a sitcom boy and you're called Kevin, 3 times out of 5, you're a douche.

"Blabbing in my class, Loud?" The messy man in the front sneers.

Linka gulps in fear as she looks back at her teacher. "No! I mean, yes! But only because these bastards were bothering me." She silently cursed herself for letting that word slip.

"Ohhh! You're also a potty mouth."

"She said much worse to me, Mister," Kevin says in a voice that demanded sympathy.

He leans down to her eye level. "That's lunch detention with me and my sardines." His fishy breath all up in her face. She gags at the foul stench.

When he pulls away, Linka decided that she's been here a day too long!


Linka slowly opened and closed the door to the principal's office.

"Thanks for seeing me before the final bell, Principal Ramirez. Oh! I'm Linka Loud, one of your new students."

The middle-aged Hispanic man in question gives a curt nod. "No problem, Miss Loud. I had to stay after for a teachers conference anyway and Lord knows I hate those. Anything to procrastinate."

"I heard that! But I'll be quick." In a cartoonish fashion, she rips off her usual orange blouse and denim skirt, releasing the sky blue dress she had underneath. She slides an iPad towards Ramirez and opens a PowerPoint.

"Presenting 876 Reasons Why I Shouldn't be in Mr. Bolhufner's Class." She says on the rights of his desk. Just something she put together while in lunch detention.

Ramirez's heart drops; he was regretting skipping Meatloaf Day in lunch today. The reminder of that made his stomach growl.

Linka smirks at the rumbling. "Don't worry, I'm not that cruel." She reaches into her backpack and gives him a tupperware of her Dad's homemade jalapeño poppers.

"My favorite appetizers! Thanks, Linka!"

"No problem. Number 1…" she says as she begins the slideshow.

Some time gone and the poppers were long gone, Linka was in the 700s of her list. Despite his full stomach, Ramirez could feel his eyes growing heavy.

"Number 787, the small desk do a number on my back. I'll be having chronic spine pain before I'm 16!"

"Number seven hun- ookaaay, I'm irritating myself," Linka admits. "So you got my point?"

"More than I would like to." He answers, rubbing his eyes. "I feel bad for saying this, but I can't switch your classes. There's just no room in Mrs. Sultar's class. I'm sorry."

"Oh." Linka bows her head unhappily.

"But if your complaints against Bolhufner are valid, I can set you up in a cooler classroom."

Linka perks up. "Really?"

"Yeah! I can have you transferred to the Canadian school across the river. I'll have to pull some strings but I know the principal there."

Linka gives him a somewhat annoyed look. "You would transfer me to a whole other country at the beginning of the school year? No offense Principal Ramirez, but that seems like a ridiculous jump in the plot."

"I know. Worth a shot." He shrugs.

Linka packs her stuff and walks toward the door. Her hand was on the knob when he spoke again.

"I remember at around 183, you listed that your friend group would fall apart if you weren't in the same class. Is that your main reason?"

Linka turns back around. "Yeah, we all wanted to be together."

"Well, Linka, not being in the same class is not be the worst thing ever. If your friends mean that much to you, you'll find a way to spend time together even if you're in different classes. Better yet, try to befriend someone in your current class. Be open to change."

Linka forces herself to smile at him. "Thanks, Principal Ramirez."

She leaves his office with that. She trudges out of the school to wait for the after-school buses. He hasn't paid attention to Reason 18: The bullies.


The next day, Linka boards the bus and makes her way back like before.

"Hey, guys. I- Why are y'all sitting like that?" She gestures confused at her four friends all jumbled up in one seat.

"When you didn't come back yesterday for the ride home, we couldn't figure out the bus seating without you. So we all crammed into one." Leah answers.

"So this is your second time doing this?"

Claudia's head pops out of the pile. She inhales dramatically for fresh air. "One of y'all didn't put on deodorant! But yeah, Link. We've been a mess."

