THE UNTRUSTWORTHY
Linus packed a day bag full of food and water. Edward Black had explained to him that they would be out until the afternoon.
Good thing it's a Saturday, he thought.
He personally had no idea what Edward had planned, or how it would help him. Was he going to put Linus through gruelling training practice. He could picture himself now continuously lifting weights, as Edward spoke and acted like a drill sergeant.
Well, he thought optimistically, there was only one way to find out, and he was willing to try. If it would help him become self-secure, aid him in helping Charlie Brown, and stop the cruelty of Lucy.
Who, had just entered his room to confront him.
And she didn't look happy.
Linus turned to face his sister. And Lucy got straight to the point.
"Why were you at Black's house last night?" she questioned.
"Blacks House?" Linus was surprised.
How did she know where he was?.
"Rerun told me you were out there" Lucy revealed to him.
"He did" Linus said.
Rerun had been supposed to keep quiet. He'd trusted him to keep quiet.
But Lucy then explained that she'd convinced him to tell her everything.
"I hinted it was maybe Great Pumpkin related" she explained.
Linus frowned.
"Well, it wasn't" he told her.
"Good" Lucy snapped "we know he certainly would be embarrassed if it was about that."
She leaned in.
"If you haven't already seen Linus, Rerun is ashamed of your habits."
Lucy smiled.
"In fact, he's really just ashamed of You."
They were silent, as the message sunk in,
"Ashamed"
Linus looked upset. "Rerun's a-ashamed of me".
"Yeah, Rerun was talking about it to me last night" his sister told him stoically.
Linus sighed. He knew that his brother disliked his habits, and had considered that only an harmless annoyance. But, he hadn't believed that Rerun would have grown to be actually ashamed of him.
"And rest assured I'll pass on a similar message to Black, so he knows I'm indifferent to whether he beats up your tennis court bullies or not" Lucy continued.
Linus looked down
"But back on topic" she glared "where are you going today?"
"Look" Linus stated "you didn't tell me what you're doing with your friends, so can't I do the same"
Lucy gave him a look that said otherwise.
"Okay, I'm going to Charlie Brown's, you happy" he lied.
Nodding, she sneered. "Not really, but then again, that's the go to place for the people I'm ashamed of"
Lucy walked away.
"Bye, Linus Brown" she cruelly taunted.
She left Linus in his room, dejected.
And I'd been so optimistic moments before, he thought sadly
Linus walked downstairs to head off to Black Manor. He saw Rerun was eating his breakfast in the kitchen, trying to avoid eye contact.
"Ashamed of me eh Rylan".
Linus stared at him, a betrayed look on his face.
Rerun, slightly guilty, looked up back at Linus "She was quite persuasive…"
"Forget it" Linus said, annoyed.
He moved to the door
"Oh. Okay" Rerun awkwardly said.
But Linus had already left.
Linus was walking towards Black Manor, trying to get those upsetting confrontations out off his head. He wanted to be thinking clearly for whatever would happen today.
"Morning Linus, over here"
Charlie Brown walked up to him.
"Do you want to practice some baseball?"
"Baseball?" Linus was concerned "Don't you have football training for the game now".
Charlie looked down, which confirmed he did.
"Yeah, bet they're all waiting for me" he grumbled.
"Charlie Brown" Linus raised his eyebrow "you shouldn't neglect your team…"
"I was being sarcastic" he spat.
"Oh" Linus realised.
"They told me to clear out" Charlie Brown said "and being honest, can't blame them. What were we thinking, getting me to join"
"Cheer up Charlie Brown" Linus said "go back, and tell them you have a right to be on that team"
"I don't know"
"You said that you'd give up on succeeding at life if you didn't" he reminded him.
"Oh okay" Charlie Brown relented "will you come with me?"
Linus face fell
"I can't Charlie Brown, I've got to do something with someone today" he explained.
"Something with someone. I get it"
"I'm really sorry" Linus apologised "But I'll be there tomorrow"
"It's fine Linus" Charlie Brown reassured.
But as he walked off, he was as depressed as ever.
Outside, Linus arrived at Black Manor to find Maddison Freeman standing outside the front porch.
He looked uneasy. Though Edward had said he liked him, here was one person who hadn't been as welcoming.
"Welcome back" she said coldly "Edward'll be out in a minute"
Linus nodded, and an awkward silence followed.
"So, are you coming with us Maddison?" he asked.
She looked at him.
"Nah, not today" she replied.
"Are you just keeping watch here then?" Linus guessed
Maddison scoffed
"I'm not playing security guard for Edward" she explained "and don't tell me otherwise kid".
Linus nodded.
Edward then walked out the door, he was on the phone.
"You will have your chance at the game, trust me"
He continued chatting for a bit.
"I'll be in touch" he soon finished
Edward hung up, he didn't look happy.
"And she said she liked manners" he angrily muttered "not even a "thank you" for the tennis courts, that girl is infuriating"
He looked up and quickly calmed down.
"Morning you two" he greeted.
"Morning" Linus greeted
"Was that Lucy?" Maddison questioned him
Edward nodded "She's been explaining about who she's got on her side, apparently this kid named Fabulous is gonna help, for example"
Which was fine with Edward, if Lucy wanted to show him everybody he would eventually lead to ruin, he was all ears.
"Okay then" she said "I'll talk to you later, but I better now find Gina and Jacob. Bye".
She left Linus and Edward, and went inside.
"Are you ready Linus?" Edward asked
"I, well, I guess" Linus replied
"Maybe not yet" Edward summarised, "but we can change that"
They began walking.
"After all" he said "I ain't called Kingmaker for nothing"