User blog:Heronimbus/On the Run: A Loud House Story - Chapter 6

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Clyde brought some sticks over to the area Lincoln and Ronnie Anne were sitting at. They had gone about 145 miles over the past few hours and were camping out that night.

"So..." Ronnie Anne began. "Did you guys bring food?"

"Yup," said Lincoln, as he pulled out a bag of marshmallows.

A few minutes later, the fire was ready and the kids were roasting their marshmallows. They were rather silent as they sat there, but at the time there wasn't much to talk about. Finally, Ronnie turned to Lincoln and asked the question she'd been meaning to ask since she found him at his window.

"D-did... did you really miss me?"

Lincoln sighed. "Yeah. I did. .....OK, I know this is gonna sound... really corny, but... I was at one of my friend's parties last night, and... I had a daydream... about you?"

Ronnie Anne looked him in the eyes, and suddenly he shuddered.

"Well, uh, I mean... I was just imagining what it would be like if you were there... we'd probably... what was the word I heard you use? Jam?"

"Dude, I know you have a crush on me," Ronnie Anne said. "We're basically dating now. We're cool."

"D-dating...?"

"Well, not in the literal sense. Not at an old-fashioned restaurant or anything. Just... dating. And listen, Lincoln..." She put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry I had to leave so soon. I was hoping I could hang out with you more often, because... I think you're handsome."

Lincoln jumped at the sound of the word. "R-really??"

"Uh..." Ronnie Anne seemed to be looking through the woods for ways to cover up her statement. "I-I mean you're in some chaos over at your house. Y'know, ten sisters and all?"

"Hey, don't worry about it. I mean... you are the most beautiful girl I've ever met, so..." Lincoln shrugged.

Ronnie Anne blushed. "Lincoln... that's... that's really sweet."

"But Ronnie... you don't like mushy romance."

"No, listen... no one has ever called me beautiful. Guys always make fun of my freckles or my buck teeth. They tell me... I'm not a 'real' girl."

Lincoln chuckled. "Expectations, y'know what I mean?"

"Heh... yeah."

They smiled at each other contently.

"You remind me of Lynn," said Lincoln. "And... kinda Lori too."

His smile weakened, and he turned away in a flash. Ronnie Anne reached out to him once more. "Hey... what's wrong, lame-o? C'mon, you can tell me."

Clyde had been paying attention to his video game as Lincoln and Ronnie Anne were talking, and only now did he realize Lincoln was starting to cry.

"I-I miss my sisters," Lincoln whimpered.

"I'm sure they miss you too..."

"I... I'm sorry if I sound stupid crying like this... I sound like a wimp..."

"N-no! No you don't. It's... it's normal to cry... even for me. Because, like..." Ronnie struggled to get the words out. "...My dad died when I was little. That day was the worst I'd felt in my life. And... that's why I act like the bully people think I am. Because I think if I can lash out on other people, my own insecurities will go away. But... they never do."

Somehow, Lincoln knew how she felt, and he was blubbering with the conflicting emotions he was going through. Ronnie Anne took off the Royal Woods sweatshirt Lincoln had given her a while back, and gave it to him. "Here... wipe it with this."

"B-but you'll be cold," said Lincoln.

"I know," Ronnie Anne comforted him. "But at least you'll be happy."

Lincoln grabbed the sweater and hugged her tight, crying into her shoulder.

Clyde didn't bother to spoil the moment. He just sat there smiling, touched at the moment and its preciousness, and hoping things would be the same with him and Lo--

A rustling noise. He pulled his flashlight out of his pocket and flicked it on. Lincoln and Ronnie Anne followed suit.

"Shouldn't you go check it out...?" Ronnie Anne asked Clyde.

"Heck no! Have you watched Stranger Things? Everyone who goes out alone gets attacked by the--"

"OK, OK, just be quiet."

The three kids huddled up together, holding their flashlights towards the area the rustling was coming from. Within a short moment, a large, fuzzy brown creature slowly approached their campsite, its teeth seemingly glowing in the moonlight.

"RUN!"

The kids quickly grabbed their things and started running as the bear chased them. Clyde was falling behind a bit, struggling to catch up.

"Clyde, run faster!" Lincoln yelled.

"I'm trying! I'm trying!"

The bear almost caught Clyde's leg, but Lincoln pulled him forward just in time. They kept running as fast as they could until Lincoln tripped over a root, landing right in the bear's path.

"NO!" Ronnie Anne cried out as the bear stomped closer.

Lincoln stared into the bear's dark eyes with fear. "N-nice teddy bear..." he stuttered as he felt its chilly, harsh breath, each release stronger than the last. The bear growled, its teeth set up in perfect, shiny triangles, as it prepared to devour Lincoln Marie Loud.

"Hey, you!" a voice called out. Cristina stepped up to the bear with a slingshot and a sack of rocks, ready to draw. "Pick on someone your own size!"

The bear gulped and ran away as swiftly as it had come.

"Cristina!" Clyde yelled with joy. "You came back!"

"Y-you... saved me..." said Lincoln with a grateful smile on his face.

Cristina grinned with pride. "Rule number one of being a Bluebell Scout: always stick up for your friends!"

Ronnie Anne stood in front of Cristina, looking embarassed. "Uh, hey... you probably know me... 'cause of that incident with the blouse and the punch... I'm sorry about that."

"We're cool, Ronnie Anne," Cristina gave her a handshake.

"Heh... thanks, Duchess."

"So, you just give everyone nicknames?" Lincoln asked.

"It's a special case with Cristina," she replied. "We were rivals in first grade... and second... and third..."

"But it's all good now," Cristina finished.

"Hey, that's great! Now... about the campsite..."

Clyde looked back at the fire. "I guess we shouldn't stay out here like this."

"Follow me," Cristina suggested firmly. "I know there's an old cabin around here somewhere."

"Y-you haven't watched The Evil Dead, have you? Old cabins always mean--"

"Stop being such a dork, Clyde!" Ronnie Anne yelled. She smirked a bit. "Heh... that's my nickname for you. Dork."

"Uh, OK... heh, heh." Clyde smiled nervously as the four kids continued to walk through the woods.

Upon arriving at the cabin, Cristina began dusting the floor with her personal broom and dustpan so Lincoln, Clyde, and Ronnie Anne could lay down their sleeping bags. It wasn't long before they all went to sleep.

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Lincoln woke up with a yelp. He looked around swiftly. No oil. No creepy red light. It was morning. His friends were still there.

He let out a breath of relief, glad he and the world around him were safe and sound.

Still... there was something about that nightmare that felt eerily familiar to him. But that could wait until later... he definitely didn't want those thoughts distracting him right then.

Ronnie Anne slowly sat up and yawned. "Mornin', lame-o."

Cristina was leaning against Clyde, smiling. They both started to wake up, and Cristina jumped with shock. "Clyde?? I... oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to get too close!"

"It's fine, Cristina," Clyde reassured her, albeit drowsily. "I... kinda liked it, actually."

They all stood up. Cristina started brushing her hair, Ronnie Anne zipped up her old purple sweater she brought as back-up, and Clyde put on his glasses.

"So... what are we gonna eat for breakfast?" Clyde asked.

Lincoln seemed to already have an idea. "Maybe we should go fishing."

His three friends looked at each other to check for approval, and Ronnie Anne decided, "I don't see why not."