Tuesday brought a buzz to the school. It was the second official playoff game tonight, and Lucy could've cared less. Besides it being on a school night. She wouldn't dare go. She had been successfully avoiding Schroeder for the last week. It was a miracle she was at school at all. Frieda had marked her territory, and it was clear that Schroeder had already moved on. Perhaps. Lucy still was holding onto a loose shred of hope. Perhaps she should go to the game.
Linus insisted she sit with the gang at lunch today, so Lucy did. She didn't look up from her plate once. She fiddled and toiled with her food, taking very few bites. If she would've looked at Schroeder, she wouldn't have been able to eat at all. At school, it was harder to hide her new cracker diet. So, she ate two spoons of potatoes, and three green beans, and drank her milk. It seemed to satisfy her enough in order to dump the tray.
When she was walking down the hall with Sally, Lucy mentioned, "You know how you were asking me about college?" Sally nodded, puzzled by this sudden topic. "I was thinking...how would I get into one of those."
"Well, you would have to ask Linus," Sally shrugged. "He was the one that told me about beauty school."
"Figures," Lucy sighed. Just because she had forgiven her brother, didn't mean she wanted to spend every waking moment with him. He had been her constant companion these last few days. Sally had come over for dinner last night, making the public announcement to the van Pelt parents. Lucy thought it went rather well. Especially since they didn't tell them how long they had actually been together.
"You're considering college?" Linus asked during a study hall they shared in the library. Sally worked fast. "I thought you wanted to get a husband straight away like mom."
"Times are changing Linus," Lucy brushed the thought of Schroeder from her mind.
"I know that," Linus sat down. He was carrying several packets. "That's why I'm glad you're exploring your options. Here, I go there for you." He set the packets down at the table. Did he already have these? There were so many. She examined them.
"Some of these are out of state," Lucy put them aside. She wouldn't want to go anywhere too far from home. "This one looks nice." She held up a brochure that was maroon. "It doesn't seem too far either." She looked at the prices. Moderate. Seems good enough for her.
"That's a state school," Linus pointed out. "It's a very qualified institution."
"Right," Lucy nodded. "Okay, how do I get in?"
"You can tell the office ladies and they'll get you an application and the records you'll need to send."
As soon as school was over, Lucy went into the office, holding the brochure from the college. She had asked the office ladies about the college admission process. It wasn't as hard as Lucy thought, she simply needed to fill out forms and write an essay. Lucy didn't mind writing papers. She had been one of the better writers in her class. Her only issue was the topic. She had to write about what she wanted to pursue in college, and her mind had gone blank.
She sat at her desk that evening, staring at the blank page she had laid out in front of herself. "Think Lucy," she commanded herself, but it was no use. She never had to think of this before. Lucy always thought her future would simply play out, but now she had to work towards it. What exactly was she working towards? A degree, of course, but what in it? What could she do for the rest of her life?
The blank sheet ended up in the trash as a wrinkled white ball.
Marcie was bundled in a blanket that night. It was below freezing this November night, she was sure of it. Charles had called her about an hour ago to tell her to dress warmly. He had been calling more since Friday, which didn't make much sense. She thought he would've been satisfied with his conversation with Heather on Friday, but it had only driven him to give her more attention than ever.
This morning, Charlie and Marcie had walked into school together holding hands. He had kissed her cheek once before going off to his first hour. Anytime they had met throughout the day he would embrace her in some way. It was hard to stay mad at him when he did that. Sure, it was an act, but it was still hard to stay mad. Perhaps she shouldn't be mad at all. Heather's comment made her feel like an idiot, but if Charlie wanted her, she was making the perfect moves.
Heather seeing her as a threat was the last thing Marcie had truly expected. Even now, as Marcie stood at the edge of the stands, leaning on the railing, she could feel Heather's eyes on her back. She would sit down soon, but Charles had told her to wait for him right here. He was currently warming up on the field, stealing glances her way every few seconds. She had waved a few times, and he returned the gesture happily.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you here," Patty said as she came up beside her.
