Lana

Today, mom woke us up at 8:30 a.m., telling us that we would be going to the mall's ice rink to go skating! I'm so excited! I haven't been ice skating in 2 years and it's one of my favorite things!

I go downstairs to the kitchen with a jump in my step and a smile on my face. I swing open the freezer and grab the box of frozen waffles, popping 3 in the toaster. As I waited, I poured me some OJ in a cup.

That's when I saw Lola walk in.

"Hey, Lols! Are you ready for the ice rink?!" I bubbled. She just shrugged.

"I guess." She mumbled with a melancholic look. That's odd. Lola also loves the ice rink. "Hey, do you know if mom and dad would let me stay home?" She asked me.

"What is up with you Lola? Why such a sad look?" I asked her concerned.

"Nothing! Geez, everyone is always asking me what's wrong! That shit is getting annoying!" she groaned.

"*gasp* LOLA! You never curse!"

"Ugh! Shit is not a curse Lana! Grow up, why won't you?" she groused.

"I'm just worried about you. You haven't been yourself for a while now."

"Well sorry I'm not who you think I am!" she huffed as she slammed the pantry of which she was searching through and stomped upstairs. Well someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. In all seriousness though, she has been acting strange lately. She doesn't really talk to me and tell me everything anymore like before, all she wants to do is sleep, she doesn't even want to get all dressed up anymore! I don't want to let her negativity get to me though. Especially today. So, let's just talk about… Christmas! I'm so excited for Christmas! I love everything about it! Hopefully, by then Lola will be back to her normal self. I know it's also her favorite holiday. I know! I'll buy her a gift! That'll cheer her up! But what?

*POP*

I looked back at the toaster and saw that my waffles were done. I took them out, opened the fridge, snatched up the syrup, and finally, I grabbed a fork and sat down at the table. As I began to devour my waffles, the rest of the family slowly started coming in, getting ready for the day. Including Lola.

"But mom I don't want to go!" she whined.

"You are not staying at home! That's final! We are going out as a family and that's that!" our mother told her sternly.

"Yeah… a family without Leni…" she mumbled back.

"Leni has a good reason not to be here, like the fact that she lives in a different state! She can't always be here Lola."

"But isn't she on break?!"

"Yes, but she has to study! College is really hard sweety and sometimes it requires some sacrifice." Our mother softened.

"So, if I stay studying, I can stay at home?!" She questioned with a little smile.

"No."

"Why not?!" She nagged again.

"Because I can't guarantee that you'll actually be studying."

"And you can with Leni?!"

"Lola Loud, Leni is an adult now, so stop asking. You are going! Now go get ready. Now." Mom demanded. She grunted and stomped upstairs again. I just shrugged it off. Maybe I can talk to her soon. Hopefully, she'll cheer up by the time we get to the mall. I just want to have a good time today.

Lola

I stomp to my room and slammed the door behind me. That's when I knew I made a mistake. It wasn't mom I was worried about getting mad at me. It was—

"What the hell you think you're doing slamming the door in this house?! You think that's a way to be a respectful daughter to mom you little shit?!" Lori yelled as she barged in my room. I put my hands up in defense, backing up from her.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" I stuttered out but that didn't stop her. At once, I saw her left-hand rise and all I could feel was the stinging sensation of her heavy hand. The force of her hit sent me to the ground immediately.

"Maybe once you learn how to be a respectful kid, I'll actually somewhat listen to your pitiful fake apologies!"

"They aren't fake!" I begged.

"Are you raising your voice at me?!" She started again.

"N-no," I say quickly yet quietly, avoiding eye contact with her by eyeing the floor.

"You honestly think you're all that?! You're only 9 Lola! You try to act so grown doing pageants and acting all fresh, well enough is enough! Stop acting so grown!" She yelled as she walked out and slammed the door behind her. Why does she do this to me? She isn't my mother. Why does she find every excuse to hurt me? It's only been a few days and so far, I've had to deal with Lori every day. This is why I didn't want to be here! At least when I was in school, I only got so many hours around her, but now, it's all day, every day.

I get a simple long sleeve shirt from my closet along with some black jeans. Putting on my boots, Lana walks in.

"Did you eat? I didn't even see you get anything."

"I'm not hungry." I bluntly tell her without even looking up.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure, Lana!" I tell her a bit too loud. I then snatch my coat from my bed and walk out. It's not that I like being mean to her. It's just that I don't want her to be like Lori and take advantage of me. I was too nice. Too much of a pushover. That's why Lori does what she does. It's my fault for being too soft. On top of that, Lana's too happy. She doesn't know the reality of life. She's too naïve. Too oblivious. It just annoys me. I can't take it.

I was the first one ready since I just got dressed and that's it, so I just sat on the couch, waiting for everyone else. As I watched the dumbness of the cartoon that played on our T.V., Lynn sat beside me with Lincoln at her side. She just scrolled through her phone in silence.

"Lola, what happened to your cheek?" Lincoln asked upon seeing the redness of it.

"Oh, uh… when I was putting my boots on, I pulled too hard and my hand came flying back to my face. Nothing serious."

"Are you sure that's what happened?" he asked me again.

"Yes, I'm sure. Why wouldn't I be?" I harshly asked.

"You didn't seem too sure telling me. Plus, wouldn't you hit yourself on your nose? Or your chin? Why would your hand hit your cheek?" he asked me, squinting his eyes in uncertainty.

"God, what is this? An interrogation?!"

"Lincoln, back off!" Lynn bellowed not looking up from her phone.

"I'm just making sure nothing serious is going on! That's all!" He said back in defense.

