Chapter 316.
(September 2, Royal Woods Mall.)
The mall is busy, lots of teens have returned from their long summer vacations and many are excited or not pleased with going back to school, some are looking forward to going to college and even the kids below the teenage age are feeling the same thing as the teens are, except for two of them.
And those two are , Lincoln Loud and Jordan Rosato and both of them are enjoying shopping at Reiningers for any new clothing for them to wear when they reach Middle School.
Lincoln has a handful of clothes that would suite him for Middle School, they seem like something a rocker might wear, but with a tad bit of a new pre-teen merged into it. Guess Luna really did leave an imprint of herself onto her little brother.
Lincoln then waits outside of the dressing room and soon enough his lover comes out. "So, what do you think?"
Jordan is now wearing a yellow jacket that has some light blue high lights on the sleeves, white shirt with the symbol of a rose to the right side of the chest, a blue skirt, black leggings, white socks, brown shoes with white straps.
Lincoln looks in awe and smiles. "Always as beautiful, no matter what you wear. Though, this one suits you. Kinda like the other tens of thousands of clothing you've tried out too."
"Well, I guess this marks as the last one for me to purchase. Let me change and then we can head to the register, and then take our time at the music store, comic book store and then we can head off to grab some lunch." Jordan heads back into the changing room.
"Take your time my darling" replied Lincoln. He then checks his phone and sees he has a notification from his hero-self.
Hero Linc: Things have gotten from unexpected, to exciting over here in our world and we have so much more to tell you and the others when we make our way to hang out with you guys, and I hope you have an awesome time headed to Middle School, heck we are here as well.
Lincoln is confused by this, but he'll have to wait for the time when he can hang out with his hero self, soon. Then he looks around and sees some familiar faces going around their business around the mall.
Kat, Trent, Joy, Lance, Cookie and Artie are picking out some suitable outfits they can wear when Middle School begins, and thank goodness it's a sale and with them are Emma, Sadie, Mollie, Jenny and Christina, while Richie walks out of the place with his own fashion line in the bag.
Clyde and Chloe walk by Reiningers with some things from the book store, Rusty and Polly skate their way out of the mall with some sports gear and Zach and Giggles carry with them some bags from the party store, with them are Luan and Benny.
Lincoln smiles at all of this. 'Look at us, all looking forward to whatever happens when we reach Middle School. We're all loaded with what we need and are ready to leave out marks on our next level to growing up.' He then thinks about what would happen next. 'We still have to remain vigilant. Chances, we might have some bad apples making a heck of a comeback and exact revenge upon me and Jordan.'
Then Jordan comes out of the dressing room with her bags. "Okay, let's get going handsome."
Lincoln gets up with his bags. "Right behind you beautiful." They both head to the register and pay for what they bought, and then head out of Reiningers and Lincoln tells Jordan about the message he got from his hero-self.
All the while, Lori looks to her little brother from afar. Lori sighs and looks down. 'Things really are gonna be different with me not around, sure am gonna miss this.'
"Lori!" The blonde older Loud snaps back to reality and she looks to Carol. "Lori, we were wondering if you were gonna get something from here."
Lori then recalls, she went to the mall with her soon to go to college friends: Carol, Dana, Becky, Whitney and Teri, and also with them is Jessica. "Oh, right, well I am gonna need some new headphones just in case and along with a calculator, cellphone case and chargers."
Lori then grabs what she needs, the others know something is up. Lori is uncomfortable and they know why. They just hope she can pull through when the day is finally over.
They soon finish buying what they need and they all head to the register and pay for what they got, afterwards they head out of the electronics store and make their way to the food court, they did make a stop to Reiningers before they went to the electronics store and they all have some new clothes in their bags.
The teens look at the many teens who have returned from their summer vacations, the mall is nearly packed with them. "Looks like we got tons of teens back in action and ready for school" said Teri.
"Some of them don't seem to be happy to go back to school, I mean I can't blame them. It's not gonna be as easy as it was last school year for them" replied Whitney.
"Yeah, Chaz said he was looking forward to being a senior when he comes back to school, the only drawback he's gonna have will be the teachings there" replied Dana. "But I know he can pull through, I hope."
"Leni on the other hand is bound to make some good strides when she makes it to senior year, she has improved and is much more better than she was from before and I totally respect her for her new change" replied Becky. "She'll make it, I know she will."
Carol chuckles, but then she has some worry. "I just worry for when they have to find someone to be school president and for whoever can keep track of the debate team as well.
"You're starting to remind me of myself over there Carol" said Jessica. "I too was concerned on who would be there for the drama club, debate club, math club, computers club and the cheers squad, but I knew someone would do better and make sure everything is intact and doing well."
They're shocked at what Jessica just said. "Wow. You are way better than me and the clubs you choose" said Carol.
"That is a lot of clubs. Did you really join all of them?" asked Dana.
Jessica chuckles. "I did, and even though it was hard to keep track of each one, I held my own and made sure everything was doing well. When I left High School, I left behind a note pad, in which I placed down some things that could help the new vanguard of the clubs be safe and be careful with what they do."
