Chapter 8 The Sins of Our Mothers

For the record I know the chapter contradicts previous chapters, but I promise it will make sense going down the line. if there any hiccups I made for future endeavors, due let me know. My dumbass is pretty forgetful.

The troubling past haunted those who were involved with Clyde's brutal assault. Girl Jordan wiped away her tears with trembling fingers, her heart aching as she began to piece together Christina's perspective. The weight of the truth pressed down on her, making each breath feel heavy.

"So my hunch was right," she said, her lips quivering in disbelief. "Something did happen between you two. I-I never expected you two to kiss so suddenly. And Clyde. . . How could you betray Lincoln so easily? You were like a brother to him."

The group at the Burnt Bean round table sat in silence, absorbing the beginning of Lincoln's downfall. Clyde's softened expression says it all. He took a deep breath and said, "Yeah, that wasn't my best moment," he admitted, his voice filled with regret. "I've felt that way about Lincoln for quite some time back then. Ever since the girls in our school pay more attention to him, it's been hard for me and the other guys to get notice. It was right after my confession to Emma that my jealousy took over me."

He recounted standing nervously in front of the clubroom door, adjusting his black Italian tuxedo and smoothing down the fake pencil-thin mustache. Rusty and Liam, dressed as little cupids with cliché wings and white diapers, giving him a last-minute pep talks.

Rusty grinned and said, "You look dapper, Clyde. Emma won't know what hit her!"

Liam nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, man! You're gonna sweep her off her feet. Are you ready for this?"

Clyde took a deep breath, "As ready as I'll ever be. Let's do this!"

With determined nods, Rusty and Liam grabbed the ropes attached to the cardboard boat on wheels. Clyde climbed onto the boat, striking a confident pose as Liam and Rusty picked up their trumpets. They burst through the clubroom door with a dramatic flourish, playing a triumphant fanfare.

Inside, Emma and Chloe were sitting next to each other, meticulously decorating for the upcoming Valentine's Day dance. The room was filled with the scent of freshly cut paper hearts and glitter glue.

Emma looked up in surprise, "What's going on?"

Clyde, trying to maintain his composure, said, "Emma, I've sailed across the treacherous seas of doubt to ask you one important question."

Chloe giggled, "This is too cute!"

Rusty whispered to Liam, "This is it, the big moment."

Liam whispered back, "Come on, Clyde, you got this."

Clyde cleared his throat, "Emma, will you be my date to the Valentine's Day dance?"

Emma rubbed the back of her head, feeling the awkward tension of the moment. "I'm really sorry, Clyde. I just want to be friends..." she trailed off, then hesitated before adding, "But do you think you could hook me up with Lincoln?" Emma nudged Chloe, who giggled at the joke, "They don't call him Sausage Link for nothing."

Clyde stood frozen, processing the name of his best friend and the reason why the girls were so infatuated with him. Emma and Chloe continued to giggle until they noticed Clyde still standing there, silent and unmoving.

Emma's tone softened. "Oh, sorry, Clyde. We're not laughing at you, it's just that Lincoln has this charismatic charm. He's been the talk among us girls lately. Maybe if you were more like him, I might give you a chance."

Chloe added gently, "Don't take it offensively, Clyde. I don't agree with everything Emma says, but she has a point. Maybe if you had your own unique way of wooing a girl, you'd be a real go-getter. Or perhaps you're not focusing on the right girl." She gave a weak smile, hinting at something unsaid.

Clyde responded meekly, "Oh? I understand. Thanks for taking the time to hear me out at least." He was then towed away by Rusty and Liam, leaving the classroom on a sad note. As they wheeled him away, the girls gave a gentle goodbye, aware how heartbroken he was.

"Take care of yourself, Clyde, and again . . . sorry," Emma said, trying to heal some of the damage.

After they left, Liam and Rusty continue to pull the trodden boat carrying the crestfallen Clyde. Rusty glanced at him, trying his best to lift his spirits. "Hey, man, don't worry about it. It just wasn't your time. There are plenty of other fish in the sea."

Clyde shook his head, frustration building inside him. "It's not fair!" he spouted, suddenly jumping off the boat. "It's always Lincoln this! Lincoln that! I'm sick of it!"

Rusty and Liam exchanged worried glances as Clyde continued to rant, his voice rising with each word. "It's just one after another I miss out because of him!"

