Chapter 2-SPORTING A SMILE
A STORY BY
MarZ Senpai
Three days after the death of Stella Zhau
7:36 am
Lynn loud strolls to the end of the upstairs hall in the loud house and with a merry smile, she knocks on the door of the sole loud son.
...There is no response.
Lynn's nose twitches and she sniffs the air, her smile fades and with an eye roll, she opens Lincoln's door revealing a cloud of smoke.
The smoke clears and wrapped up like a sad-ass burrito, eyes closed, headphones on his ears playing music, smoking a blunt, was Lincoln loud in all his (lack of) glory.
Lynn walks up and raises one hand into the air, she grins and slams her hand down, conking her fist on Lincoln's head like an ape trying to open a coconut.
Lincoln's blunt flew out of his mouth like a burning nerf dart and his eyes flew open, his eyebrows furrowed and his teeth grit, he looked Lynn in the eyes, and for a moment was caught in her gaze.
Her eyes captured him, complimented by her freckles and that cocky grin she sported when she was being playful, Either he was high as fuck or his sister looked cute as fuck.
A mixture of both, he decided as his expression softened, he picked up his blunt and took a hit.
"Stop being a sad sack and let's go for a jog Lincoln, you're depressing the fuck outta everyone" Lynn lightly tosses his sneakers at him and folds her arms. "I'll even buy you some breakfast after."
Lynn wasn't often the affectionate type but she was a tough girl and if she had some love to show you it would be in the form of gestures, teasing, and light harassment. If Lynn complimented you she would do it with a little punch to the shoulder, if she wanted to hang out she would pester you, if she wanted to wake you and take you to breakfast, she would barge into your room, interrupt your smoke sesh, bang you on your fucking skull, and throw your shoes at you.
Lincoln smiled as he blew out smoke. Lynn just wanted to cheer him up and he knew it.
"Fine, I'll go," Lincoln said with a smile as he held the blunt out in an attempt to pass it to his sister.
"Dumbass." Lynn Junior's cocky grin grew as she turned her head away from Lincoln and closed her eyes, arms still folded. "Winners don't do drugs," she remarked.
"Really?" Lincoln stood and took a long rip from his joint, with a deep exhale he let out a stream of smoke and smiled "I feel like a winner." The boy chuckled a little.
A year and a half ago Clyde took up smoking "medicinal" weed for his "anxiety" after he passed out four times while stuck on a field trip with his crush at the time-turned eventual girlfriend. His friends told him it would help him stay cool and relax. Clyde tried it. He liked it.
Clyde explained it the same way to his parents, it helped with his anxiety and stress he said, Howie was all for it, Harold was hesitant but was eventually won over. From then on Clyde would buy weed from his friend and smoke regularly.
2 weeks later Clyde and Lincoln were playing video games and he offered Lincoln the joint.
Lincoln tried it. He liked it.
From then on Lincoln did the same as Clyde and became a hobby stoner, while he tried to keep it a secret, Lincoln's parents eventually caught him.
They didn't give a fuck.
both Rita and Lynn smoked in their youth but stopped when Rita first became pregnant. When they caught lincoln with his face out his window smoking a blunt, they laughed as he fumbled to hide his "crimes."
As long as he doesn't get arrested or smoke with his younger siblings they couldn't care less.
step step step step step step step.
the rapid movement of Lynn's legs as she barely broke a sweat, keeping a quick and solid stride.
pant pant pant pant wheeze
Lincoln pushed himself to keep a solid pace with Lynn as they took a "light jog" through the park. Lynn noticed the face of exhaustion and determination Lincoln held as he huffed along, barely holding the speed of Lynn's "jog."
she slowed down to something more his pace and decided to spark a conversation.
"Now that summers back on, you finally gonna get a job?" Lynn asked jogging alongside her brother.
Lincoln caught his breath a moment as he acclimated to the less rigorous pace. "yeah, I got that app indeed so I've been applying online to some places, waiting on a response."
Lynn junior smiled "Atta boy, get that money bro." She turned around and back peddled slightly ahead of him, keeping the same pace as they jogged, she looked at him face to face and brought up the topic that was always on her mind.
"Ya know if you're not working full time you could pick up a sport" she suggested. "There are tons of summer sports I think you'd love."
Lincoln's smile turned into a half-lidded frown. She was always trying to push him into being an athlete. "You know sports aren't my thing Lynn"
"Besides, if I get a job I plan on getting as many hours as I can." Lincoln cast his eyes down, The prospect of summer itself reminding him of Stella and the time he wished he could spend with her. "After all its not like I'll need the free time."
Lynn noticed his sudden depression and beamed a smile at him "Cheer up linc, I'll be with you all summer." she chirped
Lincoln's frown broke into a small smile.
