A/N: So you might've noticed I deleted the lemons. I'm sorry for that but I did it with a purpose. Don't worry, this story will not be canceled as shown by this new chapter. However, it'll focus more on drama promises from the very beginning. This chapter's gonna be short and maybe too simple. But it does have those anticipated questions you readers might've wanted answers to.

Lynn and Lincoln aren't gonna get away scot-free just so you know!

Without further ado, let's get right into it!

Time flew by quite quickly as the two siblings comforted each other in their dark moment. They might've not known it then, but the sun was already slowly setting. For a while, they just sat there in each other's arms. Serenity and peace filling their hearts and the room's atmosphere transformed into a warmer setting over the tense, heavy one just when Lincoln invited himself in. Of course, guilt was still heavily prodding at their veins and neither one just couldn't ignore it.

Eventually, Lynn finally shifted uncomfortably out of the hug. A deep sensation of cold emptiness washing over her as she parted from her brother's warm body. As much as she wanted to go back, draw him back to her form and hold her close like never before, Lynn didn't. There were much more things they needed to discuss about. She slouched as she sat, trying to reorganize her thoughts all over.

Okay, Lincoln didn't seem to know if he was crushing on her too the same way she was with him. And he seemed to be more upset at the fact they committed this deed together. Of course, Lynn blamed herself badly for not only accusing him for losing control, but for continuing the act. It made her shudder to remember the 'Luck' accident a year ago, only this time their roles switched and they did something TEN times worse than what happened before. Neither of them could pinpoint the blame on one another because the truth is, they both participated and enjoyed it.

But there were more things to worry about that she couldn't just ignore anymore. And it was itching at her like a red ant up her shirt, usually she'd stretch enough to reach her back or ask somebody to itch it for her. Right now though, the problem's horizon was so wide she could even paint an entire canvas with it and the only person who she could ask help for was Lincoln- who was suffering the same fate as she was.

"Hey Lynn… I was just thinking." Lincoln started. "You know how you said you loved me deeper than a sister should love their brother?" His voice echoed in her disorganized brain and she turned to him, her heart skipping a beat while her stomach churned with butterflies in her tummy as he said it. Not exactly looking at him in the eye, knowing what aphrodisiac his beautiful blue eyes would have an effect on her but enough to tell him that she was listening.

"I-who am I kidding?" He stammered. "Is it just silly that everything that happened today was all in a blur? Like everything just happened so fast, didn't it?" Lincoln asked. "A moment I try to catch up on class, then in a blink of an eye, we're kissing in the arcade room and then those guys come in and…" He paused, seeing how uncomfortable Lynn was getting when Lincoln started talking about the incident.

He coughed awkwardly, trying to shift gears. "Now here I am, not knowing how I feel about you while you just openly confess your secret. There I was, frustrated at what happened between us and what I could've done to stop it. Only for us to reunite in the aftermath hugging it all out like we're in a melodramatic kids show." Lincoln looked down the carpet as he said it, still wondering why life transcended so quickly. "I mean… this just doesn't seem normal. It seems unrealistic and all so fast."

"I'm just as surprised as you are, Lincoln." Lynn said with a nod. "I guess life is like basketball. You know? It's fast paced, and you have to get to the end of the court to earn points. People are defending the hoop and sometimes, when you make it, they hop in for a rebound. And if you're a noob, you'd just stand there completely dumbfounded at what just happened." She shook her head slowly, looking down in shame. "Heck. Never in my life did I expect you- my only brother- to actually have the guts to do that to me back when we were stuck."

"Neither did I. But you know what? We both aren't angels. I never expected you to drag me out and take me with you to the arcade room." Lincoln said. "Whatever. Today was completely unexpected, wasn't it?"

Lynn thought about how she ended up getting molested- a tingle went up her spine- to wrestling with her brother on her bed and she sighed exasperatedly. "Yup. It really is, I guess."

The room's stillness made everything tense again like it was from the very start. Lincoln didn't know the difference between love or lust- but the way he looked at her just never felt the same. Every time he did, he'd see the sin they both committed. A flash of a naughty memory would pop in his mind whenever she would appear in his vision. His sore crotch ached with fatigue yet need as he thinks, and he wanted to scream. Conflict filling his mind like a roller coaster ride. What he get with Lynn wasn't like what he felt with Ronnie Anne. No. His attraction to Ronnie, there was a spark to it. They were friends, but tension slowly rose yet it's so subtle and they can barely feel it. Urges of wanting to hold her, reach her and squeeze her tight were clawing at him. Lincoln usually ignores it though, not wanting to become a pair like Lori and Bobby. It's there, though. Girl Jordan was a girl he crushed on for a while, his eyes glued to her every time she'd pass by. There wasn't anything between them unlike Ronnie, Lincoln just thought she was pretty. Just like most girls he crushed on. They'd both appear in his fantasies time to time, usually sweet, loving moments together.

