Punctuation

	“Come on lame-o, is that all you got?!” Ronnie Anne teased, biting her tongue in intense focus.

	“N-Not so fast Ronnie Anne,” Lincoln pleaded, feeling quite overwhelmed by the feisty girl’s technique and skill. The boy struggled and fought back to the best of his ability, even working up a sweat but he just couldn’t compete. “At least give me a chance, I can’t take much more of this!”

	“Too bad Lincoln,” Santiago gripped the stick before her and went all out, unleashing a relentless assault against the unsuspecting lad. She knew just how to push his buttons, and much more importantly, her own as well. “Here comes the climax!”

	“No no no…”Lincoln winced and stopped fighting, accepting his defeat at the girl’s dexterous digits and slick movements.

	“TOTAL KNOCKOUT!” The arcade cabinet echoed as a series of colorful flashes illuminated the defeated Lincoln. The boy sighed; slowly turning his head to face Ronnie Anne and the smug expression of superiority she had waiting for him.

	“Well Loud, have you learned your lesson yet? I told ya that I’m the best at Super Mega Brawlers Turbo Fighters: Arcade Edition!” There it was just as he had predicted. That raised brow, the sharp curve of her smirk, that undeserved sense of entitlement. Lincoln just couldn’t end it there.

	“You got lucky that time Ronnie Anne!”Lincoln hopped back up and gripped the joystick, determined to swipe back the victory he so deserved. “Come on let’s keep going, best-of-101!”

	“Lincoln you don’t even have any more quarters,” Ronnie pointed out. Lincoln was annoyed at how right she was and disappointed at himself for spending all his cash. “Besides it’s getting late. Let’s play some more tomorrow!”

	The two 11 year olds departed from Gus’ Game and Grub, snickering and making small talk about their day as they walked home side by side. Lincoln never would have imagined that the person who once bullied and harassed him would become one of his closest friends. It felt great to hang out with a girl who wasn’t his sister for once.

	“And that’s how I got this scar on my elbow. Lynn was in tears for hours that day but at least she learned her lesson about pushing toddlers around in shopping carts.” Lincoln chuckled as he retold an old story from his youth to Ronnie Anne.

	“Dang, that’s pretty rough. Funny, but rough!” Ronnie commented, giggling at Lincoln’s past misfortune. The kids slowed down as they approached the street corner, trying to make the most of each other’s company before parting ways for the day.

	“Well I’ve got a brand new Ace Savvy comic waiting for me at home! Do you have anything planned for tonight Ronnie Anne?” Lincoln inquired with earnest interest.

	“Naaah, I’m feeling pretty beat right now. Probably from kicking your butt all day at the arcade,” Ronnie snickered. Lincoln just rolled his eyes. “I think I’m gonna call it a night. Later.”

	Ronnie Anne turned at the corner when she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. Lincoln looked over his shoulder and cautiously examined the immediate vicinity. She followed in suit, making sure no one was around to see them. Not a soul could be spotted down either end of the sidewalk. The coast was clear.

	Ronnie Anne turned back and quickly wrapped her arms around the white haired boy. Lincoln accepted, embracing the girl in a warm hug that last no more than a second. It was an incredible second to say the least. “Catch you later lame-o!”

	Lincoln watched as the little latina disappeared down the street with a knowing smirk. His legs felt like they were going to turn to goo after their shared moment. That girl was a firecracker that made Lincoln feel things. Good things. He was going to enjoy mopping the arcade floor with her next time.

* * *

	“Lincoln?” Clyde scratched his head in confusion, walking a foot behind his friend as they made their way down the hallway back to class. “Earth to Lincoln! What the heck are you doing down there?”

	The white haired boy was on all fours, posterior in the sky and nose to the ground like a wandering beagle sniffing out clues. His peculiar behavior caught the attention of more than a few passersby. He didn’t care though, he was on a mission.

	“What was that Clyde,” Lincoln continued to survey the hallway floor, paying only half attention to his curious friend. “I’m a little busy scavenging for loose change so I can go to the arcade after school. Today’s the day I finally settle my score with Ronnie Anne at Super Mega Brawlers.”

	“Ah I see, that makes sense.” Clyde said to himself when a sudden realization hit his head harder than a fall to the ground after spotting Lori. “I have one question though.”

	“What’s that?” Lincoln responded bluntly.

	“How are you going to do that when Ronnie Anne went home early?”

	“Wait what?” Lincoln sprung up from the ground like a spastic rabbit when he heard the information Clyde shared. “Are you serious? Dang it, I was looking forward to beating her too! Say, why did she leave so early anyways? School is only halfway through.”

