Chapter 1: The Unlikely Encounter

The youngest Belcher child is finally turning 18. Both Gene and Tina have left home to do their own thing after their 18th birthday. Tina now 22 has been in college studying to become a writer, she's hopeful to get her 'Erotic Friend Fiction' published one day and Gene now 20 has started his own little music shop where he buys, sell, and trades all kinds of things related to music. Louise however has no plans to leave home. Louise has always secretly wanted to run the restaurant with her dad and for the last few years that's exactly what she's done. Linda and Bob now being in their 50s they've been grateful having Louise there to help them run Bobs Burgers.

"Hey Louise," Bob says from the kitchen. "Can you take these burgers down to the Wharf for me?"

"I guess but who are they for?" Louise says grabbing the bags.

"Mickey called asking for him and the guys down there." Bob says cleaning the grill off. "You can take the rest of the day off and hang out down there if you'd like."

Louise didn't think much of the offer she just happily accepted and left on her bike for Wonder Wharf. After she leaves Bob tells Linda to lock up and asked Teddy and Mort to help them set up for the surprise party they have planed for Louise.

"I think mom and dad forgot about my birthday." Louise says to herself as she rides down the street.

Shes not really paying attention when she reached the corner as she rides of the curb to she hears a horn honking. She stops in her tracks waiting for the car to get closer. When it stops at her bike tire the driver steps out.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" He yells "Do you often just ride out without looking?!"

"Do you often just blow through stop signs?!" Louise yells back at him. "I can take your plate number and call Bosco right now and you'd be the one getting a nice ticket!"

"Big threats from such a little girl!" He laughs at her.

"I'm 18 and can take your ass down in one foul swoop!" She says gripping her handle bars.

"Kitty got claws." He says turning around to return to his car.

"I've never wanted to hit someone so badly." She mutters. "Not since that asshole Logan Bush left."

"Hey, what did you just say?" He stops turning back around.

"I said I want to hit you." She repeats.

"No you said a name." He says walking back to her.

"Logan Bush?" She says "He's my mortal enemy. I fucking hate that kid!"

"Louise Belcher?" He says rather confused. "I almost didn't recognize you without your ears."

"LOGAN!?" She's unsure of what to say. "I haven't warn my ears since I was 13."

"Same year I left town for good and now you're 18?" He says looking her over.

"As of today yes I am 18." She puts her foot on the peddles and starts riding. "And now I'm leaving see you never asshole. Go run a red light now!"

Louise gets into the Wharf and locks up her bike. She's still rather pissed about her encounter with Logan. It's been years since he left town what could he be doing back here? It's not like he gets along with his parents. She tries to put it out of her head and delivers the burgers to Mickey and the Wonder Wharf guys.

"Louise!" Mickey says in excitement. "How's my favorite Blecher kid today?"

"Been better Mickey," she says trying to forget what had happened. "Sorry if it's cold. I was almost hit on my way here."

"No worries Louise." He says taking the bags. "You go enjoy your day! I hear your the big 1 8 today."

"Seems you're the only one to remember too." She says.

The two say their goodbyes, Mickey wishes Louise a happy birthday and she leaves to enjoy her day off. She however finds herself heading to Genes store to talk to him about today only to find he's closed early. So she decides to head back home but knowing her parents will tell her to go she decides to go up the fire escape. Once inside she heads to her room and sits on the floor. She pulls out her ears from under her bed. Trying to remember why she stopped wearing them to begin with.

Louise's Memory

*Louise is sitting in front of Waggsraff with Andy and Ollie, the Pesto twins, and Rudy waiting for her siblings. She's playing with her ears rather annoyed with them for some reason.

"Guys I think its time." she says rather upset.

"Are we gonna die?" Andy asks grabbing Ollie "If you die I die Ollie!"

"If you die I'll die Andy!" Ollie says holding his brother.

"No one is dying." Louise says now annoyed with the twins. "I think its time for me to take my ears off. They feel different today, like i shouldn't be wearing them anymore."

"You want to take off your ears?" Rudy says taking out his inhaler. "But your ears are like apart of you."

"I don't know." she stares at the ground.

She doesn't want to remove her ears, like Rudy said they're apart of her. It just feels like she shouldn't wear them anymore. She messes around with the hem of her dress trying to ignore the twins being idiots behind her and trying to put aside the thoughts on her ears. Suddenly she's pushed aside by the twins who scream "BIG BROTHER!" when she looks up she sees Tina, Gene, and Jimmy Jr walking up the side walk.

"About time what took you all so long?" Louise asks grabbing her bag off the ground and walking down the steps.

"We were listening to Dad and Mrs. Bush talking about the community garden." Gene says with excitement.

"Yeah, turns out there's an open plot and now that Logan had left shes willing to forgive and forget." Tina adds.

"Logan is gone? My nemesis is finally gone and I'm only now hearing about it?" Louise feels reveled and yet saddened by the thought of Logan being gone.

"Yeah, guess he left a week ago." Tina says "Mrs. Bush said he left for some kinda program since he dropped out of community college."

Louise decides to drop the matter and forget about Logan once and for all. Now that he's no longer going to be in town she doesn't have to worry about him. When they get home Louise runs to her room and locks her door. She takes off her hat and tosses it to the ground, she then removes the elastics holding her hair up in little pigtail buns. Her long black hair cascades down her back and falls over her shoulders. She looks in the mirror and she still doesn't feel right. She decides to take off her dress and dig through her clothes. When she gets to the bottom of her clothing pile she pulls up a pair of jeans and an green tank top. She puts them on and looks in the mirror again.

"Who are you?" she asks her reflection. "Who are you trying to be? You're only 13 Louise why do you feel so different? Why don't you feel like Louise anymore? You look like Louise but you've changed." she sighs "Maybe change is good."

The next day Louise sneaks out without her family seeing her new look. She put on a little makeup too nothing super fancy just some eyeliner and mascara. She's in the green tank top and jeans she found the night before and her hair is down, she had snatched a couple black bracelets and a black choker before she left. When she gets to Waggstaff she takes a deep breath and enters the school. She hears whispers through the halls, kids asking who the new girl is and saying how pretty she is. When she gets to her locker she hears gasps and more whispers.

"Louise?" Rudy asks confused. "Is that you?"

"Is it bad?" She asks trying to keep her head low. "Did I just make a total fool of myself?"

"The Louise Belcher I know would never care what others thought about her." Rudy says with a reassuring smile. "But since you asked...no you didn't make a fool of yourself, Louise, you look amazing."

"Thanks Rudy." she smiles back at him.

"ANDY LOOK!" Ollie yells pulling his brother to Louise.

"Louise, you're so pretty!" Andy says hugging her.

"So very pretty!" Ollie says following his brothers lead

Louise finished out the school day rather happy with herself and when she got home her Mom and Dad were very happy with her new found confidence and her siblings approved as well.*

Louise smiles remembering how good she felt when she found herself. Now Logan's back in town and everything feels wrong. The way he had looked at her it was like he'd been checking her out like he liked her. He hadn't changed very much really, he still had shaggy blonde hair though now he had a small beard and a light mustache. He still had a layered shirt and shorts look going. Louise closes her eyes trying to forget about him she'd gone 5 years without him in her life. She tries to relax and forget. She soon finds herself drifting off to sleep.