As for Lynn though, it was so right at his face. So sudden, so surprising. Like a fastball to his face, or a PB sandwich up his pants. He never thought of any of his sisters like that. Sure, sometimes Leni would come out with a half slip thin nightgown that would hug her womanly frame. Or when he gets too unlucky, walks in on one of them naked. But he never entertained those thoughts, leaving them all at the back of his head completely ignoring it like homework. Nothing felt relevantly different when he thought of her, save for memories of their naughty deed. Lincoln took a glance at her, completely drenched in thought as he was judging by her scrunched up look of concentration, and realized something.

The spark he felt earlier. It's gone.

There was a strange butterfly in his stomach whenever he thought and looked at her ever since what happened earlier. It somehow went away though after they hugged it out. His heart sank and there Lincoln knew one thing. Okay, maybe it isn't a crush. When he saw her cry and pour her heart out to him like never before, saw her act vulnerable and weak around him, his heart ached deeply with pity and that impulsive hug minutes ago, was caused most probably from brotherly instinct. No matter what happens between him and his family, the love ends up always being there. That's why Lincoln could never ever hold grudges.

Love is a complicated thing- Luna would reference in her songs. Lori told him "It's love when you both care for each other." And Lisa once said "Familial instincts is driven by platonic love for one another. Similar to how a man would do anything to keep his treasures from being stolen.". However, none of those were the motives for the act he started in the first place.

Oh no, they weren't.

Lincoln's stomach churned as he finally opened his eyes to reality. His body, growing and in the midst of puberty, worked on its own accord and grabbed the opportunity when it came. With the ever growing sexual tension, his brain became poisoned with intoxication. In the end, his sister also had her issues and tempted him to do such a taboo thing.

It wasn't something he wanted to admit, but the main drive for his involvement in their carnal sin was only because of lust. No doubt. There wasn't any denying that Lincoln loved Lynn deeply- as with the rest of his family- but there wasn't any possible way or reason he'd see her in a romantic way.

He couldn't completely blame her though. They both participated, they both enjoyed it. Nobody was to have the heavier weight of the issue.

Lynn was like the Eve to his Adam, the forbidden fruit he bit on as they feasted on it. Eventually, they finally saw what went on and lived their lives out of the Garden of Eden full of shame and guilt. And eventually, they paid the wages of their sin with death.

Lincoln gulped at the thought. What if the exact same thing would happen to them?

'A soul crushed by this Earth is a death that seems to be more cruel than actually dying itself.' He recalled Lucy saying. At the time, he didn't understand what she was trying to point out in her poem, but now, it seemed to make sense now. Lincoln didn't wanna anticipate what lied in the near future but he couldn't help it. Deep inside, he knew his action had a consequence, his sin had a punishment. It would catch up to him soon, and it scared him deeply.

"For the longest time… I wanted to reach you. Touch you, feel you. Protect and hang out with you." Lynn murmured out of the blue, snapping him out of his trance. "Didn't know how to. We never had anything in common as we grew older, yet we were still so close. Though, I knew I got more distant since what happened back when you were 10. And from there, I felt a gap between us I needed to fix." She said in an unenergetic manner.

"Now look where we are. Closer than ever in the expense of losing our dignities." Lynn thought aloud as she massaged her temples. She paused, looking at the carpeted floor of her room. "Lincoln, you know why I constantly teased and tussled with you whenever I had the chance?"

Lincoln still felt a conflicting flurry in him. And he didn't know whether he was mad, scared or upset. Maybe even all. Out of an irritated impulse, he relied almost rudely. "So you could kill me for making you feel like a total incest-freak-lover?"

Lynn was slightly taken aback by what he said, but ignored it and shook her head. "No…" She replied awkwardly. "Us sisters, we weren't lying when we said 'If a girl bullies you, she likes you'. I know you can connect the dots yourself at this point."

"Yeah… it just hit me." Lincoln said. "Who even thought hurting a guy was the best way to flirt? To me, it just sounds like die hard feminists wanting to annihilate men."