"Wow, I should do the same thing and leave some notes before I head off to college" replied Carol. She then looks to her bestie. "What about you Lori? Anything to add to all of this?"
But they notice Lori thinking of something else and paying no attention to them, then Carol pulls Lori to her before she hits a shopping cart. "Whoa! What the heck?"
"Too close Lori" said Carol. "Are you okay? You've been acting kinda weird lately and haven't been much responsive when we first came to the mall, even when we texted and called you."
Lori sighs. "Sorry for literally being like this girls, I've been having some complicated thoughts about some things."
They all seem to know what this was all about. "How about we talk about this when we reach the food court" said Teri. They all agree and head for the food court, and keep an eye on Lori so she doesn't run into anything and hurt herself.
They don't know, they pass by Leslie Silver and her friends: Gretchen, Karen, Hope, Chastity and Regina. "This mall sucks so much. Nothing much but lame clothing that don't even make us look cool" said Regina.
"I just wanna watch as this mall one day gets demolished and is reopened with an even better one, this one is way too old and not so cool" replied Chastity.
"AS if!" said Hope. "The people of this town and they're lame mayor wouldn't even wanna tear this stupid place to the ground. We may be rich, and powerful but for some dumb reason we can't even make the call and build what we want."
"Be grateful some places have what we need, looks like the peasants of this town aren't rich enough to go to Gryphon's shopping department. That is the only place we seem to accept in this run down of a mall" said Karen.
"Everyone here is just as stupid and beneath us" said Gretchen. "Which makes us the superior rich girls in all of town, but who am I kidding, Leslie is by far the richest. Her family is richer than anyone and I don't even know if there's any other family or girl who could beat her ranks."
They then look to Leslie who hasn't paid any attention to them. "Leslie? Hey Leslie! Leslie Silver!"
Leslie then looks to Gretchen. "What?!"
"Girl, what the heck is your deal? We've been asking you what's wrong and you seemed as deaf as this mall not paying attention to us" said Gretchen.
Leslie sighs. "Sorry girls, I've been having personal issues in trying to figure out what to do with this town and they're stupid allied outpost. I was planning to call daddy and have him look into it, but he seems occupied with work, and I don't like all of this new surveillance that doesn't belong to the higher and rich cause. They seem to be more into the law, and through this it mocks me!"
They to look to the Peacekeeper troops patrolling the mall and Burst Drone Surveillance systems around the mall, and some of them are looking towards them.
"I guess we're all on the same page, dealing with this annoying new allied stuff, including the company that runs it" said Karen.
"From what I heard, this FutureTech is powerful and became part of the system months ago" said Hope. "Little is known on where they came from, but they seem to be handling problems here with ease and they said they're improving things for everyone."
Chastity scoffs at that statement. "Everyone? Why would it be for everyone? This should be for those who are truly meant to have what they make, the lower standards don't deserve anything from this advanced tech company! We have to tell our parents about this, perhaps they can be able to reason with FutureTech to side with us!"
"If our parents aren't busy, until then we're on our own with little to know power, just the money we need to do what we want and I for one look forward to Middle School" replied Regina.
"She's right, though I hate classes and learning some boring stuff. We should show the boys and everyone else in school just who the popular class are and make them follow and obey our every command" said Gretchen. "We're gonna rule the school, just as we did back in Tuscola."
Leslie smirks. "That is one thing that will truly make me happy, we're the rich girls in town and nothing and no one will stop us from making this wretched town ours!"
They then walk out of the mall, but they had no idea they passed by Mollie, Sadie, Jenny, Christina and Emma.
"And there they go again, typical new rich girl attitude" said Sadie. "They're trouble incarnated into five."
Mollie looks to Jenny. "Still no information on who they are and where they came from?"
Jenny sighs. "Not a single trace, I even asked my auntie Katherine if she has some info on the 5 new rich girls, but she has none. She might plan on making some news about them, but it's gonna be at the bottom of her list. Christina has been helping me find the information we need about them."
"And it's also a dead end" replied Christina. "I tried finding some source about them in the richest category on social media, and it seems to be blocked out for some reason, almost like it's going to be opened when the time is right, and I think those girls are planning something."
Then Emma has an idea. "Linc and Jordan are friends with the allied outpost and the new company called FutureTech right? So, why not get some info there? They seem advanced and can hack things."
"That just might work!" said Jenny. "Although, they only let people they can trust in and we're not the ones who can be allowed in there, even if you're from the news station."
"Maybe we can talk to Lincoln and Jordan to look for some information about them, they'd be happy to help" said Christina.
"That sounds like a good plan, but not now" said Sadie. "I saw them earlier and they seem to be enjoying their company and we shouldn't disturb them, when the time is right then we can ask them." They then make their way to the electronics store, to see the new phones FutureTech has to offer.
Looks like Martin McKenzie's company is making good strides in this world.
(Food Court.)
Lori and her friends are already headed to their seats once again with their food, watching over they're things is Dana. They then take their seats and eat their lunch.
"Lori, we know what's going on with you" said Becky. "It has something to do with your family doesn't it?"
