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Chapter Text

Lucy swung at her face, landed a hit in her jaw, and stumbled herself. The two boys were surprised, Benny tried to get in her way, she pushed him in to Schroeder, the dead look on her face never changed, she swung again at Frieda, her punches picked up speed. There was none of her discipline, body unsteady. Frieda took wild punches all over her face, while she struggled to fight back with a hand full of Lucy’s hair, she yanked her head down, and gave her a few punches in the head, but it didn’t seem phase her. Frieda was surprised she got the upper hand, and shoved her into a locker. Lucy kept swinging, Frieda slammed her head to the locker a few times and Lucy didn’t even blink, she did try to keep throwing punches. The boys finally were able to get them apart, Schroeder shielded Frieda while Benny pulled Lucy, who didn’t stop swinging at Schroeder’s back until her jabs were hitting a locker. Lucy took a step back, swayed a bit off kilter as she turned around and shambled away. The three of them watched her crouch down and hold her head a few feet away from them.

“What just happened,” she cried out, before she ran off.

“The hell,” Benny stared at her.

“Are you okay, Frieda‽”

“I’m okay… her punches seemed weak, but still kinda hurt.

“You’re already starting to bruise, we should get you to the nurses office.” He hurried her away.

“What happened‽” Eudora ran up.

“Lucy just… attacked Frieda, she was full zombie mode, she even punched the lockers, and… it was weird. She wasn’t phased by any of it. Frieda slammed her head in a locker, and she didn’t even blink!”

“Oh… wow.”

Lucy ran until she was ready to collapse, vision blurred, out of breath. There were still a few students making their way to class, that were looking at her.

“What’s her problem?”

“Probably still on that stuff about Schroeder.”

“Somebody’s really lost it…”

“What did I do‽ What did I do,” she cried out.

“She’s really freaking out.” Somebody laughed.

“What did I do… oh my god! I am so sorryyyyy Fr-ieda!” She started to cry.

“This chick is spazzing out!”

“Lucy! It’s you! You’re the one people are talking about!” Marcie ran up.

“What did I do Marcie… what did I do?”

“I… I don’t know, Lucy.” she looked confused. “Maybe we should get you to the nurse’s office.”

“What did I do,” she whispered.

Marcie tried to pick her up. “I could use a little help… you’re heavy.”

“What did I do to Frieda!”

“Frieda?” she looked quizzically. “Wait right there, I’m going to get help.”

Marcie ran to find help, trying to think of anybody who would even help. She ran to the classroom Charlie was in, yanked the door open.

“Charlie,” she huffed. “I need your help… it’s Lucy… she’s freaking out in the hallway.”

“Freaking out?”

“She’s… having an anxiety attack, or mental break down, or both.”

“I’m coming.” he stood. “Sorry sir, but I can’t ignore her.”

Charlie followed Marcie to where Lucy was.

“She keeps babbling about Frieda.”

“Huh… Frieda?”

They rounded a corner to where Lucy was sitting, nearly passed out.

“Lucy!”

“Ch-Charlie… what did I… do?”

“We’ll figure it out later, c’mon, I got you.” He picked her up in his arms. “I can take it from here, Marcie.”

Charlie took her to the nurses office, just as Frieda was leaving.

“Frieda, what happened‽”

She glared at him holding her. “What do you think happened?”

“Oh… now her rambling makes sense. Look Frieda, she’s not well, I don’t think she meant to do it.”

“What did… what did I… do?” Lucy looked at Frieda.

“Marcie found her near passed out, mumbling, she’ll know more than me.” he went inside.

“What happened to her,” the nurse was surprised.

“I don’t know, I just want her to be okay.” he sat her on a cot.

“What happened… what did I do?”

“I don’t know Lucy, but your in the nurses office, we can figure that out later, okay?”

The nurse checked her out, while he waited.

“Looks like she’s dehydrated, have you ate anything today?”

“No.”

“When was the last time you ate, or drank anything?”

“Friday, or Saturday… maybe.”

“Lucy… that’s not healthy.” she grew concerned.

“Ma’am… can I talk to you in private?”

“Sure Charlie.”

The nurse lead him to her office.

“I think this has something to do with Saturday, when we all found out Schroeder and Frieda were dating. Lucy has been chasing him since we were kids, and it broke her.”

“She’s going to need to stay here to recover some, probably until after school, and somebody will need to pick her up.”

“I’ll pick her up, just leave it to me. Her parents are too busy, and I have a feeling Violet couldn’t be bothered.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah… I live right next door, it’s nothing.”

Charlie went back to see Lucy, while the nurse wrote a note for him.

“Lucy, I’m going to need your keys, I’m going to take your scooter and come back and get you, okay? Just relax and get your energy back.” he took her keys from her belt loop.

She reached for his hand.

“Everything will be fine.”

After school Linus and Sally were headed towards Charlie’s car.

“Did you hear about your sister, babe, that she beat up Frieda?”

“I had, are you surprised? I saw Frieda earlier.”

“Yeah, Patty just left with her.”

“Lucy really lost it, I saw Frieda, it looked like she beat the hell out of her.” Franklin walked up.

Charlie walked up, “it really was a big misunderstanding.”

“What was,” Franklin asked.

“Lucy beating up Frieda.”

“What‽ Are you seriously defending her on this,” Linus yelled.

“Yep,” he spoke calmly, “Marcie found her completely out of it, I carried her to the nurses office, and she was completely dehydrated, her eyes were bloodshot, she was breathing heavy.”

Charlie tossed his backpack in his car.

“Is she going to be okay?”

“What‽ Don’t ask that, Franklin, she just beat up Frieda.”

“Frieda will be okay. I saw her leaving the Nurses office. Did you know Lucy hadn’t ate in almost three days, did you know she could actually die? I get that you don’t like her, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to believe you’re fine with her dying.”

“And she drove herself to school.” Sally gasped.

“Rerun won’t like this at all. Where are you going?”

“You three are going to need to find another way home. I’ve got to get her scooter home, so I can come back and get her.”

“Are you serious right now,” Linus yelled.

Charlie got on her one fifty scooter and started it up.

“What the hell are you doing‽” Violet walked up.

“I’m taking her bike, she’s in no condition to ride it, then I’m coming back to get her.”

“Well… hold on.” She ran to her car, grabbed Lucy’s helmet. “She tried to stick this in her locker, take it. How is she?”

“Bad. Not that you care.”

“I do care!”

“You know we can hear you at your table, like you can, us, right?” he put the helmet on, and rode off.

“Great! Now we need to figure out how to get home!”

“We can walk, it’s a nice day. Maybe it’ll take your mind off this Lucy stuff,” Sally suggested.

“Yeah, sure. Sometimes I wonder about your brother.” he grabbed her hand.

As they walked back home, they passed Charlie on his way back to school, lost in his music.

“Why does he try so much?”

“It’s just who he is, I guess—never giving up.”

 Charlie went back to the Nurses office for Lucy, saw Schroeder on his way out.

“What’re you doing here, Charlie?”

“What?” he pulled down his headphones.

“What’re you doing here? I’m on my way to see Frieda… I just couldn’t concentrate, it’s not calming me.”

“I’m here for Lucy, she’s in the Nurses office.”

“Lucy‽ Don’t you know what she did to Frieda?”

“Yeah, do you know what condition Lucy’s in, her mental state?”

“I don’t care,” he spat. “She beat up Frieda.”

“She was delirious. She kept asking what happened, and what did she do, she hadn’t ate probably since Saturday afternoon. For good or bad; she must’ve been in love with you, or close to it. There was so much pain in her that night. She’s broken, I’ve been there. Did she really look like herself when it happened,” he walked away.

Charlie walked inside.

“She’s doing okay, I did what I could, but she needs to eat, before something happens that require a visit to the emergency room.” She took him to her.

“Lucy, how you feeling?”

“Weak.”

“I’m back to get you, we need to get food in you.”

“Of course you’d want to take care of me.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m not complaining… any more.”

Lucy managed to walk back to the student parking lot with him, he held her hand and arm, they managed to catch up to Schroeder going to his car. Schroeder turned around, when he heard her feet slide on the concrete, as she stumbled and fell, almost took Charlie with her. Their eyes locked and all that pain returned.

“C’mon Lucy, you’re stronger than this.”

“It hurts!”

“Calm down, before you pass out, or something.”

“I did something bad, I can feel it.” She tried to fight him. “What did I do‽”

“I’ll tell you if you eat something.” He picked her up again. “Look at me, Lucy, focus on me.”

Schroeder simply watched out of curiosity, she was off, and it was weird to him, to see somebody like Lucy being carried in somebody’s arms, or that Charlie could even. Out in the sunlight, he could see how pale she was, her bandaged hand trembled. Truthfully, it looked like Frieda messed her up more in that fight, he could see her busted lip and the remains of a bloody nose. Lucy focused on Charlie’s face, she recognized that determined look on his face, and there was so much more weight than she ever noticed. He sat her in the car,  all she could think otherwise, was the fact nobody has ever carried her before, and this guy has carried her twice.

“You need to come to terms with reality… I get it.” He started the car. “I know you have a thing for him, we all knew, for whatever reason.”

“I generally felt like I loved him.”

“And honestly, you were coming on way too strong, that’s why he kept it a secret from everybody. They were afraid of what you would do, that given your past; you might do something drastic, which would just push him away even more. I’m not scolding you, I just want you to understand. We aren’t kids anymore.”

“I don’t have much of a choice, do I? I feel like shit.”

“I bet… you haven’t eaten anything.”

“Emotionally. The nurse gave me two crash bars.”

“Well… you’re getting some real food.” He looked around. “I don’t want you to mess your body up, or die over some boy.”

“Yes sir,” she retorted.

“I’m serious. You can go back to hating me when you’re healthy. All that spite and vindication requires a lot of energy, until then; I want to make sure you’re going to be okay.”

“I wanted to be everything for him, I thought we’d be good together.”

“You’re not his type, he doesn’t have the patience you think he does, to deal with you outside of what friendship you had. And even then…”

“if… you could call it that.”

Charlie pulled in the drive-thru of a fast food place. “Free range, go for it.”

“No… some of this is too much.”

“You’re worth more than money. Pick something.”

Lucy ordered the biggest combo the place offered, and took her time eating it, finished near half, by the time he pulled up to their houses. Charlie swung her backpack on, opened the door for her, she got out, and stumbled a little, he caught her.

“Guess I’m still not all that well.”

“Last thing I want is you falling on any of these steps.” He picked her up again.

“I’m telling you he’s not human, that’s the secret he’s hiding,” Sally commented on the television show her and Linus were watching.

“It seems that way, but it could be misdirection.”

“Just you wait… you’ll see.”

Both turned when the front door was opened, Linus scowled when he saw Charlie carry Lucy inside.

“Don’t mind us, return to your regularly scheduled program.” Charlie closed the door with his foot.

Lucy couldn’t see them, but she heard his sigh, and saw the look Charlie tried to hide.

“He’s not happy I’m here, is he?”

“Nope.”

“Probably wishes I was dead.”

Linus and Sally both overheard that, as Charlie carried her up the steps.

“You don’t wish that, do you?”

“No… no, I wish she would not be here, but not dead. I don’t think I want her dead.”

“Good. Love her, or hate her, she’s still family.”

“You almost sound like your doofus brother.”

“You know… in some ways, even I can admit that him and Lucy are a lot alike.”

“I think I can take it from here,” she said with a smile, once in the bedroom.

“You just wanted me to carry you, didn’t you,” he rose an eyebrow.

“I think I would barely manage it, but yes, I wanted you carry me again. Felt like a damsel.”

“I should pick you up and throw you on the bed.”

“Save it for when I’m feeling better. Linus… Linus wasn’t happy to see me, was he?” she went to finish eating.

“Not really.”

“I don’t remember much from today.”

“You beat up Frieda. Apparently you were zoned out all day, and you walked up to her and started swinging.”

“No! I didn’t do that, I never wanted to fight her!”

“But you did. Marcie found you near collapsed, and came to get me.”

“Oh my god, I can’t believe I fought Frieda! I wanted us to be friends again, Patty too,” she cried out.

“Hey, calm down, don’t get too worked up.” he sat next to her.

“But I fucked up everything!”

Charlie sat her food on the nightstand, and pulled her close to him, while she cried.

“I’ve got your back, you’re not alone.”

Just then, Charlie’s phone rang, he saw it was Marcie.

“Marcie, Lucy’s doing better.”

“That’s good, do you know what was wrong?”

“She hadn’t ate anything since Saturday.”

“That’s horrible!”

“I’m with her now, I bought her some food.”

“I’ll let you go, tell her I said to get better.”

“Okay, see you,” he hung up, “Marcie said get better.”

“Marcie is probably the closest thing to a friend, other than you. Violet and Linus said some mean things- I know I deserve it, but it still hurt.”

“I know. You’ve said a lot of hurtful things to me, and look at where I am; much better off, and with you in my arms.”

“You didn’t deserve the way I treated you… you’re really a great guy.”

“Obviously it’s all forgiven.”

“I… I don’t know why you’re still single.”

“What?”

“Why are you still single? You’ve grown so much. I mean, if this is how you treat your enemy; I could only imagine how it’d be as a girl you actually love.” She looked away. “I remember the few girlfriends you had, I thought they were what you deserved.”

“Yeah, I know,” he said slightly annoyed.

Lucy exhaled a deep breath. “I hope the next one isn’t like the rest. I’d love to beat the daylights out of her, if she is.”

Charlie started to wonder if she was anywhere near a sound mind.

Later that evening, Charlie made sure Lucy was okay, before he left. He decided to have a few words with Linus before leaving.

“Yo Linus.”

“What do you want?”

“I would like to hope we can put this Lucy stuff behind us, and remain friends—I still think you’re my friend. This isn’t like you, I know she’s alienated our friends  but she’s still your sister, and you need to be better than her, despite it all; she wants to be better, she misses Patty, and Frieda, she didn’t want to fight her at all. Let her change… and pull your head out of your fucking ass, and love your damn sister, like I love mine.” He poked his chest, and walked out the door.

Chapter Text

Word had spread all over school that Lucy beat up Frieda, several people talked and put Lucy on edge, still not being all the way well, she also had to watch her moves to avoid vertigo.

“You doing better today?” Charlie appeared next to her.

“You might not want to be seen next to me, I know you hear the voices.”

“I don’t mind.”

“The prodigal son walking with the demon of the high school.”

“Let them think what they want. I know you better than they do.”

“I don’t want anybody to think less of you.”

“Lucy, worried about my wellbeing… tis such an honor.” He gave her a side hug, when they walked in the cafeteria.

Lucy held back to put space between her and his friends in line. What they didn’t know is some of them seen him hug her.

“Why would Charlie hug Lucy?” Schroeder was mildly annoyed.

“You know how he is,” Franklin said.

“That’s not an excuse, she beat her up, that’s a heavy thing to look away from.”

“It really wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been, I’ve seen her knock somebody out, once. I was just caught off guard.”

“Don’t make excuses, I’ve always wanted to tussle with Lucy, and see who’s really bad,” Peppermint Patty boasted.

“She was out of it, I don’t think Lucy knew what she was doing. When I found her, she was sitting on the ground, hugging her knees, muttering the question; what did she do, what happened, and screaming your name, Frieda,” Marcie explained.

“She did have that dead look on her face… and the way she collapsed like she did…,” Frieda trailed off.

“No, it’s no excuse, whatever she was going through doesn’t matter, she still hurt you,” Schroeder spat.

“That’s what I’m saying!” Linus sat down. “She’s just a menace.”

Lucy was walking to her table, when she felt herself about to fall, barely saved it.

“Oops, looks like you should pay attention,” Molly sneered.

“Careful, we don’t need you making a bigger mess if yourself. What did I do, where am I,” Melody mocked.

Lucy managed to make it to her table with Violet and Amy.

“You don’t look too good,” Amy spoke.

“Vertigo.” she held her head.

“What happened to you, I saw Charlie taking your scooter, why did you beat up Frieda‽”

“I don’t know why I beat up Frieda, I really don’t. I didn’t know I did it until I was done. I never wanted to fight her, I wanted…,” she trailed off, and held her head.

“The nurses office?”

“I didn’t eat anything since before the recital, I was torn up over Schroeder… Linus chewing me out, and… you, Violet.”

“Me‽ What did I do, but tell the truth‽”

“You hurt me, the way you were talking.”

“I just tell it like it is, just like you, Lu.”

“But it wasn’t the right time. You should’ve been kinder… Pat would have.”

“Yeah, I’m not Pat, sorry.”

“I don’t know how many times I’ve said Lucy is broken, Lucy wants to change, I have faith in her, she needs a friend.” Charlie narrowed his eyes.

“You’re just a people pleaser, Charlie Brown, that’s what your problem is,” Linus explained.

“And you can eat my ass. Rerun is a better brother than you.”

“I agree with Charlie; I believe if she’s treated with kindness, she will be a better person.”

“Thank you Marcie.”

“Marcie, you too,” Schroeder exclaimed.

“She’s been talking to me, because she has nobody else, other than Charlie. She’s in pain, and not just because of you and Schroeder, she feels miserable over losing yours and Patty’s friendship, she feels the very same about her relationship with you, Linus.”

“What will it take for you people to actually listen to her, and let her try and make things right?”

“An act of God,” Linus stated.

Lucy walked through the halls, and it shown her how many people liked Frieda over the years, Schroeder, and despised her, as she was bumped around, cursed at, made fun of. Somebody tripped her, she used all her strength not to cry and pull herself up before something worse happened.

