Charlie Brown sat with Linus on a bench on the football field, waiting for Lucy but not really expecting her at this point.

"I don't think she remembered," Charlie said finally, frowning.

"Or maybe she's stepping up her game this year," said Linus with a rueful chuckle. "Instead of pulling the football away so you can't kick it, she's just gonna leave you here waiting all afternoon."

Charlie laughed at this. "Maybe."

"Honestly, Charlie Brown, I don't know why you carry on with this anyway. One of these days my sister will pull the football away and you'll fly through the air and break your back, and that'll be the end of it all."

"Oh, I know it, Linus. I guess I just have too much faith in people. But I'll be careful this time. I won't kick too hard so I don't hurt myself, and if she pulls the ball away again this time, I won't ever try to kick it again."

Linus nodded. "All right. But seriously, be careful!"

"I will. Look, there's Lucy," he said, pointing toward the blue-clad figure headed their way.

Lucy waved her football in the air and smiled. "I'm here, Charlie Brown! Sorry I'm late. I completely forgot about this, and I went over to Schroeder's. Hi, Linus."

Linus acknowledged his sister with a nod, and Charlie said to her, "All right then, let's get this over with."

Lucy skipped over to the center of the field holding the football. Charlie followed her, half-dreading what might happen, but determined nonetheless. This was the year. He'd either kick that football or finally quit playing Lucy's cruel game.

Lucy squatted down on the field, her left hand gently holding the ball in place. "Ready?"

Charlie nodded and narrowed his eyes, focusing on the target. He drew a sharp breath… and ran. His legs picked up speed quickly, before he could even remember that he'd decided not to kick with too much force today.

Well, it's too late to slow down now! he thought, quickly approaching Lucy and the ball. Charlie squeezed his eyes shut as his leg swung forward.

He expected to hear the usual sound of air whooshing past his ears, to feel the usual sensation of gravity disappearing. But all he heard was a dull thud, and all he felt was a blow to the front of his right foot.

Charlie opened his eyes and gasped as he saw the football flying through the air. He was in a daze of sorts, and could do nothing but stare as it rose and fell at the other end of the field.

Lucy's voice, however, drew his attention away. He looked down at her as she crossed her arms and shook her head. "You blockhead!" she said to him, hiding a smile. "You finally kick the football after eight years of trying, and your eyes are closed! What kind of memory making is that?"

"I— I—" he stammered, too stunned to form coherent words. "I opened them in time," he finally said.

"Oh. Okay, then." Lucy grinned and reached her hand out. Charlie took it and helped her stand up. "Congratulations, Charlie Brown. You can officially check 'kicking the football' off your bucket list."

"Uh— thank you." He finally managed to smile back. "I honestly didn't think it would happen."

"You should have more faith," she answered, as nonchalant as if she'd never pulled a football away in her life. Then she looked over Charlie's shoulder at her brother. "Linus, would you be a good brother and go grab the ball, please?"

Linus, also in shock, simply nodded and headed to the end of the field. Lucy and Charlie watched as he picked up the ball and walked over to them.

"Well, Charlie Brown," Lucy said to him, "I'd love to stay and chat, but I promised my mom I'd be home by 5:00. Come on, Linus."

Linus followed his sister off the field, only stopping for a moment to call to his best friend over his shoulder: "Good for you, Charlie Brown!"

Charlie smiled and thanked Linus, and in a moment he and Lucy were out of sight, and Charlie was standing there all on his own, his mind racing. Had Lucy really just let him kick the football? Or was it a dream?

No, it seemed it wasn't. It had happened. But… why?

Charlie had to know. He ran after Lucy and Linus. "Lucy!" he called, hoping she'd hear him. "Lucy, wait!"

As he exited the field, he saw the Van Pelt siblings standing there waiting for him.

"Yes, Charlie Brown?" asked the girl.

"Why— why did you do that?"

"Do what?" she asked, still playing the innocent.

"You let me kick the football!"

"Oh. Well, I already told you on Monday."

"You did?"

"Yes. You saved Schroeder's life, so I owe you a favor or two."

"But I thought the favor was that free advice about — ahem — Heather. And Vi and Patty."

"Oh, incidentally," Lucy said, starting to change the subject, "how are those popularity lessons going?"

"Fine, I guess. But the foot—"

"I'm glad to hear that, Charlie Brown. I hope that turns out well for you."

"Thanks, but—"

"I'm sorry, Charlie Brown, but we really do have to go now. My grandma's coming over for dinner, and I'm sure you know how she gets if we receive her looking untidy! Isn't that right, Linus?"

"That's right," her little brother answered.

"So goodbye, Charlie Brown, I'll see you tomorrow, probably!" And with those final words, Lucy walked off, and Charlie was left just as confused as before, if not more.

"You know how my sister is, Charlie Brown," Linus said to him as the two of them began walking home together behind Lucy. "She hates to talk about her feelings."

"Well, yeah, but…"

"She says she apologized on Monday for teasing you about the roller coaster."

"She did."

"And she told you to take Vi and Patty's offer to help you build on the attention you suddenly got?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well, there you have it. She's very grateful for what you did for Schroeder, but she's not gonna stick around and get all sentimental."

"So this is her thanks?"

"Part of it."

"Huh. And did you know she was planning on doing that?"

"I had no idea, but I guess it makes sense, now that I think about it."

"Oh. Well, it…" Charlie pondered his choice of words for a moment. "It was a pleasant surprise."

"It was a surprise, for sure," chuckled Linus. "But you should be very proud, Charlie Brown. You've made my sister take a kinder view of you, and that's not something that happens every day."

"I guess it isn't." He was quiet for a few seconds before continuing, "Well, I have to go home, then, and write this all down, I guess. Maybe I'll tell my pen pal about it."

"I'm sure she'll be happy for you," Linus said to Charlie. "Now I have to go catch up to Lucy. I'm afraid she wasn't kidding about having to look neat for Grandma."

He began to jog to catch up with Lucy, but was stopped by the sound of Charlie's voice: "You are a good friend, you know?"

Linus smiled back at his buddy. "Thanks. And you're a hero!"

Charlie beamed. How nice it was to hear that word again. He walked back to his house slowly, taking time to think things over as he basked in the warmth of the setting September sun.

All things considered, it looked like life after Heather wasn't going to be so bad.

A/N: If, after reading this chapter, it seems like there's missing information, please check out the flashback scene in Chapter 3 of Oh, Good Grief: A Charlie Brown Senior Year. This chapter is complementary to that one.

And otherwise, that's a wrap! Thanks for reading, reviews are always appreciated!