"Sir," Marcie greeted. "I'm glad you're here." There was a long silence between the friends.
"You know...I never knew you liked Chuck," Patty said.
"Yeah..." Marcie bit her lip. "Since the day you introduced us."
Patty's eyes widened largely, "That long? Marcie! How could you keep it a secret?"
"I had to," Marcie shrugged. "You liked him and I didn't want to hurt your feelings."
"Marcie..." she trailed off, speechless. Marcie wished she could just tell Patty the truth. If she wasn't going to truly gain anything from this relationship, she certainly wouldn't lose anything either.
"Besides...he doesn't really like me."
"What?" Patty raised a brow. "But you two are going out."
"It's an act," Marcie admitted. She usually was good at keeping secrets, but nothing this bizarre. She could lose Paty if she withheld the truth. It was the right thing to do. Patty responded in silence. "Charles and I are pretending to date so he can get Heather's attention."
"He's still going on about her? After all me and Chuck have been through? Geez. I oughta give him a piece of my mind."
"You can't tell anyone, sir," Marcie pleaded. "The sham is almost through anyway. Heather is becoming jealous." Patty looked from Marcie to Charles on the field several times before finally opening her mouth.
"And you're okay with this?" Patty raised a brow. This was the last thing Marcie would've expected. Patty had never asked her about how she felt. It was strange but...nice.
"I have to be," Marcie shrugged. "And you'll have to be too. He doesn't want either of us."
Patty clicked her tongue, looking out at the field. "I figured. I mean...he's a good buddy, but it's about time I've moved on."
"That's very mature of you, sir," she grinned.
"Maybe I'm just not cut out for romance," Patty shook her head. "And I thought between the two of us, I would be the first to get into a relationship."
Marcie raised a brow. Did Patty not understand? "But sir—"
"Marcie!" Charlie called from the sidelines. She faced him as he crossed to the stands. He was grinning widely. "You came."
"I told you I was," Marcie leaned forward, closing some of the distance between them. "What did you want me here for?"
"I just wanted to see you," Charlie shrugged, smiling brightly now. Marcie didn't know how to respond. She looked for Patty, but she was gone. When Marcie turned her head, Charlie's nose was just in front of hers. She leaned back slightly. "Sorry," Charlie chuckled. "I was going to kiss your cheek."
"Oh," Marcie blushed. She leaned back in as the whistle blew. "Good luck," she told Charles, going to peck his brow. Charlie moved to kiss her cheek, causing their lips to hit the other. The reaction was instant. They both pulled back, eyes wide. Charles slowly backed away, his lips curving up slightly. Marcie was mortified and thrilled. She could feel her cheeks burn against the crisp wind.
Schroeder was fiddling with Lucy's necklace in his pocket as he sat in the stands. He silently looked for her in the bleachers, hoping to see her raven curls. There was no sign of her, however. He should've figured. What would make her want to come to the game? Sure, she was happy for Charlie now, but she knew Schroeder would be there. He couldn't ignore her avoidance. It was too obvious.
He tried to reason with her and apologize. Schroeder had to give himself that much. It was Lucy's pride that got between them. She was always so stubborn. How could he have ever thought she had changed? He then recalled her picking at her plate with disgust, and his heart dropped. Maybe he should tell someone. Linus maybe. Had he gotten through to her? He should ask.
"Please don't tell Linus," Lucy said into his shirt. "Or I'll pound you." He almost chuckled at that.
No, he couldn't tell Linus. It would only make her despise him more than ever. Perhaps Sally could be his gateway. She notices everything anyway, it would be easy for her to lie to Lucy about the discovery. But he supposed that Lucy still wasn't happy with the couple. She probably wasn't happy with anybody. Not even herself. It made the guilt fester deeper within his stomach.
"This seat taken?" Frieda asked. Schroeder snapped from his thoughts. She was standing right in front of him, holding a blanket to her chest, her red curls peeking out of her pink hat. If she wasn't staring straight into his soul, Schroeder would've thought she was talking to someone else. He looked around, seeing nothing but the empty top bleacher row around him.
