Forced Staycation
I promised there'd be an update very soon and this is one of those rare moments where I deliver on my word!
There'll be people that are going to hate me for this, and then I hope because they don't like what's happening this chapter and not because it's bad.
With everyone in tow, Lori drove the family minivan into Franklin Avenue towards their house. As Lori turned onto the driveway of the Loud residence, just as Mr. Grouse left his house wearing a Hawaii shirt and with a suitcase in hand. Obviously, he was going on a holiday too and Luna wished him well as he stepped in the taxi that waited for him. Once Vanzilla came to a stop, most of the eleven siblings stormed out and ran for, and all but ran down, the front door in delight over having made it through the school year. Cliff and Charles, the pet cat and dog of the family, scurried away from the stampede in fright.
''Hey ma hey dad!''
''Hi hi!''
''What's up?''
The children called their greetings. Lily babbled in joy seeing her sisters come back. Leni even scooped her up from the floor and nuzzled cheeks to share the happiness.
''Thank you dad for doing this on short notice!'' The Loud children could hear their mother say over the telephone in the kitchen, seeing her hang up just as they gathered in the living room.
''Hello children…'' Their mother greeted them back with a harrowing undertone. She and her husband appeared to their brood with piercing glares, leaving their children nervous and confused. They exchanged looks to find out who was meant to be the target of their parents, if they weren't all…
''Luna, is there something you have to tell us?'' Their father asked.
Subconsciously, the younger siblings cleared out a straight line between Luna and her parents, either so the two could talk to each other better, or just to be sure to get out of the way of their parents' scorn. There was no doubt for Luna what her parents were after, she just had to bring it as delicately as possible even with her siblings about to back her up.
''Yeah…'' Luna said in a sheepishly elongated fashion. ''I flunked my history a little.''
''Really? A little?'' Her mother repeated with a skeptical eyebrow. ''Luna, the school called this morning and you have an F; you failed history very much.'' She mother summed up, wrapped up in a rebuke.
''Hey history is hard! It always has been!''
''But your teacher also offered you extra classes, which you didn't take up.'' Her father pointed out, getting increasingly sterner. ''We wouldn't be angry if you really struggled with it, but we don't think you put in any effort!''
''I did!'' Luna rejected, a little too insistently to be believable. She turned to her siblings, who she knew could always be relied on during situations like these. ''Dudes? You know I did my homework, right?''
As another symbol of unity, Luna went to stand with them to emphasize their bond to the parents. Her sisters' reaction seemed more shocked and reserved than Luna expected… or hoped. Quickly, Luna grew confused: her sisters and brother didn't say or do anything, they didn't come rushing to Luna's aid like they promised but hesitantly kept to the sidelines.
''Dudes?''
''Leave us alone with Luna, kids.'' Their father said. One by one, gently beckoned and encouraged by Lori, they went upstairs. It left Luna stupefied.
''Where are you-'' She muttered. Luna was stunned with shock, beads of sweat formed in a hot flash. She was on her own against her parents, whose glowering heads nodded her to sit down at the kitchen table. Luna would've done so anyway; she felt dizzy from the sudden upset. Her parents brought her into the kitchen, where her father pointed at the table.
''Sit down.'' He instructed.
Her mother crossed her arms sternly. ''Luna, your father and I expect you to take your education very seriously and you just throw it away! Now you have to take another test and if you don't score well enough, you fail and have to redo an entire, year!''
''Okay, I'm in trouble!'' Luna quickly admitted, making a few soothing gestures. ''I need to study a lot to catch up, but I've got a good idea. Hold on.'' Luna ran back to her backpack and hastily retrieved the schedule. Her parents read the sloppily folded paper together. ''I can learn for it while we're on the road. It's not required to attend those classes; Lisa is smart, she can tutor me a bit too! And look, the final exam is on the nineteenth, the day after we come home! This can all work out, dudes!''
Unfortunately, Luna's excitable concept sounded a lot more charismatic in her mind. Her optimism faded noticing that her parents clearly were not at all impressed with the idea.
''What if we get stuck somewhere and we're not back in town on time? Then what?'' Her father asked, his detached glance matched that of his wife.
