Finding out that this random fifth grader was staying in his apartment without prior discussion was… odd, to say the least. Bob was unable to get half a sentence out of his mouth as he watched Linda help Dakota get settled in the living room with a sleeping bag and an extra comfortable pillow. Dakota's father seemed just as flabbergasted, and likely for the same reason.
"Lin, why is there a child with likely very wealthy parents setting up a place to sleep in our living room?" Bob quietly asked his wife.
"It was that or they would choose to sue us." Linda replied.
"Sue us??? For what?" Bob squeaked, stopping Linda from placing down Louise's second favorite teddy bear.
"Louise choked out their son." Linda nervously sighed. "Out of love."
"Out of love." Bob monotonously repeated.
"Yeah. Out of love."
"Alahna, why is our son being left with these likely very poor people in a very small apartment?" Evan quietly asked his wife. "Why don't we just sue?"
"You said it yourself, dear." Alahna whispered. "They're likely very poor. And besides, our son fancies their little girl! No need to break that up over a rough and tumble!"
"Don't say rough and tumble."
"Rough and tumble."
Meanwhile, as the adults muttered, the kids stayed in Tina's room under Tina's care. It was awkward, yes, but somehow decently controlled.
Gene kept his gaze strictly on Dakota, sharp and aggressive, the silent threat of violence that was willing to come if need be. The look in itself was noticed, but mostly ignored, taken as nothing more than a hollow warning. There didn't seem to be anything too intimidating about Gene, so Dakota found no reason to fear him or anything he thought of doing.
"So, do you have anything fun to do here?" Dakota asked. "Or is it just sitting around doing nothing?"
"We have Tv." Tina replied casually. "But that's usually for family time. When we're on our own, I usually write erotic friend-fiction."
"Erotic what?" Dakota snorted. He followed Tina to her desk with an amused smirk, not noticing Louise's fearful expression.
"T, maybe we should leave these for a later date." Louise suggested.
"What? Why? I'm a huge fan of the arts! Any kind, really." Dakota chimed. "I'm sure your sister's creativity is wonderful."
Louise whimpers, blushing heavily as Tina grabs one of the many notebooks. It takes a moment, but Louise soon notices that Tina had grabbed one of her safer fictions. A brief glance and wink was sent Louise's way, showing that Tina was aware of her sister's feelings about the matter.
"Thanks, T." Louise whispered.
Tina reads from the notebook with a confident smile, stopping and answering every question Dakota had. Some of the questions were a bit nitpick-y, having to do with minor grammar errors. Other than that, most of the questions showed how attentive and inquisitive Dakota could be.
And damn it, if that didn't make Louise's heart race.
"Kids! Come here! We need to set some ground rules!" Linda shouted from the living room.
Tina sets her notebook down, leading the younger kids into the living room with false confidence. She's glad to see that her false confidence is shared by every adult in the apartment. This was too much of an awkward situation for everyone thirteen and older, as they were old enough to understand what was really driving the situation.
"Alright, let's start on our end." Evan huffed. "Dakota, you will sleep in this living room. No physical contact beyond high-fiving or fist-bumping is allowed between you and these other children, especially the bunny girl!"
"I have a name." Louise scoffed.
"It's Louise." Dakota chimed.
"Fine, fine; whatever." Evan waved the comment off with a heavy frown.
"Kids, you're sleeping in your own rooms. Physical contact rules are the same as Dakota's." Linda explained. "We'll play games after dinner, get ready for bed, then go to bed."
"That seems like fun!" Alahna cheered, clapping and bouncing on her toes. "Doesn't that sound like fun, Evan?"
Evan grumbles under his breath, not wanting to say anything more on the matter. "Let's just go. I don't want to be here any longer than I have to."
"Ugh, fine." Alahna sighed. She rolled her eyes as Evan started to briskly walk out of the apartment, giving an apologetic look to the Belchers and her son. "We'll see you tomorrow, baby."
"Okay, mom." Dakota sighed. He accepted the kiss to the cheek he received and watched silently as his mother left. Seconds passed before Dakota turned to Louise and gave a small smile. "So…"
"So…" Louise repeated.
The two fourth graders blush and move to talk at the same time, apologizing simultaneously. The sight itself draws differing reactions from everyone else; Linda and Tina find the sight endearing, leaning against each other and smiling. Bob is unsure how to feel, glad that his daughter is growing up and experiencing such a wonderful feeling, but also a bit wary about this feeling aimed towards a boy with white-collar heritage. Gene's threatening glare grows even more intimidating, taking a more serious tone that proves how serious he was.
"Um… what's the plan for dinner?" Dakota asked.
"I wasn't planning on making anything fancy. Just spaghetti." Bob replied.
"Really? God, it's been forever since I've had spaghetti!" Dakota exclaimed, perking up at the mere thought.
"You're joking." Louise gaped at Dakota's head shake, racing up to Bob and gripping his sides. "Dad! You heard the boy! Make him spaghetti! He demands it!"
"Well, I don't demand it." Dakota muttered.
"Yeah, you're coming off a little strong." Tina whispered.
"You act like this all the time." Louise sniped back.
"Because I'm older and I can get away with it." Tina hummed. "Now, take a deep breath."
Louise grumbled, scrunched her face up briefly, and took a deep breath.
"Let go of dad."
Louise followed the instruction and backed away as well.
"And sit right there. I have an empty journal in my room that you can use to write your feelings in." Tina offered. "You can write, draw, and even cry."
"I don't think I'll do any of that, but okay." Louise replied.
Tina chuckles, slipping out of the living room and into her room. She digs around until she finds an empty notebook and sets it on the desk under Louise's loft bed. Afterwards, Tina returns to the living room.
