lady killer--LYNN LOUD JR

Part 9: Breaking the Mold

The week before the playoffs was intense, both on and off the field. The buzz around Y/N and Lynn hadn't died down—in fact, it had only grown louder. With the playoffs approaching, all eyes were on the football team, and the fact that two of the star players were dating made them the center of even more attention.Y/N could handle the pressure. She had spent her whole life being tough, fighting her way to the top, both in football and out. But things were different now. It wasn't just about proving herself anymore—it was about protecting what she and Lynn had built. They had worked so hard to get to this place, where their rivalry had shifted into something more. And now, it felt like the world was watching, waiting to see if it would crumble.---One afternoon, Y/N was sitting in the locker room after practice, feeling the usual exhaustion settle into her muscles. Lynn was nearby, laughing with a few of their teammates. Normally, that sound would've brought a smile to Y/N's face, but today, she couldn't shake the gnawing feeling in her chest.Her phone buzzed on the bench next to her. It was a text from Rico.**Rico:** "Jax's been asking about you and Lynn. You wanna come over for dinner tonight and explain?"Y/N sighed. She loved her little brother, but trying to explain her relationship with Lynn to a seven-year-old felt like a whole new challenge.**Y/N:** "I'll be there. What time?"**Rico:** "6. Lip's making spaghetti. Jax's favorite."Y/N smirked. Lip's cooking was always a good excuse to visit. But the thought of facing her family with this new reality hung heavy in her mind. Sure, Rico had been supportive, but Jax? And Lip? They might be harder to convince.As she put her phone down, Lynn walked over, her smile fading slightly when she saw the look on Y/N's face. "You good?" she asked, her voice low.Y/N nodded, though it wasn't entirely true. "Yeah, just gotta head to my brothers' place tonight. Jax has been asking questions."Lynn chuckled softly. "Guess it's time for the little bro talk, huh?""Yeah," Y/N muttered, glancing down at her cleats. "I don't know how to explain all of this to him. He still thinks you and I are, like, mortal enemies."Lynn smirked, nudging her lightly. "Well, we kinda were. But if anyone can handle that conversation, it's you."Y/N smiled weakly, appreciating Lynn's confidence, even if she didn't fully feel it herself. "Yeah, I'll figure it out."Lynn squeezed her shoulder, a silent reassurance. "And hey, if he doesn't get it, just tell him you kicked my butt enough times to win me over."Y/N laughed, shaking her head. "Right. I'll tell him that."---That evening, Y/N made her way to her brothers' apartment. The place smelled like garlic and marinara sauce as soon as she walked through the door, and Jax came running up to her with his usual energy."Y/N!" Jax shouted, grabbing onto her leg. "Did you win practice today?"Y/N smiled, scooping him up. "Practice isn't something you 'win,' Jax."He frowned, clearly disappointed with that answer. "Well, did you beat Lynn?"Y/N froze, feeling the weight of the question. Rico, who was setting the table in the kitchen, raised an eyebrow in her direction, and Lip peeked over from the stove, stirring a pot of spaghetti."Uh, well..." Y/N hesitated. This was exactly the conversation she'd been dreading.Jax tilted his head, confused. "You guys fight all the time, right?"Y/N glanced at Rico, who just gave her a small nod, encouraging her to face it head-on. Sighing, she put Jax down and knelt in front of him. "Actually, Jax, things with Lynn are a little different now."Jax blinked. "Different how?"Y/N took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "Well, Lynn and I... we're not fighting anymore. We're, um, we're kind of... friends."Jax's eyes went wide. "You're friends now?"Y/N chuckled, realizing how strange it must sound to a kid who had only ever seen them as rivals. "Yeah. We're friends. And more than that."Jax frowned, trying to process it. "Like best friends?"Y/N paused, unsure how to explain it in a way he'd understand. "Sort of. But... a little more than that."Jax's face scrunched up in confusion, but before he could ask more questions, Rico jumped in. "Hey, buddy, how about you help Lip set the table, and we'll let Y/N explain more later, okay?"Jax shrugged, still not entirely understanding but accepting Rico's distraction. He ran off to help, leaving Y/N with Rico in the kitchen.Rico raised an eyebrow. "You think that went well?"Y/N groaned, leaning against the counter. "I don't even know. It's hard to explain."Rico smiled softly, nudging her with his elbow. "He's seven, Y/N. He'll get it eventually. Just give it time."Y/N nodded, grateful for Rico's support. "Yeah. Thanks."---Later that night, after dinner, Y/N sat with Lip while Rico got Jax ready for bed. Lip had been quiet throughout the evening, only offering a few comments here and there. Now, as they sat on the couch together, Y/N could feel the weight of his silence."So," Lip finally said, his voice casual but probing, "you and Lynn, huh?"Y/N sighed, bracing herself. "Yeah. Me and Lynn."Lip leaned back, crossing his arms. "I gotta say, I didn't see that one coming. I mean, you two always seemed like you were about to tear each other apart."Y/N nodded, feeling the familiar tension rise in her chest. "Yeah, we were. But... things changed."Lip studied her for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, if it makes you happy, I'm not gonna stand in your way."Y/N looked at him, surprised. "Really?"Lip smirked. "Yeah, really. I mean, you've always done your own thing. Who am I to judge?"Y/N smiled, relief flooding through her. She hadn't realized how much she'd needed Lip's approval until now. "Thanks, Lip."He nodded, reaching over to ruffle her hair like he used to when they were younger. "Just don't let her tackle you too hard on the field."Y/N laughed, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "I won't."---By the time Y/N left that night, she felt lighter. Her family might not fully understand her relationship with Lynn yet, but they supported her. And that was enough.As she walked out into the cool night air, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Lynn.**Y/N:** "Talked to my brothers. They're cool with it."Lynn's response came almost immediately.**Lynn:** "Told you they'd come around. Now you just gotta explain it to the whole school."Y/N grinned, shaking her head as she typed back.**Y/N:** "One step at a time, Loud."She slipped her phone into her pocket, her smile lingering. It wasn't going to be easy—nothing about her and Lynn's relationship ever was. But they were in this together, and for the first time, Y/N felt like they could take on whatever came next.No matter who was watching.