Charlie sits in his car waiting for Linus, Lucy, and Sally to come out. He saw Schroeder walking to the lot.
"Hey, did you get a car, Schroeder?"
"Yeah! You won't even believe how I got it!"
"You sold your piano," Charlie smirked.
"You know damn well I would never."
Charlie laughed at him.
"No man, Frieda's dad bought it as a thank you for dating her."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. She apparently really had a thing for me and it was devastating because she had to hide it from Lucy. Her dad said she used to cry herself to sleep because she couldn't say anything. Violet and Patty broke it to Lucy and Lucy begged me not to hurt Frieda because she actually deserved a chance, during your driving test."
"That makes sense! I think Lucy is trying to fix things; begging you to stay with Frieda, asking Sally to stop pursuing Linus. I think she should be appreciated for what she tried to do."
"But the Frieda thing was her fault."
"True… but if she really wants you and her together, you two should thank her for her blessing. It might help her… besides; I think she'll be a bit more happy and I don't think she has an ego to stroke any more."
"You really care about her don't you, Charlie?"
"Maybe I see that girl from a long time ago," Charlie smiled.
"I might give that a consideration, if she stops running from me long enough, take care."
"Is he crazy," Sally cried out.
"I asked the same thing last night. Though I think the Lucy we know is gone, and she might not come back."
"I just… I just can't picture him falling in love with his number one bully, she hates him so much, I'm surprises she doesn't hate me by relation."
"I think she might be falling for him also and is struggling with the idea, you didn't notice what was going on this morning in the car. But look; We are all trying to meet up without him, Lucy, and especially Violet finding out. I know how you are Sally, zip your lips on this one. This might be the key to helping Lucy, she might need Charlie."
"I promise I won't say anything. I guess I do owe her for saving me from a beat down by you. Let me know when and where."
They got quiet as they entered the parking lot, approaching his car.
"Hey… Lucy coming?"
"Nah, she went with the girls to the mall," Linus answered.
"That's good, I hope that helps her out some," Charlie smiled.
"He really is love struck, I recognize that goofy ass smile," Sally thought.
"Shotgun," Linus yelled, laughing hysterically as he ran to the car.
"Mother fucker," Sally snapped.
Lucy and the girls are at the mall, they are trying to keep her entertained, but her thoughts keep going to what Linus told her at lunch, and the cyclone of feelings she has for Charlie Brown.
"Lucy! I think this would look good on you," Violet held up an outfit, "I think it'll set your eyes off."
"What? Oh yeah, that does look nice," she snapped from her trance.
"If you wear that at school, the boys will really be checking you out. I bet there's at least one you like," Patty nudged her.
"Would Charlie like me in that outfit," she thought to herself.
"Get it for her, Vee," Patty answered for her.
Lucy thinks about finding something Charlie would like, but she doesn't know much about him. Then again why should she buy him anything? Then again, all his attempts at concern shouldn't go unrewarded. He might think I'm falling for him. Could I be?
"You think Schroeder would like me in this, Lucy?"
"Schroeder's here?!"
"No! No, no, no, would he like this on me," she held up the outfit.
"Oh yeah, he'd love that on you, Frieda," Lucy admitted.
"Thank you."
"Anytime, Frieda."
"We should take a break, there's more stores to go," Violet suggestef.
"For you, maybe… I need gas for the rest of the week," Patty quipped.
"Do you at least got enough to eat," Violet teased.
"I'll buy your food Lucy," Frieda offered.
"Thanks," Lucy smiled.
Minutes later they're all sitting at a table chatting away, Lucy still thinking about what Linus said.
"Do I, can I love Charlie Brown? All that time trying to love Schroeder I have the love to share. I wasted so much time on a boy that didn't care. But I hate him, right? Do I really need to hate him," she thought.
"Ugh! You too Patty?!"
"What? I'm sorry, it was impressive that station wagon moved that fast, with all those people in it. And your face," she laughed, "Linus sent me the video Trish took."
"I thought I was going to fly out the trunk," Frieda laughed.
"That bastard thinks he's hot shit with that car, it's still old junk. My dad could buy a car faster than that," Violet complained.
"It's a racecar his grandfather built," Frieda explained.
"Only race that thing needs to be in, is a demo derby," Violet laughed.
"Can you… can you not talk about him like that," Lucy asked.
Everybody calmed down.
"Charlie? Are you serious," she guffawed, looking at the girls.
They didn't say anything, just look at each other.
"Yeah, just please don't talk about him like that."
"Sure, I'll umm… won't bring him up again," she agreed, confused.
"How is it going with you and Schroeder, Frieda?"
"Fine Lucy, and I want to thank you for what you said yesterday, he appreciates your blessing too."
"That's good. My brother treating you right, Patty?"
"We are golden, we are going on a date tonight."
"Lucy… you've been distant the whole time, talk to us," Violet asked.
"I'm sorry. I'm just realizing things… stuff that's my fault, I haven't been a good person. How can anyone stand me?"
"Linus was right, she's worse than Charlie," Violet thought. "Lucy, no… you gotta think positive. It pains me to say it, but would Charlie feel this way? No matter how many times he fails, or what we do or say, he just picks himself back up. Maybe not right away, eventually he does."
"Charlie…?"
Patty and Frieda look at each other.
"That was all our fault, this is mine. We… we made him like that."
"You're right Lucy, we just want you happy."