Liam stepped forward, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean, Clyde?"

Clyde grunted in anger, clenching his fists. "Rrrghh, Liam, ever since I became friends with Lincoln, I've been ostracized right along with him. The other boys wouldn't hang out with me if Lincoln was there. And Chandler—he invited me to his party, but only on the condition that I stopped being friends with him. And now this! I just got cock-block!"

He sighed heavily, slumping back down onto the cardboard boat. "I hate to say it but, I don't think we could be friends anymore."

Rusty crossed his arms and nodded in agreement. "You know what? I'm with you on this, Clyde."

Liam's brow furrowed in clear disdain, his lips pressed into a thin line of disapproval. "You can't be serious, Rusty. What do you have against Lincoln?"

Rusty tutted, leaning against the wall. "C'mon, man. I know Lincoln gave you good advice during the Girl Guru fiasco, but not all of us were that lucky. Besides, it's not just that. I thought being his friend was a blessing because he has this knack for attracting all the girls. I figured some of that charm would rub off on me, you know?"

Liam's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer to Rusty, his tone sharp with disapproval. "You were friends with Lincoln just to benefit off of him? That's pretty low, Rusty. Using someone like that isn't just wrong, it's downright snake-like."

Rusty shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Liam's piercing gaze. "Look, it wasn't like that. I thought..."

Liam cut him off, his voice growing firmer. "Thought what? That you could ride on his coattails and get all the perks without any real friendship? That kind of attitude doesn't show good character, Rusty. Friends are supposed to support each other, not use each other."

Rusty sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I didn't mean for it to come across that way. I just wanted to fit in."

Liam shook his head, disappointment evident in his expression. "Fitting in by exploiting a friend? That's not how it works. If you can't see that, then maybe I should rethink our friendship."

Clyde stood up abruptly, his eyes boring into Liam's with an intensity that made the air feel thick. "Maybe you should?" he said, in a low, menacing voice.

"Think about it," Clyde said, letting the silence hang heavily before continuing. "Zach could easily be strung along with us. He's not the most attractive looking guy around, like c'mon his best friend is Rusty."

"Hey!" Rusty shouted, clearly offended.

Clyde ignored him, stepping closer to Liam. "And where does that leave you? You won't have a strong social group if it's just you and Lincoln. No party invites, no group gatherings, and no bitches. One day, Lincoln's popularity will get to him, and he's going to drag you down with him. If not now, then soon. So what's it going to be, Liam?"

Liam rubbed his arm nervously, unable to meet Clyde's piercing gaze. "C'mon, fellas, don't make me choose."

Clyde's voice grew even more steely. "It's your call, but Rusty and I are walking away. If you're not with us, you're against us."

There was a long, tense silence. Clyde and Rusty took it as a no and began to walk away from him.

"Wait," Liam said, making them stop in their tracks. "Alright, I'm in, but I think we shouldn't tell him directly, not just yet. I don't have the heart to tell him."

Rusty shrugged, seemingly indifferent. "Meh, fine with me. I think it would be better if we don't. It's not like he's going to beat us senseless. The guy's a total pushover anyways." With all three in agreement, their friendship with Lincoln would never be the same again."

As Clyde's story ended, the present reality at the Burnt Bean came rushing back. The murmurs of the café, the clinking of coffee cups, the warm aroma of roasted beans anchored him firmly in the here and now. It was until Girl Jordan shook her head side to side, expressing her discontent. "Oh Clyde, if only you knew how badly you hurted Lincoln."

"I do now, and it was all thanks to Christina. As you know, there's more to the story than expected. But, I'll let her take it from here."

"Right," Christina said, as she readjusted herself. She recalled the moment vividly, when she invited Girl Jordan over. They were in the backyard, the warm afternoon sun casting a golden glow on the scene. Christina's dad was at the workbench, the blueprint of the treehouse spread out before him like a treasure map. He meticulously examined the measurements of the wood, ensuring each plank was cut to the precise length required for the structure. Alongside him were the two, contributing in their own way. For Christina, she handed him tools. As for Girl Jordan, she carried the cut planks to the tree. Though their efforts were minor, their presence was a welcoming sight to him. He was about to drill the frame together, but paused to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

"Here you go, Daddy," said Christina, passing him a cloth.