	Clyde just shrugged. A disappointed Lincoln pondered for a moment before dismissing any potential thoughts on the matter. He was in no position to start prying into other people’s business but his youthful curiosity did make him wonder. ‘She probably wasn’t feeling too well’, the boy thought as he went about his day, postponing his search for change. He’d make sure to get her next time.

	The walk home after class for Lincoln was a lonely one. Clyde’s dads picked him up from school for another one of his much needed therapy sessions, leaving the white haired boy a lone wolf. Lincoln didn’t mind much; any moment of reprieve and absolute privacy was always appreciated. It gave him time to think about nothing in particular. At least until he passed by a certain spot on the way home.

	“Don’t look Loud,” the boy whispered to himself as he turned a corner. “It’ll only hurt to look! Besides you don’t even have enough money!” Lincoln kept his eyes forward as he approached the Game and Grub, ignoring the bright lights of temptation and the beckoning bleeps and bloops from the arcade.

	The boy began to rotate his head once he caught a whiff of that mediocre, cardboard pizza fragrance that he loved dearly. It was getting to be too much for the young lad to ignore any longer. Lincoln forced himself to look away. His gaze shifted in the opposite direction and caught something that piqued his interest a bit more than pizza and games.

	“Hey, is that…?” The boy wondered despite full well knowing the answer.

	Across the street, an open thrift store welcomed patrons and shoppers a plenty. A tall black haired fellow in a plaid-green shirt accompanied by a little lady in a deep purple hoodie entered the store. The couple was unmistakable. Lincoln told himself at school he wouldn’t worry about something as mundane as an early dismissal but he soon found himself going back on his word. With interest and curiosity piqued, Lincoln channeled his inner Ace Savvy and crossed the street to investigate.

	Lincoln inconspicuously entered the store, or so he thought. The sleuthing lad dashed and darted between aisles, ignoring the judging gaze of shoppers. As he delved deeper into the market, a familiar voice could be heard chatting from the next aisle over.

	“It’s alright sis, there’s nothing to be nervous about,” The guy spoke in a soft tone, as if trying to comfort and reassure the one he was with. “Don’t get overwhelmed, if you have any questions I could always call Lori and—”

	“Bobby can you stop talking!?” The agitated voice snapped back like a roaring lion. The man could only respond with an audible gulp. The girl’s tone quickly subsided into something a bit more apprehensive. “Please, I just need a minute to think about this…”

	“Did they say Lori?” If the puzzled eavesdropper wasn’t invested in the conversation before, he certainly was right then and there. The frustration in Ronnie Anne’s voice was palpable and the desire to figure out what had her so riled up was nipping at the boy.

	 Lincoln took a deep breath. He grabbed a magazine off a nearby rack, any one it didn’t matter, and flipped it to a random page. The boy feigned interest in the contents as he took his first step, moving around the corner and into the next aisle.

	“Wow this issue of… ‘Feminine Freedom’ is way better than the last one!” Lincoln shouted with confused intrigue as he made his presence known. Before he could even raise his head to keep the charade rolling, an opposing force brought Lincoln to a halt, smashing his face into the creases of the magazine. The boy recoiled and fell backwards onto his rear. “Ow, my aching—”

	“L-Lincoln!?” It was all Ronnie Anne could muster up the ability to say in her startled state.

	“Oh hey Ronnie Anne! I wasn’t expecting to run into you here,” Lincoln lied. “I didn’t see you at school today. Are you feeling alright? What’s up Bobby, you guys doing some shopping?”

	“H-Hey Linc,” Bobby’s voice trembled as he confronted the boy. “Nice seeing you dude but now probably isn’t the best time for—”

	“Oh sorry about bumping into you Ronnie Anne.” Lincoln bent over and retrieved the small carton that she had dropped upon impact. “Here, you dropped your box of… Super Absorbent Lily-Pads!”

	Ronnie Anne’s flustered expression grew worse as her face became flushed red from embarrassment. The absolute mortification she was experiencing was rising to levels she couldn’t possibly imagine. Her heart was pounding and she could feel a single, solitary tear form below her right eye. That dumb, chip toothed smile of Lincoln’s only further exacerbated the girl’s foul mood. As if they day hadn’t been awful enough, it seemed fate had conspired to shit on her at every opportunity. Her body was aching, her headache was grating and an untapped source of hidden rage was unearthed within the sour Santiago. Her body quaked as the Loud boy continued to ramble on about something or other. He had no idea how humiliated Ronnie Anne was feeling. He had no idea how much his presence was making things worse. He. Had. No. Idea.

