Big New Chapter 2
As the day unfolded, it was a typical Saturday with the Loud family engaged in various activities except Lincoln Loud. Grounded for two months, Lincoln was relegated to his room, overwhelmed by boredom. His parents had confiscated his possessions, holding them until the end of his punishment. He sat, idle, surrounded by unread books, too agitated to focus on them. He yearned for solitude, avoiding his sisters, parents, and friends. Sending well wishes to an unnamed individual involved in an undisclosed incident, Lincoln pondered over the mystery, feeling like an unrecognized hero. Despite his efforts, the monotony persisted. Resigned to his confinement, he considered reading as a diversion. He approached his desk and selected a book, seeking a temporary escape. Concurrently, Lori and Leni were in their room, energetically preparing for an outing to the mall. "Okay, everyone, we're leaving in about 6 minutes, so be ready," Lori called out. The sisters began to descend the stairs, with Lori following. Pausing by Lincoln's door, she decided it was only right to inform him of their departure.
Lori gently knocked on Lincoln's door and entered to find him absorbed in a book while lying on his bed. "Hey, Linc, we're heading to the mall. Need anything?" she asked. Lincoln didn't look up as he replied, "No, I'm good." "Okay, we'll be back soon," Lori said, closing the door. She felt something was amiss with him, but couldn't pinpoint what. The book he held, "The Long Night," known for its melancholic tone, hinted at his mood. It was the same book Lori had turned to during her own somber times, which she had left in his room. "I hope he finds comfort," she whispered, leaving the hallway to gather her sisters. "Leni? Here. Luna? Present. Luan? Accounted for. Lynn Jr.? Ready. Lucy? Yes. Lana? Yup. Lola? Here. Lisa? Affirmative. Lily? Present. Everyone's here. Let's go." After ensuring everyone was accounted for, they hopped into the van and set off.
As they settled into the van, Leni noticed Lincoln's absence. "Shouldn't Lincoln be here with us?" she asked. "Remember, Leni, he's grounded for sneaking out," Luna reminded her. "Oh, right," Leni acknowledged, slapping her forehead. "Plus, he's accusing us of clogging the toilet," Lola chimed in, clearly irritated. "That didn't sit well with me," Lana commented, crossing her arms. "Let him try to pin it on us again; he'll face a hundred spin kicks from me," Lynn Jr. threatened, her anger apparent. "He's made his bed—no pun intended. But really, he's in the wrong," Luan added, her joke thinly veiling her frustration. "It appears our brother is taking to the rebel life," Lisa noted, adjusting her glasses. "What's happening with him?" Leni wondered aloud. "Whatever it is, it's not good," Lola snapped. "He's falsely accusing us and sneaking around. I've lost interest in his antics," she stated firmly. "I feel the same," Lana concurred. The sentiment was shared among the sisters, while Lori and Lucy remained silent observers.
Lori was overwhelmed with remorse as she pondered her unfair treatment of Lincoln. She felt guilty for accusing him of clogging the toilet, particularly because she was aware that 'Princess Pony' was a book he only read with Lola at bedtime. Lori questioned her actions, regretting the wedges and the laughter at his expense. She realized that a direct conversation would have been the right approach instead of ridicule, which only pushed him further away. The thought that she might be the worst sister ever lingered in her mind, a feeling Lucy shared. Unknown to Lori, Lucy was the true culprit behind the clogged toilet; she found solace in 'Princess Pony', a departure from her typically morose fascinations. Lucy yearned to confide in her siblings but dreaded their teasing. To maintain her secret, she would read in the bathroom, once frantically stashing the book in the toilet and hiding in the bathtub as someone neared. Once the coast was clear, she dashed back to her room, her secret intact. However, this led to the toilet overflowing, and the outspoken sister blamed her brother without giving him a chance to explain. Lucy was prepared to confess to her family that she was the real cause of the frequent clogs. She was indifferent to the possibility of being grounded; she just couldn't stand the thought of being the subject of ridicule.
Lucy, determined to keep her secret hidden, acted swiftly to cover her tracks. Upon discovering that Lincoln was investigating the clogged toilet incident, she knew she had to mislead him. Her brother had a knack for solving such mysteries, reminiscent of the time when he was 5 or 6 years old and, with Clyde's help, deduced that Lana was behind the muddy tracks in the house. To protect her secret love for princess pony books, Lucy led Lincoln on a wild goose chase. She was aware that deceiving him was wrong, but the fear of him uncovering her secret and urging her to confess to their sisters and parents was overwhelming. Just as Lincoln was about to reveal the truth to everyone, he hesitated, feeling sorry for Lucy, and decided to take the blame himself to safeguard her secret. This act of selflessness resulted in Lincoln being grounded for two weeks, missing out on an Ace Savvy costume event. Lucy crafted a comic book for him as an apology, but she knew it wasn't enough. Gazing out the window of the van, she pondered deeply on how to make amends. "I need to find a way to fix this," Lucy resolved.