''I don't know- well, if I ever claimed to be wise i-it surely meant that I don't know! We can make it work, u-us Louds always find a way!'' Luna stammered with a frail smile.
Instinctively, Luna looked at the floor and started brushing her nape repeatedly. The familiar, anxious feeling crept on to Luna that this wasn't going to end as well as she imagined. If her siblings were still here, they'd definitely have helped their parents see the logic of Luna's plan.
Her father shook his head and breathed a sigh. ''Lunes, we know how much you wanted to go on this trip. But your mother and I have decided that as punishment, you're not going on vacation with us.''
''Heh, good joke pop-star!'' Luna remarked, followed by a short chuckle until her expression gradually grew more dejected and her chuckling quieted down, unable to fool herself anymore. ''Unless, you, aren't…''
''I'm not joking, Luna.'' Her father confirmed with a light shake of his head.
In the seconds of silence that followed, the graveness of her situation dawned on Luna and it hit her like a bat to the back of her head. All this time she has been excited for nothing. She withstood everything only to be taken out of the race right before the finish line. The realization that she wasn't in fact going to Graceland, a Mecca to her, was one of overwhelming grief.
''No no, that's not fair!'' She called in agony, fighting her anger and disbelief to stay reasonable and gracelessly losing the battle. The first admission was a bang on the table with her fists. ''You can't do this to me! I've waited so long! I behaved myself like I promised!''
''Keeping your grades up is part of that good behavior.'' Her mother pointed out.
''But I can study while we're on the go, I really can!'' Luna stood up so wildly, she flung her chair to the floor. ''I take my textbook, and I bet the others will help me!''
''No Luna.'' Her mother stoically interrupted her. ''You didn't do what we asked of you, and now you have to stay in Royal Woods and go to summer school.''
The mention of that dreaded program alone made Luna pitch an anguished wail. ''Please let me go! I'll do everything! I'll even do everyone's chores for the rest of the year!'' She cried with folded hands to her parents.
''You act like your life depends on this trip, Luna.'' Mom remarked casually.
''Well maybe it does!'' Luna insisted dramatically.
Luna sat back down and buried her face her face in her hands. She was deaf to the lecture her mother continued to give. Luna's addled mind tried to make sense of the situation she found herself in and the cocktail of negative energy that brewed inside.
This worst-case scenario was unthinkable when Luna woke up this morning. Then again… she also expected her sisters to come to her aid if she needed that of them. Her siblings would probably help her parents see the light in Luna's plan but they didn't come to her aid at all, baling on Luna after the simplest order from their father. Luna helped them out, protected them countless times and they left her to rot. That… betrayal, it stung the worst of everything.
Her emotions were stirred up and it all made sense now. Her will was dead-set, she shot up from the table, startling her parents and cutting off her mother's lecture mid-sentence. Letting her furious scowl speak, Luna turned around and walked out of the kitchen.
''Luna come back here, we're not finished yet.'' Her father grabbed her by her shoulder to halt her leave.
''Aw that's too bad senior because I am!'' Luna snarled.
''Luna…'' Her mother said. Her tone carried a lingering threat of consequence, but Luna didn't even notice let alone hear her mother at all in her fury.
Luna shook herself free from her father and gave another glare. ''Whatever it is, go stick it up your ass!''
''That's it Luna! Go to your room!'' Dad demanded with a finger perked to the ceiling.
''I was going to anyway!''
Yet, Luna had another thing to take care of first. Upstairs, Luna's siblings were gathering or hauling their baggage for the trip: most of them were in their rooms, and the happy chatter of the few in the hallway fell silent immediately once Luna appeared to them. Luna saw right through them: they acted like they had been packing their bags, but she knew from experience that they had been listening in on her being talked down. Luna scanned the clutter of siblings, her glance compelled them to inch back slightly until she locked eyes with Lori down the hallway, unsuspecting as she came out of her room.
''You!''
Luna pointed an accusing finger at Lori specifically as she approached her, kicking an innocent suitcase out of her path. Leni stood in Luna's path and veered out of the way, but Lori kept standing even when Luna's threatening heaves blew into her face. The rest of the siblings gathered and looked, but from a safe distance.
''Okay, what the hell?'' Luna called.