"Claudia wouldn't trade her cupcakes unless you brought your jalapeño poppers! And we got our asses handed to us in dodgeball in gym because our snake defense formation was off!" Riley complains.

"You're our Avatar, Linka!" Zara suddenly says.

"Avatar?" She repeats.

"We need you to bring balance to our little world. So, did your plan work?"

Linka rubs her neck uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, guys. I talked to the principal and there's no room in Saltar's for me to switch."

"Seriously?!"

"Come on, Loud!"

"What?!"

"Do you not see this pile?!"

"I know, I know!" Linka responds. "Look, y'all were right. Middle school is a struggle. But I'm not giving up on you. I'll find some way for us to hang out during school time. Just try not to do anything else stupid."

"No promises." Claudia sulks.


Linka was getting frustrated with every step. The bell rang 15 minutes ago! She looks at her map once more than looks up at what looked like an abandoned hallway.

She crumbles her map in the heat of her emotions. "I show have known something was up when I passed the boiler room! I should have never asked those stupid seventh-grade girls! I just wanted to find the art room!" She screams at the ceiling.

The little white-haired girl leans against the door closest to her. Unbeknownst to her, it was unlocked; so, she falls on her back inside. After silently cursing herself, she switches on the light and takes a look around. It was dusty, that's a given. But there was audio and video equipment in boxes. Lights overhead pointing at the desk in front of the room. A white screen behind said desk. Lastly, a camera; it's old (this one uses film) but it looks like it could still run.

She fumbles with the camera and it graciously confirms her suspicions. The Woman with a Plan just found a way to spend time with her friends during the day.


"I can't believe you made us skip lunch to come to some spooky section of the school!" Riley complained as she and her other three friends followed the white-haired girl.

"I can't believe you're still talking about it." Zara chides her.

Linka ignores the bickering and remains her optimistic composition. She finally reaches the recently discovered door. "Check this out." She boasts before letting them all in.

"I knew it! This is where they experiment on kids!" Zara claims.

"Calm down, Zara. This looks like a news show studio. The school must have had a show or something." Claudia explains.

"That's right! And it gave me an idea." Linka says. "We could be the next school news team!"

"I don't know, Link," Riley says hastily. "Kids won't listen to anything if it's not on a phone."

"Especially not a bunch of newbies," Leah adds.

"Pleeeeeeeease!" Linka drags out the vowel while clasping her hands together. "It'll be a great way for us to spend time together at school."

"I think it sounds fun!" Claudia puts her arm around her best friend's shoulders. "The most we can do is try it out."

"Camera still works," Zara says, blowing a cloud of dust off of it. "This is a great idea!"


"That's a horrible idea!" The principal reprimanded the group of sixth-graders in his office. "I'm sorry, I appreciate the effort but there was a reason why we canceled the news show. No one watched it! People claimed they would rather be in detention than watch it."

"But we're different! We could help the school!" Claudia says.

"And this face was made to be on TV!" Riley boosts, causing everyone to roll their eyes.

"I don't know…"

"Principal Ramirez, you told me that if my friends mean so much to me, I should find a way to be together during school." Linka states. "Well, this is my way."

The Hispanic man exhaled exaggeratedly. This kid's determination was unmatched; it was gonna be the end of him this year.

"Ok, I'll give you a shot."

"YES!"


After school, in the cleaned-out news station, Linka, Claudia, Riley, and Leah were all dolled up in their formal attire. The first two were sitting at the desk in the center. Riley was at the desk to the right of them, with a banner of a crudely drawn rooster. Honestly, it looked more like a chicken but the bold font that screams "Go Roosters!" says otherwise. Lastly, Leah stood in front of a weather forecast map; again, it looks like it was drawn in a rush.

Zara is behind the camera, giving the signal. "In 5,4,3,2…" and on cue, the dull "Recording" sign flashes a bright red.