Lori sighs, she can see they all know what was up. "Yeah, it does. It's just ….. Everything is changing so fast, I mean we were having such an awesome time this summer, all of us with whatever adventure and trouble has been shoved in our way, and now all of it is gonna come to a close."
"I'm going to college tomorrow, and I already have a plan on what to do with the rest of the family. What I fear is, just how much I'll be missed and how much I'll miss them. Things are changing for the better and that's a good thing, but I just wish I could be there for all of them longer."
They all feel bad for Lori, they too feel like they don't wanna leave town just yet and spend more time with their friends and family, but they have to take the next step in their life to adulthood and that's through their path to college if they wanna be who they wanna be in the future.
"Lori, we can relate too" replied Whitney. "We all like, have these mixed feelings about leaving the town we call home and being in someplace where we don't know what's gonna happen to those we care about."
"When we all take our own paths to college, it kinda feels like walking away from al that we've made in our past lives. All the awesome and unforgettable memories we made with everyone we've ever known" said Becky.
"But, just because we're gonna be away from home doesn't mean we're not gonna come back when the time comes. We know you told this to Lincoln and to most of your sisters" said Dana.
"And we know they're gonna be upset at you taking off for college" said Teri. "Darcy is also feeling the same thing, well sorta. When the times comes, tomorrow before you leave, relish every moment of fun and adventure you have with your whole family."
"Let you're last memories of home be the best you've got with them, and then be there to reassure that everything is gonna be alright before you take that big step in leaving" said Carol. "There will be tears sure, there will be pleading for you to stay, but in the end they will all be so proud at how far you've come and what you might accomplish through your future and that one day, you'll meet again."
Lori sheds a few tears. "Thanks you guys, that was so nice and I literally needed that. Oh, I am so going to miss these nice pleasant talks we have." They gather for one group hug, but they notice Jessica wasn't with them on this hug.
They all look to Jessica. "Are you okay?" asked Teri.
Jessica sighs. "Tomorrow, can I join you and you're family with the last day of fun you'll all have here Lori?"
Lori understands. "I could only guess you never had this kinda last moment with your family too."
Jessica looks a bit upset. "My brother's would rather watch me take off for college than spend a whole day with me, just my little sister would be happy for me and also be happy she'd take my room too. You just have such an amazing family, they all care about each other and look out for one another. Something I wish my brothers have, but they don't. Only my parents feel proud and also saddened when I left for college."
Lori places her hand on Jessica's shoulder. "Jessica, tomorrow when we have one last day of fun with my family, then consider yourself for one day only, a temporary loud!"
Jessica smiles hearing that and hugs her. "Thank you, thank you so much Lori."
"You're welcome Jessica" replied Lori. "That's what close friends are for." Then someone else hugs them, they see their friends smiling at someone who's in the hug, and they take some pictures of this moment.
"And I consider you as family too Jessica, and like Lori we responsible sibs have to stay close and make sure things are gonna be alright" said Lincoln as he sheds some tears and hugs them both.
Jessica smiles and accepts this hug from the two louds, the two most responsible of the louds, Lori and Lincoln. Tomorrow, she has one day to know what it's truly like to be one of them, a part of a big family.
Jordan smiles seeing this, and takes some pics of this moment. 'Looks like there will be tons of tears when tomorrow hits. We'll all be so emotional from this, but things have to change and this is one big change for all in the loud house and throughout Royal Woods.'
They then depart from the hug and Lincoln and Jordan join them eating lunch, all of them talking and sharing some thing's they should all know, then Carol looks to Lincoln and Jordan and they too look to her and they know it's time for Lori to know about this.
"Lori." They all look to Jordan. "There's something important we need to tell you, but we need to know if we can trusty you in keeping this secret from the others, though Luna knows about this and is chill with it."
Lori is confused. "Okay, so what is it?" the other teens were also confused.
"Do you guys recall the incident when Jordan had a major grudge on me?" asked Carol.
"Yeah, that was the worst moment we all had and really didn't like, kinda pained us to see Lincoln in so much distress and early puberty" replied Becky nervously.
"Why are you guys bringing this up?" asked Teri.
They then tell them the truth, the deal that Jordan and Carol made, a deal that would last for a long, long time and it also involves keeping an eye on Lori as she goes through college. This deal sounds closely to a family kind of trust, and it seems Lincoln and Jordan look to Pingrey as a sibling as well.
All of them are shocked about this deal that Jordan Rosato made to Carol, a deal that won't involve any hurting, but involves some assistance for the future to come.
Lori is at a loss for words. "Okay, so I guess this sounds kinda fair and I can make sure no one else knows about this too."
The others also agreed, this was Jordan and Carol's business, with a dash of Lincoln into the mix. They're glad they told them about this, and also glad Jordan didn't beat the crap out of Carol back then to end the anger between her and Carol.
Lori now could only imagine how the life of Lincoln and Jordan would be, with her best friend helping them out with future situations. 'The future hasn't arrived yet, and I can see things looking like a new adventure is gonna start up, soon.'
To be continued …..
A/N: Come next chapter is the last moments for Lori to be with her family, and with Jessica Carson in for the ride as a temporary loud. Leave a review and tell me that you all think.
Date made: 8/7/20 – 8/8/20.