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 36: Choice.

- W-what do you mean you can't go? - Lola was crestfallen, her brave, kind, handsome prince was straight up rejecting her proposal, no worse, he retracted his answer, he had already told her that he was going!

Maybe she shouldn't have waited until today to tell him, maybe he had already made plans to see someone else, maybe it was with her.

Maybe that's exactly why she waited this long to tell him, maybe she wanted so see him choose.

God, she's so fucked up…

- I… I'm sorry Lols, I really am, this whole thing caught me off guard and well… - Lincoln was struggling to even look at his devastated little princess in the eyes - Look, I had already made some plans to see Stella on Saturday, I had even made some arrangements to pick her up! - The teenager was having an internal struggle while coming up with the weight of his previous compromise.

- I see… - Lola began avoiding eye contact with her brother - So, in the end, you really chose her… - The blonde spoke that last part with a low tone, barely audible for the albino, as tears began rolling down her face, she was on the verge of causing a scene.

She couldn't care less.

He saw that, once again, all composure gone, all thoughts, gone out of the window, he was making his most precious sister cry again.

- Lola… please no… please NO! - Lincoln had enough, he bend over to reach his little sister and pressed her on his chest as he began holding her tightly, arms slowly caressing her beautiful golden hair, he himself felt as tears began escaping their confinement.

- NO, LET ME GO! - Lola began struggling to escape the teenager's grasp, but he was not letting go, his superior strength working for once to contain the inescapable rampage of angry Lola.

He was definitely going to reject that latter, but.

- I'm sorry Lols, I can't let go, I WON'T let go - He increased the strength of his hold, careful to not hurt her.

- WHY? WHY DON'T YOU LET GO? DON'T YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE? WHY DON'T YOU GO SEE HER HUH? HEY! BETTER IDEA, WHY DON'T YOU GO LIVE WITH HER! - Lola was now straight up being LOUD, loud enough for everyone in the house to hear, she couldn't care less either.

- Shhh! Lola, you know you're not supposed to be here -

- I DON'T CARE! - She exploded - I MEAN SUUURE, YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT YOUR NOISY ANNOYING SISTER TO BOTHER YOU ANYMORE, YOU'RE PROBABLY WONDERING WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING IN THIS HOUSE!? I MEAN, CLEARLY I'M SUCH A BOTHER THAT YOU WOULD RATHER BE WITH HER IN IDONTKNOWDONTCAREWHAT THAN TO GO WITH ME TO MY FIRST SCHOOL DANCE! - She poured her feelings, consequences be damned.

Silence

- … Lola, I didn't - The albino was completely out of breath, trying his hardest to allow her words to sink in, he too was beginning to lose perspective of the world around him, his eyes centered on hers, still bathed on tears - I didn't know… it meant so much to you… - He spoke, more to himself than to her.

He didn't care anymore, once again, his little princess was crying, he wanted her happy, no, he NEEDED her to be happy.

He had made a choice.

- Ok Lols, I'm going - Lincoln finished confidently, he would deal with Stella later, it was true, they only had a movie to watch, that could be arranged later, but this was the first dance in school that his little sister would have and he felt morally obliged to go.

She chose him, and he was not about to let her dance with someone else, he needs to protect her, those little immature kids could play a prank on her!

- … really? - Her fierce tone gone, Lola swiped her gloved hand trough her eyes to clean some tears, looking up to her prince brother's eyes,

- Yeah, sure! - Lincoln exclaimed happily, feeling relief at seeing Lola soften her expression - I mean, it was just a movie anyways - Lincoln looked to the side while giggling nervously.

- Thanks bro! I knew I could count on you~- Lola decided to finally return the forced hug, allowing herself to finally feel his warmth.

So it was for a movie huh? Well, regardless, she had won this battle.

- Oh! And sorry for that outburst, I got myself carried away - It was Lola's turn to look to the floor in shame.

- Yeah… i guess I did mess up at the beginning, sorry about that - Lincoln looked to her, his warm smile never leaving.

- Yeah, I'll… better be leaving, before they come - She excused herself quickly before hopping off the bed and heading to Lincoln's door to exit the room.

She turned the doorknob.

Nobody, she had dodged a bullet.

She headed to her own room, hoping to get a beauty queen's rest.

- Lols? -

Of course, it wasn't gonna be that easy.

- Oh… ok, no, don't worry it's… fine -

- Are you sure? Maybe we can go this Sunday, I'll invite the drinks, I'll buy everything! L-look, I'll even take you to the -

- Lincoln, you know this was the last day for the movie in that theater, we can go watch another one sometime soon, but this sunday I'm… busy - Stella was trying her hardest to fake a smile for her boyfriend, bless the filters of the videochat app that they were using, she accepted the fact that he had priorities in his life, his sisters always being a big one, she also knew what it meant for a little girl to have her first dance with someone she cared about.

She also understood that Lincoln and Lola were particularly close, she had always been there, watching every single "Lola moment" at the bus, feeling the aura of dread in her whenever she visits, watching her transformation, knowing of Lincoln's "little secret", the reason for why they even got closer in the first place.

She was trying her hardest to believe that there was nothing going on there, but she couldn't help but to feel that Lola was a threat to their relationship, she also felt disgusted at herself for thinking that way.

- Cupcake, what's going on? Look I'm really sorry again, but you know, if there's anything else that is bothering you, you can always count on me! I want to help you too - Lincoln commented worriedly on his screen.

- Well, It's just… - Stella couldn't hold everything back - Linc, I don't fully get it, it's an elementary school dance, why couldn't she get a boy her age to dance with, isn't she like, popular? - She looked away, still deep in thought - Besides, dance starts at 9:00PM doesn't it? Can't you just watch the movie with me and then go to the school? - She tried to find a logical solution.

- Huh, no? - Lincoln dejected, a little more rude that Stella would expect - Stella, I won't let Lola dance with a random kid? T-they could hurt her! - He continued rambling - And no, I won't risk getting late, the movie is two hours long, two, hours, if we where to finish it, even without counting the ride back, I would be home at 8:30, and then I have to put my suit on, and then… -

- You're wearing a suit? Since when do you care to look so elegant, it's an elementary dance isn't it? - Stella continued questioning, raising an eyebrow.

- Ugh, look, the point is, I really want to apologize for not going, Stell, but I hope you understand that this situation kind of escapes my control, I just can't let her down on this, and I know that I made plans with you first, I just hope that you can eventually forgive me… - The boy kept looking down on his phone screen, visibly ashamed.

- Linc, I do forgive you, don't worry, it's just… - The filipino girl tried to force a sympathetic smile, but it was quickly reduced to a concerned frown.

- I kind of feel that Lola is manipulating you -