Zara picks up a microphone. "Goooooood morning, Royal Woods Middle!" Her voice echos. "Welcome to Super School News with co-anchors Linka Loud and Claudia McBride. Riley Spokes on Sports and Leah Hunnicutt with the Weather." When she finishes, she points to the girls in the center.

"Good afternoon, I'm Linka Loud,"

"And I'm Claudia McBride. And this is the 3 pm news."

"Shock and disgust in the lunchroom today as several witnesses spotted something furry and brown coming from the kitchen," Linka begins. "Kids say it was a rat. I say if it's not cooking Ratatouille, get rid of it!"

"A rat or Lunchlady Libby lost her wig again." Claudia laughs. "Ms. Libby, if you're watching, find me. My mom uses this incredibly strong wig glue. In other news, the performing arts department is reopening their clubs! They have Jazz Band, Dance Troupe, Drama, and more! So if you're looking to reinvent yourself on stage, sign-up sheets are outside the auditorium."

"Thank you, Claudia. And now we move to Ms. Hunnicutt with the weather. Leah?"

"HELLOOOO ROOSTERS!" Leah greets full of energy. "I hope y'all had a good day! Let's send a big cock-a-doodle-doo to my Great Aunt Betty, who turns 52 today! Here's a big hug from your favorite niece!" She walks toward the camera with her arms stretched.

"IT'S A CLOSED CIRCUIT SYSTEM! SHE'S NOT GONNA SEE THIS! JUST GET TO THE WEATHER!" Riley screams from the other side of the room.

"She real ugly when she yells," Leah mutters under her breath. "We still in the summer months, folks! So keep that sunscreen on ya! Less you wanna burn like smokewood on a grill!"

"Yikes! And I burn easily!" Linka comments

"I don't get burned," Claudia says. "My skin just gets darker and it shines like acrylic under the sun. It's good to be black. Now here's Riley."

"Welcome, my fellow sports fans! Royal Woods take on long-time rivals the Hazeltuckeys in the girls' soccer match! Let's go to the videotape."

Linka clears her throat.

"Right. The first week of school, the game hasn't happened yet. Well, here are my predictions. Illustrated by Barbies!" she takes out two dolls.

"Roosters fight diligently but Hazeltuckeys use their large size to knock away the competition! Shins kicked, knees slit, our goalie can't keep up! Oh, the humanity!" She exaggerates while flailing the dolls around. "But! In the very last quarter, Royal Woods surprises by tying with them than scoring the winning goal. Like a rooster do!" She throws the toys in the air then it lands on her head. "OW!"

"Well, that's all the time we have today!" Linka announces "Till next time, have a cluckin' good day!"

Her co-anchor cringed. "We agreed to cut that out." She whispers.

"I didn't."

"And we're clear!" Zara calls out. The girls regroup at the center.

"That was amazing, ladies!" Linka cheers.

"I can't wait to see what everyone else thinks of our first episode!" Claudia says excitedly.


"No one liked your first episode." Ramirez brings their spirits down again the next day. "Even the author admits it was a drag. I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to cancel you."

"WHAT?! How is that possible?!"

"How are you gonna have "Super School News" if there's nothing super about it!"

Desperate to keep the show running, Linka makes a bribe. "I bet we could come up with a story that can help students if you give us another chance!"

"Ok, I'll give you guys a week." He agrees. "Now be warned, this school's the safest place in the world. It'll be hard to find something exciting."

"Don't worry, we got this," Linka says smugly.


Later that day, the little white-haired girl exhales annoyed as she collapses against her locker with her group surrounding her.

"Still nothing?"

"Ramirez was right, this place is boring!" Riley comments. "Let's just dress up as intruders to spice up everyone's lives."

"Riley, please attempt to use the minimum amount of brainpower you have," Claudia begs, messaging her temples.

"Out of my way, nerds!" the girls heard before their group is forcibly pushed away from each other by Kevin. With Stanley towering over him trailing behind. As they walk on, they witness the boys harass other unsuspecting 6th graders.