Lori remained level and diplomatic even with Luna's shouts. ''Calm down-''
''No I'm not! I'm getting torn apart by mom and dad and you just let everyone abandon me brah! You promised you'd help me out!'' Luna exclaimed.
''What did mom and dad say?''
With a few heaves Luna's furious demeanor faltered, her booming voice softened to a mumble and she hung her head speaking of her sentence: ''I have to stay at home.''
''Oh no.'' Lori mumbled behind her hands.
Behind them, several sisters gasped and whispered. Luna's excitement had gained an infamous reputation over the months; the shock over being denied going was palpable with everyone.
''That's right…'' Luna growled as her eyes went around the group. None of her siblings considered it might've sounded like an accusation.
''Do you want a hug?'' Lori spread her arms spread out to wrap them around her younger sister for a loving embrace, but Luna backed away dismissively.
''I don't want a hug! I wanted you to fucking help me!'' Luna snarled.
''Luna! Language! There are children here!'' Leni rebuked her, covering up Lisa's ears.
''My vocabulary is already familiar with these terms…'' Lisa answered.
''Luna what was there we could do?'' Lori asked.
Meanwhile, Lincoln cautiously closed towards Luna. ''If we got involved mom and dad would've grounded us too.''
''So? That hasn't stopped me before!'' Luna turned slightly, so at her left was Lori and the rest of siblings on her right, for the grave complaint she wanted to address: ''When you told me you were drowning, I would always, always, lend a hand! But you just left me to sink to the bottom and tie another weight to my feet now! You didn't even try to help, you just… stood there until mom and dad sent you away without any buts and uhms!''
Her younger siblings were put off with the charge as well as her upsettingly harsh voice. Lisa, eternally stoic to show any outward signs of grudge towards Luna, broke free from the group and came to stand with Lincoln with a stuck-up a finger.
''If I may, third-oldest sister, but why should we risk punishment when you clearly did not do the schoolwork to a satisfactory degree like you were expected to do?''
Luna flinched, did she hear this correctly?
''So you're saying it's my fault? You all quit on me and it's my fault?!''
''Affirmative.''
Looking around, Luna was daunted to see that everyone nodded in agreement, some with scornful glances. She was stunned with their verdict. Luna's faith in them reached new lows and she felt her grip on her restraints loosening. Luna crossed her arms in response and frowned darkly. Her glower was the only indication that there was a lot more emotion to Luna underneath than what she tried to let on.
''Oh yeah? Well I had a plan to make up for that.''
''What plan?'' Lucy asked.
''I'd learn on the road and easily pass exams if you cared to help me out a little. Now I know better that you wouldn't… thanks a lot!'' Luna grumbled.
''I will not be volunteered. I too appreciate some respite.'' Lisa turned her back on Luna and walked back to where she originally stood.
''Doing schoolwork in the summer? Ugh, no thank you.'' Lola groaned. ''Especially your schoolwork!''
Luna cast a mocking smirk. ''That's a lot of lip for a tyke who can barely read!''
An offended gasp came from Lola, voicing some of the shock of the other siblings, and growled viciously. ''I'll put pink hair dye in your shampoo!''
Lola was ready to lunge at Luna but quickly, Leni kept her from doing so by holding her.
''Luna! Be nice!'' Leni said as Lola repeatedly tried to lunge forward in Leni's grasp.
''I'd tell you to stay out of this but you wouldn't understand anyway: there's more air in your head than in a bag of chips!'' Luna indifferently retorted. Her sisters were getting as annoyed with her as their glares implied.
Next up was Lynn walking up to Luna with no shortage of her usual self-confidence in her own righteousness and a scowl to match.
''I've heard you shout 'It's going to be awesome dudes' or 'I can't wait dudes' more times than I've seen you do anything for school.'' Lynn remarked, briefly putting up an awful English accent to, intentionally or not, mock Luna. ''The only thing you really did was making it harder for us to focus on our own homework.''
''You need Lisa's tutoring to make good grades or you'd be in the same spot as me, you gremlin!'' Luna spat at Lynn, sharp and sudden.
Lynn was offended: ribbing on her small stature was a sore spot for her, but along with her warlike glare grew a smug grin.
