Okay guys, when I first started Chlorine, I never thought that it would be almost 20,000 words long OR having Joey Damone, but here we are.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the last chapter of my story and I also hope to interest you all in my stories that I'll release in the future. Thank you.

Joey looks at Jedi and Lemy and they look at him.

He looks at them some more and they look at him some more.

He then breaks the silence.

"Oh fuck you guys, that was funny!"

Lemy takes a step forward.

"Hey, we never said it wasn't! It's just that we'd never expect you to make that reference."

"So what now? Is it gonna be two against one or…"

Jedi then points at Joey.

"Hey, back off asshole! My dad's a cop!"

Joey then takes a step back. Unsure of what to say or do next.

"OH! Um… shit."
Lemy then lightly taps Jedi's arm with the back of his hand.

"Hey, ease up on the insults, will you? This guy's a friend."

"What!?" Shouted a perplexed Jedi.

"Wait a second…" Jedi and Lemy look at Joey again.

"Your last name's Knight, right? Are you the son of Chris Knight?"

Lemy raises an eyebrow.

"Chris Knight? Is there anything you haven't told me yet, Jedi?"

Jedi scratches his head.

"Heh. Three years ago, my dad was in the Royal Woods park where he saw a grown woman sexually assaulting a teenager while his friend just stood there frozen in shock."

Joey then interrupts Jedi.

"I was that friend! Tyler… never recovered from that traumatizing experience. The woman was a complete stranger to us. It was like she attacked him for absolutely no reason.

That is… until the results of the investigation were made public."

Jedi waves his hand in the air.

"I don't want to hear about that shit anymore! Please!"

"Okay… Okay… I'm done anyway."

Joey walks over to his jacket and reaches in one of its pockets…

Pulling out a wad of cash and a single cigarette sticking out of it.

Lemy's eyes widened in surprise.

"WHOA! Is… is that…"

Joey takes the cigarette from the money and waves the money in the air.

"THIS! Is what's left of what your SISTER paid me to make sure you didn't perform at this talent show!"

Lemy then feels himself short of breath. His sister?

"LYRA! THAT BITCH!"

Jedi then gives a concerned look for his friend.

"Dude, what does your sister even DO for a living?"

"She manages a fucking Goodwill! A GOODWILL! But she has no good will for me! I FUCKING HATE HER!"

Lemy takes his bandana off to wipe his tears from his face as he sits down on the ground crying.

"Aw, come on man. Don't cry. How about I help YOU now!? Free of charge!" Said Joey.

He pulls a lighter from his back pants pocket and tries to light his cigarette…

Only for it to not be working.

"Damn. Should have gotten one of these before I came here."

Lemy stops crying to notice Joey having some trouble with his lighter. Standing up, he says,

"Oh my fucking god! Here! Take mine!"

Joey looks at Lemy in disbelief.

"Take yours? I mean… I won't say NO…"

"Take it! You know what!? KEEP it too! I have PLENTY!"

Now it's Jedi's turn to be astonished.

"... WHY!?"

"Believe me, it's a long story and one you wouldn't be interested in."

He faces Joey.
"You wanna help? I'll TELL you what you can do to help! We're gonna get back at my sister for EVERYTHING!"

Joey takes a puff of smoke from his cigarette.

"What do you have in mind?"

Lemy smiles.

"Before Gloom Eclipse will play it's song, I'll have you and Jedi here properly introduce us. Don't worry, I'm coming up with something for you two to say right now!

Lyra will have no IDEA what she's getting herself into when she messes with US!"

"Welcome to the room of people,

Who have rooms of people that they loved one day,

Docked away.

Just because we check the guns at the door

Doesn't mean our brains will change,

From hand grenades.

You'll never know the psychopath sitting next to you.

You'll never know the murderer sitting next to you.

You'll think, 'How'd I get here, sitting next to you?'

But after all I've said…

Please don't forget."

It took quite a bit of explaining but Lemy managed to convince his brother to share a part of his song to Joey.

"Wow." Said an astonished Joey. "If I knew that the lyrics were gonna be THAT good, I wouldn't have said yes to Lyra's offer.

I mean… 'our brains will change from hand grenades?' I can't come up with that shit if I TRIED!"

Lyle laughs.

"Hey, if you're gonna thank anyone here, thank Stuart. Him being here with the bass guitar made the song feel more complete."

Joey then looks at Stuart.

"Stuart? Stuart Ferguson? You were in Vocal Edge!"

Stuart takes the lollipop stick out of his mouth and talks back.

"I WAS in Vocal Edge, until Bill decided to break us up.

THESE GUYS… are lucky to have me…

And I'm lucky to have them."

Joey nods in agreement.

"You know, I think I just learned a very valuable lesson:

It's to not judge others based on who their PARENTS are!

I mean… I'll still have my PREJUDICES… but everybody has them."