"What a charming bunch of fellers," Leah comments dryly.

"Those asswipes are in my class."

"We can deal with them later, Linka," Zara tells her. Then, the lightbulb went off in Linka's head; the perfect news story that would get students to watch them and greatly help a special few.

"Guys! That's it! We do a Bully Prevention segment!"

In response, her girlfriends yell like a Peanut. "AUGH! Not another bully chapter!" They say in unison.

"I know, but listen! This isn't some boring PSA on how "bullying isn't cool". We teach our viewers how to assert dominance, where they are likely to hang out, and defensive maneuvers. Those dummies won't be a threat if everyone is always one step ahead of them."

"Help the underdogs!" Claudia says in an epiphany. "That could work!"

"Yeah! You can't stop bullying altogether," Leah says.

"But you can exploit their weaknesses and put it on the air!" Zara finishes her thought. They share a high-five.

"How do you suppose we get close enough to know their weaknesses?" Riley speaks up. "Sell our bodies as punching bags?"

"No need, this is an undercover job," Linka tells her. "And since we're already in the same class, I'll do it."

Mission starting… now! She had to do something to make Kevin think that she is as tough, maybe tougher, as he was. She rolls up her nonexistent sleeves up and stomps up to her culprit who was sipping at the water fountain. Time to pull out the good old-fashioned Loud House charm.

"Hey, punk!" She lowers her voice a few octaves. "You pushed me and my friends!"

"Uhh, I pushed a lot of people. You're gonna have to be more specific." He answers nonchalantly with his back still towards her.

She grabs his shoulder and forces him to turn around. "Me!"

Kevin just rolls his eyes. "You again? Listen, Albino. Get out of my face before we have a problem."

Linka shoves him against the fountain. The hard metal slams into his back.

"We already got a problem!"

Kevin got into her face. His gang behind him but at a respectable distance. Linka's squad was close to her but not as worried as Kevin's goon.

"I dare you to try that again!"

Linka never backed down. "I knew it! I knew it! You're all talk! I've seen second graders tougher than your scared ass!"

"YOU BETTER STOP TALKING!" He screams with ire.

"WELL SWING THEN!" Linka says with no reluctance. She could have sworn there was a flash of fear in his eyes.

Suddenly, they were both yanked by their collars by the hall monitor. "Linka?" Lynn says confused at first then scolds her. "Altercations of any kind results in a detention! And you boneheads are late for class!" They must have drowned out the ringing of the bell with their screaming.

"Oh, come on bro! I didn't even touch him!"

"Save it! I let you slide once, Stinka, and it ain't gonna happen again!" He writes them both a pink slip. He then turns to Kevin's goon. Linka's cowardly girlfriends were smarter; they left. "And unless you want to join them, you'll get your asses to class NOW!" His friends run past the three of them. Linka hears Stanley whisper to himself "she's hardcore".

Detention was not part of the plan but Kevin's friend seems to think she's tough. She just hopes he thinks so.


After school, our two troublemakers sit in the back row of a mostly empty classroom. Just them, three other kids, and a teacher at the front desk with his AirPods in and eyes glued to his iPad.

Kevin hasn't spoken to her since they entered. He kept his focus on his phone. Guess this plan was a bust Linka thought bitterly. Happened much faster than she expected. Just when she was about to call it quits…

"Hey, I gotta give you your props, Loud," The African-American boy said looking at her. "You never backed down for a second. You tough."

"Uhhh, yeah! I mean, I know. Everyone in my house is tough. The hall monitor is one of my brothers."

"I get it, it's in your blood. You hardcore for real." He gives her a fist bump. "Hey, look, Stan's outside. I'm about to ditch detention. The elementary school just let out and I heard through the grapevine the new fifth graders are carrying bank. Easy pickings; you with me?"

"You're gonna rob elementary school kids?" She asks, shocked.

