Loud House: Flash!

2nd Flash: Her Literally Super Secret

Lori looked up from her smartphone, her eyes darting between Leni and their door and the bag she'd sat beside it as soon as they arrived home from school, forcing herself to relax while she bid her time. It was the same as it had been for about four weeks now, every Wednesday like clockwork, but even so it never got easier. It galled her greatly every time she thought of how easy Lincoln had it when he indulged, he could do it in front of everyone and nobody said a word, even considered it normal, but if she did it?

Oh, she'd never hear the end of it. She could only imagine the sorts of jokes and japes Luan might think up, or how Leni would literally probably just blurt it out at school in front of everyone including Carol Pingrey!

And what if her Bobby Boo-Boo-Bear found out!

Well, he'll probably have to, she glumly thought to herself, then once more steeled her mind. But only once we're married! He'll understand, I know he will! It's for both of us that I'm not saying anything!

She didn't dwell on that for long as, finally, she saw her opening.

Leni had dozed off.

"You know, I can't believe this has literally worked so often," Lori mumbled to herself as she took another look at her younger sister before donning her backpack. "I mean, she stayed up half the night, again, thinking about the sound one hand makes while clapping? Why didn't I think of that sooner?"

But, she didn't dwell. She couldn't if she wanted to indulge before it was time to pick up their parents. And if she wasted anymore time, it'd be another week before she got another chance.

Quietly, she left the room and her sister behind.

Almost immediately she found herself sneaking about, ducking quickly into the rarely empty bathroom, scanning the hallway before, sure it was clear, she hurried to the top of the stairs.

There she waited, listened. Lisa was with Lily in their room from the sounds of the explosion and ensuing baby giggles. After hearing the second youngest exclaim, "We're alright!" Lori let the breath she was holding out before ducking down the stairs and searching for her intended targets.

And lucked out immensely.

"Luna, Luan, Lincoln!" all three siblings froze, whatever they were all doing at the sink forgotten as they all turned guiltily to their eldest sister. "New job for you."

"Y-yeah, Lori?" all three briefly glanced at one another, probably shocked at how in unison each had replied before Lori snapped them back to attention.

"I have to go out-"

"Again?" Lincoln asked, confused. "What-"

Lori cut him off with a look. Happy they were all quiet again, Lori sighed. "Yes, again. I have to… go do something, and I won't be done until I have to pick up Mom and Dad. You three," she pointed three fingers of one hand at each sibling, leaning into each to make her point clear as day, "are to look after everyone while I'm gone. Got it?"

"What about Leni?" Luna nervously asked.

"Asleep."

Luan blurted out, "Again-"

"Yes, again!" Lori barked. That shut everyone up. "So you three are in charge, and if anything happens-"

"Pretzeled. We know the drill, Brah."

Lori nodded sharply. "Good."

And with that, she left her siblings behind. She didn't miss the utterances of, "Oh man, I thought she'd notice!" Luan and Lincoln both squeaked while Luna hurriedly shut them up once more, but paid it no mind.

She was a woman on a mission, after all.

It didn't take long for her to barrel on down to the library in Vanzilla, but when she saw Clyde there she knew she couldn't do what she wanted.

He'd see and tell, she just knew it.

Burpin' Burger wasn't her first choice either, but when she tried she had to bail as soon as she saw Ronnie-Anne's familiar hoodie.

The last thing she needed was Bobby's little sister seeing what Lori was into.

She even wasted twenty dollars to go to a movie theater only to, at the last second and with smartphone in hand, spot Mr. Grouse two rows above her and had to hastily abort that idea, too.

By the time she retreated to the van, she was shaking. Her addiction had her in its grip; she needed her fix and now! Her gaze swept back and forth as she practically cried in search of somewhere, anywhere that didn't have anyone she knew around so she could finally have a chance to just be who she really was now!

And then, a thought hit her.

Just like the metaphorical light bulb flashing into existence, Vanzilla darted off in a flash of its own as she turned for the city limits, reaching her destination with at least an hour to spare before she had to pick their parents up.

A rest area.

As soon as Lori pulled into the parking space, saw nary a soul around, she could barely restrain her joy as she unbuckled, dove into the backseat, ripped her backpack open and, with windows down, kicked her feet up and propped her head against the opposite door, a bag of chips on her stomach and a very thick book in hand.

"OMGosh, I still can't believe she's literally almost me! It's like the author just knew!"

Lori couldn't help the grin that spread across her face, a book with the title, "Lorinna the Flaxen," held fast in her grip.

It was so literally worth the trouble.

End of 2nd Flash