Author's note: Hello everyone. So, to kick off my something of a debut into this sadly obscure fandom, I bring you this. While preparing to write a longer, more serious story, I've been boning up on the animated material associated with Peanuts, including the Peanuts Movie. In fact, between the ending of that movie, as well as the TV version of "It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown", I've come up with this idea first. Enjoy this sort of Lucy-bashing ficlet! Side note: I don't own this franchise.
Lucy Van Pelt was simultaneously walking and laughing as she was making her way to the music room, about to go "hang out" with Schroeder like usual (which of course meant leaning on his piano and rambling on about the idea of him and Lucy getting married).
Why was she laughing? Well, she had just gotten through with picking on him and berating Charlie Brown for not scoring those three points that would've won their school the football game. Of course technically, she knew that the real reason he failed to score was because she had pulled the ball away from him like usual, thereby not really allowing him the chance to kick the field goal.
That didn't matter though, even when it should've been plainly obvious as to what really happened, the majority of students believed that Charlie Brown was the reason their school lost the same. Even Charlie Brown blamed himself for the loss and got depressed like usual.
"That Charlie Brown, what a blockhead," Lucy said out loud while continuing to laugh. "I've never seen the negative version of a self-fulfilling prophecy play out so well before I've come to know him."
"Maybe that's because he has toxic people in his life that are consistently beating up on him when he's already down!"
The voice that spoke this, to Lucy's surprise, made her freeze on the spot. The voice sounded strangely familiar to the one she heard from a certain girl who was boarding the bus to go to summer camp. A certain girl the blockhead continuously fawned over. Only thing that stood out differently was that this sweet-sounding voice was currently laced with disgust and fierce anger.
Sure enough, it was her. Heather Wold, she was, right? That's what Linus told her. She had just come out of the music room.
"I've seen the way you have treated Charlie Brown," she said as she marched up to Lucy. "Ever since that day he asked me why I wanted to be his penpal, I've become concerned for him. And I now know of a major factor in why he's the way he is. You!"
A couple of passersby students stopped walking and began watching the scene unfolding before them. Even Schroeder, who had been in the music room playing a Beethoven tune on his piano, stopped to listen in. If only because it seemed that what was going on involved Lucy.
Schroeder heard Heather going off on Lucy about how Lucy had sometimes treated Charlie Brown when he had failed at something, making sure to note what she had just done to him a little while ago. She made it abundantly clear that no one with his qualities, the qualities she personally admires, ever deserved to be treated like this.
Schroeder grew visibly upset as she heard Heather listing off instances she knew of where Lucy had talked down on Charlie Brown when he was already upset. He had had his suspicions, but he had never actually known that Lucy was like this to him so often. He also felt a bit guilty; he had stood up for Charlie Brown before (remember that Valentine's Day) and would've absolutely done it here too had he known what was really going on. Right now, he admired that Heather, aka, That Little Red-Haired Girl, was actually such a caring and compassionate person. Charlie Brown absolutely deserved someone like her in his life and not a toxic frenemy like Lucy.
"I'm aware that you still have that little 'psychologist' booth of yours," Heather said, beginning to wrap up her takedown of Lucy. "I personally suggest that before you decide to give anyone else any more of your 'advice', that you first see an actual professional and have them figure out what's wrong with your own head!"
Heather's slight was met with a chorus of "oohs" from those in the hall. Even Schroeder flinched with his mouth in a little "o" shape. That had to cut deep. Who knew that the sweet Little Red-Haired Girl could be such a savage.
Meanwhile, the look on Lucy's face was beyond priceless. Heather then pointed up her nose and began to walk away, all while the students in the hall were applauding her.
Lucy remained rooted on the spot for about two full minutes, well beyond how long it took for the hall to clear out. Once she could find the will to move again, she went and entered the music room.
She took a few steps in and, as she expected, she saw Schroeder sitting at the piano. But she froze again when she saw that he was glaring at him. And this wasn't a "get off of my piano" annoyed kind of look. This was a death glare. It was a glare that said to her: "stay the heck away from me, you jerk". And she knew why he was giving her this glare too. He had heard everything, and now he knew of how she had a tendency to treat Charlie Brown.
Taking the hint, she turned and awkwardly made her way out of the music room. She felt it'd probably be for the best today if she simply went home and stayed out of the public eye for a while.