"Alright, what do we do now?"
—
"UNO OUT!"
Multiple shouts of dismay sounded as Louise won yet another round of Uno. This was their fifth game, and everyone was beginning to believe that she was cheating to some extent.
"There's no way you're winning honestly!" Dakota shouted, scooting closer to Louise and laughing with her as she moved back against the couch. "You're cheating!"
"You have no proof!" Louise shouted back.
"I don't need any!" Dakota playfully snapped, throwing his cards onto the floor. "Not to tackle you!"
Before anyone could count to three, Louise and Dakota were rolling around on the floor. They did so until Louise had Dakota pinned down, holding his face down and laughing triumphantly. This position didn't last long, as Gene tore Louise away from Dakota, shoving her in Tina's arms and slamming Dakota against the nearest wall.
"GENE! WHAT THE HELL?!" Louise screamed.
It took both Bob and Linda to get Gene off Dakota. Neither parent knew how to properly react to the situation, but they both knew that it was best to keep Gene as far away from Dakota as possible.
"Oh, my God." Bob groaned, holding Gene with all his might.
"Dakota, are you okay?" Louise nervously asked as her rambunctious crush stumbled up to her and Tina.
"Yeah, I'm good." Dakota replied, rubbing the back of his head lightly. "I've been hurt worse."
Louise takes a moment to snort at the comment. "I thought you couldn't feel pain."
"I thought you were over that lie." Dakota muttered.
"Hmm, not quite yet." Louise hummed, slipping out of Tina's grasp and inching towards Dakota. She grew closer and closer until their faces were mere inches from each other. They locked eyes for only a second, blushing heavily and giggling nervously afterwards.
Gene curled his hands into fists, leading Bob to sigh and stand up. The only solution that the cook could come up with was to change the sleeping arrangements for the night.
"Alright, change in plans. Gene, you're sleeping with me and mom. Tina will sleep with Louise, and Dakota will sleep in Tina's room." Bob announced.
"As long as he's away from Louise." Gene growls.
Dakota rolls his eyes, watching boredly as Bob carries Gene away. "Is he always like that?"
"No, never." Linda sighed. "I guess it's a protective big brother thing."
"Ugh, like I need a bodyguard." Louise scoffs. She looks at Dakota with a slight blush and a small smile. "We're friends, and friends wrestle and stuff, right?"
"Yeah! All the time!" Dakota agreed, smiling and blushing as well. "Your brother's just being overprotective."
"Exactly!" Louise agreed. "As if I would ever do anything that warrants that behavior."
—
"Tell me, Louise, do you love me?"
It was almost impossible to hear the question over her own beating heart. Louise blushed and let Dakota's hands cup her cheeks. Their eyes met and stayed locked, even as they moved. Despite wanting to, Louise had no idea where they were, and she gasped as she fell onto a beanbag chair.
"My room?" Louise whispered, finally taking the time to look around. "Wait, where is everyone?"
"Hell if I know." Dakota chuckled. "But that means that we're all alone. So I'll ask again: do you love me?"
Louise thinks over the matter, listening to her pounding heart before nodding. It was then when she felt lips against hers. By instinct, Louise wanted to push Dakota away, to gag and make a scene and claim that she was disgusted.
But, in reality, she wasn't.
The kiss only lasted a few seconds, but it was enough to leave Louise breathless. Her face turned red, heart somehow raced faster, and mind traveled to only one thing.
"Dakota?" Louise asked hesitantly.
"Hmm?"
"Do you think you could stand straight?" Louise requested. "Just for some time?"
Dakota tilted his head, but did so anyway, standing up straight without knowing why. Louise tried her best to keep her eyes up, but her mind eventually reached Tina levels.
"Do you… think you could take those off?" Louise asked.
"Take… what off?"
"Your pants."
"Um… okay?"
It was slow, and even somewhat awkward, but Dakota eventually did as told. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough for Louise, and she opened her mouth to order him to do more so she could finally steal a glance at his-
SLAM!
"Oh, my God. There's something wrong with me." Louise whimpered, shock clear on her face and accompanying her deep red blush. The notebook that she had been writing in was being held closed by clammy and shaky hands, silently mocking Louise with its hidden contents.
"What? Did you say something?" Tina yawned, sitting up and looking over the railing of the loft bed.
"No! Everything's fine! Go back to sleep!" Louise yelped.
"Oh, okay." Tina replied. She moved to go back to sleep before realizing something. "Louise, it's the middle of the night. Why are you up?"
"Ugh. I couldn't sleep." Louise grumbled. "I thought that writing would make me sleepy, but it just woke me up more, and then it did this."
Tina slowly made her way off the bed and grabbed her glasses, putting them on before grabbing the notebook. She used the small lamp Louise had to read what the nine-year-old had written. To say that Tina was caught off guard would be an understatement.
"Okay… this is… something." Tina muttered.
"I know! It's weird, and gross, and wrong!" Louise groaned. "But it's how I feel! I can't help it!"
"Trust me, Louise, I know." Tina sighed. "This is how I get about butts."
"But you heard mom. Butts are safe. She doesn't want me liking weiners for puberty! She doesn't like hearing that I want to do the stuff you want to do! The thinking and the looking and the touching. So much touching."
"Oh, my God."
"What if I accidentally go too far? What if my puberty brain makes me go crazy with puberty and I turn into a monster?"
"That's not how that works, but I understand your fear."
Louise whines and leans against Tina, wanting nothing more than to stop her biological clock. Both girls knew this was impossible, but they shared the sentiment all the same.
"I'm scared, Tina." Louise whispered. It was a rare admittance, one that Louise knew would never leave her room.
"It's okay, Louise. I was, too." Tina assured. "But I'll help you get through this."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
