Royal Woods High School

CHARACTER SLIP

Student Name: Luan Loud

Grade Level: Sophomore Year

She forgot how she ended up here, but man, did she wish she stopped herself before.

Glazing over the white card, Mom and Dad sat across her on their bed, the former squeezing the latter's hand. Their faces were dipped with trouble. Dad wore a thin smile, and Mom tapped her thigh again and again. They said it was bad: that it'd break her if she read it.

Luan swallowed. Even if it did, at least it'd destroy her before the nagging curiosity does it first.

Leaning over the wall, she continued.

"She has been coming out of her shell lately, which is both a good and bad thing." Her palms turned cold.

The "With Honors" stamp was merely a design to reframe the slip into a good light, even when the long note was far from deserving of it. She skipped over to the important words, finding "debate", and "insecurity". Teachers didn't want her studious nature if that meant she'd be pointing out their smallest mispronunciations, and loopholes.

She clutched the card tightly, fighting the urge to throw it across the room. "Seriously? All I've been trying to do was help the teachers out!" Luan claimed. "They need to know they're wrong! What's the shame in admitting to that?"

Dad stood up and brought her to sit on the bed. "Sweetie, we talked with your teachers, and…they said you were tactless."

Tactless? In what way? "All I did was point out their mistakes! It's not my fault they're egos are so big that they can't accept some kid's advice!"

She crossed her arms as Mom laid a hand on her shoulder. "It's normal to correct your teacher, and it's a good thing too." Mom started.

Luan turned away from her direction as her shoulder got squeezed. "But you have to remember, Luan, just saying it as it is, is well, rude. If you have a correction to make, you gotta follow how it's normally done."

"How, Mom?" Luan retorted sarcastically. "You gotta believe me, the teachers won't take me seriously if I just tug the sleeve and quietly ask them if they know what they're saying; I have to bluntly interrupt them to get my point across."

"But why do you have to argue with them?" Dad asked.

Couldn't they understand? "How can I not? I can't just sit through a whole class-" My voice feels different. "- Hearing my teacher blab about the wrong dates, the wrong names- or the wrong setting. But they'll underestimate me anyway if I talk one-on-one with them anyway, and I hate it when that happens."

Mom and Dad paused, giving each other looks. She seethed as the card on her hand wrinkled. They could only know so much; she didn't just stir up a debate because she got overlooked- that was one- but mainly, so she could flex her proficiency. To show off that hey, I read that on page 278. That's not 1897, it's 1896. Teachers could use that boost since some of them got their stories wrong.

"We know you detest errors in judgment, honey," Dad kneeled before her. She turned her head to the side. "But if it's over a small mispronounced word or something, why don't you just let it slide?"

"But they're teaching the wrong info, Dad." Were they real? No, Luan, of course they are! "I don't want my classmates to think that the word 'detainees' is pronounced 'detanes."

The smallest snort echoed. That was kinda funny. "I'm sure your classmates are smart enough to know that's not it, Luan," Dad said. "They said nothing against it to keep peace and order."

"But still, what if I don't care about that?" She really didn't. "Learning is what's important to me."

Mom clicked her tongue and stood up. Her heart stopped. That wasn't a good sign. "Luan, for your age, you know you can be quite inconsiderate." She accused her firmly. "I'm not shocked as to why the teachers wrote this in your card. See this as a sign for you to change."

Dad stood up too, and now, both their figures were hovering over her. "Because whether you like it or not, keeping the peace is just as crucial as correcting errors."

Blah, blah, blah. I'm not listening. "And… sacrifice…order to maintain orderliness." Huh, said something, Dad? "Life isn't all about speaking your mind, sweetie. Sometimes you gotta bite your tongue too."

"But…"

"Luan," Mom interrupted her with a glare. "You will be more tactful from now on, if you wanna see your card hung up on the fridge too. Understand?"

Luan closed her mouth and quietly slipped out of the room. Oh, well, she still had the honor's list to look forward to.

The trash bin echoed as a soda can was shot into it. School was out for the day, and so was band practice.

Leaving her toss the way it was, Luna strolled out of the band room and into the quiet corridor, one hand on her backpack strap. Not gonna lie, Luan's inconsistency worried her a little. The whole week, she was plain moody, on a see-saw of either acting like Pop-Pop when 'Nam was mentioned, or acting like Mr. Coconuts Sr. was gonna take Junior away again.

