Disclaimer: I don't own The Loud House, the brand, as well as all of its characters and settings belong to Chris Savino and Nickelodeon, all rights reserved.

Chapter 34: Friends.

- Lola, this is serious! - Lucy rises the tone of her voice for the first time since the beginning of their conversation, unable to understand why her deluded sister would find a reason to laugh at her warning.

- Look, Lucy, you seem to have misunderstood something about me - Lola replies with a disgustingly toothy grin - I don't care about being found out, if it was about me, I would have told the world already, I would have made my feelings known to him and I would have never allowed that friend of his to take his attention away! - the princess continues her rant with a distinct spiraling ferocity in her eyes, startling even the morbid sister.

- The only reason why I won't say anything, is for his sake, so that he doesn't feel weird around me, say what you want about me, but I honestly cannot bring myself to care what you, Lynn, or even mom and dad could say about it! - She finishes her surprisingly heartfelt speech, before quickly going back at the front of the door that connects the intentionally dark room with the hall.

Lucy finds herself unable to reply anything back, fearing that any other discussion of the matter would only earn her even less acknowledgment from the noisy sister.

- But… - Lola manages to whisper, turning her eyes to face her gothic sister one last time before sliding through the door. - It's kind of great to know that I have an ally - She exchanges her last words with a kind smile, before going back to her room to prepare for school.

- And that's how you get to fit in with the gamers from table 6b, Mel - Lola said with confidence and grace to her one true ally in the whole school, dare she even say, best friend: Meli Ramos, as they went on their way out of the School's cafeteria to sit on a bench nearby.

- Once again, thanks Lola, I don't know how I'd survive this period without you - The still shy girl in pig tails quietly responded to her flashy stellar friend, allowing herself once again to join a group of her interest, this time around she was really getting into World of Witchcraft, even forming a community overtime with a guild of over leveled but kind warriors, chatting was a thing, but when she realized that that same people where also living in Royal Woods, she began having mixed feelings about it, with a flood of excitement for meeting them in real life being quickly drowned by fear and anxiety.

She still heavily looked up to her best friend, admiring her confidence, but there was still one thing bothering her.

- You know Lola, I've been thinking, you've been helping me all this time at getting out of my shell to meet new people, you've been insisting on me joining all of this groups, I mean, y-y-you even helped me to ask Armand out! - Meli commented a little out of breath, entangling her fingers in timid fashion while forcing the words out of her system, what little confidence she had been earning over the years allowing her to voice her inner thoughts.

- Yeah, you're welcome! what about it? - Lola replied calmly while looking at her friend straight in her eyes.

- W-well, it's just t-that - Meli continued trying to force the words out, struggling in the process, she didn't want to upset her best friend - I-I mean, I, well, haven't seen y-you hanging around with other people as of l-lately, you know, other than me and Lana - She finally got her thoughts out of her system.

- …Well, Mel, i guess I just don't see the point? - Lola accepted the questioning of her reserved friend and answered with honesty - You know I could get anybody to try to pretend to be my friend, I could fit in in any group I wanted, heck, I even got along with The Morticians! - Lola continued, her voice becoming more intense at the moment - But… What good is it if it's just, pretending? Like, I've met all the people in this school by now, they like to pretend to follow my games, ask me autographs, take selfies with me or clap and cheer at my entrances, but when it comes to actually speaking to someone? They never have anything to say! What if I where to show my weak side to anybody? Would they care? - Lola continued, evident frustration In her voice.

- To them, Meli, I'm a celebrity, not a friend, and honestly, I'm fine with that, these people can look up to me and hang around for popularity points, good for them, I take that attention and use it as experience for when I'm actually performing in my pageants, and when I feel actually lonely, well… - Lola began looking at Meli in the eyes once again, her expression softening - That what I have you, and Lana, for, I don't need a thousand people cheering me out, I just need a few real friends. - She finished while raising her arms to lay her hands on Melli's shoulders.

