EDITED VERSION!

Lucy didn't know quite how to feel about life. Getting ready that morning seemed different, she wasn't dressing to impress Schroeder and she felt like crap. So how was she going to dress? Deciding that she didn't need to dress to impress anyone anymore, she settled. For the first time in a long time, Lucy put on a pair of faded blue jeans and a long-sleeved blue shirt. God, she didn't even know she owned that kind of clothing anymore. She liked the comfortable clothing, and it was a nice change of pace. When she looked in the mirror, though, she decided that she couldn't bring herself to leave the house without any makeup. When she finished, she headed downstairs and into the kitchen, where Linus was making his morning cup of coffee.

"Morning Lucy," Linus muttered as he continued to fiddle with his Keurig coffee maker. Lucy couldn't stand Linus' compulsive habits. Whenever he decided liked something, it became his new "security blanket." As of right now that was his coffee, his planner, and his running ability, but they were all better than that stupid blanket. She walked into the kitchen and headed toward the fridge. When Linus turned around his eyes widened, "Woah. You look... different." Lucy rolled her eyes as she pulled out the milk and slammed the door behind her.

"Bad or good different?" She asked as she reached into the cabinet that contained her favorite cereal. She continued to prep it as Linus kept looking her, his eyes wide.

"Neither, just different," Linus finally said and gave a halfhearted shrug. Lucy wasn't satisfied with that answer, but whatever. She walked past him to the table and sat down. She then shoved a spoonful of Snicker Snacks into her mouth. "Hey, Lucy?" Linus murmured from within the kitchen.

"What Linus?" Lucy muttered. Her mouth was full, but she didn't care. It was too early for manners.

"Are you going to be okay at school today? If not, I'll help you fabricate a story about you being sick," Linus said with a lopsided grin. Lucy swallowed and blinked her eyes slowly, considering her options. She could stay home without the lie anyway. Not like her parents cared. She shook her head in the negative. There was no need for weakness.

"I'll be fine," Lucy gave Linus a small smile, "Goodness, I can't go around acting like my heart just got broken can I?" Lucy knew better. The worst thing to do with emotions was not to deal with them. Even though she believed dealing with them and keeping them hidden were different categories altogether.

"Always the tough one," Linus sighed, "if you're hurting, it's okay to take some time to heal." He was rubbing at his left temple. Lucy wasn't sure if was from another headache or from annoyance.

"Oh, Linus. I'll be fine," Lucy sighed, "I'll heal. I-I know that Schroeder is going to be happy and that he cares about me... Do you think he cares about me?" Linus opened his mouth to answer, but Lucy raised her hand stopping him. She knew that look. He was going to open his mouth and say something that wasn't going to help at all. "Never mind. Everything. Will. Be. Fine." She smiled and then shoved more cereal into her mouth to avoid talking anymore. Linus put down his mug and walked over and wrapped her in a hug. Lucy stiffened physical content was not common among the Van Pelts.

"You always say that you don't give a rat's ass about anything, but you've always had a big heart," Linus let her go and playfully stole a bite of her cereal and chuckled. Lucy just stared at her little brother, he's grown so much over the last several years. He was going to be a wonderful man one day. Telling the truth it seemed that day was going to come sooner rather than later. He didn't even look like her little brother anymore, he was easily four inches taller than her now. Often times, she'd feel that he was more mature than her, though she'd never admit that out loud.

"Linus."

"Yesh?" Linus asked with a pretend lisp.

"Drink your stupid coffee."

"Yesh, Cap'n," he gave a ridiculous salute and went on about his morning routine. Lucy sighed, she was glad they had grown closer over the years.

As Lucy finished her cereal, she thought back to the first time Linus had stood up to her. It was the beginning of her eighth-grade year. Linus had been running for a while, and already hit his first major growth spurt. After school one day, Lucy decided she wanted to use the computer and noticed that Linus was the current occupant. She remembered deciding that she was going to use the good ol' scare tactic. It had never failed her before.

"Linus Van Pelt get off that computer right now!" She hollered and stomped her foot, Linus slowly looked up and swallowed.

"No," Linus said in a tiny voice. She couldn't believe her ears.

"No?" She drew out in disbelief, and she balled her fists up at her side.

"No!" Linus yelled. In anger, she remembered taking a step towards him. He couldn't defy her. It was impossible It took years for them to form their current understanding.

"If you don't let me have that computer I'll slug you!" Lucy threatened, then Linus stood up quickly, throwing the chair backward. There was a fire in his eyes that Lucy had never seen before.

