SALLY'S POV
I got absolutely no sleep last night, but how could I? Yesterday was the best and worst day of my life. Linus came back, went to my house, and kissed me. He kissed me. The kiss was romantic yet embarrassing at the same time. I was in my room hiding my tears, terribly. And out of nowhere he sits next to me and we lock lips. I'm too overwhelmed to even comprehend what had happened. Did he even like me? Was that just an apology kiss or something, cause that would be lame. And why did he leave so abruptly? Why do I even care? He's treated me like garbage since forever. But he apologized this time. Does he really want to start over?
Before I get to ask anymore questions I hear my alarm clock, it's playing the Turkish March. Schroeder said classical music is the best thing to wake up to. He was right. I've become rather fond of Mozart and his work, it acts as a kind of therapy. Schroeder and I are two very different people, but the contrast in our personalities made a strong bond form between us. I guess fawning over the Van Pelt siblings does have its advantages. Schroeder and I started to talking to each other during middle school, when we started talking somehow he couldn't stray away from talking about Lucy. The Van Pelt siblings were accepted into a magnet school for middle school, and our district school was so big the majority of our friends got out of touch making new friends. So it was just Schroeder and I. It was obvious he liked Lucy, and it was about time after dismissing her for so long. Too bad he didn't sooner. Lucy doesn't seem to be willing to start over.
It sucks to to see Schroeder so broken over Lucy but there's nothing I can do. I brush it off and dash over to my bus stop just making it. I hop on and take a seat next to Lucy who was gesturing for me to sit by her. Speak of the devil. Lucy was great, and we've gotten closer since Schroeder and Linus left to New York but I could tell she was bothered for mentioning Schroeder so much. She doesn't know I just want the best for her.
Lucy greets me and smiles, "Ready to go see the love of your life at school?" She teases. I normally laugh and say something stupid or yell at her but today I wasn't in the mood. She picked up my emotion and connected the dots. "So you still like Linus huh?" Oh shit. "How do you even know about that?" I question trying to avoid answering her previous one. "Schroeder told me about him being at your house, Linus cleared the rest up" Lucy responds. Well at least she's talking to Schroeder. I gulp anxiously. "Is it ok if I don't know?" Lucy gives me a reassuring smile but it almost instantly fades as she looks out the window. "Well someone's waiting for you outside."
Unlucky for me Linus was waiting for me right at the door. I rushed right past him after taking a slight glance. He had my phone. Shit. I was looking everywhere for that yesterday. But I'm not going back now. I speed up getting to class 15 minutes earlier than normal. Miss Othmar looks at me with a skeptical look. She's always liked me. She used to be our 1st grade teacher but transferred once we were in 5th grade. I'm the only one who has her from our old class so she enjoys talking to me even outside of class, and sometimes helps me with homework in the morning.
"Need anything Sally?" I didn't really I just wanted to avoid seeing Linus in the hallway, however I did need a second opinion on everything that has been going on. "Actually yes, see there's this guy, I've liked him for a very long time and-" Miss Othmar interrupts me mid way through my sentence "It's Linus isn't it? I remember you being rather fond of him." She noticed? I guess I was pretty obvious. "Haha yeah uh, he um..he kissed me yesterday?" She didn't look surprised in the slightest, actually she was giggling. What? "It's about time he notices the amazing girl you are." She grinned and I grin back. Miss Othmar was so sweet, now I know why Linus liked her so much. "Thanks uh, I've been avoiding him recently and I don't really don't know what to do." She gave me a weird smirk as she looked at her attendance sheet, oh no, no no no no no! "Well I guess you'll have to talk to him soon, he's in this class." Fucking shit. Why me? I really can't talk to him. Why-
The bell rang loudly in my ear, that thing was great at catching me by surprise, Miss Othmar chuckled as she gestured her hands telling me to sit down. Linus sat down somewhere on my right. Staring at me from time to time, I tried my best to not look back and focus on the assignment, good thing Miss Othmar gave me a pre-lesson yesterday because nothing is processing inside my brain right now. Lucky for me I have an amazing teacher and she notices. She waves her hand gesturing me to come talk to her at her desk. "I can tell it's bothering you, how about you spend the remainder of class out at the hallway, I'll exempt you for the homework and you can do the assignment instead." I smile at her the best I can and leave the room.
