Authors Note: Just to say, I don't hate Janice at all. I don't hate her being shipped with Linus either, I thought they were actually pretty cute together. But I think the reason I don't ship them is because Janice never appeared anywhere else besides that one special, and Sally was there to stay. But I don't hate her it's just part of my story that's all.
LINUS' POV
I just got back from meeting Janice, everyone had left at sunset while we stayed longer. She gave me her number and we plan to hang out everyday. This was a great day. Janice is back and she's amazing. I unlock the door to find a very angry Lucy glaring at me ominously. She was angry. "Why are you home so late!? After giving that stupid apology to Sally too! You didn't even come back for her! Instead you decided stay until after sunset, what kind of boyfriend are you?!" She was fuming, if only Schroeder was here. That would calm her.
It was like immediately after I thought that Schroeder just came out of nowhere. He walked up to Lucy and held his hand out. She practically slammed her hand into his. Schroeder was rubbing her hand looking at her as she took deep breaths. She was calm now. "I'm not a bad boyfriend if I want to see my friend. Janice is finally back and I feel like I'm the only one who really cares." Schroeder looked away from Lucy darting his eyes towards me, this made me kind of anxious. "Break up with Sally." He said bluntly.
I look at him with a dumbfounded expression on my face. "Trust me, it'll save her from heartbreak, again. When I first saw you two I thought you guys deserved each other, but now I feel like all you do is hurt her." I was pissed. How could he say that!? I felt my hands curl to fists. "Are you calling me a bad boyfriend!?"
"Brother he's right. I feel like you have become her main source of pain. You say you love her and then you break her heart. Do you know how long she's waited for this? Just for you to hurt her?" I glared at Lucy she glared back. "Lucy the only reason your saying this is because you never even got the chance to get the boyfriend you wanted!" I stormed out going straight to my room. It wasn't like me to yell at my sister but something just fueled me in a way.
LUCY'S POV
My brother just yelled at me. My brother, Linus. I looked over at Schroeder confused and hurt at the same time. He pulled me into his arms. He always knew exactly what I needed. "What's going on Schroeder? Why is he doing that?" Schroeder looked down at me. "Only time could tell us." Schroeder was rather wise, I liked this part about him. I looked away from him, I could feel a tear drip down my face as I tried to hide my frown. I hate it when I cry. Schroeder knew that. He didn't say a word, instead he wiped my tear and pulled my head into his chest. I was breathing steady and I was calming down. It's like clockwork.
He brought me to the couch where we could both sit down. I wasn't crying anymore, but I wasn't smiling either. I rested my head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around me. I'm aware the majority of the things we do are things couples do, but if there's no kissing there's no harm right. And I know part of me doesn't want him to stop because I still love him. There will probably always be romantic tension here, but I feel comfortable so it's ok right? "Schroeder your a great friend."
"Yeah..friend."
SCHROEDER'S POV
I already knew we were just friends but something about her saying it aloud made it hurt. Lucy is in my arms yet love is still out of my reach. That kind of stings. I love this girl, and I don't know if I'll ever stop. It's truly a curse. I don't know if she feels the same but I know she doesn't want to be together either way. At the most all I can do is hold this girl tight and gain her trust back.
I leave the house late at night once Lucy is calm and collected and she waves goodbye. She was great. I feel blessed, yet something will always be missing.
Now there's a time skip it's been over a month, so I won't list exact dates but just think that before is around Valentines Day and now it's like Spring Break.
SALLY'S POV
I heard a knock on my door as I'm sitting up in bed. I got no sleep last night as usual my eyes were red and puffy with bags under them. My hair still looked perfect thanks to Frieda, but the rest of me was a mess. I open the door to let her in and she looks at me worried. "Hon you cannot live like this! Look and you! How about we fix you up and you finally get some sun! Spring Break is almost over and you spent all of it getting wasted!" I look over at the wine bottle at my nightstand. Maybe she was right.