“Are we going to see a repeat of yesterday, here’s the answer; you fell is what happened,” Lydia yelled at her.

Lucy pulled herself up, and moved as quick as she could to class, without causing vertigo. This went on the next class change, once they realized she wasn’t that steady on her feet. Somebody shoved her into some lockers, her vision went a bit blurry when she hit her head.

“Char… Charlie…?”

“Boy, you’ve got screws loose… it’s Charlotte, dummy! Just because you think Schroeder belongs to you, doesn’t give you the right to beat up Frieda!”

“I know that, it was an accident.”

“That’s the dumbest excuse I ever heard.” She laughed. “You’ll get yours.”

“You’re in front of my locker, I’m trying not to be a misogynist, but I’ll make an exception for you,” Thibault said, as he shoved her out of the way.

“Stop it, damn it,” Charlie ran up.

“You’re defending Lucy‽”

“She’s not feeling well, knocking her around is going to make it worse,” he picked her up.

“Real simp energy, Charlie.” Thibault closed his locker.

“Where’s your next class, Lucy,” Charlie walked away with her.

“The school has been putting your sister through the ringer, Sweetheart.”

“I know, I’m worried about her, Marcie, what if she gets hurt too bad, and needs an ambulance? She’s still kinda sick.”

“I think she might be exhibiting signs of a concussion.”

“I don’t think Lucy is leaving school in one piece today. I didn’t think that many people cared about me and Schroeder,” Frieda said between classes.

“Maybe they just hate her more than they like you,” Patty replied.

“There’s that.”

“Is it bad, that I feel bad for her? She really was a good friend, when Violet wasn’t around.”

“You’re within your right to feel how you want to.”

“We weren’t that bad together, ya know. I won’t lie, I miss the three of us, and I bet by now; Lucy does, too.”

“I don’t know about being Lucy’s friend again, and having to deal with Vee again.”

“Maybe if we all avoided Vee, she would change for the better.”

“She has her talons stuck deep in Lucy, though.”

“We need to get that bitch and teach her a lesson,” Delores growled.

“I’ve been itching to,” Molly agreed.

“Get who? Lucy?” Charlotte walked up.

“Who else, chika?”

“Oh I’m game, but we need to make sure Charlie’s out of the picture.”

“What does he see in her, he needs to pick a side—friends or that cunt,” Molly wondered.

“I don’t think anybody’s going to convict us, we should get that Violet, too,” Delores stated.

“Time to put her in her place, ladies! She won’t know what hit her!” Charlotte laughed.

“Let’s get her after lunch, so everybody can see how the mighty have fell,” Delores explained. “See you girls later.”

Lucy ran in to Frieda between classes, and wanted nothing but for her to ignore her, like she normally does.

“Lucy, I need to talk to you,” she demanded.

“Yeah! Give her a talking to with your fist!”

“I’m not doing that, Lydia!”

“Go away, you’re going to make it worse,” she begged.

“Kick her in the balls!”

“Back off, Wallace,” She grabbed Lucy and pulled her in the bathroom, “I want answers from your mouth.”

“I never wanted to fight you… I just wanted to… ugh.” she lost her balance.

“What’s wrong with you?” she stood akimbo.

“Vertigo… after Saturday, I was so hurt that I lost him to you… I stopped eating. I’m still recovering, somebody broke in my locker and stole my crash bars, so… it’s kinda hard.”

“Crash bars?”

“They’re like full of stuff to help you when you’re dehydrated, or whatever, vitamins, minerals, sugar, to help me recover.”

“Okay, anyway; I was talking to Patty earlier, and she said that you might wanna start our friendship over?”

“I just wanted to apologize for everything. And I do miss you. I swear I didn’t know what I did, Charlie told me I beat you up.”

“You didn’t know?”

“I don’t even remember anything from yesterday except somehow getting to school, then to Charlie carrying me to the nurses and to his car is the last thing.”

“Well… you really didn’t hurt me that much. I don’t know about us being friends, especially with Violet in your life. But I don’t wanna be enemies. I just wanted the truth.”

“I have never lied to you.”

“Except when Vee was around.”

“I know… I know. All my fault. I… I… I hate it all!” She started to cry. “I want us to start over, I swear to god!”

Frieda gave her one last look, before she walked out of the bathroom.

At lunch it felt like there started to be a divide between friends because of Charlie and Lucy, there were faces aimed at the two, as he walked her through the lunchroom back to her table, to make sure she was okay.

“Thanks,” she whispered.

“Please join us, dude,” Shermy asked.

“Yes… please… join us, Charlie,” Violet asked sarcastically.

“Is that sincere, Violet?”

“Since you asked…”

“I don’t care what you think.” He sat down.

“Lucy, you’ve been going through something, and I can’t pretend to understand it on every level, but I stand with you,” Shermy said.

“Thanks… at this point I feel like everybody seriously hates me.”

“I don’t hate you, I’m on your side, so is Marcie… and maybe Patty, if you change your ways,” Charlie explained.

“Why should she change who she is, or listen to you,” Violet snapped.

“Have you not been here today? I saw you at the recital, so I know you were there. These are the fruits of Lucy’s labor… and yours too. What’s wrong with being a decent person? You’re the last one, and your turn is coming soon, and maybe I won’t be so kind as to give amnesty… since I’m such a try hard loser who cares about everybody too much.”

“So you care about me, too, huh?”

“Violet, would it really hurt to actually care about somebody other than yourself,” Lucy asked.

He glanced at Shermy, “so… read any good comics, or manga?”

“Dude, yeah!”

“There he goes, sitting over there with her,” Schroeder spoke.

“So? He can sit where he wants, or hang with who he wants,” Patty stated. “Stop trying to make him pick sides, when he’s trying to do the right thing.”

“Like you aren’t the slightest bit jealous your lover boy isn’t with you,” Peppermint Patty teased.

“Noooo… it’s not like that.”

“Good! Even after all this time, he’s still wishy-washy,” Linus said.

“You sound like Lucy; full of hate,” Patty spat.

“Don’t say that!”

“She’s right,” Rerun agreed.

“What do you two think,” Linus asked.

“Us,” Lamar and Heather asked.

“Man… you’re better than this,” Lamar answered.

“This does sound like a Lucy rant. She had her heart broke just like Patty, she’s trying to redeem herself, like Patty. None of you will give her the benefit of the doubt. No ones putting a gun to your head and telling you to be friends with her, but will it really hurt to let her be happy, if she’s not going to stand in the way of yours? How low will Lucy have to fall, and suffer, before you think it’s enough? She might have been bad for a long time, but she was never sinister, and she has done good things,” Heather explained.

“She never gave me a chance to be real friends anyway,” Schroeder said.

“Why don’t we see how this plays out, huh?  From what I remember, most of you were friends with her, regardless of how she treated Linus and Charlie,” Lamar said.

Once again Violet got a taste of Charlie’s inner workings, against her will, and for the most part, he did seem interesting. And for those moments, Lucy seemed okay, hung nearly on every word Charlie spoke, almost happy, and then it was over; time for class.

“Well it’s been real, it’s been fun… but it hasn’t been real fun. C’mon Lucy,” Violet said.

“No goodbye kiss?”

“Now you remember I’m here?”

“I got you, Sherm.” Charlie leaned across the table with puckered lips.

“If you don’t go on with that worn out whisk broom mustache.” He laughed.

“Come get your kisses, babe.”

“Is there enough for the rest of us,” Charlie teased.

“I’d rather kiss the hot tailpipe on Lucy’s scooter.” she broke the kiss.

Violet and Lucy stopped by a bathroom, while the former touched up her makeup.

“I think I saw a bit of shimmer in your eye,” Violet sang.

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“I’ve never seen you look at Charlie like that… do you like him?”

“Like him? He’s…”

“Or do you just feel some sort of way, because he took pity on your soul?”

“He’s always tried to be nice to me… I don’t even believe he thought I’d ever let him kick a football, I think he did it, because it made me happy. That’s where I’m at. I think he doesn’t—probably never wanted anybody to experience any of the pain he dealt with.”

“All I’m hearing is budding blockhead love.”

“Now you look here.” Lucy grew annoyed.

“Look here, indeed! Two birds with one stone, right, Charly,” Delores spoke.

“Oh yeah… just like I said.”

“Now, now, ladies, I haven’t done a thing,” Violet spoke.

“No, but you piss us off anyway, and you’re friends with that cunt.” Molly leaned against the door.

“So you think it’s okay to beat up a girl just because she’s dating your crush? Frieda’s a nice girl, and she deserves payback, you stuck up gringos, time for a beat down.” Delores glared.

“Rearrange your faces some.” Charlotte sneered.

“H-Hey wait! Don’t do this, I didn’t even know she did it until today!”

“Vee, calm down.”

“I don’t want my face fucked up, and I can’t fight!”

“I’m too weak to fight.”

“Please let me go, I’m innocent,” she begged.

“Thought you were tough, huh‽ I guess Lucy was the muscle. Fine, go, but keep your mouth shut,” Delores ordered.

“Tell anybody, and your next, bitch,” Molly threatened.

“I won’t, I swear!” Violet quickly went to the door.

“Violet! Help me!”

Charlotte swung at Lucy, her fist connected with her jaw.

“I can’t, I’m sorry.”

“Get the fuck out, or get beat with her,” Molly snarled.

“Violet,” Lucy yelled.

“Shut up!” Delores punched her.

She looked up to see Molly closing in, she was yanked by her arm towards her, with Molly’s heavy fist colliding with her stomach, she gasped for air. Charlotte flung several punches at Lucy’s face.

“Please… stop! I didn’t mean to fight Frieda, I didn’t know what I was doing.”

“Perra tonta!” Delores hit her in the mouth.

Lucy tried to block the punches from her face, tried to throw a few, but there was too many, and she was too weak, she was yanked around, and pushed and shoved, screamed out when her hair was pulled, then another fist connected with her jaw. Delores kicked her in the stomach, Charlotte threw wild uppercuts  into her stomach and chest. Molly held her up, pinned, while the other two pummeled her in the head. Molly socked her in the back and knocked the rest of the wind out of her, then picked her up and slammed her. Lucy didn’t have a voice any more, she coughed and puked. She just wanted it over, as she collapsed and cried, curled in a ball while they stomped her. Delores rubbed her face in her own puke.

“Dios Mios! That felt good, huh‽”

“The mighty have really fallen.” Molly laughed.

“Look at her.” Charlotte kneeled down. “Now the outside matches the inside.”

“We should go before we’re caught,” Molly suggested.

The girls left the bathroom quickly, left Lucy in a heap, she watched them rush out, her vision blurry and started to fade. Moments later Patty wandered in to use the bathroom and froze at the sight.

“Lucy!” She ran over. “What happened‽”

Patty shook her, but she didn’t respond, she left quickly to find anybody that could help, ran into Schroeder and Frieda kissing in the hallway.

“Frieda! Help!”

“Patty!” She tore away from the kiss. “What is it‽”

“It’s Lucy, she—”

“We don’t want anything to do with her,” Schroeder interrupted.

“Get Charlie to handle it,” Frieda suggested.

“Please.” She started to cry. “It’s bad… help me save her… she’s beat pretty bad… unconscious.”

“What? Like she was jumped,” Frieda asked.

“That’s not our, or your prob—” Schroeder started

Patty grabbed Frieda’s hand and ran off.

“Oi, are you crazy‽” Schroeder chased them.

Patty ran into the bathroom door and flung the door open.

“Patty, she’s not that weak, I’m sure she’ll be… oh… oh no.” She covered her mouth.

“Patty have you gone mad‽” Schroeder caught up to them. “This is Lucy we’re—" He saw Lucy laid on the floor in front of him.

Chapter Text

“Tell me that’s not Lucy laying there,” Schroeder said from the doorway.

They both nodded. Patty still cried at the sight of the bloodied girl, who lay in her own vomit.

“I’d never wish something like this on her,” Frieda whispered with a hitch in her throat, ready to cry.

“Get her up, don’t just stand there!” Schroeder walked in.

“C-c’mon Patty, let’s… let’s do this.”

The girls picked her up with him.

“She looks on the brink of death… who would be so cruel?” Schroeder positioned her on his back. “Even Lucy doesn’t deserve this.”

Students around started to take pictures of her, and laughed. Schroeder grimaced, Patty and Frieda held her arms in support.

“Stop! Stop taking pictures of her! Stop damn it,” Frieda yelled, crying.

“She did you first,” somebody said.

“But she didn’t do this to me! What if she’s never whole again, what if she never wakes up, is that okay‽ This isn’t doing me any fucking favors, it’s not what I wanted!”

They rushed her to the nurses office as fast as they could.

“What in the world!” The nurse gasped. “Let’s get her laid down, what happened‽”

“I found her like this,” Patty cried. “I think she got jumped.”

“This girl just can’t get a break… I’m going to need you three to go back to class, okay?”

“Will she be okay,” Frieda asked.

“Time will tell, let’s hope for the best. Lucy is lucky to have friends like you.”

“We should go, Frieda… Patty,” Schroeder suggested.

“You two are the ones she was talking about yesterday, you had just missed each other, too.”

Frieda started to cry, and ran out the office.

“Babe, wait,” Schroeder chased again.

Patty gave one last look at Lucy, and left.

“Stop showing me Lucy, you cretins,” Linus yelled, trying to get to his next class.

“Doesn’t that bother you?” Royanne walked up.

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Really‽ But she’s your sister.”

“Now that’s what bothers me. I don’t care.”

“Have you seen the picture?”

“Everybody keeps showing it to me!”

“But have you actually looked at it‽” She pulled out her phone. “Look!”

Linus studied the pictures. “She deserved it for what she did to Frieda.”

“That‽ She deserved to get jumped and beaten unconscious‽” She gave him a stern look.

He handed the phone back. “What do you want me to say?”

“I understand she hasn’t been that kind to you, but you should care whether she lives, or dies.”

Linus just looked at her.

She sighed. “You know what… never mind. Maybe you’re not the guy I thought you were.”

“You don’t like her that much.”

“But I care about her not dying, Linus. She’s not that bad. I’m not as hateful as you obviously are, that whatever happened to her could really mess her up, if she survives. She didn’t do that to Frieda, and she’s never beaten anybody that bad, herself.” She walked away.

“Frieda, did you see what happened to Lucy?”

“Charlotte, I just stopped crying over it, who could be so cruel?”

“It was probably payback for what she did to you.”

“She didn’t do that to me, I was okay… she might not be.”

“At least now she won’t mess with anybody.”

“Yeah… depending on how bad it was, she might be able to feed herself, or remember her name, either. I understand nobody likes her, but even she didn’t deserve that.”

“So… wow, okay.”

“Yeah, whoever did that to her is dead wrong, and I hope they pay! That was too fucking far. Even Lucy fights with honor.” She walked off and wiped a tear from her face.

“I was on my way to see her,” Charlie admitted.

“We’ll go with you,” Rerun said.

Charlie, Marcie, and Rerun went to the nurses office.

“How’s my sister doing?”

“She’s alive, but she needs to go to the hospital.”

“Can we see her,” Marcie asked.

“No, not yet, I’m sorry. An Ambulance should be coming.”

Linus was stopped by Violet before sixth period. “Um Linus…?”

“I don’t want to see the pics of Lucy,” he said sternly.

“I… don’t either.”

“And I’m not going to sit here and be preached to, because I don’t care about it.”

“I didn’t know you didn’t care. Do you wanna know who did it?”

“I couldn’t care less, find out on your own, if you’re curious.”

“I was there… I already know.”

“You were? Then why aren’t you beat up?”

“I was scared and ran.” She looked away. “I left her by herself.”

“You left her to get massacred by herself… and you’re supposed to be her friend? If it were Charlie; I’d rather we both get our asses kicked, than leave him to the wolves.”

“I got scared, okay‽ I can’t fight, so I took the out. I’m sorry.”

“…took the out,” he repeated.

“They wanted Lucy more because of what she did to Frieda, told me I could stay and get beat up, or leave, and I’d better not say anything.”

Linus actually felt anger over this, and walked away.

The nurse went to check on Lucy, finding her awake.

“You’re awake, how are you doing?”

“I actually feel okay for the most part.”

“Do you know who did it, these students need to be reported right away,” she looked her over.

Lucy gave it a long thought, “it was… I… don’t remember. I was talking to somebody in the bathroom, I think, and then I was here. I’m sorry- probably deserved it anyway… after what I did to Frieda. How come you didn’t write me up?”

“No, you did not deserve that, and there was no way you were in your sound mind yesterday, you needed help, not a suspension.”

“I still feel like that’s no excuse,” she sighed.

“And it’s no excuse, this happened to you. There’s an ambulance on the way.”

“I’d like to go back to class and finish the day, please.”

“I can’t let you do that.”

Lucy waited for the paramedics utterly embarrassed, clothes torn, footprints, messed up face. When they arrived, everybody watched her, and talked about her, and she had to do it alone, and she was scared, an emotion she’s not that accustomed to.

“Yo Lucy,” Molly greeted.

“I already got jumped… please just leave me alone,” she begged.

“Who jumped you, congrats are in order.”

“I… I don’t know, just….”

The paramedics briskly walked away.

Molly had a huge smile on her face.

At the hospital Lucy just wanted to go home, and have the day over with. She was taken care of and her mom went to get her. She had a concussion, and was told she was lucky to survive. Once she was on her way out, she saw Charlie approach, and stood out of the wheelchair and stumbled.