''But unlike you I havethose good grades… brummie!''
Luna, in turn, didn't appreciate being called that at all. Lynn knew, and that disgusting grin only rubbed it in further. It was the final tick to make her explode and the only proper reaction to it in her explosive state seemed lunging towards Lynn, who acted quickly and drew her fists. It was the timely intervention of the other older sisters that kept them from engaging in a full-on fight: Lori ducked forward and seized Luna's wrists while Luan and Lincoln kept Lynn back as Lola felt a need to get involved as well. Being restrained didn't stop any of them from trying to throw a punch or kick into the air. What followed was a cacophony of cries, insults and the occasional burst of strong language. Ironically, it was Lily who remained the calmest.
Luna struggled in Lori's grasp, trying to break free. ''Let me go! I got a gnome to kick over!''
By some strong footwork from Luna, she powerfully reared Lori into the wall behind them that pushed over an end table and knocked several photo frames off the wall. The oldest sister growled in pain and gritted her teeth while Luna continued thrashed to break free.
''Enough!'' Lori called. Her shout slowly quieted the tumult and once she deemed it calm enough, she let go of Luna. No one got physical, but Lori saw most of her sisters glaring daggers at Luna, and the lone sibling happily spewing fire back at them. She had to solve this: ''I call a brother-sister meeting right now!''
The larger group of siblings gathered in Lori and Leni's shared bedroom while Luna remained rooted on her spot.
''Luna, I'd like it very much if you joined in.'' Lori asked, standing at the door.
''I don't want to talk to you anymore; sod off!'' Luna threateningly shot forward to get up close with her siblings. Lori blocked her route off by standing in the doorpost, but Luna peeked through the widest opening her sister left. ''I hate you; I hate all of you! Have fun on your miserable vacation, I hope you'll get stuck somewhere!''
''Luna you need to stop this.'' Lori said, ever calm.
''Oh? I need to stop?'' Luna screamed. She watched her siblings: the scornful, annoyed glances she got from all of them couldn't be argued with. ''Don't you dare thinking this isn't your fault! Everyone's turning their back on me, again! I-'' A sob interrupted her, she felt her eyes getting moist and cursed the tears to come under her whimpering breath. Following a very brief moment to recollect herself, away from the prying eyes of the rest, Luna abandoned her hastily thought up monologue and skipped straight to the end.
''You know what dudes? Up yours; all of you!'' Luna grumbled with reddened eyes, sticking up her index and middle finger and turned the back of her hand to her siblings.
The door to her bedroom was kicked open harshly and slammed shut not too different. Luna trembled with unspeakable rage and the rest of the family would hear of it! She snatched her electric guitar and plugged it to an amplifier. Drawing her pick, Luna shredded with all her power: she made the windows rattle in their frames, and there was no telling if the aged plaster on the walls would hold together.
It was impossible for Luna to hear, and she only noticed because her phone vibrated in her pocket, but she had gotten a text message, from her father to be exact:
''Luna, stop right now or you're sleeping in the garage tonight!''
Luna pursed her lips and she laid the guitar down on the amplifier. She didn't care what he wanted, but the threat to sleep in a dank garage on a concrete floor was too steep to defy.
Her guitar went back on its stand, but Luna still had to vent. Not being choosy, she snatched the pillow off of Luan's bed and screamed the bulk of her anger into the fibers until she didn't have a breath of air to draw anymore and fell into her beanbag. Crushing the pillow between her arms and her chest until she felt a wet patch pressing on her cheek and noticed some moisture on the pillow. Luna quickly remembered it were tear stains and wiped a hand through her eyes; charming. Whenever she was personally involved in an intense fight, Luna would eventually start crying. She hated that of herself.
From across the hall, through a pair of closed doors, Luna could hear the voices of some of her siblings; muffled, but occasionally raised. It didn't matter to her what it was about, but there seemed to be little else to listen to. If she had her music player by hand, she'd play the entirety of her 'rage' playlist. Eventually, she couldn't help but notice her sisters go away, judging from the rumble of footsteps they went downstairs. The pillow was crushed tighter under Luna arm's. There was silence, except for her angry ranting, profanity-laden musings that occasionally spiraled into unsavory fantasies of her sisters.
