Saturday morning dawned bright and warm; by the time the Loud family was done with breakfast, temperatures hovered in the low sixties, and the weatherman on the radio was talking about "Indian summer," whatever that was.
At 1216 Franklin Avenue, Saturday mornings were devoted to chores. Normally, Lincoln was on trash duty, but this week Leni asked him to help her dust the living room and Lana offered to take over for him. "I love trash!"
"That's not what you said during the strike," Lincoln grumbled.
He met Leni in the living room. "Thanks for helping me, Lincy!" she said, handing him a feather duster. "I totes appreciate it."
"What are brothers for?" he asked.
She started on one side of the living room and he started on the other. The idea was for Leni to dust high and for Lincoln to dust low: Along the baseboards, the bottoms of the end tables, and along the shelfs of the entertainment system. It would take one person working alone a good hour to do it all, and no one wanted to devote a full hour to dusting on a beautiful Saturday morning.
Lincoln knelt and remained on his knees the entire time, crawling around like a big, white-haired baby. By the time he was done, his knees were sore and his back kind of hurt. "Thanks, Lincy!" Leni said and took the feather duster back. "You're the best!"
Upstairs, he dropped onto his bed and grabbed his phone off the nightstand. He had a text from Ronnie. She sent it a half hour ago. "Do you want to hang out today?"
Smiling, he fired off a response. "No, hanging out with my beautiful girlfriend sounds awful."
She replied a minute later, and when he saw what she sent, he uttered shocked laughter. "Where did you get a middle finger emoji?" he texted.
"Internet."
"Interesting. Of course I want to hang out."
She sent a smiley face, then, "Meet me at the park in half an hour."
"Okay."
He shoved his phone into his pocket and laced his fingers behind his head. Would it be awkward seeing Ronnie after the dream he had about her last night? He imagined it probably would be. He'd dreamed of her before, sure, but never like that. Just thinking about it was making his pants tight. He tried to close the memory out, but it came through anyway: They were in his bed, him on top of her the way he had been the other day, only this time neither of them were wearing any clothes. He saw everything, but before he could do anything, he woke up hard and frustrated. He felt kind of guilty about it. Pretty pervert dream to have. Though he was sure it didn't work that way, he was sort of afraid she'd look into his eyes and see it, and think he was gross.
Sighing, he sat up and pulled his shoes on. Outside, a light, warmish breeze swept across the yard, and a dry, brow leaf slapped him in the face. Happy Saturday to you too, he thought as he peeled it off. He grabbed his bike from the garage, mounted it, and started pedaling. It was a hand-me-down that was already a size too small. When he first got it, it was pink with a white flower design and a wicker basket on the front. He spray painted it a flat black color and then added a flame scheme that he was immensely proud of: If you didn't get too close, it looked professional.
Robert E. Lee Park was two and a half miles from his house. As he biked through the streets of Royal Woods, passing kids playing in front lawns, men washing their cars, and women pushing baby strollers, he tried to figure out why it was called Robert E. Lee Park. What did General Lee have to do with Michigan? Had he ever been to Michigan? Was Michigan even a state when he was around?
One of life's great mysteries.
He reached the park twenty minutes after leaving and parked near an oak tree overlooking the playground. It was early enough that no kids were using it. He pulled out his phone to text Ronnie, but caught sight of her coming up the sidewalk on her own bike. He shoved his phone back into his pocket and waited for her. When she saw him, she lifted a hand, and the front of her bike wobbled: Her eyes went wide and grabbed the handlebar before she could fall. Lincoln laughed.
"Shut up, lame-o," she said as she pulled up. "I almost died."
"Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades," he said.
She jumped off and set the kickstand with her foot. She was wearing shorts and purple socks pulled halfway up to her knees.
"Isn't it a little warm for a hoodie?" he asked.
"I don't question your clothes," she said. They kissed. "So don't question mine."
Lincoln lifted his hands in a supplicating gesture. "Alright, sheesh."
They started walking toward the playground. "You have anything in mind?" he asked, and his mind flashed back to the dream of the night before. A blush touched his cheeks.
Ronnie lifted her shoulders. "Not really. I just want to spend time with you."
He was caught off guard by how blunt and nonchalant her response was. He was still used to her beating around the bush even after the last few days when she did anything but. He smiled and took her hand in his. She looked at him and cocked an eyebrow. "What are you grinning at, dork?"
"You," Lincoln said.
She squinted at him, a ray of sunlight catching her face. "Am I funny?"
"No," he said. "You're cute."
"Watch it, Loud," she laughed.
