Author's Note:

I know this isn't one of my usual stories in the fandom, but it is certainly a piece I've been willing to try. This was a super entertaining story to write, and I'm letting this out so you guys can kill time while reading this too.

To my one of my best friends, meilodramatic on Instagram (Idk if I should reveal your actual identity so here, we go lol) this is for you. Without this spectacular person I have the honor to call my friend, this story would've never come to life.

Break Out to Piece In

Chapter 1: On Our Own

"I can fake a smile;

I can force a laugh.

I can dance and play the part if that's what you ask;

Give you all I am."

Christina Perri, (Human), 2012.

Should she quit comedy?

All the boys in her class have no qualms in saying yes to that.

"They're kidding. It's not something to be worked up about."

Every girl would tell her, only to say the opposite when bathroom breaks are allowed.

Or maybe… transferring schools would be the best idea?

"Luan, no. Stop overthinking!"

The cars ran calmly as Luan Loud strolled across the sidewalk in Franklin Avenue, Royal Woods Michigan. Fiddling the straps of her purple backpack. Another Monday as an eighth grader- it never gets easier.

The first 2 years of being in Royal Woods Middle School were the highlights of every preteen's life. There were entertaining events like Intramurals, when everyone gets together and focus on the essence of playing competitive sports for three days, with family members required to come as well. Or the impromptu dramas their Theatre Arts guild held every winter, right before Christmas break, that were mostly romantic themed to warm up everyone's hearts in the coming holidays. And most importantly, a personal favorite, the primetime school talent show- where everyone's mandated and enforced to join. When you're a kid like Luan- who can juggle and ride a unicycle at the same time, who's infamous for being the family ventriloquist, and also the class clown- oh boy, let's just say that when it's her turn upstage, the crowd goes wild.

But who knows? Was she simply blessed to have such a lucky social circle in the first two years of middle school? Or were her talents not enough for her elite batch mates-who have grown far too unlike their younger selves over the summer?

November was never the jolliest month of the year. The skies were always dreary, the tress have grown lifeless, and all the bright flowers and green grass you've seen back in March- They were born to die; flowers of vibrant colors alike blossom early on the third month of the year but they never seem to last for long. Most of them were fading away into nothing more than withered petals on the tainted grass. Chilly November days were always made up by the warmth of going to school. Having to go to a place where every day feels like a Spring Wonderland: With people with every glance flashing a smile, with the lights bright like the sun, and artificial flowers decorated in numerous corners of the corridors.

Yet this year… has too many changes than desired. The all so friendly principal- Principal Mendoza resigned. Politicians would always doubt to themselves, and citizens from old people to young adults alike would verbally express their distrust on the schools around town bettering themselves. But ever since Mrs. Darla Mendoza came around, the dark cloud of the middle school was swept away with her fine eye for details, clearing the edges and cobwebs of the school with driven motivation. Students knew her as a hospitable woman with wisdom, and coworkers had looked up to her as a close friend.

But after 5 long years of sitting in her office, juggling between being the best counselor around the campus and at the same time the principal, it seemed that life was getting ahead of her; and at the age of 59, she realized that enough is enough: time is fast to run, and life is short. 3 decades of working would be thrown away if she didn't enjoy whatever time and money she'd have left.

Ever since then, nobody was there to rebuke the dim entity that ruled over the middle school. There was a replacement for her already: Principal Devin- but he was anything but an angel. The guy hardly cares for the school, because his eyes are straight forward to the consistent paycheck the government offers. When the politicians and government workers were assigned to visit their dark place, Mister Devin would come to know about it first and command all the students to put up a façade and pretend that this school is all sunshine and rainbows like how it's used to be.

Like a domino falling down after the other, the school spiraled down into a pool of black. No matter if you don't know how to swim, you'd drown in the sea of relentless tyrants and nasty tutors.

It has only been 2 months ever since back to school began, yet it seems that the leaves aren't the only things that were dwindling down.

