EDITED VERSION!
As Schroeder approached the track, he noticed something was terribly off. Linus was nowhere to be seen, and Charlie Brown was standing in the middle of the track staring at his hands. As Schroeder got closer, he noticed that Charlie Brown was crying and had blood everywhere. Schroeder panicked his anxiety spiking. What the hell happened while he was in the band room?
"Charlie Brown, are you okay?" Schroeder basically threw everything he was holding onto the ground as he ran to Charlie Brown. "Oh, my Beethoven! What happened you have blood everywhere! Let's get you cleaned up," Schroeder started to guide Charlie Brown towards the water faucet as he wiped at the blood on Charlie Brown's face. Schroeder noted there were no cuts beneath the blood. Confused he asked, "Where exactly is your injury?" Charlie Brown lifted his hands up revealing scrapes on his palms and several white scars up and down his wrists. Schroeder was shocked to see so many self-inflicted injuries. Was this why he had always worn that hoodie, no matter how hot it was? Was that why he always wore those stupid wrist braces when he pitched a game of baseball? Was this how he dealt with his problems? Charlie Brown's face turned red it what looked like guilt. "Nasty fall?" Was all Schroeder could think to say, he would never shame Charlie for such an act.
"Yeah, I was walking with Linus, and I tripped and scraped my hands on the track," Charlie Brown replied quietly. Schroeder looked around for any trace of Linus, but he was nowhere to be seen. Why would Linus just leave Charlie Brown bleeding and crying? What the hell was wrong with him? Schroeder felt his brows knit in confusion. He still couldn't find Linus. Around that time they had arrived at the water faucet and Schroeder shook his head and turned it on. He squatted down and encouraged Charlie Brown to do the same. He obeyed.
"Put your hands under the spray," Schroeder took Charlie Brown's hands and gently cleaned off the blood and pulled out a rock. After Schroeder had turned the faucet off, Charlie Brown told him he had a first aid kit. Schroeder took it and gently cleaned and treated the wounds and got the bleeding to stop. When he was done with his scrapes, he decided to clean up the newest cuts on Charlie Brown's wrists. They were starting to look inflamed. "Good as new," Schroeder smiled then gave Charlie Brown a once over, then noticed the blood splatter on his hoodie and frowned, "except for your hoodie I can't get that blood out of that." Schroeder had always had a wicked sense of humor. Charlie Brown let out a broken laugh that made Schroeder feel terrible. He needed to find a way to distract Charlie. Looking out towards the football field and seen the team was stretching and decided football would work, plus he needed to keep his promise to Alex.
"Let's go sit down practice has started," Charlie nodded and headed towards the bleachers. Schroeder began to follow him but remembered that he had forgotten his stuff. Walking the other direction he went to gather his abandoned belongings. First, he checked to see if he had broken anything namely his trombone. Everything was intact, and he started to make his way towards the bleachers. Charlie Brown was staring intently at his math homework. Schroeder chuckled to himself if Charlie stared any harder he was going to light his paper on fire. Then Charlie let out a frustrated noise and pulled at his hair.
"You're thinking too hard, the answer is 42," Schroeder said as he sat down. Charlie Brown looked up confused, and Schroeder could actually see the gears turning in his head until the realization hit him. Schroeder shook his head to himself and turned his head towards the scrimmage going on on the field. Alex has just hiked the ball and threw it to another player. The play made no sense to Schroeder, who decided he needed to do a little research on football.
"Schroeder?" Charlie Brown said, and Schroeder tore his eyes off of Alex and looked over to his friend.
"Hmm?" Schroeder said urging Charlie Brown to speak. Schroeder wasn't the pushy kind, but maybe Charlie was going to give some sort of explanation.
"Why aren't you mad at me?" Okay, that wasn't was Schroeder was expecting, and it made no sense.
"Huh?" Schroeder was confused and then after a few moments of thinking, he was hit with realization, Charlie was talking about his self-harming, "No... Why would I be?" Charlie Brown looked down. Schroeder was waiting, he hoped Charlie knew he could talk to him about anything.
"Linus was." It was barely a whisper, but it spoke volumes to Schroeder. Linus had seen the scars and ran off, probably saying something negative in the process.
"Oh, so that's why you were alone. No, I can't be mad at you," Schroeder said with sincerity, "You've never found a constructive stress outlet. Honestly, it was more of a confirmation of something I felt like I already knew. Sure, it's worse than I thought it was. But, I can't say I blame you," Schroeder shrugged, "If I didn't have music I might be a lot worse off," Schroeder's mind fogged up with painful memories and him bashing his emotions out on his piano. He quickly shoved those memories away and went back to Charlie, who had tears flowing down his cheeks,"I just hope one day you no longer feel the need to cut anymore."