“Lucy… are you okay?”

She looked up, caught in Charlie’s arms. “I am now.”

“You okay, Lucy, how’re you feeling?”

To her surprise, it was Patty.

“You’re talking to me?”

“Yep. I found you in the bathroom, too. Do you know who did it?”

“I’d like to know what happened, it seems like all that fighting and bad attitude has finally caught up to her,” her mom said.

“I can’t remember. Wait… you found me?”

“Yeah, I was really worried about you, I was in tears… and so was Frieda.”

“Frieda? Why would she care about me?”

“Frieda and Schroeder are the ones who helped me take you to the Nurses office.” she opened the car door. “Are you going to be okay!”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“She has a concussion.”

“Call me when you get home, okay? Promise, Lu?”

“I promise.”

“Lucy…”

“Frieda,” she turned to see her and Schroeder standing there. “Thank you for helping me.” She hugged them both.

“Do you… do you know who did it,” Schroeder finally spoke.

She shook her head. “I don’t really remember anything.”

“Lucy I thought you—well… never mind what I thought, I’m happy you’re okay.”

“I’m so sorry about what I did.” She started to cry.

“Shhh… not right now, we can talk about that some other time.”

Linus and Sally waited in Charlie’s car and spotted Frieda and Schroeder talk to Lucy. He couldn’t look away, he had to see her face, but couldn’t catch it, as she got in her moms car.

“Okay, when you’re ready. I think you two looked and sounded beautiful together on stage.” She shut the door.

They watched her ride off.

“Did she say anything about what happened,” Linus asked them when they got back to the car.

“She doesn’t remember. Why do you care,” Frieda replied.

He looked around. “I just know Violet was there, okay? Why do you care, you don’t like her either, but you came to see her.”

“I don’t know. Patty found her, and was freaking out, we went to help, and… it was a ugly sight, Linus, the way she was laying there… the blood.” She started to cry.

“It was that bad,” Sally asked.

“C’mon baby… don’t think about it.” Schroeder walked her to his car.

Lucy arrived in home with a sigh, ready to take solace in her bedroom once again.

“Come on Lucy. See, this is why I tell you not too go so far. I had to leave work early, because of your antics,” her mom scolded.

 She went upstairs to her room, and called Patty.

“Hi Lu, make it home okay?”

“I did.”

“Good, that’s good. Are you okay?”

“I  have a concussion. I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me anymore?”

“I just couldn’t do nothing, Lu. It doesn’t matter, I don’t want you dead, or not whole.”

“I know it doesn’t change anything, but thanks Pat, I owe the three of you so much.” She went to look at herself in her vanity with a gasp.

“What is it, what’s wrong?”

“My face… is fucked!” She started crying.

“Hey, hey, it’ll heal, it’ll be better!”

Linus walked in the door and heard her explosive crying from downstairs. Maybe everybody was right, but she has been a terror for so long, but she’s so hurt. Rerun came in, stared at Linus stare upstairs with his fist clenched.

“Lucy… all of this will pass, I promise. We’ll figure this out for you.”

“What if it happens again‽ Nobody’s going to do anything… I’ve made bad life choices, and it’s too late to go back. You were right to walk away.”

“Lucy…”

“No… you and Frieda should’ve just left me there, it would’ve been better, who knows how many people just left me there.”

“There’s people on your side, are you going to turn your back?”

“Go to her, if you’re feeling some sort of way,” Rerun suggested.

“I just want to see for myself… nothing more.” He went upstairs.

“I’m sorry I messed up your day, and made you worry. I… I should get off here, I have schoolwork to do.” She hung up.

Lucy looked at the doorway to see Linus standing there, they stared at each other, her face bruised and swollen, eyes blackened and barely open, he stepped closer to her, stopped only when she flinched, never seen her like this before, so vulnerable.

“You don’t know anything about what happened?”

Lucy shook her head, still shaking from crying.

“Not who did it, or if anybody was with you?”

She just stared at him.

“Violet was there,” he answered coldly. “She told me she was with you in the bathroom, when you two were going to be jumped, and she left you there by yourself, because she’s a coward. This time… don’t starve yourself… I don’t want my friends who care about you to worry. Or our baby brother.” He walked away.

Lucy watched him leave, she tried to picture what happened after lunch; she was with Violet, they were talking, things grew more fuzzy as the memory left the cafeteria, then there was nothing but voices that must have been Frieda, Schroeder, and Patty, the school nurse really close to her, then everything else since she’s woken up.

Charlie was worried about Lucy, and wondered why she didn’t come to him, but given it thought that maybe she just wasn’t ready to open up just yet, so he would give her the choice.

“Hey Patty,” he answered his phone.

“Can you talk to Lucy, I think she’s starting to spiral.”

“What’s going on?”

“She told me that we should’ve left her in the bathroom. She needs to know that people are on her side”

“She knows I’m on her side, and Marcie. Hell, I carried her three times yesterday.”

“I know you can help her, like you helped me. I don’t want to lose her, I want us to be friends, but… it’s my fault for dropping our friendship.”

“No, no it’s not. Things weren’t working out, and you had to do that—we didn’t know this was going to happen, you can’t get mad for doing what you thought was right for you.”

“I feel guilty, though.”

“Because you’re a good person and a beautiful soul. She feels guilty about losing you, too. It’ll work out.”

“Don’t you sweet talk me.”

“I’m only telling the truth.”

“Stop it.” She giggled. “I can’t help but be worried about her.”

“I know, because of that big heart.” He had a smile in his voice.

“Stop it! I’m getting off here, before my ego gets as big as Violets. Bye Charlie.”

“See ya later.” he hung up.

Lucy struggled with her homework, trying to figure out Violet's part, and how it made her angry. Speak of the devil on the phone; Lucy stared at her phone ringing, reluctantly answering.

“Lu?”

She didn’t say anything.

“Lucy…?”

“What is it Violet?” Her voice was empty.

“I tried to see you at the Nurses office, but you were already gone. Are you okay, is everything okay? People kept showing me the pictures, was that Schroeder carrying you?”

“I’m fine, everything’s fine now, I was just doing homework.”

“That’s good, you should come over.”

“I have homework to do.”

“After that! Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I need to eat, then shower.”

“C’mon Lu… school just ended, you’ve got all day.”

“It’s going to take a while to figure this all out, sorry, my day is full.”

“Then I’ll come over and help, make short work of it.”

“I can handle it, thank you anyway. I’ve got to get back to work.” She hung up.

Lucy went back to her work. Linus couldn’t concentrate on his either, torn between his anger and her condition, suddenly there was a knock on his door frame.

“I-I’m sorry, Linus… but I need help. Can… can you help me?”

He couldn’t stand the sight of her. Generally speaking of her way of life, but her current condition, he couldn’t stand the sight of that even more.

With resolve; “what can I help you with, Lucy?” He stood up.

“It’s… it shouldn’t be so hard… I just…”

“It can’t be helped, let’s refresh your memory.” he walked to her.

It bothered him to see her walk with a limp. Over the years she’s made him so mad, how she seemingly got worse and worse, just in other ways when he was big enough to best her. How long has it been since he could see over her head? How did she get so… this? Either way, Linus worked diligently to help her with her homework until it was done.

“Thanks for the help, I know I was a bother.”

“No, you weren’t… for once.”

She gave a weak smile.

“I just didn’t want to hear anymore crying.” He went back to his room.

She took that much needed shower, while he was successfully able to finish his homework. Lucy found bruises all over her body, she was thankful nothing was broken, the hot water didn’t sooth as everybody claimed, but it was a much needed warm touch.  Out of the shower, in her pajamas, she was downstairs making her dinner, once again thankful Linus had gotten sick of being forced to make her food, so she learned herself, to feed herself, and maybe somebody else one day. Lucy took her food to her room to eat, and enjoy some anime until she got tired.

Chapter Text

There was no avoiding school, or avoiding people, she would just need to endure the day, stepped in the garage with her usual coffee to pull the bike out.

“Morning Lucy,” Charlie greeted.

“Hey.”

“You feeling okay? Should you be driving that? You look good today, by the way.”

“No I don’t. And I’ll manage it.”

“Yeah ya do… I like the style you have.”

“Stop trying to flatter me Charlie.”

“Nope.”

“Okay.” She hid her smile behind a sip of coffee.

“Calm down lover boy.” Linus walked to the car.

At the parking lot Lucy pulled in right behind Charlie, half wanting to just go in, half wanting to go back home as other kids were pulling in.

“Lucy,” Patty yelled, jumped out of her car.

She whipped her head around to see her running towards her.

“I’m so glad you came! I hope you’re doing better.” She hugged her.

“Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!”

“Shit, I’m sorry.” She let go. “I didn’t get to tell you last night—”

“Lucy.” Violet walked up. “Did I do something wrong last night?”

She wanted so badly to ignore her, but she was standing right there.

“Did your little accident bring you three back together?” Tapioca teased.

“No… you didn’t do anything, Violet, not last night.”

“I was wondering, because you hu—"

“It was yesterday,” she snapped. “Why did you leave me‽”

“Excuse me?”

“You left me all by myself, Violet! Why‽ Why did you leave me to get beat up… look at me, fuck! I don’t get it, I don’t understand… and I just can’t stand it, with you, you fucking abandoned me,” she screamed.

“Wow… Lucy is losing it.” Franklin watched.

“She’s blown her top.” Tapioca looked on.

“This was the last straw, Vee, I’m done, I’m done! I could’ve died yesterday, I could’ve got a brain injury! I might have one!”

“I was scared, Lucy, okay‽”

“I was scared, I was weak, I hadn’t ate in days, I was depressed… I was terrified! You have no god damned excuse… oh wait… you do; you only care about you, Violet Gray! It’s all about you! What you like, what you think is proper for us to enjoy! I can’t believe this went on for so long!”

“You go girl,” Peppermint Patty cheered.

“It’s not like she’s any different,” Royanne rolled her eyes.

“Knowing Lucy, I’m just waiting for the first punch,” Lydia added.

“I don’t know why I wanted to be your friend, the way you judge me for things I like, that you don’t—that’s why Patty isn’t our friend anymore, because then I started doing it to her!”

Patty was stunned at what she was witnessing.

“We subscribed to everything Violet, and when something actually friend worthy happens, something that really proves how strong a friendship is; I am left alone… beaten… bloodied—look at my face! I don’t want your excuses, both of us might’ve had a chance, and you know what really pisses me off about all of it; you ran away, and didn’t get help, the least you could’ve done was get help, Vee! Why didn’t you help me?”

“That is dirty,” Pig Pen said.

“And I owe you an apology—many of them, Patty. I need to tell you that when we found out Pig Pen turned you down like we did… we laughed. It was wrong, and I knew better. I should’ve been more compassionate for you and the situation you were in, and yes; I realized that before what happened with me and Schroeder. I never blamed you for not being our friend, I knew why, and I miss you so bad. And Frieda.”

“I told you, Frieda,” Charlie nudged her. “I think I did.”

“It’s just hard for me to look past everything. I feel like I wasted so much time with them.”

“I let Violet mess up our friendship, because I was trying to keep her impressed. You were right to walk away. I shoulda did it too.” She looked at Violet and slapped her across the face. “I’m done with you!”

Patty jumped at the slap, Violet just held her face.

“Well that was wild,” Lydia said.

“Wonder how long she wanted to do that,” Lamar asked.

“They always looked so close,” Heather said.

Everybody started to make their way inside, leaving Violet by herself.

“Ya know… I wanted us to be friends again… but you really did abandon her, and you know that was wrong.” Patty slapped her, herself. “You’re a shitty friend!”

“I don’t think you’re coming back from this.” Shermy sighed.

“At least I still have you, right?” She hugged him.

“Yeah… sure.”

All Lucy heard was how the “bad bitch club” was finally broken up, still talked about how she got beat up, and how it must have knocked some sense into her, there was just a slight reprieve from being bullied. She didn’t want to sit with anybody, there were no empty tables, and nobody would’ve wanted her, so she went to sit outside at one of the patio tables. Charlie saw her and went to join her.

“That was brave of you.” He sat down with his food.

“Well duh, I am brave, you blockhead… sorry, you didn’t deserve that.”

“You’ve said worse, and I’m proud of you for standing up to her.” He hugged her. “I didn’t know you were going through that, until Patty told me.”

“I don’t know why I snapped at you like that.” she leaned on him.

“You’re angry, and always do it, it’s okay, because you know who can deal with it the most, out of anybody?”

“You.”

“Mm-hmmm. I am here for you, if you need me, you can trust me with anything, Lucy… if you want me to be here.”

“You were always good to me, Charlie. Patty is so lucky.”

“Why is she lucky?”

“She has such a great boyfriend.”

“Lucy… we’re not dating.” He chuckled.

“Oh! I just thought…” She blushed.

“No biggie. I’m still single mingle, Lu-Lu.”

“Where did Charlie go,” Patty asked.

“I think I saw him go outside with Lucy,” Heather replied.

“Yep… he’s there… just the two of them.” Linus looked out the window.

“Just the two of them?”

“Jealous,” Sally teased.

“N-no! Why would—" She guffawed. “Why would I be?”

Everybody looked at her.

“We’re just friends!”

“She say she’s just a friend, she says she’s just a friend,” Franklin started singing.

“Oh baby, yooouu, got what I neeeeed!” Lamar started laughing.

“You guys are jerks.” She laughed.

Back inside, nervousness took over Lucy again when it seemed all eyes were on her, she instinctively grabbed Charlie’s hand, when she noticed Molly and Delores glaring at her.

“Careful Charlie, you don’t wanna get close to that one,” Molly warned.

“She’s a shady one, papi, watch out for that harlot.” Delores stepped closer.

“Ladies… Lucy’s just having a bad time, okay? She’s really not a bad person, and she’s always been a friend of mine, even if she didn’t know it.”

“So you’re okay with what she did?”

“She wasn’t of sound mind, I know it doesn’t excuse it, but she would’ve never done it. Plus I think she’s done making enemies. No I’m not okay with that, or whoever did this.”

“We’re still keeping an eye out for her,” Molly said and walked away.

Delores faked throwing a punch and Lucy flinched. She smirked, walked away.

“Did you have any problems with the homework, yesterday?”

“Yeah, but Linus helped me out.”

“Hnh… Linus did?”

“I was surprised. You’d think these kids never seen somebody beat up before… I’m so ugly.”

She glanced at Charlie when he didn’t say anything, then elbowed him.

“You’re not ugly… you’ve got the cutest beat up face.” He rolled his eyes.

“Gee… thanks.”

“You put me in a corner.”

“Yeah, sure I did.”

“Here’s your class, stop being a stranger, you got people.” He kissed her forehead.

She looked surprised that he did that, and it made her blush.

Violet walked to second period alone, thought about what happened before school, news spread fast, but she kept on a poker face.

“I haven’t seen a slap like that since WWF!” Joe laughed.

“You wanna feel it, Joe?” She sneered.

“If you wanna join your friends in the messed up face club; be my guest—oh  wait… they aren’t your friends anymore.” He exploded with laughter.

“You’re a dick you know that, Joe Agate!”

“Just like you’re a bitch, Violet Gray. Me and you are a lot alike, girlie, we’re tough, we want the good things, and everybody either gets on board, or gets left behind… screw’em! You’re kinda preppy, ya know, but I could make it work. You need a guy like me, who can roll with the punches, not like Shermy—boys too soft.”

“You are a creep, I would never date you, we’re nothing alike.”

“Aren’t we, though? The way you strut around here and bully everybody—they’re all chumps, you know it, I know it.”

She scoffed at him. “Never going to happen.” She walked away.

“Does it at least make you proud she told off Violet,” Schroeder asked Linus.

“What, why are you asking me that?”

“Well I heard you’ve been really hard on her since the recital.”

“And now you care about her out of nowhere?  Don’t forget you had to hide your relationship from the world because of Lucy.”

“I can’t argue that logic.”

“We know Lucy can’t be trusted, even during a moment of weakness… something Charlie is about to relearn.”

“What if you’re wrong?  What if this is the start of something new?”

“If I’m wrong? I’ll eat that dorky hat you wear.”

“It’s not dorky!”

“You look like a cab driver.” He smirked.

“I look sophisticated.” He stuck out his tongue.

“Okey dokey.”

“Seriously… I think Frieda may be having second thoughts. She was really shaken up when we found her, even I was. Buuutttt… after all these years, it kinda feels good to see her suffer.”

“And all of us have a significant other, and by the looks of it; Charlie and Patty are going to be dating… well there’s Franklin, but I doubt he’d be interested.”

“Hey Sally, can I talk to you?”

“No Lucy, I don’t want to talk to you.” She went to walk away.

“You were right about me!”

“Excuse me?” She whipped around.

“When I asked if you loved me? Everything you said was true, okay?”

“Duh. Now that you realized that, do you think I’m going to be your friend, now? I’m not Charlie.”

“I was just saying you were right. It really did suck. I’m not trying to be friends with you, why would you want to be? I was just saying you were right.”

“Cool. Okay then.” She walked away.

“I think you’d make a good friend!”

“Lucy?” Violet walked up behind her.

“Fuck off,” she growled.

“What did I do wrong… I want to fix this, please.”