Maybe there was something wrong with her… Perhaps was it because she was too serious with her jokes? Nobody at school seemed to appreciate the eagerness expressed in her gist for puns and stand-up comedy. Not even the newly hired teachers, who mostly come from an unknown planet where their language is sarcasm and cuss words.

Surely, whatever is wrong is on her, not anyone else.

Comedy is Luan's thing; it always has and will always be. But why is she the butt of every joke?

Thirteen years and counting in this world, yet nobody- her parents, her former teachers, her classmates, her friends- never taught her that jeering at the expense of another person is hysterical.

Wedgies and taunts galore; yet nobody said it was right.

Then again, nobody says it's wrong either.

The Loud Family did it. Admittedly, Luan does it herself. C'mon, you can't claim to be a prankster if you've never pranked somebody!

But in the name of good fun, what is even so funny about questioning birds on their ability to swim?

Franklin Avenue 1213… 1214…

The noise of 8 sisters and 1 brother resonated with ever footstep taken forward. Yep. Everybody's home.

Maybe except for her.

It was 4:58 PM. The phone in her skirt's pocket said. Whew, that's late.

But it's reasonable; mom and dad didn't choose to pick them up today because they were both using Vanzilla, despite being only buildings away from each other. The bus was always an option but… would you really risk having to be trapped by 3 dozen of zit- faced, school kids riding up on you because 'you look weird!', or 'are you Sandy Cheeks? How do you eat with those teeth?' and the worst being: 'Oh my gosh, it's that girl from Nemo!'.

Yeah. You mean the mean one with the retainers? Ouch. Luan's the queen of funny; but that right there, is anything but funny.

Then again, entertainment is ranked by the audience's joy in your performance. Like in a beauty contest, they rate you by your glamour and personality. Who's to say she truly is the queen…

When everybody but her disapproves her own jokes?

The pain of nobody laughing was easily preferable over having everyone laugh; but at you, not your sense of humor.

Like her classmates.

"Hey Luan! You're finally home!"

Huh? "O-oh! Hey Luna! Yeah. What does it look like?"

The freshman in high school dropped her acoustic guitar on the couch and leaned her body forward towards the Luan. "You're acting weird today."

Is she? "Why do you think that?"

Luna narrowed her eyes as Luan walked towards the stairs. A dribble of sweat started to form above her brow. "I dunno. But there's something off with you lately. Is something wrong at school?"

How does she see through her like that? "Uh… no. I-It's a drama thing." Thankfully, a quick adlib stabbed behind her head. "I'm practicing being a nervous girl- it's for uh… a play in literature class."

Oh shoot. Luna stood up on her feet, before advancing towards her. "You do good, lil' sis. I remember dramas being so awfully raunchy in middle school." The rocker giggled. "Do your best; don't be like those other kids who kiss each other for the grades."

Heh. Like Skyla and Chipper, the two kids who French kissed last year because of an impromptu Valentine's themed drama. "Yeah…ew. What makes you think I'd do that?"

Luna patted her on the shoulder before walking out to the kitchen. "I know you won't'; just warning you."

A sigh was set free out her nostrils. Whew. That's a close call.

Her hand lazily placed itself on the stairs' railings. And for a moment there, a vision of Luna screaming "Luan's getting bullied!" while everyone goes wild at the revelation drove her up the wall so badly.

Coming up the stairs led to a new point of view. The second-floor walls were immediately greeted by her view.

And so is a jittery Lincoln standing in front of Lucy's door.

"Hey Linc, what's wrong?" Upon reaching the final stair, Lincoln was acting stranger than whatever was in mind.

He turned to face her, jamming his hands into his pockets and shifting constantly back and forth from her face to the door. "Lynn was acting horribly today. When I invited her to play with me, she shoved me out of the way. Thankfully I landed on the coffee table downstairs." Lincoln sucked his upper lip. "I can't get her out so maybe… I could try and wait for her until she does come out?"

