Author's Notes: It's always a relief as a writer to know that there's so many people paying attention to this fic, thank you all for your continued interest!

AcaiLord: I'm glad that you're finding enjoyment in this story and i'm looking forward to your in-depth review!

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 40: Game.

*Thx a lot sis! :) I was really having a hard time with this, its all new to me 4reals*

2:15AM

*No probs Lans, will talk to Lincoln and Lola about it, btw I gotta get going, need to finish this paper :(*

2:15AM

*love u :3*

2:16AM

.

- Great, another one… at least it wasn't Liam - Lucy sighed with equal amounts of annoyance and relief, having traced a good chunk of the conversation that her rowdy sister was having with none other than Lori, perhaps the eldest one being notified of the situation would prove to be a major obstacle given her authority and credibility, the only hope left would be for Lori to not believe Lana's suspicions, but that unfortunately wouldn't be something that she would be able to help with.

Her reputation is now essentially gone, Lana knows of the lies, it's too late, she was exposed alongside Lincoln and Lola, if she insists any further she'll have questions thrown at her as well.

And projection is not a good excuse, neither is morbid curiosity.

Regardless, she still felt a small dose of relief, this conversation, as revealing and defamatory as it could be, wasn't directed at someone outside of the family, her biggest fear was still far from happening.

Lana has enough common sense to not share this to Liam.

- … but for how long? - Lucy thought to herself before leaving the cellphone right were Lana had thrown it in a rush to see the spectacle that Lincoln and Lola had caused. Stuck in the vent, she couldn't approach the crime scene to see for herself, but she already had a pretty good idea of what had just unfolded.

She would try to talk to Lola later, but for now, she felt like this was none of her business.

- Lola, sis, I promise I won't talk to anybody about this, but please, just talk to me! - Lana was kneeling in front of the crying mess that was her twin sister, who was currently sitting in a backed up corner of her room with her head between her legs, no amount of resentment and doubt could possibly prepare the tomboy from seeing the former pink menace in such a deplorable state.

- *sniff* go away Lana, just… *sniff* g-go - Lola was still unable to form complete sentences, the recent image of the Albino pushing her still imprinted in her brain.

- Lols, please, y'know I'm always here for you, you can tell me anything, we're twins! - The mechanic wasn't giving up.

- Lana just *sniff* l-leave me alone, I-I'll *sniff* be f-fine - the pageant champion was not moving an inch from her spot.

- Sis, please don't make me do this the hard way - Lana was beginning to form tears in her eyes as she started losing her patience.

- … - Lola still wasn't moving an inch.

- THAT'S IT, LOOK AT ME! - The rowdy girl had had enough, she shoved her twin to the side to look at her in her eyes. - WHAT'S GOING ON SIS!? - she forcefully shaked Lola, hoping to elicit an answer from her.

- I-it's… nothing - Lola was unable to look at her slightly older twin in her eyes, her voice still weak and craspy, her eyes were a notorious shade of red by this point,

- Ohh don't come at me with that bullcrap, what happened over there, what did Lincoln do to you? - The usually calm and kind tomboy was beginning to feel the equivalent of years of accumulated anger rising through her veins, overwhelming her rational side, she just didn't know whether to direct it to Lincoln or to Lola.

- Lincoln has… nothing to *sniff* d-do with this - Lola kept looking to the side, this time displaying a frown in her ruined features.

- Then what is it Lola?! I heard Lincoln scream, I heard you running while crying, please just tell me the truth! - Lana was now looking down, her energy dissipating a little - … for once, please tell me the truth… -

- What do you mean? - That last sentence caught the ex-diva's attention, who was now looking directly at her twin's melancholic eyes.

- … That boy -

- … -

- It was Lincoln, wasn't he? - Now it was the tomboy's turn to look to the side.

- I… how… d-did you know? - Lola's sadness had now been temporarily replaced by fear.

- We are twins, Lola, you seem to be forgetting that - Lana looked back at Lola, mustering a small smile - Back in the dance, I saw how you looked at him, it was dang clear, I just… didn't want to believe it -

- P-please, don't tell anyone, Lans, I beg you - The sister was now raising her arms in pleading fashion.

- … -

- Lana? -

- Don't worry Lols, we are going to get you proper help, everything is going to be ok! - Lana's mood was back to a somewhat relaxed state.

- What do you mean? - Lola was not though.

- Let's leave it to Lori sis, she will do everything she can to help you, you'll be back to normal in no time! - Lana continued claiming excitedly.

- You… told… LORI!? - Lola's fear had been replaced with nothing but anger, the kind that she forgot she could even feel since she was younger, she immediately sprang back up and lifted her twin by her pajama.

- Hey, what's your problem!? - Lana was preparing for confrontation, she was conscious of this possibility, but she was determined to help her twin.

- Are you, actually, kidding me? Do you have any idea what you just did? She's going to notify OUR PARENTS! - To say that Lola was fuming would most certainly be an understatement.

- Well then, that's GOOD, maybe that way we can help you! - Lana stood her ground.

- I DON'T CARE ABOUT BEING HELPED, BUT THIS IS GOING TO GET LINCOLN IN TROUBLE TOO! - Lola had lost it, unable to control her voice level.

- So? He hurt you too Lola, I saw his eyes, those were not the eyes of a caring older brother anymore - Lana remained still

- Don't you DARE bring him into this, this was MY fault, this is MY problem, not HIS! - Lola intensified her grasp.