He gives her an unimpressed look.

"Ahem. I mean, I'm with you, brother. They're spoiled, anyway."

"You're smart, Link. Let's go." The two delinquents got up from their seats and walk towards the front door.

"Hey! You guys can't leave!" One of the other students scolded.

"And what you gonna do?" Linka raises her backhand and gives a malicious glare.

"Uhhh, nothing!" The kid sinks back into her seat.

Linka smirks and slaps Kevin's hand in victory. There's something about being feared that gave Linka a rush of power. Who was once her bully is now her ally and now she's helping him commit petty schoolyard crimes.

This was gonna be fun.


The next day, Linka was coolly walking down the school corridor when Claudia and her ginger friends ran up to her.

"So how was Day 1 of Undercover?"

"Spill the tea, sis!"

"Did those fellers rough you up?"

"Girls! One problem at a time!" Linka yells at her ginger friends.

"To get down to it, where were you yesterday?" Claudia asks. "You weren't on the after-school bus and you didn't answer in the group chat?"

"Don't worry about that! I was with Kevin."

"Oh! What happened? Did you learn his secrets?"

Linka was speechless for a moment. What was she supposed to say? That she and Kevin bonded in detention? That she went back to their old school and beat down on some of the younger kids? That she momentarily forgot that she was supposed to be undercover to save her news show when this was her idea in the first place? Answer: none of the above.

"No, not yet." She lies. "I still have to earn his trust but I'm getting there. But rest assured, I'll have something tomorrow."

"That's good, we still have six more days left." Zara reminds her.

"Right! To save the news show."

The poor simpletons Linka smirks looking at their unsuspecting faces. So desperate to follow their leader. She could have told them that puppies were going extinct, and them fools would have a petition going around! They want me to stay undercover? I'll go even deeper.

"Hey, Linka!" Stanley runs down the hallway to meet up with her. He catches his breath while his hands on his knees.

"Stanley! Did just ran from the classroom?"

"Yep!" He stands up straight. "Guess who stole the answers to today's pop quiz?" He flashes a piece of paper to her. "I didn't want to start cramming without you!"

"Wow, thanks, Stan! Oh, we better hurry! Class in 10 minutes! See ya, girls!" Linka chases after Stanley in the same way he came in.

"Ok! See you at lunch!" Claudia calls after her but no response.

Once the girls were out of earshot, Stanley says to Linka "Is it just me or is the one in the glasses kinda cute?"

"Dude!" She scolds, taken back.


"Wow! You guys hang out here?" Linka squeals with stars in her eyes. During their lunchtime, instead of copping a good table in the cafeteria, Kevin lead Linka and Stanley to an abandoned locker. Which was the entrance to a single-room arcade room.

"Yep! The school's "secret" game room. I found it while running from a teacher." Kevin explains.

"No, I found it!" Stan rebuttals. "It was my idea to jump into the locker!"

"Oh yeah! One of the rare moments you were actually intelligent." Stan glares at his sneer.

"But I still need to eat," Linka begins. "Can either of you spot me?"

"Everything's free when just take it." Kevin reminds her. Linka just smiles at the notion.


Throughout the week, Linka immersed herself into the dark side.

She and her new buddies stole food from the dorks and the dorkettes; "Kinda selfish of ya'll, I had my eyes on this pizza first."

Accepted bribes from the nerdy and the cowardly; "I won't let my boys bother you from one whole day if you say… give $5. No! $7! Each!"

And pushed down the weak and the meek as Kevin had done to her before; "Out of our way! Real ones coming through!" And no one dared to oppose, she was feared and obeyed by all. And she loved it! It was a good week for Linka, or as she renamed herself, L-Pain. Haha, pretty self-explanatory.

It's amazing how quickly she took up her new role. Her wardrobe changed with her too. No one would take a bully serious in an orange blouse. So she started wearing camouflage pants, Timberland boots, and an off the shoulder black top. Complete with a matching green bandana and a pair of fake gold hoop earrings. Just some clothes laying around in her attic.

