Chapter 1 Lie and Trust

Christina had always been one of the prettiest girls at Royal Woods Elementary. With her curly, bouncy hair and bright, expressive eyes, she was used to getting attention. But when she first saw Lincoln Loud, something changed. Lincoln was different from the other boys. He was upbeat, happy-go-lucky, and had a charm that made him stand out. His slightly better looks made other boys jealous, and most girls fawned over him.

One sunny afternoon, Christina found herself sitting next to Lincoln in the school library. She glanced over at him, noticing his bright smile as he read a comic book.

"Hey, Lincoln," she said, trying to sound casual.

Lincoln looked up, his smile widening. "Oh, hey, Christina! What's up?"

Christina felt her heart skip a beat. "Not much. Just, you know, reading. What about you?"

"Same here," Lincoln replied, holding up his comic book. "I love these stories. They always make me laugh."

Christina giggled. "Yeah, you always seem so happy. It's nice."

Lincoln shrugged modestly. "I just try to see the good in everything, I guess."

As the days went by, Christina found herself drawn to Lincoln's positivity and kindness. She admired how he treated everyone with respect and how his laughter could brighten even the darkest days. She began to develop feelings for him, convinced that he was the perfect boy.

One day, Christina decided to take a leap of faith. She found Lincoln by his locker, putting away his books.

"Lincoln, can I talk to you for a second?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Sure, Christina. What's up?" Lincoln replied, closing his locker and giving her his full attention.

Christina took a deep breath. "I… I really like you, Lincoln. I think you're amazing, and I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me sometime."

Lincoln's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected this. "Christina, that's really sweet of you, but… I don't feel the same way. I'm really sorry."

Christina's heart sank. She forced a smile, trying to hide her disappointment. "Oh, it's okay. I understand."

But inside, Christina was devastated. She had put herself out there, and Lincoln had rejected her. The pain of rejection quickly turned into anger and resentment.

In a moment of hurt and anger, Christina decided to get back at Lincoln. She spread a nasty lie, claiming that Lincoln had done something terrible to her. The rumor spread like wildfire, and soon, the entire school turned against Lincoln.

Lincoln was shocked and confused. He couldn't understand why everyone was suddenly treating him like an outcast. When he tried to explain, no one would listen. The shock of the accusation left him speechless, and he became an outcast overnight.

Christina watched as her lie took effect. She saw the hurt in Lincoln's eyes, the way he withdrew from everyone, and the way his once-bright smile disappeared. At first, she felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. But as time went on, the guilt began to eat away at her.

Lincoln's silence was deafening. He stopped speaking altogether, unable to find the words to defend himself. His family, in disbelief, couldn't imagine their son and brother doing such a thing. Despite Lincoln's desperate attempts to prove his innocence, his words fell on deaf ears. Hurt and betrayed by those he loved most, Lincoln made a vow of silence. He never spoke another word.

Months passed, and Christina couldn't bear the guilt any longer. One day, during lunch, she stood up in the cafeteria, her heart pounding.

"Everyone, I have something to say!" she shouted, her voice trembling. "I lied about Lincoln. He didn't do anything wrong. I made it all up because I was angry that he rejected me. I'm so sorry."

The cafeteria fell silent. Students stared at Christina in shock, unable to believe what they were hearing. Lincoln, sitting alone at his usual table, looked up, his eyes wide with surprise.

After Christina's confession, the school was in an uproar. Lincoln's friends were furious, both at Christina for lying and at themselves for not believing Lincoln. The students who had shunned him felt a mix of guilt and shame.

Christina tried to make amends, but it was too late. The damage was done. She apologized to Lincoln, but he remained silent, his blank silver mask hiding his expression.

When Lincoln's family found out the truth, they were devastated. They couldn't believe they had doubted him.

"Lynn Sr., how could we have been so blind?" Rita cried, tears streaming down her face.

"I don't know, Rita. I just don't know," Lynn Sr. replied, his voice filled with regret.

Each of Lincoln's sisters had their own reactions. Lori felt a deep sense of guilt for not standing by her brother. Leni, always the kind-hearted one, was heartbroken. Luna and Luan were angry at themselves for not believing Lincoln. Lynn Jr. felt a mix of anger and shame. Lucy, Lana, Lola, Lisa, and Lily were all filled with sorrow and regret.