Lynn snorted, the mood lightening up a little bit. "Well, it worked for Lori so I guess we just adapted the thing." She said. "Yeah, I know. It sounds stupid, but it worked for her so we thought maybe it works for everybody." Lynn shrugged, before a nearly invisible whisper escaped her lips. "Maybe a bit too much."

Lincoln suddenly remembered some unanswered questions ignored since he asked them. Figuring they had enough time to open up to each other, he opened his mouth. "Lynn… tell me the truth and only the truth in this. Don't get defensive, because I've already know who you truly are behind closed doors. So please, can you tell me why you acted so… I dunno… normal earlier? He started. "You had to deal with so much, Lynn. I had a feeling you were hiding something."

He saw Lynn tense up slightly and he elaborated. "Please, Lynn. You don't have to hide anything from me. I'm your brother. And didn't you say you wanted us to be closer like this?" She nodded slightly, though not even looking at his direction. "Then you're gonna have to tell me what's up. Let's talk."

There was a moment of silence before Lynn spoke. "Fine. You really know how to open me up, bro." A dirty thought of him literally opening her up flashed in her head and she internally cringed despite her loins stirring. A wave of regret overwhelmed her shortly after before she had strength to talk again.

"Alright. No more secrets." She told herself. "I'm not gonna sugarcoat this anymore for you, Linc. I'll just get straight to the point: Yeah, you're right. I was hiding something, and that's basically my crush on you."

"Wait, I don't understand." Lincoln said, completely skeptical. "How is that connected to you acting all happy go lucky even through all that crap? And in the end, you confessed anyways. I'm confused."

"Okay, I didn't elaborate too much. But since you asked, I figure you really need more answers since my flashback wasn't enough." She explained. "My memory from 2 years ago was just the context, Lincoln. The main reason why I acted so 'normal' as you called it was because I didn't want you to see my weak side." Lynn looked to the opposite side as she said it. "When you couldn't see me vulnerable anymore, you wouldn't ask questions like your nosy, typical self would do. And in that way, I'd never be able to open up about my feelings for you. Not to mention, acting all strange would just earn both of us suspicion."

Lincoln got offended when she called him nosy, but didn't fight. A lot of people called him that, so at this point he started to believe it was true. "So why did you think kissing me when I asked would be a good idea?"

"I couldn't help it, okay! You know how bad my impulses get! Especially cause of the fact that we're both alone in this big house." Lynn said. "I wanted to show my thanks through that kiss. But you know, things happened and escalated. I don't blame you for it. I'm the older one- I should've been the one who stopped both of us." Lynn avoided Lincoln's gaze on her, her eyes fixed on every thing but him. If she looked back into his eyes, or even his body- only destiny knows what'll happen next. "It just got so hard to hold back knowing I never got to reach the big O." A blush creeped on both their cheeks as the last sentence rang in their ears.

"Also, why was it that you acted so quiet when we were in the infirmary? You acted so defensive when I asked if you were okay."

Lynn's mind quickly sent a surge of memories coming back to her precisely at that moment. "As I said, didn't wanna open myself up more than I already did. I needed time to recover from what happened, okay. Who said it was easy to get touched like that?" Her voice accidentally cracked and bile slowly rose up from her stomach when she recalled what happened before she was saved.

"I wanted to show my thanks through that kiss. But you know, things happened and escalated. I don't blame you for it. I'm the older one- I should've been the one who stopped both of us." Lynn avoided Lincoln's gaze on her, her eyes fixed on every thing but him. If she looked back into his eyes, or even his body- only destiny knows what'll happen next.

Lincoln nodded, completely satisfied with her reasoning at this point. For a 12 year old, this was something nobody had to deal with. It all felt too heavy for him. But without complaint, he shifted and touched Lynn's shoulder. Feeling her jolt at the warm pressure on her. "Lynn, I know you feel guilty and all but don't blame yourself completely. What you did was wrong, no denying that. You know I started it all. And while we're only kids, look on the bright side, we're closer. Just like what we both secretly desired."

Lynn shook her head, bowing her head down as if to completely avoid him. "Yeah, I know. But think about it! Imagine all the issues we're gonna deal with all because of this! I'm pretty sure our lives will never be the same!"

He squeezed her shoulder to comfort them both. "They don't know, do they now?" Lincoln asked with a gentle and soothing tone. "We can just keep it to ourselves, but we can't pretend it never happened."