Linka always had a tough side but it was never cranked up to the max like this. Going back to her bully segment idea, she had enough material for several episodes based on her experience. But she never reported back to her friends. In fact, she mentally cut ties with anyone associated with her old school life. And didn't care if they knew her rep as a L-Pain.

So when her old girlfriends came up to confront her on the way to Bolhofner's, Linka didn't exactly handle it the best way.

"What do ya'll want?"

"What do we want?!" Leah roars. "We want to know why you left us in the dirt!"

"Yeah, and why are you dressed like what white people think urban black people dress like, Linka?" Claudia asks.

"The name's L-Pain. And I've been minding my goddamn business!"

The girls gasp in shock. "What on God's green earth?!" Riley exclaims. "I don't know who she think she talking to but I'm gonna-"

"Oh, you need chill, Spokes! We both know you can't even bust a grape or swat a fly!"

"I know she didn't! You-! She-! I-! But she practically did!"

"As much as I would love to continue this riveting conversation, I gotta meet up with my boys." Linka walks away but Claudia grabs her arm.

"Your boys? You mean Kevin and Stanley? Linka, remember why you're doing this in the first place! To get a story for our news show!"

"To hell with the news show!" Linka shoves Claudia off. "I could do bad all by myself!"

"But that story is due tomorrow!" Zara scolds. "We're doing this so you can have a way to spend time with your real friends!"

Linka scoffs. "So I can be stuck babysitting you guys forever? I've moved on so why can't y'all grow up and do the same!"

Out of all the girls, Claudia took that the hardest. This was her best friend since four years old. The Ace Savvy to her One-Eyed Jack. She blinks back her tears and tries to reason with her again. "Linka, you know that isn't you talking."

"Well, I'm not gonna explain it to you twice. I'm out." She turns around and walks away.

Claudia rubs her face in exhaustion as Riley and Leah rub her back in solace. Zara makes a comments "I was right about her being the Avatar. When we needed her most, she vanished."


After school that day, Stanley lead Linka to the detention center.

"I can't believe that fool got busted without any backup!"

"You know how he is."

"Always wildling out! If I was there I would have hit with this two-piece to knock the stupid out of him." She punches the air.

Stan was unimpressed. "L-Pain, stop talking like you're from the streets. When the street you're from is Sesame Street."

Linka is speechless; that was a good comeback. She does enjoy watching it with her baby brothers.

Anyway, they enter the detention room, walk past the detached monitor, and meet Kevin in the back.

"Kevin, what happened?" The Filipino boy ask.

"I wanted to feel brave; took money from a seventh grader when all of a sudden, Principal Ramirez caught me. I heard him say he was gonna call my mother!"

"Oooo, she's gonna beat your ass like a cheap drum!" Stan comments

"Shut up! He wants to ruin my life, then I wanna ruin something of his. That's the three of us are gonna ditch detention again… And break the principal's car!"

Linka and Stanley both share a horrified and hushed "What?!"

"A broken windshield and a tagged door is nothing compared to what I'm gonna experienced when I get home! He was never there when we stole from our grade, why now?!"

Linka was about to say something but to both their surprise, Stanley berates him.

"Are you kidding me, Kevin?! I mean, you've done some stupid shit in the past but wow! It's one thing to steal lunch money but this is vandalism! A real crime! You could go to juvy!"

"Oh! So it's wrong for me to rely on my best friend to help me!"

"Best friend?" Stan laughs bitterly. "You've treated me like your lackey since 5th grade and now you have the audacity to call me your friend?!" Stan screams letting him have it. "I'm basically only here at this point to keep you from doing dumb stunts like this!"

Linka was throughly astonished; she wrote Stanley off as a one-dimensional sidekick, when he's actually the only one of the two with a moral center. In addition, she feels slight Déjà vu from her confrontation with her old friends earlier.

