IMPRESSION

Linus stood at the wall, waiting patiently. As a small bit of instinct, he reached right down through his bag, until he could see his blanket right at the bottom.

"Morning Linus. What are you doing?"

He was a bit startled at Charlie Brown's voice as he came right up behind him.

"Oh, hey Charlie Brown. I was looking in my bag, that's all"

"At your blanket?" Charlie Brown bent over to look, "I thought you were trying not to play with it as much"

"Just seeing it hasn't run off on me" Linus jibed. Then he became curious, "What brought you to join me Charlie Brown".

"I thought you were waiting for me Linus" his best friend replied, handing him one of two cookies.

"No. Sorry, this time I'm waiting for" Linus peered to the left of Charlie Brown, "…for her".

Lucy was still unrecognised as she turned round the corner and up to the wall.

She addressed them immediately, "Good morning Linus, morning…uhhh"

"Charlie Brown. I'm Linus's best friend"

Charlie Brown introduced himself, and saw her expression remain unchanged, "errr…hello"

Linus finished the cookie, looked at him, then moved to Lucy.

"Charlie Brown, this is my new friend". He then whispered, "She prefers to remain anonymous".

"Yes. That's okay"

"Charlie and I often support each other. Particularly given we've had people pick on us" Linus smiled at the older boy.

Lucy couldn't help but make a souring look towards Charlie Brown, though this time it had little to do with him and his failure personality.

"So are you both…going somewhere" he asked, noticing her displeasure.

"Only us" Lucy nodded curtly. Linus looked at Charlie Brown as he asked something again.

"If you don't mind me asking, why are you spending time with Linus?"

"If I may ask, why are you still hanging around Linus" Lucy asked back.

Charlie Brown stepped back, a concern growing, "Wha…I don't really understand. I am his best friend"

"Yes" Linus nodded, "he's been in my life since I was a toddler"

Lucy made a scowl under the mask

"So was your sister" she explained, "But that didn't stop him doing what he did"

There was a tense feeling amongst them that lasted for a few moments.

"Ummm" Linus wondered, "how did you even know about the restraining order?"

Charlie Brown realised his friend hadn't experienced what he had, and lowered his head.

"Linus, folks know about my role in that. And, recently I've been given a hard time about it all".

Linus quickly turned back to his best friend.

"You're being picked on"

"Not directly" Charlie Brown shook his head, "But I can hear them talking behind my back. Giving me a cold shoulder. Even if they side with me, they exclude me as if I'm awful…"

"…when you're not" Linus finished, but Lucy now laughed mockingly.

"Oh, you are. I think it's a bit funny, you getting treated like you're as bad as his sister, if not worse. I think you well and truly earned it"

"Are you unaware that unlike Lucy, I was already constantly dealing with this" he asked, "haven't me, and him, been hit enough"

Lucy looked at her brother, then back, "If you weren't being such a fail…"

"Guys" Linus exclaimed. He looked at his sister, "Let's calm down".

His voice stopped the stand-off between his two companions, as they steadily distanced from each other.

And unknowingly, Lucy worried that she had clued them in on who she really was. Now, Charlie Brown had distrust towards her.

Linus noticed he was still feeling sad, so he squeezed his shoulder gently, "Cheer up, pal. I'll help you with this bullying thing. One talking to at a time"

"Thank you so much Linus", his best friend replied, as the group left in seperate directions.

Except, as she and Linus walked away, Charlie Brown had a feeling that somehow Linus would not be as safe as he thought.

The siblings walked without talking for several minutes. Linus was off in front, he wasn't feeling impressed.

Lucy came up behind him.

"Hey. HEY" she tried getting his attention, "So, what special things are you going to train me in this time eh Linus"

Linus turned around, making a cold expression.

"Well, I do have one thing. Not treating my friends like that"

She was taken aback by his sudden attitude.

"Is this about…are you actually defending Charlie Brown"

"Yes…" Linus assured. Lucy shook her head and grumbled.

"…I know he didn't check in with me or anything, but he cared enough to try and keep me safe"

Lucy sounded defensive, "Relax Linus. Won't your Charlie Brown pal walk it off in a few hours"

"That's not how that insulting kind of personal criticism works. It can hurt people"

"And do you know it did?"

Linus wanted to make his point.

"Us two've bonded over being talked too like that. He gets it for a long losing streak, and I've got it for…" Linus lifted his blanket, "for being a bit weird"

His sister turned away so he couldn't see her wince. She'd hoped to mend thier relationship, not go back to acting demeaning towards him.

"I've heard about people giving you grief over that and your Great Pumpkin tale, but I won't" she appealed, before continuing "Hey. This time, I'm going after him, not you, him"

Linus lifted his head high, "And I'm reminded of the proverb "Whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me"

That made her stare silently at him, and he remained committed

"The next time you see him, you're giving him an apology" he explained, "Is that okay"

He could tell she nearly urged to snipe back at him that she didn't want to hear anything he said. But instead, she felt a bit different, she was getting impressed by his boldness.

"Okay" she said.