“You alienated every thing me and Patty liked, that you didn’t, and I got sucked up in to it, and we lost her as a friend. There’s no fixing this after I got beat up, I can’t trust you anymore, who ever did it is still running free. I’m tired of you making fun of the way I dress, my love of anime, her love of video games, acting like you’re better than everybody—even your so-called friends are beneath you. You’re arrogant, and a coward, and I had to literally have the sense beat into me, to see it.”

“You’re not that much better than I am.”

“You’re right! But I don’t want to be like you, anymore! I should’ve been there for Patty—we should have, and you should’ve been there for me, but you told us to toughen up and get over it.”

“It’s not like either of you had a chance.” She shrugged.

“You know… I’m well enough to fight, if that’s where you’re trying to go.”

“I didn’t mean it like that, Lu.”

“No more Lu… Violet. How else was it supposed to mean?”

“Well I was just… what I meant…” She sighed and walked away, giving up.

“You doing anything later today?” Patty followed Charlie out of second period.

“No, why?”

“I wanted to know if you wanted to hang out… maybe go somewhere?”

“Sure, sounds like fun.”

“Great!  Can’t wait, see ya!” She ran off.

“She likes you, man.” Pig Pen nudged him.

“What, nahhh.”

“I’ll wait to tell you I told you so.” He walked away.

Violet walked into the principal's office to tell him what happened with Lucy.

“Miss Gray…  what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I know who beat up Lucy.”

“Well now you have my attention.”

“Please don’t tell them I told you, they warned me I’d end up like them,” she begged.

“Your secret is safe with me, now proceed.”

“It goes back to the day before; Lucy… Lucy wasn’t feeling well, she hadn’t ate since Schroeder’s recital, where we found out he and Frieda was dating.”

“Yes… she really has a thing for him.”

“She was… upset is an understatement. She attacked Frieda—It was an accident. I wasn’t there for her, like I should’ve been.”

“There’s always time to be a better person, Miss Gray, I’m aware of how Lucy was acting.”

“I was told after she did it, she snapped and freaked out… she was hysterical. Everybody likes Frieda, I didn’t know how much, until they wanted revenge for what she did.”

“Who?” He leaned in.

“Delores Ramirez… Charlotte Braun… Molly Volley. We were in the bathroom when they came in.” She cried a little. “They were going to beat us both up, but they let me go… I can’t fight, I left her there… I heard the beginning of it. I ran. I abandoned her.”

He handed her a box of tissues. “You’re here now, doing the right thing.”

“But… but I left her alone… now we aren’t friends anymore.”

“This is a part of growing up; learn, grow, make mistakes. Now, hurry back to class, so I can call these girls down here quickly. None of what happened was in vain, and Lucy will not get in trouble for what she did.”

“Thank you sir… I’ll go quickly… thank you.”

“Charlotte Braun, Delores Ramirez, and Molly Volley, please report to the office, immediately,” the principal's voice boomed over the P.A.

Frieda heard Delores curse before she got up, she saw the scowl on her face, and wondered if this was about Lucy.

“I know Violet snitched on us,” Molly growled at her locker.

“Esa perra va a pagar, la mato!”

“What?” Charlotte looked confused.

“She’s going to get it. Fuck,” Delores translated.

“Suspended for a week… it’s not expulsion, but still.”

“Everybody will know we did it, now Lucy will know,” Molly explained.

“That puta already knew.”

“I talked to her, she didn’t remember we did it.”

They walked out to the student parking lot.

“Oh look… Lucy’s scooter,” Charlotte stated.

“Violets beemer,” Delores said.

Molly grabbed something sharp from her old SUV, and stabbed both of Lucy’s tires, they wrote on her and Violet's vehicles, Delores broke Violet's back window and windshield.

“That’ll show’em.” Molly smirked.

“I can’t wait to catch that Violet Gray!” Charlotte sneered.

“Linus, Frieda, Patty.” Violet caught up to them leaving class. “I did it.”

“Did what?” Patty glared.

“I told the principal who did it,” she whispered.

“And? You want a pat on the back,” Linus asked.

“I just wanted to do the right thing for Lucy, for once.”

“Nice… and if I recall; you were the only one who knew, right?”

“Yeah…?”

“And they told you they would beat you up if you told?”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“What about it,” he asked, smiled and walked away.

Chapter Text

“How’s your day been so far, Lucy?”

“Marcie… not that good, people are still treating me like crap, still pushing me around, I have nobody to talk to.”

“Well the days almost over, and you know Rerun and I have your back.”

“Thanks.” She hugged her.

“And… the ones who assaulted you are suspended.”

“Who?”

Charlotte, Molly, and Delores, of course.”

“It was them?”

“I would assume so.”

“I wonder how they were found out?”

“Violet told on them.” Frieda came from nowhere, on her way to lunch.

“And risk her face, I doubt it.”

“She told us she did it.”

“That doesn’t change how I feel about her.” She walked off.

Lucy wanted to get to lunch quick enough to get a table, students were talking about those three girls missing and she took the relief of having the attention from her, if only for a little bit.

“I was texting Charlotte, and she said they were suspended for beating up Lucy,” Lydia explained.

“Bullshit! All the shit Lucy got away with over the years, the audacity of her telling on somebody,” Melody yelled.

The two girls walked up behind Lucy in the lunch line, and she couldn’t help but look to see who was that talked about her.

“As I live and breathe… speak of the bitch.” Melody grabbed her shirt. “You got my friends suspended.”

“No I didn’t!”

“So it’s a coincidence that you got your ass beat yesterday, and they get suspended the next day?”

“But I.. I didn’t say anything, I didn’t even remember it was them.”

“Liar,” Lydia spat.

“It’s the truth! I don’t remember anything between lunch and sixth period. I barely remember riding home. I have a concussion and memory loss.”

Melody glared. “Do you remember yelling at Violet this morning?”

“Yeah… I think… it was… she left me to get jumped by myself.” She snatched Melody’s hand from her collar. “I should smack the taste out of her mouth.”

“You did that already, stupid.”

“So did Patty,” Lydia added.

“Now fucking move, the lines going.” Melody pushed her hard enough to fall.

“Laaadies, what’s going on over there,” a lunch lady asked.

“Oh… nothing, we’re just messing around.” Lydia stepped over Lucy.

“We’re sorry.” Melody did the same, but stepped on her hand as she was getting up.

Lucy inhaled sharply and whimpered.

“We’re not afraid of you anymore, bitch,” Lydia muttered.

“Payback.” Melody snickered.

“I don’t wanna be that girl anymore. I get it now.” Lucy stood.

“Yeah… if only you saw that a long time ago, huh,” Melody asked.

“You’re right… that’s why I stopped being friends with Violet. Look, I know I deserve it, just leave Patty alone… she doesn’t deserve it as much as I do.”

“Patty’s okay, she was never as bad as you, anyway. Like I care about your sob story, after the terrorist you’ve been.” Melody glared. “Just stop fucking talking to me.”

“Sorry.”

Lucy found a table by herself where she ate in peace while everybody else chatted away. She didn’t deserve anyone, she thought while looking at her hand, not noticed that Charlie sat down.

“Your hand okay?”

“Charlie‽ Oh yeah… it’s fine.”

“Let me in, Lucy.”

“Fine… Melody stepped on it.”

Charlie sighed.

“Kiss it, and make it better?”

“Funny. A foot just stepped on it.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah.”

“As long as I’ve treated you like crap, don’t you think I deserve some of this, at the least.”

“I’m going to sit with Charlie and Lucy,” Marcie said.

“Why are you doin that‽”

“Because, Trish, I said I would be there for her, I promised her, and she looks upset.”

“Let her be upset, let her feel like shit for once,” Linus huffed.

“I’m not stopping her from being upset, Linus, as long as everything weighs on her mind, and she’s being mistreated by everybody else; she’ll still be upset and guilt ridden. I can’t make her happy, I can only be a reprieve, since she can’t even get that at home. You’re starting to seem just as petty and vindictive as you claim Lucy to be.” She walked away.

“It’s not in my heart to hate people, did I like how you treated me, no, but I didn’t hate you, I knew deep down you were better than that, if only you could relate to others, so I don’t think you deserve it all, especially being jumped.”

“I agree.” Marcie sat down. “I think you deserve a chance to change.”

“I was too wrapped up in making you miserable, to realize how kind you really are, and I know most of it was my fault. How can you be my friend after all that, I should’ve been encouraging you.”

“Now you see why I had a crush on him.” Marcie smiled.

“Yeah… I do. Thank you for being my friend.”

“No problem.” Charlie hugged her.

“Whoa, what’s going on here.” Shermy sat down.

Lucy blushed.

“Not much… just helping a friend.” Charlie smiled.

“Sure, Charlie, sure.” He wasn’t convinced.

“I saw you sitting with Lucy at lunch again.” Patty spoke.

“Yeah… what was that about,” Linus asked.

“I know she’s supposed to reap what she sewn and all that, but she needs at least one person she can turn to—I don’t care how you feel about her, nobody should be alone, or feel alone.”

“I get it… you just don’t want her to feel like you did. But, see, the difference is; unlike you, my sister is a piece of shit.”

Patty was taken back by that statement.

“If anybody should be there, it’s you Linus. She’s pretty vulnerable right now, and it would be the best time to get to actually know her deeply… like Patty does.” Charlie pointed at him.

Linus looked at Patty.

“Well… there are things you don’t know about her, things only I know. She was already a bit more fragile than you thought.”

“So you come to scold me for not treating Lucy like a person?”

“I didn’t. She looked happy. I would just feel like a hypocrite if I weren’t there for her.”

“And you were jealous.”

“Shut up Linus, no I wasn’t!”

“If you think she needs you, then it’s up to you to go to her, she already expressed how she felt.”

“I really wanted to talk to you.” She grabbed his hand. “Because Frieda told me about this place her and Schroeder go to, wanna check it out?”

“Sure, must be a nice place.”

“After school?”

“Okay.”

“Yay!” She let go and nearly skipped away.

“You should give your sister a fucking chance, show her that she can have the same redemption Patty and Frieda got.”

“Just because you forgave everything she’s done—"

“I haven’t actually forgave everything, it just doesn’t matter anymore.”

“And if she just goes back to the way she was?”

“She won’t, because that’s what got her here. Ask yourself if you want anybody else to go through what I went through… where’s your god damn love for Lucy?” He walked away.

Lucy has been on edge since the altercation between her, Lydia, and Melody, alone, the mask is broken and she has nothing to fight for, no real battle, maybe there never really was. She walked up on Violet.

“I told the principal what happened.”

“I know. And now people are taking it out on me.”

“Why? That’s not supposed to happen!”

“Well it is.”

“I did it for you… to get justice, since I was too scared to do anything else.”

“One selfless act, sorry I’m out of cookies and fucks to give.” She walked away.

“What is with your brother,” Linus complained to Sally before fifth period.

“Ah dunno… you tell me, you know him better than I do.”

“Seriously, baby, why’s he so hung up with Lucy?”

“He’s a blockhead? Maybe he sees something we don’t.”

“What do you see in her, you’ve spent time alone with her.”

“She mostly wanted somebody to watch anime with, but she would talk about Patty, and Schroeder, or you… when she wasn’t going on and on about whatever we were watching. I know more about Fairytale and Rave Master, than I cared to know, when we were watching Eden’s Zero.”

“That… doesn’t make any sense.”

“All three shows are by the same person, and there’s like things they all share, like certain characters, and call backs, like this other world version of this girl Erza, has a magic spear that uses the same attacks as Musica’s sword in Rave Master. Ugh…”

“Ah. She really loves anime.”

“She loves that we got together, she was hoping that we would date, and said we better give her some nieces and nephews.”

“Huh‽ But she… she… the ridicule‽”

Sally shrugged.

“I have this digging feeling that I’m being too hard on her, but I don’t trust her.”

“I love you, and I trust your judgment. If you give her a chance, I will.” She kissed his lips.

“I’m going to take Charlie to your spot after school.”

“Oh? You mean our secret romantic spot,” Frieda teased.

Patty pouted, and Frieda laughed.

“It’s okay, I know you don’t like him like that,” she mocked.

“That’s right. Besides… I’m still kinda hurt over Pig Pen.”

“Charlie’s here for you, so am I.”

“Speaking of Charlie… hey! Charliiieee, are you excited‽”

“Oh yeah, can’t wait.” He smiled.

“What are you cheesing so hard about?” Sally walked up.

“Nothing!”

“She’s got a date with your brother.”

“It’s not a date.” She blushed.

“Is it just the two of you,” Roy asked.

“Yeah, so?”

“Then it’s a date!” Peppermint Patty snuck behind her.

“Will you guys stop with the date stuff,” she whined.

They walked towards the parking lot and heard a scream, they all take off running and found Lucy crying, slouched over.

“It’s just Lucy screaming.” Linus took his time, “It’s easily recognizable.”

“Lucy what is…,” Patty started until she saw her bike.

“The fuck, dude!” Peppermint Patty was shocked.

“They really did a number on it.” Charlie inspected.

“What’s going on, I heard Lucy scream!” Rerun ran up with Marcie in tow.

“Told you.”

“Oooo,” Lamar cringed.

“Who did this?” Heather gasped.

Various profanities were written on her bike, the saddle was cut up, and both tires had several cuts, stabs, and slashes. Marcie pulled Lucy into a hug.

“I’ll give you a hint; they got suspended today,” Roy said.

“Them tires are fucked up.” Lamar looked them over.

“I… I can’t… I can’t fix this,” Lucy cried.

“We’ll find a way to fix it.” Charlie rubbed her back.

“Yeah… I’m sure the words will clean right off,” Patty said.

“How am I supposed to get it home‽”

“Take my car,” Charlie thought quickly.

“You won’t even let me drive your car,” Sally yelled.

“One; you’re not old enough, two; I’ve seen you ride a bike.” he glared.

“What… what about…?”

“I got it. Just take my car home, okay? Calm down a bit.” He handed her his keys.

Lucy quickly hugged him.

“We have to walk again,” Linus shouted.

“Auuugh, my car! My car,” Violet cried out.

“They got her too,” Peppermint Patty stated.

They heard a few students laughing at her.

“I guess we better get walking,” Sally sighed.

“No, you two should ride with Lucy,” Charlie ordered.

“I don’t want to ride with her,” Linus growled.

“She can’t be alone, dude, somebody has to make sure she makes it safely.”

“Have somebody else do it!”

“You live right next door, and are all going to the same place, it makes sense that you three ride with her,” Marcie deduced.

“Let’s just do it, Linus, it’s not going to hurt anything,” Sally said.

“Fine. Let’s go Lucy.”

“Don’t worry about your bike, okay? I’ll take care of it.”

“O-okay.”

They watched the four of them drive away.

“How am I gonna fix this?” He huffed.

“I… I could probably fix the seat. I do some sewing, I would just need some material,” Heather spoke up.

“Thanks. I’m sure she’d appreciate it a lot.”

“You know this is Lucy you’re trying to help,” Peppermint Patty stated.

“Did you not see her? She needs a break, Trish,” Heather scolded.

“Looks like somebody slashed Violet's tires, and broke both her windshields… and got Lucy too, I see.” Schroeder walked up.

“Yeah, got them both good,” Frieda replied.

“Patty, looks like we’ll need to delay our outing a bit.”

“I understand.”

“What are you going to do, Charlie,” Schroeder asked.

“The only thing I can do, at the moment; push this home.” He kicked up the side stand.

Lucy cried in her room, Linus and Sally sat downstairs so they would hear her as little as possible, Rerun did his best to keep Lucy calm as possible.

“They really messed up their rides,” Sally spoke.

“Yeah, well, Violet will be fine. Her dad will send a tow truck, and her car will be fixed in a day or two, while she drives something else.”

“And Lucy?”

“We’ll be stuck riding to school with her for who knows how long… yay us.”

“Maybe… we should spend more time with her, remember what we talked about. She needs some kinda hope to keep moving on.”

“Tcch… she’s supposed to be stronger than this.”

“Everybody breaks, honey. Her whole worldview has crashed.”

Sally noticed Charlie chugging along the sidewalk with his headphones on from the window, she went upstairs to tell Lucy, Linus cracked the door open for a better look.

“Charlie just walked up with your scooter,” she spoke nonchalantly.

Lucy got up and walked to her window seeing him standing there.

“You walked that all the way here?” Linus called from the front door.

“How else was I going to get it here?”

“Do you understand the ramifications of being so nice to my sister, the way you are?”

“No… what are these alleged ramifications?” he rose an eyebrow.

“She’s probably going to fall in love with you. The only guy that ever gave her attention, and I use that term as loose as possible, is Schroeder.”

Chapter Text

Charlie laughed, “I doubt that, nothing about me appeals to her.”

“You’re a musician, who likes anime, and you’re affectionate.”

“Well I’m just going to put this in our garage, so she doesn’t have to look at it.”

“Do what you do, playa.”

Charlie just rolled his eyes and pushed it to his driveway. Moments later he walked in the Van Pelts residence, giving Linus quite the side eye.

“Don’t give me that look.”

“You’re no different than your sister, you’ve been putting on this façade, but deep down you actually care about her, and you don’t want to see her like this.”

He held up a middle finger.

“You love your sister and you know it.” He went up the stairs.

“No, I love your sister!”

“Hey.” Charlie walked into her bedroom.

“You pushed it all the way here,” Sally asked.

“It had to get here. Heather said she might be able to fix the saddle, and we’ll just…”

Lucy ran up and hugged him.

“… figure out how to get new tires.”

“We’ll give you two some space,” Rerun spoke, while he shooed Sally out.