"Do you see anyone?" Schroeder raised a brow. She instantly laughed, plopping down next to him. He gave her some room as she spread her blankets down on her lap.
"You've always been so funny, Schroeder," she commented as she leaned back.
"I don't know about that," Schroeder shook his head, causing her to go into another fit of giggles. He tried his best to grin, but it came out more like a grimace.
"Such a tease," Frieda smacked his arm playfully. "Well, who knew that this would be the best place to sit?"
"I've been sitting here for every game," he recalled. He never considered it the best place to sit, but it was a good place for him. "Don't you usually sit with Heather?"
"Stalk much?" Frieda raised a brow.
"What? No," Schroeder shook his head. It was an honest wild guess.
Frieda burst into yet another burst of giggles. "I'm just messing with you, Schroeder." She hit him once again. Schroder rubbed where she hit. it didn't hurt, but he felt like he should do something.
"How exciting is this?" Sally squeezed the blanket to her chest as Linus paid for their admission. "Our first official putting together."
"What do you call the dance then?" Linus raised a brow.
"An outing that won't end horribly," Sally amended. "I thought Lucy was going to come with us tonight."
"She said she would rather figure out her college application." He had poked his head into her room just before he left. She was sitting at her desk, bent over a sheet of paper. He had wondered why she wasn't dressed for the game. She simply shook her head, telling him to go on without her. He didn't bother to fight her, he was rather proud she was applying for college. It was the most motivated he had ever seen her in a long time.
"Is that all?" she nudged him. "Is she still listening to those records?"
"Of course, she is," Linus shook his head as his pride deflated. "I'll grow crazy if this keeps up."
"She's heartbroken, Linus," Sally shrugged. "I mean I couldn't imagine what it must feel like." She put her hand under his arm, holding it tightly.
"I know," Linus adjusted his hat. "I really thought she would've made things up with Schroeder. She was so sure of herself yesterday."
"You did say their fight was...intense."
"I just don't know why she would put it off," Linus shook his head as they began to climb up the bleachers. "I mean Schroeder looked so apologetic when he came over. I mean, it's not like he could forget about her so quickly, ri—" Linus and Sally both stopped walking in an instant when they saw the man in question. Schroeder and Frieda were squished together on the stands. Frieda's blanket spread over both of their laps.
Linus could've exploded there on the spot. Schroeder was looking off into the distance while Frieda was talking his ear off. If he weren't speechless, Linus might've sworn under his breath. Sally squeezed his arm, whispering to him. "That can't be what it looks like."
"It better not be," Linus said through gritted teeth.
"Let's sit by them," Sally proposed, guiding him up.
"What?" he fought against her. "No."
Sally persisted, yanking a little harder. "We have to." He fought against her so more. Sally widened her eyes, "For Lucy."
He stopped at that. He hated it when she was right. Linus groaned but followed her up without a struggle. As they approached the two, Schroeder looked both relieved and terrified simultaneously. "Hey, Schroeder," Sally greeted kindly. "Frieda."
"Hello, Sally," Frieda smiled with force. "A bit brisk up here, isn't it? Perhaps you would be warmer down there?"
"No," Sally tossed her blanket out beside Schroeder. "This is the best place in the stands. We always sit here." Schroeder looked at them with practical glee in his eyes as they sat. Perhaps Schroeder wasn't the traitor that Linus thought him to be seconds earlier. "Right, Schroeder?"
"Right," Schroeder answered firmly. Frieder rolled her eyes and folded her arms, causing Linus to grin.
Charlie sat on the sidelines with wide eyes. He hadn't been giving a single ounce of attention to the game. He touched his lips with the tips of his gloved fingers several times since the match had started. He just had his first kiss. He just had his first kiss with his girlfriend. No, he just had his first kiss with Marcie, his pretend girlfriend. Oh, good grief. He shouldn't be this giddy over a fake kiss. Sure it was unintentional, but why was he acting like a love-sick fool?
