CHAPTER 3: ES IST VORBEI
The gang rested for a few day after returning to Sparkyville to shake off the jet lag they were experiencing. Once they were back on the schedule of their town, Charlie Brown and Frieda headed to Joe's Café to meet up with the gang. When they arrived, all were there and Linus was telling them about the poachers and the rescue they did.
"So Charlie Brown and I brushed the corrosive liquid on the fence and after waiting for the go-ahead, we rescued all the kangaroos," Linus was telling everyone.
"Hey, Charlie Brown and Frieda," said Violet. "Linus was telling us about how you rescued the kangaroos in Australia."
"Yeah, that was intense," said Charlie Brown. "Did he tell you about how Jadan's brother got kidnapped by the same poachers because of a double-cross by Claire Montana's boyfriend."
"Was about to tell that one now, Charlie Brown," said Linus.
"Well after he got kidnapped," Frieda said, picking up the story, "would you believe, Snoopy, Woodstock, and Gracie, along with Jadan's pet kangaroo Hops, rescued him?"
"No way!" said Dominick.
"Doesn't surprise me," said Shermy. "Snoopy is an extraordinary dog."
"You're preaching to the choir, Shermy," said Charlie Brown. At that moment, Lucy and Schroeder walked in.
"Hey, gang!" greeted Lucy.
"Whassup, Mamba!" said Cobra.
"Hey, welcome back, Charlie Brown," said Schroeder to Charlie Brown.
"Thanks, Schroeder," said Charlie Brown.
"How was Oklahoma?" asked Frieda.
"It was pretty fun," said Lucy. "Wait until you meet Schroeder's cousin Stretch. She's probably the tallest teen girl I've ever seen! But she is very nice and sweet. Plus she's a good singer, though not on your level, Frieda, but still pretty good."
"Linus was just telling us about Australia," said Patty (Swanson).
"Yeah, I've already heard," sighed Lucy. "We all know how passionate about things Linus can get. Lest we forget how he used to always wait for the Great You-Know-Who?"
"Har-de-har-har, sis!" retorted Linus.
"Linus also told me you won Frieda a couple of stuffed animals, Charlie Brown," said Lucy. "Knowing how you pitch, how'd you manage that?"
"Well, with Franco's help, I've been improving my technique," Charlie Brown replied.
"Speaking of, we heard about what happened with him, Peppermint Patty, and that Zac guy in Australia," said Schroeder. "Any word on if Patty and Franco resolved that?"
"We haven't heard anything," said Eudora. "Patty did promise to talk to him once we got back."
"We just decided to let them sort it out and give them some space," added Charlie Brown.
At that time, Peppermint Patty was walking slowly up to Franco's house. She hadn't talked to him since the webchat back in Australia. She wondered if he was still upset with her, or if all was forgiven. She was truly sorry for her own actions and hoped for the best, but at the same time, didn't rule out the worst, either. She rang his doorbell. After a while, the door opened and Franco was standing there.
"Patricia!" he said. "You're back."
"Got back a few day ago," she said. "Had serious jet lag so I rested up for a while. Are you busy?"
"Nein. You want to go out back?"
"Sure." And she followed Franco to the backyard. They sat on the patio and didn't say anything for a while. Finally Patty spoke.
"Franco, I am so sorry for what I did to you," she began. "What I did was wrong. Both how I treated you after the fight with Zac and afterwards when we kissed each other. It wasn't fair to you or Zac. Even though I still think you could've handled that situation with Zac better than you did, I should have seen where you were coming from, too. Can you ever forgive me?"
Franco sat for a moment. Then he said, "Patricia, all I wanted was for you to understand that Zac was trying to flirt with you."
"I know that now, Franco."
"But not only did you side with him, you started dating him after he kissed you! That's what hurt me more than the actual kiss. If you had told him that you needed to work things out with me, I would have been more forgiving, even if I was still upset. I felt like you made your choice. So I made a choice of my own. Es ist vorbei, Patricia."
"What does that mean?"
"It's over."
Patty stood for a moment, letting what Franco just said sink in. He pretty much told her that they were no more. He could have dealt with her still being upset with him about the fight and not talking to him until she was ready, and he could have dealt with her and Zac getting caught in the moment and kissing before he left, but what sealed it for him was afterwards. She made no attempt to break it off with Zac right then and there, but instead, continued to see him with Franco there with no regards to his feelings. What made it hurt even more for Patty was that she knew that he was right. While he may have messed up when he punched Zac, what she did afterwards was far worse than what he did.
There was nothing left to say after that. Patty slowly left the backyard and headed for home. She kept walking until she ran into Marcie, who was smiling.
"There you are, sir," she said, happily. "Your father told me you went to Franco's. I just got four tickets to go see the new Ray Raymondson movie. You and Franco want to double date with me and Franklin?" Patty didn't even say anything. She just collapsed into Marcie arms and started bawling uncontrollably. That was when Marcie realized that she and Franco had just broke up. She hugged her friend and comforted her as she cried.
"It'll be okay, sir," she said, softly. "Everything will be okay."
NEXT CHAPTER: CATCHING UP
