Hey, guys. So if you haven't heard, Lola Presents is deleting her account due to some problems. So I am doing her the favor and reuploading some of her stories. Warning: The following story contains things that might piss you off. Still here? Well, don't say I didn't warn you. Disclaimer: The Loud House and associated characters belong to Nickelodeon and Chris Savino

Tainted Love

By Lola Presents

Chapter 1

Lori's first year at college was over, and after taping the last of the boxes shut with duct tape, she stepped back, wiped some sweat from her lips, and sighed. Then, she set the roll of tape aside, meandered to the sole window in her dorm, and lifted it, letting in some fresh air. The breeze blew around her, animating her hair, which was slightly longer than it used to be.

People were busy walking to and from several buildings in the area, carrying packages to their vehicles, preparing to go home for the summer. The cafeteria was still in operation for a few more days, allowing those with late travel plans to eat, and Lori took in the scents. Now, with no classes to attend, they reminded her of home.

The young woman loved her family dearly, and each became special to her over the years. Despite the arguments and noise that came with so many siblings, they had a unique bond most families would never see. It was customary for a smaller family to become somewhat disassociated over time. With more personal space and increased freedom, they tended to do things independently.

When one had ten siblings, things changed. Toes got stepped on, and feelings got hurt. Then came the apologies and the soothing. Later, everyone would sit around and laugh at how nonsensical it had all been. They had to learn delegation and diplomacy with many responsibilities, leading to a more unified family. While someone who didn't know them well might describe them as dysfunctional, they were perhaps the most so of any on Franklin Avenue.

However, spending so much time away from home left Lori feeling distant and longing for the closeness she once felt walking the halls of her childhood home. Lori emitted one last, deep sigh, then grabbed the box, backed out of the room, and closed the door for the last time. Lori refused to look back as she headed for the old, red car she had purchased from their neighbor, Mr. Grouse. Then, loading the box, she got in, turned the key, and left the parking lot.

The venerable vehicle sputtered and occasionally puffed out a large plume of dark smoke, usually indicative of carbon build-up, but Lori didn't know enough cars to maintain one properly. Perhaps, she'd ask Lana to look things over once she arrived home. For now, Lori would have to trust that the old girl would make it there. If not, she had her AAA card with her, just in case.

After negotiating the exiting traffic and settling into a nice pace on the highway, Lori turned on the radio, as that's all the old car had. Lori considered getting a Bluetooth system installed when she first acquired the car, but after driving around for a few weeks without one, she decided against it. Who would've guessed that listening to random songs would expose people to music they'd never heard before?

The first thirty minutes of the ride home proved more relaxing than Lori thought it would. The stiff leather seats tended to get uncomfortably hot after sitting in the dorm parking lot for so long. However, with her window cracked, enough brisk air rushed through the car to cool things down, and the constant vibration of worn-out suspension soothed her into a state of near road-hypnosis.

Lori's thoughts began to drift as the music played, and she decided to play a game. She would listen to a song, and by the end of the first verse and chorus, she'd attempt to pair the piece with one of her siblings. The first song to come on, after the one that was only then finishing, was Material Girl by Madonna.

"Lola, for sure," Lori said out loud, chuckling as she did so. "Okay, what's next?"

After that song played, another began that Lori didn't know. She listened through to the point she had decided upon and made her guess. "Okay, this one has to be Lisa," Lori said as the words, "She blinded me with science... science.. science..." echoed through the cabin. When the DJ finally announced the song, after it ended, preparing to go to a commercial break, Lori couldn't help but laugh once more. "This is fun!"

One by one, the songs came and went, and Lori made her guesses. Occasionally she would be at a loss as to whom the music may represent, such as "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode. However, Lori eventually got through all her sisters. It was only then that it occurred to her that she had forgotten to find one for her brother.

Lincoln was going to be difficult to choose for, however. He had so many great qualities that she couldn't decide on which to focus. Instead, she listened to as many as possible, taking mental notes as they progressed. Several popular tunes from the past and present made their way into her ears, deluging her with lyric after lyric. Though, none seemed just right.

Not long before she hit the outskirts of Royal Woods, however, a song came on that shook the girl to her core. Though it wasn't entirely accurate and would mortify her should anyone else make such a connection, the essence was there. She compared the hurt to all the arguments they'd had over the years, despite the presence of love. The longing it described rivaled her desire to see him again. There was even a line about packing one's things and leaving.

