Lucy and Violet approached the two couples as they were getting up from their table.
"Hey, Lucy's brothers, Sally… Marcie."
"We're not telling you two Patty's business," Linus spoke.
"It's not about her. I'm… I'm sssorry I've made fun of you all. It won't happen again."
"We'll see," Linus responded.
"You made Marcie cry before, so I'll believe it when I see it," Rerun added.
"Happy now," Violet looked at Lucy.
"Of course… now let's go before we over stay our welcome," Lucy grabbed her arm and lead her away.
"That… was weird."
"I told you she's not right."
"What was that with Lucy and Violet… what are they up to," Trish asked.
"Beats me, but it's probably not good," Franklin replied.
"Maybe it's repentance," Roy wondered.
"Naaahhh," they all said.
"The recital is tomorrow, I can't wait- but wait; how come Charlie didn't sign-up," Frieda asked.
"He was going to, but he didn't have the money for a particular guitar he wanted, what was it… a baroque guitar, I think it was."
"Never heard of it, but it sounds cool."
"They are."
"I'm excited, I can't wait to reveal the surprise! And see everybody's faces, it's going to be hilarious."
"You should talk to your sister, Linus," Charlie told him after class.
"Because of last night?"
"Yeah, she deserves a chance."
"You got worse than I did growing up, and I refuse to keep putting up with her, how do you keep trying, you should be the one who hates her most."
"We were friends before you were born. I don't know her reasons behind who she is, but she doesn't want to be that person. She gets her karma time to time, but do you really think she should suffer like this? Be alone? Nobody deserves that… what do you think could happen, if you let her keep going like this?"
"What is with you, man? If you're in love with Lucy, just say so… I thought you got all that self-destructive mentality out of your system? Sure, most of the time, she does suffer consequences, but she never learns, never changes… let her suffer."
"And you're supposed to be the smart one," he walked away.
"Yeah‽ And you're supposed to be the sensible and rational one!"
"I am!"
Lucy watched Patty from afar, a pang in her heart, and she looked generally happy, and Lucy didn't want to ruin that, this carried on all day.
"So have you seen the new fall fashions, oh I can't wait!"
"Yeah, sure, some of it looks nice, I saw this long jean jacket, trench coat thing."
"Really Lucy… c'mon."
"You know I'm not in to that preppy, or whatever stuff, like you are, me or Patty."
"Yeah," Violet said, as they walked past her.
"She never made fun of my outfits."
Patty glanced at them when she walked past, hearing her name.
"Charlie, hi," Patty hugged him.
"Hey," he pulled his headphones off.
"Walk me to next class? I heard you and Linus got in to it earlier."
"It's no big deal, don't worry about it."
"You can tell me."
"It's really nothing."
"You two are best friends, now tell me."
"Fine… it was about Lucy."
Patty almost stopped walking, right there.
"You asked," he narrowed his eyes.
"I wouldn't care, but after this morning, I'm curious."
"She had a breakdown last night during your live stream, and she misses you- I don't know all the details about it, I just assume it's bad, since when I found her, she was crying."
"Oh… wow."
"Yeah. If you're curious, you'd need to talk to Sally or Linus."
"Pat… how ya doin girl," Frieda caught up with her in the lunch line.
"Not bad Ree-Ree."
"Haven't heard that nickname in a long time. I don't like the circumstances, but I'm happy we can be friends again."
"You were a real friend, it's nice to have that again."
"I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't care."
"I heard Lucy seemed to be upset."
"Yeah, and why is she upset; because it's partially her fault that the situation is what it is, she feels more sorry for herself, than anything else. It's guilt, she's not sorry for you, she's sorry for herself."
"You think so?"
"I know so."
Lucy paid for her meal, turned around with a face full of anger and sadness, catching them by surprise, "you're wrong, Frieda, I hate everything about this. I hate losing Pat, and I hate that I lost you. Sure I'm guilty, but why wouldn't I be when I was the one who pushed you both away? And I can't fix it, but I know neither of you give fuck all about me anymore, I'll spare you the details, and not waste my breath, because you're not going to care," she spoke quickly and strutted away.
"I didn't even know she was right in front of us," Frieda overcame the shock.
"She heard everything."
"What's wrong with you, Lu?"
"Patty and Frieda were behind me in the line and were talking about me."
"So?"
"So it hurt."
"Look who she's hanging out with… of course they're talking shit… fuck'em."
"They don't do that… well most of them don't," Shermy said.
"What would you know, and where have you been!"
"Well… they are my friends. I've been around, can't be up your butt twenty-four seven, love you, though."
"You better, babe. Cheer up, Lu, like I said; Patty doesn't want anything to do with us, anymore, so I'm not going to waste my time thinking about her, and you shouldn't either."
"Lucy, it might not even be that grave… things just take time, and she'll talk to you eventually, she has to, I mean… the history yall got."
"Shut up Shermy, don't try and get her hopes up, it's over with Patty, but hey… you got me and Shermy."
He just glared and rolled his eyes.
"Is there a problem, babe?"
"No… of course I'll always be your friend, Lucy, you're not bad. You're a good person if you try."
"Lucy's the best, it's not her fault Patty screwed up."
"Yeah, we just… treated her like shit."
"We were joking to cheer her up.
Lucy exchanged glances with Shermy.
"So on to better news, and such positive things," Violet smiled.
"I found out Schroeder has a recital tomorrow, he was keeping from me."
"Oh do tell… we do need to be there to support your man."
