Chapter Text
Lucy walked with Sally and Linus to her class.
"Why are you two walking with her," Benny asked.
"Because she's my sister," he spat.
"That didn't stop you from saying all that stuff about her."
"Yeah… well… sorry not sorry, Janice, but things have changed, she's changed, and it's not like I ever stopped loving her."
"Just leave Lucy alone, you all had your fun, she's not bothering anybody and all of you broke her, you won, okay… just stop it already!" Sally grabbed her hand and pulled her along.
"I owe you both."
"No you don't… well… let's just say we owe each other."
Royanne walked up to Lucy between class bumping in to her. "You punk trash, or skater trash today? Are you going to stop this fake ass front, once you have Charlie and his friends in your clutches?"
"Royanne… I really am not the same girl, I'm done being a bitch for no reason, I can't apologize enough for how I treated you."
Sally tapped Charlie and pointed to Royanne and Lucy, both walked quickly to her.
"You don't just get to be sad for a while and everything’s going to be peachy keen."
"I know that, I'm not asking to be friends, I just want to be left alone, haven't I suffered enough? I threw my friends away, my brother hated me, my friend abandoned me to get beat unconscious, and I still have memory loss from it, I get no peace in school. Haven't I suffered enough? I already feel like kil—"
"Yeah, you have suffered enough." Sally grabbed one arm.
Charlie grabbed the other, and they walked away with her.
"You can't keep letting people bully you, you should stand up for yourself, at least a little bit," Sally scolded.
"I do… kinda. That's what got me in this mess to begin with."
"No, that was bullying. Then… walk away… ignore them best you can, okay?"
"Doing that, too. But I'll try harder."
"Okay, I believe you Lucy, I know you don't give up easy." Sally smiled and hugged her.
Charlie was surprised at that. They had next class together, so Sally was ready to part ways, until Charlie stopped her.
"Don't be too hard on her."
"I'm trying not to be, but she can take it."
"Not like you think she can, sure she's tough, tough when she needs to be, but she's… fragile at heart, gentle. Some of it is walls she puts up, and you're seeing the other side of her nobody else has really ever seen, except maybe Rerun and Patty."
"You think she'll ever be back to her mean, fussbudget self?"
"Maybe… if it ever called for it, once she's okay. You are dating Linus, she likes that he finally got with you, so expect her to play big sister at some point."
"How do you know this‽"
"Because I know Lucy."
Violet was up and hungry, raided the fridge. People still dogged her online, she read every thread, every word. Everybody; Frieda, Sally, Royanne, Molly, Charlotte, Delores, the only people she didn't see were Heather, Patty, Charlie and Rerun. So many hurtful things, even memes. Violet desperately wanted to talk to somebody, she wanted revenge for how she was being treated, but so many stories kept reminding her that it was her fault. She found her moms secret cheat stash, grabbed a few things, went to watch something to take her mind off social media.
"Charlie." Linus walked up to before the next period. "I've been a fool. I had so much vindication for my sister, I couldn't see how bad she had gotten… she… she—" He shook his head.
"I know she's happy to have you in her corner, this is the happiest I think she's been in a while, plus she really wanted to be friends with Sally."
"I made her happy." He looked Charlie in the eye.
He simply nodded.
"Thanks man." He hugged him. "Thanks for taking care of my sister! You're really a big part of her life right now, you mean so much to her, and I want that, too."
"I don't know what happened last night, but I can promise you, you're just as important." He hugged back.
They heard on the P.A. for Lucy to report to the office.
"Wonder why they called her to the office?"
Linus let go and shrugged.
"Well it can't be anything bad."
Lucy went to the office to meet her mom.
"Lucy, I have your meds, how is your arm?"
"It really hurts every time I move it."
"Now, when you take these, don't just pop these like candy, just take as needed, okay?"
"Okay mom, thanks."
"And please… please don't do this again, we all love you." She hugged her. "I'd hate for you to sit in some psych ward over that Schroeder."
"I… I know," she sighed. "But it wasn't—"
"Good! Now I need to get back to work, and you need to get back to class." She turned to leave.
"Bye mom, have a good day at work."
She was too busy going through her phone to notice, quickly left the office. Lucy sighed, tore open the bag, threw it in the trash, and took two of the hydrocodone’s on the way back to class.
Violet knew it was lunch time and she couldn't help herself, she decided to try and call Patty.
She looked at her phone. "Why is she calling me, what could this girl want‽"
"Who," Marcie asked.
"Bet it's Violet," Lamar guessed.
"Eeeyup." she canceled the call.
"What could she want," Lucy wondered.
Violet called back.
"What," she stretched the word.
"Pat… can I please talk to you? I'm… I'm so alone."
"You're what?" She put it on speaker.
"I'm so… alone. I need somebody to talk to."
"Why me?"
"Because you're such a good friend, I was hoping we could."