Aww… that's so sweet of him.

But also, kinda creepy. "Lincoln, you don't need to do that." She placed a hand on his stiff shoulder. "Lynn needs some space; it'd be good for you to respect that."

"Oh, come on!" He flailed his arms as his eyebrows turned heavy on his face. "She promised that we'd toss the old pigskin after school!"

Lincoln? Football? Lynn rejecting a game? Which was rarer? "Maybe she needs some time alone. I'm sure she'd appreciate it if you leave her be."

"But I need to talk to her! It's really important! She's never actually shut me out before, you know?"

"Lincoln," 10-year-olds had a whole lot to learn. "You can talk to her later. I know you two are the bestest friends in the world-

"No. The whole universe." Lincoln grinned. Yep. A little small reminder.

How cute. "Yeah, okay- the whole universe," She symbolized the vast space of the galaxy with her spread hands, making him giggle. "But Lynn's growing older. And people her age need privacy."

Lincoln hummed with a wide frown. "Fine… I guess we can talk later."

Now… what was this about Lynn really? "Mind telling me why exactly is she upset?"

He shook his head. "I don't know either! She came in here with looking like she went out for a bet and lost- but that bet costed her whole allowance! She even kicked out Lucy- and she's never done that before either!" Lincoln's face lit up as a visible gasp was let out. Uh-oh… it's that 'I-Have-a-Plan' look. "Hey! Why don't you be the one cheering Lynn up! She's always admired your jokes!"

Does verbally groaning your guts out and slamming a football on somebody's head a sign of admiration? "She does?"

Lincoln shook his head, before his face went dark. "Whoops. Forget that I said that- it was supposed to be a secret."

"But other than that, why don't you have a clue? Don't you and Lynn come to school together?"

Looking at it now, they do. "Yeah… but we have different classes. She's… her classroom is far away." Would she ever have the guts to tell him that Lynn's in Mister Bolhofner's class?

Nah. He wouldn't get it.

"But you don't see each other during lunch?"

Okay, these questions were starting to get old. "Like I said, our classrooms are far away. And the cafeteria is huge. Chances of us seeing each other are slim."

His smile fell along with the twinkle in his eye. "Oh… never mind."

Great. Lincoln's sad, thanks to her. Was this really what a comedian would do? She skipped to her room to the cocked head of Lincoln. "Don't worry about it, Linc. Wanna uh… wanna hang out this weekend in the mall? There's always room for dessert!"

And she came out, with a slice of mango cake in her hand. It was from his birthday party few days ago, and this part of the cake was the best part. It had all the ripe mangoes and thickest cream inside.

Lincoln might get utterly furious with her for stealing his favorite slice of the cake; but you can't blame her! It's mouth watering appearance laid in the fridge all vulnerable! If not her, then someone else oughta eat it for themselves!

And no, the cake was hidden under her bed so Luna wouldn't find it; it eventually drowned and was no longer in memory. Until this moment, of course.

"Hey! That's the slice I was looking for!" Lincoln accused with a laugh. "Thanks Luan. For keeping it, you know, safe."

Biting her inner lip was the only way to stifle a laugh; which was useless because a chuckle managed to escape. That was not the anticipated reaction expected. "Uh… you're welcome?"

Lincoln skipped into his room with the cake soon-to-be in his mouth. Heh. That was weird.

Opening her room, a wave of relief washed over her. Good. Luna's not here.

The mere sight of that microphone and mini stage was like seeing your refreshing your eyes to the view of your Christmas present every day. Now that the torment hours of school are over, it's time to do seize the day!

"Nobody thinks you're funny, kid." Mister Biscom said. "Shut up and stop making jokes. Nobody's gonna laugh at them the same way everyone has to listen to my Math discussion. Now class! Stop murmuring!"

