Chapter Text
August hit, winds came— summer closed. Junior year of highschool wasn’t gonna be Charlie Brown’s best friend. The wind blew, coldness hitting his lips. A shiver was sent down his spine, the autumn leaves falling all around, the air smelt a certain smell that only the week before school had. A sour, but warm and calming smell. Looking over to Linus, Charlie Brown saw the calmness written over Linus’ face. Something he could never have. Something he wished he had. Even when Linus wasn’t calm, he always knew how to handle the situation, he always had the right idea. He was always a good friend, he didn’t have to say anything all the time to be right. Everyone just knew he was.
As the two stopped, and rested their heads at their usual stopping point, the brick wall. The two sat there, the silence was something they both enjoyed. Linus talked occasionally, but Charlie Brown could really just sit there and have a moment of silence without having to hear any awful, or annoying comments. A leaf landed on Linus’ nose, as he picked it up with his pointer and his thumb he put it in his obviously sewn pocket. Linus enjoyed finding patches and such and putting it onto fabric, sowing was something he learned to do in his Freshman year of highschool. Charlie Brown watched the wind blow, seeing it take different shapes and forms he hadn’t seen, it was a moment of relief before the storm.
“Well, Charlie Brown. It’s finally August.” Linus spoke, his voice always sounded like some sort of philosophical question, like he could be some sort of scientist or something? “School is back in session, soon enough we’ll be taking tests.. and, SATS.” He continued, he tugged on his blanket when he said SAT, Linus always hated those— so did everyone else but Linus saw it from a different perspective. He hated standardized tests, he thought it was heavily rigged. Unfair to people in a lower education system. If you got him going on it- he wouldn’t end. Charlie Brown often hated prompting Linus to go on his rants about useless politics, and such.
“You did that Book report of The Great Gatsby, right?” Asked Linus.
Charlie Brown's eyes widened, his peace ending with those words. He hadn’t even started yet! He read the first 3 chapters of the book.. He didn’t plan on finishing it! He forgot. All the things going on that summer.. he couldn’t focus on a book about the 1920’s, and rich people! “Uh.. Did you write it?” He asked, that was the dumbest question he asked all day. Linus looked at him and tilted his head. “Well of course I did! When you really think about it.. Gatsby might’ve been the easiest book we could’ve read, at least it wasn’t like 6th grade.. when we read War and Peace, that was pretty bad- but this was like.. Easy. Did you- Let me guess, Charlie Brown. You didn’t write it or read it?”
Charlie Brown couldn’t even look at Linus— he was cringing, “Maybe.. Okay. Yeah.” He finally looked at Linus, whose face told him everything. That he was disappointed. He hated disappointing Linus. “I forgot— Listen, I had a lot on my plate this summer, I had to take care of Sally, on top of the house and my grandmother with Dementia.”
“I understand, Charlie Brown.” Linus rested his hands on Charlie Brown’s shoulders, “How about I come over— and I help you write this Report?” He offered, Charlie Brown nodded, “Thank you, Linus.” He said. The two boys walked on— the walk was mostly silent for the rest of it, unless Linus pointed something out, or a reminder of something important. They Made it to their own homes, “I’ll be over in 30!” Linus said, waving to Charlie Brown, he just nodded a response. A weak smile. Something drained him. Had he forgotten to take his anti-depressants? No.. He took them.. This morning.
As he walked inside, Sally Brown, his younger sister, was watching TV. That’s what she would do at this time of day, but it was 8– and school started soon, “Sally, Time for bed.” The older boy said— sounding very exhausted, “But, big brother! We don’t start until next week. Do I have to go to bed at 8 now?” She asked, her voice practically whining at him to let her stay up an extra hour. He couldn’t say no but he couldn’t say yes, “Sally please, If I was mom you would’ve left a while ago. Just please go to sleep.” He tried ordering but she wouldn’t budge.
He gave up, groaning; he went upstairs and headed for his room. As he got undressed from the day, his mind was worried with thoughts.. He couldn’t help but panic about how he procrastinated that book report, he always did that. He was doomed for his future, he grabbed his phone and texted Linus.
charles : hey, dont bother coming over come 2morrow
blanket boy (too smart for me) : okay, call me if u need
blanket boy (too smart for me) : gn
charles : gm
charles : good grief.
charles : gn.
blanket boy (too smart for me) : hahaha!!!
Charlie Brown put his phone away, he laid down and closed his eyes, trying not to react to anything, just calming his mind and body.
This was going to be a rough year.