Forced Staycation
In case there are still people whining that Lincoln or any of the other siblings are 'treated unfairly', get over it; life is unfair.
The Loud House Movie premiered this week. I've seen it and I guess it was alright. I found it nothing too special, really. I intend to integrate bits and pieces of the movie into my stories… the ones I can work with of course.
This is a shorter chapter to bridge the gap between the previous one and the next. It was originally part of the next chapter, but this bit was just a little too disconnected to have a good flow with the next chapter. At the same time this could easily have been part of the previous chapter was well but it's always easier to say stuff like that in hindsight.
The good news is that the next chapter will be uploaded soon… very soon.
The last school day before summer was a relaxed affair. There were classes, but what for? Everyone had turned in their school books already and all they were ever supposed to do is listen to their teacher's 'inspirational' speeches to further advance their students come the next school year. Some teachers thought outside the box to come up with something special for the last day, such as Ms. Mercer the science teacher finally allowing the class to mix two units of water without goggles. It was a shame that Mr. Crespo was not one of those teachers. Luna had him in her last period, and he stuck with the usual for his end-of-the-year speech. A slight consolation for his students was that he could afford himself to speak a little more energetic beyond his usual droning monotone. This rare occasion eluded Luna, her head was already ahead to tomorrow, throwing her bags into the family minivan and riding off to adventure. Luna couldn't help but hum to herself during a vivid daydream, where she walked through the hallways of Graceland.
''I've got reason to believe we both will be received in-''
''Miss Loud…'' was all Mr. Crespo needed to say for Luna to understand the remainder of his unspoken request. He resumed his lecture while Luna watched the clock count down to three for the last time: a strike, another strike; Luna watched the big hand in anguished impatience. The hand pointed at twelve again but Luna restrained a joyous cry when the liberating buzz wouldn't sound, realizing there were still several laps around the clock to go. Fingers nervously rapping on the desk, Luna's self-discipline was tested and she had trouble keeping herself seated instead of just running off without looking back.
The big hand finished another loop and approached the top digit once more. It struck, and everything seemed to fall still around Luna. A moment of fear followed; was this really happening? Then the buzzer rang, summer vacation had finally started! The students were finally free from the burdens of school… for the coming six to eight weeks. The students either cheered or breathed a sigh of relief, and Luna's cheerful cry came above everyone else's. She shoved her belongings into her bag and headed for the door out.
''Have a rockin' summer dudes!''
''Just a minute, Miss Loud.'' Mr. Crespo halted her departure, noticeably stern.
''What's up mister K?'' Luna asked, taken by surprise and reporting to her teacher's desk as the other students slowly but surely left.
''Again, that would be mister C.'' Mr. Crespo corrected her again. Luna became the last student left in his classroom, he folded his arms on the desk. ''A month ago, you assured me that your grades would climb, but they haven't. Which means that you have an unsatisfactory mark; you have failed history.''
''Oh.'' Luna raised an eyebrow, puzzled on what to expect.
''I don't understand Luna: your grades were acceptable before but they steadily fell since early April. Do you have an explanation for that?'' Mr. Crespo asked, reading off of a report he held.
Luna shrugged and tilted her head slightly. ''End-of-the-year burnout?''
Mr. Crespo listened to Luna's answer as he glowered over the rim of his glasses. ''I have to say I'm disappointed in you, Luna. You promised me improvement but you didn't seem to have applied yourself at all. Luckily, this school is lenient with failing grades. We'll provide remedial classes for-''
''Aw man, summer school?'' Luna whined.
''Yes.''
Her head began to spin from the anxiety; did this mean that she'd have to stay here in Royal Woods? Mr. Crespo continued as stoic as ever while Luna reeled from the horror.
''We'll provide you two weeks of summer school. Afterwards, there'll be a final exam on the nineteenth-''
''Hold on, on the nineteenth?'' Luna repeated, immediately peeking up.
''Yes, the nineteenth. If you score satisfactorily you'll still advance but if you don't…'' Mr. Crespo deliberately left the grave consequence to her imagination, but Luna was calculating a solution of her own to really consider the possibility.
''Do I have to show up at these classes?'' She eventually asked with a curious glance.
''Well, I can't force you to attend, but it'd be very wise to due how much material there is to discuss.'' Mr. Crespo handed Luna, remarkably quickly for his being, a paper. ''Here is a list with dates and times for the extra classes.''
Luna briefly read the schedule, and nodded.
''I'll look into it. See you around, teach!'' She walked out of the class room relaxed and uncaring, especially for her teacher's frown furrowing.
