Charlie pulls up to the front of the house, blasting music, Lucy looks up at the long black car. After all the windows are rolled up, they get out.

"How did Charlie get a car that quick," she thought.

"Who is that on our steps," Sally wondered.

"That's Lucy," Linus replied.

"Good fucking grief, Lucy… you have your own porch, come to talk down about my car?"

"Nope. I just need to talk to Sally, no put-downs for you tonight."

"Up to you, Sis, I'm going in."

"We had a good day today, we beat Violet in a drag race, twice… I don't want no buzzkill."

"Please, it's nothing like that," she moves out of Charlie's way.

"Okay," she sighs, "Let's talk."


"How is Lucy doing, Linus."

"She's not bothering me, so I don't care, why are you asking?"

"I'm not even sure, honestly. She was sitting by herself at lunch today, she barelly made fun of me, and wouldn't look at me. Man… I think she's depressed over Scheoeder, I know depression."

"Dealing with you, we all know depression when we see it. Her friends came over Friday to talk to her, I think she's more hurt about unknowingly hurting Frieda and her real and honest desire for him, as far as he goes; I think she's more hurt that he hurt her."

"I see."

"Why are you worried, she hates you, what is this newfound interest in her, she's not your friend anymore- if you coulda called her that."

"I think… I think," he swallowed hard, "I think I love your sister."

"What?! Are you crazy, Charlie Brown?!"


"What the hell do you want, Lucy," Sally demanded from the backyard.

"You know everything about what happened between me and Schroeder, right? And how he's now with Frieda?"

"Yeah. What about it," she snapped.

"I know you like my brother, and throw yourself at him, like I did Schroeder, but could you please leave him alone?"

"What? Why do you care all of a sudden, you going to beat me up if I don't," she glared.

"I know my brother; he's not as patient as Charlie and Schroeder. I don't want the same thing to happen. I know he seems as nice as them, his temper is shorter than Schroeder's. Please," she sobbed a little, "I don't want you hurt like me, I don't want Patty hurt either. Please don't create the same thing me and Frieda had to go through."

"This is some bullshit game, right?"

"No! Think about what you're doing, my desire for Schroeder was utterly selfish, is it worth it pursuing somebody who has never shown a bit of interest? What if Patty has been generally interested in Linus, and you were keeping them apart? Linus likes her, let him be happy," she starts crying, "don't take it from him. We didn't even know Frieda liked Schroeder, I'm b-begging yu-you. Would you rather ha-have him as a friend, or him hate you, because I misssss Schroeder, I never even gave him a chance to even be a… a friend.'

"You're serious aren't you?"

Lucy just cries.

"It's different between me and Linus."

"You going to split him and Pa-Patty up, you think they would be okay? We know you love Linus… d-don't you th-think she's afraid you'll try and hurt her like… like I hurt Frieda? An… And what if you push… push him to hit you? He's fought me before… please Sssally… let him go," she collapsed on the ground.

"Was that Linus yelling? If it will make you feel better, I will leave Linus alone and I will think about what you said."

"Linus doesn't… care about me. Charlie… Charlie cares about you… he would be… devastated. You think he needs that," she gasped.

"I promise Lucy, I will think about all of this. I'll walk you home, c'mon Lucy."

Sally helped her up, holding her hand, Lucy tries to fight her body shivers to walk.

"Dude… that's Lucy you're talking about."

"Hey! Is Lucy okay?! Sally!"

"No she's not," Sally yelled back.

"I don't know how to tell her, she won't believe it," Charlie explained.

"Duh… she fucking hates you. She's not going to go for it no matter how depressed she is, even a sleeping cobra is dangerous."

"That's why she's been on my mind this whole time, it wasn't what she was saying that was a distraction, it wasn't what she said that was hurtful, it was that she said it. Linus, I like looking at her, I like her voice. It's fucking crazy. I don't care that she hates me, I want her happy, if putting me down makes her happy, so be it. Can you help… please?"

"Huh?! Help you?"

"Please, I want her happy again. I know she hasn't stopped crying, I know she's been ignoring her friends. Figure something out, okay?"

"Fuck, Charlie… I'll try… fuck. Gimme a few days."

"Thanks man. Consider it payment for the chauffer job," he bumps fist.

"Oh… ha ha," Linus walks off.


Linus walks in the house as Sally comes from Lucy's room.

"I thought you didn't like my sister, what did she want?"

"I don't. As for what we talked about; well sit," Sally sat on the couch.

"Well…," Linus sat in the chair away from her.

"She asked me to let you go. I'm not stupid, I told her I'd think about it, but I really didn't need to give it a thought. Lucy is afraid that the same thing that happened to her, will happen to us. She doesn't want Patty to hurt like Frieda, me to be hurt like she was, because I push you too far."

"So your decision?

"I'd rather you be a friend, than enemy, Linus. She's right, I'm done. It's not worth it."

"Umm… thank you. I'm surprised she is being a sensible voice of reason. I should check in with her," he stood.

"I should get home… there's school tomorrow," she walked towards the door.

Linus grabbed her in a hug.

"Linus?"

"Thank you Sally. For this and listening to her. Hopefully you brought her some sort of solace," he let go.

"You're welcome… Linus."

He walks to his sisters room to check in on her.

"Linus… I'm tired of crying so much."

"I know. Sorry I haven't been there."

"I don't deserve your love or anybody's."

"Trust me Lucy, there is somebody out there who loves you, you just need to give them a chance and let them."

"How could somebody love me, Linus, who would after they saw how crazy I was with Schroeder?"

"You just helped somebody tonight… maybe three people. Sally told me what you said; she's giving me up."

"Really," she rolled over.

"Yep."

"Thank you, Sally."

"Lucy… I honestly don't like seeing you like this. Your crabby bitchiness is annoying as fuck, but this…," with a loss for words, he just holds her, "I don't care for the old you, but I want you to be okay."

"I do miss my friends… and despite what you and Schroeder said about him not hitting me again; I'm scared he'll do it again."

"Have you eaten?"

"Not since lunch."

"I'm going to make you something. I want you to eat."

"Why do you care?"

"You've never been a good sister, but I'm not going to be a shitty brother and let you suffer alone, even if I end up regretting it," he got up.

Linus makes her something quick to eat, sitting next to her until she's finished, taking her dishes to the sink. He returns and lays in bed with her.

"Linus… is this what Charlie went through, I've never felt like this."

"Yeah, it is."

"Do you think I could stop?"

"We all wish you would, it's so easier being his friend when his esteem is high."

"One day, maybe."

"Hopefully soon."

"Why?"

"Just trust me, when I figure out how to tell you, understand it's in your very best interest to give it strong consideration."

"Okay," she dozed off.

"He loves you for some crazy ass reason, Lucy, you should try, there's nothing to lose from it, at all."

Linus falls asleep himself.

Lucy wakes up laying on top of him, as Rerun tries to wake Linus up.

"Lucy… I hope you feel better today, you're too sad."

"Rerun, I don't want to be sad either."