Author's Note

This story is made on a whim after seeing a viral edit/fanart of this ship on Tiktok by cherrisorbett

I loved watching Charlie Brown with my dad growing up. Enjoy.

Background

The Peanuts are starting their freshman year in college. Lucy seems to have gotten over her childhood crush: Schroeder. As for Schoeder, he thinks it's such a relief! But once he notices her growing absence, his feelings begin to grow as well.

Chapter 1

The performance was always the easy part for Schroeder. All the eyes in the audience watching him didn't affect the ways his hands glided across black and white keys. It was the aftermath that was harder. Once the trance of the melody ended, and he was met with silence before everyone's hands applaud, that was the difficult part. His eyes scanned for his parents.

At the end of the recital, everyone took a bow. After that, the audience and players alike stuck around the venue to socialize and eat the little refreshments offered. The first person to come up to Schroeder was his music teacher all throughout high school.

He patted Schroeder on the back so hard, it knocked some of the wind out of him. "You did it again, man!" he laughed. "I swear, I have never seen a kid like you. Such dedication. Such drive and focus!"

Schroeder chuckled over his babbling, "Thanks, Mr. B. It was nothing."

He continued, "Talented and modest! No wonder you have your first year of tuition already paid for. Passion like that cannot go unnoticed."

Schroeder smiled warmly. He wished he could have a conversation like that with his father if he had even bothered to show up.

"And enough with the formalities. You're a grown man now. I'm not your teacher anymore. Call me Peter."

Schroeder nodded.

"I have to run a few errands before the wife gets home. It was great seeing you out there, kid. I'll miss seeing you at these things." He slapped the teenager on the back once more. "But I know you're moving onto bigger and better."

Schroeder waved to his former music teacher before frantically turning his head a few more times. Nope, his father was nowhere in sight. Though this was his last high school recital, though this meant so much to him, he knew deep down his father didn't care for those things, even if it meant the world to his son. Sometimes he wished Bethoven really was his father, as silly as it sounds. Or even Mr. B- er, Peter. Then he could have a relative that understood him.

Ten minutes went by, and multiple people congratulated the boy. Some strangers, some parents of other kids in the music program. So, when he felt a light tap on his shoulder, he shouldn't have been surprised. It could have been another random wanting some small talk. But it wasn't. It was a girl wearing a headband paired with a light blue dress holding some flowers. It was Lucy.

"For you, Maestro." She curtsied and handed him the bouquet.

He received the flowers. "Lucy! I . . . I don't know what to say. What are you doing here?" The question was clearly only there for filler, and Lucy knew this. She had always come to his recitals. Every single year, countless times. Yet, out of all those countless times, she managed to blend with the crowd, only to appear after the performance, and look even more beautiful each time.

She tapped her chin. "I think my favorite part was the ending."

He hid his blushing cheeks behind the flowers, sniffling some pollen accidentally, causing his face to flush. At least, that's what he would use as an excuse. "Your favorite is always the ending."

Lucy spun her fingers to signal Schroeder to turn around. He didn't obey. Instead, he began, "Hey, Lucy, I want to thank you."

"No need for that," she told him. "Look."

"Really. You're always-"

"Blockhead, look!" she demanded.

Schroeder rolled his eyes and turned around to see his friends behind him. "Congratulations!" they yelled.

"What-? I didn't even see any you guys in the audience!" Schroeder's smile spread so hard; the pain pinched his cheeks. Seems like his friends learned Lucy's ninja ways of blending all collectively for his benefit.

"We're here to celebrate your last performance," Charlie Brown stated.

"Aw, Chuck, why'd you have to make it sound like the man's gonna die?" Peppermint Patty asked.

Franklin agreed, "We're all going to the same college. Nothing should change."

"Speak for yourself," Linus said, adjusting his scarf. "I'm still in high school. You're all basically leaving me!"

Lucy wrapped her arm around her little brother. "We'll still be here locally. You just have one more year to go."

"Thank you, guys. Seriously." Schroeder sighed happily. "This is really sweet."

"I hope you're not afraid of cavities, 'cause things are about to get sweeter!" Charlie Brown announced.