Before the song ended, Lori found herself singing along with it. At least until the last few lines, "Touch... me..., ba-by. Tainted Love."

Lori gasped, unaware of what the song was about until that moment. Then, feeling an urgent need to vomit, she pulled into the nearest gas station, got out, and dry-heaved over a nearby trash can. If the smell of the can hadn't done it, nothing would, and Lori gave up. Lori took several deep breaths of the fresh country air as she leaned against her cooling car and covered her eyes with one hand, holding herself steady.

"What just happened?" the girl muttered to herself. "How in the hell did I ever pair Lincoln with that song?"

With her arms folded, Lori remained where she was for some time. Eventually, the lone attendant noticed her from his perch behind the counter and leaned from the glass door. "Is everything alright, ma'am?" he asked, preparing himself to help.

Lori gazed up at the young man. "No," she called back. "I... I'm alright, only a little off. Maybe a snack would help. Do you have any food in there?"

"Nothing healthy," the man offered. "Only the usual on-the-road crap. But, if you want it, sure."

Lori took a few moments to head into the store and browse the selection. He was right. There wasn't much there. Mostly a service station, there were only two stands, one with candy, the other with chips, and a single cooler with sodas in it. Lori sighed and grabbed a bag of Dorito's and a bottle of Sprite, then checked out, thanking the man before leaving.

Lori headed back down the highway, making sure the radio was silent this time and filled her empty belly with the atrocious meal. At the very least, the rush of sugar, fat, and artificial flavors calmed her nerves. What a weird place for her mind to travel, associating her twerpy little brother with that song. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that it described their relationship perfectly, though she couldn't imagine why—all of it, that is, everything except the last part.

Lori shuddered as she pulled ono Franklin Avenue and tossed the empty bag and bottle on the passenger seat floor. She'd clean it later. After all, Lori was nearly home, and who wanted to begin doing chores right away? The only thing she wanted was to ferment on the couch and perhaps call Bobby. A moment later, the car pulled into the driveway at 1216, and Lori put it in "park," despite not being sure if it worked, and removed the key.

Lovingly, she gazed at the house. Nothing had changed, not even the boomerang and frisbee on the porch roof. Several old bicycles leaned against one side, and Lynn's basketball goal hung over the garage door. Smiling, she got out and headed to the front door. Nobody had yet to race out in greeting, which struck her as odd, considering how much noise her car made. Then, shrugging, she assumed all must be busy or napping and walked in.

"Hello?" called Lori, poking her head through the threshold. "Anyone home?"

"Lori!" called several voices from the direction of the couch. "You're back!"

Lori glanced over to see Lola, Lana, and Lisa, sitting there, watching a cartoon she didn't recognize. It must've been something new, introduced while she was away, she thought.

"For the whole summer!" exclaimed Lori as her sisters rushed over to greet her. "Where's everyone else?"

"Oh, well, Mom and Dad are at work," Lisa began explaining.

"I think Luna and Luan are in the kitchen, and Lynn is in the garage working out," added Lana.

"Lily is asleep, and Leni..." sighed Lola. "Um, I don't know. Sorry."

"Okay..." chuckled Lori. "What about Lincoln?"

"Oh, you mean the recluse?" joked Luan as she emerged from the kitchen. And, from the size of the bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich she held, Lori could only assume her sister was starving. "He's probably up in his room again, wasting away."

"Uh, what?" questioned Lori, growing concerned. Lincoln wasn't one to stew about anything. He had always been the cornerstone of the household and kept things together.

"I guess Mom and Dad haven't told you yet," noted Luna, appearing beside Luna. "That's just like them, not wanting you to worry and all."

"Oh, for Pete's sake," sighed Lori growing agitated. "Would someone just tell me already?"

"Let's just say he could've used you this year," tried Luan.

"For real," agreed Luna. "You see, most of his friends have already started dating or have a steady partner. But not him. Hell, the little dude didn't even ask a girl to the end-of-year dance. He doesn't even hang out with Clyde much anymore. He... sits in his room, doing whatever."

"What are all of you?" barked Lori. "Kumquats? You didn't think to give him advice, yourselves?"

