DISCOVERED

"I'm looking for a blonde-haired boy around my age", Lucy asked a cafe staff member. She had gone into three previous cafes without a clue about Schroeder, from anywhere or anyone.

But now, on this ask, the staff member pointed to a table on the far end and asked if that was him. Lucy nodded slightly as she caught sight of her crush. He was finishing eating a cake as he wiped his mouth.

It didn't appear like anyone was with him. Lucy looked around once more, than exhaled. This probably had been a misinterpretation, or a scare prank by Violet, but only…

"So this is the music I was talking about earlier Schroeder. Very similar to Beethoven".

Lucy's relaxation disappeared, as Samantha came up to Schroeder with another two cake's, along with a sheet of music she handed over.

"Very nice" Schroeder acknowledged, "shall I try playing it".

He got out his small piano.

Lucy was feeling mortified. Mortified as she saw the two of them together, the music of the piano beginning to come in sync while Samantha smiled.

That was that, she'd had a crush on this boy that ever had been present. And now, he'd taken a liking to partnering with another girl.

It seemed more and more like Schroeder and this Samantha Lesley'd soon be partners, and she was going to miss out. Because of the unfortunate chance that her crush hadn't been requited, and nothing else.

The music continued to play, Lucy remained where she stood as they continued their date. It was an unfortunate chance indeed.

But, there was a window where she could still interfere. And with that thought, she began shuffling towards their table.

When she was two-thirds of the way there, Schroeder finally caught sight of her out of the corner of his eye, but before Lucy could see him become tensed up at her presence, she was intercepted by two girls.

The two in particular were Peppermint Patty and Marcie. The presence of both had somehow gone unnoticed by her, or more likely they had only just arrived at the cafe.

"You girls" she pointed to Schroeder and Samantha behind them, "are getting in my way at a really bad time".

"Lucille" Patty replied, "I gotta strongly insist we take this outside".

Patty was not someone to take her objections in passing. And Marcie was in this case, pleased to back her on that.

Lucy, Marcie and Patty got outside the cafe.

"This isn't anything you both should be here for" she started into them once there, "just me and Schroeder"

"If it wasn't us, it may be someone else Lucille" Patty replied, "We were just around, and…Marcie"

"I…we think it's best you don't interfere right now" Marcie advised, "in their date"

"That's fine and all, but I've made up my mind, if you'll excuse me". Lucy too a step back to the cafe, but the duo were still in front of her.

"Maybe your current mood isn't going to allow it" Patty stated.

"No it isn't" Lucy grumbled, "you two would see that if you're chasing after a boy you crush on, and he finds another girl…it's your loss.

"Yeah" Patty nodded, "definitely see that Lucille. I've been there with my own crush alright".

"How'd you even know I was going here?" Lucy asked the two girls.

"I told them" a new voice replied. Coming up from behind Marcie, both of the Browns now walked into the conversation.

Lucy glared, not at all pleased to see them, "And why are you here?"

Sally looked between her and her brother.

"Rerun went straight to our house after he'd realised you went awol" Charlie Brown explained, "I had thought that you'd be coming to find Schroeder".

"Wow, expected the worst case scenario. Then again you're used to that, given its you, Charlie Brown".

The boy dismissed the insult. He'd kept doing that since his bullies were taken down.

"Schroeder is my crush. So it better be me in a relationship with him. Not…"

"But today he'd rather not be in that relationship with…you" Marcie tried not to sound rude.

Lucy looked up, "He's just complex"

"Complex?"

"Unlike you for example, Charlie Brown" she scoffed, "You're simply boring". She thought that stung him, making her fell tougher.

"You know there is an easy way to fix this up" Sally exclaimed, "If you care to know"

This peaked Lucy's interest, perhaps someone would come around to her side after all.

"What is it" she asked.

Sally grinned meanly, whispering something in her ear. She took a quick jolt back, facing Lucy as the indignation came on her face.

"Sally, out of line", Charlie Brown gave his sister a disapproving stare, "And Patty, don't offer her a high five for that"

Patty stopped raising her hand.

"…Lucy" Charlie Brown tried to get back on track, "concerning you, our coexistence isn't the best but…"

Lucy could have screamed in frustration at where this had gone, but instead, chose to get them all off her case.

"Woah. Is that the little red haired girl" she unexpectedly pointed to a nearby table, knowing the trick to pull off here.

With the exception of Marcie, the rest of them looked over at the table she had pointed at. And Marcie herself couldn't catch Lucy before there was enough distance put by her between them.

"I can't believe we fell for that" Charlie Brown lamented to the rest of the group. She was well away by the time the others realised the ruse.

"At least there is a young red-haired girl at the next table" his sister observed as Peppermint Patty rolled her eyes.

Sally noticed, "…what, I'm trying to save face here"

Two tears of frustration came down Lucy's face as she stood by another building, blocks away from the cafe.

"I was trying to stop you Lucy" Violet told her, as she finally caught up to the whereabouts of the former.

Lucy only pouted as Violet stood at her feet, looking down at her.

"Was this a petty move Violet?. Trying to make yourself feel better, knowing I've swallowed worse"

"No"

Lucy huffed, "I don't believe you".

"I sympathise for the frustration you're feeling" Violet moved to put a hand on her shoulder, then thought better, "But all you believe is a lie Lucy. Lies"

The two girls remained there, both eyeing the ground.

"I thought someone told you before me, honest" Violet defended herself more, she leaned over to her, "particularly your brother Linus…"

Lucy was at that, caught of guard. Now she was becoming indignant and annoyed at where this was going.

"Linus…there's been a rift between us since he sided with those bully hunters and…defeated me. Why'd he bother".

Violet was giving a blank stare at her.

"Because…I have heard talk…he's who helped Schroeder get together with his new crush"

"Linus did?"

Lucy took a moment to process this, and then both her fists were clenched as she stood. Schroeder and his partner had got together, and now all was clear about the detail.

"LINUS COLLUDED WITH WHAT.

"It's my expectation"

"Your expectation…he was hiding it this morning Violet. Now, where do you think I'll go, huh".

"I did, maybe see Linus near the forest" Violet mentioned, and then she thought of a cherry on top, "with Janice, his own crush"

And now Lucy was fuelled with envy. Linus got to have a relationship with his crush, after everything else going for the smart, talented and now expecally more social boy.

And she, up to now, was miserably sucking this all up. As if she'd be so foolish.

"Violet, as a best friend, you've done me a favour" she said to the other girl, "And now, I'm gonna get that brother of mine"

Violet kept a face of concern and caring as she watched Lucy storm off. And then, that expression changed, it became replaced by a sly smile as she moved seamlessly into the phone box and dialled a number.

"I'll be the first to say you are very welcome" she acclaimed, "one bit of tinkering left on your part, and remember the details"

She put the phone back, a vendetta against the Van Pelt's front of her mind.

A/N: Apologies for the slower upload. I'll get the next chapter out hopefully a bit sooner. See you then