I didn't know how much I needed to leave that classroom, my heart rate slowed down to a normal pace as soon as I left and my shoulders relaxed, I didn't even realized they were so tense before. I lean against the lockers and let out a sigh. I check the clock in the hallway, there's 25 minutes left of class. Phew I need time to myself. Ironically a second later I hear Miss Othmar ask Linus to pound her erasers. Did I hear that right? Surely that can't be why Miss Othmar let me out here. I hear footsteps crescendo in my ear. Lord, that's exactly why she let me out here, she's clever alright. I see Linus look my way with a grin. "Guess we are stuck together, I have to pound the erasers." I give him a little chuckle, but I'm not happy in the slightest, this is so awkward. Linus places one of the erasers between his arm and reaches for him pocket handing me phone. "Oh uh- thanks" I mumble it was clear I was uncomfortable but I there was nothing I could do to hide it. "I'm sorry for uh- kissing you without your permission by the way." Linus says as he pounds the erasers. He felt awkward too, I could tell. I gave out a cough from all of the dust barely being able to talk. "Do you even like me?" I barely manage to get that sentence out my mouth as I cough again. I couldn't tell if it was ok to ask that, but I deserve to know. "Well let's just say I'd gladly kiss you now" He gave me a smirk. My face lit up.
"Yeah making out in the hallway with dust everywhere, how romantic." I roll my eyes at him. I try to keep it together but that's all I wanted to hear since he kissed me. I could tell he was reading my face, it was the worst part about Linus, he was so good at that. It's impossible to keep anything from him. He drop the erasers, cups my face at kisses me before I could even flinch. I kissed him back praying to myself that Miss Othmar wasn't looking at us right now. I was scared but not enough to stop. I did originally believe no one could romantically make out in a hallway full of dust. I was wrong, Linus was so romantic. He's changed so much since the last time I saw him in 5th grade. There were butterflies in my stomach but I couldn't help it, the man of my dreams was kissing me again. This kiss lasted far longer than the other one. When we pulled away I could see he him looking into my eyes lovingly. It was the sweetest thing I've ever seen. He wanted more. So did I.
We kissed, we kissed again, and again, and many more times after. I didn't even care if anyone was looking at us anymore. This was the happiest I've been in a while. I never thought I would ever be able say I made out in a dusty hallway against the lockers with the love of my life, but now I can.
We broke apart to catch our breath. The bell rings in its usual obnoxious, loud way. And as usual a make a very obvious flinch. Linus chuckled and pulled me into his arms. I was definitely comfortable now. He lets me go and puts his hands in his pockets. He takes his hands out in fists picking up the erasers on the floor dropping a little sticky note. "Linus you dropped som-" he walked away before I could finish my sentence. I saw him exit with a small smirk like some smartass, which he is. Was he up to something? I pick up the sticky note and read it as I walk to my next class.
"Call me 555-794-3947 -Linus"
Really? I roll my eyes walking to my next class.
I manage to finish my classes in one piece, Linus offered to walk me home. I agreed but that wouldn't end up lasting long. "Let me just say goodbye to Schroeder first." I walk towards the music room as Linus waits at the end of the hallway. Apparently I was not the only one who wanted to visit. I saw Lucy by the door. The door was ajar as she held her phone in the crack recording Schroeder played. "What are you doing?" I ask her. She got startled and dropped her phone. "Oh shit!" She whispered. I hear Schroeder from the music room. "What the fuck?" I hear footsteps approaching the doorway. I had absolutely no idea what Lucy was doing but I did know she was definitely going to be in trouble. Without thinking I grab her phone. "I'll cover for you, go!" I whisper, then mouth to Linus to go without me. She runs away just as Schroeder opens the door skeptically. "Were you recording me?" Oh god, I shouldn't have done this, I don't even have a plan. "Uh yeah uh, funny story my pen pal is a big fan of yours and she wanted me to record some of your playing."
This wasn't too shocking to him, Schroeder has composed a few songs before on the piano, one or two of them were on music apps. "How about I play you something then? Any requests?" Phew, he's stupid. Lucky me! "How about Moonlight Sonata?" That's Lucy's favorite, Schroeder's too. He grins and begins to play. His eyes were closed and he looked as if he was on another planet. Moonlight Sonata wasn't difficult by any means, but it was still impressive. What am I even doing? I don't even know what Lucy is getting out of this, or what she wants even. Schroeder completes the finale replacing his small grin with a big smile. "How'd you like it? It's been awhile since I had audience like this." "Wonderful! My friend will love it." Schroeder looks at the phone. "Isn't that Lucy's pho-" "Ok gotta go! It was nice seeing you!" Well that's a Lucy problem now, I've done enough for her. I rush outside the school to see Lucy waiting for me outside.
