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 48: Prince Charming.
Into the Story:
"…After going through the city of Aesir, to no avail, Sir Triton, armed with nothing but the best of his original equipment, kept searching for clues of his loved one, his only clue being the rumors heard recently about sightings of a girl in pink with a man of regal origins that some referred to as "Sir Ferdinand", the space cowboy feared deeply for the well being of his princess, knowing nothing about the identity of this man, but rest assured, he would do his best of finding her and saving her from the insidious visitor
His prior objective, to retrieve the chaos diamonds, had been demoted to second plane, his priorities were set, by looking once at the full diamond of Sloth that he now proudly wore in his suit, he remembered the reason for his quest, and how utterly meaningless it is without his beautiful princess by his side, he would do anything in the world to get her back, he longed to see her vibrant blue eyes, her magnificent blonde hair and the shape of her soft lips, he longed for hugging her petite figure, holding her hand until the edge of dawn and caressing her features, he longed for feeling the taste of her soft lips as they collided with his, and for the warm embrace that they would sleep at every night.
And for that he would go on, with the assistance of the evil witch Priscella, who had thankfully guided him once and provided him with the necessary intel of this planet, rest assured, he would extract information everywhere he could, he would have eyes everywhere, he would even resort to old friends, all so that he can save her, before it's too late…"
Back in the real world.
- …What the - Lola stood in shook as she read the latest entry in the story, which she had excitedly retrieved from the slit of her door, most assuredly placed there by her own brother early this morning.
- Did he actually call her an evil witch? And what's up with that description? I felt like reading an erotic novel - She though conflicted at what she just read, hearing this level of romance was already uncommon enough when she was allowed to write the story with her brother, but now, with the confession, after everything she had to go through…
Is he toying with her?
Lola was beginning to feel anger, it had been awhile since their only form of "communication" became relegated to this story, she was positively certain that Lincoln would just do something like throw it to the trash the moment she sent it back to him, but a very small part of her still hoped that he would at least read what she wrote.
How unbelievably elating was it then, that he didn't just read her part, but he also wrote another part of the story and sent it back to her.
She was still picking up the pieces of her shattered heart (and her attachment to living), but at least she had this.
But now, it all felt like a cruel prank, she stopped making romantic references in the story, she is trying her hardest to move on, she is now heavily focusing on her career as a budding beauty queen, she only wants to reconnect to her brother anyway she can.
Were her feelings a game to him?
*knock* *knock*
- Come in! - Lola left her thoughts aside as she quickly hid the notebook in her closet, she quickly changed her mindset to prepare for Fernando's perfectionist routine.
He was an incredible coach, but his lessons always left her feeling overworked, the results, however, were glowing, so she couldn't complain at the end of the day.
She was now on her way to meeting the qualifications for the Miss Pre-Teen United States, as well as becoming a known model for sponsoring of Gil DeLily's exclusive brand of perfumes and mascara, if she wasn't making money before, well, now she was pretty much an economic powerhouse that even her parents would sometimes "borrow" from.
- Lola, my dear princess! How are you today sweetie? - Fernando carefully opened the door and excitedly greeted his most promising prospect.
- I am much elated Fernie, the finances are growing stronger than ever and your organic hairspray did wonders to the texture of my hair, I guess the cowlick will never go, but hey, it's a part of my charm! - Lola replied with equal firmness and pride in her appearance.
- I would indeed agree that it sets you apart ma chère, today however I would like to refine your posture, remember from Gil DeLily: To win the day you must sashay! - Fernando continued his perfectionist approach, to Lola's dismay.
- Well this is going to be a loooong day… - She thought with disdain.
- Lincoln, can we please just talk? - Stella quickly stopped the albino from leaving the school again, having anticipated that he would try to leave early and not take the bus, she used the opportunity to leave her class early as well so that she could catch up to him and have a chance to speak with him In private.
- Ohh, Stella, uhh, what are you doing h-here? - Lincoln replied nervously at his girlfriends frantic tone, being stopped dead in his tracks on the entrance to Royal Woods High School.
- You know, I would like to ask the same thing from you, for the last six months - She finally mustered the courage to address her boyfriend's unexplained behavior, having endured the last half of the year with his absence, she had had enough.