For once, she actually agreed. "Guess you're right." Lynn said with a weary smile. "Though, I don't really think I can play for a while." She continued, looking down on her thighs. Lincoln felt his heart beat faster as he realized what she meant.

"I-I'm sorry-"

"Save it, bro. It's not your fault."

It was silent, just like how it was before. Lynn found it both awkward and soothing. And while she wanted to bask in the calmness between the chaotic mess that happened within the day, something was nagging at her mind. Begging to come out through the gates of her pearly whites. Things weren't right. Not just yet. Lynn knew that in order to win this, she had to do her worst nightmare.

Admitting defeat.

A sigh escaped her mouth before she glanced at the cross-armed Lincoln right beside her.

"Hey bro…" She started.

"Hm… yeah?"

She held her breath. "Were you scared?" Lynn asked to her now skeptical brother.

"Huh?"

He looked at her and they made eye contact for a brief moment. She stammered before looking away. Curse these strange emotions of hers! All those years of fawning for him and attempting to show him signs of her attraction made her wonder.

Did she really have a crush on him? Her friends constantly fawned over their crushes and would melt at their sight, while Lynn? She didn't fan girl like someone who met their idol or anything like that mushy stuff. However, she craved warmth. She wanted to feel closer to him. Lincoln was the one thing that made her feel warm inside. Her heart would feel empty when he isn't around. Sometimes, she defends herself by shooting him away. Trying to deny and block the fact that she's loving him in a deeper way. Last year, her heart fluttered when Lincoln finally watched her play her game. When they lost, her heart sank and she nearly cried knowing he was there to see it. Lynn was somehow angry and ashamed at herself for feeling such a way and just when Lincoln popped by to cheer her up, maybe if she pushed him away, then the feelings would stop.

Unfortunately for her, they only got worse.

When she saw how he suffered, a painful tug gnawed at her chest. Yes, you did this to him. Her conscience told her. And unlike any insecurity she had, Lynn believed it. She was about to apologize and tell the family it was all a hoax, but her ego got in the way and so did everybody's opinions. Not to mention her luck seemed better since he was away. At that point, there was no turning back. In the end, she ended up arguing against his lie. Her family felt relieved but all she felt was… shame.

A short while of contemplation finally led her to the conclusion that it wasn't luck that was the issue, it was herself.

Her performance back there was horrible to say the least. The group itself did bad all over, but as the star player of the team, it was up to her to be their hero. But she couldn't even pitch properly at the sight of her expecting family, especially seeing the sight of her loving brother, with hoping eyes and an encouraging smile. Her insides stirred and her heart melted like butter before she could get her head back into the game. But when she did, the only thing in mind was him. And as she threw the ball, it was wired to dodge, thinking it was about to hit Lincoln.

But right now, she could think on those feelings later. Lincoln over there was waiting for the reply to her sudden chat.

She felt a little hesitant, but shook it off. Come on, Lynn. It's just your brother. He knows you like the back of his hand! Maybe…

"…Were you scared?" She squeaked out.

He looked at her skeptically. "What do you mean?"

"You know… the strange sensations rising, the sudden visit from those two, the thing about nearly getting caught and all that stuff." Lynn explained. "How'd you feel when it happened?"

"I was scared, of course." Lincoln said. "A lotta things really. Scared, confused, angry. You name it, I felt it." He explained as Lynn unconsciously nodded in understanding. "When you were on and off on your emotions, I actually felt nervous cause I thought I was losing you. And I didn't want that to happen." Lincoln looked away. "Not again, at least." He said softy, tugging at Lynn's heart strings.

"Go on." Lynn encouraged, not really knowing what else to say.

He nodded. "I was furious at seeing those two boys… do that to you. My heart rate was so fast, and I felt like exploding." Lynn saw how he clenched his fist and unclenched it. "I didn't know what to do. I felt helpless. I knew we'd get in trouble if I went to someone, because they'd probably ask why we were there." His voice went shaky from there, and she couldn't help but stroke his back in a sisterly manner. "That was until you screamed and kicked the guy with the glasses. It was then I realized I still had a chance to save you."

"Dude, who are you-" A small groan escaped his lips when Lincoln smashed a chair against his head. By the looks of it, it wasn't hard enough to make him bleed, but enough to strike him unconscious.

"That should do it." Lincoln mumbled. He quickly grabbed the legs in a hurry, trying to dispose the body-

"Argh!" He yelped when the foot of the guy he bunked a chair with kicked his chin in a jab similar to an uppercut. Time seemed to stop for Lincoln and all he remembered was falling back on the ground, his back screaming PAIN into his brain. The dude with the glasses stood over him, and formed a fist." You thought I was actually dead? Cause you're a dumbass." He said, cocking his fist backwards, ready to throw in a punch.