"what about you? I know you're still doing summer sports and minor leagues, but I really think you should give college a shot while you still have the chance." Lincoln's smile grew "It's undeniable that you're a top-notch athlete, I'm sure you can still go to any college you want."
Lynn's smile melted into an uncertain frown, a mixture of embarrassment and regret, her eyes cast down to the floor
Royal Woods Highschool
The gymnasium
2 months prior
The game hasn't even commenced and the stands are packed with screaming fans.
Within the locker room, Lynn junior and her teammates are getting ready.
"ALRIGHT LADIES!" boomed the coach of the team as she stumbled in and addressed them, a can of four loko in her hands, unsteadily swaying with every movement.
"THIS MAY BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND LOOKING LIKE FUCKING LOSERS!" she paused to pull up her pants a little causing her to lose balance and wobble. She quickly regained balance and went back to her pep talk.
"ARE WE FUCKING LOSERS!?"
"NO!" shouted the entire team.
coach burped and threw a hand up to her ear " I CANT HEAR YOU!"
"WE AREN'T FUCKING LOSERS!!!" shouted the team.
"DAMN RIGHT!" the coach screamed- a little too excited.
"5 minutes till game time, let's go out and whoop those DITSY ASS,CAN'T SHOOT FOR SHIT, SOUTH CITY BITCHES!!!" she threw up her hands as if in victory.
The energy in the room was electric as members of the basketball team were shaking from how pumped they were.
Girls were practicing techniques, going over their good luck rituals, calling their mama to remember what they are fighting for, summoning the spirit of Kobe Bryant in order to gain his skill, one girl was just repeatedly banging her skull on a locker chanting "FUCK YEAH!, FUCK YEAH."
With the team thoroughly amped up and energized, coach grinned and sipped from the beer she was totally allowed to have in this school gym. Coach stumbled towards the locker room door to exit but slipped near the wall and gave it a rough introduction to her nose. The room fell silent.
Bleeding from her alcohol-induced face plant, beer spilling all over the floor, laid coach seemingly knocked out.
As a girl approached to help her up she sprung up in one smooth movement and threw up her hands in triumph once again, blood still dripping from her possibly broken nose.
The locker room erupted with cheering, the energy instantly returning to the team. Coach smiled once again and took her leave.
Frantically doing her pre-game rituals, was Lynn loud casually conversing as she did so with her teammate and long-time friend Margo Roberts.
" man coach is shit-faced" Margo pointed out the obvious as she tied her shoes. For good luck, Lynn was dribbling a basketball exactly 101 times, without breaking her focus she responded. "that's good, coach can't coach if she's sober, remember how we played when her ex-husband made her go to AA?"
Margo paused for a moment to jog her memory and..now that she thought about it they lost horribly every game last year during the month coach was sober. "...ohhh" she murmured in realization.
"yeah. let the lady get drunk, we'll need it anyways if we wanna get to state." Lynn said, still not breaking her focus on her pre-game rituals. Margo scoffed and flashed a grin "c'mon Lynn, south city sucks, we got states in the bag!"
"You never know Margo, they put in work to get here same as us, they want to win same as us, i may be cocky but underestimation of one's opponent is a grave downfall"
Margo sat there looking shocked and cocked an eyebrow "That's an uncharacteristically sound mindset"
"We're playing to go fight for that state trophy, this may be a game but I don't play about states" Lynn finished her dribbling and began bouncing on one foot, another pregame ritual of hers.
Margo stretched to loosen up "relax, we got this, really I should be the worried one, you got college offers, you've been scouted, if we don't bring states home... I might not get a scholarship at all" her grin faded
Lynn frowned at her friend's statement "Margo don't worry, you're just as good as me, I know colleges will see it too"
Margo cast her eyes down "yeah, I guess"
she switched position and began a different set of stretches. "I mean, is college all that great?"
She began to explain her reasoning
"You gotta work so hard to get there, just to hope you get drafted there"
Lynn had no problem with hard work, life was based on effort and hard work.
"And if you don't get drafted, you gotta pick a future job, and the proper classes to set you on that path"
Lynn knew what she would do if not for sports
business, it was an easy choice. The world of business on a higher level was a competition and Lynn knew she could dominate any competition.
"Not to mention you barely see your family and you move out after college so life at home is practically over"
Lynn...hadn't thought about that
she paused mid-ritual which took Margo by surprise.
Once Lynn leaves for college that's a wrap, she'll move away, stop living with her family...
She'll stop living with him.
She needs him.
15 months before the game
(ooo I'm doing a flashback in a flashback, that's some meta shit right? no? well fuck you it's my story)
the loud residence
Lincoln and Lynn stand in the middle of their backyard.