"You have nothing to worry about." Those same reassuring words Linus said to me were still ringing in my head. Bullshit. It's been well over a month since he had said that and now I believe no word. I genuinely cannot remember the last time we had kissed, we talk sure, but every time Janice walks into the room suddenly he won't even respond. Not like he wanted to talk to me anyway, his responses were of the short and bland variety. He didn't give a damn about me. I let him in and I got hurt, again. Once I'm ready I grab a nickel and leave the house. I know exactly where I'm going.
I go to Lucy's house and hand her a nickel. The psychiatric help stand is at the front porch. It looks used. But now it's merely a looking attraction for Lucy will never let anyone even breathe on it. Instead of the booth we sit down on her couch. Linus wasn't here. Of course not. Nowadays he only has time for Janice. Lucy looks at me. "I'd ask but I think we both know what the problem is here." I nod my head looking down at my feet. "Break up with him Sally, it's honestly the best thing you can do." She was right, but part of me didn't want to listen.
"But this is what I've wanted for so long! I'm finally dating Linus, I don't think I'm ready to let go of this dream yet." "It's not a dream if you cry yourself to sleep. And when you were younger you dreamed of a stable relationship not one where your boyfriend is looking at another girl! Sally this is not your dream." She was right. I don't even know why I'm holding on anymore when it's clear he doesn't love me. Maybe it's because I still love him.
"Maybe your right Lucy. Both of us aren't happy, Linus doesn't love me and Linus can't have Janice. Maybe breaking up is the best thing to do." I have her a sincere smile and knew exactly what I had to do.
LINUS' POV
I just got home late at night from going out with Janice. I checked my phone to see a voicemail waiting for me. It's from Sally.
'I tried to go to your house but you weren't home, I tried to call you but you never answered, I tried to text but you never responded so this is my last hope. Linus we should break up. I can see the way you look at Janice and you have my blessing, I'd love to stay friends and I'll leave a good word for you with Janice!'
I was so excited by what I had just heard that I completely ignored the fact that Sally was choking back tears the entire voicemail. I walked into my house with a smile on my face. I saw Lucy at the couch with a worried face Schroeder was sitting next to her. "I heard you two broke up. Are you ok?" She said as I sat down on a chair. "I'm fine. She gave me her blessing with Janice Lucy! Isn't that wonderful!" Lucy looked upset once I said that.
"So that's it? Your just going to throw your relationship away for some girl!? You totally took Sally for granted brother! Your going to regret this, trust me." I rolled my eyes and left.
SCHROEDER'S POV
Ever since Janice came back she's been all over me. She's always following me around gushing over at me. When Lucy did it, it was cute. Now I just feel uncomfortable. Janice only does it when Linus isn't around so it's kind of hard to tell him. Lucy sees it too and it really pisses her off. She must really care about her brother's feelings.
Now to see Linus cheer over having a chance with Janice while we both know it's going to be a hard no, is hard to see. Linus leaves and Lucy looks at me. She groans laying down on the couch with her head on my lap. "Schroeder what do we do?" I run my fingers through her hair with one hand hold her hand with the other. "The only thing we can do is let it play out." She closes her eyes and takes deep breaths. Lucy hasn't been sleeping well at all lately. I've been coming over at night to help her. Lucy's breathing calms and the rest of her body is still. She's asleep.
I adjust myself and pick her up. Walking over to her room and carefully putting her in bed. I tuck her in and sneak a kiss on her forehead. For once in her life she looked peaceful. I slowly walk out of her room. But I stop in my tracks to see Linus at the doorway. "Schroeder what do you want from her?" What was he talking about? "I don't want anything, I'm just trying to be here for her." He didn't look convinced, for whatever reason. But he moves away letting me through to leave. As I walk through the hallway I could hear him holler to me "If you hurt her again I will not be happy!"
That was why he was acting that way. He doesn't trust me because I hurt her. So now I've got to gain Lucy's trust back and Linus'?