	“Say, what are these things anyways?” A blissfully unaware Lincoln inquired as he shook the box of feminine products about in the air like a flail. It was the straw that broke Ronnie Anne’s back. “My sisters keep a ton of similar looking things under the bathroom sink and— Is everything alright Ronnie Anne? You’re sweating an awful lot. Maybe you should go home and rest or—”

	“LINCOLN SHUT THE HELL UP!” Ronnie Anne erupted at the top of her lungs, drowning out the store’s ambient music for a brief second. Santiago felt immediate regret upon the utterance of those sharp words. Ronnie Anne’s eyes bulged out as she covered her mouth in shame, a mighty gasp slipping out between her fingers. The girl was a whirling mess of hormones at the moment. She wanted so desperately to apologize for that unwarranted response but just couldn’t find the words. Instead of giving an explanation for her temper Ronnie Anne did the only thing she could do to save face in front of her friend. The emotional adolescent swiped the box from Lincoln’s hands and dashed out of the store without looking back.

	“Aw geez,” Bobby panicked. He was just as confused about the situation as his sister was. He knew he wasn’t the right guy for this job but he was the only one who could be there for her at the moment. “Sorry about that Linc, I’ve gotta go!” Bobby slammed some cash on the counter and dashed out the store after his sibling.

	If Lincoln’s hair wasn’t already white, it certainly would have been after that little outburst. A couple of customers eyed the bewildered boy briefly before going about their business. Lincoln had goosebumps and his legs grew weak. He had no clue where that came from and he wasn’t sure he even wanted to know.

	“D-Did I say something wrong?” Lincoln regained his composure and glanced at his surroundings. All that caught his eye was the myriad of washroom sundries and feminine hygiene products that filled the aisle. The boy scratched his head and left the thrift store like a lost puppy. Apparently, living under a house with 11 ladies didn’t teach him much at all about women or so he thought.

	Upon arriving home, Lincoln didn’t even bother to properly greet any of his loitering sisters. A pat on the head for Lana, a quick high five to Lynn and the boy was upstairs without a second thought. Lincoln dashed into the unoccupied bathroom and slammed the door behind him. The lad’s curiosity brought him here to uncover the mystery that had been plaguing his mind since he left the store.

	“Ah, here they are!” Lincoln joyfully exclaimed after a second of rummaging through the bathroom cabinets. The boy gripped a light blue box, starring at it intently under the florescent, washroom lighting. These were the wares he was referring to earlier. The brand was different but the product was more or less identical. Perhaps the answer to Ronnie Anne’s irritability was hidden within, he thought.

	Lincoln tore open the box as if it were Christmas morning, revealing the bizarre contents within. More packaging. The boy raised a brow and tilted his head. He held in his hand a blue slip, same color as the box he made short work of a minute prior. The flummoxed expression on Lincoln’s face upon unwrapping the pack was enough to give Leni a run for her money.

	“What in the world ARE these things?” Lincoln held the pad to his face, examining the almost alien-like product as if he were an appraiser of fine jewelry. It was soft and spongy to the touch, quite flexible as well. Lincoln waved it like a flag, trying to illicit some kind of response. Further investigation was required but Lincoln was determined to understand how these functioned. Ace Savvy wouldn’t give up on a case and neither would he!

	“Knock knock,” a scratchy voice spoke up as a formality before kicking the bathroom door open. “Make way ‘cause this Loud needs to drop a wicked—”

	Luna Loud stood as stiff as a rock in the doorway, trying to process the ridiculous sight taking place before her. Sitting on the bathroom floor was her younger brother Lincoln who seemed to be lost in deep thought. Countless feminine pads littered the floor in some kind of freakish ritualistic fashion the likes of which Luna had never seen before. She didn’t know whether to laugh, cry or become enraged.

	“Bro,” An anxious Luna spoke up, eager to find out what her sibling was up to. “Just what the heck do you think you’re doing with those?”

	“Oh hey Luna,” Lincoln had his eyes glued firmly to the box he savagely ripped open. “I’m trying to achieve a better understanding of women. Can you demonstrate for me how these work?”

	Lincoln was hoping to leave the bathroom with an answer to his problems but all he got was a black eye and 5 dollars for his silence on the matter. If Luna was any indication, Lincoln figured it would be best to just keep things to himself. The perplexed prepubescent boy settled on the conclusion that Santiago must have been having a bad day. He was too physically and emotionally drained to think otherwise at the moment. He’d get an explanation from her next time. After all, they were still friends. Right?

* * *

	The following morning, Lincoln walked to school alongside his best bud Clyde, retelling the interesting encounter he had the previous day.