"Yeah, glad to have you on board, Joey." Said Lemy.

"NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT!" Continued Joey.

"I had some problems back when I was younger. I was cyberbullying people my age; calling people all kinds of names, making fun of their hobbies… I think I told somebody to drink BLEACH once…"

Lyle suddenly then snaps out of his train of thought. Did this Joey guy just say what he thought he heard?

Lemy is the first to notice that something is not going alright.

"Oh shit! Lyle, you're making that face again!"

Joey stops speaking to try to understand what's happening.

"Huh? What face?" He questioned.

Lemy then faces Joey.

"Every time he gets an idea for a song, he makes that face. I've seen it before when he came up with the lyrics for Heathens!"

He then stops talking as soon as he hears Lyle mumbling to himself.

"Drinking… gulping… sipping… sipping on… straight chlorine."

He smiles.

"Lemy, get me a pen and paper, I think I just thought of something better than Heathens."

Lemy starts to shake his head.

"Come on man. Are you sure? I don't think we have the time."

Lyle snaps back.

"We have two and a half hours! That's PLENTY OF TIME!

I'll tell you… FIVE what, if you all like Heathens better, we'll play Heathens…

But if you like CHLORINE better…"

Mike Kendell is seen on the stage again.

"When Connor took the stage, I thought 'what can this guy do to make a first aid demonstration entertaining?' Well let me say, I think we have ALL learned something tonight!"

Lyra sighs and tries to sit up straight.

If Joey Damone had beaten up Lemy, he would have done it by now. No police or medical assistance had been called however, and she's starting to get really curious as to what's going on outside.

"NOW onto our FINAL act! I've just been told by the lead singer to…

Pass the mike!"

Lyra and the rest of her family then sit up straight. Pass the mike? For what?

What happened next, however, was astounding for Lyra.

She nearly stood up to shout at Joey Damone to go back outside when she saw him along with another guy who she doesn't know taking the stage while the other four guys including her brother were setting up their instruments.

"I'm just gonna lay my head down until this is all over. I'M SCREWED!" She thought.

"Is that Joey Damone?" Thought Lacy. "Didn't I have a crush on him a long time ago…

AH WELL! I DON'T REMEMBER!"

Leia just sits in her seat with her arms crossed.

"I SWEAR, these guys are getting way more attention then they SHOULD!" She thought.

Joey then speaks into the microphone.

"One two!

One two!

One two!"

"THREE!"

"I know what one and two add up to, Dalton! Thank you for that!"

The audience gave off a small burst of laughter at that.

Joey and Jedi smile again before Jedi speaks.

"We would like to take this opportunity to remind all parents to please keep all their containers of bleach, laundry detergent, toilet cleaner, window cleaner, et cetera, tightly secured and out of the reach of children and toddlers."

In the audience, Lincoln crosses his arms and thinks to himself.

"Is this some kind of joke? How stupid does Lyle and Lemy think we are!?

OF COURSE all the chemicals are properly stored in the Loud House!

Well… I mean… ARE THEY!?

Okay, first thing I'm gonna do when I get back to the house…"

Joey speaks again.

"With THAT being said, I would like to say that if any of you told me this morning that I'm gonna be up here on this stage here right now talking to you, I would have laughed.

I understand that there are a lot of people… myself included… who aren't up to date with the latest trends in modern music.

Anyway, Dalton and I here are very privileged to be introducing this band here.

Tonight, you will all get a chance to witness something… special.

Something… unique.

Something… new.

Ladies and gentlemen, it gives us enormous pleasure to introduce this TALENTED band…

GLOOM ECLIPSE!

Performing their newest song… CHLORINE!"

Joey and Jedi then run off the stage to give the other four guys some room.

At his piano, Lyle takes a deep breath.

He feels nervous and he knows that it's the same for the others too.

This is their first time performing in front of an actual audience.

In his mind, he tries to channel the spirit of Freddie Mercury during his performance at the 1985 Live Aid concert.

Sighing, he thinks to himself, "Well, here goes nothing."

Starting off the song, he presses down on two of the piano keys repeatedly until he hears Lemy, Bobby, and Stuart play their instruments as well.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity for Lyle, he starts singing.

"Sippin' on straight chlorine…

Let the vibe-"

"WOOOOOOOO!" "SING! LYLE! SING!"

The band immediately stops playing as soon as they notice Luna and Leni Loud stand up to cheer for their sons.

"OH COME ON! SIT DOWN!" Commanded their husband, Lincoln, who is just as irritated as the band is.

Since Luna and Leni were sitting on either side of him, he was able to force them down.

"Sorry! Carry on with your song, son!" Apologized Lincoln.

Lyle pinches his forehead.

"Okay… as if things aren't embarrassing enough! Let's try again!"

He nods to the other guys and they nod back.

