Chapter 2
Lunatic
Living with ten other siblings taught Luna quite a bit. A randomly-placed glass of milk on a nearby table gave her a chance to test out some wonderful stealth skills. She tipped the liquid onto the rug, immediately regretting her spontaneous action.
"Well, no use crying over spilled milk, right? Heh... dang it, Luan. Stop punning when I'm sleeping!" she sighed before placing the glass against the wood. It was an old tactic Lisa and Lana perfected, and now she got to be the third owner of such a strange skill. With the naked ear, she could maybe hear some things, but with a glass like this, everything was made far more clearer.
The real question, though, was if that was a good thing? Planting her ear against the wet glass, she focused all her attention on her father, who's cries were truly heartbreaking. Palms were against his face, but the tears were enough to break through his weakened grip. At least the additional set of feet were enough to try and calm his weary soul; Rita was with him.
"Oh honey, don't you think you're kinda overreacting? I mean, that's not even that big of a deficit! I've seen how that looks in this house, and this is far from the worst!" Luna heard her sit, giving enough silence for their teen daughter to take it in. Deficit? Like, money deficit? "Just calm those eyes of yours, all right? We'll be fine."
Luna knew her father perhaps better than most in this house, and sadly she knew such an answer, even from his own wife, wouldn't suffice. The man cried louder, finally releasing his face from his palms. "But my baby's wasting! Oh God-golly, it's wasting, Reetz!" He stood up and looked out the window. "I never had this happen so fast. What could've caused it? Is it the money?"
The parents didn't feel it, but the sensation of a soul dropping into a bottomless black hole was rather pronounced. Luna closed her eyes, hoping to hear anything further. Again, she wasn't Lincoln. She was far from the man with the plan. Rita fumbled with a finger against her chin, before nodding. "Well, hate to say it, but... there was a little bit overspending in that department."
"But I always make sure we keep things in check! How did I slip up?" He sighed, before lying down upon the bed. "I guess I must've closed my eyes for one second. Jeez, now that's a painful reminder of adulthood! You can't even blink! Oh Reetz, what should I do?"
"Calm down. We'll talk to her when the time's right. Remember, it was one time. If we see it again, then we'll just have to, I don't know, really lay it on them!"
"I guess, but you know how I am! I can barely yell at myself in the bathroom!"
She didn't want to hear anymore. Luna lowered the glass, slumping away from the door. Music was the problem? Her? Deficit? She wasn't the best when it came to money, but that wasn't one of those good words, eh? She looked down at her skirt pockets, noting how empty they felt. Was that a good thing they were or not? Didn't comfort her regardless. "Jeez... did I screw something up? I couldn't have... right?"
Looking about suspiciously, she quickly ran up the stairs, shutting her door as silently as she could (And of course lamenting the pink glitter once more smeared against her fingertips). Gulping, she quickly dove into her secret compartment underneath her Sterrett speaker. It was meant for composite cables and all that, but she found it better to hide some dough from prying sisters looking to steal a perfect weekend night. It's where she kept her stash for the tickets.
She remembered when she bought them, and it was her own money, not her parents. When she swung it open, no green greeted her. Just an empty purple drawer looking back, sans a few coins she managed to keep close. All her hard-earned cash, not her father's bankroll. She did nothing wrong.
At least, she hoped that was the case. Feeling a bit restless, she hopped upon her sister's lower bunk, placing an elbow against her leg and a palm under her chin. The whole year had gone by in a flash, and to be quite honest, she couldn't recall that many purchases she made using her dad's or her mom's card. Heck, did she make any using their stuff? Even before her giant workflow she suffered throughout the summer season, she scrounged up her own dough to get by with her hobbies. She was sixteen now; no reason to always rely on her folks.
Luna sighed in defeat. "Maybe I just heard them wrong. The glass distorts things, dude. Probably should expect that." Trying another smile upon her face, she stood back up and stretched, shooting a thumbs-up to her trademark guitar. "What am I beating myself over? If there was a problem, they'd let me know immediately! You're just misreading things, girl! Calm it!"
And a perfect time to do so, for it seemed Rita was back downstairs in the kitchen, a smile brighter than any mother in Royal Woods. "Kids, dinner! It's another... heh, 'Dad-Tastic' Italian dish!" She spoke with regret. Everyone could see the look on Lynn Sr.'s face as he winked. Luna found herself with a massive pep in her step; eating something would definitely calm her nerves.
As such, she joined the giant crowd of Loud siblings running down like a herd of powerful cows, sitting around the table in formation that probably changed every chance it could. Luna found herself at the corner, right beside the little brother who was still beaming at his ticket. He was so proud of it, he couldn't take those hungry eyes away for a second. Even his rumbling stomach quaked underneath the might of his desires to see two rock legends play their souls out like true Gods.