Then again, she was pretty upbeat since the honor roll was mentioned. Maybe that's the bug crawling up her crack the whole week. Yeah, she worked her butt off for that, and knowing Luan, she could be pretty insecure when nobody's watching. She was probably worried she wouldn't make it- considering her character slip was missing, and mom was acting pretty off about it too.

But she was, and if her lil' sis was good, then so was she.

"Lunes! Wait up! " She stopped on her boots.

Especially today. Luna turned her head to the side. "Yeah?"

"Check it out!" Sully exclaimed, scanning something on his phone. "School board just announced, the competition will be held in Royal Woods!"

What!?

Last year, the heads of the states bumped heads to start a campaign for promoting young talent, and budgeted this once- in-a-year event where they unite and clash with one another, both to showcase talent and to boast of them shaping students into future performers. Since its kick-off last year, high school clubs from around the state continue to anticipate this very event: The Festival of Talents.

It's a long road to go. Step one, the district round. Royal Woods' waging war within local towns in Michigan; Hazeltucky, Flint. Then it was them against every winner in all of Michigan in the regionals, before moving up to when all fifty states formed a one-track mind, one goal, which was to become the next. Big. Thing. Nationwide.

Principal Rivers could see it, and was yet again, full of high hopes for them to actively participate this year. This time, having no quals that an opportunity as such would send the Moon Goats skyrocketing into heights soared never before. "You kids, have a lot of potential. And this is your opportunity to fulfill it."

They were true believers for real.

All eyes turned on him. "You serious, bro?" Luna blurted out. On one half, that's cool! A bigger half, nah… for a sec she thought they could travel off somewhere else! Come on!

"Uh-huh!" Sully flashed her the screen, and yep, it was the school page announcing why, when, and where. "Now I don't have to leave my little cousin behind! He's scared I'm gonna be off to faraway land again or something!"

"Naw! I was expecting we go off to another city or something!" Luna whined. "It'll just be like one of our school performances all over again!"

"On the bright side," Sam countered, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and leaning in. "It'll be familiar! We can just pretend it's like what you said, and that way we won't get too jittery!"

"She's right." Mazzy agreed. "We always rock in our school shows! If we brainwash ourselves into believing it's not much of a contest than it is having fun, then we can rock all we want, and still have high chances of rolling!"

Luna gazed at the ground in thought. They do have a point. The stress of packing, traveling, and prepping in itself in a few weeks while writing songs, testing chord progressions, and playing songs over and over again 'til perfection is a total annihilator. Plus, at least homesickness wasn't a thing to worry about anymore.

"If you put it that way…" Luna looked up to them. "Yeah, that could work."

She was still partly bummed though. So much for expecting something as grand as Rapids or Ann Arbor.

Greeting them bye, she walked back out of the room, her throat scratched and a little sore. The corridor was emptiest after 5:20 PM. A lot of the students don't linger long unless they've got clubs or practices- which usually happen out in the fields. It felt like they were the only ones here. Like it was an apocalypse and only they were the survivors- sort of vibe.

But the theater club was up here too.

From the corner of her eye, there was an open locker. The sounds of fumbling and metal clanging against skin echoed. Luna walked closer, immediately recognizing the brown shoes and the fuchsia flowers on them.

And what's better? At least she's got someone to talk to while waiting for Leni to fetch them.

She quickly approached the girl, walking right behind her. The corner of her mouth twitched up as Luna let her finger hover on her back.

"Boo!"

Luan jolted under the touch of a finger on her shoulder, twisting herself around.

Luna giggled.

Luan pressed herself inside her locker before the shock on her face quickly subsided. She shot daggers at the still-chuckling Luna. "Why would you startle me like that?"

"C'mon, you gotta admit it was funny, dude." Luna shrugged. "How long were you let out?"

"Haha, yeah, because giving me a heart attack isn't funny, it's humorous." Luan scowled, shutting the locker behind her. "Just now."

"Samesies." Luna bit her tongue. Her eyes landed on Luan's hands, lying limp on her sides. He was missing, again. "Ey, where's your chap? I haven't seen you with him since like, two days ago?"

"Oh, Mr. Coconuts?" Luan scooped her backpack from the ground, where he was in, like a baby kangaroo in its pouch. "His performance was a little woody."

Her laugh sounded flatter than normal. Lower in pitch and... Her finely tuned ears picked up on that. It was her trademark. Lacking heart. "Is it him or you that's feelin' a lil' woody?"

"You could say I've been feeling a little logged out from life lately." She said blankly, eyes glazing past hers. "Did you tell Leni to pick us up?"