"Thanks, my little Cherrina,"

"Daaaaaad, we have company," Christina whined in embarrassment.

"Oh sweetie, I'm only teasing. And thank you Jordan, for lending a hand. We couldn't have gotten this much done without you two."

Girl Jordan waved a hand briskly, brushing off the praise. "You're being too modest Mr. Bennett. All we did was bring you tools and gather the wood."

"He, he, nonsense. Keep this up, and you girls won't need me anymore."

Christina's smile faltered, replaced by a frown. Her father noticed the change immediately and cleared his throat. "Ahem, why don't we call it a day? Cherrina, you two can head to your room. I'll bring snacks and drinks in a bit."

"Okay, Daddy, we will," she replied, her voice subdued.

As they headed to her room, Girl Jordan smirked and playfully nudged Christina. "Cherrina? That's a cute nickname."

"Don't remind me. Now do you see why I didn't want to invite you?" she chuckled, though her laugh lacked its usual warmth.

"There's no need to be embarrassed, Christina. I honestly think your dad is pretty sweet."

"Yeah... he is," she replied weakly.

The two girls made themselves comfortable, ready to discuss the matter at hand. "So... any word on Lincoln yet?" Christina asked as they both plopped onto her bed.

"Not much, sadly," Girl Jordan replied. "All I heard was he got a week's worth of detention, followed by a week of being grounded. I want to visit him, but I don't know his family very well. The most we've ever said to each other is 'hi' and 'bye.'"

Christina raised an eyebrow, baffled by the news. "Really? Aren't you two like best friends? Surely a relative or two should know about your relationship?"

"It's more complicated than it looks, our friendship. . . isn't really well known," Girl Jordan said hesitantly, her voice losing confidence. "And honestly, we prefer it that way."

"O...kay, but you do realize this makes it harder to keep in contact."

"I know it's just. . . everything was going smoothly until the fight. Now, I can't even call him over to talk about it. But whatever the excuse, it's the look he gave me that bothers me."

"What look?"

"When I passed him a note in class, he seemed happy for a second, but then his expression changed," Girl Jordan explained, her thumbs twirling anxiously. "Christina... I don't know what it is, but something going on between us."

There was an underlying fear gnawing at Christina. She knew exactly what Girl Jordan meant, and the truth became increasingly difficult to hide. The guilt weighed heavily on her, making her wonder how much longer she could keep this secret. Without giving it another thought, she suggested meeting Lincoln in person.

"Jordan, if you really care about him, you have to stop beating around the bush. Let's go to his house and ask him ourselves," Christina proposed

Girl Jordan drew in a deep breath, knowing she had to clarify the situation. "Okay, look. Lincoln is the only brother in a family of thirteen. Having ten sisters constantly up in your business always spells trouble. As you can see, he's already having enough problems at school, we don't need to add any more."

Christina's face softened, her hands instinctively moving to her heart. "I understand completely, you don't have to explain any further. However, I still believe we should meet in person. If it helps, we can downplay our friendship, so they won't catch on."

Girl Jordan's expression grew somber, the burden of truth weighs heavily. "I'm tired of keeping our friendship a secret, Christina. Regardless of what others may think, they should mind their own business. . . but, you're right. At times like this, we have to be straightforward with our feelings." Reluctant to go, she knew what needed to be done. "Let's go see Lincoln."

Following her lead, Christina nodded in agreement. They were about to head out when a sudden knock on the door interrupted them. Mr. Bennett stepped in, holding a cellphone in hand. "Sorry to interrupt, kiddo, but you have an urgent call," he said, his voice gentle yet serious.

"Who is it?"

"You know who it is."

At that moment, Christina's expression darkened, a shadow passing over her face. Her mood shifted, a grim contrast to her earlier demeanor. Girl Jordan noticed the sudden change, sensing the tension in the air. "Will you excuse us for a minute, Jordan?" Christina said, her voice full of detachment.

Girl Jordan nodded, stepping back to give them some space. Both father and daughter left the room, their footsteps echoing down the stairs. Christina took the phone, her grip firm as she prepared for the conversation ahead. "What do you want now, Corinna?" she asked, her voice composed but devoid of warmth.

