"Sssoooo…" Cristina was typing on her phone lazily not paying attention to the TV on a random channel. Both her and Quinlan had returned to the Timber home after their respective school days. In the kitchen, QT was pre-preparing an after workout smoothie from some protein powder. "You going to Lincoln's for a slumber party right, Sis?" QT stopped her mixing.
"How'd you hear about that?" Peeking out of the kitchen the busty brunette raised an eyebrow at her younger sister. Cristina wasn't looking her way to notice this though. At the lunch table several hours ago, Lincoln was confused on why his girlfriend said the girls couldn't wait to see him this weekend and he texted back asking such. Plans were revealed and to his surprise they wanted to come over for a sleepover. Unsure at first, he realized that somehow they had helped mend a fence between his oldest sister and his girl. He would have to thank them. The reason Cristina knew was because Lincoln was willing to narrate everything to her. That, and the fact she was also reading over his shoulder.
"I sat with Lincoln at lunch today." Cristina tapped her phone a few more times. "I saw that pic too."
"Ohhh?" QT started in a teasing tone. "So you have warmed up to him?" The teen returned to her smoothie. Cristina's fingers stopped moving on the touch screen.
"He's still a nerd...but he has some good points." She went back to looking at social media. Scrolling through her friends, and her friends' friends, the young girl found a name familiar to her: Literally_Lori. Clicking on the profile she was greeted to several pictures of a blonde teen in very typical selfie poses. She was without a doubt, Lincoln's eldest sister.
Wow she had a lot of pics of herself. The young girl sorted the pictures by most likes. Her top pic was of her and another blonde girl with long hair in a purple outfit. Was that Leni? No, that was another girl that was in the group picture. The tag on her read 'carolp'. Cristina kept scrolling when something caught her attention.
"Pfft!" Cristina subdued a snicker. Lori was sitting at what seemed to be a cafe with two of her sisters. That alone was not funny. What she found funny was the young boy in the back with a ridiculous mustache and glasses. Lincoln looked so stupid! Haha. Liked. The girl scrolled down to find more with Lincoln.
"He has a lot of good points Sis!" Quinlan shouted over the sound of a blender. "I'm glad you're getting along!" Cristina was too busy to hear any of what her sister was saying. Quinlan came out of the kitchen to grab her workout bag.
"I'm going to the gym. I'll be swinging by the store before coming home." QT went back to the kitchen where she poured her drink into a suitable container for her return. "Do you need anything?" Another picture with Lincoln posing with Lori appeared on Cristina's screen. Liked.
"No, I'm good!" Geez, what's with that face?! Liked.
"Okay, I'll be back. See ya later." Quinlan swung her keys on a finger and left out the front door. The door had already locked before Cristina responded.
"Okay bye!"
"..."
"Pfft! Ha! Liked."
Quinlan's drive was smooth, smoother than it has ever been, both physically and mentally. Whatever Lana had done really worked. Her clunker hand me down was now a fully functional, vintage automobile. Her 73 Impala was considered a classic by the years but her family didn't treat it as such. It had been given to her by her Grandmother after she passed and had sat in a garage for who knows how long before. The constant worry about being stranded on the road was always on her mind. Now the growling of the engine soothed her. Wonder what else Lana could fix?
Turning on her signal, Quinlan made the turn into the rec center parking lot. The fitness guru was used to the routine and found a spot easily enough, checked in, and went to stretch. Wearing black yoga pants and a black with yellow highlight sports tank top she went into her usual stretching exercises.
"Quinn!" QT twisted her torso as she was currently rolling her neck around. "You got here before me? I was catching only greens the way up so I was sure I'd make it before you."
The strawberry blonde Rachel waved as she approached with a duffel bag slung over her shoulder. The curvy girl wore light pinks and white workout gear that contrasted her tanned skin. She rattled around her bag and pulled from within a sweatband for her forehead using it to get her bangs out of her eyes. QT only nodded towards her friend.