"She's packed, dude. We'll go with the bus for now."

And so, they walked down the empty hallway, through the endless row of lockers; the atmosphere normally cold and lifeless. One person could make a difference, Luna thought. Even if they didn't talk. Even if they were just there.

She glanced at her sister, whose eyes were trailing down the heavily-decorated walls. "Something you're lookin' for, lil' sis?"

"Yeah," Luan muttered absently. "You know where the honor roll is?"

Luna hummed, what's the punchline? "I don't know. Where?"

"I'm serious."

Okay…? Luna pointed straight with a hand. "Just right by the exit. That was up for days, how'd ya never notice?"

Luna could feel the nervous energy radiating off her. "It just never crossed my mind."

When they reached the bulletin, Luan stopped dead in her tracks, her gaze glued to it like it was Benny the first time she saw him. Luna, having no idea where she was in the ranks, stepped beside her and looked up at it too. She glanced at Luan, then back at the list.

"See anything?" Luan rushed out.

She crossed her arms and scanned through it. The number of names in it plastered up there like a big wall of text was enough to make her wanna hurl. "Nada."

It wasn't envy. Luna felt the way she looked; rockers need no education. Though if she had to look back to her pre-punk days, she wasn't so bad herself. Topping A's and a few B's sprinkled here and there. But did she ever compete? Aim for the top? Nah. It took some resisting at first to be uncaring over school, but as her hobby for rock and roll grew, the easier it got to forget it.

"The heck?" She grew frantic by the minute, a rare sight to Luna. Luan brought a finger up and dragged it down each number, squinting. "Where am I?"

Whoa, that's weird. "What's there to worry about, man?" Luna rhetorically asked; thrown off guard by Luan's bubbling anxiety. Sure, her sister liked excelling, and she did- being firsthand to witness all her efforts. Yet she was acting like her grades were slipping off and falling on the edge. Sensing her distress, she caved in and scanned through the list along with her. It took a while…. There were around fifty names around and all the more ridiculous last names- "Hit the road, Jack!"

"You found me?"

She narrowed her eyes… "Er… There! Ooh, pretty high up the ranks if I say so myself." Luna gave an admiring nod at the second paper, before nudging Luan by the arm. "'Grats sis. 23rd spot ain't so bad."

"What?" Luan scanned the list frantically, stubborn refusal in her voice. "No, I think you mean 3rd? Or 13th?"

"Nope. 23rd." She leaned in closer, pointing directly to it. "Take a look."

The instant Luan did, Luna could've sworn the light drained from her face. "Oh."

Her smile faltered; was she not proud? In a school this big, it took real competition to even qualify to the list. That's what Luna's heard from her peers, but eh, when it comes to her sibs, they can top it with little to no effort. Luan was just one of 'em. "Hey, what's with the long face?"

That seemed to snap her out of her stupor. Luan shook her head. "Nothing, nothing."

Call her someone who jumps to conclusions, but didn't her mood go on like a light after finding out she was on the roll last night? Luna raised an unimpressed brow. "Doesn't look like it to me." She muttered, squeezing Luan's shoulder as they both walked down to the front doors.

She was so upbeat yesterday; it didn't even bother her that Luna's dirty clothes were lying partly on the floor, or that her pillow's insides were practically emptied after their pillow fight. "Come on, what'd the honor roll do to ya?"

Well, it was worth a shot. At least Luan knew she was there for her, right?

They pushed out the doors and sat on the staircase. Good thing the bus was up and runnin' until six in the evening, cause technically, the school didn't close until then- with the clubs and all that jazz.

She drummed her finger softly on her knee. Rush hour was over and time was slow, maybe even frozen on them had it not been the occasional car, or kid that passed by. It wasn't winter dropping the atmosphere temperature, that much was sure. Luan didn't respond, and she could only count a second more with each tap her thumb made. What, did it hit a nail on her head? Was her guess right? Nah, of course it was- the honor roll had Luan looking like a man finding an oasis in the Sahara last night and now as she looked at the list, her face dropped like a lost puppy's.

Finally, having enough of the deafening silence, she glanced at her contemplating gaze. "Luan?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm good." She snappily replied, like her name was a kick to the knee. She sighed, her breaths a puff of fog as it came. "It's just… I expected more from it."

"Really?" Luna asked in disbelief. "23's not a bad start to the semester, though. What's the bummer in that?"

"What's the bummer in that?" Luan repeated mockingly, before scoffing. "You know exactly what I mean."