He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes immediately finding Marcie in the stands. He smiled and waved. She wasn't looking at him, so she hadn't waved back. One hand, however, did shoot up from the crowd. Heather. She was waving back at him. Charlie's heart skipped a beat. He had almost forgotten about her. How could he? She usually consumed his thoughts all the time, but he had been thinking nothing but of Marcie for the last hour.
"Focus, Charlie, focus," he told himself. He should be thinking of the simple game before him. It wouldn't even surprise him if the coach put him on the field at all. It was just past half, and they were twelve points up. Charlie kicked one simple field goal. That was all they had needed him for. Charlie was grateful not to have too much pressure on his shoulders this round, it would prepare him for the next.
The final whistle blew when Charlie could recall his next thought. The crowd roared with excitement. He looked up to the scoreboard, seeing the high winning numbers of his team. He grinned, taking off his helmet and shaking out his light blonde hair. With a drink of water, Charlie faced the crowd. A group was formed at the dropped-off lines, excitedly waiting for the players. He searched for Marcie, but she wasn't in sight. With a sigh, Charlie headed towards the crowd, hoping she would emerge.
Within a few steps, he was approached by a news reporter. Charlie had noticed the man with a camera as they were preparing the field earlier. The reporter rambled about the paper he worked for, then held his recorder up to Charlie. "What do you predict for next week's game, Charles?"
"Uh...I hope we win," Charlie had never been interviewed before. The reporter looked at him, expecting more. "We'll sure do our best."
"What has been your inspiration for this season?"
"Inspiration?" Charlie hadn't really thought about it. He just did what he did, and that was all. He instantly thought about his friends. Well, old friends. Linus, Schroeder, Franklin, Peppermint Patty, Pig-Pen, Sally, and even Lucy. He looked for them in the stands, but he couldn't pick them out. Marcie was still missing too. If there was anyone he could count on, it would be Marcie.
"Just because you've shut us out doesn't mean we're gone, Charles. There are plenty of struggling jocks that I could waste my time on, so I would suggest taking my help."
Marcie.
"That way we both know what we're in for. We'll fake it, and then Heather's all yours, and no feelings hurt."
How couldn't he have seen it before?
"We have to act like we're in love."
Marcie.
"Charlie," a voice called him back, but Charlie was far ahead. He continued towards the crowd. He had to find her. He hopped the rope with ease and began to call for her.
"Charlie," he heard a soft voice. He turned with hope, arms wrapping tightly around his middle. He hugged back presuming it was Marcie, but when the body pulled back, he saw the face of Heather.
"Heather," he immediately dropped his hold, blushing. "What are you doing?"
"Congratulating you," Heather smiled. She looked at the group around them. "We're heading to state!" Everyone whooped and cheered. She turned to him again. "And you're going to lead us there."
"Uh...thank you," was all Charlie could utter. She was still lingering on his waist. The reporter had followed him within the group.
"So, Charlie, who is this fine young lady?" he asked, pointing the recorder to Heather.
"She's..." his eyes darted around for Marcie.
"Is she the source of your inspiration for this winning season?"
"I..." he was being pressed by the crowd. Heather still held onto his waist.
"He's just shy," Heather told the reporter. "Maybe this will answer your question." She then went up on her tiptoes and kissed Charlie's cheek long enough for the flash of a picture to be taken. The crowd gasped, even Charlie. His eyes nearly popped from their sockets as he searched her face.
"Charles!" Marcie's voice called over the crowd. They let her through to him. She stopped when she saw him, a smile on her face. Her glasses were fogging in the night air, so she cleaned them quickly. He stared at her blankly as she peered back at him, noticing Heather this time. Her smile quickly faded as she gave him a questioning glance.
"Marcie," he said softly, but it was too late. Marcie marched right out of the crowd and off the field. He tried to go after him, but it was no use. She was gone with the crisp wind.