"Sweetie, I miss you. I know you're upset with me, but I still want us to have a relationship. It's been so hard only seeing you on weekends, and now with the move from Detroit, it's even tougher."

"If you miss me so much, why don't you ask Ethan to bring you here? You managed to go behind Dad's back easily enough. So I'm sure you can do the same with me."

Corinna's sobs became audible through the phone, each cry a testament to her regret. "I'm not with him anymore. I left him because I realized my mistake. I couldn't bear losing you. You're the most important thing in my life, and I threw it all away. Please, give me another chance," she implored, her voice breaking under the weight of her emotions.

"Hey, you're more than welcome to come visit. It's not like I have a choice. That is, if you have any way to get here." She laughed cold-heartedly before hanging up the phone, the finality of the beep echoing in silence.

Her father looked at her with empathy, wishing she didn't have to endure this pain. Christina met his gaze, stricken with a hardened glare. "She ruined our family." she stated flatly, before stomping back upstairs.

Meanwhile, Girl Jordan kept herself occupied, texting Lincoln a few more times in hopes of getting a response. When Christina finally arrived, her mood was soured, marked by a grimace look. Concerned by her expression, Girl Jordan asked, "Is everything okay, Christina? I heard some arguing downstairs. Do you want to talk about it?"

In a calm and steady voice, Christina replied, "It's not important. Let's just focus on Lincoln instead."

Girl Jordan wasn't satisfied with the evasive answer. She crossed her arms and met Christina's gaze with a firm look. "Listen, Christina, I already have one friend giving me the cold shoulder, and I won't have another do the same. Now tell me, what's bothering you."

Surprised by her friend's assertiveness, Christina hesitated before speaking. "I'm sorry, Jordan. It's a family thing." Then an idea struck her. "You know what? I think Lincoln should hear this too."

Girl Jordan's expression softened. She asked, trying to understand her friend's intentions. "You think so? What are you trying to do?"

"You're just going to have to trust me on this," Christina said with a reassuring smile.

In her heart, Girl Jordan could feel the confidence in her voice resonate deeply, giving her a sense of comfort that ease her mind. Trusting that her words would reach Lincoln, the two friends set off for his house without further discussion.

As they walked up the street, Christina couldn't help but notice the glaring difference between Lincoln's house and the neighboring homes. Lincoln's front yard was a chaotic mess, a stark contrast to the pristine, well-kept lawns on either side. Toys were scattered everywhere, with various balls lodged on the rooftop and frisbees dangling precariously from the branches of an old oak tree.

As they reached the front porch, the scene became even more chaotic. A white dog, barking furiously, chased a cat that clutched an anchovy in its mouth, darting past them in a blur. From inside the house, an array of sounds assaulted Christina's ears: the loud riff of a guitar, a sudden explosion, and the unmistakable squabbling of two little girls.

Christina turned slowly to Girl Jordan, raising a finger to comment on the chaos, but she was quickly cut off. "Yes, this is a normal day in the Loud House," Girl Jordan said dryly, her tone filled with the weariness of familiarity. Christina lowered her finger, realizing that her question had already been answered.

With a press of a finger, Girl Jordan rang the doorbell. Immediately, a chorus of voices erupted from inside.

"Ugh, who's gonna get that? I'm busy with my hair!" Lori grumbled, clearly uninterested.

"Not me! I'm in the middle of a science experiment!" Lisa's voice chimed in, sounding annoyed.

"Come on, guys! I'm trying to practice my guitar solo!" Luna protested, strumming a loud chord.

"Why don't you get it, Lynn? You're always quick to the door!" Leni suggested, her tone light and innocent.

"No way, I'm in the middle of a game! Besides, it's your turn, Lucy!" Lynn countered, clearly not keen on the task.

Fed up with her sisters' reluctance, Lucy was already at the door when it swung open, revealing the unexpected guests. "Girl Jordan? What are you doing here?" she asked, curiosity evident in her voice. Lucy didn't know much about Girl Jordan, only that she was a classmate of Lincoln's. Whether she was close to her brother remained unclear, but her presence here surely meant it had something to do with him.

With a gentle wave, Girl Jordan greeted her, "Hi Lucy, is your brother home? I was wondering if it's okay to meet him?"

Lucy hesitated for a moment. "Well... he is grounded, but I think our parents are okay with a couple of his friends visiting. You are his friends, right?"