"Well, L-Pain is with me? Right?"

"Don't do it, Linka!"

"Unless you're a coward like him!"

Linka snarls "Hey! I ain't no coward! Ramirez can fix a broken windshield any day of the week." Her mouth was moving faster than her brain; she didn't mean that.

"Kevin, I should have cut ties with you years ago. And Linka, I expected better from you. Have fun rotting in Juvy!" Stanley waves them off and leaves.

Kevin simply rolls his eyes. "Come on, L-Pain," he slides out of his desk. "Let's get some supplies."


Later, L-Pain and Kevin were on their way to the front entrance with Kevin's bag full of spray paint from the art room and two baseball bats taken from the gymnasium. The white-haired girl still had nervous butterflies in her stomach.

Suddenly, a TV in hallway bleeps and switches to Claudia McBride sitting at the center desk. She's not dolled up like the last time she was on the air. Linka stops and stands in front of it.

"No, Principal Ramirez, this is not the exciting story that we promised. And we don't care that if a lot of people watch this. We just need to use our platform to reach out to someone in need." Linka's gaze softens.

"Linka, I hope you're hearing this. We've been hearing rumors about your new attitude and I can't believe that this is the same girl I was binge watching Ace Savvy last week. This isn't right. This isn't you."

The camera pans to Leah on the left. "And this isn't us being jealous or naggy or whatever, this is us being concerned. Because a real friend would ask these questions, not treat you as an afterthought and only call you when you're beneficial. It's the same way you treated us in the past."

Riley has the floor. "And that babysitting comment, it hurts like hell. I've never felt that we held you back. We've supported you through it all. You're determined, sweet, and intelligent; that's why you're the leader."

Zara turns the camera around to her face. "So whatever stunt you're about to do, please think about what we said if you're watching. We're sorry we let it get this far. We'll even put this news show idea to rest if it means you'll come back." The signal cuts off.

Linka wipes away a stray tear. "What did I do? AH!" She yelp when her arm was grabbed by Kevin. "I made it outside and I didn't see you behind me!" He takes her to the parking lot and spots a black Nissan.

"This is it!" He runs over there and drops his bag. "You spray and I smash!" Kevin raises his bat but Linka grabs the handle and struggles to take it from him.

"L-Pain!"

"It's Linka!" She steals the bat away. "And Stan was right! This is dangerous!"

"What does it matter to you? I thought you were tough!"

"But I'm not stupid! And to think, I left my real friends for you! You were bullying me before I became a bully! I can't believe I thought it was a good idea to even approach you! I've done and said terrible things, but I'm gonna make things right! Starting with cutting ties with you!" She drops the baseball bat. Along with her fake hoop earrings and bandana.

"And camouflage green, so not my color!"

Kevin was flabbergasted! Dumped by 2 friends in less than a day. "Fine! Then just leave!" He shoves her away "I can do this myself!" He picks up the bat and raises it once more. Linka was gonna stop him again.

Time suddenly freezes when a camera shutter goes off.

Claudia, Leah, Riley, Zara, Stanley, Ramirez, and one of the school's security guards stand a few feet in front of them. Ramirez had his phone up.

"Steve, take Kevin to my office while I decide whether or not I want to press charges. It's gonna be hard to explain this photo while he's on the stand." The principal tells the security guard. Said guard grabs a protesting Kevin by the arm and drags him away.

"Thanks for the heads up, Stanley." The Hispanic man tells him.

"Stan?! You ratted me out!" Kevin hollars.

"For your sake and mine." He calmly says.

Ramirez follows the security guard leaving the girls and Stanley behind. Linka waited until Kevin's screams had died down to talk to the other girls.

"Guys, I'm, I'm so sorry! I started out reporting a story then let myself be part of it. I'm sorry for acting like a bitch this week and I'm sorry for what I said before! I need you way more than you need me. If you guys hadn't talked me out of it, I would have been in Juvy! You guys are the best friends I could ever have!"