"How about we do some wide-leg forward bends while we wait for Winter?" QT nodded before sitting down. Rachel also sat down before scooting in somewhat. Spreading there legs outwards they matched feet and put out their arms for the other to grab. Allowing Rachel to go first, QT grabbed her friend's wrists and lent back. The brunette girl was taller than the strawberry blonde which made it more difficult for the shorter but both being relatively flexible made it doable. Keeping the position held for a solid ten second, they slowly rose before sitting up straight. Switching grips, Rachel lent back while Quinlan bent forward. Even with her sports bra on her natural bend almost caused her breast to touch the ground, due to their size rather than her being flexible.
"Oh? Did you guys want to join me in the yoga class?" Looking up the two girls, currently stretching, saw their third gym partner, Winter. The black haired girl had not changed since the school day and wore the same yoga pants QT had seen earlier. A hair band pulled her mane tight into a ponytail that exposed more of her face.
"Yeah right! Like I could bend my big butt to do a full sun salutation." Rachel rolled her eyes at the still standing Winter.
"Pfft, at least you have a butt." Winter showed off her slim waist line. "Only leg days and still nothing happened."
"Maybe you should change your diet to burger and fries." Rachel chided back before leaning forward again.
"I could and still not gain weight." Winter began her own stretches showing off her flexibility in more ballerina like standing positions. "That's my mamma's good genetics." A light grr could be heard from both QT and Rachel who were gifted with curves that didn't stop but needed constant attention to maintain.
"Anyways, Quinn you free Friday?" Winter finally asked. Quinlan rose an eyebrow to the girl's question. Winter noticed the questioning stare. "My boyfriend, the one on the basketball team, remember? Yeah, he got us some tickets for Friday's game. I thought we could go together."
Continuing her stretching Quinlan thought about it. No, she didn't have plans Friday but… she could spend the afternoon with Lincoln and just chill. She would see him Saturday but she had a suspicion that Tigress was make that a bit more eventful than she wanted her time with Lincoln to be. No offense to both Rachel and Winter but QT really wanted to be with her boyfriend.
"So?" Winter interrupted her thoughts to get an answer. The girl would not like it though as the bodacious brunette shook her head no. "What?! C'mon Quinn, I even have an extra ticket for your boyfriend!"
Quinlan stopped her stretching. An extra ticket? Did Lincoln even like sports? No, she didn't think so but then again new experiences made for great dates. Maybe they would actually really enjoy it and a new date option would open up to them. She looked back to Winter and nodded with a smile.
"Great!" Winter produced three tickets from her bag handing one to Rachel and the other two to QT. "Make sure to bring him! I have to get to my yoga class, see ya tomorrow at school. Ta-ta!" The girl had a spring in her step has she scampered off somewhere. The first step in her plan was already in play. Rachel gave a small gulp and felt a pit in her stomach but the workout continued.
To QT life was good.
A week was going by quickly and her life had changed. With the openness of her dating known to Lincoln's family came the ability to go see him during the week more. It wasn't everyday but the Loud sisters had gotten used to Quinlan's presence a bit more.
Monday night Quinlan swung by to hand him his ticket to the game after texting him beforehand. Lynn Jr. freaked out on him in jealousy being able to go to the rival game. Lori even noticed her and tried to invite her in but she had to decline to get home to cook dinner. QT noticed a stink eye aimed at Lori from a large portion of her younger sisters but those looks turned to surprise when they saw how friendly they were with one another. In all, through the week her sisters would forgive her as always but QT did speed up the process.
Tuesday came, things also changed with Lincoln. Cristina came half way through lunch to sit with him and his friends. The popular girl had unintentionally caused his friends to spit take again but oh well. She just wanted to chat more and pointed out some embarrassing pictures of him from Lori's social media. He had no idea how she found them. Some of his friends would question him about Cristina sudden approaches. They were reading too much into it, he thought.
For QT, immediately on her arrival to school Winter asked if her boyfriend was coming to the game, which she gave the affirmative with a nod. Winter was really pesky that day trying to get info about her boyfriend more than usual. Rachel, however, was also inquisitive when she saw her but was much more awkward about it.
A third girl also approached QT to talk about her boyfriend but this one could name him. Quinlan had been setting up for class when a sudden gasp caught her attention and a rushing Leni Loud pranced towards. Her shouts came out as she never realized that QT was in her class, how she always blanked during this class because it was hard, and little jabs about her dating her brother. While many people might be annoyed by the platinum blonde's excited chatter, she was happy Leni was accepting of her.
