Disclaimer: The Loud House and associated characters belong to Nickelodeon and Chris Savino.
STALKED
By Lola Presents
Chapter 6
Lola and Lindsey finished their coffee and donuts, paid their bills, and decided to head out. Lindsey insisted that Lola ride home with her so that nobody could locate them by identifying Lola's car. At the same time, Lola felt that leaving it at the restaurant was terrible. Everyone there knew Lola and Lindsey and could pair them if asked. Therefore, they moved Lola's car to another location, intending to pick it up tomorrow.
They arrived at Lindsey's house a little after nine o'clock, still giggling as they entered the home. Lola had only to sniff the air, and her mouth began to water. Lindsey then led Lola to the kitchen and introduced her husband, James, who was hard at work preparing dinner.
"You cook?" asked Lola, being a little nosy. "But, you work. Don't you?"
"Yes," replied James, chuckling at Lola's question. "I work, and I cook. Is there something wrong with that?"
Lola has never seen a man do housework before except for her father. The idea seemed novel to her. Yes, her childhood fantasies regarded princesses and princes, neither of whom did chores, but the years taught her different. Though she knew they could, she believed they shouldn't, especially after working all day.
Her beliefs, in part, were a logical conclusion, drawn by the realization that doing chores was a job in itself. If one worked, the other should do chores. And Lola had no practical skills of any sort, so she took up the mantle of maintaining her house. Still, it was exciting and refreshing to see Lindsey's and James' interpretation.
"N-no..." stammered Lola, completely embarrassed. "It's just, my husband..."
"...is a bit of a jerk," finished Lindsey. "But, let's not get into that. Around here, we each do whatever needs doing. Now, how about you go relax by the fireplace while we finish here?"
"Can I help?" inquired Lola, not wanting to be a burden. "It's the least I can do."
"No, ma'am," Lindsey implored. "You go sit your butt down and relax. Besides, I need to talk to James for a moment."
"Oh. Okay, then," Lola conceded, then found her way into the living room where a roaring fire was going.
Lola plopped into the plush couch and nearly fell asleep in its comfort. The Abbott's had decorated their house nicely with warm autumn tones and lots of house plants. Aromatic scents added just the right amount of panache, making the home seem alive, and the heat from the flames took the edge of the crisp winter air.
"So, what's up?" asked James of Lindsey as he chopped some lettuce.
Lindsey sighed. "It's a long story," she said. "One I'm not sure I have the right to tell. But, she's been through a lot and needs a place to stay."
"I see," replied her husband. "Any idea how long she'll be here?"
"Unfortunately, no," grumbled Lindsey, shaving some carrots for the salad. "Though I don't expect it will be too long. It's mostly just for a night or two. Once things get settled, she can stay at her parent's house. For now, though, she needs a friend. You know, someone to talk with."
"I gotcha," replied James, placing the lettuce in a large bowl, along with the carrot shavings. "Well, she can use the guest room, of course. Wait, she doesn't smoke, does she?"
Lindsey chuckled. "Are you kidding? She's as straight-laced as they come."
"Well, that about does it," James said, placing the bowl on the table, along with a casserole dish and some smaller bowls with sides. "Dinner is served. "I'll wait for you to fetch Lola," he said, nodding toward the living room.
Lindsey found Lola nodded off on the couch and gently nudged her. "Lola..." she said. "Dinner is ready."
"Hm?" muttered Lola, popping her eyes open. "Oh, sorry. I guess I'm more tired than I thought."
"I can imagine," Lindsey agreed. "After what you've been through, I'm surprised you have collapsed entirely. Now, come on."
Lola followed her friend back to the kitchen and took a seat once Lindsey had chosen hers. After all, Lola didn't want to make any assumptions about chair ownership.
"Eat up!" declared James before spooning some tuna casserole onto his plate. "Please, don't be shy. You know, in some countries, it's a sign of disrespect not to eat one's dinner."
Lindsey laughed. "Oh, this girl can eat. Believe me. I mean, she just put back twelve donuts!"
Lola blushed and shrunk a little in her chair. "It wasn't that many."
"Okay, you're right," sighed Lindsey. "It was only six. But still..."
"So, what is it you do, Lola?" asked James before stuffing his mouth further.
"Well, nothing really," Lola told him. "I keep the house and all."
"Hm. That doesn't sound very fulfilling," James replied. "Isn't there something you've always wanted to try? Linds here is thinking about opening a cosmetics supply store. You know, something to keep oneself busy."
"Well..." Lola said sheepishly. "I was thinking about starting a nursery."
"Well, I think that's a wonderful idea," exclaimed James. "So, how do you two know each other, anyway. If I'm not being too nosy, that is?"
"Lindsey and I go way back," Lola informed him. "When we were younger, we did pageantry and modeling together."
"Oh, wow," declared James, seemingly genuinely interested. "You've been friends that long, huh?"
Both Lola and Lindsey burst out laughing. "Oh, heavens, no," Lindsey finally replied. "We were rivals at the time, bitter ones at that."