Ow… A soft thud echoed in the room when her bag dropped to the ground; the bed sprung softly upon dropping her weight on it. The microphone and mini stage sat there waiting to be used. Never mind… that can be all for Luna instead.

Who knows… maybe all the wrong things they did: From tossing her around like a ball with every insult thrown towards her, to the way the teachers scrutinize her with scrunched up faces- were to prove her right; Humor isn't the sixth natural sense she's gifted with.

Opening her bag, her hand instinctively reached for that familiar shape of a big notebook: her joke journal; from puns to dad humor aplenty.

"If being a loser were a talent, then it's your strongest." The sassy words of the prettiest girl in school, Brittney- also known as Bratt-ney rung inside her mind like a siren.

"To do list… make a vlog, visit Pop-pop and make him and his friends laugh, make friends with the exchange students…"

Nah… Britt was just bluffing! She's good at a whole load of other things, like the ones on her to-do bucket; Should she list it all?

"Children's games and talking to others is nothing more than a waste of time, Loud." Mister William, the gangly middle-aged teacher with jet black glasses once said last week during Science. "If you don't see the importance of giving those up and trading it for intellectual things- like biology- then I'm sure you won't get too far ahead in life."

The question still lingered, even after those stretched nights of sobbing underneath her pillow after Luna fell asleep…why?

Why did they have to be so rude?

Did she deserve it? Then again, who's to say she didn't? Cool kids never got treatment like this!

A gasp built up in her throat. Maybe that's it… she isn't cool.

Getting up on her feet, Luan sped up to the mirror and stared at the girl looking back.

It was typical; a common face at school. Ponytail, scrunchie-wearing girl with bucked teeth that only braces could fix. When middle school wasn't all gloom and doom yet, everyone appreciated the little squirting flower on her blouse; but now?

"What're you? 5?" Bryce Prywill shoved her head to the side, before leaving with the rest of his friends. "How stupid. Flowers are for little kids."

At thirteen, doll houses and puppets were still much more fun than lipsticks and the latest Vogue Magazines' list of latest trends. What exactly was wrong with sticking to your inner child?

Her chin quivered before her in the mirror, a hand tearing away the flower from her blouse. It was clipped tightly there, not attached so no harm was done in it.

It was the thing that symbolized her iridescent silliness. One of the memorabilia she had earned as a token of gratitude from Principal Mendoza who appreciated a multitude of her jokes. It's one of the only flowers she has gotten in her life, and the only one that doesn't wither. The only thing keeping her soul effervescent in these dark November days.

But if it meant that kids would appreciate her more… then it's worth the risk.

Luan tossed it into the trash can below the mirror desk, before storming off.

The jokebook on her bed rested open wide, its pages cramped with a whole world of ideas floating around her head.

That marked her passion; her will for making everyone happy.

A sharp huff escaped her mouth; salty tears sliding inside her open mouth. These jokes… the only thing they've done now is to never fail at making everyone miserable.

And that's why, it's been thrown away too.

"Hey guys! Dinner's ready! Get down here or else!"

Shoot, Lori's call. Her hand rushed to scrub off the wetness in her eyes. Nobody needed to see this.

A small sniffle screamed how pathetic she was as a person. Look at her. Crying over self-pity. Only losers do that.

"Hey, Lu, there's Pizza on the house!"

Ah! Geez, what in the world? "Luna!"

The life of the room was sucked out like a vacuum. Luna became quiet. "Luan? You good, sis? Your eyes are red and puffy."

No! Luan yanked open their drawer and pulled out a hanky to wipe with. "Yeah, don't worry. I just… I just had some chilly in my eyes!"

"Uh…" The burning stare of Luna's judgments burrowed through her skin. "How? What?"

"It's a long story!" Luan waved her hand dismissively, as her other one continued to rub her eyes. Her cheeks ached from giving out a strained smile. "Tell Lori I'll come down in a minute. I need to wash my face."

