"Hey, Charlie Brown!"
Her call jolted him out of his deep thoughts, and he yelped in surprise. Then, a groan when she saw him standing there, hands behind her back.
"Lucy, I'm not in the mood to try to kick the football today, okay?" he said.
"I'm not here about the silly football, Blockhead!" Lucy snapped. "I have something for you!"
Charlie blinked. Since when did she ever give him things unless she wanted something back, or it was a trick?
"What is it?" he asked, and she frowned at the lack of interest in his tone.
"Hmph, if you're gonna be like that I won't give it to you, Charlie Brown. You can be such a jerk sometimes and really hurt a girl's feelings!" she grumped. Charlie sighed.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to sound like that," he said. "So what is it?"
"Ta-da!" She held out her hands. "Like it? I made it look extra-nice!"
It was the rock he'd gotten last Halloween, only painted and decorated with ribbons. He took it from her, examining it.
"Why would you decorate a silly old rock for me, Lucy?" She froze, and he could have sworn he saw her blush for a split second.
"Um...I didn't do it for you! I did it cause I thought it'd look pretty and then I decided I might as well give it to you cause what would I want with a dumb old rock?" She glared at him. "Just enjoy it, Blockhead, okay?"
And she was gone. Still confused, Charlie brought the rock home and sat it on his desk. He'd use it as a paperweight, then stick it in the back of his closet when he got tired of it.
Months later, though, it was still there.