Disclaimer: I don't own The Loud House, the brand, as well as all of its characters and settings belong to Chris Savino and Nickelodeon, all rights reserved.
Chapter 12: Preparations.
*beep* *beep *beep*
- *grunts* I kind of forgot how little 10 minutes actually means for resting – thought a tired and annoyed Lincoln to himself as he mustered all of his remaining willpower to get himself off of the bed.
He was tired, Physically and Mentally.
As he prepared to leave his only safe space in the world, he grabbed his personal towel and approached the door, sticking his right ear in the wooden surface to catch a glimpse of the situation outside, he knew that 10 minutes wouldn't be nearly enough to dispel the line and the commotion out there, if anything, it would mean that he'd for sure be last in line, which would prove unfortunate as he really felt like going to the bathroom for an emergency call.
Sighing in defeat, he made up his mind to slowly open the door out of his closet-room and into the noisy chaos outside, he at least hoped that Leni was already out, well, more accurately, he was begging that Leni was already out, he knew that the record holder for longest make-up session in the world was very well capable of clogging the bathroom to the point of making everyone else quit their hopes and dreams of being in time for the school bus, not even Lola was this excessive and he knew very well how looks mattered to her.
As his eyes finally caught glimpse of the situation at the hall, he realized all too soon that his day was only going to get worse from here.
There were 5 sisters still waiting for their turn, and Leni was the last one in line right next to him…
With an unamused expression, Lincoln decided to quietly creep up his way to the bottom of the line, hoping to not engage in a conversation with anyone till breakfast, he just wasn't in the mood.
- There you are bruh, you do look bloody tired, are you sure you want to go to school? – The British inspired voice of the sister second in line, Luna, rang through his ears, making him look up, only to realize that all 5 of them were looking at him with a worried look.
- Like seriously Linc, you look totes sick! If you want I can call off work today so that you don't have to go! – Leni replied with a hopeful smile, making the albino look at her with a puzzled look, while the others also turned their eyes from him to look at her with an impatient frown.
- Leni, Lincoln doesn't work at the mall, you do. – said the third sister in line, Luan, in one of her rare expressions of seriousness.
- Anyway, look Stinkoln, I don't want to catch a cold today, have some really important matches today so you can go first – Lynn, the first in line, spoke in an annoyed expression while stepping aside of her spot and raising her hand in an inviting pose, pointing to the door.
- And make sure to turn the hot shower for exactly 17,5 seconds for an optimal temperature of 38ºC or 100.4ºF to ensure exponential growth of your T Lymphocytes to combat the infection efficiently – Finally, Lisa, fourth in line, detailed the protocol for illness treatment, which made the white haired boy give all of them a puzzled look, sure, he probably had huge bags under his eyes, but he didn't think that would be enough to convince a super genius that he's, apparently, sick.
Unless…
Well, regardless, he seized the opportunity to avoid the line, maybe he'll talk to Lola later about it.
- T-thanks girls – Lincoln shyly responded as he received a final glare from Lynn before closing the door.
- Man I really do look sick… - thought the albino to himself with a frown as he detailed the degraded look in his face, as a very pale color in his face with dark undertones under the massive bags in his eyes became prevalent.
He knew that he was probably going to need constant distractions today to not think of a certain dream-turned-nightmare, but unfortunately, shower time was not going to make it easy.
Regardless, he was going to need to act fine after he's done cleaning himself, or else he risked staying home, for once in his life, he didn't want to skip school, not the infamous Royal Woods Middle School at least.
Mr. Lynn's breakfast was already served by the time the last loud siblings were getting finished with all their equipment and going downstairs to wait for the school bus, the meal wouldn't last long as each sibling felt like competing in the Olympiads for fastest eating while going at it in an unorganized, discontinuous way, some of them not even bothering to sit at the table first before grabbing a toast and calling it a day.
Well, at least Charles and Cliff were going to have a blast with the leftovers, but the patriarch of the family couldn't help but to sigh, as he fondly remembered the times where his daughters and son would actually spend the time of the day sitting, chatting and congratulating him on his breakfast made with love, all because his eldest daughter, Lori, actually knew how to keep things under control…
- Oh I miss her so badly… - Lynn sr. said in a very melodramatic way as his eyes started tearing up, filling his fragile heart with nostalgia.
- There there honey, you know that she's now doing better and has a life on her own to care about – Rita, who was sitting by her husband's side the whole time, comforted him while perfectly reading his thoughts on whom he was referring to, she too missed the more controlled environment that her eldest daughter used to create, things had gotten more messy as the life of the remaining children became more busy with rising responsibilities, including her youngest daughter, Lily, who now had pre-school to attend.
- Daddy pwease don't be sad! – Speaking of which, Lily, the only daughter still sitting on the table, was looking at her loving dad, finding a way to comfort him with her limited speech.
- Awww, thanks sweetie – Replied the now encouraged father as he raised the infant from her pouch to hug hear for dear life, his mood significantly improved, he knew that as long as one of her daughters was there for him, he could go on with his life and remain strong for his family.
Rita proceeded to roll her eyes with a content smile, it really felt that when it comes to mental strength, she was the man of the family, but regardless, she loved her fragile husband dearly and wouldn't have it any other way.
Speaking of which, she also caught a glimpse on the other man in the family, her only son, coming down stairs in what appeared to be, unsurprisingly, a hurry, which reminded her of the fact that she needed to speak to him.
- Hi mom! Hi Dad! Hi Lily! – said the stressed looking boy while rushing to the table jumping in one foot as he was still trying to tie his shoes, his face appearing very pale to the concerned mother.
- Lincoln, are you sure you want to go? We can send an excuse letter to principal Ramirez if you still don't feel well - Rita managed to get out the words in a way that made Lincoln stop and look at her with a raised eyebrow.
She had heard from Lola that she apparently found Lincoln coughing in the morning while going for a drink, so she stayed to help him cure his illness, she didn't know the extent of truth to it, but judging by Lincoln's state, she assumed that it was true, which she found really wholesome that her little pageant champion would care so much for her brother, she made a note on her mind to reward her when she came back.
Well, it would also explain why Lola too, looked like she needed a rest.
- Don't worry mom, I feel much better now! – Lincoln replied back, while doing his hardest to fake a smile, Rita didn't quite caught on to his attempt, a mother just knows her son, but decided to let it go as he probably had already made up his mind to go and she wasn't about to contest that.
- Ok Sweetie, then see you later! – Rita kindly answered that, while mustering a reassuring smile, but keeping the concerned expression in her eyes.
- Bye son! – Lynn Loud Sr. then replied with an unconcerned smile, as he just waved his hand to his only son.
- Bye wincon! – Lily also said excitedly to her brother, trying to replicate the hand gesture performed by her dad.
- Bye everyone! – Lincoln hurriedly said while grabbing a single piece of toast from anywhere in the table, not minding if it was from an already used dish, then proceeded to leave from the front door.
- Wait! – Exclaimed a surprised mother at the sign of her son leaving the house at lightning speed without even bothering to pick up his lunchbox, she worried about his eating habits, plus it didn't help that he barely had any breakfast.
He was now out in the neighborhood that he had grew up on his entire life, with his younger sisters waiting in the bus stop alongside him.
But Lola was not approaching him anymore.