- Ahh well, you know, I'm, uhh, doing some really beneficial exercise to sprint all the way home instead of taking the bus! hehe - Lincoln mustered a fake smile while visible droplets of sweat started adorning his features.
- Aha, yeah, Lincoln, I'm not dumb - The Filipino girl was losing her patience fast.
- No, really, you see, I'm under a new diet as well, it's about -
- LINCOLN! Your grades are falling, your face looks permanently tired, you don't hang out with your friends anymore, you don't hang out with me anymore, are we even still a thing? - Stella finally had enough, she looked at Lincoln with growing tears on her eyes as she reached out to grab his hands with her own.
- Stella, I… - The white haired teenager hesitated for an answer.
- Is this about Liam? - Stella interceded first.
- NO! And I don't want to hear about that fucking pedo ever again! - Now it was Lincoln's turn to snap, screaming at his girlfriend's face and retiring from her approach.
- Ok, Ok i get it, we don't talk to him anymore! - Stella quickly addressed the situation, afraid of her boyfriend's outburst.
- Good, now I'm going home - The middle child then turned around to head off, but he was once again stopped, this time around by the warm embrace of his girlfriend, who was hugging him from his back.
- Please Lincoln, I just want to know what's going on, you weren't like this before, something happened, please… - Stella closed her eyes while sinking her head on his neck, struggling to avoid the tears of desperation.
- I… can't - Lincoln simply answered with a softer tone, before releasing himself from his girlfriend's arms.
- … then I'm going to have to do this again - Stella said with a dark tone, making her boyfriend look back at her with a raised eyebrow.
- Is it about Lola? - She continued with a single, powerful question.
- …yes - The albino answered, defeated.
- Is it about that "coach" of hers? - The tall girl continued.
- Yes - The boy simply answered.
- Ok, what is it about him now? - She continued her assault, knowing full well the territory that she was threading into.
- Everything I've told you before, Stella, that guy is trouble, my sister needs me - Lincoln plainly answered, he then turned around again to continue his path.
How he conveniently hid the fact to his friends that he was actually banned from approaching her…
- Lincoln, if the guy was actually trouble, don't you think that your sister would have already fought back by now? You know I don't really like her, but I've seen with my own eyes what she's capable of, and she definitely doesn't look like the type of girl that you "could" take advantage of - Stella was now rubbing her temple at the ridiculousness of the situation - For flip's sake Linc, she works in the beauty pageant industry, she wouldn't be there at all if she was vulnerable! - She concluded with a frown.
- YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HER! - Lincoln had now officially lost it, he didn't care of the entire institute that they were still in front of could listen to him.
- OH I KNOW ENOUGH OF THE LITTLE GAME THAT YOU HAVE WITH HER, PRINCE CHARMING! - Stella, likewise, couldn't contain her repressed emotions anymore.
- THAT DOESN'T CONCERN YOU - Lincoln continued.
- YES IT DOES! - The tears began fully rolling in, the Filipino girl was barely containing herself - You only talk about her Lincoln, you only seem concerned with what happens with her, you have isolated yourself from everyone, you don't tell Clyde anything that's bothering you, you don't even tell ME what's bothering you, didn't we get closer in the first place BECAUSE I was there to listen to your story? -
-…-
- Lincoln, you've changed, and I don't like that change, you don't call me anymore, you don't invite me to dinner, or to eat a Flippee, or to just hang out in the park anymore, whenever we text, it's just about this dude and what you hear him saying -
-…-
- …do you still love me? -
- Ok dear, that was a most spectaculaire performance, now I would like to… oh, I'm extremely sorry sweetie, it seems that our time has run out hehe - Fernando suddenly halted his practice session at the sight of the clock in his wrist -
- Uhhh? But Fernie, I still had to perform the grand finale! - Lola politely objected to her coach's decision, she too looked at the clock at her wall, and it wasn't even 4:00PM.
- D-don't worry dear, you can take a break now, we'll train tomorrow for la grande finale! - The coach nervously said as he rushed a little faster to the exist, leaving a confused girl behind.
- It couldn't be because of Lincoln, could it? - she could only guess.