"If something was going on, wouldn't I tell you?!" I asked back frustrated. I couldn't let him know. I know Lynn already knew, but as far as I'm concerned, she didn't do anything about it. She couldn't care less. In all reality, I'm all alone. No one cares and so I won't bother telling. There is no reason to.

"Well, I don't know." He said back. I just sighed and put my knees to my chest. I hate my life so much.

"I'm out the door guys!" mom called out as she walked out the door. I just a sighed and got up from the couch in attempt to follow her, but Lynn stopped me and pulled me aside.

"Lola are you okay?" She asked me.

"Yeah. Peachy." I bluntly said back.

"Was it Lori?" She asked me.

"… Why would it be her?"

"Are you really gonna ask me why it would be her? You told me that she was being abusive to you! Was that a lye?" She asked me frustrated.

"No! It wasn't! I just thought you didn't really care…"

"Why wouldn't I care?!"

"You didn't do anything to help me when I told you I needed it!" I yelled, tears filling my eyes.

"Lola…" she cued as she reached out to hug me. "I'm sorry if nothing is changing. I did tell her off though. You know me. I would have gone through any length to protect you, you're my little sister, but I can't do much right now." I backed away and wiped my eyes.

"Yeah… I know. I thought you just didn't do anything though."

"I would never stand back and watch you get hurt. Just… look, Lucy and I made a deal that she would be hanging out with me this break to avoid her. You can do the same thing. Lori doesn't like me, and I don't like her. So long as you're with me, she won't bother you." She told me. Was this really an option? Could… could I do that? Can I finally end all this… pain?!

"I—

*HOONNKK*

We both looked out the door hearing the horn beep.

"Come on guys! We need to go!" mom yelled from the car.

"Come on, we'll talk in the car or at the mall," Lynn tells me. I nod and follow her to the car. There, she sits on the outside of the middle row, Lincoln in the middle, Lucy next to him and I scoot next to Lucy. I never liked the fact that we have to sit like this. 4 to a row. All except the row where Lily's car-seat used to be. Now with Leni at college, there is an extra seat (and by extra, I mean Actually sitting as the car intends us to sit) but that's next to Lori and… I'm not doing that.

The ride was fairly quiet, everyone either dosing off or just looking out the window, but the quiet was nice. Especially in the early morning hours. 20 minutes later, we were at the mall and parked. Everyone slowly began coming out of the car, but I waited for Lynn to get out. I didn't Want to get out by myself. And even though Lori never attempted any harm to me when we were out with the family, I still don't trust her. I don't think I ever will again. I still remember when I used to look up to her and wish to be like her one day. That's all down the drain now.

We arrived at the rink and were soon in line for our rental skates. I really don't want to do this. Maybe if I just slip away…

As I try to sneak away from my family, I overhear a conversation between Lincoln and Lynn.

"Just go! You don't need to stay with me!" Lynn told him, agitated.

"But why don't you want me to stay with you? I like being with you, plus, it won't be as fun without you." He told her back. That's when I had my amazing idea.

"Hey Lana, Lincoln has been saying that he misses hanging out with you. That It hasn't been the same in a while." I tell her as she waits ahead of me.

"Yeah, I agree! Things just haven't been the same!"

"You should go and skate with him," I tell her as she grabs her skates.

"Okay!" She Cheerfully agrees, running up to him.

"Come on Lincoln! Let's skate together!" She innocently tells him.

"Oh Lana, I would love to but—" at this point, Lynn was already giving him the death glare. That's when I came in.

"I'll stay with Lynn! That way she won't get lonely! You two go and have fun!" I tell them sitting next to Lynn on the bench and shooing them off. With one last look of concern in his face, Lana began to pull him away to the rink. I took a breath of relief that it actually worked.

"Really?" Lynn asked me.

"Yes, really. I don't want to skate! Sorry that I used you as my escape, but I really don't feel up to this…" I tell her.

"Lola, you can't just back away from all family activities."

"But you do all the time!"

"Touché, but my case is different."

"But you seem to use it to your advantage, don't you?"

"Fine. I'll admit that I do, but I don't understand why you don't want to do it. Don't you love ice skating?"

"I used to… I just don't want to right now. Please just let me stay here with you. Please?

"… Okay, if you really don't want to, then I guess…" she unsurely tells me.

"Thanks…" I tell her.

"So, while I have you here, mind telling me what happened this morning with Lori?

"SHHH! Don't say it so loud!" I tell her the instant I hear her question.

"Why are you so resistant to the subject?! Why don't you want people to know?! You know the more people that know, the more likely you are to get help!" She tells me, irritated at my stubbornness to her suggestion.

"It's not that easy Lynn! She threatens me all the time and I'm scared, okay?! In a way, I regret telling you because ever since I told you, she has been worse with me!"

"She has?" She asked with concern. "In what way?" She questioned, almost as if she was scared of the answer.

"*sigh* it um… she has been more physical…" I tell her, quietly.

"You mean … hitting you more?" She asked, uncertain again.

"Yeah." I bluntly say, staring at the ground ahead of me.

"What happens prior to her coming for you?"

"Dumb things that I could have prevented…" I tell her, tears starting to fill my eyes unintentionally. I vigorously wipe my eyes and growled in aggravation. "Stupid, Freaking tears!" I yell. That's when Lynn catches my hands.

"Hey, it's okay." She soothingly told me. I then go in for a bear hug.

"I'm sorry! I just don't know what to do anymore!" I cry. She hugs me back and hushes me.

"It's okay Lola. I promise I'll do everything I can to keep you safe." She softly tells me. I really hope I can trust her on this.

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the wait. Here's chapter 24. A bit more about Lola. Can't forget the other characters, although this is primarily Lynn's story… Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it and I'll catch y'all later!