- Wow, Lola, I didn't know - Meli answered mildly with a blush on her face, she was genuinely flustered at Lola thinking so highly of her, she also gained even more admiration for her mature friend, Lola already had a lot of things figured out in regards to who she wanted to be, the brunette girl hoped that meeting new people would be the way to find herself and be more confident, but Lola's conformity with having a really small social circle didn't sound bad in her head either.

She still had one more question, though.

- A-and, has anyone already invited you to the dance? - Meli said while rubbing her fingers, she had always been interested in knowing who would Lola end up with, half of her class had already speculating about Winston being the obvious answer, the flamboyant rich kid was already considered to be extremely attractive by the class at the young age of 11, and the guy himself had already gotten caught flirting with Lola a few too many times, but her friend had remained adamant that she was not interested in him, hadn't been ever since turning 7, or so she told her, so it was natural for her to be curious about what kind of guy… or girl, was her type.

- …yeah, about 15 guys, and 3 girls I guess - Lola replied while looking at the side and crossing her arms, unamused by the topic.

- And who are you going with!? - Meli allowed herself to speak a little louder, showing her excitement.

- Lincoln - Lola answered bluntly, her expression stoic and her pose unchanging.

- What? Your brother? - Meli replied, this time with no hesitation and with a raised eye brow, she was not expecting that answer.

- Yeah, don't feel like dancing with any of those guys anyway, they're too clingy, don't want to get their hopes up - The blonde replied half-honestly - So what better way than to bring Lincoln, that way I can dance without feeling awkward - She said while smiling to herself and giving peace to her shy friend.

- Oh, ok. I guess that makes sense… - Meli replied while rubbing her arm and smiling with sympathy to her friend, I guess she really wasn't interested in anything romantic yet.

Wow, Lola is so mature for her age…

- HE SAID YES! - Lana started jumping on her feet like a frog, squealing like a little girl while making everything on Lola's pristine room collapse, mildly altering the ex-diva.

- Woah, Lans, calm down! - Lola tried to compose herself - I'm soo happy for you that he accepted! - She finished while returning the excitement of her dear twin and giving her and awkward sibling hug.

- Thanks for everything sis, I mean it! - Lana began shedding some tears in her face while returning the hug, almost crushing the frail body of her twin with her superior, not-so-feminine strength, before letting go.

- And…? - Lola began her inquiry with half closed Eyelids as she crossed her arms, looking expectantly at the tomboy.

- … yes, I'm wearing the dress, happy? - Lana's excitement quickly turned into a frown, not one of discontent, mind you, she didn't mind the idea of looking pretty in front of Liam, but a certain twin rivalry still compelled her to show hesitation on admitting that Lola was right.

- That's all I needed to know - Lola replied with a victorious expression.

- Fine, you win this one lols - Lana conceded - But now… - She began smirking again.

- What about your guy? Did you invite him? - Now it was Lana's turn to get the upperhand, she knew that if there was any chance to meet the man that Lola cannot stop gushing dreamily about, it was now, once and for all, the questions that have been pilling and accumulating in her head where going to be answered, she'll finally have the chance to meet him! It was only a matter of ti..

- I haven't asked him yet, sorry Lans - Lola answered with a tint of melancholy in her face.

- WHAT!? Lola! The dance is this Saturday, we have two days left! - Lana reacted in disbelief, the super confident pageant champion still hadn't asked the man of her dreams out yet? Like, she knew that for what her sister had told her, the boy already had a mate, but it's not like if she was inviting him to a romantic date, it was only a dance, what could go wrong there, it's just a chance to meet other people and have fun! she knew that "being taken" was not going to be a reason for her bold sister to at least try to ask him out, that really only put more questions in her head.

- Well, never mind… Sis, what are you waiting for? - Lana pushed her thoughts on the back as she tried her best to be supportive to her twin - You know, tomorrow you still have a chance, so you better make It count! - She continued her attempt at cheering her up, putting her hand on her shoulder.

- And i can't wait to meet my future brother in law~ - She teased the princess one last time before going back to her own room to… vent on her own, her growing body giving her new necessities to attend to.

- Heh, brother in law - Lola almost chuckled at the irony of her comment.

Almost.