Girl Jordan smiled reassuringly. "Yes, we are."

Lucy's curiosity about their relationship grew, especially with the redhead standing beside Girl Jordan. The rumors she had heard seemed to gain more substance. As they stepped into the Louds' humble abode, the other sisters immediately took notice, pausing their activities to ponder the identity of the two visitors.

One sister, however, recognized one of them. Luna set down her guitar and stepped forward. "Hey Christina, nice to see you again. Come to say hi to our little bro? He's really down in the dumps lately. It's great to see his girlfriend—I mean, friend," Luna corrected herself, stumbling over her words and drawing everyone's attention to her slip-up.

"GIRLFRIEND?! WHAT THE HELL IS SHE TALKING ABOUT, CHRISTINA?!" Girl Jordan shouted, her voice laced with anger. Christina's eyes widened in realization—she had forgotten about Luna. Panic set in as she considered the possibility of Luna spilling the beans about the kiss. Feeling trapped, Christina sheepishly tapped her fingertips together, searching for an answer.

"Well, uh, you see… I can explain," she stammered, her voice trembling with fear.

Girl Jordan changed her posture, pointing at the ground emphatically to underscore her point. "Answer me right now! Are you and Lincoln dating behind my back?!"

The Loud sisters who were present began to grasp the situation, their faces reflecting a mix of shock and surprise. They collectively winced and let out a synchronized "Oooooooo" at Girl Jordan's accusatory tone.

Amongst the sisters, Luna realized the need to intervene before things got worse. Having inadvertently started this mess, she stepped forward to clarify. "Hey, hey, hey. Let's all calm down for a bit. Now, who are you and what's your relationship with my brother?"

Taking a moment to breathe, Girl Jordan replied, "I'm Lincoln's friend and classmate, Jordan. We both came here to see if Lincoln's doing okay. But now, I just want to hurt him!"

"Whoa, whoa, take it easy," said Luna raising her hands in a calming gesture.. "You got pretty upset when I mentioned girlfriend. Are you, by any chance, Lincoln's girlfriend?"

Now it was Girl Jordan's turn to stammer, a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks that Luna noticed. "No, but I'm... I'm a very special friend."

Luna raised an eyebrow, a playful grin spreading across her face. "Really? Then why has Lincoln never mentioned you?"

"It's... complicated, but we have our reasons,"

As she assessed the situation, Luna started to piece together why Lincoln might have kept things under wraps. First Ronnie Anne, then Christina, and now Jordan—was her little brother becoming a player? Since there's no point in hiding it further, Luna needed to address the fact that Lincoln was taken.

"Complicated?" Luna echoed, her tone sharp. "So let me get this straight: you're upset because Lincoln is dating, but you're not dating him yourself? You claim to be a good friend of his, but I beg to differ." She crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Jordan. "If you really care about him, you'd let him date who he wants and be happy about it. Otherwise, you're just being selfish."

"Selfish!? How dare you!" Girl Jordan retorted, her finger pointing at Luna in indignation. I stood by him when kids bullied him at school, or when he felt alone for being different. Hell, I'm here now! Shouldn't that count for something!" she argued, her voice rising in her rant. "There's a lot you don't know about! I help him with his homework, we watch movies together. . . he even braided my hair!" she clutched her ponytail to make her point.

Despite being yelled at, Luna couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. Perhaps there was more to Girl Jordan and Lincoln's relationship than meets the eye. She found herself smiling, captivated by how deeply the girl cared for him. However, her smile began to wane as she noticed Girl Jordan's eyes filling with tears. The girl's shoulders trembled, and her voice broke with the first sob.

"So what if I'm being selfish? How can I not be? I found out my best friends have been dating behind my back, and they didn't even bother to tell me." She buried her face in her hands, tears seeping through the gaps between her fingers. "They betrayed my trust, and my loyalty."

Christine grasped Jordan by the shoulders, desperation in her voice. "Jordan, it's not what you think. Lincoln and I aren't together!"

Jordan's eyes blazed with confusion and hurt. "Then why did she say you're Lincoln's girlfriend? How does she know you? Where did you two meet?" She pleaded, trying to make sense in all this. Turning to Luna, Jordan's gaze lingered on her rocker attire. "You're Luna, right? I've heard about you."