	“In the middle of the whole store!? That sounds pretty harsh Lincoln,” Clyde expressed sympathy for his pal upon listening to his story. “Take it from a pro. Women can be fickle and unpredictable. Not my Lori though. We have a mutual understanding regarding the nature of our relationship and one of these days—”

	“Clyde.”

	“Oh, sorry about that! Anyways, I would suggest just try talking to her. Odds are she didn’t mean to snap at you. What’s the worst that could happen?”

	Lincoln briefly considered Clyde’s advice. The kid was a total bastion of knowledge, even if said knowledge was flawed half the time. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to give it a shot.

	“Speak of the devil,” Clyde forewarned, blocking Lincoln with his arm as they approached the school. “Santiago at 12 o’ clock!”

	Lincoln felt a sharp pang stab him in the chest but only for a moment. It reminded him of how he used to see Ronnie Anne, before they were friends and she was just some bully. He wasn’t sure what caused these feelings to resurface but he quickly discarded them. The boy took a deep breath and called out to her.

	“Hey Ronnie Anne!” Lincoln waved, sporting an overly generous smile.

	The girl in the purple sweater tensed up. Ronnie Anne was dreading this encounter since the prior day. Her attitude was a step up since then but she still wasn’t her usual enthusiastic and spunky self. She had no clue what she was going to say about her behavior or the accompanying outburst. The least she could give was a sign. An acknowledgment that there were no hard feelings between them. That would be the mature thing to do. She was so sick of hearing the M word.

	Ronnie cracked a halfhearted smile and raised her arm to waved back. That smile quickly faded when she saw Loud approaching her. She wasn’t sure she wanted to get into that mess so early in the morning. An explanation was owed but not right then and there. The conflicted girl handled the situation the best way she could think of at the moment.

	Lincoln watched as Ronnie Anne flubbed about in a panic before dashing away into the building, blending in to the sea of students. The boy felt absolutely crestfallen. He couldn’t take a step towards her without screwing up. He had no idea what he had done to deserve the cold shoulder.

	Throughout the entire morning, Lincoln’s mind was muddled with constant distractions. Every close encounter with Santiago was just that, a close one. If Lincoln didn’t know any better, it would seem like Ronnie Anne was intentionally going out of her way to get out of his way. Each little instance built up throughout the day, frustrating Lincoln and weighing heavy on his conscience. It was almost spirit-breaking how someone he considered a close friend would barely even acknowledge him.

	When the final bell rang and class was let out for the day, Lincoln made one final effort to talk with Ronnie Anne. He caught the girl just off campus, already on the path home.

	“Hey Ronnie Anne,” Lincoln called out once again as he caught up to his sassy friend. He had lost track of how many attempts that was in one day. “Are you free? I scored a bit of cash last night and was wondering if you wanted to hang out at the arcade for a bit. It’ll be my treat!”

	“No thanks,” Ronnie Anne shot back, not even taking the time to think about Lincoln’s offer. “See you later Lincoln.”

	“Ronnie Anne how long are you going to keep ignoring me,” Lincoln was at wits’ end. He was tired of tiptoeing around the issue and wanted an answer. “If I did something wrong can you at least tell me what it was? I’m seriously at a loss here!”

	Santiago sighed, exhausted by Loud’s incessant badgering. With all those sisters, how could he not take a hint? She had to tell him something she just didn’t know what.

	“LINCOLN YOU DUMMY, YOU DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!” Ronnie Anne roared, clenching her fists as tight as possible. The agitation and frustration were settling in once again but she did her best to manage it. “I’m not mad at anything you did it’s just that— I really want to— ARRRGH I DON’T KNOW HOW TO TELL YOU!”

	Ronnie’s voice grew hoarse as she went on. All this negative activity was making her stomach turn and she was beginning to feel nauseous.

	“I’m still your friend aren’t I, Ronnie Anne?” Lincoln’s body quivered slightly, unsure of the answer he would receive to that question. “You can be honest with me if something is going on. I just want things to go back to normal but it feels like you don’t even want me around!”

	“I want things to be normal again too!” Ronnie Anne buck teeth sank into her lip. It was the only thing she could think of to help fight back the tears that were starting to form. She didn’t want people seeing her in such a vulnerable state, especially not Lincoln. “And of course we’re still friends lame-o, that never changed.”

	Hearing Ronnie Anne’s words immediately put Lincoln’s mind at ease. The mighty sigh of relief he let out was strong enough to blow a house down. “Then what’s going on Ronnie Anne? Is there anything I can do to make things better? I still don’t completely understand!”

	“Of course you don’t understand. You’re a boy!”

	“Why does that matter?!” Lincoln was growing livid at Ronnie Anne’s cryptic words. He was so confused about everything; almost as much as Ronnie Anne was.

