Charlie laughed, "I doubt that, nothing about me appeals to her."

"You're a musician, who likes anime, and you're affectionate."

"Well I'm just going to put this in our garage, so she doesn't have to look at it."

"Do what you do, playa."

Charlie just rolled his eyes and pushed it to his driveway. Moments later he walked in the Van Pelts residence, giving Linus quite the side eye.

"Don't give me that look."

"You're no different than your sister, you've been putting on this façade, but deep down you actually care about her, and you don't want to see her like this."

He held up a middle finger.

"You love your sister and you know it," he went up the stairs.

"No, I love your sister!"

"Hey," Charlie walked into her bedroom.

"You pushed it all the way here," Sally asked.

"It had to get here. Heather said she might be able to fix the saddle, and we'll just…"

Lucy ran up and hugged him.

"… figure out how to get new tires."

"We'll give you two some space," Rerun spoke, shooing Sally out.

She handed Charlie his keys.

"You're too damn nice, you know that," she said in his shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah… too nice for my own good," he hugged her back.

"Okay… you're free to go. I've taken up too much of your time as it is," she let go, "I'm sure you have better things to do. Something with Patty, if I remember."

He watched her plop down on the bed and turn the television on. Charlie took out his phone.

"Heyyy Charlie," Patty answered.

"Umm… look… I know you were looking forward to hanging out today, but can we take a raincheck on that? I think Lucy could really use some company."

She was silent for a moment, "sure… that's fine."

"I get that you're probably upset, I did promise we'd hang out, I just can't leave her like this, she's having a hard time."

"You're right, she does- I'm just being selfish and that's not fair. It actually keeps eating at me, I wanna be there for her, too, it's just…"

"I understand. With Violet out of the picture, things would be different."

"Just stop, okay? You do your best to make our Lucy happy. You owe me, however."

"You have my word."

"I know I do. Just text me later, okay?"

"Yeah, I will. Seeya."

"Seeya."

Charlie kicked his shoes off and sat on the bed next to her, grabbing the remote.

"Have you seen this one yet, I heard it was good, and haven't gotten to it."

"You watch anime?"

"I love anime… maybe not as much as you, but I love it."

"I never knew."

"You wanna watch this or not, you weeaboo?"

For the first time in a while, he saw her have a genuine smile, he couldn't help but smile with her, and he thought she was beautiful in the moment of pure happiness. They watched the cartoon for a few hours, Lucy really enjoyed it.

"I like this one."

"It is good, huh?"

"Did you ever watch A Silent Voice?"

"No, I wasn't sure if I would like it."

"It's great, it's like a romance… if you don't mind the sad parts."

"Let's do it," he shrugged.

She quickly grabbed the remote and found the streaming service it was on. Charlie watched intently and it didn't look like she was enjoying it, he didn't understand why she liked the movie with how it started.

"That kid is a jerk," Charlie stated.

Lucy didn't say anything.

"I don't get why he'd pick on her like that."

"This… doesn't feel like it did the first time."

"What's different about it? Do you want to watch something else?"

"No, I want to keep watching."

The movie progressed to where both characters were in high school, the main protagonist was trying to make right of his past with the girl, with some difficulty arising from her mother, sister and friends, but he pushed on. There seemed to be more there than he originally felt. Charlie saw the pained look on Lucy's face, and the moments of relief, she would inch closer, or lean closer to him, like she wanted some kind of comfort, she would touch him, but move away. Charlie slowly grabbed her hand, she shook her head, crossed her arms over her body.

"Lucy…"

"It's the context," she whispered.

"I figured you were making comparisons between them and us, right?"

"Hard not to. I don't like to open up, especially now with you, you're the last person I deserve anything from."

"Okay, I hear you, but hear me," he placed a hand on her arm, "you're trying, like he is, right, so let me return the favor, and stop trying to punish yourself," he slowly pulled her hand free, "it can't be both ways- you trying to change, but not accepting those welcome to it."

Lucy relaxed and held his hand back, pulled it in her lap. The scene at the fair made her tear up some, he felt them hit her hand, even he got a bit choked up. Towards the end with the fireworks had them both in tears.

"Why would she do that," he wiped his face.

"It all threw me for a loop the first time," she started to cry.

"I just want them together and okay."

"That's what I wanted," she leaned on him.

"She's such a nice girl, and I think they deserve each other, he's trying so hard- she even said she wanted him."

Lucy wanted to melt into him, his hold and warmth wasn't enough.

"Patty, you're off your game tonight, what's up," Franklin asked.

"I'm just a little distracted, no biggie."

"Is it because of what happened to Lucy? Left corridor, left corridor," Lamar said.

"It's not really that."

"What is it," Franklin asked.

"It's because Charlie cancelled spending time with her- shit man, I'm getting ambushed! At least that's what Frieda told me."

"I'm coming Schroeder… I just got blown up. Fuck!"

"Is that it," Franklin asked.

"Yeah, I just… I shouldn't be mad about it, but it's bothering me, I was really looking forward to that."

"Hey, Charlie will make up for it. I can promise you that."

"I know he will, Schroeder, I don't know why I'm being selfish, while he's worried about everybody else over himself."

"I know two things; that Charlie has a kind heart, and'll give ya the shirt off his back, and despite that, no chick is interested in'em. Play ya cards right, and he'll be yours," Lamar explained.

"You think?"

"Yeah, now let's get this damn flag!"

Lucy wanted to admit her feelings then and there, but she wasn't sure if they were earnest, so she held back and took what she could get, hoping he would eventually feel the same, and what she thought she felt was sincere.

"Can you help me with my homework?"

"Yeah, still having trouble?"

"Some."

Charlie spent time on his, while he helped her out, to knock out what he could, while she had some lo-fi hip hop playing in the background. Charlie did start getting tired and had to leave, but she was okay for the most part. Lucy got ready for bed, when she noticed somebody in the doorway.

"Linus?"

"We saw you two up here, and you looked happy. Does Charlie make you happy?"

"He does. He makes me feel safe."

"I still don't fully trust you, and I'd hate for this to backfire on him. I don't approve, or tolerate your typical actions, but I want you to know even if I don't like you, I love you."

"I get it. We watched A Silent Voice, and all I could see were parallels between us, and it hurt. I don't want that. Linus I love you too, I always have. Just… give me a chance, I get that it's hard."

He nodded and went to his room.