She handed Charlie his keys.

“You’re too damn nice, you know that,” she said in his shoulder.

“Yeah, yeah… too nice for my own good.” he hugged her back.

“Okay… you’re free to go. I’ve taken up too much of your time as it is.” She let go. “I’m sure you have better things to do. Something with Patty, if I remember.”

He watched her plop down on the bed and turn the television on. Charlie took out his phone.

“Heyyy Charlie,” Patty answered.

“Umm… look… I know you were looking forward to hanging out today, but can we take a raincheck on that? I think Lucy could really use some company.”

She was silent for a moment. “Sure… that’s fine.”

“I get that you’re probably upset, I did promise we’d hang out, I just can’t leave her like this, she’s having a hard time.”

“You’re right, she does—I’m just being selfish and that’s not fair. It actually keeps eating at me, I wanna be there for her, too, it’s just…”

“I understand. With Violet out of the picture, things would be different.”

“Just stop, okay? You do your best to make our Lucy happy. You owe me, however.”

“You have my word.”

“I know I do. Just text me later, okay?”

“Yeah, I will. See ya.”

“See ya.”

Charlie kicked his shoes off and sat on the bed next to her, and grabbed the remote.

“Have you seen this one yet, I heard it was good, and haven’t gotten to it.”

“You watch anime?”

“I love anime… maybe not as much as you, but I love it.”

“I never knew.”

“You wanna watch this or not, you weeaboo?”

For the first time in a while, he saw her have a genuine smile, he couldn’t help but smile with her, and he thought she was beautiful in the moment of pure happiness. They watched the cartoon for a few hours, Lucy really enjoyed it.

“I like this one.”

“It is good, huh?”

“Did you ever watch A Silent Voice?”

“No, I wasn’t sure if I would like it.”

“It’s great, it’s like a romance… if you don’t mind the sad parts.”

“Let’s do it.” He shrugged.

She quickly grabbed the remote, and found the streaming service it was on. Charlie watched intently and it didn’t look like she was enjoying it, he didn’t understand why she liked the movie with how it started.

“That kid is a jerk,” Charlie stated.

Lucy didn’t say anything.

“I don’t get why he’d pick on her like that.”

“This… doesn’t feel like it did the first time.”

“What’s different about it? Do you want to watch something else?”

“No, I want to keep watching.”

The movie progressed to where both characters were in high school, the main protagonist was trying to make right of his past with the girl, with some difficulty arising from her mother, sister  and friends, but he pushed on. There seemed to be more there than he originally felt. Charlie saw the pained look on Lucy’s face, and the moments of relief, she would inch closer, or lean closer to him, like she wanted some kind of comfort, she would touch him, but move away. Charlie slowly grabbed her hand, she shook her head, crossed her arms over her body.

“Lucy…”

“It’s the context,” she whispered.

“I figured you were making comparisons between them and us, right?”

“Hard not to. I don’t like to open up, especially now with you, you’re the last person I deserve anything from.”

“Okay, I hear you, but hear me.” He placed a hand on her arm. “You’re trying, like he is, right, so let me return the favor, and stop trying to punish yourself.” He slowly pulled her hand free. “It can’t be both ways; you trying to change, but not accepting those welcome to it.”

Lucy relaxed and held his hand back, pulled it in her lap. The scene at the fair made her tear up some, he felt them hit her hand, even he got a bit choked up. Towards the end with the fireworks had them both in tears.

“Why would she do that.” He wiped his face.

“It all threw me for a loop the first time.” She started to cry.

“I just want them together and okay.”

“That’s what I wanted.” She leaned on him.

“She’s such a nice girl, and I think they deserve each other, he’s trying so hard, she even said she wanted him.”

Lucy wanted to melt into him, his hold and warmth wasn’t enough.

“Patty, you’re off your game tonight, what’s up,” Franklin asked.

“I’m just a little distracted, no biggie.”

“Is it because of what happened to Lucy? Left corridor, left corridor,” Lamar said.

“It’s not really that.”

“What is it,” Franklin asked.

“It’s because Charlie cancelled… spending time with her—shit man, I’m getting ambushed! At least that’s what Frieda told me.”

“I’m coming Schroeder… I just got blown up. Fuck!”

“Is that it,” Franklin asked.

“Yeah, I just… I shouldn’t be mad about it, but it’s bothering me, I was really looking forward to that.”

“Hey, Charlie will make up for it. I can promise you that.”

“I know he will, Schroeder, I don’t know why I’m being selfish, while he’s worried about everybody else over himself.”

“I know two things; that Charlie has a kind heart, and’ll give ya the shirt off his back, and despite that, no chick is interested in’em. Play ya cards right, and he’ll be yours,” Lamar explained.

“You think?”

“Yeah, now let's get this damn flag!”

Lucy wanted to admit her feelings then and there, but she wasn’t sure if they were earnest, so she held back and took what she could get, hoped he would eventually feel the same, and what she thought she felt was sincere.

“Can you help me with my homework?”

“Yeah, still having trouble?”

“Some.”

Charlie spent time on his, while he helped her out, to knock out what he could, while she had some lo-fi hip hop playing in the background.  Charlie did start to tire and had to leave, but she was okay for the most part. Lucy got ready for bed, when she noticed somebody in the doorway.

“Linus?”

“We saw you two up here, and you looked happy. Does Charlie make you happy?”

“He does. He makes me feel safe.”

“I still don’t fully trust you, and I’d hate for this to backfire on him. I don’t approve, or tolerate your typical actions, but I want you to know even if I don’t like you, I love you.”

“I get it. We watched A Silent Voice, and all I could see were parallels between us, and it hurt. I don’t want that. Linus I love you too, I always have. Just… give me a chance, I get that it’s hard.”

He nodded and went to his room.

Charlie planned for Lucy to ride with him to school that Friday morning, she was pleased that she got to enjoy her coffee on the ride to school, and the post punk he was playing.  Rerun was staring out the window while Linus and Sally were cuddled up.

“If you two keep going at it like that; you’re going to use up all your honeymoon minutes before the next grade.”

Lucy giggled.

“You’re just jealous, Charlie.” Sally stuck her tongue out.

“Somebody will come along one day. It’s nice you found each other, I don’t know who else I could trust with my kid sister.”

“I had a good time last night… we should do it again.”

“It’s nice to have somebody to watch anime with.”

“Were you actually watching or were you just cuddling,” Sally teased.

“Either way, she was happy,” Rerun spoke up.

“How about we switch places, so you and Lucy can make out, and I can drive?”

Lucy blushed hard.

“Oh no, but then you won’t make your morning kiss quota, we can’t have that,” Charlie retorted.

Charlie pulled into the parking lot, as they were getting out, they saw Violet pull in, driving an old Cadillac.  They all pile out of his car, walked towards other students, Lucy started to lag behind.

“Sally, girl!”

“Eudora, whassup?”

She noticed Lucy with them. “What is she doing with you all?”

“Her bike was vandalized, and she needs a ride,” Charlie interjected.

“Oh just ignore Lucy, never mind her.” Sally laughed.

Sally walked off with Eudora, Shermy walked over to greet them.

“Charlie, Lucy… uh, how’s the bike?”

Lucy looked away.

“Uh… it’s bad, Shermy, but I don’t want to talk about it, and upset her more.”

“I understand, if there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know, Lucy, okay? I know you love that bike.”

“Sure.”

“I heard about your bike, and everything, Lucy, how are you?” Peggy walked up. “…are you okay?”

“Yeah, I—don’t you hate me like everybody else?” She looked confused.

“Charlie and Shermy are okay with you, so why not?” She shrugged.

“Thanks.”

“Shermy… babe.” Violet walked over. “I can’t believe I have to drive this Cadillac until my car is fixed.”

“Violet, it’s not forever.” He kissed her, and exchanged glances with Peggy, who gave him a look.

“Oh no… not a Cadillac… those are luxury cars for poor people.” Lucy rolled her eyes.

“It’s an Escalade, and you’re complaining‽ Give it here… I’ll take it,” Lamar said.

“Why are you complaining, you have another car to use as a spare. None of us are that lucky… case in point.” Peggy pointed to Lucy.

“Let’s go, Charlie.” Lucy tugged him away by his hand.

“You should appreciate what you have, instead of complaining—it’s a fucking Caddy, not a Camry!”

“Good morning to you too, Peggy-Jean.”

“I don’t like you, you don’t deserve anything you spoiled brat.”

“Now hold on, Maggie, just calm down a bit,” Shermy asked.

“Maggie‽ Where did that come from?”

“If you weren’t such a bitch; you’d know my real name is Margaret.”

“I don’t have to take this so early in the morning! Let’s go Shermy.” She strutted away.

“Sorry Maggie,” he whispered.

“I can’t keep doing this, Shermy.”

“I know, I know… soon, real soon, okay?” He went to catch up to Violet.

“Soooo… who’s joining my stream tonight?” Patty sat down.

“You know I gotta be there,” Peppermint Patty exclaimed.

“Franklin, Lamar?”

“Sure, I don’t have any plans,” Franklin said.

“Let’s do it!” Lamar wrapped his arms around Heather. “You’re so huggable.”

“Stop it!”

“Yeah, stop it, bruh,” Franklin agreed.

“Don’t be like that, man. Get your own girl.”

“You should ask Emily out,” Heather suggested.

“Emily? Who’s that?”

“She’s that other redheaded girl, the one you have gym and english with.”

“Ooohhh… you think I should?”

“It couldn’t hurt.” She smiled.

“There, now leave our love alone.” Lamar narrowed his eyes. “Besides, man, she’s on the dance team, you know she has moves.”

“Seems our little party is a bit small this morning,” Schroeder stated.

“Yeah… they’re sitting over there.” Linus pointed.

“Thanks for sitting with me again.”

“It’s all good.” Charlie smiled.

“We just want you to have as good a day as possible,” Rerun added.

“You always were my favorite brother.”

“Aww.”

“Patty is doing her live stream tonight, you wanna come over while I play?”

“Yeah, I missed the first one and never really seen her play.”

“She’s quite humorous at times,” Marcie stated.

“I know I’m going to be watching at some point,” Shermy said.

“Shermy, I have a question regarding Violet.”

“Uh… go ahead, Marcie.”

“I was wondering how your relationship was, what drew you to her?”

“We kinda got close over comic books, and found other things we liked… but now… it just doesn’t seem the same. We would go to comic book stores, thrift stores… and… it’s just different, she’s changed. I often wonder what she sees in me anymore.”

“Have you tried talking to her?”

“Once.”

“Then do it again.”

“Yeah…,” He looked towards Violet.

Violet sat alone with a grimace, ate her food, watched everybody else enjoy themselves, gave up and went to class early to avoid everybody and their nonsense.

“Oh Violet!”

“…yes… Truffles…?”

“Don’t forget your to-go order!”

“My what?”

Truffles tossed what was left of her small bowl of cereal on her. Violet was speechless, Truffles and Lydia laughed, soon others started laughing.

“The look on your face!” Truffles laughed.

“I didn’t know you had it in you,” Lydia yelled.

“Why…? Why would you…?” Violet tried to gather her thoughts.

“She’s still hungry.” Lydia threw one of Tapioca's waffles at her face.

The girls just laughed at her, Violet couldn’t muster any anger from the embarrassment, she just ran away.

“This is never getting out of this top!”

She went to a bathroom and tried to clean her shirt with subpar school paper towels without success, she rolled her eyes and decided she would run home and change her top, headed towards the exit to the student lot and got caught by a teacher.

“Excuse me, where do you think you’re going‽”

“I umm.. I need to…”

“To go to class. Now! Before we go to the office.”

“But I need to-”

“Go! To! Class, young lady!”

With a defeated sigh, she turned to go to class, knowing she was looking a mess, milk on her shirt, in her hair, syrup still on her shirt, despite trying to clean her face, it felt sticky from it. She took her seat as the first few students started coming in, knowing she was going to start smelling at some point.

“Hey, that’s a good look on you.” Lydia walked in.

Chapter Text

Violet did her best not to lose pride, but by third period, the milk stain started to smell, students noticed and teased her, a student tripped her, she stumbled into Joe.

“I knew you’d fall for me.” He caught her in his arms.

“Let go, you creep!”

“Have it your way, doll.” He lowered his arms.

Violet fell, everybody laughed.

“Joe!”

“Hey, that was your own fault.” He laughed. “Whew, did ya shower this morning?”

“Of course I did!”

“You smell rank, and that perfume ain’t covering it up.” He walked off.

“Stop laughing at me, damn it,” Violet screamed.

Violet rushed to get to her next class, breezed past Peppermint Patty and Roy.

“Somebody’s in a hurry, watch where ya goin’, Violet!”

“It’s not that serious,” Roy added.

“Can I just knock her out?”

“Not yet.”

“I wanted to ask you something, Patty.” Charlie walked up.

“Sure, anything!”

“I was wondering if you could give Lucy a ride… I’m going to run to the junkyard after school and find something for Lucy’s saddle.”

“Lucy…”

“I know you’re still not okay with her, but I want to see if I can find something nice, Heather said she might be able to fix it.”

“I did say anything, didn’t I?”

“Thanks.” He hugged her.

“You’re going to see my stream, right?”

“Patty, I’m going to be in it.” He let go.

“And don’t forget Saturday, okay?”

“I won’t.”

Violet walked lonely to lunch, she stood lonely in line, was made fun of alone, she saw Charlie, Lucy, Marcie, and Shermy sat together.

“Shermy, honey.” Violet walked up to them.

“Hey, Violet.”

“I don’t mind you sitting with your friends, but I miss you.”

‘’You want me to sit with you?”

“It would be nice, Shermy, especially when you’re chatting it up with Lucy.”

Lucy glared and looked away.

“What, I can’t be friends with Lucy anymore?”

“She slapped me, and yelled at me!”

“And I’ve dated you despite how you treated my friends.”

“So?”

“So?”

“So‽ I’m your girlfriend! You know what… whatever, it’s whatever. I love you, and I need you, but it’s fine.” She walked off.

“Man… it’s always something with her.” He huffed.

“Violet’s having a hard time, she just doesn’t wanna show it. I’d get angry like that, sometimes.”

“Let her be angry… she’s just mad she isn’t getting her way, like she always does,” Lucy  snarled.

“You’re right, that’s all it is. She’ll just need to get over it,” Shermy agreed.

“Well, anyway… Lucy… I have something to take care of after school, you don’t mind getting a ride from Patty, do you?”

“Patty? I guess not… if she’s cool with it.”

Violet, still angry, disgusted at the sight of everybody went to eat outside.

“I can’t believe he acted like that, some boyfriend he is! Doesn’t he know I need him, right now‽”

She wanted to cry, but wouldn’t let herself, instead choked down everything that wasn’t anger, and nearly choked down her lunch, if it wasn’t for the fact she wasn’t too eager to go back in.

Shermy tracked down Peggy-Jean after lunch in the halls, she was talking to Three and Four, when he poked her in the side from behind.

“Now who’s messing—” She turned around. “Shermy!”

“Hey, can I talk to you?”

“Sure. I’ll catch up to you girls later.”

“See ya Peggy,” they said as they walked away.

Peggy and Shermy walked to the stairwell out of view.

“So I’m done with her… I said I was going to end it soon, but I’m doing it real soon.”

“Good, because I don’t like being the other woman, and it doesn’t feel right.”

“I know. We’re supposed to be better than this.”

“Mm-hmm, and I’m better for you, I’ve been on your side all this time.”

Just then Joe came down the steps and overheard them talking, he peered over the railing.

“I’ve been here for you, I love you, and I cain’t stand seeing you unhappy.”

“I know Maggie.”

“Do you?” She placed her hand on his chest. “I want better for you.”

“Is this what I think it is… and they call me scum,” Joe thought.

“You’re better for me, you do make me happy, Maggie.”

“Sweetie-pie.” She pulled him into a kiss.

“Maggie? Sweetie-pie,” Joe thought as he watched them make out.

“I’m getting all hot and bothered, these quick kiss sessions are just nothin’ but a tease!”

“We won’t need to hide anymore by Monday, and all the kisses are yours, all the time.” He smiled.

“We should get going.”

“Right. See ya later?”

“Yeah.”

They shared one last kiss before parting. Joe knew he had to play it off, rushing down the steps.

“Watch out, putsch!”

“Excuse me, Joe.” Shermy glared.

“What’s the excuse?” He quickly went through the door.

Violet was still miserable, and the argument with Shermy just made it worse. She was thankful there was just one more period left in the day, after this she has the whole weekend to recover. At this point she didn’t even smell herself anymore, but the first thing she planned on doing is burning that top, and taking a long soak in the tub. After class she was ready to go, and Joe was looking for her, to tell her what he saw.

“Violet, hey Violet!” Joe ran up to her.

“Joe, I don’t have time to deal with you right now!” She rolled her eyes.

“Aye, jus’ hear me out real quick.”

“No… I’m not trying to date you.”

“I don’t wanna date you.”

“Really‽ Because you were hitting on me earlier, and I have a boyfriend.”

“No, I was just messin’ with ya, I might be a asshole sometimes, but I don’t believe in cheating—friends is what I wanted, but if ya left’em, that’s a different story.”

“So you wanted to be friends… pass, now are we done here?”

“No.” He followed her to the student lot. “That’s not what I wanted to talk about.”

“Last thing I need right now is to be associated with you, of all people!”

“This shits important, Violet! I don’t give fuck all how you feel about me, but I’m trying to look out for you.”

