"YOU'RE WHAT?!" Lincoln Loud screamed louder than his parents the night of his conception.

Lincoln and Ronnie Anne were having their monthly–sometimes bi-monthly–video chat. They were now five years older than previously, so in eleventh grade respectively. Well, almost. It was one month into summer vacation, so they weren't technically juniors yet. Ronnie Anne had moved to Great Lakes City with her extended family when they were eleven years old. The two "buddies" managed to maintain a connection through video chats and semi-annual visits. It was hard to lose contact with one another due to their siblings', Lori and Bobby, relationship. The two, after she moved, called after school everyday. However, those daily calls turned to weekly, and then they turned to bi-weekly, and soon they only called monthly. They found it hard to maintain contact with one another, especially since they were busy teenagers in high school now. But, hey, they made it work.

"Yep…" Ronnie Anne sighed as she replied to her white-haired friend. "I can't believe I'm saying this but…I'm moving back to Royal Woods." Her voice frayed, with a hint of disappointment. She still smiled through the screen, though. She didn't want to seem ungrateful for this change in front of Lincoln, who of course, still lives in Royal Woods. But how could she not? She made such great memories here.

"You don't need to put up a front with me, Ronnie Anne." Lincoln furrowed his brows in concern for his dear friend. "It's normal to be upset about this change…" His voice softened, "You've lived in the city for 5 years now—I understand that you don't want to move back." He looked up and saw she was biting her lip, most likely in an attempt not to show strong emotions in front of him. Lincoln had known her since elementary school–he knows when she is about to lose a fuse. Especially in fifth grade when she would get angry with him for making their team lose at dodgeball or something. Ahh, the good old times. He began thinking about what it would be like having her back at school with him, but he quickly shook off those thoughts. "If you don't mind me asking, why the sudden change?"

Ronnie Anne looked up, clearly distraught and unfocused. "Oh, uh…I'm sorry could you repeat that?"

Lincoln nodded and smiled a bit. This was like that time she couldn't focus on his polo emergency because of her skateboarding accident back in sixth grade.

It's kind of cute when she's spaced out like this, Lincoln thought, before realizing that this is NOT an appropriate time to be thinking about her cuteness.

What the hell am I even doing? Ronnie Anne needs me right now, he snapped out of it and responded, "I just was wondering why you guys were moving again so suddenly."

"Oh, yeah. I guess I better explain that, huh?" She chuckled before pulling her legs closer to her chest. "Well, it all started when my abuela was watching Ernesto Estrella…"

FLASHBACK

"Oye, Ronalda, Roberto, ven. Ernesto Estrella is talking about those with R.S. initials!" Rosa clapped, starry-eyed.

"Coming, abuela." Ronnie Anne groaned. Five years living with her abuelos taught her that she needs to endure these weird superstitions. Bobby soon followed.

"DESTINO!" Ernesto Estrella practically shouted at the three family members. "I see that…aye…those with R.S. initials are living in BAD LUCK CITY! They immediately need to migrate elsewhere. If you have R.S. initials and have recently experienced clothes turning black in the washer, waking up with random bruises, and spotty Wi-Fi, you must move cities IMMEDIATELY! DESTINO!" Ernesto, with a wave of his cape, disappeared as the camera panned.

"AY DIOS MIO!" Rosa Casagrande shrieked, causing the whole apartment complex to turn upside down. "Bobby, didn't you wake up with that random bruise the other morning?"

"Well, yeah. I guess I did." Bobby scratched the back of his head. "But it doesn't matter because I'm going to be moving in with my babe pookie schnookums honey bear Lori in two weeks, three days, and nine hours." He explained lovestruck and began floating like in those cheesy 70's cartoons. He and Lori were now engaged and planned to move in together in Royal Woods before the wedding. "I'm so excited that I could die!"

"Oh my gosh, there's no way you're actually falling for this crap, Bobby." Ronnie Anne rolled her eyes. "Abuela, I'm sorry, but this stuff is just bogus. I don't know how many times we have to tell you this."

"Aye, but your clothes DID turn black last week in the wash…" Rosa refuted angrily.

