3 1/2 weeks before the end of summer break (July 3rd)

"LET IT GO!" a woman screamed at me

"NEVER" I yelled back "I BOUGHT IT FIRST!"

"Well, I want it more!" She said gripping the box even harder

The blonde teen in a purple vest gripped the PS5 even harder, trying to yank it out of my hands. I looked at her and I mustered all of my strength and yanked the console out of her hands. She rn at me and trying to swing at me. I ducked fast enough and roundhouse kicked her on her back and she fell back.

"Stay away from me if you don't want that to happen again." I scolded at her

I ran as fast as I could out of the mall and I hopped into my mom's van and I shut the door after me.

"I got it! DRIVE!" I screamed

My mom slammed on the accelerator and we dashed off, avoiding the hoard of people exiting GameStop. I look at the box that I held in my hand and saw the PS5 in my grasp with Spider-man Miles Morales in my hand. I sighed and I closed my eyes.

"I can't believe I made it out alive," I said to my mom

"Yeah," My mom said back "It was so nice you bought your brother the new PS5 for his birthday."

"Well, he got his driver's license today so I wanted to make it special," I replied

I looked out the window and I saw my house while coming into my driveway and opened the garage. I suddenly hold my breath as my brother walks into the garage and walks to the spare fridge in the garage. I shove the PS5 and the game into the back and I threw a bag that says 'The Simpsons' over it. He looks at me as I give an innocent grin and we park in the garage. He exits the garage with a bag of dino chicken nuggets and a 2-liter bottle of coke.

"That was close," I said, "Are there going to be chicken nuggets at the party?"

"Yup" my mom replied

I smiled and I got out of the car and walked over to the garage door that leads into the house.

"Ok, I go get the wrapping paper while you keep Parker busy," I said to mom

"Yeah, I have a list of chores he can help me with before the party," she replied

"Ok," I said while I go inside

I run into the supply closet and pick out white and blue and black wrapping paper that says 'Happy Birthday'. I sprint to the garage and open the back car door and grab the PS5. I go to the desk at the back of the garage and I slam the button closing the garage from the outside. I begin to wrap the paper around the PS5 and the game in 2 separate gifts. I break of tape and attach the game to the PS5 in the wrapping paper.

"Done," I said while I grab the box and walk it through the garage.

I open the door while I walk over to a foldable table with a plastic table cloth on it and place it there with the gift from my sister that was sealed in 2 pieces of paper stapled together and one from my dad that I knew was a headset because I helped him pick out his gift to my brother. My mom's gift was an anime shirt due to me knowing that he loved My Hero Academia and Naruto and other anime's from his addiction.

"He is such a weeb," I said while I walk into the house

I felt a vibration coming from my right pocket and I fished out my phone and saw a text from my mom.

'Honey, if you can please invite the Louds please.'

'Ok' I replied

I walk to the front door and grab a riot shield with my 1:1 scale of a WW2 German helmet and slip them on. I opened the door and walked through the walkway and to the sidewalk. I raise the riot shield as I take a step onto the walkway of the Loud's yard. I suddenly hear the rattling and I look at a sprinkler to my right and I aim the shield there and suddenly a stream of water with the power of Poseidon slam into the riot shield. I hold my ground and I wait until the stream moves away. I dashed to the front door and calmly knocked on the door.

"I'm coming." I heard Leni say behind the door

The door opens to Leni wearing the attire she usually wears while Lincoln and Lori are playing videogames on the couch. I see Lynn throwing a football into the dining room while Luna brings up a guitar to her room.

"Oh HI, Emmy," Leni said

"Uhhhhhh," I paused "Hi"

"Is there anything you need," She said

"Oh yes," I said, "We're having a party today and I was wondering if you guys would like to come. There's going to be cake, games, pizza..."

Gasps were heard as well as Leni's. Suddenly there was a rumbling of feet to the front door.

"I wanna go!" Lana said

"What type of games!" Lola said

"I literally want pizza," Lori said

"I wanna have a cake!" Lucy said

"What time is the party!" Leni said

I raised the riot shield while water sprayed at us while I said "Yeah, the party is in 2 hours at 3:30. And by games, I mean Xbox and some board games."

"Sure thing!" Lynn said, "I'll see you guys there!"

2 hours later

"Cake, check. Xbox, check. Board games, check." I said while I was going off on my list

Ding dong

I looked at the front door and saw the shadow of 11 people.

Ding dong

I walk over to the door.

DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG

"JESUS CHRIST I'M COMING," I yelled

I opened the door and all the Loud kids were right there on the front porch.