“Why? Why do you care about me?”

“Look… I do have standards, ya foolish broad, and I’m trying to save ya heart!”

“My heart… okay I’ll humor you, what are you talking about?” She stopped and turned.

“I saw Shermy and Peggy-Jean in the stairwell earlier.”

She scoffed. “They’re friends.”

“They were kissing. I saw tha whole thing.”

“No… he wouldn’t do that. You’re fucking with me.” She turned to walk away.

“I’m not, I’m serious, I saw the whole thing.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“She said she’s been there for him, and wants better for him, he said she’d better and makes him happy, she called him sweetie-pie, and they kissed.” He listed. “It was just, like, two periods ago. I got no reason to lie.”

“Yeah, still don’t believe you.”

“Okay, what if I get proof? If I’m wrong… you caaannn… kick me in the balls twice. I’m telling you the truth! I’ll get proof, I swear!”

“Kick you twice?”

“Yeah!”

“In the nards?”

He nodded.

“Take my number. You better hope you’re not lying.”

“I hope I can get proof.”

“Now where is he going,” Sally asked as Charlie drove away.

“Oh yeah, he said he was going to the junkyard.” Patty walked up.

“The junkyard?”

“Yeah, he’s getting something for Lucy’s bike and asked me to take you all home, if you want.”

Lucy walked up to them. “Charlie said you’d give me a ride home?”

“If you want.”

Frieda walked up to the group, “Hey everybody.”

“Okay, you three have fun, c’mon Sally.” He grabbed her hand and left.

“Umm… okay.” Patty looked confused. “Well let’s go, I guess.”

“You’re coming too,” Frieda asked Lucy when she followed them to the car.

“Yes, she said she would give me a ride.”

“Well you can sit in the back.”

Lucy mainly sat quiet while the two girls talked.

“I was thinking about some stuff to talk about on my stream tonight.”

“Like what?”

“Something entertaining, or maybe something real and relatable.”

“I’ll be watching, maybe you should talk about something about you.”

“Lucy, you got an idea?”

“No, not really.”

“It looked like you had something to say.” She looked in the rearview.

“I just… I… I miss you two.” She looked out the window. “I want to be friends again, I should’ve been better than how I was. I didn’t want to fight you either, I wish I could fix it. I’m such a fuck up. You can just let me out somewhere, you two don’t want me around.”

“I miss you too, Lucy.”

“You do?”

“You were my best friend. What about you, Frieda?”

“I’m just sad it took you two that long to see how toxic Violet really is.”

“Don’t you miss being friends with Lucy?”

“I haven’t been friends with her in a long time, and I only stayed friends with you, because I knew you wouldn’t tell those two my business. Besides… she only misses me because she doesn’t have anybody else but Charlie and Marcie.”

“Not true,” Lucy muttered.

“Then what’s the truth?”

“That I always wanted you back—not always, but for a long time now.”

“And what about me being with Schroeder?”

“It doesn’t matter… you’re better than me for him, I was just selfish, I can’t even remember why I even liked him. I don’t care about all that, I just don’t want to be alone and hurt, why would I throw away childhood friends?” she spoke low.

“Sometimes you have to play the cards you were dealt,” Frieda replied.

“I know you hate me, I can’t help but miss you being my friend. It’s okay… it’s fine… we may never be friends again, I just hope maybe one day, that you don’t hate me anymore, no matter where we stand.”

“You can talk to me, Lucy, I know you’re trying.”

Charlie rummaged around in the junkyard looking for a good seat cover, or two, so Heather could repair the saddle.

“Hey Charlie,” Heather answered her phone.

“Heather, I found some material to fix Lucy’s saddle, I was going to bring it by, if that’s okay.”

“That’s fiiine, I was just finishing up some homework, c’mon by.”

“Sure, be there soon.” He hung up.

Charlie arrived over Heathers house, and she met him outside.

“Did you find anything good?”

“Yeah,” he pulled out a gray vinyl bench seat cover. “Best one I could find.”

“Not bad.” She looked it over.

“You sure you can do this?” He pulled out the saddle.

“Oh yeah, my uncle runs an upholstery shop, I’ll get this taken care of, right away, so Lucy can have her bike back, as soon as possible. I know Lucy’s not the greatest person, but I feel sorry for what happened to her, and you’re such a great guy for trying to help her, despite everything she’s done.” She kissed his cheek. “That’s why I want to help.”

“I know she’s going to appreciate it, Heather. Now it’s the matter of cleaning it, and tires.”

“I know you’ll figure something out, you always do.” She smiled.

“Yeah. I’d better get going, so I can do something—just couldn’t look at that thing after I got it home. My mom or dad might have an idea how to clean it. I’m supposed to be playing with Patty, too, tonight.”

“I think this will probably be the biggest gesture Lucy ever got… if you’re not careful, she might fall for you,” Heather teased.

“I doubt that.” He chuckled.

“Strange things have happened—strange things have been happening.” She held up the saddle. “This stuff… aanndddd you’re still fine and coherent.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because I kissed you.”

“Oh that’s right, hold on.” He started twitching and babbling.

“Get outta here, ya goof!” She laughed.

Once Charlie went home, he talked to his parents about cleaning the bike.

“I already looked it over, and I think I have the solution; there’s some paint thinner in the garage, you should be able to water that down, so it doesn’t ruin the finish,” his dad explained.

“That girl has given you so much trouble, and you still think it’s a good idea to lend her a hand?”

“I get it mom, but I feel like it’s the right thing to do, sure she’s been a terror, but she’s really depressed and all of this just happened so fast and hit her like a ton of bricks; she lost her crush, her friends, her bike, nearly her health.”

“Honey, she was there when Snoopy died, and left him alone until he was okay enough,” his dad added.

“I’m just worried, is all. I know you always try to do the right thing, Charlie.”

“C’mon son, I’ll help you clean that scooter up.”

 Charlie and his dad started on cleaning her bike up, he showed him how to dilute the paint thinner, and they carefully cleaned all the graffiti from the body, his dad gave the bike a nice polish.

“Hmm… tires… I’ll look into a set,” his dad thought aloud.

Charlie and his dad finished up everything, ready to close the garage, when Lucy walked up.

“Hey Charlie.”

“Lucy, hi, you need something?”

“I was… ummm… I was wondering if you wanted to come over and… watch… anime?”

“I would, but I still have homework, and I’m going to be playing the game.”

“Hello Lucy,” his dad greeted.

“Hi… mister Brown.” She gave a weak smile. “I didn’t know you were busy.”

“How about you come over? We can watch anime while I do my homework.”

“I don’t want to be a bother.”

“No bother, I want you to.”

“In that case, sure.”

“No funny business,” his dad said, and walked inside.

“Of course not.” Lucy blushed.

He chuckled at her. “Looks like you had a number done on you. How are you feeling?”

“I’ve survived. Learning a lot, too. Like how terrible I was.”

“Some folks just learn the hard way… but what’s important is you learn, and don’t forget.”

Lucy nodded. “Despite the memory loss, I try not to.”

She had never been in his room before, he kept it cleaner than she kept hers, she wasn’t surprised. Charlie laid out his work on the bed, and handed her the controller to the gaming console, to find something to watch. Charlie worked on his homework, watched whatever she was watching here and there, and she would watch him work, when he wasn’t paying attention.

“I like this time with you,” she quickly blurted.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. You’ve been a good friend, Charlie Brown.”

“I try.” He looked up at her.

She quickly turned away. “I… I know you do.”

“Is that a blush I see?”

“No! Don’t be a blockhead!”

“Okay.” He chuckled.

“Stop teasing me, and just watch T.V.”

He just chuckled again. She eventually leaned on him, and they quietly watched anime until it was time for the game to start. Lucy watched him play and chat with Patty, Schroeder, Peppermint Patty, Franklin and Linus.

“So how was the ride with my vapid sister?”

“Wow Linus, rude much,” Patty asked.

“I thought she was going to cry, with how she prattled on,” Frieda spoke in Schroeder’s controller.

Linus laughed.

“It was not bad, we had a small heart to heart. It’s going to take some time, but I’m going to give her a chance.”

“After what she did‽ You’re crazy! She’s just going to be back with vengeance, you can’t trust her.”

“That’s how I feel,” Frieda added.

“Okay… let’s not get into this. She’s trying,” Charlie ordered.

“Sure thing, cap’n Save-a-hoe!”

“Enough! Please guys, this is supposed to be fun, and stuff,” Patty blurted.

“Shit, let’s get back to topic again,” Peppermint Patty said.

Chapter Text

“Why won’t you give me a chance,” Lucy asked Linus.

“We’ve been over this; you can’t be trusted, you’re only feeling bad, because you’re forced to face your consequences.”

“I genuinely feel like shit, little bro, for what I did. I think I deserved to get beat up… I don’t know if I deserved my bike to get trashed. I’m mad at myself, I hate myself… do I feel bad over the consequences, sure, but not because they happened.”

“I still think it’s poetic justice, you finally get what’s came to you. The way you picked on Charlie, Marcie, me, and others, how you gave Schroeder so much grief, and are part why nobody really trusted Patty. Now you’ve got Charlie and Patty… Marcie in your clutches.”

“They came to me.”

He just looked at her.

“They did! Patty said that she missed me, too. Would it make you happy if I just pushed them away?”

“Why do you care about what makes me happy?”

“Because I love you, I love Rerun…”

“I know you love him, always your favorite.”

“I don’t want us to be enemies,” her voice wavered. “How long do I have to suffer? Are you ever going to trust me… love me? I know I was wrong. You don’t really love me, like you said, do you, I just want to prove myself, okay?”

Linus groaned heavy, “I just can’t stand this side of you! I don’t want to sympathize with you.”

“Because you’ve never seen me this weak, this… fucked up? Or does it just remind you of Charlie, and you can’t stand dealing with this again?”

“That’s different!”

“Is It?”

“Yes, your issue stems from your own fault.”

“Other than the catalyst.”

Linus didn’t say anything for a moment, avoiding that. “And why are you always wearing long sleeve shirts, as hot as it is?”

“Why does it matter? You don’t care, so don’t pretend to care now. I’m just wearing a long sleeve shirt.” She went to leave the house.

“Lucy.” He grabbed her arm.

She shoved him. “Don’t pretend.” She left.

“So you promise you’re telling her today?”

“Yeah.” He opened the door for her. “That’s why we’re here, most of our friends don’t know about this spot, but Frieda and Schroder.”

“It is a nice, cozy, hole in the wall place—you sure you want her knowing about it?”

“Like she would even come on this side of town. She barely came over my house anymore.”

“All that’s over now.” She kissed him.

They sat next to each other in a booth, she held his hand and kissed him lovingly until they were interrupted by the waiter.

“So… Frieda told you about this place, it’s where her and Schroeder went?”

“Yeah, she said the food was great, it’s just down this way.”

“Okay, I’m going to call her.” Shermy pulled out his phone and waited for her to pick up, but it went straight to voicemail.

“What’s wrong?”

“I think she’s ignoring me ” He called back.

“Here sweetheart.” She fed him a nacho.

She didn’t answer, and he called again.

“What’s this? Shermy and Peggy-Jean, yeah, time for some evidence,” Joe said from a corner booth, pulled out his phone and took pictures.

“Shermy! Can’t you take a hint‽ You ignore me all day yesterday, and think I’m going to spare you a minute‽”

“This is important, Vee.”

“Yeah, so was my need for you to actually be my boyfriend, but did that happen, no.”

“Will you just listen to me… hello… hello…?”

“What a bitch. I’ve gotta go to the little girls room.”

Shermy moved to let her out, and she pulled him into a kiss.

“Just keep trying.” She walked away.

Charlie and Patty walked in the restaurant.

“Not bad.” He looked around, and spotted Shermy. “Hey dude.”

“Charlie, Patty, did Schroeder or Frieda tell you about this place?”

“Yeah.” Patty smiled.

“You waiting here for Violet?”

“Pretty much. The live stream was pretty cool last night… except that stuff about Lucy.”

“I know… she just can’t catch a break, no offense, but I really don’t wanna be around Violet, c’mon Charlie.” She grabbed his hand.

“It’s not like that. You probably don’t wanna be around her, if she gets here, not with why I want her here,” Shermy explained.

“So she isn’t here, but you’ve been eating with somebody,” Patty deduced.

“Technically I’m on a date. I’m not that guy, but I can’t stand her anymore. I didn’t wanna make any moves before I ended it… but… things happen. I didn’t want it like this—sure it’s probably just as bad as just blatant cheating. I really am trying to do things right. I just can’t be with her anymore, she might be happy, but I’m not.”

“I get it now. I see. Shermy… I can’t judge you for this. I feel like the only times I’ve seen you happy with her, is when Charlie’s around.” Patty sucked her lips in and looked around. “She’s gonna be really hurt, but it’s her fault, part of me feels sorry for her. I don’t want her to experience pain and learn the hard way, but maybe she needs it.”

“I just want you guys to understand I don’t wanna hurt her, but I can’t keep goin with her.”

“We get it, man. Some things can’t be helped,” Charlie acknowledged.

“I know it’s gonna hit her harder. With losing friends, her car messed up, now getting dumped.”

“Bad things come in threes,” Patty said with a shrug.

Shermy tried to call her again, after they walked away.

“This better be good Joe, you’ll get the same treatment Shermy is.”

“So you’re who he keeps calling.” He chuckled. “Not too long ago I saw Peggy and Shermy come in this diner, holding hands, kissing. I have proof to send… I told you I was telling the truth—I do that sometimes.”

“Okay, then send it to me, yeah?”

“Of course, gimme a sec.” He hung up, sent her the pictures he took.

After a few minutes she called him back. “What diner is that,” she asked with an edge in her voice.

“It’s over here on Clementine—got good food, too.”

“Thank you, Joe… I owe you one.”

“Nah, I wuz doing this for you, Violet, you ‘on’t owe me anything.”

“Th-thanks. I’m on my way.” She hung up.

Joe saw Peggy on her way back and decided to take a video; she stood and talked to Shermy before he got up and gave her a kiss, and patted her butt, when she slid back in the booth. He sent that to Violet, too. Violet was out for blood, she went as quick as she could to get there after finding it on her phone's map, she was too mad to cry.

“It’s show time,” Shermy said, when she came in. He had been watching the door.

Violet scanned the area, spotted her targets. “You dick, and you bitch,” she said, when she found them.

“Oh! How did you find us‽” Shermy jumped.

“Never mind that! Why are you cheating on me with this… bumpkin‽”

“If you’d have answered his phone call, and talked to him, we were hoping to have a peaceful conversation about it. And I’m not a bumpkin.”

“That, that’s why. You ignored my phone calls, and when you did answer, all you did was talk about you, and hung up.”

“You’re cheating on me over that? That just happened.”

“No it didn’t just happen, it’s just the most recent selfish thing, Violet. I’m tired of dealing with you treating me like crap.”

“You treat me like crap… just the other day I wanted you to sit with me.”

“It’s always what you want these days, that’s the problem, I’m sick of it, and talking to you doesn’t work.”

“I’ve been going through some things, obviously! Lucy, Patty, those girls destroying my car! What do you expect‽”

“I’m sorry those things happened, but that’s not an excuse, and this has been going on before that.”

“You’re the reason your friends ditched you, that’s your fault, because you’re a bitch! I know all about it, and I was the one to pick up the pieces, I was there for him, you weren’t, you’re the cause. He’s too good for you! I love him, and he loves me, I treat him like he deserves to be. The only thing I’m sorry about, is that we went behind your back… it just happened, and we’re happy together.”

“Relationships are a two-way street, Vee, even if one party is having a bad day, you don’t take it out on them. I wanted to be there for you, but you haven’t been there for me… it’s done… we’re done. Maggie makes me so happy, she cares about me, all you care about is yourself, you’re self-centered, and even your friends you treated like… like shit, Violet! I saw it, and Patty is much happier without you, and Lucy is getting there, too.”

“Fuck you,” she hissed. “…fuck you both! Don’t make me the bad guy here… you cheated, you!”

“Because you’re a shitty person! He didn’t want to cheat on you, but it happened, you pushed him away, and even now you can’t even take accountability for what you did, and didn’t do. You think I wanted this to happen, no, but I was doing everything you should have, and I fell in love with him, and waited until he thought the time was right to tell you, because unlike you; I put him first, sometimes. Here we are.” Peggy glared. “Doing it the hard way, because the great Violet couldn’t even answer one phone call and listen… you had many, many chances, I was there for most of them. So here we are.”

Violet slammed her fist on the table, “you’re going to pay for this! He’s mine!”

“Child, don’t make me climb over this table, and toss you like a hay bale. You lost!”

“It’s over, Violet, done… deal with it.” Shermy spat. “It’s been over.”

Violet was shaking with rage, she simply screamed, and stormed out.

“Dayummm,” Charlie, and Patty said.

Violet broke down as soon as she sat in her car, and turned the key, the last connection she had was gone, she knew how Shermy was; there was no chance they’d ever get back together, and she thought she would be the laughing stock once the school found out. With her phone out, she wanted to call Lucy and Patty with a conference call, then it dawned on her that they’re not her friends anymore, there was nobody she could call that wasn’t friends with Peggy, or at least closer friends with her, than herself. All the phone numbers, and nobody she could really talk to.

Joe had finished his meal and slipped out when Shermy and Peggy were making out. Charlie wasn’t going to bother them, but Patty decided to say something since they were all done about the same time.