Luna nodded, taken aback by the intensity of the situation. Jordan's eyes shifted back to Christina, filled with accusation. "You met her at the concert with Lincoln, didn't you? You told me you only danced with him, but there was more, wasn't there?" Christina's mouth opened, but no words came out. She stood there, speechless.

As the chaos reached its peak, a new voice cut through the noise. "Hey, what's with all the yelling?" Lincoln called out, his arms overflowing with comedy props as he assisted Luan with her upcoming birthday gig. He paused at the top of the stairs, his eyes grew in shock as he saw Girl Jordan sobbing uncontrollably.

Without hesitation, Lincoln dropped the props, letting them scatter across the floor, and sprinted down the stairs. "Jordan, talk to me. Are you hurt? I'm here for you," he urged, his voice in a frantic rush.

But before he could say more, a sharp slap rang out, reverberating through the house like a thunderclap. Stunned, Lincoln's head snapped to the right, feeling the fiery sting on his cheek. He turned back to face Jordan, confusion and pain etched across his features, "I HATE YOU, LINCOLN LOUD!" she cried out.

Her words pierced like a knife, raw and pain-inducing. She then turned on her heel and fled from the house, her tears trailing behind her. Lincoln stood frozen, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. The mark on his cheek, a burning reminder of the unexpected outburst.

Shaking off his trance, Lincoln scanned his surroundings and noticed his sisters were just as shocked as he was. His gaze landed on Christina, surprised to see her there too. "Christina, why are you here? Why was Jordan crying?"

Christina's face fell, a deep frown creasing her forehead. "She found out, Lincoln. She realized there's more between us."

Lincoln's jaw dropped slightly in disbelief. "How? How did she figure it out?" Christina glanced sideways at Luna, prompting Lincoln to turn to her. "Luna, what did you do? What did you say!?"

Luna rubbed her elbow, her eyes downcast. "I accidentally told her Christina was your girlfriend," she confessed quietly. "I thought she was just another girl after you, so I said you were taken to throw her off." Lincoln's face twisted from shock to anger, but she quickly added, "I didn't realize you and this girl were so close. You never mentioned her before."

A deep, guttural groan of frustration escaped Lincoln. "Rrgggh! Do you even realize why? Every time one of you steps into my life, things always end up getting worse!" His voice grew louder with each word, causing Luna and their sisters to flinch. "Just stay away from me!"

Without another word, he grabbed Christina's hand and pulled her towards his room. As they passed Luan on the stairs, she pressed herself against the wall, not daring to upset him further. With a resounding Wham!, Lincoln slammed the door, a final punctuation to his livid outburst.

Right after Lincoln's explosive departure, Lori took charge. "Emergency Sister Meeting, now!" she commanded, prompting all the sisters to gather in her and Leni's room. The air buzzed with suspense as they quickly delved into the latest drama surrounding their brother's life. Luna wasted no time and launched into a detailed recount of the events at the concert. The room filled with gasps as the girls absorbed the story, each theorizing their own conclusions.

With the younger sisters attending the same school as Lincoln, they were in the perfect position to share the latest gossip. Lola, the queen of scuttlebutt amongst the sisters, began her rundown. "Okay, so the girl Lincoln is with right now is named Christina Bennett. She's the new 5th grader in his class and currently hangs out with the most popular girls."

Before elaborating further, Lola jumped up and grabbed the whiteboard in the room. She drew and circled around the little faces as she explained, "These are Girl Jordan, Rachel, Cookie, and Molly. They're considered to be the prettiest girls by the boys—second only to me of course," she added with a confident grin and flipped her hair.

Luan raised her hand and interjected, "That's good and all, but how is Lincoln involved in all this?"

Lola, adopting a thoughtful expression, replied, "That's a bit tricky. You see, opinions about him vary. Some boys admire him, while others seem to dislike him, likely out of jealousy."

"How so?" Leni inquired.

"Well," Lola continued, "Since the start of the new school year, Lincoln has been receiving compliments from multiple girls in school. I believe it all started from the popular girls I've mentioned." She tapped the whiteboard with her marker, emphasizing the circle she drew. "Recently, a rumor spread quickly about Lincoln. Apparently, during Coach Pacowski's class, he sent one of them to the nurse."