"So, what changed?" asked James.
"We quit," Lola said, still chuckling. "After that, all we had was each other."
The conversation continued well after everyone finished eating. Lola learned more about her friend's husband and their life together, as well as many revealing stories about Lindsey. Considering how close Lola and Lindsey were, James couldn't help but divulge a few humorous and embarrassing stories about Lindsey that she might have offered herself.
As evening turned to night, James announced his retirement to clean up and prepare for bed. This time, Lola offered to help put the leftovers away and clean the dishes, not taking no for an answer. Knowing how competitive and hard-headed Lola could be, Lindsey accepted her friend's demands.
However, there was something Lola needed to do, and for that, she required some assistance. She felt terrible asking Lindsey to help with her endeavor, but nobody else was available. Lola's parents and siblings would all be at work or school. Only Lindsey didn't work or go to school.
"Lindsey?" asked Lola, putting a dry dish into the rack beside the sink, then stopping momentarily.
"Hm?" hummed Lindsey, rinsing off a bowl.
"I have a favor to ask," Lola told her. "You aren't going to like it, though."
Lindsey stopped what she was doing and let the bowl sink to the bottom of the sudsy water. "What is it?"
"I need to go back to the house tomorrow," Lola announced. "There are some things I need to pick up."
"What's worth risking your life for?" Lindsey demanded to know.
Lola shrugged, unsure if she wished to continue asking. "Mostly sentimental things. You know, personal family photo albums and stuff."
"Have you gone insane?" pleaded Lindsey. "You only got out of there, and now you want to go back? What if he..."
"It's okay," interjected Lola. "I've given it some thought. We can park some distance away and wait for him to leave for work. Then, I'll slip in and pick up my things."
"What about the alarm?" gasped Lindsey, growing more despondent by the moment.
"I programmed it, remember?" Lola reminded her. "Plus, I have the master app on my phone. The alarm won't be a problem. I'll only need a few minutes."
Lindsey leaned on the counter with one arm while placing the other on her hip. She sighed while shaking her head before answering. "Let me guess. If I say no, you're going to walk over there and do it anyway. Right?"
Lola smiled sheepishly, shrugged, and tilted her head.
"Okay, fine..." scowled Lindsey. "What time do we need to be there?"
"Well, he usually leaves around seven-thirty, so we should be in place by seven-fifteen. That way, we can visibly see him leave," Lola suggested, going back to drying the thoroughly rinsed dishes.
"Alright," sighed Lindsey. "I'll get up when James does, then, and come rouse you."
Not much got said following their exchange until both women began to yawn. Hugging each other and saying goodnight, Lindsey showed Lola to the guest room and got her settled before heading off to do the same for herself.
Lola turned off the light and stood in the moonbeams as she stripped down to her underwear, then placed them neatly upon the nightstand. Sighing, she realized she had nothing more to wear and would have to reuse the previous day's clothing. However, there was little she could do about it, and she added clothing to her list of things to pick up from her house the next day.
Then, yawning deeply, she pulled back the covers, removed the decorative pillows from atop the usual ones, and burrowed her way into bed. She lay awake for some time, reviewing everything. Lola didn't know who to believe anymore, Winston or William. Things had spiraled out of control, and now, Lola felt nothing more than utter exhaustion. Then mercifully, slumber claimed her before she had a chance to begin crying.
The following day Lindsey woke Lola with a few gentle nudges. "Wake up, Lola," she said firmly. "It's time."
Stretching as she sat up, Lola nodded, indicating consciousness, then waited for Lindsey to leave before rising and getting dressed once more. After remaking the bed, Lola wandered downstairs to witness Lindsey handing James his lunch box and kissing him on the cheek.
"I'll see you later, honey," Lindsey cooed as he walked through the door. "I love you."
"I love you, too," chirped James. "Look after Lola now!"
"I can't believe how lucky you are," Lola sighed, standing at the foot of the stairs.
"Oh, gosh," blushed Lindsey. "If I'd known you were there..."
"No, it's alright," assured Lola. "It was sweet."
Lindsey blew out a deep breath. "Well, then," she said, clapping her hands. "If you still want to go through with this, we'd better get moving. It's nearly seven-fifteen already."
"I'm ready as I'll ever be," announced Lola, heading for the door. "Let's go."
Once in the car, Lindsey started the engine, turned on the heater, then pulled out onto the road and headed toward Lola's house.
"Have you checked on that old man at all?" asked Lindsey after a moment of silence.
"Uh, no," answered Lola. "I haven't had the time. But, I will after we get back. I still need him to answer a few questions."
"Like what?" asked Lindsey, taking a corner. "You said he already denied killing that other girl. What other questions could you have?"
"Well, for starters," Lola responded. "What happened that made their parent's drive away Winston, and second, if Winston did kill her, why did William want to take his identity? Nothing makes sense."
"I see," sighed Lindsey, finally turning onto Franklin avenue. "Well, here we are."