	The little latina’s patience was wearing thin. Beads of sweat rolled down her temples and she could feel another series of cramps on the way. She wanted to make amends but more importantly, she wanted to go home. Ronnie Anne knew she wasn’t being especially cooperative but she also wasn’t going to feel guilty for something she had no control over. If Lincoln wanted honesty, that’s what he was going to get.

	“Lincoln… I’m having my period,” A tomato-red Ronnie Anne confessed, still in disbelief that she revealed that information in public. It felt as if a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders, only for an even heavier one to take its place. “And to be honest, it’s kind of a scary thing to deal that I’m still trying to understand.”

	A loose bolt suddenly tightened in Lincoln’s brain. That term Ronnie Anne used was one he was quite certain he had heard before. It was a word spoken in hushed circles around the house. The sharp witted kid was begging to put the pieces together. This was a girl thing. The kind of girl thing he knew nothing about.

	“I’m glad you’re talking to me Ronnie Anne but I still don’t get it,” Lincoln was pleased that their conversation was finally going somewhere but he still had needed to know more. “What does that mean?”

	“I think you’re better off asking someone else that question,” Santiago turned her back to the boy and got moving. She wasn’t about to go into further detail about this subject with Lincoln. It wasn’t her job. “Bye lame-o, talk to you some other time.”

	Lincoln wanted to call out to his dear friend but no words escaped that slack-jawed expression he wore. All he could do was stand around like a buffoon, reflecting on that bizarre and awkward interaction. He wasn’t sure what he would have said to the girl anyways. It was reassuring to know that she felt no ill will towards him though. Lincoln walked home, his mind racing with curious new thoughts and questions all the way to the front door. He wasn’t home long before a brain scrambling voice screamed his name. It belonged to the one person he wanted to see the most.

	“LINCOLN!” Lori greeted her brother in the manner that was most becoming of her; totally aggressive and furious. “Bobby was literally just telling me about how he ran into you at the store the other day!”

	“Hey Lori…” Lincoln murmured, trying to break through his sister’s audible assault.

	“Did you make Ronnie Anne upset again!?” Lori pointed to her phone, as if showing off the convo would mean something. “He says you didn’t but I just know you did! I don’t know why he tries to defend you!”

	“Lori, I was wondering…”

	“No, I was the one wondering. WONDERING WHAT YOU WERE THINKING! That girl is going through some serious stuff and if this somehow leads to Bobby breaking up with me again then I’m gonna grab you by your scrawny little neck and—”

	“What’s a period?”

	Lori’s endless tirade final came to a halt. Her expression of unimaginable rage simmered like a flickering flame. Nothing she did or said could have possibly prepared her for that bomb Lincoln dropped on her.

	“W-What!?” Lori feigned ignorance, trying to buy time so she could come up with a way to tackle the subject. “I literally have no clue what you’re mumbling about.”

	“PLEASE LORI,” Lincoln dropped to his knees, pleading with his eldest sister for some form of assistance. “I’ve never been more confused in my life about anything! I just want things to be normal with Ronnie Anne again but she doesn’t want to hang out or talk or anything and I just—” Lincoln’s voice grew raspy and stilted as he droned on and on about his situation.

	“LINCOLN CALM DOWN,” Lori kneeled down to meet her troubled sibling, grabbing the boy by the cheeks to stop his blubbering. “Do you even know what the heck it is that you’re asking? Don’t they teach you this stuff in health class?”

	“Not really,” The whimpering boy sniffled, trying not to come off as an emotional mess about the issue. “Those classes are months away. But I don’t see why that matters.”

	“Geez Linc, 5 older sisters and you still can’t pick up on these things,” Lori scoffed and helped the boy up. “For such a sharp kid you’re not too bright.”

	“Can you just tell me please?” Lincoln was getting desperate.

	“I literally can’t believe that I’m the one who has to clue you in on this. I can tell you’re hurting though so come on before I change my mind.” Lori grabbed the kid by his waistline and dragged him up the stairs as if he were luggage.

	“W-Where are we going?” Lincoln wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer to that.

	“Leni, Leni wants you downstairs.” Lori called out.

	“I’ll be down in a second Leni!” The ditzy blonde put down her brush and gleefully skipped downstairs, leaving the Lori and Lincoln alone in the room.

	The oldest sibling tossed the 11 year old onto her bed like a dirty sock. Lincoln felt a sense of dread and fear looming over him. It only worsened when he saw Lori shut the door behind them.

	“Lincoln, remember that time Luan went on a rampage because Lola called her jokes dumb?”

	“Yeeeaaah.” Lincoln was hesitant to recall that. “She normally handles criticism a lot better.”