"We tried, but he wouldn't listen to any of us," sighed Lisa. "That's the kind of thing he always went to you for."

"Maybe, you should talk to him?" suggested Lucy, who had suddenly appeared, sitting halfway up the stairs. "I'm tired of hearing him groan all night long. And, that's saying something."

Lori's shoulders slumped, and she sighed, finally letting her purse slide onto the small console table that sat near the front door. Then, placing her keys beside it, she resigned to taking charge once more. While Leni had become quite adept at managing the household, there were some things that only Lori could do, and this was one of them.

Romantic advice was Lori's territory, and she had indeed given a lot of it over the years, especially regarding Lincoln. As she worked her way up the stairs to her brother's room, she recalled fond memories of the two of them, literally pitching a tent on her bed as they discussed various topics. Mostly, however, it was answering any questions Lincoln had about the opposite sex and how to approach them.

Standing at Lincoln's door, Lori steeled herself and knocked softly. "Lincoln?" she called. "May I come in? It's Lori."

"Whatever..." came a listless voice from within. "I don't care."

Lori furrowed her brow then entered, closing the door behind her. Then, sitting on the edge of the bed, she stared at the lifeless lump nestled within its covers. She could immediately tell that she had a lot of work ahead of her. Lori had never seen him so unresponsive.

"Okay, what gives?" she asked firmly but sensitively. "The others told me about your recent behavior, and that's not the Lincoln I know and love. So, come on. Tell me what's going on."

"Not this time, Lori," Lincoln mumbled through his thick shield of blankets. "Not only would you not understand, but you can't help this time. Not every problem has a solution."

Lori sighed and slumped a little. "That's nonsense, Lincoln," announced Lori a moment later. "Problems are merely solutions in disguise," she added. "You have to chip away at the excess to find it."

"I don't know..." whined Lincoln, adjusting his lay and pulling the covers more tightly over his head.

Lori considered her brother for a moment, then cocked her head despite Lincoln not seeing it. "I'll tell you what," she began offering him, "why don't we go to my room, build a tent on my bed, and talk about things like we used to? What do you say?"

"Really?" chirped Lincoln. "Do you promise not to judge me?"

"I promise," confirmed his sister.

"And, will you keep whatever I say between us?" Lincoln asked.

"Of course, Lincoln," assured Lori. "Our private conversations have always been sacred. You know that."

Slowly, Lincoln pulled the covers back and peered at his sister, who sat there waiting patiently for his response. "Alright," he muttered. "I guess so."

"Well, that's more like it!" enthused Lori, patting him on the leg. "Now, get your gloomy butt out of bed and follow me."

Lori stood and strolled from the room, headed toward her own., leaving ahead of Lincoln in case he needed to dress. Upon entering, Leni turned from her sewing and lit up.

"Lori!" Leni gasped, rising to hug her sister. "Welcome home!"

"Hi, Leni," replied Lori, accepting the hug. "I'm sorry to ask this of you, but Lincoln and I need to have a private talk. May we continue this later?"

"Of course!" offered Leni with a great deal of cheer. "I'll be downstairs afterward."

Lori nodded and saw Leni out as Lincoln strolled down the hallway in his pajamas. "Hi, Lincy!" said Leni with a slight wave and a smile. "It's nice to see you up and around."

Lincoln gave up a half-hearted smile, said nothing, then entered Lori's room. He was aware how asinine his reaction to Leni had been, but honestly, he didn't have it in him at the moment for anything more.

Lori pulled the covers back and motioned for Lincoln to take his usual place while she reached between her bed and the wall, fishing for the old broom handle they used to make their tents. Eventually, she located it and pulled it up. It seemed like they'd made their last tent only yesterday, and the old stick appeared just as sturdy today as it had then.

Once Lincoln pulled the covers over him and handed them to Lori, he accepted the pole from her and held it in place until Lori secured the tent by tucking the blankets under herself. Then, testing the rod for stability, she was satisfied. The two sat there, in familiar territory, facing each other cross-legged. The light was dim, but Lincoln knew Lori always had a flashlight handy, so it didn't bother him. Perhaps, this time, dark was better.

Resting her elbows on her legs, Lori propped herself up and took the reigns. "So, it seems you've been having trouble finding a girlfriend, huh?"

"You could say that," Lincoln sighed, staring at his lap.