"Sure…" The mass of another person in the room had began to disappear even as she avoided looking to the door.

Luan crumpled the soggy handkerchief in her hand, bending slightly and soothing out the wrinkled sheets of the bed while stealing a glance at the door to see if it was safe, oh, finally! Luna's gone!

"Hey Luan," Ah! Are you serious!

"Luna! Stop scaring me! Geez!"

Her head popped in from the adjacent door. "Sorry, sorry. I forgot to tell you that mom and dad aren't coming home tonight. They're at the hospital because mom's bag popped."

Luan shot her head to the fourteen-year-old rocker, regardless of her tear stained face. "What?"

"What? Mom's due. We've all been waiting for it."

These days full of consistent agony while living in a fog of doubt had removed the existence of another baby added into the family. "Oh… yeah. I just didn't expect it to be today out all days." She lied, smoothing the sheets as an excuse to avoid eye contact.

"You're acting so weird nowadays. Are you sure you're not getting bullied?"

That blew her nerves to an all-time low, but if that explosion made its way outside, then it'll also blow her cover-up. "No."

"You sure, sure?" Luna sang-sung.

Luan turned her back on her, fiddling with the inside of their drawer. "Yes. Now go; you're gonna miss the last slice of pizza."

"Oh, right! Thanks, brah!" Footsteps trailed away. "I'll save you some!"

She's a terrible person; pushing away a caring sister away like that.

Eh. Knowing the whole family, when somebody gets bullied, it's either they get overboard, or add insult to injury by riding aboard the train of teasing and mockery.

Which, they absent-mindedly do- to her.

As if jokes at a time like that would make it feel better. Who knows why they do it?

Moping in here wasn't something she could do forever. It wasn't a choice. Privacy is a privilege here, something rarely given. If the rest of them notice she's taking longer than usual, their noses are gonna sniffing out the truth like they always do.

Not that they would notice; they'd be happy that your annoying jokes aren't terrorizing them.

Shaking those thoughts away, Luan channeled her deep breath into courage; and with that, opened the door and walked downstairs.

What a delightful surprise.

Normally, with the aroma of pizza floating around the house, that'd be enough to trigger all her siblings' primal senses. Like animals snagging their preys, they all go into deep measures to get a slice of something tasty- push, shove, kick, punch- you name it, they do it. Maybe even bite, and bleed. Tumble and rumble.

But today, the whole downstairs floor screamed of tranquility. Luna, the twins, Lincoln and Lucy were huddled up in the couch with their slice of Pizza. The three-year-old Lisa sat on the ground with a pen, writing who knows what on the piece of paper laying below her hovered hand.

"Like, oh my gosh! Chad at school… he's sooooo dreamy~" And chattering about on the dining room table were the sixteen-year old Lori and fifteen-year-old Leni, in which the latter took notice of her. "Oh, hey Luan!"

"Literally speaking, you took forever to come downstairs, Luan." Lori said with a deadpan look. "I thought you'd be like Lynn tonight."

Not one, or two, but three boxes of Pizza were huddled around the table. Two out of three were open, while the other one was already empty. Wow, her siblings were some greedy eaters.

Luan picked one slice, having to use both hands to separate the sticky cheese. "Why? What about Lynn?"

Lori shrugged, pulling out a smartphone from her pocket. "She's probably entering puberty. Haven't seen that girl since she came home all upset from school. Probably her menarche?"

Her giggling only heightened Leni's skepticism. The younger blonde cocked her head towards Lori. "What's a menarche?"

"First period, Leni." Luan said. "Weird. So, you're saying she didn't come down for pizza?"

Lori hummed with a nod. "Yeah, whatever. Anyway, I heard from Lucy, who heard from Lana, who heard from Lincoln, who heard from Luna that you're feeling down in the dumps too." She raised a brow, but continued to stare at her phone. "Boy problems?"