Later that same day, Quinlan went back to the Loud house. Welcomed by a pun about milkshakes calling Lincoln to the door, damn right. Luan let her in. Upstairs QT found Lincoln with Lucy as the Gothic girl recited poems to him. The white haired wonder had already begun the process of repaying his little helpers during their date. As such, Lincoln was helping to critique Lucy's poetry. Two arms wrapped around him as Quinlan moved him onto her lap and rested her chin on his head. She owed the dept as well and also wanted to help show their gratitude to Lincoln's younger sisters.
Going through the motions of each day, Quinlan would go to school during the day and run into Lori, Leni, and Lori's three friends. In the afternoons she would return to the Loud residence to help Lincoln pay back his sisters. With Lucy it was poetry, with Lisa it was with some minor experiments, and with Lana… she just wanted to mess around with the Impala more. The family basically functioned exactly like Lincoln described it. They might fight but deep down they loved one another. QT thought her and Cristina were close, and they were, but when she saw the Louds she knew there was something more there that she found heartwarming and inspiring.
So the days went by with her making a seamless adjustment to her new life.
Soon Friday came.
"Lori totes told me about the sleepover!" Leni flung her hands forward causing a light breeze to hit the amused Quinlan's face. "I'm super excited, we should like do our nails together!" QT gave the girl a small smile and a nod.
"Like all the girls are super excited for you to stay the night again. You should do it like every weekend." Quinlan gave a joke eyeroll.
"I'd love to Leni but," Quinlan over the week had grown very comfortable to speaking with the Loud sisters and her voice no longer caused Leni shock. "I have a sister of my own to take care of."
"Bring her with you then!" Leni smiled while giving a small push.
The brunette's face had a look of shock at the realization. QT had not thought about it. She had abandoned Cristina at home last weekend and felt a bit bad about it. With how hectic it was, would be okay to invite another person into the fray? I mean this time it would just be a sleep over.
"I-i'll think about it…" For an airhead, Leni could make a lot of sense.
"Yay!" Both of them were packed up and were heading down the hall to the their next classes. A figure made its way through the crowds to the towering body that was QT.
"Quinn! Hold up!" Quinlan turned around to see a tanned hand waving at her. A strawberry blonde appeared before her a bit frazzled or annoyed, she couldn't tell. "Thank god I caught you! My boss is such an ass sometimes. He put off my work schedule until about an hour ago and I work tonight. If I don't show up he'll fire me so I can't go to the game tonight. If you see Winter could you return my ticket and tell her cause I got to book it to work now."
Rachel held out her ticket and Quinlan took it. The browned eyed girl looked to her friend and gave her a reassuring look that conveyed she understood.
"Thanks Quinn, love ya!" Rachel ran to an exit not having an afternoon class to get to like her and Leni. The two watched the smoke cloud of the girl dissipate before really understanding the situation. They both looked at the extra ticket.
"What are you going to do, Quinlan?" Leni asked.
"Uhh…" Quinlan thought for a moment before speaking. "Actually, you're right."
"I'm right? Yay!" The blonde fashionista did a leap of joy while she cheered. She soon stopped once she realized she didn't know why. "Wait, why am I right?"
"I should include my sister more. I'll invite her to the slumber party and to the game tonight. Could you let Lori know?" Quinlan told Leni.
"Yea, I totes got this."
With the decision made, the two teens went their separate ways to their respective classes. Their day would come to an end and QT would return home to her sister. Having texted her beforehand Cristina was ready and was very excited to be invited to both the game and Lincoln's, as Cristina described it. Day turned into night and it was time to go to the game. Starting the Impala, Quinlan and Cristina drove to pick up Lincoln. As the car pulled up, the boy in question was sat on the porch kicking the ground. His eyes lit up as the black car came into view.
*honk honk*
The window rolled down on the passenger side. Quinlan raised a cupped hand to her mouth.
"Linc-"
"Lincoln!" Her little sister cut her off poking her torso out the passenger window. "I'm coming to the game with you guys." The Loud boy slowed his trot to the car upon seeing his classmate.
"Oh, okay." He gave Cristina an questioning look. "I thought it sold out?"
