SCHROEDER'S POV

I was driving around the area in my old worn out truck. I promised Lucy I would find her brother and Sally before sunrise. I thought that I would find them maybe after 20-30 minutes. It is currently 4 am, I started around midnight.

I look around driving slowly past an unfamiliar neighborhood, I had no idea where I was but I finally found what I was looking for. I squint my eyes to see Linus and Sally sleeping against a tree. There was a bunch of cigarettes by a nearby hill but I try not to ask questions.

I eventually got both of them into the back seat, driving slower than ever because there wasn't any seatbelts in the back seats (the car was very worn out and the seatbelts fell out a while ago). We drove past a harsh bump in the road, hopefully they didn't wake up from that. I look at the review mirror checking on them. I could see Linus open his eyes tightening his grip on Sally. "Schroeder? What's going on?" Linus whispers.

"I'm bringing you two home. Lucy's worried sick about you guys." Linus stares daggers into my eyes demanding I shut up in his most quiet voice. I comply, but Sally woke up. She looks confused and tired. She yawns and looks up at Linus. "Linus? Where are we?" She was still half asleep. "Shh..we are going home Sally, go back to sleep." Linus kisses her head and she buries her head back into his chest. They were truly made for each other.

Linus was clearly wide awake and not going back to sleep for awhile. "Is Lucy sleeping?" Linus asks while adjusting himself to sit up while still holding Sally close. "Don't know, I told her she was free to but I don't think she listened." Linus looked annoyed. I know Lucy hasn't been getting the best sleep just by observing her body language and the very noticeable bags under her eyes. Linus used to call her every night in New York reminding her to get her rest once they hung up. He always worried about her sleep schedule, he said she was a very light sleeper and never got enough hours to make it through the day even when they were little. I look down to see my phone vibrating, Lucy was calling. I pull my break right at a stop sign and answer then continuing to drive afterwards. "Is he with you? Are they ok?" Lucy sounded out of energy just barely staying awake.

"Go to bed Lucy, they are here, and safe." Lucy lets out a sigh of relief. "Oh good, I'll go no-" I could hear something going on in the background, it wasn't clear. "Archer?" Archer!? What the fuck? She said they weren't doing anything anymore! "Lucy you are so fucked-" The phone hung up as soon as Archer said that. What was going on over there!?

"Did she just say Archer!?" Linus says with a harsh whisper still cautious of the fact his girlfriend was asleep. I don't answer, instead I speed up arriving back to their house as soon as possible.

Once we get there I dash straight to the door as Linus follows me holding Sally who is still asleep. Linus goes to his room to bring Sally to a comfortable bed. I go straight to Lucy's room, before I can get there in time I hear a cry for help.

LUCY'S POV

I hung up the call with Schroeder as I yell at Archer to get the hell out of my goddamn house. "But Lucy, you ignored me yesterday. I had no choice." It was true, ever since I heard Schroeder was here to stay I tried to avoid Archer. I told Schroeder we were done even though it technically wasn't mutual I thought when Archer comes into my house I'll just tell him we are done with whatever this is.

That wasn't the case though, Archer let himself in at 4 in the morning, did not see that coming. I tried to stay calm telling him I didn't want him to come by anymore and everything I practiced. He wasn't listening, he didn't care. He pushed me against the wall holding my shoulders tight. "Archer let go of me!"

"Why should I!?" I could feel pained tears escape me. Before anything else could happen I heard someone barge in, I could see Schroeder looking back at us. "Lucy!" Archer immediately lets go and I dash over into Schroeder's arms.

I could see Schroeder staring daggers straight into Archers eyes, Archer was doing the exact same. I bury my head into Schroeder as he pulls me closer. We weren't by any means together besides sharing a kiss but he was my main source of comfort. "Who are you?" Archer raises his eyebrow at Schroeder with the same stare not leaving his eyes. "I'm her boyfriend, what's your excuse?"