"What!?" Lynn said, her brow furrowing in disbelief. "That doesn't sound like something Lincoln would do!"

"I didn't fully understand it either, but somehow, it only made him more popular. According to my source, those same girls were around him. When one of them got too comfortable with him, she screamed. Word is, Lincoln was behind her and pushed against her, making her excited. Ever since then, girls have been calling him "Sausage Link," whatever that means." she concluded.

The older sisters' reactions made it clear they understood the implications. The notion that Lincoln was so "well-equipped" for his age spoke volume. Lori, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks, began fanning herself, trying to cool her flustered face. Leni, blankly stared in shock, her hand flying to cover her mouth as she swallowed hard. Luna, caught off guard, hugged a pillow tightly, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise. Luan, having just blown up a twisting balloon, stared at it awkwardly, using it as a reference. Lynn, touched her butt, realizing what prod her when she slept next to Lincoln.

As for the younger sisters, they were too innocent to grasp the innuendo in Lola's words. Lisa, however, facepalmed at the sheer ignorance that seemed to fly over their heads. Lucy, with a whimsical grin said, "Hmm, blood sausage," while Lana genuinely thought it was a cute nickname for Lincoln. Lastly, there was Lily—being a baby, she had no understanding of the situation at all, simply observing the reactions of her family with wide, curious eyes.

Before Lola could elaborate further, Lori cut her off. "Huh, Lola, I think we get it. Lincoln's not exactly the boys' favorite, and the reason the girls like him is pretty obvious."

Lola tilted her head in confusion. "Really? I don't get it. Can you explain?"

"Lola, please, you'll understand when you're older." Lori sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as frustration began to build. "Now it all makes sense—Clyde was fed up with all the attention Lincoln was getting. And now he's dealing with this. Speaking of which, who was that girl we saw earlier?"

"I think I can explain," Lucy said in her signature voice. She moved to the whiteboard and pointed to the doodle of the ponytail girl. "This is Girl Jordan, the girl Lola hinted. Everyone likes her. Boys crush on her, and girls respect her. She's known for being kind, smart, and hardworking. Even the teachers say she's the student everyone should look up to."

Leni replied, "Wow, Lucy, how do you know so much about her?"

"How could I not?" Lucy responded. "She's basically the unofficial leader of our school council, which means she's always organizing fundraising events like bake sales and car washes. If memory serves right, Principal Huggins once tried to disband our mortician club, citing an ancient Act of 1874 that required all clubs to have at least seven members. Unfortunately, we only had six. Just when things looked bleak, Girl Jordan produced the Act of 1875, which conveniently nullified that ridiculous rule."

She paused, recollecting deeper on what transpired. "Come to think of it, I did ask Lincoln to join us, but he mentioned someone else could help. If you ask me, it seems too convenient to be a coincidence ."

Lisa chimed in, with a brief spray of spit. "You know, something similar happened to me. My science club desperately needed a telescope but lacked the necessary funds to retrieve one. Then, out of the blue, Girl Jordan shows up with a brand-new telescope, pristine and all. Naturally, I asked how she managed to get such high-quality equipment. She just told me that a local college no longer needed it and was happy to give it away. Funny thing is, when I thanked her, she told me to thank Lincoln instead. Oddly enough, this only further supports how subtle their friendship truly was."

After finding out who Girl Jordan is, Luna's face turned pale with guilt. "Dude, what have I done? I just wanted Lincoln to have a rad relationship without the drama. How am I supposed to know they were tight as a well-tuned riff?" She let out a deep sigh, running a hand through her hair. "I bet he felt terrible about kissing Christina. Maybe that's the reason why he wanted to keep it a secret."

"So in other words, she literally got friendzone." Lori stated bluntly. "Poor girl. . . We really need to have a heart-to-heart with Lincoln. He's clearly struggling and needs our help."

Lana quickly remarks, "Now hold on a second, isn't that a bad idea? We all saw how he lashed out on Luna, and he made it pretty clear he wanted to be left alone. Plus, he got his girlfriend in his room and I don't think a lecture is appropriate right now."