"What's wrong slut?" A voice spoke. "I thought you'd like this." It sounded sultry to Lincoln's ears. A small groan of pain sounding like his sister followed through and that's when a new found burst of energy and anger flowed forth into his veins.

Lincoln flipped himself over, getting on top of the kid who pretended to be knocked out. A growl escaped his lips and he started punching him mercilessly, with the older kid attempting to resist by failing his arms everywhere. Lincoln Trying to push Lincoln out of the way. The white haired boy was too in rage to care. He could've sworn he saw red. In the end, Tony ended up completely winded out. With a bloody nose and serious bruises.

He groaned and went up, kicking the unconscious kid's head towards the side. There he saw the bigger jock messing with her sister and Lincoln felt his eyebrows furrow in anger. His breathing so shallow, it felt like a bull ready to attack.

He was too big though, and fighting him would cause more harm to them than good.

But with a glimpse of his sister's nearly turning blue face, Lincoln knew he had to do something! His eyes darted everywhere in the room, trying to find something that could help.

A chair! That's it!-

"I feel bad for taking too long. If only I was faster, then he never would've laid a hand on you-"

Lynn cut him off. "That's where you're wrong, Lincoln." She said with mild irritation. "If you were really slow, then I would've went down on the spot." Encouragement was heard in her tone, making him smile despite his ever growing self-pity. "Those training regimes really did the trick, didn't they?" She joked slightly.

He smiled a little. "Heh, yeah. I guess so."

She sighed in resignation, ready to reveal another secret. "I feel you bro. As tough as I may had seem, I was just as scared as I was when I started middle school." Lynn confessed.

"Lynn, you literally cried on me right after it happened." Lincoln said, completely deadpan yet slightly amused at her ego.

"It wasn't just that I'm talking about, Linc." She explained. "Those other things too. Like when I grabbed you and dragged you into the locker."

"Guess stuffing into lockers is really your thing, huh?" He attempted to joke.

Lynn shrugged. "Eh. Who can blame me? Those lockers are such a waste of space when nothing's in them." She cleared her throat before continuing. "When you bucked onto me, my emotions just hit an all time high. All that time of fantasizing us, I knew this could be the touchdown. So that's why I continued it. Even though deep inside, I was confused and scared at the weird sensations riding up on me. It's like I couldn't control myself. I see everything, but my limbs can't do nothing."

"Plus, we were horny. As weird as it sounds saying this to a sibling, it's true." Lincoln added. He saw her slouch and his heart sank. "Hey, things like this happen all the time. Only, we aren't drunk but just a buncha hormonal middle schoolers, I guess."

"Hormonal middle school siblings." She emphasized. "We weren't thinking things through when we did all that stuff, did we?"

" Nope.", Lincoln frowned with a nod of agreement. "Intoxication can do funny things to people."

From there, they both came to the conclusion that there was no turning back anymore. Things would be tense around them knowing how hard it'll be to convert back into normal siblings after their little affair. But they hoped eventually that everything will be alright. Besides, they did get closer and more open. However, that doesn't mean they can do it in public.

One more question lay in the mind of the sporty jock. It kept repeating itself like a broken recorder in her head. She needed to know.

"One more thing, Linc… What are we now?" She asked with wonder.

It came to her surprise when Lincoln just sighed exasperatedly and said, "I have no idea, Lynn." Oh. Her heart sank to her stomach in disappointment yet her shoulders lightened up in relief. So they weren't official…

"Our label doesn't matter, cause all we are now is just beyond two siblings." He cringed, his stomach churning in disgust.

Whatever the problem was, they'd go through it together. After all, with action comes great responsibility. And when you saved a man along with a partner, then you both need to have your fair share of credit. It won't exactly be easy knowing their clashing personalities and opinions, but through Lincoln's power to cope and Lynn's desire to be with him, confidence radiated through despite the sea of negativity.

It was so still in the room, the two of them not saying a word. Only the sound of their synchronized breathing was heard. For Lynn, it was awkward enough how her insides were stirring at the thought of being with him. Her heart sinking yet swelling at their horrible deed, even though a part of her enjoyed it. Lincoln didn't look at her, probably too focused on his own thought process. She sighed, tapping her bed out of habit. The peace felt everlasting it seems, even with small tension filling the room. It stayed like that for a long time until…

"I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS!" A voice roared from downstairs. Lynn and Lincoln yelped and jumped off her bed in response. The latter groaned at the pain of falling face first on the ground and the former luckily stood up on her feet.