Lindsey pulled up to the curb behind another vehicle, roughly a block away, yet still in viewing distance of Lola's front door. What Lola planned was risky at best, and Lindsey wanted as many distractions as possible between them. She turned her attention to her friend's house, ensuring they were as obscured as possible. William's pickup was still in the driveway, indicating that he hadn't left for work yet.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" inquired Lindsey. "What if he forgets something and comes back?"
"Look, this is something I have to do," Lola said. "If I'm not out in ten minutes, or if you see him return, call my phone. It's on vibrate so that nobody will hear it. Let it ring once, then hang up immediately and call the police, alright?"
"Fine," sighed Lindsey. "But if anything happens to you, I'll never forgive myself."
"I'll be fine," assured Lola, crouching down in her seat as William exited the house, making his way to his truck. "Listen, I know where everything is. I'll be quick. I promise."
A few moments passed as William started the truck, then they heard the sputtering of the old pickup as it warmed up. Finally, the sound of the rumbling engine faded down the street.
"Alright, he's gone," announced Lindsey. "But, let's wait a few more minutes before you go in, just to be safe."
"That's probably a good idea," agreed Lola, remaining as low as possible in the seat.
Finally, Lindsey gave Lola a nod. "Alright, let's do this before anything unexpected happens. I swear, Lola, you're going to be the death of me."
"No, I won't," smiled Lola, raising the seat and gently opening the door. "I'll be right back."
Approaching her house for the first time since the day before, she noticed nothing had changed. The small white picket fence surrounding the flower beds still lay broken on the ground, and William had not attempted to cover the raw tire tracks in the grass. Furrowing her brows, Lola continued walking briskly toward the front door. Indeed, nobody would question her being there; it was her house, after all.
Lola did not want to waste any time, pulled her phone out, and brought up the remote security control app. After deactivating the system, she opened the door and entered as quietly as possible. Then, after closing the door, Lola glanced around for any sign that somebody else may be present. While there was no indication of another presence, what she did notice was disturbing.
Practically every surface and shelf had gotten thoroughly searched, leaving the contents discarded carelessly around the rooms. Lola had never hidden anything from William, and she wondered what he could have possibly been seeking. In any case, she couldn't linger. She had a job to do, and any delay increased the risk of getting caught or worse.
Moving swiftly, Lola made her way down the hall, entered her room, and opened the closet. Then, pulling up a nearby desk chair, she proceeded to pull down a box from the top shelf. Once down, Lola lifted the lid to ensure its contents were safe. Inside, she verified a set of photo albums and her old stuffed bear, Mr. Sprinkles.
"Ah..." whispered Lola, stroking the animal with one hand. "There you are! I knew I'd find you."
Then, reclosing the box, Lola scooped it up and made for the door. Only, she stopped cold upon leaving her room. William's office door was left ajar, something he never did. Chills ran down Lola's body, and she remained perfectly still for some time, listening intently. Nothing moved, and no sounds came from within or anywhere else in the house. Relaxing slightly, she slowly pushed the door fully open and looked in.
William had left his computer on, and a messenger application was still running. Lola bit her lip and glanced toward the front door, then back at the computer. She still had time, she thought. One peek just might give her some insight into the madness of late. Quietly setting the box down on the floor, she walked up to the desk and looked at the latest messages.
"Mom, I don't know what to do," William had written. "That bastard already took Kielle away from me, and now he's threatening to do the same with Lola. Mom, she means everything to me. If I lose her, I think I'd fall apart."
"I'm sorry, Will," came a reply from one Gloria Chesterfield. "We tried to make it all go away, to make him go away. I guess it's in his blood. He is twisted, and he'll surely come after her again. Do you have a plan?"
"I've already gotten a security alarm, but I suppose it made Lola feel isolated. Last night, she stormed out. I have no idea where she is, and I'm scared. I'm thinking, if she comes back, I may take her someplace nobody would ever think to look, not even him."
"That sounds like a good plan, dear," typed William's mother. "Where did you have in mind?"
"I think it better if I didn't say, that way he can't get it from you, one way or the other," replied William.
"I see," replied Gloria. "Well, know that we're here for you, Will, and we'll do anything to protect you."
"I know, mom," wrote William. "But, I need sleep. I have work tomorrow. I love you."
"I love you too, son," responded Glori before the messages ended.
Lola shuddered and stood up. Her eyes blinked as her brow struggled as a thought entered her mind. Could she have been wrong about her husband? William's private words to his mother revealed no malice toward Lola, nor did it indicate any for Kielle. For all intents, things pointed toward Winston, after all. For a moment, Lola considered abandoning her mission and remaining at home.
Then, suddenly, a black-gloved hand, holding a soaked cloth, wrapped around her and clamped tightly over her mouth and nose. And, while Lola struggled to pry herself free, another hand reached around her waist, holding her still. It only took a few labored breaths before Lola found herself slipping away, and soon, everything went black.
