New chapter, sorry for the late update. Was playing too much Trepang2 for my own good...

Chapter 8

Me and Linus were currently in my parent's garage, working on my Chevy Malibu.

Two things that did grow on me as I went up in age were mechanical parts and drawings. In my free time, to take the edge off after a long day of being abused by the entirety of the student body, I would either do mechanical and cartoon drawings or I would work on my car.

It was a relaxing activity for me. My classmates would often try to tear me down and make me feel miserable. Machines and drawings didn't (and Snoopy and Woodstock too, of course).

Linus passed me my torque wrench, then spoke to me as I was fixing the fuselage.

"Man Charlie, I didn't realize how adept you were at fixing and modifying things. Maybe you should try out to be a mechanic or engineer."

I rolled out from under my car and stood up, "Yeah, I suppose. I guess rebuilding Snoopy's house a ton of times after Peppermint Patty's escapades of not wanting to go to school taught me a thing or two." I wiped off my sweat with a shop towel and rolled back under my car. "Hey Linus, can you give me a quarter inch hex key? I need to fix this screw in place before I can get it running again."

Linus passed me the hex key and I screwed the final hex screw tight. I soon collected all the tools and rolled out from under the car.

"Huff, that should do it. Hopefully the leaking would have stopped with the repairs I did. Let's see if it runs."

I sat inside the Chevy and turned the key.

*VROOOOOOOOOOOM*

My car roared to life, my fuel dial now staying stable.

"Yep, that did it."

Linus remarked, "Man, you are full of surprises Charlie Brown."

"Heh, want to go and ride?"

"Sure." Linus said, taking his blanket (which he seemed to have folded to look like a handkerchief) and hopping on.

We soon rode out of the garage, closing it with my family's automatic garage door button (I had to install that too). Me and Linus soon took off to our usual spot, Sparkyville beach.

"Hey Charlie."

"Yeah?"

"You know the Poinsettia is coming in two months yeah?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Who are you going to ask to be your date?"

I paused for a second, I didn't really have a good answer. I was considering asking Heather, but she was way out of my league and probably thinks I am a complete loser. Peppermint Patty isn't really a fan of school dances and did not like slow dances, so she was out. There was only really one person I could think of…

"Maybe Marcie?"

"Really? Marcie? Why not just ask Heather? You really like her, don't you?"

"Yeah, but I don't think she cares for me. To her I am probably a complete loser."

Linus' Point of View

Shit, this is bad. If Heather finds this out, she might think Charlie is a lost cause and might give up on him. I need to convince Charlie not to ask Marcie to the dance.

"Charlie, you know that you don't know that. Maybe you should try and see, who knows? Maybe she will say yes."

"Maybe? Maybe she will. Maybe she will laugh at my face. Maybe she will just publicly humiliate me like Violet and Patty. Maybe she will…"

"Charlie, stop. I know you are still hurting from your abuse, but you know she is not like that. Remember in elementary how she always cheered you on? She probably still is right now." I was attempting to slowly nudge him to ask her out.

"Yeah, really? How do you know that? Every time I see her, she doesn't even acknowledge that I exist anymore. After elementary we never even talked with each other that much."

"Well, maybe you should start talking with her again when you both are alone. So that Violet or Patty don't interrupt."

"That's almost impossible, they always flock together."

"Hmm, maybe there is a way to…"

"Look, Linus. I appreciate the help, I really do. However, I just don't think she really cares. And maybe it is time I move on too."

I looked in Charlies eyes, there was pain.

He was attempting to move on, but I knew he couldn't. For Charlie Brown to move on from Heather would be almost impossible.

"Charlie, we both know that what you said is a lie."

We made it to the beach. We both got out of the car and Charlie sat on the hood. He was currently wearing a scorpion jacket colored like his old sweater, yellow with a black zigzag across it.

He looked at the ground. Thinking. Contemplating.

"I don't really know Linus… I don't think I even have a chance." He looked to the lake and audibly sighed.

I looked at Charlie sympathetically, of course he would feel this way. Anyone who has been told all their life that they were a failure would probably feel like this.

Makes it even more important that Heathers plan works.

I looked at Charlie and smiled, "You don't know if you don't try Charlie, you miss one hundred percent of the throws you don't shoot."

Charlie sighed again, then smiled, "Ok, fine. I'll try to ask her out. BUT only because you are bugging me about it."

I grinned, perfect.

"HEY! LOOK WHO IT IS! FALIURE DE FUCKFACE!"

Oh god, Thibault.

He was currently in beach clothing wearing sneakers. Of course, he was walking over like he owned the place.

"So, Charlie Brown. What the hell are you doing on my beach? This is for winners only! And if I gotta beat it into you, you are a loser!"

Charlie looked down, scared to even face him. Christ, I got to do something.

"Hey muscles for brains! Leave him alone!" I yelled at him.

"Oh, if it isn't little blankie boy! You acting like a tough guy? Still need a blankie to sleep at night? Tch, you are just as pathetic as failure face here." He stared me down, easily overtaking me in stature.

Holy god, how tall is this guy?

"Come on Linus, let's just get out of here." Charlie tugged on my shirt.

"OH HELL NO! AIN'T NOBODY LEAVEN HERE UNTIL I SAY WE ARE DONE HERE BROWN!" He went back to Charlie. "JUST FOR THAT, HERE IS A NICE KNUCKEL SANDWICH JUST FOR YA!" He soon aimed a fist at Charlie and attempted to punch him in the face. However, thinking on his feet, Charlie ducked and made Thibault hit the hood of the car.

"GAH! YOU LITTLE SHIT! ILL CLOBBER YOU!"

Charlie soon grabbed me, and we both ran. Thibault was right behind us, attempting to grab us. However, I had an idea.

Thibault was big, so for him it was hard to slow down instantly. Along with the fact that he had a pea sized brain…

"Charlie!" I spoke to him. "Grab one edge of the blanket and pull! We might be able to…" I then nodded my head back. Charlie understood what I was insinuating and grabbed the blanket and pulled.

Thibault soon ran into it. It toppled him over and made him land face first onto the pavement. This was our escape window!

We both ran back into Charlie's car and started it. Luckly, we managed to get it running, however Thibault got back up quicker than expected and got on the hood.

"IM GONNA GIVE YOU BOTH BEATINGS SO HARD YOU WILL BE BEGGING FOR MERCY!"

Charlie then fully changed the gear to reverse and managed to roll Thibault off the hood.

"WOAHHHHHH!" *THUD*

Soon after, he switched gears to two and we both drove off.

"YOU PIECES OF SHIT! NEXT TIME I SEE YOU CHARLIE, YOUR BEATING IS GOING TO HURT SO HARD YOU'LL LAND IN THE HOSPITAL!"

We drove off, both me and Charlie in the car huffing after nearly getting the worst beatings of our lives.

The rest of the ride was silent. Neither of us were looking forward to tomorrow.

He soon drove in front of my house, "Here is your stop Linus…" He was clearly concerned about tomorrow. And I really could not blame him.

"Yeah… hope I see you tomorrow Charlie…" I got out of the car and closed the door.

"Maybe…" He spoke quietly. He soon drove off back to his home.

…

Tomorrow is going to suck… isn't it.

…

Hope Charlie comes out alright.