Everyone collectively cringed at the pun. Peppermint Patty lightly patted his back with pity. "You did good."

Lucy stepped up, followed by a small eye roll. "What he's trying to say is, we planned a party for you. We're still fluffing out the kinks, but we're all thinking Saturday next week."

Franklin added, "It's also a time we can celebrate finishing high school and moving on to college together."

Lucy agreed, "I couldn't have said it better myself." Her and Franklin shared a glance before her eyes met back up with Schroeder's. "That sound good for you?"

Schroeder nodded before he could give himself a chance to overthink. They all cheered as if it were the Superbowl.

The door swung open. Charlie Brown jumped up from the couch he was once asleep in.

"It's just me!" Lucy sang.

"How did you-? I thought I locked that door!"

"Oh, but I have a key!" She waved it in front of his face, snatching it back in her pocket before he could swipe it.

Charlie Brown facepalmed. "Why are you here?"

"I just wanted to ask something." She pulled out two squares of fabric. "For the party Saturday, which color is better?"

Brown darted his eyes before slumping back into his soft couch. What time was it even? "Isn't the party a whole week from now? Why not relax?"

"Because Charlie Brown!" He jumped again from her yell. "It's Schroeder's party! I want this to be special. Red is the color he always wears, but it doesn't seem appropriate for this event, right? Blue seems like the safer option."

"Yeah, blue."

"But blue's so boring! And I often wear blue. I don't want to seem biased. This party isn't about me after all."

"Then red."

"Ugh, you're not helping!"

Footsteps could be heard stomping down the stairs. Behold, Charlie Brown's younger sister, Sally, an angry teen who had been awoken from her slumber. "I should've known it was you!" She pointed at Lucy. "At everyone's house except your own!"

Lucy scoffed, "Good evening to you, too."

"Evening? You're demented. It's night. Go home!" She stomped back up the stairs. The door could be heard slammed.

Brown sat up. "How about you get a good night's sleep for real and think about it in the morning. A clear mind. Early bird gets the worm. Something like that." With every word, he gently pushed her towards the exit. A deep exhale escaped her. He stopped to look down at Lucy's uncontrollable frown. He tilted his head at her. "Surely you're not over-planning this party for alternative reasons?"

Lucy swiftly looked away.

Brown's shoulders slumped. "Lucy, I thought you were over him."

"I am over him! . . . I want to be over him." She darted to his couch and plopped down.

Brown gave an eye roll. "Step into my office, I guess." He sat next to her.

"What do I do? I barely call him. I don't watch him practice piano anymore. We don't even hang out like that. Yet, every time I saw him in the hallways at school or seen in this small town, I feel a knife in my chest." She looked up at Brown, then away, hating feeling this vulnerable. It's like the older she got, the more her body betrayed herself. At times, feeling insecure and more irritated as usual. Less in control.

Brown shrugged, half asleep and unsure of what to say. But he tried his best. "You've liked him for a while. It's not just gonna go away overnight. These things take time."

She crossed her arms. "I know, you're right. I hate that you're right." She stood. "Why do I like that musician anyway? They usually end up a starving artist. Why couldn't I like someone obsessed with medicine or law or . . . me."

Brown tried to cheer her up. He joked, "A doctor or a lawyer would be an amazing rebound, y'know. Financially set for life."

Lucy was silent for a moment, index finger and thumb on her chin. "You're onto something."

Charlie Brown cocked an eyebrow. "Disclaimer: I wasn't saying to get a sugar daddy."

Lucy threw one of the fabrics at him. "No! That's not what I was thinking."

He pulled it off his face. "Just throwing that out there."

She tried not to laugh. "I'm talking about a rebound! Like you said."

"Whoa, whoa, that was not what I meant."

"No, think about it, Charlie Brown. I've never been in a relationship before. All I've thought about was Schroeder, but that was never real. So, in order to get him out of my head when it comes to romance is to replace it with actual romantic experience!"

She had a point. But, no! He couldn't let his friend go through this spontaneous idea. "Lucy, you're not thinking this through."

She picked up her purse and opened the door. "Thought enough!"

"Uh, what about the fabric colors?!"

"Blue!" She shut the door.