	“What about the time, Luna had those awful stomach pains and channeled her misery into those annoying blues songs?”

	“Uh huh,” Lincoln nodded in reflection. “It was hard to get any sleep around here!”

	“How about when Leni went on that guacamole and butterscotch diet for a few days?”

	“Ugh, I didn’t even know you could make sushi rolls out of just those 2 ingredients.” The boy’s stomach twisted at the thought. “But what are you getting at with all this?”

	Lori just sighed and rolled her eyes. This boy had no idea what kind of worms were in the can he just opened. She actually never imagined Lincoln would be so distraught and confused about this stuff. That confrontation with Ronnie Anne must have really messed him up. Lori was trying to be graceful and understanding. It wasn’t his fault or anyone’s really. If it would help her little brother out, Lori would tell him exactly what he needed to hear. Whether he wanted it or not.

	“Lincoln, listen up,” Lori clasped her hands together and took a deep breath. “Boys and girls both go through puberty in different ways.”

	“Oh no…” Lincoln’s inquisitive expression transformed into one of pure panic when he heard the ‘P’ word. He had no idea that all of this problematic nonsense was linked to that. The boy’s attitude did a complete 180. He hopped off the bed and made his way for the door. “You know what Lori, I changed my mind. I think I’m just gonna—”

	“Sit. Down. Lincoln.” Lori blocked the way out. The girl was intimidation incarnate. Lincoln cowered back onto the bed like the scared child he was.

	What followed was an hour of some of the most revolting and unsettling topics Lincoln had ever had the displeasure of ever discussing with anyone in his 11 short years of life. He had gotten the answers he was looking for and then some. Ronnie Anne’s attitude, those mysterious artifacts under the sink (that Luna apparently told Lori about anyways), their intended purpose and use, the drastic changes that affect a young lady’s body, the proper etiquette of addressing the issue and so on. Lincoln’s morbid intrigue continuously tampered off as Lori revealed more and more information to him. From anatomical to physiological, no details were spared. He could cover his ears and close his eyes but it was going to keep happening and there was nothing he could do.

	However, the lesson didn’t just stop there. Lori went the whole extra mile, even filling the boy in on the changes that were affecting him at that very moment. It was the kind of stuff Lincoln wondered about but was too embarrassed to ever come forward with.

	“…and that thing you do where you’re hunched over and walking around the house with your knees literally glued together? Don’t think we don’t know why. Now quit all the blushing and let me tell you why that happens in the first place. Stop complaining, this is for your own good Lincoln!”

	Just when Lincoln thought the storm was finally over, Lori touched on a subject that she almost decided against completely. It was far too integral and important to ignore. The intimate union of male and female, the very reason he was brought into this world. Lincoln felt shame and embarrassment on levels he had never before imagined. Every graphic detail and inappropriate word filled the boy with a mix of interest and disgust. It was like looking at a dead body only the body was his.

	When the dust had settled and the battle was over, the bedroom door swung open, filling the hallway with a thick air of intensity. Lincoln cautiously stepped out, setting his trembling foot down as if he had just entered a new, undiscovered world. It might as well have been for all he knew.

	“And that’s pretty much how it happens. Sorry to kill your blissful ignorance bro but hey, at least you’re not a curious 9 year old using the internet to find out where all your brothers and sisters are suddenly appearing from.”

	There was no response from the white haired boy. His brain was still trying to process and put together all of the vivid imagery presented to him through Lori’s words. He looked as if he had just seen a ghost. Maybe two or three.

	“So do you have any more questions Lincoln?” Lori offered more of her expertise and wisdom.

	The boy’s only response was to shudder and squirm. He didn’t know whether to take a cold or hot shower to cleanse himself.

	“That’s what I thought. So when you see Ronnie Anne, try not to give her a hard time. Everything will literally be back to normal in no time. I think you know how to handle things now.”

	“Y-Yeah thanks Lori. I guess.” Lincoln thought back to his past few encounters with Ronnie Anne and applied what he had learned. Everything made so much more sense in retrospect. He didn’t want to think about any of that anymore though. His bed was calling, beckoning the boy to rest.

	“Hey Linc,” Lynn jumped out of the doorway to her room, ambushing her little brother and trapping him in a headlock. “I’m feeling bored right now. Come on, let’s wrestle!”

	“NOOOOOO!” Lincoln panicked. He didn’t want to be around any girls at the moment. Mustering up all his strength, the boy broke out of Lynn’s lock and flipped her over his head. The brunette landed on her back with a mighty thump that shook the house. Lincoln dashed into his room, eager for some alone time.

	“N-Nice move bro.” Lynn gave a trembling thumbs up before passing out, impressed by her sibling’s surprising skill.