"Alright Stincoln, name of the game's kill the carrier." with a cocky grin that screamed "I'm gonna dominate you in this game" Lynn lightly tossed the ball up and down as she went through the rules. "Basically you run from the tree to the wall and back with the ball, and if I tackle you it's my turn."
Lincoln gulped, Lynn pestered him into playing extra annoyingly today, Lincoln thought of only two reasons why she was extra persistent, she was bored as fuck or had a shitty day and needed some "it's fine cause were just playing a game" violence, looking at the fire in her eyes and Cheshire grin, he decided it was the ladder.
At least it wasn't sparing again.
"Fuck it, let's do it" Lincoln ran over to the tree, a look of determination on his face. "I admire the bravado little brother, don't pussy out when I knock the wind outta you." Lynn boasted as she smirked and made her way to the wall. "Lynn took a throwing position and with the flick of a wrist threw a perfect spiral into Lincoln's chest.
The ball flew like a bullet straight into his solar plexus, like Piccolo catching Radditz and Goku with the special beam. Lincoln dropped to a knee as every atom of air in his body escaped his lungs. "I'll be damned, she knocked the wind outta me" he thought.
He regained his breath and grabbed the ball as he stood. "Game on."
Lynn took a three-point stance as Lincoln sprinted towards her, she stayed in position until Lincoln was about four steps away, she then sprung towards him explosively.
It was not out of athletic skill or technique, but sheer instinct, akin to a rabbit, Lincoln leaped over Lynn's low tackle. He stumbled when his feet made contact with the ground and lost balance after a couple of steps, Lincoln tripped and rolled into the wall.
Lynn watched her brother stand and do a little victory dance. "Damn" she snapped as she cursed.
the boy threw his hips around in celebration "oh yeah, uh huh, alright, go lincoln" he melodically boasted as he celebrated.
"Just a fluke dumbass, don't go thinking you're all that." Lynn took position "you're going down."
As Lincoln began to run, Lynn sprinted towards him and as they met in the middle, although Lynn junior was stronger, Lincoln at the age of 16 was bigger than her. The two went shoulder to shoulder causing Lynn to spin from the force and hit the ground. "Who's the dumbass now?" Lincoln mocked as he made it to his goal.
Lynn stood, huffing and puffing in anger "DAMN YOU!!!" she got in position and stared lincoln down. "I'm gonna fuck you up!"
The man with a plan smirked. Lincoln knew Lynn's temper was her downfall, and it was clear he got her where he wanted her, and only in two goes, He expected to go down sooner.
Lincoln stood confident in front of the tree. "Talk is cheap Lynn, try and get me."
Lynn charged toward him like a bull, ironic since she is always wearing red. This time Lincoln waited for her and when she was only a single step away she lunged to tackle him and in a split second lincoln reacted with a spin move, rushing past her.
In the heat of their contest, they had made the mistake of ignoring the playing field. The momentum of her dive brought Lynn head first into the tree, as her forehead bashed the bark she made no noise, the only sound being the crack of her skull hitting the dense wood.
Lincoln turned about to celebrate again but-
he dropped the ball and froze as he saw Lynn lying there unconscious, bleeding from her skull.
"Lynn?"
He realized forgot about the tree.
Lincoln ran to his sister and knelt next to her, she was breathing but out cold.
"MOM, DAD!!!" Lincoln yelled.
Rita ran outside immediately, followed by Lynn senior, they both gasped when they saw their daughter's condition, immediately they called an ambulance.
Lincoln sat there and held his sister
"you're gonna be alright Lynn, you're too strong to let a tree take you down" he shed tears as she remained unresponsive
The boy stayed with his sister until paramedics arrived, they allowed him to ride with her in the ambulance. Lynn regained consciousness 4 minutes after they took off, still on the way to the hospital. In the back of the ambulance she looked up at her brother and smiled. Lincoln took notice and took her hand crying tears of relief. "I'm too strong to let a tree take me down." Lynn muttered as she faintly smiled, lincoln smiled as they pulled up to the hospital.
In that moment to Lynn the entire world felt different, the entire world was different, she saw Lincolns smile and it looked...different.
To her it looked like all she ever wanted.
Royal Woods high school
The big game
4th quarter 13 seconds left
Royale Wood's trailing by 1 point
As the ref blows his whistle the ball is thrown to Lynn, she dashes towards the hoop.
a defender came up on her and with a dribble move the defender was flat on her ass and Lynn moved past her, another defender came, cross up, and she falls as well, once more a girl runs over to stop her mad dash for the hoop but gets tripped up. Lynn was breaking ankles like a slippery staircase, collecting her opponents shin bones as she went.