Luna was alone without anyone to bother her. The only sign of life with her was Mr. Coconuts, Luan's ventriloquist dummy sitting on the nightstand, it's lifeless eyes staring at her. It felt like the eyes were mocking her; she couldn't stand the demonic puppet's presence right now. With a strong pitch, Luna threw the pillow at the doll to get it out of her sight, but her aim was off and the pillow crashed against the window behind it with a muffled thud. Nothing seemed to go well for Luna: she got up and swatted the dummy off the nightstand with a vexed cry.
Heaving from the outburst as it simmered out, Luna came to reason: raging on a doll wasn't helping her, these bad vibes weren't doing her any good anyway. Perhaps she needed a change of scenery, or a way to cool off; a shower. She kicked off her boots, dug through her closet and headed out for the bathroom.
The water pouring over her was refreshing: it washed over Luna and went down the drain taking the sweat of a hot day and a hotter temper going along it with it down the drain. Luna was able to put the situation into perspective: she didn't get to go on the road trip, and she was furious with everyone living under this roof with her, but both problems solved each other. They'd leave early in the morning, she'd have the house all to herself for weeks to come. Mazzy and Sam were away, but Sully was still in town and she could invite him over as much as she saw fit. They've been friends for a while now, but Luna hadn't got to really know him just yet. As the band's designated keyboardist, Luna was in awe of Sully's swift hand positioning. Maybe he could teach her some time the coming weeks. It was a small consolation, but it was worth looking forward to it!
The water stopped flowing, Luna dried off while thanking herself once more for having a low-maintenance haircut. she stood in her underwear when the bustle of her sisters returned to the hallway outside. Luna groaned. While the route from the bathroom to her bedroom was a single bend, she imagined the loudest song ringing in her ears and shut her eyes tightly, anything to shut out any sign of her sisters scattered through the floor until she was in her room and closed the door. She tried to decide what to wear for the evening. She spotted her bag in the corner, packed for a vacation that won't be. She didn't care anymore, and picked some clean clothes out of the messily packed bag when she heard a pair of feet ascend the stairs, and her mother call out at the other side of the door.
''Everyone? Your father and I think we make sure we are all clean before we leave tomorrow! I don't care if you shower tonight or tomorrow morning, but we want eleven clean and bathed children when it's time to go. That means you too, Lana!''
''Aw…''
Luna scoffed and snickered with a shameless amount of dark glee imagining her sisters getting into a long line for the bathroom door. It didn't happen often she was ahead of the curve.
A band T-shirt was pulled over her head when someone dared knock on her door.
''Get lost.'' Luna shouted gruffly. Her mild temper was being tested when whoever knocked dared open the door. Luna jerked her head, ready to give the culprit a piece of her mind but backed down once she noticed it was her mother.
''Luna, your father and I want to have another word with you downstairs.''
Luna rolled her head over her shoulders, annoyed with the question but figuring she didn't have much of a choice. ''I'll be there in one.''
After putting on a skirt, she went downstairs to her parents' bedroom, rudely brushing past Lola and Lincoln.
''Hooligan!'' Lola shouted, waving a fist at Luna.
''Lola, chill out.'' Lincoln's mild voice followed right after.
Luna ignored Lola's childish expletive like they were air going down the stairs. In the corner of the living room, near the front door, several sleeping bags and rolled-up tents had been placed; ready to be loaded up Vanzilla with. The sight wasn't as excited as it once was, Luna scoffed at the pile and turned her back on it. She heard her parents talk through their open bedroom door.
''How did we turn so much profit with the restaurant, Lynn?'' Her mother asked. Luna heard a suspicious inclination sneak into her voice. ''It's legitimate, right?''
''Lynn's Table is the only restaurant in town that does not offer a cultural fusion menu; we stand out from the rest. We can even hope go to Scotland next year if this keeps up Rita!''
''Dad will love that.'' His wife agreed.
Luna made her parents known by opening the creaky bedroom door. It was tricky to walk the floor, seeing as there was luggage strewn about everywhere.
''I'm here. What's up?'' Luna asked, her morose tone matched her glare.
''You must be hungry Luna. Here, some dinner.'' Her father stretched a yellow paper bag out to her.
