Needless to say, Linus had not expected the last couple of hours to go anything like it did.
He hadn't had the best day himself, he'd been struggling in a quiz in class and their recess had been cut short due to rain. During lunch he had sat next to Charlie Brown, where the latter had been lamenting about how his life had been a failure, and how no one liked him.
Linus had tried offering solutions, but he always shut them down. He was in too deep of a funk, and it disappointed Linus to see his help wasn't useful.
Of course, there were other factors at play.
Lucy and her friends had been criticising and tearing him down that day. She was constantly hurling criticism and insults at Charlie, and her friends were little better when it came to ruining his self esteem.
"And the worst was yet to come" he thought "If their new plot succeeds, Charlie Brown will likely quit indefinitely"
And now they had a new ally. One of the new kids had been confronted with the opportunity to join them, and Linus had witnessed him accept.
He had no clue who this Edward Black character was, or why he joined Lucy, but he knew that whatever it was, it wasn't good.
He wanted to run to Charlie Brown and tell him, and everyone else about what they planned to do at the game. It would allow everyone to be on alert, and he doubted the plan would succeed if Lucy was being constantly monitored.
Unfortunately, there was a catch. Lucy was going to know exactly what happened, and Linus would be on the receiving end of a number of poundings from her, and an enraged clique. He doubted his blanket would be ignored either.
And he was sure Charlie Brown, and everyone else, would also be at risk, both for knowing and for trying to stop the plan.
He hated being stuck at the crossroads like this.
"Well" Lucy stated confidently "I think that talk went well".
She was walking with her clique after school.
"Agreed, Black seems he will help us" Shermy told them all.
Violet, however, was slightly more cautious of him.
"I'm just wondering if we should ask about his so called "success" in his old town. He was quite vague".
"Oh lighten up Violet" Lucy scoffed "you're not the only one who can be popular"
Violet privately loathed that fact.
"Besides" Lucy continued "he's no Schroeder, but he'll be a great help, Im sure".
They all agreed.
Lucy" Violet told her "You're a genius"
"Edward" Maddison huffed "You're an idiot".
They were just leaving school.
"We were right there, you could have just called us in and cornered them" she ranted "I would have been more than happy to take on those arrogant little…"
"Maddison, can we discuss this at the meeting tonight" Edward asked, interrupting her
"Oh I hope to" she stressed "It's just you're instead making a cunning plan to sabotage their plot, and are ambitious enough to try and undermine their clique from the inside"
"Give me a sec" Maddison took a hat and placed it over Edward.
"definitely SLYTHERIN" she exclaimed.
Edward glared, only slightly amused at Maddison's Harry Potter reference.
"I think" he declared "we can easily keep undercover for now"
"We can easily keep undercover eh Edward" Henrietta sarcastically told him "Y'know one of us will spill the beans"
"Oh be quiet Henrietta"
They paused and thought.
"So, why don't we try getting some more people at tonight's meeting" Samantha piped up.
"More people?" they questioned
"Yeah, we'd need more information, so we could invite some local sympathisers" she explained
Edward considered her suggestion, he certainly wanted local support for his plans to be a success.
"She's right" he said.
Neil stood up.
"Lets aim for inviting 1 person each" he suggested.
"So 4 people total cause Maddison can't socialise" Henrietta teased
Maddison interjected, "Henrietta, I could stand being antisocial if I didn't have to hear those lies".
They all began to leave to find people to invite.
Except for Maddison and Edward, who placed his hand on the former's shoulder.
"Let me reassure you Maddison" he intoned "Our hatred for these brats is mutual. So, I will build my anger over these two weeks, I will let it silently boil over. And when the time comes, we will use our righteous fury. To make sure that these people finally get what is coming for them".
The local musician, Schroeder, was in the school music room, playing on the grand piano they had.
He was preforming another one of Beethovens Sontanas as hard as he could, trying to perfect it.
Schroeder was playing so hard he didn't realise the door had opened, and someone had come in, at least until he had finished.
He breathed.
Please tell me it isn't Lucy, he thought. She did nothing but hinder his practice.
Looking up, he instead saw a blonde haired girl in a turquoise shirt. She was quietly applauding him.
"That was amazing" she praised "where did you learn to play like that?"
Schroeder was grateful for the praise.
"I-I just kinda picked it up" he said.
"Natural talent"
"I guess so"
"May I", she gestured to the piano.
"Of course" Schroeder told her, moving over.
The girl began to play a piece of classical music, Schroeder noticed that it was really good, even though it wasn't Beethoven.
"Would you like to try" she asked him.
"No thanks" Schroeder declined "I only really play Beethoven".
"That's a shame. You know" she reasoned "Beethoven must have gotten his inspiration from somewhere".
Schroeder couldn't help but agree with that. He told her it was at least a better persuasion than Lucy gave.
The girl suddenly became more intrested.
"Lucy, Lucy Van Pelt"
"Yeah" Schroeder restated.
She paused "You know, there's a meeting happening tonight about her and her actions. If you're interested, you could come along".
Schroeder considered, but he liked this girl, and wouldn't mind pleasing her.
"Sure" the pianist readily agreed "I'm Schroeder by the way"
"Samantha" she replied "Samantha Lesley".
Henrietta and Neil were searching through their homework when two younger kids, a boy and a girl, joined them.
"Hi guys" Neil greeted
"Good Afternoon" Marcie greeted back, while Franklin waved.
"What are you two doing" Henrietta asked.
"Looking at some baseball pictures for a friend" Franklin told them.
"Nice" Neil said "we're looking at the homework we got"
"And some other stuff" Henrietta chimed in "we're working on researching Rochester Elementary"
"You mean the big game against them"
"Yeah, just doing our bit" she explained.