"And I agree with you Lana. This is something Lincoln needs to figure out on his own, but that doesn't mean we can't give him advice. When the time is right, we'll discuss the best way to support him." With that being said, all the sisters couldn't help but agree.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall, Lincoln roam restlessly in his room, his thoughts in a constant state of panic. As for Christina, she lounged on his bed, her gaze steady as he walked in a rhythmic pace. "I can't lose her, Christina! I just can't! I know I need to tell her I love her, but why is it so hard?" He stopped abruptly, his lips trembling as he fought to hold back the tears, but it was rather pointless.

Seizing the moment, Christina gently guided him to sit next to her. She wrapped her arms around him, letting his head rest on her chest, his cries muffled by her embrace. "Lincoln," she whispered softly, "there's still a chance to tell her. We can fix this by being honest with her. I'm sure she'll say yes."

Lincoln pulled away from the hug, his breathing steadier as he finally found his voice. "It's not about her anymore, Christina. It's you," he said, his words tinged with vulnerability. Christina's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, wondering if she should be offended. "Don't you get it? I love you too," he confessed, his voice laden with emotion.

As the realization settled in, Christina's confusion melted away, replaced by a warm sensation spreading through her chest. Her cheeks turned a rosy hue, reminiscing the time at the concert. "Lincoln, you really know how to make a girl feel special," she said shyly, but sincere.

With a delicate touch, Christina urges him to lie down beside her, their intimacy growing stronger. They snuggled facing each other, their arms entwined as if they were holding onto a precious secret. "If this has been weighing on you so much, why don't we make it official? Let's finally be together," she suggested.

Lincoln whispered, "Christina, I want this to work, I really do. But Jordan means the world to me. I can't just brush her aside."

Christina inched closer, now resting her head on his arm. "Lincoln, you can't keep stringing both of us along. Not only are you hurting her, but you're hurting me too." He averted his gaze, shame casting a shadow over his features. "You're going to have to choose, sooner or later. I know what I want now Lincoln. I want you." Her eyes were lidded with the daze of love. Each word she spoke, he could feel the warmth of her breath. "Listen," she said softly but firmly. "There's something I need to tell you, and when I'm done, I want you to decide who you'll choose. Deal?" He nodded slowly, keeping his promise.

Christina drew a deep breath and started. "When I came to Royal Woods, it was to escape, to find a new beginning away from the city. But there's more to the story. My father and I discovered that my mother was having an affair with his best friend. That revelation turned my world upside down and made me reevaluate every choice I've made. You see, my mom always preached that men were nothing more than sources of income. She believed that if you made them feel special and needed, they would do almost anything for you. She taught me to avoid being used by others, to use them instead. To always protect myself from competition and remain on top."

"Sadly, that mindset came with a cost. The girls despised me, and the boys saw me only as eye candy." With a guiding hand, she reached out, tenderly cupping his cheek. "I know what it's like to feel alone, Lincoln. Do you understand why I'm sharing this?"

He nodded slowly, "I do."

"Good." She replied, "Now, before you answer, if you say yes. I need to know if you're thinking with your pants or your heart?"

Lincoln gave a sly smile. "Can't it be both?"

Without uttering another word, he dived in and captured her lips with his. The kiss began softly, a mere touch of contact, but soon their lips danced together, producing a series of slick, smacking noises. It then progresses even further, tongues begin to mingle, battling it out for sheer dominance. With each passing moment, their heart raced in harmony, closing their eyes in pure ecstasy.

The tension was rising, Christina's hands found their way around Lincoln's neck, pulling him closer as he deepened the kiss. Now mounted on top, Lincoln's hands were inches away from her face, feeling the hair on his skin stand up.

He leaned back, resting on his knees, keeping his upper body straight and tall. With nimble fingers, he swiftly unbuttoned his shirt and flung it to the side of the room. Christina's eyes lit up with surprise, tracing her fingers along the contours of his abdomen, causing him to giggle by the ticklish assault.

Lincoln's focus now locked onto Christina's skirt, shifting his gaze back to hers. Trembling in fear and excitement, her fists clenched together as if they were tied at the wrist. With the signal of approval, he gradually lifted the hem of her skirt, begging to see the color underneath.

Just as the moment reached its peak, two loud voices shattered the intimacy. "LINCOLN!"

Startled, he quickly turned to see his mother and father standing in the doorway, their faces etched with scowling disapproval. Lincoln swallowed hard as he realized the gravity of the situation, bracing himself for a scolding of a lifetime.