After spending roughly two hours in the mall, the Loud sisters gathered at the food court, laden with numerous shopping bags. Leni, Luna, Luan, and Lori had been perusing clothing stores in search of charming dresses. Lola, who also joined them, made a beeline for the jewelry section, where she discovered an adorable necklace perfect for her upcoming pageant. Meanwhile, Lisa browsed the electronics store for gadgets that piqued her interest, Lynn Jr. reveled in the sporting goods store, surrounded by a plethora of sports equipment, and Lana was enchanted by the array of cute animals at the pet shop. Lucy, on the other hand, was engrossed in finding a compelling dark novel at the bookstore. Subsequently, they all convened at the food court for a meal. Lori thoughtfully picked up some food for Lincoln, along with a few other items. The sisters were thoroughly enjoying themselves at the mall. "Man, that was fun! I found a cute dress and some jewelry that I can use for the pageant," Lola exclaimed, clutching her bag. "Oh, that looks adorable, Lola! I also found a cute dress and some shoes," Lori responded holding and feeding Lily fries. "Me too! I found the most beautiful dress to wear," Leni chimed in joyfully.
"That looks nice; it seems we've all found some dresses to wear," Luna says. "Yeah, it looks like we're on the same wavelength. HAHA. Get it?" They laugh together. "That was funny, Luan. I got myself a nice sports outfit I can't wait to use," Lynn says. "I found an intriguing vampire and werewolf book that I'm eager to dive into at the event," Lucy says with a smile. "I found a new pet that hops around excitedly," Lana says, holding it in the cage. "I found something that will help me complete my inventions," Lisa says excitedly. After they finished sharing their day's finds, they overhear someone talking. "Wait, that happened?" one person says to another. "Yes, that happened last night," the other replies. Afterward, the Loud sisters listen intently to the conversation. Meanwhile, back at the house, Lincoln is still reading his book but starting to feel bored.
"This is boring," Lincoln muttered as he tossed the book aside on his bed. Grounded for two months, time seemed to stretch out before him. Lying there, his mind inevitably drifted back to the previous night's events—the fire, and the stranger caught within its deadly embrace. Concern gnawed at him. "I hope they're okay," he whispered, replaying the night's harrowing moments. If he hadn't ventured out into the night, drawn by the smoke billowing from the neighbor's house, that person might not have survived. "Maybe I am a hero," he thought, a small sense of pride flickering within. Yet, the memory of returning home to his parents' disapproval quickly doused it. They wouldn't understand; they never did. They seemed to only have eyes for his sister, not their son. Tears threatened to spill as he lay there, but the sound of the door opening and his sisters' voices, returning from their mall outing, interrupted the moment.
As they entered, Lincoln quietly listened to his sisters' conversation in the hallway. "Can you believe it?" Luna exclaimed loudly. "It's unbelievable what happened to that person," Luan added, visibly shocked. "Trapped in the roaring fire, unable to escape... I feel terrible for them," Lori said, looking sad, with the other sisters nodding in agreement. "I feel so sorry for them," Leni murmured sadly. "I'm just relieved someone was brave enough to rescue them," Lori expressed with relief. "Indeed, that person dove into the flames and saved a life," Lana chimed in. "That person is a hero," Lola declared. "Certainly brave," Lori acknowledged, "and strong," Lynn added, "and smart," Lola interjected loudly. "It's a shame we don't know who the rescuer is; the paramedic was about to check but then left," Lori mentioned. "Yes, if that mysterious savior hadn't entered the fire, the trapped individual wouldn't be alive now," Lucy stated in her eerie tone. "Whoever that person is, they're a hero," Lola and Lana agreed. "Absolutely," the rest of the sisters concurred. Following the conversation, the sisters dispersed to their rooms, and Lori went to Lincoln's room to give him something.
Lori approached Lincoln's room, knocked gently, and waited. The door swung open, and Lincoln stood there, greeting her. "Hi, Lor, what's up?" he asked, eyeing his sister curiously. "I picked something up for you at the mall," Lori replied, handing him the bag. "Oh, thanks, Lori. But there's something I need to tell you," she added, eager to share what she had heard. Lincoln, feigning ignorance, inquired, "What is it?" even though he had an inkling of the news. Lori took a few minutes to explain the details. "I can't believe that happened," Lincoln responded, pretending to be shocked. "Whoever did that is a hero." "Anyway, I'll catch up with you later; I need to text Bobby," Lori said, heading back to her room. Lincoln closed the door, holding the bag. Settling down, he opened it to find his favorite snacks and some art supplies. Pleased, he placed the art materials on his bed and began to eat. As he did, Lori's words echoed in his mind: "That person is a hero." Smiling to himself, he mused, "Looks like I'm a hero after all," while savoring his meal.