THE HOUSE DIVIDED

"All he had to do was listen" Edward seethed, "Why didn't he listen to me?".

Him and his club were injured over the course of the game, and were now recovering in the nursing facility. His injuries were quite a bit widespread, though nothing was truly serious.

His anger was another matter, it hadn't subsided. Why had that boy Charlie Brown stood, no, rebelled against his mission. Edward had just wanted him to understand his actions, at the least.

He couldn't have dare failed. They'd never failed.

"How did this happen" Samantha lamented "we were so sure of ourselves"

"It's called overconfidence" Henrietta noted.

"That's could do it" Maddison patted Snoopy, who'd accompanied her, "After all, Flying Ace here believes that's why he never catches the Red Baron"

That made Edward seethe in anger, "Perfect, and now I'm reminded of the last bully I failed to defeat".

The SOJAS members fell silent at the mention of his old nemesis.

"Calling that scoundrel a bully is an understatement" Henrietta corrected, "and she meant the original Red Baron, not you know who".

There was another moment of silence.

"Maybe this was a fault on our part" Neil analysed "and maybe not".

"Definitely not" Edward scoffed, "we've done this for years, and won every time. Not our fault someone rejected our help".

"Okay" Maddison pointed at him, losing patience "Charles isn't completely responsible here".

"Really" Edward snapped back angrily, "It's not my fault he's a fool, and a good for nothing failure".

And it was at that moment that the door was slammed open.

"GOOD FOR NOTHING FAILURE?".

The new voice made Edward freeze, his anger halted. As he now was facing someone more upset than he was.

"WHATS THE MATTER WITH YOU"

Linus, eyes red and breathing fast, yelled that out as he paced into the room, Janice behind him. "I thought you were the one who would help us".

"I"

"Wait, I understand" Linus sarcastically stated "your great plan to stop bullying against Charlie Brown for his failures, was to bully Charlie Brown for his failures. Incredible".

Linus glared, he knew that Edward had withheld from him his true feelings about his friends. And his true solutions, instead of changing Birchwood for the better, he had divided everyone.

"I hoped Charlie could win" Edward said, attempting to defend himself.

"Was that your concern, winning, THIS WASN'T ABOUT WINNING, it was about helping Charlie, so he…we could be happy" Linus swallowed "but you didn't care about helping Charlie, you only cared about beating Lucy".

He wondered where Edward's anger had gone. Now, while Linus himself was angry, Edward just seemed defeated.

"And look where that led to" he finished his rant "Lucy's been cruel, tormenting me, Charlie, so many people for years. And yet…the single most malicious day in Birchwood….…that was orchestrated by you".

Linus exhaled out as he calmed down, "I remember the old saying, He who fights monsters…"

"…must see they don't become one" Edward responded quietly, in a tone that told Linus he truly hadn't cared if he was as cruel as his enemies.

Edward spoke again, "I couldn't help Charlie, or you. But…I can offer you…an escape."

"A what".

Edward elaborated to him, "Linus, This township is steering towards an iceberg. I am offering you the chance to get on a lifeboat, and leave before it rams and sinks."

Linus immediately understood the riddle, "You want to leave town".

"And you, and your brother, you can come with us", Edward explained.

Linus looked away, what he had in Birchwood now was a toxic sister, disheartened friend's, a resentful clique, and now….…now an ex-best friend. Maybe he should…

.

"NO" Linus exclaimed, "If you want to walk out on us, "Emperor" Kingmaker, then go ahead."

He crossed his arms, "But don't expect me to go on and join you, and abandon everyone I care about".

And Linus hurriedly walked back out of the room. He wanted to be alone.

"Linus, wait"

Janice caught up to him outside, "Where are you going?".

Linus stopped still, turning around to sadly stare at her.

"Somewhere you shouldn't follow Janice, you should stay with Edward".

"Why".

"Because, because I'm going straight to Lucy…and surrendering. Maybe that'll help take heat off Charlie Brown".

"WHAT!" Janice gasped, not believing Linus was losing hope, "That's the fight your giving. Is that… is that who you believe you are Linus?".

"No, and that's a good thing" Linus interjected.

His friend looked dismayed.

"Janice, I wasn't good enough. I'm not good enough. Did you think my ideas, the help, the values of a blanket carrying weirdo, would change anything?".

Janice frowned.

"I should be ashamed of myself. I'm just so…insecure" Linus explained, "But…I'm going to fix that, once and for all".

And he walked off, intending to go to an unknown destination.

Janice Emmon's went to the first place she thought Linus would go, knocking on the door of the Van Pelt's house.

There was no response, she observed. Janice opened the door, quietly entering.

"Hello"

If she was home, the last thing Janice wanted was to alert Lucy, who was less than pleased about her earlier, regrettable slap to the face.

"Janice" Rerun Van Pelt opened the door to a cupboard, Katie behind him, "Lucy isn't home".

"Thanks" Janice walked up, "I'm looking for your brother".

Rerun sighed, looking concerned.

"Linus was here half an hour ago" he explained, "but he just took his blanket back before leaving".

The young boy had thought he'd be upset by Linus going back on his promise to give it up, but his brother had looked so distressed, and apologetic for not stopping Lucy, that hadn't been on his mind.

"Us two were hiding here" Katie explained, "we know Lucy is angry at Rerun, and thought you might've been her".

Janice shook her head, "Obviously not, so you two can come out".

Rerun and Katie exited the cupboard, knowing it was now all clear.

Let's find your brother" Janice suggested sadly, "He-he needs our support".

She led the two kindergarteners outside, beginning to walk down the street. They maintained a steady speed, keeping an eye out for other members of the clique.

At the street corner, Janice stopped to see a familiar boy, leaning against a fence.

"Ms Emmons. It's unfortunate you and your family came back".

She recognised the voice immediately, it was the boy who'd bullied her ages ago. Janice frowned at him and gestured the younger kids to keep walking.

"You should know that your home, Black Manor, is going to be in our cliques hands as compensation" the boy said, clearly revelling in his power. "If you're finding Van Pelt, then let him know that he's now our main target"

They ignored him, walking down the next street.

The boy smiled, and looked towards the Van Pelts house, just in time to see a black haired girl walking towards it.

He immediately called out.

"HEY LUCY, THEY'RE RIGHT HERE".

Janice, Rerun and Katie didn't even check if he was bluffing, instead quickly sprinting away.

"BRAD", Lucy scolded, walking up to the boy, "Why didn't you grab them."

"Uhhhh"

"We're about to go and crash the "victory" celebration at the manor" Lucy shook her head, "Have you done anything to help?"

At this accusation, Brad smiled. He then proceeded to reveal an argument he'd heard at the locker rooms, just after the game, involving two certain boys.

The information made Lucy breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed, she would be the unopposed winner in peace.

"Good ol Charlie Brown" they laughed maliciously.

"It's a great thing Linus grabbed his blanket" Rerun addressed, once they were away from danger "otherwise Lucy may've destroyed it, out of spite".

At that comment about the blanket, Janice stopped in her tracks.

She put two and two together, remembering how Linus, thinking who he was wasn't good enough, said he would….….…fix his insecurity. And the blonde came to a realisation.

"Rer-Rerun" she stuttered "Lucy won't destroy his blanket. Cause, he's…he's going to destroy it first".

Linus's insecurity has reached an all time high, and now the clique is at its worst. Next chapter coming soon