They start playing their instruments again.

"Sippin' on straight chlorine…

Let the vibe slide over me.

This beat is a chemicalllll, yeah

Beat is a chemical.

When I leave, don't save my seat.

I'll be back when it's all complete.

The moment is medicalllll

Moment is medical, yeah.

Sippin' on straight chlorine.

Loving what I'm tasting…

Venom on my tongue…

Dependent at times…"

Lyra then looks up. What's this about sipping on chlorine?

Meanwhile on the sidelines, Joey is seen not being able to stand still to Lyle's song.

"Yeah! I inspired this! I FUCKING INSPIRED THIS!"

Lyle then sings the chorus.

"Sippin' on straight chlorine…

Let the vibe slide over me.

This beat is a chemicalllll, yeah.

Beat is a chemical..."

He then thinks of Stuart. Him rejoining the band when he finished 'Heathens' is what made him come up with a few of the lyrics.

"Fall out of formation.

I plan my escape…

From walls they confine.

Rebel red carnation,

Grows while I decay…

I'm running for my li-iiiiife

I'm running for my…"

"Why is Lyle singing that he's running for his life?" Thought Lincoln. "I should talk to him if I ever get the chance."

"Hide you in my coat pocket,

Where I kept my rebel red.

I felt I was invincible

You wrapped around my head…"

In the audience, Jeremy runs his fingers through his hair.

"This isn't Heathens!" Jeremy thought joyfully. "This isn't Heathens AT ALL!"

"The last two lines may read

Incorrect until said.

The lead is terrible in flavor,

But now you double as a paper maker."

Lyle looks away from his piano and stares at his dad in the audience as he mouths off his next lyrics.

"I despise you sometimes,

I love to hate the fight,

And you in my life is like…

SIPPIN' ON STRAIGHT CHLORINE!"

"Wait… WHAT!?" Thought Lincoln, unsure of what he's feeling right now.

"When I leave don't save my seat,

I'll be back when it's all complete.

The moment is medicalllll,

Moment is medical, yeah.

Sippin' on straight chlorine."

Stuart then softly sings into his microphone.

"Let the vibe. Let the vibe.

…

Let the vibe. Let the vibe."

"I'll admit." Thought Jedi. "This isn't bad for a song that took only two hours to make."

Lyle then feels tears gathering up in his eyes as he keeps playing. He never really thought he'd be here where he is now when he first suggested to Lemy that they should form a band.

He looks at his parents again as they watch him perform. Not two hours ago as he was piecing together Chlorine, he realizes that this isn't about escaping them anymore.

He's technically a musician now and he should write songs that have his own personal passion in them. Instead of writing songs just out of convenience.

His voice chokes a little as he sings the next verse.

"I'm so sorry I forgot you,

Let me catch you up to speed.

I've been tested like the ends of,

…

A WEATHERED FLAG THAT'S BY THE SEA!"

Lincoln gives off a confused look.

"You've been… tested like a what?"

"AH-CHOO!"

He then takes his gaze off the band and looks behind him. Standing near the exit of the auditorium is a man wearing a leather jacket and big aviator sunglasses holding a handkerchief up to his face.

"Bless me!" He yelled before running off.

"Seriously? Is flu season coming early this year?"

Trying to ignore the sneezing man, Lyle continues singing.

"Can you build my house with pieces? I'm just a chemical.

Can you build my house with pieces? I'm just a chemical."

Lemy and Stuart then start singing along.

"Can you build my house with pieces? I'm just a chemical.

Can you build my house with pieces? I'm just a chemical."

At this point, the only noise in the whole auditorium is the sound of the piano with Lyle playing his own original rhythm. For half a second, he felt like Beethoven.

Then it was all over… Just silence.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Row after row after row… everybody in the audience stood up and cheered for Gloom Eclipse. Feeling like they have experienced something new, like Joey said.

Lyle, Lemy, Bobby, and Stuart just stood there, gazing at everyone, taking it all in.

While Stuart can see his parents as well as Jeremy applauding him, most of the attention on the stage is focused on the Loud family.

It's easy to see that some of them are more happier than others. With Lyra being the only one in the entire audience who isn't standing up.

Lyle then looks at his brother.

"We did it, man. We did it!"

Lemy smiles back.

"It's all thanks to you, bro!"

Not wanting to argue with him on stage, Lyle makes his move and hugs his brother in front of everybody.

Not knowing or even caring if anyone feels disgusted by it.

"...She fooled me twice and it's all my fault…

She cut too deep, now she left me scarred.

Now there's so many thoughts going through my brain…

And now I'm taking these shots like it's Novocaine…

Ooo, I fall apart,

Down to my core…"

Gloom Eclipse, as well as Joey and Jedi are seen celebrating at Stuart's house.

With practically no competition to face, they were named the grand prize winners of the show.

