Charlie waits for her in front of her last class, she walks out with a smile on her face, he catches her by surprise, grabbing her hand.

"Hey gorgeous," he looked in her eyes.

"I'm not."

"I could get lost in those eyes, I think you are."

She blushed hard with embarrassment.

"Look at the love birds, Baby girl, Chuck, you really outdid yourself! Better not hurt him," Peppermint held Marcie, leaning on her car.

"If I do, I'll knock on your door for the pummeling, Trish."

"Better be prepared for the same thing, Charlie," Violet walked past, to her car.

"Good going, man," Schroeder held out his fist.

"Thanks, you don't know what a relief it is… maybe you do," he fist bumped, feeling a hard grab.

"You're going to protect me, right," Lucy whispered, clenching him.

"I promised I would, Lu-lu."

"Lucy… I understand it's going to take some time, but I would like to try and be friends for once… and I did promise Linus- you too Charlie, I'll never hit you again. I swear it on my relationship, you're one of her best friends. Take your time, and take care of Charlie.

Frieda hugged them both; "I'm so happy for you two!"

"It's so surreal."

"Trust me, I know how you feel, trust it's real."

"If it wasn't for me, you two would be dancing around it all school year," Violet bragged.

"Thank you, Violet," Charlie smiled.

"What are you gonna do with my sister, Charlie," Linus walked up.

"Yeah… Lucy," Sally mocked.

"It doesn't matter," Charlie replied.

"What he said," Lucy sighed.

"They're supposed to be protective of you two, now c'mon… my sweet Babboo," Patty laughed.

"Hey! Ehhh… whatever," Sally shrugged.

"Aaauuugh," Linus screamed.

"Looking good, you too, better sooner than later," Franklin said.

"You got that right," Lucy beamed.

"So, where you serious about that band, Franklin?"

"Hmm… nah… that was just a distraction to keep you from seeing her, before we wanted you to," he admitted.

"You can sing, can't you Lu-lu?"

"Yeah, I can sing, why?"

"Give it some real thought, Frank."

"Might do that."

"You ready Lu-lu?"

"Definitely."


The day seems so much brighter to the both of them and no worries to think of. The Caprice rumbles down the street, Lucy holds his hand, lost in watching him intently driving, between stealing glances at her. Just complacent to drive around the city.

"Charlie, I'm so happy you want me, I thought long and hard about my love for you, and didn't think you would come around. From what I've done; I don't deserve you."

"You deserve somebody who knows how to love you, it just so happens to be me. Besides, look at how many people actually cared about you."

"I was so mean to you."

"Yeah… this more than makes up for it. I have forgotten all of that, I couldn't look in those eyes and stay mad at you, all I see is… you."

"I know how you felt, it was just a taste, but I don't want to feel like that, I don't want to hurt you again, or anybody. If Violet thinks she can hurt you… well I'll be damned!"

"It's actually cute seeing you get mad," he kissed her.

"I'm serious!"

"Is there anywhere you want to go?"

"It doesn't matter, can you tell I'm still nervous?"

"You? Nervous? Well… I've never seen this side of you before, I didn't think it existed. You always seem so sure and certain."

"You are my first, all that time chasing after him, I've never actually dated, don't want to fuck it up. Like I'm honestly feeling vulnerable and don't want to screw up."

"Hey, that's my part to play," he laughed, "you're supposed to be the cool, collected one with the dating itinerary list."

"Give my everything, don't chase away, don't be selfish."

"What, no get married, have two point five kids, and… what else was it?"

"No, I'm just thankful for now."

"What would you say if I wanted those things, that stuff you wanted from Schroeder, except the piano playing, if you don't mind guitar instead?"

"I'd say you were crazy."

"One day, right? Can you see us getting there some how? Funny to be saying that on a first date, bur we've known each other for years, could it be a stretch," he pulled in to a gas station.

"You think you'll tolerate me enough to marry me?"

"Have I not tolerated you all these years, as is?"

"True."

"So… if I tolerated the worst of you since we were like five; let's take this new paradigm to forever. I can't picture spending my life with nobody else. You want anything out of here?"

"Trish is right… you're a sly dog, Charlie Brown, those other girls were stupid. I guess a soda."

Charlie went inside, grabbed some nachos, two root beers, paid for gas, walking outside to two guys near his car.

"What are you doing in this heap, Lucy," one asked.

"Yeah… why don't you ditch this loser and hang with us," said the other.

"No, you two are creeps, especially you; Thibault," she snapped.

"Guess we need to remind her of her place, huh Joe? Looks like she filled out real good," he reached in the car.

"Get the fuck off of me," she screamed.

Charlie sat the stuff on the hood of the car; "what the fuck are you doing?"

"As I live and fucking breath… Charlie fucking Brown! This looks like something you'd drive," he laughed.

"Charlie? Please… I know you're not with him, stop trying to get this lame ass pathetic kids hopes up," Thibault tries grabbing her.

"Joe Agate… long time, no see," Charlie struts around his car, "not long enough."

"Piss off, we're doing men's work," Thibault laughed.

"Get away from my girl, and my car," Charlie snatched Joes collar.

"What's a wimp like you gonna do," Joe teased.

"That," Charlie motioned to Lucy.

Lucy grabbed Thibault's arm and started giving him rabbit punches to the face. Joe turned back to Charlie just as his fist connected with his nose, sending him stumbling back. He turned to grab Thibault, but he had already broke free from Lucy, lost in a daze, trying to gather himself.

"The fucking nerve," Lucy yelled.

Charlie kept an eye on them as he started to fill the tank, Joe is trying to hold his nose, and help his staggered friend.

"Brown, you're gonna pay for this," Joe yelled.

Charlie walked around the car, never feeling so much rage, Lucy stepped out the car, Joe took one look at them, another at Thibualt wandering off, deciding that he had the better idea. Charlie grabbed her around the waist.

"The nerve of those punks," she growled. "I didn't know you had that in you."

"Never had anything worth fighting for," he kissed her.


Charlie finds a good spot to watch the sunset with her on the edge of town.

"Kinda wish I had Trish's car, so we could lay in the back," he mused.

"Might be a bit awkward, but we could."

"And stare at the roof?"

"No," she smiled, "fold the endgate down. My grandparents had one of these and the backdoor is a two-way; it can open sideways, or fold down."

"Huh… did not know that."

"C'mere, I'll show you," she got out.

Charlie followed her to the trunk, she reached inside pulling a lever, then opened the endgate and it folded down instead of opening sideways.

"Join me," she climbed in, resting her arms on the door."

"Love to, Lu-lu," he followed.

"No funny stuff, Buster."

"You mean like this," he walked his fingers on her side, like a spider.

"That tickles," she giggled.

"Does it," he reached her other side.

Lucy squealed and laughed in a way Charlie had never heard before, this was a side of her, he was sure was always there, her legs bucked as she tried to roll away, giggling as she tried to pull her shirt down. When he stopped, she looked at him, her hair mussed, she wore the calmest, warmest smile, he had ever seen. She jumped at him, climbing on top of him.

"I said no funny stuff," she panted, trying to be serious.

Charlie's eyes locked with hers, he saw the truth in them; the joy and yearning. Everything went dark, her hair cascaded around his face and her lips rested on his. Lucy's skin was so soft, he knew she was tough, but he didn't want to squeeze her too hard, holding her hips. She moaned, interrupting the quiet smacks of their lips, when his hands traveled up her torso, stopping just short of her bra. Her hips reacted when his fingers traced her spine. He wasn't trying to press his luck, never touching a girl before, but her shape was so enticing, skin soft and smooth.