Lynn and Lincoln glanced at each other for a second, fear and anxiety in their eyes. The jock blushed and looked away, towards the door. She extended her hand to help him up while her eyes became transfixed on the opening of her room. They both stood up side by side, Lincoln wondering who yelled out of the blue. By the sounds of it, he sounds infuriated. No, more like in deep anger. He gulped, fear tying his stomach like a knot. Why? It wasn't like they knew.

Could they?

Nah, it's impossible. There's not even a single proof of their nasty deed together.

"Oh crap." Lynn cursed. Her expression filled with more fear than the time she saw a hardcore rollercoaster. "I think it's dad." She panted out.

"Lynn, I think we should relax. They don't know anything that happened." He said, trying to calm his panicking sister.

She inhaled deeply. "You know what, you're right."

They stayed there, feeling completely helpless and not knowing what to do. Suddenly, the doorknob suddenly twisted and the door opened slowly. Lincoln's heart rate went faster. Calm down, Linc. It's not like they know…

But wouldn't they get suspicious seeing both of them in the room together-

" Yeowch! Lynn!-" Lincoln yelped, feeling a big pressure up his back. When he looked, Lynn was sitting in too of him in a post wrestling position.

Lynn winked at him, her face showing confidence but her voice sounding shaky. "Nice tussle, bro! We just gotta work on your muscles now!"

Oh. He saw what she was trying to do; pretend like nothing's happened and just act cool.

"Oh noo, can't it wait a lil' longer?"

"Uh, guys…" A raspy female voice spoke from the entrance of the room. They both looked at the source of the noise and oh thank the sky- It was just Luna. Lynn and Lincoln both sighed in relief, for a minute there they thought their parents were gonna crush them! Ha! What a joke-

"Mom and dad's been lookin' all over for you two. They said they had 'urgent business' to discuss with you." She said and the tension around their necks tightened, suffocating them with tremendous anxiety and dread.

Lynn gulped and Lincoln's eyes widened. We're so doomed.

"Yeah. You guys really need to go. Mom and dad are so mad. Like super duper mad." Leni said, who just happened to be behind Luna.

"I don't know what you guys did but it had to be somethin'.. Apparently she got a call from Principal Ramirez sayin' they needed a parent- teacher conference asap." Luna explained.

Leni nodded in agreement. " Yeah, since then, mom looker infuriated. Dad looked like he was about to cry. Seriously, I've never seen so much wrinkles from a 40 year old man before!" She said.

Lynn and Lincoln looked at each other in shock and disbelief.

Wait, did they find out!?

But… how?

They knew this would've happened eventually. Fear crawled at them like a bear out its cave, but they knew they were helpless. Running away would just cause a bigger problem. Maybe they didn't know everything. A talk might just help…?

Lincoln took a deep, shaky breath. "Alright. Where are they?"

One thing led to another, and before they knew it, everyone was home. Including the people they dreaded the most.

There they were, standing side by side in front of two people sitting across them. Lincoln's hands were shaky and cold. He grinded his teeth together nervously, his fingers twiddling inside the pocket of his jeans. Lynn's eyes showed fear ad she looked into a blank space. One would almost say she had a case of PTSD and a scene just happened to trigger her memory. She was completely cold all over, eyes wide like a paralyzed man. Her body seemed to forget how to move, yet her hands shook with vigor as if the room was on the freezing point.

Across them were two grown adults sitting on a bench side by side. They looked at the two children with a grimace of disappointment and anger. One looked like he was about to break down from how messed up life turned out to be and the other looked like she was about to explode into a fit of rage.

She kept her cool though, it seems. The woman took an inhale, before looking at the two kids. Her voice went shaky, as if holding her anger in. And when she was like that, it was the scariest version of her.

"Lynn Loud Junior and Lincoln Marie Loud." She said firmly. "Look at me."

They wouldn't look, seeming to completely ignore her command out of fear.

"Look. At. Me." She demanded with a harsher tone, gritting her teeth.

Slowly but surely, Lincoln and Lynn looked up at her. Their eyes full of shame and embarrassment.

"Good. Now tell me…" Rita pulled out a strained smile, before become harsh just as quickly. "What did you both do back at the school?"