Peppermint Patty made a beeline through the town towards the psychiatry booth, hand shaking with despair, rage and self pity.
Of course her biggest fear had happened today. Typical, that her failed attempts at romance would come back at her. Today Chuck had finally gotten over his social anxiety. Most other days, she would have been glad.
But to her horror, the first thing he did was ask out his crush. And of course, she said yes.
So Patty could say goodbye to a relationship of her own with Chuck.
Patty pulled up a stool at the booth. She groaned, no one was there, figures.
"Hello. Lucy?, where are you?…LUCY" she called out.
A head popped up from behind the booths bench, accompanied by mumbling about being asleep on the job.
"Good, you're still…wait" Patty's anger disappeared, she looked surprised "Linus?".
Linus Van Pelt gasped in surprise himself, "Patty!. Hi there!", he pulled up a seat on the other side of her, "how can I assist".
Patty felt exasperated. She'd been wanting to see Lucy. Not someone who, due to close association, would only remind her of Chuck.
"Actually" Linus reached below him "I think I know how I can help". He grabbed his blanket and offered it to her.
Patty slowly took it, and held it in her arms.
"There" Linus said "it's good to relieve stress".
Patty listened, and slowly began to calm. Though, she was still confused about why Linus was suddenly running his sisters booth.
"I know why you're here Patty. Given what you witnessed earlier, I suspect you want some advice".
"Maybe…Yeah, some romance advice won't hurt" Patty trailed off, uncharacteristically unenergetic.
"Well, that's why I'm here" Linus gestured "and I mean that literally".
"Literally?" Patty looked confused.
Linus chuckled "Well, Frieda yesterday, asked Lucy about advice for a boy she liked, and their session went reasonably smoothly…until she revealed she liked Schroeder".
Patty grimaced.
"Yeah, so now Frieda's got one black eye, and Lucy's banned from running the booth" Linus shrugged "I'm running what I guess is now the "family business"".
"Though, I've done some rebranding" he mildly bragged, pointing up.
The sporty girl looked up to the signage, "Linus Listens: Phycological and Philosophical Advice. Huh".
The red shirted boy began the session.
"Patty, I know you're upset about Charlie Brown…don't deny it" Linus explained as Patty opened her mouth "but it isn't because of a fault with you".
"It isn't"
"No". Linus proceeded to explain how it was his best friend's preferences, that led him to pick someone else over Patty.
"But Patty, that's just a personal preference" he reasoned "It doesn't make you anything less…".
"It doesn't make me less unattractive, for example" the girl responded.
Linus shook his head, "you're not unattractive. And I'm not alone in that opinion. You are strong willed, you're outgoing and also tough, in a good way, and…well, sporty, fun and…and courageous". The boy began to ramble, for some reason looking shy.
Patty looked up, and for a moment, Linus worried he hadn't reached her.
"YOU'RE RIGHT" she suddenly yelled happily.
"Wow" Linus said. He'd already impressed his first customer "Thanks Patty".
"I would make a great partner".
"You would".
"Yeah" Patty agreed "and, I'll have to force Chuck to see that".
"You…Wait what" Linus looked suddenly uncomfortable.
"And then we can get him to come back to me, once he sees I'm a good partner for him".
She smiled, "That way, everyone…wins".
Patty stopped talking, as she saw the upset look on Linus's face. Linus still supported Charlie Browns actions, and he regretfully had to shut her down.
"Patty…we can't backstab…I can't let you try to break up Charlie's relationship" Linus explained, looking disapproving.
Patty began to look glum, "but…oh…I remember. You always were helping him to meet her" she said bitterly.
She got up, "to be honest, I hadn't hoped for advice on getting a partner. I'd just wanted someone to rant and rage to in the first place".
"Then rant at me, I can take it" Linus claimed confidently.
"No Linus, I can find someone else" Patty reassured "and why do you even want me to stay?"
Linus was silent, internally debating whether he should just confess the truth. That he himself had a crush on Patty.
"Didn't think you had a reason" Patty explained "Goodbye Lin…".
Linus made a split second decision, and blurted it out.
"I'd like you as a partner!".
Patty stopped, and turned.
"I'm sorry Patty, you probably don't want to hear this now".
Linus was pushing the booth out of the way, and moving the books underneath with it.
"Linus?" Patty said quietly "Go on".
The young boy fiddled with his shirt. "It's why I was so shy when we first met. You're so energetic and confident, like I said earlier".
"But I'm not like that all the time. Sometimes, like now, I'm really unsure of myself" Patty reasoned.
"You and me both" Linus exhaled.
The two of them faced each other. And Patty thought on what she'd wanted from a partner. She wanted someone who was, like her, sporty, energetic, and confident. But she'd liked Chuck for being helpful and kind.
And here was Linus, being helpful and kind as well, but had got the confidence Chuck didn't, to show his true emotions about her.
As a bonus, he was smart like Marcie.
She was sold. Besides, trick or treating was overrated anyway.
Patty smiled, "4pm tomorrow good for you".
Linus looked confused.
"You want a first date" Patty said "we can set it up for then".
The boy grinned, he barely believed she'd agreed, "I'll do some brainstorming".
Patty turned, and began to start walking away, in much better spirits than she had been beforehand.
I'll catch you later, Lines" she called back.
Linus chuckled, "What's Lines?".
"Lines. Lines is your new nickname" Patty said as she left "I gave my last crush one after all".
Retrieving his blanket from the booth, Linus smiled. "Lines" he looked at his lined shirt "Oh, I get it".