SALLY'S POV
I was on a pretty weird mission today. I was walking over to Schroeder's house for something very important. I knocked on his door. He opened the door instantly. "Can I talk to you?" I asked. He let me in as we walked over to the couch. Before he could sit down I grabbed his arm. I pulled him and kissed him. When we broke apart Schroeder just looked stunned, nothing more nor less. "Sally I-"
"I know you don't like me, I don't like you either." He looked at me. "So why-"
"This could be beneficial for both of us. You have something to distract from Lucy so you can gain her trust back, and Janice will leave you alone. And it will help me get over Linus." I waved my hand out in the air as if the imagination was seen right before our eyes. Schroeder was thinking. He made direct eye contact with me. And he kissed me. "We can give it a try" he said smiling. We let go of each other awkwardly just before Lucy barges into his house. "Do you guys know where Linus is?" She didn't see anything. I looked back at her "I think I might." I looked at Schroeder and he let me into his car. Lucy went home after.
I didn't have an exact idea where he was. But this reminded me of the time Lucy barged in awhile ago so I'm guessing he's at the creek. I was right.
LINUS' POV
I was at the creek that was a few neighborhoods away. No one ever bothered me here. Well besides Sally apparently. This time I was here without cigarettes or drugs whatsoever. I saw Schroeder's car pull up here. I forgot he found us here once, so he knows where it is. He walked out and opened the passengers door. Sally walked out of it. Why were they together here? Sally hugged him and they shared a kiss. Wait are they-
I forgot to mention, this all takes place a week after they broke up, my bad.
It had only been a week and she was dating someone, and Schroeder of all people!? When I looked at them my stomach turned. Seeing them together made me feel gross. And I don't know why. Schroeder got back into the car and drove away as Sally blew a kiss towards it. She looked over at me and smiled. I force a smile back as she runs towards me. I still had a hint of shock in my facial expression that she noticed. "Plot twist huh?" She laughed lightheartedly, I chuckle but it was completely fake. I was not amused. "I told you I was going to move on." I looked at her, you could tell I was pretty upset seeing this.
"What about Lucy?" Sally raised her eyebrow making that face she makes when she's playing dumb. "What about her?" Is she just gonna pretend Lucy is just going to accept this? "When did you ever like him?" I growled. Honestly I was more mad at Schroeder. I just told him not to hurt Lucy and here he is doing it all over again, even when he doesn't notice it.
"Probably when you started looking at another girl." Ok well that stings. I guess that's what I get for liking Janice. Something about her tone sounded kind of like she was talking passive aggressively. Which is weird because she said we'd still be friends. But even I knew that there always going to be something awkward about it.
Sally looks around at the area. "No cigarettes?" She smiles back at me. My eyes try to avoid her as she tries to engage in conversation. "So when do you plan to ask out Janice?" She leaned closer to me batting her eyes. "You want me to ask her...now?" I gulped looking back at her. She nodded. "You didn't have trouble asking me out." That was true, I don't know what made Janice so different. Maybe it was because I already knew Sally used to like me so I felt more comfortable. I look down, playing with the grass by my feet. "I know you can do it Linus. You've come so far, and we've been through enough for me to put all my faith in you." At first I was completely unfazed with Sally breaking up with me after everything but now when she says we've gone through so much and has a boyfriend something just changed.
I face her again. She has a huge grin on her face. I wrap my arms around her matching the same grin she had on. "Thank you Sally, you truly are great." I could hear her giggle. She was the sweetest. She gave me the confidence I needed. Once we go our separate ways I go to the same flower shop Schroeder dragged me to before Valentines Day. I got one rose for her, I didn't know what she liked but everyone likes roses right? Well probably not the people who have held them before. I look down at my hands. I got pricked multiple times trying to find a good area to rest my hand.
I walked to her house with only positives in my head. As a logical person I don't often think this way. Thanks to Sally I'm able to experience this point of view. And I must admit I feel great. Janice lets me in when I ask her to talk. "Good thing your here Linus I have so much to tell you. I'm going through something right now." She looked down. Like as if she was about to cry.
"Are you ok?" Ok, I'll save the confession for later. Right now she's hurt. "So I never told you but I- I really liked Schroeder and apparently he's dating Sally. Which how would that even happen!? Ever since I met Sally again she's been saying how I should give you a chance! This is all so stupid!" I felt terrible, ok now I know why I don't think like this. When you get your hopes up your more likely to fall down, to be vulnerable.
I stand up looking at her for a moment. Afterward I immediately exit, she didn't even think to follow all she did was look at me. As I left I crumpled that dumb rose with my fist. The pricks didn't come close to the pain of a broken heart. Nothings worse than love. I hate it, I do. It's all just some shit. I needed someone right now. For once I didn't want to grieve alone. I didn't even know where I was headed. All I knew was my body wanted to be somewhere, and I didn't object.
Before I knew it I had been let into Frieda's condo by Sally. I was going to tell her everything, I was. "Sally I-" I held my hand out. I looked down at it, it was covered in blood. Sally looked horrified. "Linus!" Her eyes became teary in minutes. She dragged me to the couch where she bandaged it up. "Are you ok? How do you feel? Does it still hurt?" I looked down at my hand again, I could see the blood seeping through the white bandages. "It still hurts a little." Sally face looked worse than mine. She was crying, I knew Sally cried easily but it still hurt to see it. "Is there something I could do?" She mumbled looking up at me. Her lower lip was quivering as she made eye contact with me. "Just stay right there."
She looked at me skeptically with her helpless teary eyes. I pulled her in for a kiss. When we broke apart she looked at me again, as if she never looked away. "Sally we will never be what we used to be thanks to me. But you deserved so so much better and I hope you know that. I wanted to protect from everything, everything that could ever hurt you. Just to realize I was the one causing your pain. I love you Sally, so much can I have another chance?" Tears were leaving her eyes rapidly. "Linus we are better apart. And I do love you still, I really do. We will always be more than friends but never the same. I can't do this anymore, as much as I'd just love to run back to you. I can't handle the pain. I love you, and I don't think I'll ever stop. I will never let you go far, friends? Or whatever we will end up being."
I could feel tears dashing down my cheeks. "Friends, always."