"You're like a little cuddly bear."
Pursing her lips, she punched him in the arm. Hard. "Ow! Just take the compliment!"
They reached the playground, and Ronnie skipped over to the monkey bars. "Thank you," she said over her shoulders. Lincoln lifted his arm and winced. Ronnie Anne Santiago might be cute, but she hit like a biker.
She grabbed the bars, lifted herself up, then threw herself back, hooking her legs around so that she hung upside down, her ponytail swishing back and forth like a pendulum. She crossed her arms and looked at him. "Alright, let's hang out."
Lincoln chuckled. "You sound like Luan."
She shrugged. "Maybe she's on to something."
"And maybe your blood's rushing to your head." He put his hand on her leg and pushed.
"Whoa! Watch it, asshole!"
"Sorry," he said innocently.
"You gonna hang with me or what?"
Lincoln sighed and looked at the monkey bars. He was a lot of things, and a gymnast was not one of them. "I don't know," he said, "I'll probably wind up breaking my neck."
"You never know until you try."
He gripped two of the bars and kicked his feet out from under him. His muscles strained as he dangled. He tried to swing himself forward, but his elbows popped and his hands released. With a cry, he fell butt-first into the mulch. Ronnie laughed so hard she shook...then she fell, tucking her head in at the last second and landing in a heap. She let out a moan.
"Are you alright?" Lincoln asked worriedly as he crawled over.
"I'm fine, jerk," she said, but made no move to get up.
Lincoln knelt over her. "Jerk, huh?"
"You made me fall."
"Let that be a lesson to you: Don't laugh at other people's misfortune."
"Shut up."
"Karma's a bitch."
She grinned. "Shut up."
"I..."
With a speed Lincoln had never seen from her, she sat up, grabbed his face in her hands, and kissed him, slipping her tongue into his mouth and dragging him to the ground, where he landed on top of her. After the initial shock, he kissed her back, planting one arm in the dirt and stroking her cheek with the other. He felt himself beginning to stir and panicked. He tried to pull away, but Ronnie held him...and was it his imagination, or was she intentionally rubbing herself against him?
When the kiss broke, she smiled up at him with half-lidded eyes. "I had to shut you up somehow."
"That's a pretty good way to do it."
"I know. Now come on. I have an idea."
After breakfast Lynn Loud did the dishes, wiped down the kitchen counters and the dining room table, and watched her brother crawl around the living room. A little smile was plastered to his lips, and his eyes shone with happiness. Lynn's heart ached, and she turned away, wiping down a counter she'd already wiped twice. Later, as she sat on the couch and tried to lose herself in a movie, he tumbled down the stairs and went out the front door. Lynn knew where he was going.
To be with her.
The girl he loved.
The girl who made him totally, absolutely, and completely happy.
Lynn sighed. A part of her regretted not telling him how she felt last night, not grabbing him by the front of his shirt and kissing him deeply. The only thing that stopped her was the knowledge of how hard that would be on him. She was one of the most important people in the world to him, he said so himself. He was so kind and sensitive and caring that knowing she pined for him while he loved another would probably kill him. It wouldn't be fair to do that to him.
So she would pine and support him and pretend that seeing him with Ronnie Anne Santiago didn't tear her up inside. He needed her, he needed his sister...he didn't need the kind of shit she pulled last night.
Her mind spun with a million and one thoughts, and after a while she could take it no longer, so she got up and went into the backyard. She didn't have an activity in mind when she stepped off of the patio and into the grass; maybe she'd kick her soccer ball around...maybe she'd do sprints...anything to get herself out of her current funk.
"Hey, Lynn," a voice said from behind her, and she jumped with a tiny cry. When she spun around, Lucy was there, her hands behind her back and her black bangs covering her eyes.
Lynn's hand fluttered to her chest. "Geez, Luce, don't you ever get tired of scaring people?"
"Sorry," Lucy said, "I didn't mean to."
There was a tiny inflection in her tone that indicated hurt. Of all her siblings, she knew Lucy the best; anyone else may have missed it, but Lynn did not, and she felt bad. "It's okay," she said.
"What are you doing?"
"I don't know," she answered honestly. "I was hoping to play football, but I don't have anyone to play with."
"I'll play," Lucy said quickly, and Lynn gaped. None of her siblings shared her proclivity for sports, and none of them ever played with her...except for Lincoln. Out of all of them, however, Lucy was the last one she'd ever expect to offer. For Lucy, simply coming outside was rare.
"You?" Lynn asked.
Lucy nodded. "Me."