"But I could never talk to you, so why should I listen?" Her voice went cold.
"I don't know."
"And we aren't friends anymore. Talk to a maid… or Jennifer."
"I can't do that. I told Jennifer I was going on a retreat, so I could stay home. I can't face anybody at school, my parents won't care, I fe—"
"That's not my problem, Violet—you're not my problem. My only concern is Lucy's wellbeing." She heard some rustling noises, and chewing.
"H-how is Lucy?"
"None of your business, not that you ever cared. I don't have anything for you."
"I took you guys for granted, I didn't know what real friends you were, what can I do‽ Can we just get a temporary truce, or something? I need you girls… I feel… empty."
"Find something else to fill the void… buy clothes, or something."
Violet made a noise and hung up. Patty sighed.
"That's telling her," Lamar said.
"I didn't want to do it, I hate to do it. She was one of my best friends."
"All of this is her fault, Patty. I still feel like shit for how I treated you, but I… I really wasn't no better, even if I thought I was."
"Nobody is going to tell you how to handle Violet, either of you. If you want to try and make up, or let her suffer, or whatever while you sort yourself through it, it's on you. I'll support whatever choice you make." Charlie held her hand.
Patty quickly hugged him.
"Patty… I don't like treating Violet this way either." Lucy walked up to her.
"I just gotta be strong like you two."
"You are stronger than you think you are… trust me… you're probably stronger than both of us." She rubbed her arm."
"She sounded so sad!"
"Of course she's going to be—You've seen the stuff online."
"Right. Right! She did let you get beat up… but she felt really bad about it. No. Be strong. She needs to understand."
"She will. Now let's get to class."
Violet finally stopped crying, or what was left of it, this was something she never thought would happen to her, that she would have nobody, and nothing else mattered. She hadn't even thought about shopping, or any of her hobbies. Nothing felt right, she tried to reach out, she wouldn't do it again, knowing Lucy wouldn't be so kind. She looked around the large living room, wondered how she could prefer to even be here, than over one of their houses, they spent more time at her place, she always was a show off, like the time she was bragging to Charlie, and he seemed quite content with his father being a barber and owning his own shop. All she could do is think about the past, think about how much she was willingly a bitch, it made her feel so low, so empty, she went to find something else to eat.
"You okay, how's your arm, Luce?"
"Oh, those pills are working wonders."
"Great, that's great." Linus smiled.
"Thank you for changing your mind about me, it means so much to actually have family on my side."
"How was mom, I never got to ask."
"She said don't overdose, and stop doing things like this." She held her arm up. "So I won't end up in the looney bin."
Linus hissed through his teeth. "Another reason we should stick together."
"I appreciate it, even helping me dress, but just don't be trying to see my boobs so much," she teased.
"I… that was…"
"I know Sally doesn't really have any, so I can't blame you for looking."
"Hey… you're my sister, I'm immune to your boobs.” He frowned.
"I know you're just being a boy." She hugged him. "I'm just teasing you! Relax baby bro.”
"Did I just hear right? You trying to get in your sisters bra," Joe spoke up.
Both gave him a nasty look.
"That's not what you heard," Lucy growled.
"Are you trying to get this fist in your mouth," Linus snarled in his face. "She messed her arm up and needs help with things."
"Wanna put money on that, blanket boy?"
"Yeah. Make my sister cry and see what happens, I promise you won't be unscathed."
"I'm shaking here." He rolled his eyes.
Linus grabbed his shirt and slammed him against a locker and before Joe could react, he was flung to the other side of the hallway and hit another locker.
"You're taller, not stronger… we're not kids anymore." He grabbed Lucy's hand and walked off.
"You didn't have to do that."
"Last thing you need is rumors that we're… well… doing things together."
"So… guys… girls… the wonderful Heather finished Lucy's saddle the other night, and my dad went to have new tires fitted. I'm picking them up right away, who wants to be there when I show her the bike back together?"
"Sure I'll be there… you babe?"
"Yeah." Roy smiled.
"You know I gotta know if she loves the seat!"
"A chance to see her genuinely happy," Emily asked.
"Yeah, we'll be there," Franklin agreed.
"You two wanna be there?"
"No I'm good, Patty," Schroeder quickly answered.
"I didn't think it was right that her scooter got messed up, but I really don't wanna be there. I hope she likes it, though," Frieda explained.
"Okay, but what happened to giving her a chance? You said you would, on the stream," Patty replied uneasy.
"I'm sorry, it's just me and Lucy…"
"It's cool, no need to explain. You all have a history, I just ask to give her a chance," Charlie held the door open.
“Baby steps. I gotta support my guy, here, too. I’m sure Schroeder would be more uncomfortable, than I would.”
Lucy, Sally and Linus weren't too far behind the rest of them.
"How much bullshit today," Charlie asked Lucy.
"Some, but I'm not worried too much about it."
"Good. I have a surprise for you later today."