Charming to the rocking older sister, a bit creepy for everyone else. "Yo, Stinkoln? Earth to White-Hair! It's a piece of paper! Mind, y'know, joining with the cool kids for once?"
He didn't even sneer. Instead, he gave a sigh fitting more to a boy who discovered his first true love. "Yeah, yeah, that's great, Lori. Leni does have new shoes!" He wasn't even paying attention, and Leni had to confirm if that was true. He patted the paper, and even gave it a kiss. "You're the best gift ever, yes you are! Yes you are!"
Everyone looked at one another, before turning their gazes to Luna. She laughed sheepishly. "Heheh, glad ya like it, brah!"
"Luna, I'll never forget this!"
Lola sighed, though it came more like a growl. "Yikes, get a room! I want pasta, not my brother becoming a... a..."
Lana was already enjoying her napkin. "Psycho-psycho or something?"
"Yeah, that!"
The argument (and Leni's confusion) finally concluded with the arrival of their feast. Lynn Sr. was always a fan of making everything a show, and tonight was no different. "Yabadababa! Dodada! Loopyloo and a bucket of woo!" He placed the tray down, revealing exactly what everyone hoped for: spaghetti Loud House style. Somehow their father always had their way with making the perfect dish, and the sight before them lived up to expectations. Everyone "oohed" at the sight. "Dig in, Loud and Loudettes! The school year's beginning just right!"
Everyone was ravenous for the food, but Luna quickly noticed somebody was missing. "Hey, wait y'all! What about Luan? She not back from club?"
Indeed, one was missing. Lori was naturally off doing her college-related business, but their comedically-inclined sibling should be with them. Rita sighed as she sat down. "Still don't know how much I approve, but since things went well, guess she's hanging with Benny tonight." She was interrupted by everyone leaning in for details. That's exactly what the mother feared: her kids growing up too fast. "So sadly we'll just have dinner without her. Probably for the best. She still needs to explain the glitter on my hands!"
Lola looked about suspiciously as their father sat down with another sadness-induced sigh. "Yeah, but that's just how life goes, right? Sometimes we... have deficits, sometimes we lose daughters to...," he promised himself he was a brave man, and quickly unfolded his melancholy back to a jovial nature. "... well, we know how she'd be. We can't go wasting our family time, so let's chow down, everybody!"
And everybody did. Everybody... but Luna. While the rest tore apart the tray like a dead animal against vultures, she sat there staring at her empty plate, seeing her reflection staring back. While everyone devoured their plates with the biggest smiles around, she looked on worried and sad. In her head, she imagined herself joining the rest like always. It was simple; just get some food and enjoy the evening.
But another part kept creeping up, struggling against whatever happiness she could have.
"Waste..."
"Waste..."
"Deficit..."
She picked up her fork, but that was it. It shook in her grip, before letting it fall back onto her napkin. She blinked, feeling like a statue amongst the rest. It was enough to catch her brother's attention. "Hey, uh, Lunes? You feeling okay? Didn't eat glitter, right?"
Lola snapped. "Why do you think I did it!"
Lincoln shook his head. "Anyway... you haven't eaten anything yet. You're kinda freaking me out..."
She never saw him look so concerned. She rubbed the back of her head, noticing the rest were giving her concerned stares too. What was this, dinner and a show, right? She sighed. "Uh, I'm good. I just... guess I'm not hungry right now. I, er, really got to study for tomorrow!"
Rita rose an eyebrow. "Study? You can wait till after, you know? It isn't healthy studying on an empty stomach!"
Lisa pushed her glasses against her face. "Well, technically, the concept of brain food is still up on the hypothesis portion of the ideological table-"
"What I'm trying to say is you should eat. Yeah, that's it."
She should. She really should. Yet, when she grabbed that fork, she began to sweat. The image of waste appeared in her mind. An image of her money being spent. An image of her dad's hard-earned money being spent.
Another sigh, before she pushed herself away. "I'm... I'm gonna head to my room, okay? Er, sorry."
Lincoln tried to stop her, but his hand was too slow. "Hey, wait! I didn't mean to creep you out! The ticket's just awesome!"
"It's not that, little brah... I think..."
"Well, it isn't the glitter!" Lola randomly shouted, still feeling awkward. Nobody noticed, so she slumped, thinking she was in the clear.
While the rest looked on confused, Luna shut her door, lying against her bunk and staring up at the Mick poster looking back. Another painful sigh, followed by a rumble in her stomach. Why didn't she eat? What was the problem? She loved her father's cooking, yet now she passes it up like it was nothing.
"Waste..."
"Waste..."
"Deficit..."
She held herself underneath the blankets, suddenly feeling tired. "Oh, come on, girl. Just... just get over..."
And just like that, she knocked herself out cold, while her family ate away, making sure not to waste a single bite.
