CONNECTING

Linus had woken up to hear the sound of himself coughing. Quickly taking a glass of water to stop him from doing so, he looked around.

He was now feeling a bit unwell, something with the addition of a poor nights sleep. He had been having dreams of being thrust into intolerable worlds, with things who turned everyone against everyone.

Nonetheless, he got ready and went to have breakfast. Rerun was already out there before him and had headed to the kitchen.

Linus followed. But just before he entered, Rerun stopped and turned around.

"Hey big brother, can I…"

Linus interrupted him as he coughed more into his sleeve. Then, he quickly recomposed himself as if he did it often.

"…are you…are you feeling okay?"

"Me" Linus gestured to his chest, "I think whatever it is will pass Rerun"

"Whatever what is?"

Linus and Rerun looked unsteady as Lucy entered the hallway.

The former maintained his current gesture, "As I was just explaining to Rerun Lucy, it's something…"

"…something that will pass. Yeah I got the message" Lucy stated.

"…and now I'm going to have a day with some friends, amongst other things".

Linus looked over to Rerun, and then, noticed the change in expression on his face to one of cautiousness. And that all but confirmed his brother knew he was helping Schroeder, and it was today he'd be getting him with his wannabe partner.

"What's up with him?" Lucy asked, pointing to Rerun, "does he have something to say about these "other things. What are these other things?"

Linus had told himself he wasn't going to tell her about what was happening with Schroeder, at least not yet.

"It's not a problem" he looked to Rerun, "is it Rerun?"

"No" Rerun agreed, "but…at the moment you don't seem…".

"All the more reason to go now, in case I'm worse off later". Linus tried to give as reassuring a voice as he could.

"That's stupid" their sister said.

"And keep an eye on Lucy" he sullied, "babysitting might keep her out of the trouble"

"Eye on…babysitting…Keep me out of the trouble" Lucy sullied, "what trouble?. I'm wondering if…You're up to something. Aren't you.

At this point she was nearly getting up in his face, and then stopped there, taking a closer view of her brother.

"Actually, Rerun may be onto something here. You look a bit pale".

"All the more reason to get this over with" Linus responded.

"Again, Charlie Brown levels of stupid"

"I'm sceptical, Linus" Rerun noted.

"What is this that you are uncompromisingly required for?" Lucy asked.

The two of them were continuing to try and make themselves heard, and each of what they were spouting was different.

From between them, Linus was getting ever so unhappy with what was going on with them.

"I think you'd best give up"

"You don't seem healthy"

"Give me an answer Linus"

"I SAID THAT IT'S NOT A PROBLEM", Linus suddenly yelled in frustration. He couldn't help his emotions this time.

Both his siblings were stopped in their tracks, unexpecting of how he'd yelled. He was looking at them, steadily beginning to expect a response from one, if not both. But they offered him nothing.

"I'll be late to where I'm going" he awkwardly shuffled away, "I'll be back later"

And then he left. As the door was closed behind him, Lucy, frustrated, turned to Rerun

"Little brother, be content that you aren't anything like…"

But a unhappy Rerun glared back at her.

"…him, Lucy" he finished her sentence.

"Well yeah, I mean, you once said you were…".

"Yeah, and you still don't get it do you", he glared.

"Well finally someone…excuse me" Lucy was now confused. But Rerun had already left to the kitchen.

"Linus, my main man" Schroeder called out, and threw an arm around the neck of the young boy. They both were standing in the cafe where the latter boy was hoping to meet his wannabe partner. Samantha Lesley was pre-informed by Linus to drop by, as it'd been discussed.

It was noticeable that Schroeder was seeming much more laid back and energetic than he usually was. Linus was wondering if his friend realised that.

"Thanks Schroeder, though maybe keep to whatever's your usual, level headed…self"

Schroeder moved his arm away, "oh, I forgot. I just, really hope this gets me and Samantha somehow…well".

"I know" Linus acknowledged, but felt compelled to say something else. "It's not a done deal yet. You still need to show you'd like her to be your partner".

Schroeder looked a bit hesitant, "but I'd…isn't that a kind of unhopeful…"

Linus coughed a couple of times into his arm again, and Schroeder waited for him to stop.

"…outlook on this. I mean, what's there to do".

Now he looked more hesitant.

"Just be up front" Linus advised, "go to her and tell her what you'd like"

He then pointed in front of him, "and by the looks of it, now's the time"

A dark blonde haired girl around their age, Samantha Lesley walked into the cafe, and saw the two boys.

"Hello Schroeder, Linus" she greeted with a friendly grin. "So Schroeder, you've mentioned you have some things planned for me".

"Of course" he responded politely, "If you'd like to grab a seat, I'll get some cakes for us"

She smiled and sat down at a nearby table.

"This is where my help ends, I suppose" Linus nodded at Schroeder, "Go get her"

Schroeder went to get some food, and Linus steadily stepped out of the cafe.

As he walked away, a thought crossed his mind. Schroeder and his wannabe partner Samantha seemed to have a willingness to bond with each other. He now at least felt satisfied that he'd been able to help the two connect. Whether they were going to was up to them.

But within a few more minutes, the sound of "Ode to Joy" being played from the cafe convinced him that they had.

"I was looking forward to this" a voice said "I'm glad you gave it the help it needed"

Linus turned his head aside in surprise as he saw Janice come up next to him. He gave his friend a small nod.

"Thanks"

Janice looked back to the cafe, and them to him again.

"I've been meaning to ask you something Linus"

Linus looked up, "Yes Janice" he responded

"Its about…actually, why don't we go on a walk"

"The edge of the forest maybe?". He then wondered why he'd suggested there, of all the places.

"That's okay" Janice responded, and clasped a hand on Linus's. The two of them smiled at each other.