“Another secret couple revealed.” She smirked.

“Looks like it.” Shermy rubbed the back of his head. “It just happened that way.”

“No, I understand. Violet’s a terrible person, it was only a matter of time before you two broke up. Are you happy together?”

“She makes me really happy.”

“Happier now that we don’t need to hide. I hate that it happened this way.”

“Stop lying Peggy, you know you don’t care that much.” Charlie gave her a look.

“Ya got me there, Brownie,” she teased. “I don’t care that she was hurt. But what’s going on here?”

“Just hanging out.”

“That’s what we called it, too.” She laughed.

“She wanted to show me this place, it’s got good food.”

“Well you two make a good couple,” Shermy said.

“We’re… not…,” Patty trailed off with a blush.

“Not yet. Girl, Charlie is so easy, bag him already!”

“Stop it, Peggy… he’s just… he’s a good friend, he’s just been there for me.”

“She’s just teasing you.” He hugged her from the side. “Don’t let it get to you.”

“Such a ladies man, ya got her all flustered. That used to be you. We’ll see you at school.”

“Yeah, catch you later.” Shermy waved.

“Buh-byeee Patty… Brownie Charles.” she followed Shermy out.

“Brownie Charles?” Patty looked at him.

“It’s a long story… good grief…”

Monday rolled around, Lucy was making her coffee when Linus came down, he noticed for the first time  she was actually in a t-shirt, but as he got closer, he noticed she had on one of her arm warmers with the skeleton arm print, and frowned. She turned to see him, and stood there a moment before she went to walk past him.

“Lucy,” he called out.

“Stop. Stop pretending. Every time we’re alone you act like this, but around everybody else… you treat me like crap. I don’t like the mixed signals.” She grabbed her backpack, went outside.

She sat on the bench in the front yard and waited for Charlie, when Sally came outside.

“Can I ask you something,” Lucy spoke up.

“What Lucy, what?” She walked over.

“Do… do you think, well… I need to know what Linus thinks about me.”

“Huh‽” she tilted her head.

“He seems like he cares, when it’s just us, when he’s around all of you, I’m just trash to him. Does he… talk about me with you? What does he say?”

Sally sighed heavy, and looked around.

“I don’t know what to do anymore, I think I fucked up everything, I don’t know why Rerun, Marcie, or even Charlie cares about me.”

As soon as she went to open her mouth, Rerun and Linus walked outside.

“Morning, baby.” Sally smiled.

“Hey.” He walked up with a kiss. “She wasn’t bothering you, was she?”

“Lucy? No, she’s fine. Morning Rerun.”

“Morning Sally.” He gave Lucy a hug.

Charlie walked outside “Okay… let’s head to this shit show.”

“I think I’ll just walk,” Lucy said.

“What… you’ll be late, Lucy.” He looked confused.

“It’ll just be better for everybody.”

“Nope.” Charlie walked over and took her hand. “I won’t have you walking.”

“Come on Lucy, don’t be like that,” Rerun begged.

Linus just sighed, and caught Sally’s attention.

“Please… just let me walk.”

“Rerun…”

Both boys pulled her up and escorted her to the car, Sally rolled her eyes, and opened the front door, as they pushed Lucy inside.

“Just a heads up, in case you all haven’t found out yet; Shermy broke up with Violet, and he’s been dating Peggy.”

“When did that happen,” Rerun asked.

“Patty and me went to that place that Frieda told her about, and we watched the whole thing go down. It wasn’t pretty.”

“Lemme guess… you’re going to talk to her, too,” Linus replied.

“Why would I talk to her?”

At school Violet was sitting with Tapioca.

“You know your man is all over Peggy-Jean?”

“He left me for her on Saturday. Apparently I was not a good girlfriend.”

“Are you going to do something about it?”

“What am I supposed to do? Try and beat her up, demand he come back to me, beg? There’s no coming back from this, I just lost him, and I gotta move on, find a guy who can actually handle me.”

“That’s the spirit, girl! Keep your head up.” She looks around. “I gotta go.”

“Why?”

“I’m hungry, and I can’t really be seen with you like that.” She walked away quickly.

“Oh come on!”

“There’s the new couple,” Peppermint Patty yelled when Shermy and Peggy walked in.

“You traded up, my man.” Franklin gave him a fist bump.

“New couple, when did this happen,” Lamar asked.

“Saturday. I finally ended it with Violet, I wasn’t happy with her. This woman here has given me everything I could ask for.”

“Awe… Shermy.” She hugged him.

“Now the whole gangs here,” Franklin greeted as Charlie and the others walked up.

“Marcie.” Rerun went to kiss her.

“Shermy and Peggy are dating now.”

“I know, Charlie told us.”

Marcie saw Charlie and Lucy together. “Good morning you two.”

“Hey.” Charlie smiled.

“Umm… hi,” Lucy said.

“We saw the whole thing yesterday, it was pretty ugly from Violet's side.”

“Why’s she here‽” Peppermint Patty glared at Lucy.

“She’s just standing there.” Patty appeared from behind Peppermint Patty. “She’s not bothering you.”

“We gotta look at her.”

“Baby, that’s mean,” Roy scolded.

“Franklin, Hey Franklin.” Emily walked over.

“Emily, whassup?”

“I had a good time on our date, we should do it again, soon.”

Most of them started to woo.

“Aye, aye, now!”

“You want to… eat breakfast with me, Franklin?”

“If you say no, I’ll beat you up,” Peppermint Patty threatened.

“Yeah, I’ll eat breakfast with you.”

“Cool. Uh… why is she here?” Emily pointed at Lucy.

“Charlie is why she’s here,” Schroeder answered.

“I don’t mind,” Marcie said.

“She’s my sister,” Rerun added.

“I thought all of you wanted her here… guess I was wrong.”

She walked up to Lucy, who started growing nervous.

“You look like you’re having it really rough, I can see in your heart that you want to be different, and you’re trying… hopefully they will see it too. May the gods guide you.” She turned, and pulled Franklin to the lunch line.

By the time first period was over, practically everybody knew the newish couple of Shermy and Peggy, made sure Violet knew they knew, but all she knew was sorrow, it hit her that she was alone, what anger she had was gone, and it was hard for her to hide her emotions, especially when she would see them together. Violet would see Charlie and Patty, or him with Lucy, any of them alone, only Charlie might glance her way, the other two made an effort to ignore her, it dawned on her that she really could use some friends right now, she didn’t know who would talk to her, much less care. The student tormenting never stopped, and in their own ways, reminded her of how it was all her fault.

She bit the bullet and caught Charlie in the hall. “Charlie! Charlie!”

“What Violet?” He turned around.

“Charlie… can I talk to you? I need to talk to somebody. Please, I… I don’t have anybody.”

“And you picked me?”

She nodded, hope and despair in her eyes.

“Violet… sounds like… you better talk to a counselor, then.” He walked away.

“Help me,” she cried out.

“Nooo!” He raised a hand.

Students around them simply laughed at her, teased her, this was way too much for her to handle, and the last thing she needed was for him to tell somebody, like Peppermint Patty, or even Lucy, that would put her in actual trouble, that she doesn’t need. When lunch came, Violet decided to leave and go home, she couldn’t deal with how things were going. During the rush to the lunchroom, she went to the student lot, hoping nobody saw her, and left as fast as that Cadillac could go.

Chapter Text

“Nobody is going to miss me anyway.” She pulled into their driveway. “They’ll probably celebrate.” She finally let go of her tears.

She walked in the large mcmansion, ran straight to her room, luckily nobody was home, so she had  some semblance of peace.

“I don’t see Violet in the lunchroom, I wanted to have some fun with her,” Lydia told Eudora.

“Violets not here.”

“She’s not here, then where is she, Cormac,” Eudora asked.

“I saw her leave school in a hurry on the way here.”

“There goes our fun.” Lydia huffed.

Charlie walked up to the table with Patty in tow.

“Looks like the table has gotten a bit crowded today," Charlie stated.

"You two will just need to sit at the singles table," Schroeder teased.

"I guess we can just sit with Lucy, no big deal."

"Oh, you mean the loosers—" Linus started.

Rerun kicked him. "I'll join you."

Linus sucked his lips in, with a grunt.

Rerun and Marcie followed Charlie and Patty. Lucy was dealing with Lydia and Eudora

"Why are you bothering Charlie and his friends," Lydia asked.

"I-I'm not."

"Don't lie, we've been watching you try and get Charlie in your clutches," Lydia snapped.

"No, I just want to be left alone."

"Yeah, right." Eudora grabbed her arm. "Like we'll believe that."

"You're hurting my arm, let go." She tried to pull away.

"Or what? You'll beat us up, like Frieda," she sneered.

"We aren't going to back down, and after everything you've done, you'll probably get expelled. Swing if you want." Lydia poked her in the head.

"They're the ones forcing themselves on me. I didn't ask to be friends with them… I appreciate it, but I didn't reach out!"

"Ladies… please. Leave Lucy alone, you two are supposed to be better than this." Charlie walked up.

"Why defend this bitch," Lydia asked.

"Yeah… don't you know she's the devil? She's… she's Lucy-fer, Charlie."

"That's not nice," Rerun chimed in.

"If you don't like her, I get it, nobody knows like I do. A better solution would be to just pretend like she doesn't exist, bullying her isn't going to help anything. She wants to change, and I'm not going to stand by and watch her get cut down to nothing while she tries to atone for everything she's done."

"Fine Charlie, we'll see." Eudora let her go.

"My sister was beaten unconscious… isn't that enough?" Rerun glared.

The two girls walked away, Charlie sat on one side, Patty sat on the other of Lucy.

"You guys don't need to do this for me."

"We want to, Lu, we care about you," Charlie replied.

"But I treated all of you like garbage for so long."

"And it doesn't matter, we're not going to let you deal with this alone. That's why I offered my ear if you wanted to talk," Marcie explained.

"I'm your brother… duh."

"I don't feel like I deserve it."

"I felt bad for cutting you off, myself, but I had to. It's all Violet's fault, and we should've stuck together… but the influence she had…?" Patty shook her head.

"You need support… clearly it's all too much to handle." Charlie held her hand. "You're not going to be alone."

The next class exchange was hard for Lucy, having to do it by herself, with students going in on her, she just wanted to get to class quickly, and no trouble, it was then she was the most lonely, with the looks, and words spoken to her, or in disregard.

"I think you should cut your sister a break." Sally pulled Linus to the side.

"Why?"

"She's hurting. And I'm getting worried, she asked me about you this morning… how you felt about her."

"Why?"

"Because she needs you, too, not just Rerun."

"She seems fine."

"No she doesn't, home should be a safe space from all of this, and you bring it home. You are better than this, Linus."

"Why are you worried, lemme guess; because of Charlie? I remember how Charlie was, too."

"And you weren't there like I was. I dealt with more than you think. Of course I don't want to see Lucy in that condition… you shouldn't either." She kissed him and walked away.

Violet woke up hungry, her head hurt from crying, she went downstairs, looked for something to eat, tossed a frozen dinner in the microwave. Scrolled through social media, people talked about her on Facebook, not a single person came to her defense, she was in no mood to make her voice known. Even worse, was the topic of Shermy and Peggy; something she really didn't want to see.

"I guess I won't be having anymore parties, makes me wonder why anybody even came, if they hated me this much," she asked the empty house.

Once her food was done, she scrolled through her Instagram surprised that they hadn't unfriended, or blocked her on anything. She figured it was far from their mind, in the grand scheme of it all. Looking through her own account, seen the pictures of them together, results of pranks she's done, then she noticed something, how could she have never before; in some pics the girls looked miserable, even if they were smiling. Violet looked through all of her pics, all the way down to the last ones with Frieda, she couldn't take it anymore, stopped at a picture of her and Shermy, with one below, that was all four of the girls, dropped her phone and the fork, needed to step away from the island, a pain she's never felt before, she cried like she never had before, and it wouldn't stop.

"Why does this hurt so bad," she cried out.

Lucy hadn't had a good day, or a decent one, she felt like Violet's absence made things worse and she was miserable, just happy enough that it was the last period. She walked right past Peppermint Patty and Harold.

"Whew… she looks like she's going to lose it at any second," Harold stated.

"I didn't think a face could… make that… face," she replied.

"Charlie never looked that sad."

"Yeah, well… Charlie's issues wasn't really his fault, the same way hers are."

"I think Lucy is absolutely broken, and it's only the third week. People need to stop before it gets worse."

"A little teasing won't hurt her that bad."

"A little—look at her! Somebody I would assume who could stand toe to toe with the likes of you, Molly, and Delores, fell that hard and fast, no, this is bad, Trish. It took Charlie years to get that way."

"I'm not going to help."

"Then at least… don't make it worse, don't be a part of the problem."

"It's not like she's going to kill herself."

Harold just looked at her.

"What‽ You think she would? What‽ Don't just—no she wouldn't! Over all of this? Naw!"

He just narrowed his eyes and slowly walked away.

"Patty… why do you care about Lucy so much?"

"Because… despite everything, she's a really good friend, like you were, we could tell each other anything."

"And then she would tell Vee." Frieda rolled her eyes.

"Not everything. Not the real important things."

"Like what?"

"Like how much the both of us really miss you being our friend."

"Is that it?"

"I'm not telling you her insecurities, like I wouldn't tell yours… or even Violets."

"Lucy." She sighed. "Patty, sometimes I think you're too good for this world… and Lucy."

After school let out, Lucy found Charlie and looked so defeated, held her arms open for a hug.

"Bad day, huh?" he hugged her.

"I just wanna go home."

As they walked, they ran in to Heather and Franklin.

"Oh, Charlie, I need to talk to you—can you give us some space, Lucy," Heather said.

"Sure… yeah." She walked outside.

Heather watched her leave before speaking. "I'm almost done with her saddle, should be finished some time tonight."

"She'll love that! Me and my dad even cleaned it up, only thing left is new tires for it."

"Lucy is going to fall in love with you, when she gets her scooter back!"

"I doubt that." He laughed.

"Dude, you are her biggest support, you might as well be her boyfriend already," Lamar stated.

"The way he's going; Patty and Lucy are going to fight over him." She laughed.

Lucy waited by Charlie’s car when Sally and Linus walked up, pretended to ignore them, thankful to be out and home soon.

"Hey, watch this, Truffles." Benny tossed a nearly full soda can at Lucy's head.

"Nice one," Cormac laughed.

"Right in the head," Truffles cheered

Lucy gasped, and didn't even want to look at Sally and Linus, even if it didn't sound like they were any kind of amused.

 "So are we going to hang out soon, I feel like we haven't done anything in a while." Patty and Frieda caught up to Charlie.

"I figured since you and her are friends again, you'd wanna spend more time with her."

"Of course I still wanna hang with you, you're not forgetting about me, are you?"

"N-no, I would never."

"Then do you want to do something today?"

"Yeah, we can do something."

"Good, see ya later." She walked to her car.

"Yeah, see ya," he yelled back.

Once they were at home, Lucy quickly ran in the house and upstairs to her room. Charlie looked saddened, she didn't even say anything the whole ride.

"She must've had a really bad day," Charlie sighed.

The other two just shrugged and went towards the door.

"If she needs me, I'll be with Patty."

"Go have fun, big bro, she'll be fine."

"Everybody has bad days, Charlie… let her cope."

Linus and Sally started their homework, listened to music on her phone. They're used to not seeing Lucy unless she got hungry, or went over to the Brown house, sometimes she would offer to make them something, while Sally went from 'fuck no', to a 'no thank you, Linus would simply make some noise of disagreement, or annoyance. They had gotten used to her crying when she was alone, although it seemed there was hardly a time Charlie wasn't by her side, Sally knew why he was doing it, and knew how he threw himself into anything, which is why she pushed him for time with Patty.

"Let her cope," Sally said after a while.

"What was that?"

"You said let her cope." She stopped the music.

"Yeah, what about it?" He looked up at her.

"It's bothering me."

"Why? Don't tell me you care about her all of a sudden?"

"I let Charlie cope… and you see what happened."

"Sunshine…"

"Remember when I told you that if you try, I would? I want you to try. I'm serious, and no Sunshine, or puppy dog eyes, or stubbornness is going to change my mind. I refuse to date a guy who doesn't give a damn about his family."

"It wasn't a problem before!"

"Now it's different, she's not being a bitch."

"She has Marcie, Charlie, Patty," he listed.

"Not family."

"Rerun!"

"Not enough," she spat. "It'd mean so much more if you showed her you cared. I know you're on the gate about it… just open it already. You keep saying she's tough, and strong… well so is my brother, even when he failed, he never stopped, when he got beat up because of me, he still tried. He may have never succeeded in things, but to keep trying, and keep trying with me, when I had no respect for him, makes him tough. Lucy could single-handedly beat up the whole school, and she still wouldn't be as tough as Charlie, why; because he would keep getting back up to help her and be a friend, until he couldn't get up. You're avoiding what you know in your heart is wrong—that makes you weak."

"Wha… buh… that's not… how‽ Weak‽"

"Yeah, yeah… go stammer at Lucy, go love your sister."

Linus sighed, got up, Sally smiled, he went upstairs.

"You know I'm right!"

"Yeah… in your own crazy way."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm right, though."

Linus went to Lucy's door and instead of knocking, just opened the door, "Lucy, I need—" His jaw dropped.

Lucy was startled by him barging in, and cut herself a little too deep.

"Lucy!"

Sally heard him scream and quickly went upstairs.