"You think you're up to it?"
"Yes."
Lynn shrugged. "Alright." She went over to the patio and grabbed a football. "Go over there," she said, gesturing toward the fence. Lucy walked impassively over and stood with her hands up. Lynn threw the ball as gently as she could, and it started to arch down before it reached her sister. Lucy ran forward and reached out; it hit her hands but bounced off. Wow.
"Impressive," Lynn said, crossing her arms. She expected it to miss Lucy by a mile.
"There's more to me than just darkness," Lucy said. She picked the ball up and tossed it; it was a sloppy pass, but still far better than what Lynn expected. She caught it. "Where'd you learn to play?"
"I read a book about a vampire who became a football player," Lucy said. "He didn't know anything about football and this famous coach taught him."
"Hmm. Interesting. You could use some work."
"Yeah, I'm not very good."
"You're not bad either." Lynn walked over and handed the ball to Lucy. "First thing's first, let's work on your throw."
"Okay."
Lynn stood behind her sister as she cocked the ball. Her fingers were bunched together. "Spread your fingers."
Lucy did.
"Now when you throw, turn."
Lucy twisted her torso and threw; she started to fall, but Lynn grabbed her arm.
"Thanks," Lucy said.
"Here, watch how I do it."
Lynn grabbed the ball and wound up for a forward pass. Lucy stood close by, bent at the waist, her hands clasped behind her back. "Like this, got it?"
Lucy nodded.
Lynn threw the ball and Lucy sighed. "You make it look so easy."
"It really is. You just need some practice is all."
For the next hour and a half, Lynn demonstrated how to throw, how to catch, how to evade. Lucy was an apt pupil, picking up the basics very quickly. Lynn was extremely impressed with her little sister.
By the time they were done, Lucy was red-faced and out of breath. Lynn could never remember seeing her sister with rosy cheeks; it was kind of cute. "So," Lynn said, sitting next to Lucy on the back step, "how do you like it?"
"I had fun," Lucy said. "What other sports can you teach me?"
Lynn blinked. "You wanna learn more?"
"Yes," Lucy said.
Lynn thought for a minute. "Well, I guess we could try basketball next."
"Okay."
"When do you want to?"
"Right now."
"Boy, you're full of surprises today," Lynn said with a grin. She didn't mind. She was having fun.
Lucy shrugged. "I figured it was time to expand my horizons."
"What's next? Blonde hair and cute shoes?"
"Uh, no."
"Alright," Lynn said, getting up, "let's go."
In the driveway, Lynn dribbled the ball while Lucy stood stoically before the hoop, her arms at her sides. "You know, Luce," Lynn said, ducking left and right, bouncing the ball between her legs and catching it, "sports is like dancing. You have to get into a rhythm, not just stand there like a dead body."
"Dead bodies don't stand," Lucy said.
"Well...in those books you read they do."
"Good point." Lucy wigged her hips stiffly from side to side and failed her arms, and for some reason, that was the funniest thing Lynn had ever seen: She missed the ball and bent over laughing. When she looked up, Lucy was grinning widely like a satisfied cat. Like she was trying to make Lynn laugh.
"That's not what I meant," Lynn said.
The ball had rolled into the street and sat against the front tire of a car parked at the curb. Lynn went over, grabbed it, and tried to make a jumpshot, but the ball came down short and bounced. Lucy snatched it up and tried to emulate: She jumped straight up and threw the ball. It hit the rim, bounced off, and then smacked Lucy in the head. She fell, and Lynn's heart leapt into her throat.
"You okay?" she asked, rushing over. Lucy sat on her butt, her arms propped on either side of her.
"Yeah," she said, shaking her head, "that's nothing compared to the gnawing pain within."
Lynn rolled her eyes and helped her sister up. "Thanks." Lynn ran after the ball, grabbed it, and came over. "Here," she said, handing the ball to Lucy and slipping behind her. "Now hold it up."
Lucy did, and Lynn pressed herself against her sister, assuming the proper stance. For some reason, her heart began to beat quickly. "Okay, now jump and throw."
They jumped together, but the ball went wide and came down in a bush. "Okay," Lynn said, "maybe that wasn't the best way. I'm not really used to teaching people."
"You're doing a good job," Lucy said.
A smile touched Lynn's lips. She mussed her sister's hair; Lucy surprised her by throwing her arms around her waist and hugging her tight. Lynn's cheeks turned red. "I love you, sis," Lucy said.
"I, uh, love you too," Lynn replied, and hugged Lucy back.
She felt strange.