* * *

	When Lincoln awoke the fallowing morning, a sense of peace washed over the boy. It was Saturday, the sun was shining radiantly, and he had no responsibilities for the day.

	“Lincoln, hey Lincoln,” Lana burst into her big brother’s room, jumping about like a monkey for his attention. “Lola won’t let me into her castle, can you help me build a super cool sofa fort in the living room? Please please please!”

	There was no way Lincoln could say no to his little sister, especially when she stared at him with those huge, puppy dog eyes. “You’ve come to the right guy Lana. Come on, I’ll show you how to make a really awesome fort that’ll make Lola jealous!”

	Lincoln stepped out into the hall, eager to begin his weekend. His sisters were all up and about doing their own thing and making the most of the morning. Everything was going just swimmingly until his eyes locked on to a certain someone ascending the stairs.

	“What are you looking at you little weirdo?” Lori antagonized her little brother as she often does.

	Lincoln wasn’t able to take it in stride as he usually does. As soon as he heard her voice, awful memories from the previous night began to surface. His face scrunched up and his body shivered as his current train of thought took a detour down a very traumatizing track. It was almost enough to ruin his day right then and there. He needed to get out of the house.

	“Come on Lincoln, we can prop the cushions up with Luna’s guitar!” Lana exclaimed as she dismantled the couch. “Oh, but don’t tell her I took it, you know how she gets over this thing. Lincoln? Hey, where’d you go?”

	Lincoln walked down the street, kicking a rock along the way as he gathered his thoughts. He learned more in the past 24 hours than anything school ever taught him. On the bright side, passing sex ed when would be a breeze when it rolled around. He still couldn’t quite shake some of the pictures out of his head. Why did Lori have to go into such great detail? The way the man and woman interact. The method through which the child is born. It all shed a whole new light on his parents and siblings.

	“OH GOD OH GOD GO AWAY,” Lincoln firmly grabbed his skull and shook it about like a rattle when a disgustingly intrusive image of his mom and dad began to form in his head. If this is what it meant to be a grown up he’d rather just stay young and ignorant forever. Lincoln needed to clear his head. He needed to get away for a bit and do something completely mindless. He needed to get in touch with his inner kid and luckily, he knew just the place.

	Lincoln entered Gus’ Game and Grub, taking a moment to savor that pizza fragrance that he cherished so. That alone was enough to soothe the boy and return him to that blissful state he was in upon waking up. The boy reached into his pocket and admired the crumbled up 5-spot he had been saving. He held a smile that lasted well into the first bite of the pizza slice he bought.

	As he finished up his meal, Lincoln took a stroll into the arcade. The bright neon lights and cacophony of videogame sound effects were a sensory orchestra unlike any other. It was more or less the reason he stopped by in the first place. Lincoln converted his remaining change into coins and walked over to the Super Mega Brawlers cabinet that he favored. The boy cracked his knuckles and slid the first coin in. He was on cloud nine in an instant.

	Each flick of the joy stick and tap of the buttons filled the boy with a wondrous elation. Lincoln bit his tongue once he got into the zone and kept at it for what seemed like hours. Coin after coin, continue after continue. Nothing could break his red hot streak.

	“Hey lame-o, you looking for a second player?”

	Lincoln’s ears twitched. The boy completely dropped his current game, throwing away the high score he was working towards. His head whipped around so fast that his body could barely keep up. When he turned no one was there to greet him like he was expecting.

	“Over here dude.” The sound of a coin being pushed into a slot followed shortly.  “Geez I guess nothing gets by you, huh?”
	Ronnie Anne had snuck by the boy and stepped up to the plate, taking her spot right next to his at the cabinet. The spunky tomboy gripped the joy stick and gave Lincoln one of those smug smirks that he had come to know her for.

	Lincoln was on the verge of making a very foolish mistake. He wanted so badly to ask Ronnie Anne about everything, to poke and prod at the young lass, and to scratch a metaphorical itch. At least that’s what he would have done the day before. He knew better know, or at least he felt like he did. The point being, he knew how to better handle things.

	“Hey Ronnie Anne, I’m glad you could be here to get your butt kicked.” Lincoln played it cool, choosing not to fly off the handle and pry for information. “I’ve been looking forward to our rematch for a while so you better be ready!”

	“Psssh, would I be here if I wasn’t?” Ronnie Anne threw some banter back at the boy. “Let’s do this.”

	The two adolescents went at it, mashing buttons and trading blows with one another in-game. It felt like things were back to normal, as if those awkward few days of confused tension never even occurred. Lincoln wasn’t sure what to say so he abstained, keeping his entire focus on the game. He didn’t want to ruin the moment. Ronnie Anne shared the sentiment.