"Don't look, it's nothing… I just…"

He just stared at her, then turned around to find Sally blocked his way with an look of disapproval on her face, he looked back at Lucy who seemed to be afraid for what might happen.

"Go get the first aid kit," he whispered and turned around.

Linus sat next to Lucy, she cowered away from him, he just stared at her bleeding arm, she wasn't sure what he was going to do. Sally came back with the kit and paper towels, he opened the kit on his lap, took her hand gently, Sally cleaned up the blood with a wet paper towel, he used a disinfectant spray, then a gel, most likely a burn gel to keep the bandage from sticking. Sally laid the bandage on her wound, went to throw the razor blade away, Linus carefully wrapped her arm firm and for the first time since opening her door, looked up at her face, seeing pain, fear, confusion. This wasn't the strong girl that tormented him over the years, he didn't know who this was.

"Please don't tell Charlie," she whispered.

He held his breath, reached out, pulled her in a hug, her cheek pressed to his. To his surprise, she didn't fight back, she just repositioned her arms to hug him back and scooted closer to him, he wrapped his other arm around her, gave her a tight hug, finally exhaled. Sally watched it all, took a picture with her phone. He started to feel tears on his face.

"Linus?"

"Shhh… I'm sorry. I'm sorry Lucy… I didn't want to realize how bad things were, I'm sorry."

Lucy was quiet, he was quiet, Sally was quiet, it felt like hours.

"I understand," she finally responded.

He closed his eyes, and tried not to cry. Sally stepped out in the hall to call Charlie.

"Whassup, Sal?"

"Hey… I want you to know I love you, right? I'm proud of you and I love you."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Never forget, okay?"

"I love you too. You sure you're okay, are you watching some sappy movie?"

She looked at the two Van Pelts embracing each other. "Something like that. That's all I wanted to tell you, I'll let you go."

"Okay Sally, see ya later."

"Love you."

"Love you too." he chuckled a little.

"Love you, bye." she hung up quickly.

Linus opened his eyes, looked at Sally, "I think we should get Lucy to a hospital."

"How?"

He thought for a moment. "Call Patty."

"She's with Charlie."

"Who else has a car… Schroeder—bad idea. Who would actually help?"

"Trish? Franklin?"

"Call Lamar, I know he will."

Sally called up Lamar.

"Aye… whassup Sal?"

"Can you come over to Linus place, and give us a ride?"

"I could… is it important, because I'm in the middle of swapping manual transmission in my Crown Vic."

"Oh, you are?"

"Yeah, so it'd be a while."

"Ummm… don't worry about it—wait! What about Heather?"

"Her mom has the car, she only lets her use it to go to school, she takes it to work."

"I didn't know. I hate not having a car! Okay, thanks anyway, I'll need to call somebody else."

"I'm sorry I couldn't help yall, but hey, when I'm done, nobody'll get ya wherever faster, for the next time."

"I believe it. I hope you get everything together okay! See ya."

"Yeah, see ya."

She hung up and looked at Linus.

"Trish. She'll do it, call her."

Sally called Peppermint Patty.

"Sally girl, whassup?"

"Can you come over here to Linus and give us a ride?"

"Sure, I ain't doin nothin'! You're not trying to get me to chauffeur you two on a date, are ya?"

"No, we need to get to the hospital."

"Rats! Is it important‽ Wait… of course it is, it's the hospital! I'm on my way." She hung up.

"You think she'll be mad once she finds out it's Lucy?"

Linus motioned his face towards his back, she took a peek and gasped at how bled through that wrap was, his shirt was starting to get wet. She gasped. He nodded.

"Is she… still awake…?"

"The cut was deeper than we thought."

Lucy made a small grunt. It wasn't too much longer before Peppermint Patty pulled up, she blew the horn, Sally rushed to the window.

"She's here!"

Chapter Text

"Whoa, whoa! What's she doing here‽"

"She cut herself." Sally pointed to Lucy's arm.

Lucy wasn't all there, barely standing.

"I'm not gonna argue with you, my sisters life is more important to me, than how you feel about her, she needs to go to the hospital—this is not a discussion!"

"Jeez Linus, hurry up and get her in here, then!"

They got her in the backseat, where she laid on his lap, she rushed to the hospital, and jumped out with Sally, while Sally ran to talk to somebody, Peppermint Patty had found a wheelchair, she helped Linus sit Lucy in it and wheeled her inside. A doctor and nurses rushed out with a stretcher, placed her on it, Linus went with them.

Sally looked at her and asked. "Would you have left her at home to die?"

"No… I was just surprised, honest!" She held her hands up, and sighed. "Look. I might not like her, but I would be really sad if she died, especially if it were my fault."

"I hope she's okay."

"What happened?"

"I made Linus go and talk to her and stop being a jerk. It looked like she had been cutting, I guess he scared her, and she cut too deep."

"Shit."

"He needs to be there for her, it's only right with what she's going through."

"You don't like her, either."

"I don't have to. He's family and… she needs him… because…"

"I gotcha, I see what's going on." She threw an arm over her shoulder. "You're just like Chuck, always trying to be a good person."

Sally just sighed.

"Have you told him about this?"

"She doesn't want him to know, so please don't tell him. Lucy is probably too ashamed that she was doing it."

"But he did it."

"I know he did. I don't know what her reason is, but she doesn't want him to know."

"Then I won't say anything. It's not my business, anyway… I'm just the messenger."

"Don't you mean; delivery girl?"

Patty enjoyed her time with Charlie, even though they didn't do much, these times were special to her, having him all to herself. They were currently walking through a park with milkshakes.

"Isn't this just nice, nice milkshakes, nice night."

"Yep. I'm glad things are getting better for you… and thanks for being there for Lucy."

"Just don't forget about me."

"I won't, I like spending time with you. Nobody really hangs out anymore, all wrapped up in their significant other. I've gotten to know you better."

"And I know you better, my parents love you, too."

"Really?"

"Of course, silly." She grabbed his arm and pulled close.

"Hey look!" He pulled her off the path.

"Charlie what is it‽ I almost dropped my milkshake!"

He lead her up a small hill.

"I'm sorry about that, but look." He pointed from behind her.

"Wow… I don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful sunset."

"Couldn't be better."

"Hmm." She pulled one of his arms around her. "Better."

They stood there and watched the sunset, the colors changed, then his phone rung.

"Heather?"

"I just finished up her saddle, if you want to come and get it."

"It's done? Sure I'll swing by… but after the sun sets, okay?"

"Are you on a date?"

"A date? I'm with Patty."

"Okay lover boy, finish your date." She giggled and hung up.

"I know you're sweet, and just trying to be nice, but these are dates… or they feel like it to me, and everybody thinks so."

"Then they're dates. They feel like dates, it's date stuff and a date can be anything these days."

"We should go get that seat before it gets too late. I still have homework to do."

"Me too."

Peppermint Patty and Sally went to the waiting room in the wing Lucy was at. She jumped up to hug Linus.

"So, is she okay," Peppermint Patty asked.

"You're still here?"

"Yes, I'm still here."

"She's been sleep since the surgery… lets just say it's good she's left-handed. She's just about gotten all the blood, they got her stitched up pretty good.

"How are you doing, honey?"

"I'm so, so, happy she's okay, I was scared."

"You get a chance to talk to her?"

"Not yet, when she's awake I will, Sal."

"Can we see her?"

"Sure, Trish."

He led them back to her room where she was sleep, Peppermint Patty inspected her arm.

"The doctor said she was lucky she missed veins and arteries, and didn't cut well into the muscle. Her arm is as scarred as Charlie’s. I… I wanna hold her again! She's the oldest, she should be looking after me." Tears swelled his eyes.

"You never really needed her, though."

"I need her now, I need her to be okay, I need her to stop cutting."

"I won't give her anymore shit, okay? This is like Chuck all over again."

"She might be able to go home tonight, if everything’s okay."

"I can't stay all night, but if she does; call me and I'll pick you up."

"L-Linus," Lucy weakly called out.

He whipped his head around, and rushed to her, "Lucy?"

"S-sorry for…"

"No… I'm sorry, don't you apologize for anything these weeks."

"Should've… should've been better, now look what… happened."

"True, but I should've been there for you before it got this bad, and yes… it's guilt, it is, but I can't help it."

"I… love… you."

"I love you too." He hugged her.

"That's how siblings should be."

"You only say that because now you and Chuck are like that."

"Whatever, Trish." Sally stuck her tongue out.

"I'm going to try and be a better brother, okay, just give me a chance."

She nodded. "Me too."

"Knock, knock." The doctor came in. "Lucille, I've got your paperwork, and I'm just checking a few things, and you should be able to go home tonight."

"Thank you."

"Soooo… how was the date," Heather asked.

"I had fun." Patty blushed.

"I enjoyed it."

"Great, great… wait until you see this, come in."

They followed her inside to the living room, where she grabbed the saddle.

"I think I did a good job for my first try." She presented it.

"Heather that looks great, girl," Patty exclaimed.

"I don't know why you'd doubt yourself.” He grabbed it and looked it over.

"Heather, you did do a good job. I could never do something like this, I know Lucy is going to love you for this, it's such a kind gesture."

"Thanks the both of you." She blushed.

"Charlie, we should get going and let her rest, we need it too."

"Right. We'll see you at school tomorrow."

"Good night you two." She walked them to the door.

Charlie put the saddle in the backseat and drove her home.

"I had fun tonight Charlie, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, it was."

Patty quickly kissed his cheek and got out of the car.

Peppermint Patty pulled up to the Van Pelt house, Linus handed Sally Lucy's paperwork, and helped Lucy out of the SUV.

"I gotcha, hold on Linus." Peppermint Patty grabbed her from the other side.

"I don't deserve this," Lucy moaned.

"Girl… yes you do. What makes you think you can do this alone? Even I think at this point you've suffered enough."

"You're not even my friend, and you care, Trish?"

"You've done nothing worth dying over… killing yourself over. Just keep doing better."

They took Lucy to her room.

"I'll figure out how to get your prescription tomorrow, and you have a doctors note so you don't have to go tomorrow if you don't want to," Linus explained.

"I… I don't know."

"If you're hungry, I'll make you something."

"Okay. I just want to get out of these clothes."

"And you don't need to help with that, my Babboo." Sally shooed him out.

Sally and Peppermint Patty helped her in to her pajamas, Linus brought her something to eat.

"Okay… I'm taking my ass home. You get better Lucy."

"Think I'll go home, too. Love you Linus."

"Love you too."

Right there Lucy and Linus were left alone, she ate and stared at her arm. Peppermint Patty left just before Charlie came home, he saw Sally as she walked to the house, and Rerun walked down the sidewalk.

"You're not going to just flip on me at school are you?"

"No."

"But everybody is going to wonder why you had a change of heart."

"I'll figure something out, or I'll tell the truth. Either way I see how wrong I was about you—I hope I was wrong."

Charlie stepped out of the car and retrieved Lucy's saddle, caught both younger siblings attention.

"Is that the seat to her bike?" Sally walked up.

"Yeah."

"That looks great." Rerun walked up.

"Heather did it. I found a van that had gray vinyl seats."

"That'll look great on her bike."

"Yeah, with that light blue and white paint job," he agreed with Rerun. "I know you don't care, but do you know how Lucy has been; she seemed real off since school let out."

Sally rolled her eyes. "I think she bounced back since then and she's a little happier."

"Really, did something happen?"

Sally just smiled. "Good night, big bro." She walked to the house.

Charlie and Rerun exchanged glances.

"If I figure it out, I'll let you know." Rerun went home.

Charlie went to put the saddle back on the bike, and noticed the wheels were gone. Rerun walked in the house, heard nothing but quiet talking from upstairs, he went up to find his older siblings close together, Linus had his arm around her waist, his old blanket around her,  she was smiling, he was stunned, baffled.

Linus wiped a tear from her eye, and noticed Rerun in his peripheral. “Don’t just stand there, little brother, join me in comforting our sister."

Lucy looked up and saw Rerun staring.

"What happened?" He walked in.

"You and Charlie were right; home should be a safe space… I realized it too late, I saw the results of her pain."

"Lucy?" he sat next to her. "What did you do?"

"I… I started—I'm too ashamed to say it, I don't want you mad at me."

"I won't be mad, promise."

"C'mon Lucy." Linus rubbed her back.

"I was cutting myself," she quickly replied.

"Sally made me come up here to talk to her earlier, I opened the door and she jumped mid cut… cutting too deep. It's my fault."

Rerun stared at her arm.

"Made me see what was really going on. I was so mad, resentful, I forgot how fragile she really is. Trish took us to the E.R., we just got back not that long ago."

"I'm not mad, I'm happy you're okay." He hugged her. "Do you really care… or are you just feeling guilty?"

"Both. I should've listened to everybody. If it takes guilt for me to see she needs both of us, then screw it. Maybe now our parents will actually care."

"I'm surprised Charlie isn't here."

"Don't tell him." She vigorously shook her head. "I know he probably won't get mad, but… I can't let him find out, he'll… he'll probably take it out on himself! He's trying so hard with me, and I like him so much… it would crush him." she started to cry.

"Hey."

"Lucy."

They both hugged her, and neither of them realized their parents came home.

"Lucy! What happened to your arm," their mother shouted, caught them holding her.

Charlie was wondering where the wheels to her scooter was, he went to ask his dad.

"Umm… what happened to the wheels?"

"The wheels… oh! I have them in the car; before I go in to work, I'm going to drop them off and have new tires fitted. I've noticed how close you are to her, and I just wanted to help, since she's finally realizing how great you are. Stop by the shop after school and pick them up."

"I just picked up the saddle from Heather, she did a great job on it. I'd better hit the hay." He went upstairs.

"Goodnight son."

"Night dad."

Violet laid awake in her bed, when her parents came in her room.

"Violet, my assistant told me you left school today. What is the meaning of this?"

"I got sick, daddy."

"You do look rather pale." He raised an eyebrow upon inspection.

"You don't look that sick." Her mom doubted.

"Well I… I don't know, see I started my period and after I ate lunch, I just couldn't keep it down, the cramps were so bad, then the blood—"

"I think I get the picture," her dad interrupted, not needing explicit details. "You'll be okay by tomorrow, right?"

"I should be." She nodded.

"Good. We'll leave you be, then." He left the room.

Her mom wasn't too convinced, gave her one last look, before leaving. Violet sighed, she didn't want to go to school and face everybody alone.

That Tuesday morning Lucy struggled to put her clothes on, she decided she wanted to go to school despite the pain.

"You need help," Linus asked.

"Yeah, but…"

"I don't care if I see." He walked in.

They went downstairs, Rerun made her a cup of her favorite coffee.

"At least mom said she would put in your prescription and drop it off at school," Rerun stated, watched her struggle a little with the pain. "Did you sleep okay?"

"No, it's like every position puts my arm in pain. Thank you for the coffee."

The three siblings walked outside greeted by Sally and Charlie.

"Morning everybody." Sally kissed Linus. “Good morning Lucy… Rerun."

"Morning," Lucy and Rerun replied.

"Mornin'," Charlie yawned.

"Morning.” Lucy gave him a hug.

"You seem to be in a better mood."

"A little, yeah."

"A little can go a long way."

"Right you are Charlie… let's go buddy." Linus patted his shoulder.

Violet was awake, her parents were already gone and she was thinking how was she going to not go to school without getting caught. Took her time finding something to eat, she had an idea; grabbed her phone, and calling her moms assistant.

"Good morning Violet!"

"Hey Jennifer!" She faked excitement. "I need you to do something for me, that I forgot to do."

"If it involves leaving the office, I can't do that today."

"Oh no, no, nothing like that… just a fax."

"A fax, alright, what about?"

"I'm going on a two week retreat, something about young entrepreneurs—you know how my parents are. I forgot to notify the school."

"They really do want you to take up the family business. Alright, you got it, just the usual form, right?"

"Yep, the usual one will do. I actually can't wait to check it out."

"I'll send it right away, Miss Gray."

"Thanks so much, you take care, I need to make a few more calls."

"No problem, enjoy yourself." She hung up.

Violet's fake chipper mood quickly faded away, at least now she won't have any problems from the school, or miss classwork. After eating breakfast, she went back to bed.

Linus and Sally didn't sit with them, neither did Peppermint Patty at breakfast, Lucy was content with their change of heart, and more worried that Charlie would notice how she was reacting to her arm, despite trying hard to play it off.

"Why are you in such a good mood," Patty asked.

"I think me and Linus are finally getting close."

"I found them hugging when I came home last night."

"That's great, I was getting annoyed with him." Charlie smiled.

"He's no you, but he's trying." She leaned on him.

"Charlie is such a sweetheart." Patty leaned on his other shoulder.

The girls made him slightly uneasy, everyone else at the table thought it was amusing.

"Got yo own fan club, man." Lamar chuckled.

"Eh, they're good girls." He held them both.

"I think it's cute." Heather smiled.

They got ready to go to their first period classes.

"You can walk Patty if you want to, Charlie."

"Huh?"

"Luce, if ya need anything, just let me know, okay." Peppermint Patty walked up.

"Thanks… Trish, that means a lot to me. Hey, you guys don't mind walking with me, do you?" She turned to Linus and Sally.

"Sure." She shrugged.

"Huh…?" He watched them walk away.

"Then it's just us." Patty grabbed his arm.

"I wonder what made them change their mind like that? Just the other day, Trish was all on the hate wagon."

"Miracles are happening!"