Schroeder felt extremely embarrassed.
Everyone in the room was watching in shock. While very other person in the room was wearing casual everyday clothing, he was the only one with a tux. Sure, there were a few boys with ties, but no one with a tux on. Snoopy popped up next to him, wearing black sunglasses and a Joe Cool t-shirt. He slid to the middle of the dance floor and began to dance to a disco tune.
Everyone watched awkwardly, then continued on with what they were doing.
Lucy was sitting near the foods table, with chicken quesadilla and ketchup. There was a can of Dr. Pepper beside her plate. Schroeder gulped and walked up and sat next to Lucy.
"Lucy?" Schroeder could feel sweat crawling down his face, with his hands continuously fiddling with the buttons on his pants.
She didn't look at him.
"Lucy?" he said, this time louder. She still didn't listen.
"Lucy!" He shook her shoulders. This time, she looked at him.
"What do you want?" She looked angry, and confused, as though she couldn't understand why he was sitting next to her.
"Do you want to dance with me?" Schroeder smiled meekly.
Lucy stood up. "After what your dad said to me? No. No way in hell."
"My dad just has these... anger issues. Besides, I...have a crush on you."
Schroeder blushed, hoping Lucy would accept. She brushed a lock of hair away.
"You really think I'd believe that?"
"Yes," Schroeder said slowly. He really wanted her to believe that he was serious, and that he actually liked her. No.
Not believe. Know was the right word.
Lucy turned away from him and breathed heavily. Then she turned around and slugged him. Not hard enough to give him a bleeding nose, but hard enough to make it red.
Schroeder blinked in surprise. Lucy's fists were curled up, her teeth gritted, and her face red.
"Don't ever talk to me again."
Then she left him, standing right there, near the food table, heartbroken.
Snoopy was dancing nearby Charlie Brown and The Little Red Haired Girl when he noticed Schroeder wiping his face with the sleeve of his jacket. He signaled to Charlie Brown that he'd be away, then walked to Schroeder. Snoopy didn't need him to tell him what happened. The look on his face said enough. As he patted Schroeder on the back, Snoopy found it hard not to feel sorry for him. After all, who wouldn't after being slugged by the girl of your dreams because of something bad that had happened?
It also gave him an idea about what chapter to write next for his Red Baron story.