	The two played and played with the occasional grunts and “YEAHs” as their only form of communication for the duration of the game. Lincoln didn’t mind though, he was just thrilled to be hanging out with Ronnie Anne again, even if he didn’t show it much. Their exchange continued for quite a while. Lincoln was so into the game, he hadn't even realized that he was all out of quarters again.

	Ronnie Anne skipped to the counter and returned with 2 sodas, taking a a seat at a nearby table. Lincoln didn’t need any other signs to accept her invitation.

	“Those were some good games Lincoln,” Ronnie Anne complimented, sipping contently from her drink. “Have you been practicing behind my back?”

	“Sorry Ronnie Anne, that’s natural born skill right there. Try not to be too jealous.” Lincoln chuckled in jest.

	“Whatever you say dork!”

	Ronnie Anne couldn’t help but laugh at the airs Lincoln was putting on. Soon enough, he had joined in on the merriment as well. It felt good to sit back and relax once again. But as their giggling settled down a silence began to creep in on the situation. They each waited for the other to say something but to no avail. There was an elephant in the room that neither could ignore any longer. Someone had to say something.

	“Hey Lincoln,” Ronnie Anne was the first to speak up. Lincoln was all ears and he had a strong feeling of what was coming. “About the past few days I guess I just wanted to say—”

	“I’m gonna have to stop you right there Ronnie Anne,” The boy raised his palm before going in for a swig of soda. “Sometimes we all get a little fed up with stuff. When you live in a house as big as mine, fuses are constantly going off!”

	“At least give me a chance to explain myself you dork!” The girl slammed her fist on the table in protest. Lincoln jumped a bit. “It’s like I said the other day, I wasn’t mad at you or anything in particular really. Bobby explained some things to me and I had these really dumb books filled with embarrassing stuff to help me out. I didn’t even know what words like ‘estrogen’ and ugh… ‘menstruation’ meant.”

	“Y-Yeah, tell me about it.” Lincoln averted his rosy face from the girl as he took another sip. It was one thing to broach the topic with a sibling but doing it with another girl was leagues more humiliating. “Actually don’t! I learned a lot about this kind of stuff from Lori. More than you could possibly imagine.”

	“Oh man, did your older sibling give you ‘the talk’ too?” Ronnie Anne chuckled at the bashful boy, eager to learn how his crash course turned out. “Geez, it was just the worst! Bobby seemed more confused and scared then I was at times!”

	“Can you blame him?” Lincoln laughed back, feeling once more at ease beside the girl. “Anyone would be around you!”

	“Watch it Loud.” Ronnie shook her mighty fist and glared at him. Lincoln gulped, feeling rather small. He regretted the way he worded that. The girl in the hoodie just smirked at her anxious friend. He was lucky that she was in a rather forgiving mood.

Lincoln wiped his brow and breathed a sigh of relief. He gave a toothy grin and took another sip. “Growing up sure is weird isn’t it Ronnie Anne?”

	“You’re telling me!” Ronnie said in an overly sarcastic tone. She knew that more than anyone right now. “If changes like these are supposed to keep happening, then leave me out of it. I bet being a grown up isn’t even all that cool anyways.”

	“I guess we just got to be prepared to deal with whatever life has to throw at us.” Lincoln lamented as he finished off the last of his drink. “At least we have people in our lives to help us through these things.”

	“Like each other right?” Ronnie Anne quickly chimed in with a joyful, bucktoothed smile.

	“Yeah,” Lincoln was taken aback but quickly recovered. He never considered the girl as a potential person he could depend on in that way. “I guess so!”

	Ronnie Anne hopped off her seat and walk over to the white haired boy. For the first time since their troublesome incident had occurred, Lincoln and Ronnie Anne made physical contact. The little latina wrapped her arm around the boy, sliding him off his seat and pulling him up for one of their secret hugs. This one was different though. Ronnie Anne didn’t even bother to survey the area for potential onlookers like she usually does. She went right into it without a shred of doubt or hesitation. The boy froze before apprehensively returning the embrace. Something deep down was stopping him from truly reveling in the moment with her.

	“Thanks lame-o.” The rowdy girl whispered into Lincoln’s ear. “I got your back if you got mine! Now come on, let’s hit the arcade again. The next game is on me!”

	“S-Sure thing Ronnie Anne,” Lincoln perspired. His chest was thumping and his legs grew weak. “Just give me a second, I’m on my way!”

	“Are you okay Lincoln?” The girl in the purple hoodie turned back around to check up on the boy. “Why are you hunched over with your legs crossed like that?”