Lincoln's prolonged muteness affected the entire family. They missed his voice, his laughter, and his presence. They tried everything to get him to speak, but Lincoln remained silent. The pain of their disbelief had cut too deep.

Lincoln decided to go mute because he felt betrayed by those he loved most. He couldn't bear the thought of speaking when no one had believed him. His thoughts were a whirlwind of hurt and confusion. He wanted to forgive his family, but the pain was too fresh.

The Loud family was heartbroken by Lincoln's decision to remain mute and wear a mask. Each day, they were reminded of their failure to believe him when he needed them the most. The silver mask he wore was a constant symbol of the pain and betrayal he felt.

Lori often tried to reach out to Lincoln, her voice filled with regret. "Lincoln, I miss hearing your voice. I miss our talks. I know I let you down, but I want to make it right. Please, can we try to move past this together?" She would sit beside him, hoping for a response, but Lincoln would only nod slightly, his eyes hidden behind the mask.

Leni would often bring him small gifts, hoping to cheer him up. "Lincoln, I made you this bracelet. It has all our favorite colors. I hope you like it." She would place it gently in his hand, her eyes pleading for any sign of acknowledgment. Lincoln would squeeze her hand in silent gratitude, but the mask remained.

Luna tried to connect with him through music. She would play his favorite songs on her guitar, hoping to see a spark of the old Lincoln. "Hey, bro, remember this one? We used to jam to it all the time. I miss those days." She would watch him closely, but Lincoln's expression remained hidden, his silence a heavy weight on her heart.

Luan attempted to bring back his smile with her jokes and pranks. "Hey, Lincoln, why don't skeletons fight each other? They don't have the guts!" She would laugh, hoping to hear even a chuckle from him. But Lincoln's silence was unbroken, and Luan's laughter would fade into a sigh.

Lynn Jr. struggled with her guilt and anger. She would often sit with Lincoln in silence, her frustration evident. "Lincoln, I was so wrong. I should have believed you. I don't know how to fix this, but I want to try. Please, give me a chance." She would look at him, her eyes filled with determination, but Lincoln's mask remained a barrier between them.

Lucy felt a deep connection to Lincoln's silence. She would write him poems, hoping to express her feelings. "Lincoln, I wrote this for you. 'In silence, we find the truth, in the shadows, we find the light. Brother, come back to us, end this endless night.'" She would leave the poems on his bed, hoping he would read them. Lincoln would keep the poems, but his silence persisted.

Lana and Lola were united in their efforts to reach Lincoln. Lana would bring him small animals to care for, hoping they would bring him joy. "Lincoln, look at this little guy. He needs a friend, just like you." Lola would try to engage him with her pageant activities. "Lincoln, I need your help with my routine. You always know how to make it perfect." They would both look at him with hopeful eyes, but Lincoln's mask remained.

Lisa tried to approach the situation logically. She would present him with research on trauma and healing. "Lincoln, I've been studying ways to help you. There are therapies and techniques we can try. I want to help you find your voice again." She would sit with him, explaining her findings, but Lincoln's silence was unyielding.

Lily, though too young to fully understand, would often climb into Lincoln's lap, her small hands reaching for his mask. "Linky, talk?" she would ask, her innocent eyes filled with confusion. Lincoln would hold her close, his heart aching, but he remained silent.

Lynn Sr. and Rita were consumed with guilt. They would often sit with Lincoln, trying to reach him. "Son, we love you so much. We were wrong, and we are so sorry. Please, let us help you heal," Lynn Sr. would say, his voice breaking. Rita would hold Lincoln's hand, tears streaming down her face. "Lincoln, you're our boy. We miss you so much. Please, come back to us."

Lincoln's thoughts were a whirlwind of pain and confusion. He wanted to forgive his family, to speak again, but the betrayal had cut too deep. He felt trapped behind his mask, unable to express the depth of his hurt. Each day was a struggle, and though he appreciated his family's efforts, he couldn't bring himself to break his silence.