Luna didn't intend to go to those remedial classes; no way, she had better things to do the coming weeks. Luna wasn't concerned at all. It wasn't good news that she was at risk of flunking history, after all, but there was no reason for alarm, she had it all figured out!
Her steps on the slate tiles echoed through empty hallways as she sloppily folded the paper up and stuffed it into her backpack. She was only a few minutes later, but the other students had 'escaped' the building already. It annoyed Luna that she didn't get another chance to talk to her friends anymore, but it was a minor inconvenience. Another pair of steps sounding through the hall, and a person appeared in the distance, Luna's next-youngest sister Luan came running for her.
''Luna, everyone's waiting outside! What's taking you?'' She asked.
''Mr. Crespo held me up; business as usual.'' Luna answered without a spat of the annoyance Luan had.
''What for?''
Luna waved it off. ''It doesn't matter; teachers suck! We're rid of him and everything here!'' She then wrapped an arm around Luan and pulled her close, shaking her in delight with a grin as bright as the younger sister usually had. They went through the front door and ended up in front of the school where Lori and Leni had been waiting for them.
Lori rolled her head and pocketed her phone. ''There you are.'' The way she said it implied mild annoyance, but Luna was much too happy to notice. Lori handed her smartphone to Leni as the former went behind the wheel. After one failed attempt, the ignition turned on and Lori drove towards their next pickup. Luna looked her shoulder and saw that dreaded school building slowly shrink as they went down the street, smiling again as it wouldn't reappear again for a good while. The joy compelled Luna to cheer randomly.
''Woo! Holiday dudes!'' She cried.
As Leni preened in the rear-view mirror, seeing Luan gave her a tinge of random curiosity. ''What's Benny doing this summer Luan?''
''He's staying at a big chalet in Cape Cod. It belongs to someone in his family.''
''Sounds fancy-schmancy! Shouldn't you have gone with them?''
''Nah… nothing beats cabin fever with your family!''
''You said it sis!'' Luna eagerly agreed.
''I'm glad we're going out of town tomorrow. I checked the weather forecast and it's going to be hot in Royal Woods. Literally hot!''
''Another hot flash like last week?'' Luna asked, subtly horrified.
Lori affirmed with a quick nod of her head before turning her head back to traffic. ''Even hotter.''
''It'll be the dog's dog days!'' Luan spared herself a brief giggle for her joke.
It was barely a five out of ten, but Luna titled her head with a smile to acknowledge her sister's comedy and became even more grateful for the final buzz of the school bell, because she couldn't imagine actually staying at home in an old, stuffy house let alone go to school in those temperatures.
When the image formed, the stale classroom scent wafted in her nose and her skin started glowing from the thought of the heat alone, Luna's smile slowly dropped. She was convinced of her own plan to make this summer work, but could she explain it the others? Her parents? She didn't have Lincoln's people skills. It kept Luna pondering as her younger siblings were all picked up in the meantime. They made a racket by talking, romping and playing together to release the boredom of nine months worth of school. That Luna, most often the noisiest of the bunch, sat quietly and slightly reserved in between it all didn't go unnoticed.
''Hey Luna? What's up?'' Lana, sitting next to Luna, asked with curiosity.
Luna cast a glance, and veered up slightly to address them all at once. ''Hey dudes?'' She called.
''Yes?'' Lori cast a quick glance at Luna through the rearview mirror.
''I think mom and dad are going to rap me for something.'' Luna requested slowly.
''For what?'' Lola asked, having climbed onto the back rest of Luna's seat.
''Lola! Seat belts!'' Came Lori's quick lecture before Luna's answer.
''Well it's… some school stuff. Don't have a cow about it, I got it under control. I just need your help to make our folks see it that way! Can I count on you to back me up?''
''Of course!'' Lincoln agreed.
''Sure!'' Luan was even more eager.
The only one more reluctant among the enthusiastic siblings was Lori, she wiggled her fingers on the steering wheel before answering. ''Okay!''
''Thanks dudes, you're the best!''
A weight fell off of Luna's shoulders and she relaxed, which Lana used this moment of blissful distraction to spontaneously engage her in a tickle fight. As Luna tried to fend off Lana's wriggling fingers, Luna was confident, proven right once again to know that family was the best resource to fall back on in difficult situations!
I'm not used to writing a slow buildup like this. I hope you don't mind if I was doing it wrong in any way…
I hope you've enjoyed this chapter, short as it was, and that you continue to enjoy my stories. Until next time!
:D,
Q.W.