He said what? I look up at him confused, he looked back at me with a 'just play along' face, so I do. "Babe he just barged in and-" I let out some tears that I was holding back to sound extra dramatic as Schroeder kisses my head. Archer completely falls for it holding his hands up in the air as if Schroeder was armed. "Hey man I don't mean any harm to your girl I was just-"

"Then leave." Schroeder looks like he would actually commit murder right now, I think I even had goosebumps right now. Archer complies in a hurry closing the window after him. Schroeder rolls his eyes "What a dick" he scoffs quickly looking back at me. He no longer looked pissed, he looked more worried and sad. "Lucy are you ok? Did he hurt you? I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner I-" I give him a weak smile.

"I'm ok, thanks to you." His worried eyes went back to being beautifully captivating as always. Our eye contact lasted for awhile it was beautiful and awkward at the same time. I break the contact shortly after remembering my brother. "Where is he? Is Sally here?" Schroeder walked me to his room, I saw Linus sitting up on his bed while Sally was asleep on his chest. Linus was wide awake, while Sally was practically dead. Linus was looking back at us. "If you guys wake her I will grab you and gut you alive." He mumbles in his quietest voice still holding confidence and clarity in his sentence. "Gee dark much huh dear brother?"

He rolled his eyes as he ran his fingers through Sally's blonde hair. Throughout the years Sally's hair faded to a more platinum blonde rather than the golden blonde she had when she was younger.

I heard Schroeder's phone ringing in his pocket as Linus gives him a dirty look. "Just a spam" Schroeder shrugged putting his phone back into his pocket. "Stop being so paranoid Linus, Sally is still asleep. Before I could add more I notice Sally flinch a little. She yawns opening her eyes. "Linus? Who's phone was that?". Linus was fuming, bringing his hands into fists as he gets out of the bed stomping his feet onto the floor. "Haha! Linus... brother, how are you? How about we make a truce? You know, to avoid seeing myself being gutted?" Linus tries to run after me, before he gets the chance Sally grabs him pulling him back to bed. "I'm still tired Linus. Can you stay?" Linus gets back into bed giving both of us deadly looks, as we slowly back away from his room. "My place?"

"Yeah I'll stay the night." We both dash out of the house into Schroeder's car. We start laughing and looking back to see if Linus is coming back to haunt us at the same time. The recent yet distant memory was still ringing clear in both our heads. "Do you think he was really going to gut us?" I giggle over the loud roar of the worn out truck's engine.

I remember Schroeder telling me about his dad finding the car a few years back. His dad found the car in a local dumpster, he paid to take it, clean it, and make it work again. The truck was still far too old to be sold by the time he was done, so he let Schroeder take it and get his license early. At 14. Although being around 5'11 at the time with a rather mature face he somehow got by. Especially since this had happened in his Dad's hometown which has the population of 12 people at maximum, most of them being elderly woman who mistake 70 year olds for being 20. Lucky him I guess.

I look back at him as he starts driving. "You know, I wouldn't be surprised if he did gut us." We share a laugh as Schroeder arrives to his house. We begin walking into his house. "By the way Schroeder thanks for helping me back there, you know. With Archer." I look down trying to avoid eye contact, even after so many years of being crabby I still don't often apologize or appreciate others as much as the average being.

"He was hurting you, of course I would help! But why did you say you two were done? It didn't look like it back there." Schroeder looks down too. "I- I was just- I don't know. I messed up." I rub my hand on my forehead. "I don't understand why you would lie to me Lucy." This time Schroeder looked at me. Somehow this was so much worse. I could see the disappointment in his eyes. Looking straight back at me. It tore me apart completely.

"Schroeder I'm so sorry. I was scared to approach him, and I couldn't get around to it in time. It was all my fault I really did-"

"Lucy! I don't think we want the same things anymore. Maybe we were better apart. I wanted to be with you Lucy. And you couldn't care less!"

"Schroeder trust me, I want you be with you too but. I'm just-"

"You aren't committed that's what! I came back for you!"

"Nobody asked you to do that." I scoff. I knew where he was coming for me but why wasn't he listening to me? "Nobody had to. You do crazy things for people you care about. But you wouldn't know." Ugh what have I done? "Schroeder I love you, I always have. You know that!"

"Do I?" I'm beginning to miss the former face he made, now this new expression is tearing every ounce of me apart. My insides and outsides were broken. "Bye Lucy." Schroeder gently closes the door. His tempers were very kept now, very mature. But I could tell he loathed me.