Claudia sighs, walks up to her, and puts her hand on her shoulder "Yes. Yes, we are." She giggles and pulls her into a hug. Followed by the ginger girls to wrap her arms around her.

"Some first week of middle school, am I right?" Riley comments.

"At least, we're still together." Leah comments. "But seriously, never go undercover again." She says in a serious undertone.

"Ok! Ok! Wait, how'd you guys find out what Kevin was up to."

"Someone reported an anonymous tip to Super School News." Claudia answers.

"Not so anonymous." Stanley, who had just been standing awkwardly, speaks up. "I told these girls about what you were about to do hoping they would talk some sense to you. And while they were live, I told Principal Ramirez."

"I appreciate that." Linka removes herself from the group hug to hug the tall boy. Her head lays perfectly on his chest. Stanley, not knowing how to respond, just pats her white hair. When she lets go, he turns around and walks away.

"Who will you go to now?" Linka asks.

"Nobody. I don't have any other friends outside of Kevin. And I doubt that anyone is gonna give me a second chance after I helped Kevin take their lunch, money, and dignity. But I'll be around."

"Well, you wanna sit with us at lunch tomorrow?"

Stan fully turns around. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, man! You can be part of our squad!"

"But Linka!" Zara objects. "We never needed a boy in the group! We don't know how to befriend them!"

"Like I know how to have a female friend!"

Linka wraps her arms around the both of them. "Come on, we can be mature about this! Doesn't matter if he's a boy, he's a cool dude with a good heart!"

Stanley smiles at her words then looks around at his new squad. This is gonna take some getting used to but it's not all bad. Plus, there's a giant bonus in being in this friend group.

"Well, if you insist…" He removes himself from Linka to flaunt his admiration for the girl with glasses.

"Helloooooo nurse!" He greets her with hands clasped and little hearts flying around him.

"Excuse me?" Claudia asks unimpressed. Linka and Zara just laugh at the display.

"Well, this is already working fabulously." Claudia comments sarcastically.

"Hold up!" Riley suddenly says. "I think I have a way to sort of initiate him to the group. Technically, our last day is tomorrow."


"Good morning, Royal Woods Middle!" Linka greets from behind the desk. "After a week long hiatus, we're back with a real news show! On this very special episode, we like to welcome a new addition to the staff. Go ahead and introduce yourself!"

The camera pans to Stanley in a revolving chair with a sign behind him that says "Stanley Speaks".

"What up, Royal Woods? I'm Stanley Zhau and I'm proud to be on SSN to host my new advice column "Stanley Speaks". Got bully problems? I got self-defense tactics, the what todos, what not todos, and how to send them home packing. Dealing with a toxic friend? I can tell you the signs of them, and how and when to leave them. And believe me, I speak from personal experience."

Linka beams at his introduction. Riley's idea was genius; this way what happened this week won't be in vain. And she gets to be together with all of her friends.

"That's what to expect from me, but for this one time only, I like to begin with something completely different." Stan jumps off the chair. "Zara, can you switch to the handheld?"

Zara complies and holds up a handheld camera.

"What if I were to tell you a secret that had students long before us scratching their heads on whether or not they should believe? The location of the school's secret game room?"

The girls minus Linka gasp and exploded with excited chatter.

"Well, if ya'll would pick your jaws off the floor and follow me!" Stan says with enthusiasm and runs out the room. The other girls chase after him matching his energy.

Linka was the last one left. "You know what, readers? I'm gonna like middle school." Then proceeds to follow her five friends.

AN: Thank you for reading! Sorry if this dragged on and is cliché but hopefully the rest of the series gets better. Again, PM me for what you would like to see in the brothers' chapters. The song used in this chapter is Ready As I'll Ever Be from the Tangled TV Series (I recommend it!)

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