Lucky In Love- A Sam and Luna Fanfic

Lucky In Love- Story 1, Chapter 4

LUNA'S POV

Me and Sam rush down the stairs in as orderly a fashion as we can muster. I screech to a halt at the foot of the stairs, glancing towards the couch. Empty. All of my siblings must have departed to their rooms.

I hear dull footsteps from my left, and I see my mother enter from the kitchen. She has a clean dish rag suspended over a plate, her gaze shifting between the two of us. "Hello, Luna... Sam..." She smiles in Sam's direction as she states her name. "Are your parents picking you up, dear?" Rita asks Sam, and Sam shakes her head, beaming. "My mom has allowed me to stay for a couple more hours." Her voice falters briefly. "I-I hope that's alright, Mrs. Loud."

My mother smiles, and I notice a faint twinkle of amusement in her eye. "Of course, honey. It's such a pleasure to have you here." Sam doesn't reply, for she's obviously flattered. I take the pause as an opportunity to speak.

"Uh, Mom, where's Lori?" I ask, feeling the lack of my eldest sister's presence weighing down on me. Rita sports a befuddled expression, almost as if it's expected that I should know where my older sister is. "Your sister drove down with Bobby to the open mic twenty minutes ago." She states. "Oh," I murmur, crestfallen.

So much for that.

For a brief instant, I consider dragging my unsuccessful ass back up stairs and curling into a ball on the floor. So much for my fantasies of the evening. However, a thought arises, and my mindset shifts (if only slightly).

"Would you two like a ride to the town hall?" My mother asks. She pulls off a false smile that is unsuccessfully masking the dark circles under her eyes. She looks downright tired. I have the impression that this exhaustion is due to more than having to raise eleven kids. If anything, it probably has to do with Dad. "Nah, it's fine." I state briefly. As if to address the elephant in the room, I state "Is dad alright?" My mother exhales, almost as if she's been holding her breath and waiting for us to question her.

"He's doing better than he was an hour ago, thankfully." She states, yet I can tell that something isn't sitting right with her. "He's desperate to perfect that recipe of his. I don't think I've ever seen him so determined. At least, not since he opened his restaurant." Rita pinches the bridge of her nose, expelling a headache. She shakes her head vigorously as if to clear it.

"So," she places that false smile on her face again. "If you want to attend the open mic, I can give you a ride." My plan resurfaces within my mind again, and I shake my head. I take into consideration my mother's exhaustion as I phrase a response. "Nah, Mom, it's alright. We can walk."

For a fleeting instant, my mother looks relieved, but concern quickly shadows her other features. "Are you sure you'll be alright walking there alone?" I wave a submissive hand in Rita's direction. "Don't worry about us! We're responsible. Besides, Sam and I will have an opportunity to talk to each other on the way there." My mother isn't swayed by my reassurance, and she looks as if she wants to interject. "And we'll be saving the planet one step at a time." I murmur weakly, flashing a mother a set of finger-guns.

My mother swallows down her comment. "A-alright, girls. I guess you are mature enough." My mother sighs, though clearly hesitant. Me and Sam cast a glance at one another, positively beaming. "But," She scolds, bringing the excitement to a halt. "Make sure to have your phone on at all times, and call me if anything goes awry." I nod, led to believe she is finished with her scolding... but oh no, she's far from it.

"Not only that, but do not stray too far from the town hall. Luna," she says, and I stiffen upon hearing my name. "I can not stress this enough. Do not talk to strangers. Both of you." She gestures to me and Sam. We nod in understanding, Sam marginally intimidated by my mother's commands. I'm used to it by now, seeing how I've endured it for 15 years. "Seriously," Rita continues. "I don't want either of you mugged, beaten or molested." A guilt suddenly surfaces within me, as if I had committed a felony. "I already have eleven kids; I'm not considering grandchildren any time soon. I'm sure you don't wish that upon yourself."