Luna furrowed her eyebrows skeptically. She pressed the wool of her palm to her face. Luna just watched her, waiting for an answer. There was a pause again, almost like Luan didn't know what argument she was trying to make. "23 is way out of my range. I expected 15 at least." Luan mumbled through the glove. "After everything I've done, and that's how far I get?"

Sounds like Luan's arrogance was slippin' in again.

"You can't always get what you want, dude. That's how life goes." She reminded her, shrugging indifferently. It was ridiculous to her, to think other people would risk sleepless nights, grapple and cry over a bunch of math problems, or have endless fights over time and their mind. Sure, for a high GPA, cool, but for printed paper with your name in cursive? Nobody would fight that bad.

The Luan she knew wouldn't do that either. During previous years, she liked topping classes for the fun of it, not because she needed to. Luna glanced at her with an encouraging smile. "Anyway, what's the biggie? You still got into the honor roll, and you're still gonna rock that stage this Saturday, right?"

Luan's face darkened, and her frown grew wider, looking like a mix of accused and disappointed. Luna didn't like the sound of that. Not after breathing the fresh air of her giggly demeanor yesterday. Don't tell her it was just a one-time thing, and that she was back to being the same passive-aggressive, indignant Luan she'd become lately. "Come on, dude, cheer up. It's just a list. It's not like your worth is tied to it."

"Whatever." She spat back exasperatedly, before shooting up with a grunt. "The bus is here."

Luna wasn't even given time to stand on her own and Luan was already walking ahead. Like the trees in the breeze, it's ironic the way that you leave. She muttered to herself.

It was the second time this week she was doing that. Luna wasn't omnipotent, she didn't know what Luan was like with the others, but she was acting like her mere presence drove her to the wall! And she didn't do anything!

Luna rushed towards her, quickly stepping on the bus in tow. There weren't less than ten people in. "Dude, dude!" She called out, noticing Luan's steps hastening. "Come on, I wasn't trying to ruffle your feathers! I was just being honest!" She strapped her backpack off and slipped herself into the seat next to hers.

"You're the one who can't see the light." Luan retorted through a tight jaw.

She groaned. Not another freaking metaphor- "The heck's that supposed to mean?"

Luan didn't respond, her hooded eyes staring into the running visions past the glass. It took a split second for her to hear Luna's presence and when she did, her face shifted to remorse. With a quiet sigh, she leaned back on the seat, clutching her lavender bag. "Nothing. Sorry. I just… didn't get enough sleep last night."

Like you always do. Luna bit her tongue and looked at the lobby, some students staring; stopping the conversation altogether.

Her irritation was like transparent glass, and sitting right behind it was exhaustion. All Luna knew was that Luan had a growing caffeine addiction, and that her sleep sked had been as dysfunctional as far as the word went. The ultimate combo for disaster, and now look what it's done to her. She was an island burning bridges, throwing bombs and weaponry at those who tried to cross the border.

The atmosphere felt like a brick wall stood between them. The coil is tight; on the brink of letting go. A big part of her wanted to move to another seat, just to lessen the weight in her chest. But no, that was rude, wasn't it? But she couldn't just stay either, could she?

She chose to sit still. Almost utterly still if not for her bouncing knee.

Luna glanced at her again, almost longingly, shoulders barely touching, but Luan didn't reciprocate it. Instead, she had her gaze out the window, eyes glazing like she was there but not really there. Her reflection was faint, but she could make out the visible scowl she wore. What if I give it another chance? Nudge her? Pull a reaction… say sorry.

Never mind.

If a few days ago, she said she was proud of the new upgrade in Luan's character… maybe now served as a slap to the face. Maybe this was just salt water disguised as a mineral. After all, her turmoil could be as deep as the abyss where waters run. How maybe the waves were already gushing through her barricades; how long it'd take before she'd drown.

Then again, with how cold she had become since they last bumped into each other's roads, perhaps, she already was.

Luna crossed her arms, securely hugging her backpack over her. But like Luan implied now and all those other days, she didn't wanna be saved, she didn't wanna talk about it—if anything at all. Almost as if she knew how the waters rose up to her neck, but didn't wanna acknowledge it in any way. How could you help someone jump over something when they claimed it was nothing? That was to move a mountain.

But how could she quit, when the hike's just beginning? How could she stand there and watch Luan slowly become an entirely different person—morphing into the shell of her former self?