"Jesus Christ Lucy!" Linus screamed, "Just let me use the computer!"Lucy's jaw dropped, Linus wasn't confrontational, but he was definitely standing his ground. This had never happened before, and Lucy wouldn't allow it. She raised her fist up to teach him a lesson, but then the fire in Linus' eyes exploded.

"Linus! Get off of..." Lucy's sentence was cut off by Linus kicking her right in her chest. She stumbled backward with the force, and a searing pain exploded at the point of contact. The intense pain caused her eyes to water. She placed her hand on her chest and rocked in pain.

"Oh my god," Linus muttered, Lucy looked up to see Linus in about as much shock as she was. The fire in his eyes completely extinguished. He then looked at the computer, back to her and then bolted in the opposite direction. Lucy was left alone clutching her chest and processing what the hell had just happened.

"Lucy, it doesn't take ten minutes to eat one bite of cereal. Hurry up we need to catch the bus," Linus said jarring her out of memory lane. She blushed a little from embarrassment. She shoveled the last couple bites of cereal then stood up.

"Okay," Lucy answered. She went and got Rerun and the Van Pelt kids gathered their stuff and headed outside.

Waiting at the corner, Lucy was antsy. How was she going to react to Schroeder's new state of being in action? She had no idea. She would have to keep festering. Then in the middle of her mental tumble, Charlie and Sally Brown arrived at the bus stop. Lucy was overwhelmed with the urge to hug him. When she did, he flinched. Jeesh did he hit him that much? Yes, the answer was yes.

"Charlie Brown!" She exclaimed happily, "how are you this lovely morning?" Charlie Brown seemed stunned for a moment. He even avoided eye contact with her to a moment.

"I'm pretty good, actually," Charlie replied quietly, after a couple of moments he removed himself from her arms. "How are you feeling? You're not sick are you?" Lucy still overwhelmed by happiness released a giddy laugh. Charlie was hilarious.

"Nope, I'm just SO happy. I'm going to have the greatestday today!" She announced, and Charlie Brown smiled and casually walked over to Linus. Well then. She felt a tug on her sleeve a few moments later. She turned around to see the littlest Van Pelt.

"Hey, Lucy. I'm worried about you," Rerun said. Huh? Why would he be worried?

"Why's that?" Lucy said affectionately, bending down to be closer to his eye level.

"You came home crying yesterday, and now you're dressed weird this morning, it can be a little concerning to see such drastic changes in such a short amount of time," Rerun stated awkwardly. Intelligence definitely ran in the Van Pelt blood. Though she figured Rerun was the most observant of the three.

"You know what crossroads are? Like the poem about the yellow wood, right?" Rerun nodded, "I've reached a crossroads in my life, and it's sending me on quite the adventure right now. I'll be alright in a little bit, it'll just take some time. So don't worry, okay?" Rerun looked like was going to say something, but then the bus arrived. Lucy was happy to avoid the rest of that.

The group of kids walked on to the bus, and Lucy chose to sit towards the back. She pulled out her phone and decided to go through her photos. There were tons of them, and she came across one of her favorites. It was taken at Schroeder's house about a year ago. Linus, Schroeder, and Charlie were all crammed onto the piano bench. Schroeder was in the middle being squished by Linus on the right and Charlie Brown on the left. They were all making hilarious faces, Linus and Charlie's were looks of triumph and Schroeder had a small smile that screamed: "Help me."

Lucy smiled to herself and looked up to see all three of her closest guy friends, all having their own lives. Linus and Charlie Brown were locked in conversation despite the earphones they were sharing. When she looked at Schroeder, she saw Alex get on the bus, and her heart started screaming at her. Alex happily plopped down jostling the slightly smaller blonde, who in turn blushed. Jealously burned in her soul.

Lucy had a feeling that Schroeder wasn't bisexual, but even if he was no one could compete with Alex Montgomery. He was the definition of gorgeous. He had light brown hair, amber eyes, and a dusting of freckles. He also had an athletic build at 6' 2" that included a six pack and defined arms and legs. She knew he was gay because her friends often complained about it. His love life was a popular gossip topic. Boy, were they going to have a field day, Schroeder's adorableness was on par with Alex's gorgeousness. Not to mention Schroeder wasn't public yet. Schroeder was going to drug up into the gossip tree.

She watched them curiously until she witnessed Alex wrapping his arm around Schroeder and at that moment she couldn't watch anymore. She went back to her phone and seen then picture that she had left on the screen, and her eyes welled up with tears. Why did things have to change so much?