"Hi, Emmet!" they said in unison

"Hi, Louds!" I said, "come in!"

The Louds walked into the house and I guided them into the living room.

Lincoln gasped and said "AN XBOX! I don't even have one!"

"Yeah, but don't break it," I said, "It's my personal Xbox, I bought it with my own money."

"What games do you have on it?" Lincoln asked

"Halo, Doom, Call of duty, Rocket League," I replied

"...What?" Lincoln said

"You don't know what Halo is?" I said

"Nope." He replied

I grabbed his arm and put him on the couch and gave him a controller and selected the Halo Master Chief collection.

"You are going to play every single Halo game until you finish," I said

"Yay!" Lincoln said as he began Halo reach

"I'ma join you in a bit to kick your butt at Halo 3," I scolded at him

Lincoln began to watch the cutscene as I looked at the Loud girls. I saw Luan with party supplies and Lynn with a soccer ball.

"Hey, Luan?" I said, "What's with the party supplies?"

She blushed while pulling out a fake can of cheese balls "OH, They're for us to play around with."

"Oh nice," I said

"Hey, is it ok if I invite my boyfriend," Lori said

"Uhmmmm," I paused "Ok…"

"Thanks, you are literally the best," I said

"Yeah…" I said

"Well, I'm going to get the snack bar ready." I said, "So, just go into the backyard and play… or stay here."

I walk into the kitchen while I see Lynn, Lana, Leni, and Lucy go to the backyard. I pour 2 bags of party-sized BBQ Lays into a bowl and open a 2-gallon bottle of Hawian fruit punch. I hear footsteps coming into the kitchen and I turn to see Lori walk into the kitchen and look around the counter.

"Is there something I can do?" I asked

"Yeah…" She said, "Do you know where the plastic cups are?"

"Yeah, it's just in the cabinet to your right," I replied

"Thanks." She said as she opened the cabinet

"So what refreshment do you want," I said

"Do you have… diet Pepsi?" I asked

I grab the diet Pepsi bottle and I pop open the cap. She placed the cup under the top of the bottle as I began to pour the soda into the cup.

"So, how are you treating Luan?" Lori asked

I stayed silent "What do you mean by that?"

"She's obviously into you." Lori said, "So, how are you treating her?"

"Good… I guess." I replied, "I know she's into me and I try to keep her close… but not too close."

"Why are you like that?"

"Like what?"

"You're so… robot-like, you don't talk to people, only when they speak to you first. You're the only boy that doesn't care about compassion. And you seem like you're not scared of dying."

I stayed silent as I finish filing up her bottle. I place the bottle back on the counter as I breathe in deeply.

"Well, I wouldn't say you don't care bout people because you clearly do when you defended Luan against her ex," Lori said as she sipped her drink

She walked over to the counter and placed her cup down on the counter the jumped up and sat on it.

"So tell me," She said, "What's wrong with you?"

"N-n-nothing… I-I'm fine." I replied

"Well, they're definitely is," Lori said, "What school did you go to before you came here?"

"A-a military school," I said

"Really?" She said shocked "That explains a lot."

"Yeah."

"What was it like?"

"Well, a lot of fights, school, exercise, forced activities."

Flashback

"MOVE YOUR WORTHLESS ASS"

"Please, we've been running since 5:00 in the morning and we haven't eaten at all"

"THEN YOU HAVE 8 MORE HOURS TO GO YOU UNWANTED SHIT STAIN! NOW YOU'RE NOT EATING UNTIL TOMORROW!"

End flashback

"Really?!"

"Yeah"

I rubbed my shoulder as I felt my heart begin to pound.

"Did you like it there?"

"Yes!" I said in a panic

"Are… are you sure? Are you just saying that or do you actually like it. You can tell me the truth, you can trust me."

Suddenly a sharp pain shot through my head and 4 words rang in my head.

"Keep this to yourself"

"A-actually you should leave."

"What?" Lori said

"Leave."

She got up from the counter and grabbed her cup.

"But why don't you want to be loved?" Lori asked

Flashback

"Love is a waste of time maggot. All relationships do is slow you down. The only one you're in is the government. You hear that, you're the military's bitch."

End flashback

"I said leave," I said as I push Lori to the door

"Hey, twerp! Answer me!" She said

I shove her out the door and I slam it behind her and lock it. I lean against the door and I feel my eyes get puffy. Then I did one thing I didn't do in ages… cry.

Knock knock

"Emmet?" I hear Lori knock

"Emmet?"