They were silent for a while, and Neil then began to think, these two might be trustworthy enough.
He then spoke.
"You know, there's also a meeting we're having about the game tonight".
"A meeting" Marcie asked "could we come?"
Neil and Henrietta looked at each other.
"Maybe" Henrietta told them "but first could you tell us something. What do you know about Charlie Brown?"
"Maddison can't socialise. That's a low blow from you Henrietta" Maddison muttered.
She was walking home, so far unsuccessful with getting a invitee.
And then Maddison noticed the fighter pilot dog they had seen earlier running around again. She knew it was Charlie Browns dog, but effectively "ran wild".
"Seems a pretty intelligent beagle" she pondered, and then considered something.
"I wonder if it would?, No Maddison, that's crazy".
The beagle now looked over at her.
"Ah whatever" she said "CALLING ALL FIGHTER PILOTS HERE, ALL PILOTS"
The dog ran up to her, and Maddison saw it's name, Snoopy.
"Snoopy?"
The dog shook its head and handed her a paper, which she read and handed back.
"Okay then, Flying Ace, I am Wing Commander Freeman of the US Air Force. We are summoning you to a VIP war meeting 6 o'clock tonight.
Snoopy eagerly nodded.
"You serve your nation well Flying Ace" Maddison commended.
Snoopy quickly ran off
Maddison believed that her friends would either be impressed, or amused with her choice of invitee.
Linus was looking for Charlie Brown around the town, eventually arriving near the tennis courts.
He wanted to talk to him, so he could give him some company, talk about life and trade advice.
And maybe, he hoped, he could subtly hint to drop the football game idea.
So Charlie Brown could for once dodge a bullet.
"Linus. LINUS"
Wrong Brown, he thought.
Sally, Charlie Browns sister, ran up to him
"I need a tennis partner, are you in?" she asked.
Linus shrugged
"I don't see a reason not to" he said.
"Okay Swe…" Sally began.
"That would be a reason not to" Linus interrupted, annoyed. Sally had a crush on him, and could be very clingy, despite Linus only liking her as a friend
Jacob Black walked alongside his older siblings, paying close attention to what they were saying. Apparently Edward was getting his club involved in a dispute with some sixth graders, and was needing them to not stir up trouble with anyone.
Gina promised him that Jacob and her would help, and Edward thanked them both. He then said, to their excitement, that afterwards he may throw a party at Black Manor.
"Alright" Jacob cheered "Finally, we can actually use our house".
Gina laughed as they made their way home, planning to detour by the tennis courts.
Linus and Sally watched in disappointment as an older boy(not Edward this time) wandered around the tennis courts, scowling.
"Rats, they always hog the courts, don't they" Sally remarked.
"Agreed"
They continued watching.
"Why don't you just chase him off" Sally suggested.
Linus frowned "It's best not to start an uphill fight, let's just find somewhere else".
"HEY BIG KID, WHY DON'T YOU GIVE US A GO, OR WE'LL GET REALLY MAD" Sally suddenly yelled out.
"Or we can just do that" Linus remarked.
He knew Sally had just started something she couldn't finish.
The boy on the courts turned, and he did not look happy.
"Quiet little girl" he snapped as she walked up to him.
"Little girl" Sally snapped back "I'm 10".
The boy grabbed Sally by the shoulder, squeezing it.
"I stand corrected, Stupid, Little Girl" he snarled.
Linus had come after her.
"Please, just leave her alone" he appealed.
The older kid turned and grabbed him by the shirt.
"Oh, you think you can ask me for favours Van Pelt".
"Run Sally" Linus whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
Sally retreated backwards.
"Yeah run Sally" the boy repeated "leave it to us".
He turned back and Linus felt the boy's fist hit the side of his face.
"That's teach you not to speak out, you little smart-mouth" he yelled at him.
He shoved a dazed Linus to the ground, and in the moment, failed to hear the gate to the tennis court open.
"Alright then kid" the boy picked up his racket "I'll play some tennis then".
Linus braced himself for another hit.
SMACK
To his shock, it was the boy who was instead hit first.
He fell, being punched in the stomach by a new opponent.
Dazed, he looked to his attacker.
An enraged Edward Black stood over him, baring his teeth in anger.
"You listen here numbskull, these are public courts last I checked. And you've been hogging them for over half an hour" he growled.
He clenched his fist, muscles tightening.
"So clear out, and if you ever do that to Linus again, I will make sure you personally ANSWER TO ME".
The boy slowly began to get back up.
"Well Van Pelt, didn't know you had friends that aren't hopeless losers".
The boy tried to hit Edward with his racket, but the latter grabbed it, wrenching it from his grasp.
"Do I need to repeat myself?" Edward spat "Get out"
Recognising defeat, the boy quickly fled from the scene.
Edward sneered after him.
Getting up, Linus was surprised at what had transpired.
"T-thank you um"
"Edward Black" Edward told him "and don't mention it. Consider it repaying my cousins debt".
He began walking away, but turned briefly to Linus "I'll hopefully see you soon".
He left the tennis courts.
Walking back, Sally had now rejoined Linus "So, do you still want to do tennis".
"Yeah" he replied "Yeah sure".
Though he certainly wasn't focusing on tennis now.
Linus had just seen how strong Edward Black truly was, and he was now a dangerous ally of Lucy.
Wasn't he?.
At that moment, he made a decision. He would forget the risks, forget the threat. He was going to confront this boy about the plot, find out the truth, and attempt to stop him. He couldn't let them get away with it.
He had to try.