"Yeah! Because my little rascal of a primo Carl decided to prank me again! As if that puny guy can out-prank me…" She huffed under her breath. "I'm sorry, abuela, but I'm only 16! I can't move out."

"You could always move in with me and Lori." Bobby perked up. "It's better than living with bad luck for the rest of your high school life."

"Yeah right, in a million years. I don't think I want to experience the whole damn house shaking 24/7." Ronnie Anne snickered, eliciting a bright red blush from the poor older brother.

"I-IT'S NOT 24/7!" was all he could stutter before she began laughing again.

"Regardless, there's NO way some little fortune teller who desperately needs to retire can tell me where to live." She surmised. "That is that. Sorry, abuela. I'd rather live in 'bad luck city' than have to start over again."

Suddenly, Maria, Bobby and Ronnie Anne's mother, came to the living room and joined the three. "Hey, you three. What did I miss?"

"Nothing much. By the way, mama, did you consider that thing we talked about the other day?" Bobby asked, and Maria nodded.

"Yeah, I think we ALL need to have a talk about that. Ronnie Anne, come with us." The tomboy raised an eyebrow as she followed Bobby and her mom to a room.

"So, uh, what's going on?" Ronnie Anne asked with a hint of curiosity and a whole lot of concern.

"Well…you know how Bobby and Lori are moving into our old house in Royal Woods before getting married…" Maria started nervously.

"Uh huh…keep going."

"Well," the overworked nurse let out a long, brooding sigh. "Listen mija, I think it's best if I move back with them, just for the meantime until they get settled. It may be one or two years because Lori's career is just getting started and Bobby…well…" She whispered in her daughter's ear, "Just between you and me, I don't think Bobby's ready to live on his own just yet. And they need help with planning the wedding. That's why I am thinking of moving back with them."

Ronnie Anne's jaw dropped. Not this again, she thought. She was going to be separated from not just her brother, but also her MOM? Losing her dad when he moved back to Peru a month ago was hard enough, but now she was going to be without her mom for maybe a year or two? Unless…

"Mija, I know this is a big ask, but I was wondering if you wanted to move back with us?" She kneeled down and hugged her daughter. "Of course, you don't have to! You can live here with your abuelos and finish high school in the city. We will visit every month, or we'll try to. I promi-"

Before Maria could finish her sentence, Ronnie Anne stopped her. "I'll go."

"What? Are you sure?" Bobby chimed in. "Nie-Nie…"

"Yeah, I'm sure." She rubbed her arm. "I…" she exhaled harshly. "I'm not going to lie. I am angry that you are going through with this, mom. But, I don't want to be separated from you guys. Ever. Especially since I'm not even done with high school. So, yeah. I'll move back with you guys." The teenager clenched her fist as she finished her explanation. Tears began to well up in her eyes. "Dad already left us," she began bawling. "So I just can't go on without my mom; I just can't."

"Oh…Ronita come here." Her mom consoled her as she cried into her shoulder. "It'll be okay–it's only temporary." Bobby joined in on the group hug like a lost puppy.

"Yeah," she sniffled. "And who knows? Maybe it'll be fun. And we'll be able to spend more time together, right mama?" She asked hopefully.

"Yes…of course, mija."

END OF FLASHBACK

"So yeah," Ronnie Anne concluded her story. "That's basically why we're moving back to Royal Woods."

Lincoln looked at the screen with joy but also sorrow. "That story was so heartbreaking yet heartwarming." He wiped a tear from his eye. "I'm really sorry about this, Ronnie Anne. It's really not fair that you have to move again. But hey, at least you're not starting with a COMPLETELY blank slate! I mean, you got this guy!" He pointed two finger guns at himself.

"Ew, don't EVER do that again. Otherwise, I'm going to have to start calling you lame-o again." That nickname brought back so many memories. To their first interaction, to their first hug…

…to their first kiss.

"Well, we wouldn't want THAT, would we?" the snowy boy replied snarkily with a smirk. "But seriously, just know that you are NEVER alone in Royal Woods. You got me, Clyde, Zack, Rusty, Liam, heck even Stella. And you could always befriend my sisters too."

"Thanks, Linc. It really means a lot."

"Of course! What are best buds for?"