- AGHH, I don't CARE ANYMORE, just look at what happened! These are the consequences, Lola, this has to stop right now! - Lana was also on the verge of losing herself to temper

- Well DON'T WORRY, IT ALREADY DID! HAPPY!? - Lola was still in overdrive.

- What does that even mean! -

- IT'S OVER, OK? I WON'T BOTHER HIM ANYMORE, I.. won't bother him… any more - As the intensity in Lola's voice decreased, so did her already ruined mood, returning to her initial melancholic state, before bursting into tears again.

- … Ok, in that case, I guess I believe you, it's good that you're showing the will to change Lols, that will make your therapy all that easier - Lana returned to a calmer state as well.

- …w-wait wha, *sniff* t-therapy? - The younger twin's eyes were now a big as balloons, as she just looked at her tomboyish older twin directly.

- Yeah, Lori told me about this awesome psychiatrist that works like right next door to her, I'm pretty sure she can fix your illness - Lana proudly announced.

- I-illness..? -

- Yeah, she even said she can also take on Lincoln - Lana happily informed.

- L-Lincoln..? -

- And Lori is going to make arrangements so that the first visit is free! -

- … -

- so… yeah, I just wanted to inform you Lols, I promised that after all of this is done we'll go back to being the best twins to beat Meryll and Cheryll - Lana said while showing her bicep before walking back to her room.

- … and what about you? - Lola intersected before Lana was out of sight

- sorry? - Lana watched back

- …what about your therapy? - Lola frowned while rising her voice a little.

- …what do you mean? - Lana raised and eyebrow as she slowly walked back to the room.

- Come on "Lans", don't play dumb, you know what I'm talking about - Lola rose up to face her twin, a serious expression readily apparent.

- Well, not really, where are you comin' at? - Lana remained perplexed.

- You wanna talk about getting help? How about this, I take the therapy for my brother, and you take yours for your pathetic farm boy - Lola was now inches away from Lana's face, looking at her directly in the eyes.

- W-what are ya talking about, what does Liam have to do with this? - Lana was now equally angry for the demeaning expression that Lola used as well as scared for what she had to say.

- Oh, sweet, innocent Lana, it looks okay doesn't it? A 10 year old girl going for a 15 year old teenager, tell you what? Let's wait 3 years from here, try to get together by then, I'm sure the authorities would be super ok with that! - Lola was now changing her serious expression with the biggest shit-eating grin possible, inevitably getting into Lana's nerves.

- Ohhhh no, you did NOT just go there! - Lana was now raising her arm, confrontation was looking inevitable.

- Ohh sorry "Lans", I guess you are right, I'm the "sick" one, but you're perfectly OK, surely you wouldn't mind me telling our parents about that, perhaps we can go together to therapy, they'll be delighted to hear about the time where you asked me about "protection" before going to his farm ~- Lola continued her sarcasm while delicately touching Lana's chin.

- L-listen Lola, I only want to help you, l-look you forced me to do this, I wanted to support you with your boy, but, it's just… - Lana was now overwhelmed, the presence of a new threat to her idealized relationship arose an uncontrollable amount of fear and impotence.

- Awww, you don't like it? - Lola made a mocking baby-pouth, hoping to elicit a violent reaction from her twin. -

- Lola, I-it's different okay? Liam is Liam a-and w-well… - Lana was losing her stance.

- What? - Lola kept pressing her twin.

- AGHH, NO, i just can't ok! I can't support you, not in this! - Lana once again snapped, grabbing her head with her hands while looking to the floor.

- Why NOT!? - Once again, the princess behavior was shifting to direct confrontation.

- Because LINCOLN IS OUR BROTHER! - The tomboy broke any sense of subtlety - I can't Lola, it's WRONG, It's NOT NORMAL, y-you need help, this thing… I wasn't even in the house that much, but even I could notice, j-just look at our family! how everything changed for the WORST, Lincoln doesn't talk to me as often, he barely plays with me anymore, Lily and Lisa are always secretive, Lynn became an outsider, Luan, Luna, Leni… they barely call and… -

- … -

- Nevermind, i don't even want to name her, I'm tired of fucking liars in this house - She hissed, her last comment referring to more than just one individual.

- Truth hurts, doesn't it? - It was Lola's time to speak - Listen well, Lana, I'm gonna make myself clear, you're going to go back and tell Lori that you were mistaken, and I won't let anything in regards to your little "adventures" on the farm "leak", sounds fair? - Lola then raised her arm, expecting a formal handshake.

- … - Lana just stared at Lola with a serious expression, eventually, she raised her arm to accept the handshake, hand-spitting "formalities" out of the way.

- You need help, Lola, that's all I'm going to say -

- I know, but I'd rather not get it from a hypocrite -

- Better than a Liar -

- Then it's settled, good bye, Lana -

It didn't end with a fist fight, not a single jab was exchanged, not even a push, or a bruise; Family bonds are the strongest weapon that the Louds have, together, the wacky family remained invincible, the combination of their talents and quirks served for a multipurpose force that was feared al thorough Royal Woods, but said bond was never set in stone, it couldn't be taken for granted.

For years, Lola played a stupid game, and today, she won a stupid price, a 3 for 1 at that.

Today, Lola lost a twin, a brother, and the love of her Life.

Now, all she had left was her beauty, her trophies.

And the story, good thing she took the notebook before leaving.