Right now, Lemy is singing another one of his favorite songs while Lyle plays the piano in the background with their friends listening.

"Never caught a feeling this hard.

Harder than the liquor I pour.

Tell me you don't want me no more.

But I can't let go…"

Joey then jumps in and starts singing.

"I don't understand this.

You're changing, I can't stand it.

My heart can't take this damage.

And the way I feel, can't stand it."

They then start to sing together like they're on the bleachers again.

"Baby, I don't understand this.

You're changing I can't stand it.

My heart can't take this damage.

And the way I feel, can't stand it."

Grinning to himself, Lyle then changes the song he's playing to throw them off.

Stuart then stands up from the couch.

"Oh my god! That's…"

Lyle smiles at Stuart then starts singing.

"I've paid my dues.

Time after time.

I've done my sentence.

BUT COMMITTED NO CRIME!"

Stuart starts singing.

"And bad mistakes…

I've made a few…"

Lyle takes his turn.

"I've had my share of sand

Kicked in my face,

But I've come through!"

"And I need to go ON and ON and ON and ON!"

Lyle then looks at the other four guys.

"We are the champions, my friends!

And we'll keep on FIGHTING till the end…"

Stuart, Lemy, Bobby, Joey, and Jedi then start to sing.

"WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

NO TIME FOR LOSERS!

CAUSE WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!"

Lyle finishes off the lyric.

"OF THE WORLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL…..D."

After that long note, he starts to inhale some air.

While breathing out, he looks at the time on his phone.

4:17 A.M.

The celebration at Stuart's house ended nearly three hours ago but Lyle couldn't bring himself to sleep.

Now it's just him and his piano in the garage of the Loud House repeating just one new lyric over and over and over again.

He feels… empty now. He just won a talent show, but now what?

He gives off another long sigh and repeats again.

"And now I just sit in silence…

And now I just sit in silence…

And now I just sit in silence…"

He takes a moment to fix up his hair.

It's rather funny, the situation he faces, his room is too loud to sleep in thanks to his family, but the garage is way too quiet to relax in.

"And now I just sit in silence…

And now I just sit in silence…

And now I just sit in silence…"

Suddenly, from the entryway, he hears faint singing.

"Silent night…

Holy night…

All is calm…

All is bright…"

He recognizes that voice.

His mom. Leni Loud. Dressed in a seafoam green nightgown all of a sudden, singing to her son.

"Sleep in heavenly peace…

Sleep in heavenly peace…"

Confused and slightly angry. Lyle snaps back.

"What… are… you… DOING!?"

Leni looks confused.

"Huh? It's what you said in your song, remember?"

"Huh? What song?"

"'Stressed Out!' You were wishing you could turn back time and all that."

In his mind, Lyle runs through his own lyrics of the very first song that he's ever made.

"OH YEAH! THAT'S RIGHT! I COMPLETELY FORGOT!"

Leni then laughs softly and sits down next to her son facing the piano.

"Can't sleep either, huh?" She said.

"Yeah, I can't." Answered Lyle.

"Look, I don't know if you're the right person to ask this, but do you ever feel… empty after creating something? Like something in fashion?"

Leni thinks for a moment then answers.

"A few times, actually. I remember back when I was taking care of Liena, who was just over a year old at the time when aunt Lori came rushing in the room we were in with someone calling me back. The company loved my designs and wanted to see me in person.

It wasn't until later, I found out that there were over 500 other people applying for a limited number of spots.

In all that happiness, there was also emptiness.

I achieved a goal, but now all of a sudden, I needed another one.

It was right then and there, I realized… I needed to set my own.

Establishing deadlines for yourself and keeping them sacred really DOES improve creative work AND it benefits the customers too."

Lyle now feels astonished at his mother's words. This woman couldn't even find the car ignition half the time she sits in the driver's seat and now here she is giving advice.

"WOW! Um… thanks mom. I'll do that."

Leni smiles at her son.

"Don't think that you don't have any creativity left in you, Lyle. I plan to teach classes about design when I get old and I fantasize about my future students hearing YOUR songs on their car radios as they make their way to the college."

They then share a laugh together before Leni speaks again.

"Try not to stay up for much longer, I don't want you to sleep through saturday."

She stands up to leave the garage, but not before giving a motherly hug to her son.

With his mom out of the picture, Lyle then stares directly at his piano again. New lyrics are now forming in his head.

"Back to work."

He presses a few keys.

"I'm forced to deal with what I feel.

There is no distraction to mask what is real.

…

I could pull the… steering wheel?

…
I have these thoughts so often I ought,

To replace that slot with what I once bought!

Cause somebody stole my… car radio?"

He pauses. Sometimes his writing even scares himself.

That lyric from earlier…

He'll just sing that one and then try to turn in for the night.

"And now I just sit in silence."

THE END