Luna was indeed hungry and, hesitantly, accepted the bag. Peeking inside, there was a hamburger without sauce, a small box of fries and a can of cola; just how she liked it. Luna sat down on her parents' bed, unwrapped the burger and took a big bite out of it. Time must've gone by faster than Luna thought while she was seething: it was well past dinnertime now. Either Luna attempted to make up for lost time or she was simply starving: subconsciously, the hamburger was gobbled up in record time.
''Where are your bags? You haven't unpacked them yet, have you?'' Her father asked. The stress of doing some last-minute checks and packing was audible in his voice.
''No.'' Luna hung her head broodingly and shrugged, just as she nibbled on a few fries. ''Why?''
''So we'll be ready to saddle up Vanzilla first thing tomorrow.'' Her father answered as he strained to zip up a backpack.
Luna lifted her head and her eyes gained a hopeful glimmer. Had her parents come around? Had they decided to be merciful after all? Her mother was unaware how harshly she was about to upset her daughter's hopes.
''While we're away, you're staying with Pop-Pop at the retirement home.''
Luna's face fell immediately:
''Wháááát?'' she wailed, throwing her arms to the floor. ''Why do I have to go to Pop-Pop?! I- For how long?''
''Until we're back home.'' Mom answered.
Luna couldn't get out much comprehensible words. She had too much to tell her parents at the same time.
''We don't think you are responsible enough to stay at home by yourself.'' Her father continued explaining.
Luna reeled from disgust. The insult to her independence cut deep and she was aching to set the record straight. She instantly wasn't hungry anymore and tossed the food bag to the side, not wanting any bribe from her parents to cooperate!
''Bollocks! I can take care of myself!'' Luna perked up a few fingers. ''I know my way with a vacuum, I can cook a few things-''
''You have never shown any interest in cooking, what do you know to make?'' Her mother asked. Her tone was neutral, but accompanied with a skeptical glance.
Luna's temper humbled. She gummed and stammered but failed to come up with any meals she stated to know. ''Well, I can always look up some recipes online, isn't that what the internet is for? And if that doesn't work, the Burpin' Burger's nearby…''
Her mother instantly cast a dismissive frown at the suggestion. ''Well over two weeks of junk food? Not under my roof.''
''Come on, Sam makes her own dinner so often! It can't be that hard.'' Luna reasoned, soundly only mildly irked.
''But you are not Sam.'' Her father calmly deflected Luna's argument.
Luna's pupils darted around, being aimed at the floor. She knew well she was losing badly, but didn't want to give up just yet. She frantically tried to think of anything else to contradict her parents when Cliff the cat came walking into the room and affectionately brushed his head against her mother's leg, earning him a pat.
''But if I'm not here then- then who takes care of the critters?'' She fumbled.
''The Mcbrides.'' Her father answered.
Luna whimpered quietly at the futility of that plea. The McBrides always looked after their pets if they went away, she should've know that. She sat down and trained a morose glower at her parents. Now completely down for arguments, Luna had only accusations left to turn to.
''You're doing this to pick on me…''
Luna's mother sighed wearily. Talking to a stubborn teenager was something that wouldn't ever let itself get used to. Still, Rita grew sympathetic with her thirdborn daughter seeing Luna and sat down with her on the bed. ''Luna, we're doing this for your own good. You have never been home alone before, and we don't think-''
''I'm fifteen and you treat me like I'm a toddler!'' Luna snarled, voice trembling.
''There's more things than just cooking food.'' Mom continued unflinchingly.
''Teach me then!'' Luna angrily shouted.
''No. You can't learn how to run a household in just a rushed evening.'' Lynn Sr. explained.
''What are you chewing me out for then?! I shouldn't have to go away because you don't want to tell me how to! That's unfair!''
''Luna we are not having this discussion anymore.'' Her father spoke, calm but resolute. ''You're not staying here and that's final! Either you go to Pop-Pop or aunt Ruth tomorrow; your choice!'' He looked completely unrelenting with the ultimatum he gave, as did his wife, which daunted Luna into submission.
''F-fine…'' Luna relented in a sigh, frustrated and severely humbled.