"Thank you, Schroeder," Charlie Brown whispered. Schroeder smiled, he was glad Charlie Brown could start to sort out his problems now that they were in the open. Schroeder knew from personal experience, that once people knew things got better.
"You're welcome," Schroeder replied and went back to watching football practice.
Alex was sweaty as he walked to the spot behind the guy holding the football and another play took place, that also went over Schroeder's head. After the play, Alex looked out towards the stands and Schroeder gave him a small wave. Alex returned it enthusiastically, almost to the extent of making a scene. Then Alex pointed Schroeder out to another football player, who also waved to Schroeder. Returning the wave, Schroeder noted that he must be one of Alex's friends. Schroeder was hit by a sudden wave of guilt, the only people who knew he was gay were Lucy and Linus, and neither of them knew he was dating the quarterback. He felt he should tell Charlie, who had just revealed his own deepest secret to him. He turned to look at boy working on his math homework.
"Can I tell you something?" Schroeder finally said, jarring Charlie from his concentration. His eyes were wide and he looked scared of what Schroeder was going to say.
"Sure." Charlie Brown said while he looked extremely pale. Schroeder took a big breath and let it out. He could do this, he told Lucy, for Pete's sake. In all honesty, he'd always had trouble telling people his secrets.
"Well, recently I have discovered that I'm, ya know, gay." There it was out in the open, but oddly Schroeder felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Though his stomach rolled in protest.
"Well then... that's great," Charlie Brown looked stunned and rightly so, "How did Lucy take that?" Schroeder sighed, of course that was his first question.
"Better than was expected. We talked it out yesterday. She's hurt, obviously, but she understands and feels better about herself because of it. I'm happy we're still friends. She's just not 'my type'," Schroeder added what he hoped was the right amount of humor.
"Wow, so that's why she had the new arm candy at lunch today." Schroeder had noticed the new guy she had with at lunch today. How couldn't he? She was very obnoxious about it.
"She moves fast, but I guess I did too," Schroeder felt a blush darkening on his face and started to fidget with his beanie before he continued, "I-I have a boyfriend now," Schroeder looked out to the field and found Alex and pointed him out to Charlie Brown. "He asked me out this morning. I've never been in a relationship before, and I like the feeling." A smile had overtaken Schroeder's face. Honesty was the best policy. Nope, Schroeder didn't believe that phrase at all.
"Your dating a football player?" Charlie Brown chuckled. Well, duh and with that, Schroeder laughed wholeheartedly. Why was that always the first thing everyone said? Schroeder played sports too! In all honesty, he could be considered a jock, but the nerd canceled that effect.
"Yup, and I really like him. He's nice to me and not insane, which is a biggy," A devilish grin crept on his face, and Charlie laughed at him.
"I'm happy for you." Nothing Charlie Brown could have said could have been better, Schroeder felt great about everything as he watched the remainder of football practice. He finally saw Linus running around the track in a dead sprint towards the end of practice. He was upset and was running it off, he'd seen him do the same thing quite often on their street. Charlie said goodbye probably fifteen minutes before practice would end. Schroeder left him with a hug and a feel better.
When practiced ended, and Alex was in the locker room, Schroeder went to wait by Alex's car as he had been instructed to do. The car was a beautiful, brand new, charcoal black Ford Focus. It was still hilarious to think that Alex drove a midsize sedan, even though it was a bad ass sedan.
"Hey," said an unfamiliar voice. Schroeder turned around to see the guy that Alex had pointed him out to. The number on his shirt was 57.
"Hello," Schroeder replied and waved for effect, unsure of the situation.
"You must be Schroeder, right?" Number 57 said as he leaned against Alex's car. He must know about him and Alex. Schroeder made a mental note to have the 'I'm totally still in the closet and need to stay there' conversation with Alex.
"Yeah, that's me," Schroeder was unsure of the situation but decided just to go with it.
"How's Alex been treating you?" With that question, Schroeder felt his feathers ruffle a little. They had been dating not even twelve hours. What kind of the question was that?
"Umm, not to be rude or anything, but who are you?" Schroeder snipped out, not okay with being asked personal questions by a complete stranger.
"Oh, excuse me," 57 said politely, "I'm Blake Belle, Alex's best friend," he revealed. His tone sounded like he was bragging.
"Okay, I didn't know. Alex's been treating me fine. Great actually," Schroeder declared, but then Blake's smile turned sad. What was this guy's problem?
"I adore Alex as a friend, but you look like a great kid, I've even seen you play in pep band. So I'm going to tell you straight," Blake looked dead serious, and it unsettled Schroeder. Blake continued after he took a breath, "You need to get the heck outta dodge. Alex is a great person but he's majorly bipolar or something, and he's going to end up hurting you bad physically and mentally."