As she stormed up the paint and went for the lay up that would seal the game her world froze, time stood still and reality went silent. Lynn realized this was it, this was her moment, they already beat the team they would be facing at state, she knew they would win that easy. Lynn would win states then take up one of her many college offers, entering the adult world, and leaving behind the struggles of childhood.
But...there was something she couldn't leave behind.
As her hand went up, as her feet were just about to leave the ground, lynn looked to the stands and stared into the eyes of her brother.
in that moment time unfroze, but Lynn didnt.
she stood like a statue, staring at her brother.
even as the clock ran out.
the game buzzer rings, snapping Lynn back to her senses.
a look of shock spreads over her face as she realized what she had just done.
Lynn never truly recovered after she ruined states for the team
she turned down her offers and rode out the rest of the school year
when summer came, at home Lynn remained.
A local diner near the park
8:33 am
Lynn and lincoln sit in a booth in the corner of the aging 50's themed diner.
they casually converse as they enjoy their meal.
"Anyways Lynn, the point is it's not really gay to suck your own dick, really it's just masturbat-"
"hey lincoln!"
the boys sentence was cut short by a chipper looking girl he'd never seen before addressing him.
lincoln looked her up and down, pig tails, braces, freckles- Didnt ring a Bell
"hey?" he said more as a question than a statement
the girl saw his confusion and explained.
"we've never met but Im on the soccer team with stella" lincoln frowned at the mention of the name, as did Lynn.
" she's always going on about her "amazing boyfriend" and shit like that, you're the only teenage boy I've ever seen with white hair so I assume you're lincoln"
"your deduction is correct, I'm lincoln, but Stella is not my girlfriend"
the girl frowned "why, did you guys break up?"
"yeah, she dropped me and split town" Lincoln's frown of sadness turned to a frown of annoyance.
The girl cocked an eyebrow "split town?" she shook her head "no, that makes no sense, the big game's next week and we were planning to party after, she wouldn't just skip out on us" Lynn just sat there expressionless, listening to the conversation.
lincoln was going to rebuttal but paused.
Lincoln knew Stella loved soccer more than anything, why would she leave right before the final game?
now that he thought about it, things lately have been better than ever with her parents, why would she leave now?
things have been better than ever in their relationship, why would she leave now?
She didn't have a reason to leave.
while he was putting two and two together the girl took his silence as an invitation to speak.
"I hope you guys get back together, I talked to her Saturday at practice and it seemed like she was crazy about you, I actually helped her plan a date"
that's when lincoln froze.
Saturday was the day she left, why would she plan a date just to break up with him that day?
something wasn't right.
without a word, Lincoln threw what he owed for the meal on the table and stormed out.
"I offered to pay for you ya know!" Lynn calls out to him as he leaves.
Lynn stared daggers at the girl
"was it something I said?" the girl innocently asked
across the street, a dark figure watched as lincoln stormed out of the diner and down the street.
A/N hey guys it's MarZ again, sorry this chapter took super fucking long. I was focussing on improving quality and length with this chapter, I hope it was noticeable.
although my shitty jokes barely count as comedy I wanna restate what is said in the description, there will be my shitty humor all through this story so if you want a super serious mystery this probably isn't it.
if I'm being honest I didn't really know what genre to put this story in so I just threw what I thought made the most sense up there, this story doesn't really have a consistent genre.
with this chapter I realized I need to put more time into writing, I held back because i
"didn't want writing to feel like a chore and have the fun ripped from it"
truthfully I might just be a procrastinator.
anyways let me know what you think, reviews are the blood that keeps my writing going.
also, I didn't know people even really like rp'd here but as a blanket statement, I'm not interested (unless you're a hot girl, then I am ALWAYS interested)
what I am interested in though is a proofreader, if you wanna read this story a little early and help ya boy out let me know
anyways I'll see you next chapter and remember, this story doesn't go how you think.
-im adding this last part in cause the guest review/ in my story. if I say lincoln loud smokes weed he does, if I say he puts on a dress and jerks off in a school zone he does, in a holiday story featuring Santa do you comment "Santa's not real"? you were quick to say Lincoln loud wouldn't smoke but last chapter you didn't go "Lincolns sister wouldn't kill somebody" it's a fanfiction dumbass
I will never erase, change, or even think about regretting anything present in my story and potential future stories
if you ever have a comment that isn't a compliment, a question, or advice, you can suck my cock and swallow
the criticism I do however enjoy is things like this
"I'll be honest with you MarZ"
"add some punctuation and capitalization to your story"
concise and to the point with no emotion or preconceived notions attached, that is exactly how advice and criticism should be presented
-Marz