"What are you doing out here?" I ask her, even though it's probably just because she wants her phone. "You really thought that I'd leave you with me phone?" I was right. I giggle and hand her her phone back. She takes a look at her camera roll checking the videos. "You got him to play Moonlight Sonata?!" She says joyfully. I mod my head grinning at her, she looked so happy. "May I ask why you were recording him in the first place?" Her expression becomes slightly more embarrassed than joyful. "Schroeder's music is kind of my therapy, since I stopped coming to watch him play I figured I could listen to it while I do my homework. "Only Schroeder's music?" I ask her with a tiny smirk on my face. "It's nothing serious Sally it's just what I'm used to." She rolls her eyes blushing a little. I'm not convinced but I'll let it slide for now.
It became silent but honestly it was kind of peaceful, plus I have a feeling know exactly what our next topic will be so best to enjoy it. "You and Linus huh?" Lucy says breaking the silence. I'm already beginning to miss the silence. "Uh we aren't like a thing, it was just one pitiful kiss that's all." If I have a choice to keep that weird make out session a secret I certainly will. "Cmon Sally, I saw you two making out in the hallway while I was walking to the bathroom." I guess I don't have a choice. "Are you his Valentine?" Huh. Valentine? I check my watch, it's February 10th. "Wait what? Valentine's Day is that soon?" Lucy chuckled. "I'm taking that as a no." Why would he ask me anyway? Last time he dated someone was my former best friend, Eudora. Clearly she doesn't understand what calling dibs means. They lasted a good 3 days they had their first kiss on day two and Linus dumped her the next morning. I don't know any details, I blocked Eudora the morning she got dumped. I didn't want to listen to her dumb sob story or be near her again. I guess I wasn't technically dating him but I still felt betrayed.
Lucy looks at me. I knew what she was thinking. "I don't think he's going to ask me, and for once I'm not going to do it." She looks kind of disappointed. "It wasn't like we were gonna last even if we dated Lucy." She looks a little angry now. "Yes you would've! Maybe if my stupid brother would just let you into his life you wouldn't be avoiding asking him be your stupid Valentine! Maybe you guys would've worked out, maybe if Linus didn't ignore and pull away that stupid stupid piano you were laying on!!"
"He never did any of those thi-"
"Uggghhhhh!!" Lucy groans. She was talking about Schroeder, now I get it. Lucy is still heartbroken, that's why she wouldn't give Schroeder another chance. It all made sense. And I think I know exactly what he needs to do.
We arrive to Lucy's house and she waves goodbye, I wave back. As soon as she turns away I whip out my phone and dial Schroeder's number. I needed to get this idea out right now. Luckily he picks up almost instantly, I calm down a little. "Need something?" He asks, I can hear some commotion on the phone. "Where are you Schroeder?" "I'm running errands with Linus." "Hi Sal" I hear Linus say from the phone. This guy really can't get out my life can he? Why must they do everything together? "Uh hi Linus" I eventually brush it off and begin my rant. "I just talked to Lucy and she was talking about how you ignored her and how you pulled the piano away and how rude you were and how she was never going to forgive you and-" I could tell Schroeder was getting more annoyed as I continued. His tone had more attitude than usual. "Your point?" "Oh yeah uh you should ask her the be your Valentine." Schroeder didn't respond instantly trying to take in what I just said. "My what!?" I didn't hold back. "Your Valentine! You guys would be so cute together and-"
"These are my feelings we are talking about Sally, you can't just play matchmaker."
"I know but it's so obvious you like her, and-"
"And she will never forgive me." Schroeder mumbles.
"So you need to do a grand gesture. Like asking her to be your Valentine."
"What do Valentines even do together?"
I roll my eyes, I can tell he's trying to stall. "You know what they do! It's like a temporary partner, you go on dates and get each other gifts like flowers and chocolates and-" Schroeder chuckles "Linus write this down." My face flushes red. But Linus defends me. "Quit trying to change the subject Schroeder, you know you you want to do it. You do want her to forgive you right?" Thank you Linus. At least someone agrees. "I guess so..." Schroeder mumbles. I squeal with joy. "But I'm not kissing her!" Linus smirks "We'll see about that"
"Oh fuck off Linus" Schroeder rolls his eyes and laughs a bit. He hangs up almost instantly after. Yes!!! He's asking her! I love a good match.