Rides of any kind normally cleared her head, it did nothing to minimize the flurry of thoughts raging inside. She could barely feel the heat radiating from her side; pick up on the smallest shift of her leg. So close… yet so far. She was all right when telling the others that Luan needed space, but what would happen if they gave her a little too much? What if, by waiting on red moons and blue grass for her to admit she's wounded, they unknowingly spread the damage already—like a clump taken for granted, only to swell into a tumor thereafter?

Luna swallowed through the churn in her belly. And the ride went on.

It's just a list, Luan. Chill.

It's just a slip, it's no biggie.

Yeah, you worked your sanity off the edge, and drove yourself to madness all for what?

Just for pieces of paper. Yeah, okay. Maybe the school system isn't the crazy one. It's you.

Suddenly, she was in her room. She could feel Luna trailing her steps, and God. She wished she could shut the door behind her. She mentally screamed to just do it. Slam it on her face. Leave her hanging. Leave her wondering what type of venom she'd handed out to receive the same. Have her crash somewhere else while she… Luan herself, kept this room alone, doing everything not to.

She did her best. But maybe she could've done better. She should've done better.

Luan consciously pushed the thought back to her mind. If I don't laugh, I'll cry.

The door clicked behind her as Luna shut it. Luan wasn't looking at her, but knowing her presence was less than a foot away bristled her blood. It was more than a piece of paper. It was more than just being 'part' of the honor roll. It was so much more than… no, Luna didn't know that, but she'd probably have the same reaction. It's just a slip, dude, it's only half-true.

She exhaled. The hairs on her neck standing; she could've sworn that from the end of her bed, where the bean bag was, Luna's eyes were on hers. She glanced to the right, and she was right. "What?"

Luna looked away, reaching up to the guitar she leaned against the wall.

The character slip was a flop. The honor was a flop. Her efforts were all for naught.

All for a piece of paper.

Here goes another evening… trying to pretend like nothing hurts.

Luan felt her eyes misting over. It doesn't.

She pulled Mr. Coconuts out of her bag, putting him on. The dummy looked at her with unimpressed eyes. A mocking smile. Is this all you're really good for, toots? Her hand didn't move but she heard his voice. Now what? You're gonna cry over not getting what ya want? How do you ignore a voice that starts from your own head? That rocker chick's right, you're a wimp; making a big deal out of nothing.

Her heart sank, and she flickered back and forth between the stuff on top of the dresser. Brush, perfume, whipped cream. For a moment she really thought she had it all. That this, this would be when she acquired victory. When she'd reap the fruits of her labor.

That dresser top looks super messy. She thought. But the fruits of her labor were spoiled too rotten. Overly-watered. Overly produced. Too ripe. Too hyped. Her throat tightened. I should clean that up. I really should. Yeah.

"Sis?" Luna's weary voice snapped her back. "Everything good?"

Yes. No. Yes… no!

"Can you get out?" Her voice came out hoarse.

Did Luna scoff? She heard it. It didn't matter. She felt her eyes welling up. What about that comedy gig, huh? The one where—

Right, I don't have any going on right now.

"You can't just kick me out of our room." Luna insisted; her voice softer than it should've. "The heck, Man? You're acting all buzzed out and now you wanna play the victim? Seriously, what's going on?"

"Don't you have better things to do?" Luan muttered coldly, visibly trying to push out what Luna had told her. But maybe she was right. I need—"I need some space."

If only the wall could suck her into a vortex. Then she wouldn't have to be so selfish.

She could feel Luna's gaze glaze through her, almost as if, for a moment, she thought staring would get a nudge out of her. But eventually, she frowned, and walked out with her acoustic in hand; not daring to glance back.

Even before the door clicked, she fell. Don't think about it, don't think about it. Mr. Coconuts stared at her blankly. She already felt her breath hitching. She's losing strength. She's losing… she's already lost.

'Don't be so dramatic, tuts!' She mimicked through a shaky voice. 'So, what if it didn't go your way? You don't have to make a big dea–'

SLAM!

CRACK!

It took one eyeball, rolling by her loafer to register what happened. Luan's now empty hand pressed against her mouth, and with muffled sobs, she was left to helplessly take in the consequence of her action.

It was her choice to drop comedy, quit business, and stop socializing… in the name of maintaining her academic record.

But she won, right? She got what she wanted. Mr. Coconuts' bodiless head stared back at her. Only one eye is intact. Was it worth it? She could hear his withering voice rasp out. Was it worth losing me too?

Luan marched to the door, clicked the lock, and defeatedly sunk to her knees. The only rational thought in her mind now was, how am I supposed to pretend like this didn't happen?