CHAPTER 2: GOOD LUCK, GRAY'S

The next week, everyone showed up at a going-away party held for the Gray's. Everyone who was friends/acquaintances of the Gray family were there, including the Browns. While Silas and Maureen were good with going to the party, their children, Sally, and especially Charlie Brown, were not so pleased. Sally because, while Violet never teased her like her brother, didn't know Violet that well or even hung out with her that much. Charlie Brown was apprehensive for obvious reasons. To her, he was her enemy, and he never knew why. But once and for all, he was going to get answers to why she treated him like she did, besides the ones she's given him before.

At the party, The Grays were very inviting and thankful to the people they knew. Violet, for her part, was cordial, even to those she couldn't stand, to placate her parents. The kids had completed 5th grade and were about to go into 6th grade for the next year. So the timing was perfect for Grant to get his promotion. And Violet couldn't wait to leave Sparkyville once and for all. Of all the people she knew, the only one's she'd miss, outside of family, would be Shermy and her best friend Patty. But one kid was wanting answers from her.

Charlie Brown approached Violet, and tapped her on the shoulder. "Violet?"

She looked over and to her annoyance, stood Charlie Brown. "Go away, Failure Face," she whispered. "You, of all people, should be happy I'm leaving. Our paths never have to cross again. It's a win for both of us, albeit for different reasons."

"That's what I want to talk to you about," said Charlie Brown, not mincing words. "We need to bury the hatchet, once and for all. Settle this bad blood that's been between us for no reason other than 'you hate me' and all."

"Okay sure," sighed Violet. And the two went somewhere so they could finally hash out their differences once and for all.

"All right, Charlie Brown, what is SO important you had to pry me away from our 'going away' party?!" asked an impatient Violet.

"Well, for all these years I know the reasons why you hated me," Charlie Brown began. "You've told me over and over that I know it by heart. All the excluded parties, except this one and the Halloween party you once held that I was invited to somehow, the belittling, the emasculating, the hat-filled words, name-calling, and just all-around mean attitude. And THAT was when you were being nice. And like I said, I know why you hate me. But all I want to know is what have I done, beside my mere existence, have I done to you to deserve your hatred so much. With you leaving, you at least owe me this explanation. What have I done to receive your ire, Violet?"

Violet had never gave a thought to what he could have done. She even forgot how it all began in the first place. There was a secret she HAD been hiding, but she never revealed it to anyone, not even Patty. Years ago when they first met, she had an innocent crush on the blockhead. She even liked him in the beginning. Maybe it was when "she" moved to the neighborhood and Charlie Brown started pining for "her". The Chrism Goddess. The little red-haired girl. But even before "she" entered the picture, she started being meaner towards him. Maybe it was a way to keep him in check that went awry. Maybe she couldn't admit her crush to herself and used being mean to him as a defense mechanism.

"Well?" said Charlie Brown.

Violet stood quiet. For once, she was at a loss for words. Charlie Brown sighed. "You don't have an answer, do you?" he finally said. "Good luck in California, Violet." And he left and rejoined the party.

Violet stood quiet. Why HAD she hated Charlie Brown for so long? What DID he do to earn her total hatred? All of these questions she had no answer for. Had she looked to Lucy for advice, she would simply had said "He's a blockhead.", but it ran deeper than that excuse. Did she still have a long-dormant crush on him? Was it that she was so mean to him, yet still harbored feelings for him deep down? She couldn't think about that right now. She put it on the back burner for now and went back to the party.

When Linus, Lucy's brother and Charlie Brown's best friend, saw Charlie coming back, he asked, "What did you talk to Violet about, Charlie Brown?"

"Trying to get some answers, Linus," said Charlie Brown, "but, predictably, never getting any. Violet will just continue to hate. A girl with no love in her heart for anyone but herself. What's sad is that she used to not be like that. It's different from your sister, who was born pure evil. Violet still has some of that old nice girl in her. It's like she's afraid to let her out. I hope she doesn't become cold as ice, or I pray for the kids in California."

"From what I heard, California kids, especially rich ones, are just as snobby," said Linus. "She might just fit in well out there."

"You may be right, Linus," said Charlie Brown. "You may just be right." And the two boys were then joined by Peppermint Patty and Marcie, who discussed the upcoming baseball season. For Violet, she had a lot to think about.

NEXT CHAPTER: HEADING WEST