"Ooh! I wanna hear!" Leni squealed. "How's middle school life like? I bet it's fun, right? With all those nice girls, and the cute guys… and Chad…" And there she goes, zoning out in her little romantic daydream. Sputtering on her own words, her eyes turning into hearts like she transported to a different dimension where it was her wedding day or something.

Luan turned her head to the pizza and took a not-so-appetized bite. Middle school is anything but fun. And boys were the least of her problems right now. Especially since… Benny, the cutest guy in class, looked at her like an alien from Area 51. There are no chances of them hitting off, surely. "No, I'm good. Luna's just paranoid again."

At once, Lori looked away from her phone. "Really? How come I haven't heard you make a single pun today? Nor have I seen you play with your creepy puppet thing in months."

Dang it. "Mister Coconuts? I got tired and ran out of inspiration, I guess?"

"Oh, okay. Was feeling curious, is all." Luan walked out of the thick atmosphere. Yeah, as if Lori would care about anything but Bobby-boo boo bear, or Leni's love life- or Leni in general.

"Wow! Lisa! You did all our home works?" The twins yelled from the living room.

Lincoln chuckled. "See, I told you Lisa's a smart bot."

Unlike you. Unfunny, and stupid.

Not wanting to stay in the crowd any longer, Luan climbed back upstairs. She didn't need to deal with self-deprecation right now. It'll spoil the pepperoni pizza's taste. And cheesy pepperoni is the best.

"Luan!" Lori called out. "Are you sure you don't wanna eat more than one slice?'

"No," Luan said. "I'm good."

Not that eating was even a priority at this point. "Whatever. More for me, then." Lori murmured.

Luan walked up the stairs chewing on the appetizing pizza in hand.

"Stupid people…" There was incoherent grumbling, and her head shot to the left where the bathroom was.

"Lynn?"

The twelve-year-old jolted and clutched her chest while panting out the rapid hammering of her heart. "L-Luan, you scared me."

"Uh… so, I did." Luan chewed on the pizza. There was something really off-putting about Lynn today. But there's no pinpointing what.

She stared at the jersey-clad Lynn shoving her hands into her pockets and rushing to her room. "You want some pizza?" Luan outstretched her hand.

"I'm not hungry." Lynn mumbled. Weird. She's always hungry.

And Lynn hardly wore jerseys unless there's a game nowadays. The sports fanatic of a sister she has is smitten anything sporty- including jerseys. It's always been her go-to style to wear wherever she was. But upon entering middle school, she's been stuck to this not-so-her wardrobe since: Dark grey hoodie, jeans, and even black backpack.

Last time everyone checked, Lynn is obsessed with red. Not Lucy.

And her coming home upset? Nearly on the verge of causing an earthquake with her stomps? It's been happening weeks in a row. Mom and dad hardly took no notice, but every one of the siblings did. Yet nobody would seem to question it.

Maybe except now.

"Hey Lynn," Her words were muffled under the foamy crust of the pizza she took a bite on. "Are you getting bullied?"

It wasn't meant to be said like that; it just blurted out of nowhere. The once rushing Lynn paused in front of her door and shot an accusatory look; like somebody underestimated her finesse in sports. "I have another question for you; why are you being nosy?"

Her scowl was the last thing seen right before the door slammed Luan out of her thoughts.

What the heck was that?

Something fishy was going on with her.

It was a pretty nosy question, yeah. But what normal person would respond like that to a question full of sincere care?

Unless… they're hiding something!

There's no doubting that Lynn's going through something, but what exactly?

Her suspicions can't be correct... no. Lynn's a tough nut to crack; bullies are scared of her, not the other way around.

Yeah. Lynn's a tough girl; what's there to worry about? There's nothing Lynnsanity can't handle. She said so herself when middle school started and Lori gave her pointers about it, with Luna and her included.

With that, the prickling sensation of her guts twisting took a cease, and Luan went back into her own room with resonating coldness ebbing out her heart.