''Is there anything else you want to say?'' Her mother asked, but Luna sauntered out of the room without looking back.
''I'm going to bed.'' Luna hung her head and walked away.
''Sleep well, Luna.'' Her father wished her.
Luna gently closed the door where she meant to swing it shut, but an afternoon of heated emotion cost her lots of her energy. Her eyes were moist and she wiped away a wet stain running over her cheeks. She had cried two times in less than three hours; very charming.
Upstairs, the bathroom line Luna humored herself with proved to be an inconvenience at the same time: it blocked off her bedroom door. It was impossible to ignore them now. Yet, in the moment Luna shared a glance with some of her siblings before they cleared out a path, Luna's opinion was reaffirmed:
Through their neglect to help, her siblings caused all this.
Back inside her room, reaching into her backpack, Luna felt around and took out her notebook. For what it was worth, today's throes got her creative juices flowing, and maybe she could think of some good lyrics. She channeled her temper into her pencil and scribbled busily. A verse formed itself after a few tries.
''Ten daggers of steel.''
''Struck me from behind.''
''I help them and they help me; that's a deal.''
''I turned out to be blind.''
''They abandoned me, sold me down the river.''
''How stupid to devote myself as their giver.''
Luna recited the text in a mumble to judge if it sounded as well as it looked on paper. It was… alright, better than she usually managed to come up with. If she wasn't tired from heated emotion she'd probably come up with something better. Luna tried to merge the lyrics with a riff, idly rapping her fingers over the strings of her acoustic guitar.
Not too long after, Luan came into their shared bedroom, fresh out of the shower and Luna's guitar play slowed down into silence. Her eyes, full of venom, followed Luan through the room, unwrapping the towel around her hair and tying it into a ponytail. Her smile, the sweet humming grated on Luna and killed her inspiration. Glancing over to Luan as she was about to put her pajamas on made Luna hiss.
''Goodnight Luna.'' Luan softly said, as if nothing happened today.
''Screw you.'' Luna muttered, standing up to put her guitar away.
Luan cast a glance: whether for Luna or herself, it was of rare worry without room for any whimsy like she usually preferred. Luan buttoned her pajama shirt and sat on her bed, opposite of her sister.
''Everyone knew how much you wanted this, Luna.'' Luan sounded thoughtful, almost motherly.
''Yes.'' Luna's brows furrowed with her curt reply.
''I don't know what I can say to make you feel better, but please don't be mad.''
Something snapped in Luna. Luan could sense it and regretted she had said something wrong.
''Easy for you to talk:'' Luna shot up and towered over her younger sister, despite the minimal height difference between the two. ''while you're away on a jolly lil' ride I'm gonna be stuck with Pop-Pop, sleeping on his couch and eating geezer pulp in the fossil castle so don't tell me not to be mad… because I really am!''
''None of us wanted that for you!'' Luan's plea was futile; Luna's demeanor didn't change.
''Bull. You're only saying that now after I called you out for abandoning me.'' Luna stepped forward forcing Luan to crawl backwards onto her bed, startled.
''Luna…'' Luan felt in danger with Luna's threatening grimace hovering closer to her, trapping Luan against the wall behind her with no room to escape. Luan's alarm peaked when Luna pressed her forehead against hers and left Luan's eyes nowhere to look except into Luna's.
''You think you're so hot shit because you can make people laugh or you're stacked better and had your first kiss so you guess you can get away with saving your own ass…''
''W-what?''
''Next time when everyone's out to get you, I won't be around to stick up for you anymore: I will deal the first blow; That goes for all of you! Think of that the next time your stupid little jokes blow up in your face! Goodnight.''
Luna didn't look back on the panic she left in the trembling Luan. All she cared for was climbing into her own bunk and hoping sleep would claim her so this horrible day that started so promising would finally end.
Finally, I feel like this story has started proper, yet still it feels much more complete with the buildup than in the first version. I'm very content!
Okay, what's next besides this story? I got Mono No Aware to work on as well: I intend to have several chapters done before I start uploading chapters for it again. I want to see in what order they work best before I publish them.
Thank you once again for taking the time to read this chapter and I hoped you enjoyed it as well as to see you come back for the next one!
Until next time,
-Q.W.