"It di-" Quinlan was interrupted again.
"Yeah it was!" Lincoln made it to the window to the smiling, red brown haired girl. "One of Sis' friends bailed so she invited me."
"Well, uh, let's not tell Lynn about that." The boy casually glanced back to the house to make sure a rage filled face of his sporty sister hadn't heard about being left out.
"Cristina," Quinlan caught her sister's attention. "How about you sit in the back, okay?"
"Yeah sure, c'mon Lincoln we can sit in the back."
"Actually, I was hoping for Lincoln to sit up front with me." Cristina looked back to QT who was giving her a gentle smile.
"Oh… oh yeah, forgot. Sorry, sis." Cristina got out of the passenger seat. Lincoln, to both Quinlan's admiration and Cristina's surprise, opened the door to the back seat for the girl. His classmate stood in awe for a moment before getting in behind the passenger seat. Buckled in she looked back at the boy who had a cute smile on his face and told him while brushing her hair aside, "Thank you, Lincoln."
"You're welcome, Cristina." The girl's blush went unnoticed to the boy as he closed the door. Hopping into the front seat he looked over to his girlfriend. "Hi Honey Bee, ready to go?"
Lincoln suddenly found Quinlan leaning in for a quick peck. He had earned it for being such a gentleman but he took it as greeting. Either way he returned it.
"C'mon now!" The two looked back to Cristina. "Don't we got a game to go to?!" The young girl threw her arms forward gesturing to the road. Quinlan rolled her eyes but put the car into drive. Cristina felt unsure as to why she wanted the kiss to end.
Winter held her phone to her ear in attempt to call her boyfriend. Talking through the week she had gotten little information from him about whoever was going to ask Quinn out. Where were they even supposed to meet the guy? Had he flaked on them? Actually maybe that would be a good thing as she didn't know if Quinn's boyfriend was the violent type. The phone finally went to mailbox.
"For god's sake! What am I supposed to do?!" Her slender fingers fervently tapped a message to her boyfriend. Telling him off and asking for the vital information. "Where the heck is Rachel?!" The slender black haired girl had been standing outside the stadium for nearly twenty minutes at this point and her friends had yet to show up. Winter flipped to her message app to check if Rachel had responded to her inquiries about her arrival. No response. An audible grunt escaped her lips as a set of footsteps approached from behind. A light finger tapped her caused her to spin around with an off putting frown.
"Oh crap! Sorry, Quinn." Quinlan looked at her friend with wide eyes. "Rachel hasn't responded to my texts since this afternoon." QT reached into her purse and produced three tickets.
"Three? But I gave you… Dang it, Rachel flaked?!" The brunette nodded to her friend. "Well… great. *SIIIIGGGGHHHHHHH* Anyways, is your boyfriend here yet?"
Quinlan stepped to the side and pointed to a nearby light-post where she had left a chatting Cristina and Lincoln. Winter squinted her eyes as if she could not see the ten or so feet between them. Before she wrapped her arm around QT's shoulder and brought her into whisper distance.
"Quinn…" Quinlan nodded to Winter. "Is that your sister over there?" Being gym and diet buddies they had visited each other's house especially when they wanted to try out new health recipes. Winter had meet or at least seen the little girl around the Timber home, the boy with the amazing white hair she had never seen in her life. Still, QT's curls bobbed as she nodded. Winter peeked back up at the two.
"Quinnnnnn!" Winter whined. "I asked you to bring your boyfriend not your sister and her boyfriend!"
"Actually," The bombshell started. "Please don't think this is weird but-"
"No it's fine." Winter's slender arm released her from its grasp. "Your boyfriend also flaked and you thought you'd use the chance to help your sister. Caring as always Quinn." Everything has gone to crap. Can't anyone communicate around here.
"Let's go inside and get to some food. I'm starving." Winter began to walk to the stadium.
Quinlan looked at her friends back as she wandered off. She hadn't bothered to listen to QT, so be it. It didn't overly bother her and deep in her gut she was glad she didn't have to explain why she was dating a little boy again, especially in public. A loud whistle caught the attention of two conversing classmates left to wait as Quinlan fetched her friend. Waving them over the two hurried to catch up.
It was almost game time.