"Well, pardon me for asking, but I have to get this out of the way," Lori said. "Are you, you know, gay?"

Lincoln snorted. "No, Lori," he responded. "I am not gay."

"Well, the others said you didn't ask anyone to the dance," Lori told him. "So, I had to ask. Can you tell me, then, why you didn't ask anyone?"

"I don't know..." moaned Lincoln. "I guess I wasn't interested."

"That doesn't make any sense, Lincoln. If you weren't interested, why are you so depressed?" inquired Lori, more confused than ever. "I mean, that's like whining over not getting a sandwich, even though you aren't hungry."

"Oh, I'm hungry," Lincoln mumbled, still avoiding Lori's eyes. "Only..."

"Only, what?" prodded his sister.

"Only, I can't have the sandwich I want," Lincoln admitted after a moment of silence.

"Oh, Linc," sighed Lori. "There's more than just one sand..."

"No!" exclaimed Lincoln. "There isn't. Not for me."

"I see," Lori said, ignoring the fact that he'd interrupted her. "She sounds extraordinary. Can you tell me about her?"

"Yeah, sure," acknowledged Lincoln hesitantly. "Well, she's the most beautiful girl I've ever known. She's smart, kind, and headstrong. Sometimes, she can be a little bossy, but it's usually warranted even then. Look, all I know is that she makes me completely happy when we're together. Like, nothing could get me down when I'm with her."

"What kind of things do you do together?" continued Lori, trying to get him to open up more.

"Oh, well," sighed Lincoln. "We don't get to spend as much time together as I want, but mostly we talk. Sometimes we hold hands, and once or twice we've slept in the same bed together."

"Well, it sounds like the two of you are off to a great start. Can you tell me why you didn't at least ask her to the dance? The worst that could've happened is a no, and you wouldn't be any worse off than now. But, she could've said yes."

Lincoln took a deep breath, then released it with an audible "phew" and replied. "Well, for one, she isn't in my grade."

"Linc, most of the time, these events have a little lee-way on that, you know," Lori reminded him.

"It doesn't matter," grumbled Lincoln. "She doesn't go to my school anyway."

"Well, so what?" griped Lori. "Again, it's okay to invite guests. As long as the entire couple isn't guests."

"Do you remember what you promised me?" Lincoln asked, finally looking up at Lori and meeting her gaze.

"Mmhm," mumbled Lori as she nodded. "Not to judge you and keep everything confidential."

"Okay, well..." Lincoln began, finally gaining the courage to tell Lori something important. "The thing is, she's an adult and is in a relationship."

All at once, Lori's demeanor changed. They were no longer talking about Lincoln getting a girlfriend but a sexual predator. How could Lori not have seen the signs with all Lincoln's excuses and evasions? She was aware of her promises and intended to keep them, but if push came to shove, she'd do what was required to keep Lincoln safe.

"Lincoln!" gasped Lori. "She's not your girlfriend! She's using you! Can't you see that?"

"Um, no," sighed Lincoln, chuckling slightly. "I think you have the wrong..."

"No, Lincoln," Lori demanded, interrupting him this time. "No more excuses. This woman, whoever she is, is a sexual predator, and if you don't tell me who she is, right now, I'll take this to Mom and Dad!"

"But, you promised!" gasped Lincoln, preparing to leave.

"Then tell me!" Lori barked. "And, I'll handle this bitch myself. But, if you don't, I'll have no other choice but to..."

"We're done here," Lincoln exclaimed, throwing the covers off himself, rising, and heading for the door.

"Wait!" called Lori, desperate for him to return. "You can't leave! Not yet!" she pleaded, leaping for the door.

Lori managed to keep the door from opening, placing her palms against it, though she now stood directly behind Lincoln, and he could feel her warm breath against his skin. Lincoln closed his eyes and tried to remain calm, but Lori's closeness wasn't helping matters. Slowly, he turned and faced her, captured in place by her arms, still firmly set against the door.

"Do you really want to know?" he asked her firmly but calmly. "Because, I'll tell you. Only, you won't like it."

"Lincoln," pleaded Lori in a near whisper. "I already don't like it. And, no, I don't want to know. I have to know. Please?"

Then, in one fluid motion, Lincoln gently cupped her cheeks with his hands, pulled her in, and kissed her deeply and tenderly.