"What is it?"
"It's a surprise, I can't tell you! I will tell you that you'll love it."
"I can't wait!"
"You think she'd know what it is," Sally whispered to Patty.
"I don't think she's had time to think about it," Patty whispered back.
"You two know what it is, don't you?” Lucy spotted them whispering.
"Us‽ No, we don't know.” Patty held up her hands.
"No we… we were trying to—we wanted to hang with you while he got whatever your surprise is," Sally lied.
"Really‽ You want to spend time with me?" Her face lit up and she hugged her.
Sally for the first time witnessed the bigger girls strength, trapped in that hug, the first thing came to her mind was how thankful she was that nothing ever went past a verbal exchange. After a moment she hugged her back, tight as she could.
"Then let's do something we all like." She let go. "I meant what I said; I don't want anything one-sided, I want you to be my real friend."
"I think it's safe to say we're friends." She smiled.
Lucy hugged her again, and picked her up.
"Oh god," she cried out.
The others couldn't help but laugh at Sally's fear.
"Let's leave my sister in one piece.” Charlie laughed.
Sally walked towards Charlie's car and leaned towards Peppermint Patty. "If you want to fight her still, you're braver than I am. I think I would piss myself if I had to."
She just laughed at her.
Patty followed Charlie to his place, Lucy was just glowing the whole ride.
Linus got out, leaned in the window. "You're a good man, Charlie Brown. To turn my terror of a sister in to that."
"I told you she just needed a chance to prove herself. You like the new Lucy?"
"I almost beat up Joe Agate over her today. Go get those wheels."
Charlie pulled up to his dads barbershop and walked in.
"How's Lucy doing, I bet she can't wait to get back on her bike."
"I think she's been through too much to even think about it. Linus finally came around, and so did Sal. Lucy is really happy, and I can't wait to see her face when I show her it's all fixed up."
"I wish I could be there to see it." He smiled.
"Knowing how loud Lucy can be; you just might hear it."
His dad laughed. "They're in the back."
"Thanks so much for this, I didn't know how I was going to get tires."
Charlie loaded them in his car, went back to install them, topped off her gas tank, cleaned himself up and called their friends.
"It's ready‽ Awesome, I'll get Marcie and Rerun, and call Franklin," Peppermint Patty said.
"Me and Heather'll be right there," Lamar said.
He texted Patty to bring Lucy out once everybody showed up.
"I think your surprise is ready, Lucy."
"For real‽ Let's go!" She jumped from her bed.
Patty saw one of her scarves, grabbed it, and chased after her. Linus figured it was time, hearing Lucy make such noise.
"Stop her, Babboo!"
Linus got in her way and Patty blindfolded her.
"Now you can go."
Everybody shushed themselves when the front door opened. Charlie opened the garage and wheeled it into the driveway. Patty lead her up to the bike, stood near Charlie, she and others had their phones ready.
"Okay Lucy, ready when you are," Charlie yelled.
She quickly pulled off the blindfold not knowing what to expect, her eyes were wide, her mouth dropped, she didn't even see the rest of the group. Then she screamed.
'You fixed it!"
"I told you I would."
"This… this is fucking great… look at her! I don't know what to say." Patty’s eyes filled with tears.
"I fixed the seat." Heather stepped forward.
Lucy quickly hugged her. "Thank you so much!"
"No problem, I know you love it."
"I love the new saddle! And you Charlie… I don't know how to repay you… I owe you for this!"
He went to hand her the keys. "No you don't. Just seeing you so—"
Lucy grabbed and pulled him down into a deep kiss, surprised everybody. It wasn't until they all cheered that it brought Lucy back, she broke the kiss, they both were short of breath and blushed hard.
"S-s-s-sorry, I…"
"N-no it… it was fine! How about th-the keys—ride?"
"Yeah."
"You might need this for more than just safety.” Linus handed her the helmet with a smirk.
Lucy put it on, started the bike and drove off. They all looked at Charlie still red in the face, while he played with his hands.
Chapter Text
"Did they… did she… was that…" Patty stammered.
"Just let it slide, Patty, just think about how happy she is," Roy said.
"I don't think I've seen a girl that happy without an engagement ring," Lamar added. "Yo! You alive Chuck‽"
"Charlie, earth to Charlie." Linus waved a hand in his face.
"She really laid it on him! How does a kiss from Lucy feel?" Franklin laughed.
"Did you see her face, I know somebody has that on video right, I only took pictures." Emily laughed.
A few raised their phones.
Peppermint Patty walked up to Charlie. "Snap out of it!"
He shook his head and blinked. "Did that really happen?"
"Did Lucy get so excited that she kissed you passionately—yes, that's indeed what happened." Marcie smiled.
"I told you she would fall in love with you," Heather teased.
"I said that too," Sally agreed.
"So did I," Linus added.
"She's coming back," Rerun yelled.
Lucy pulled into her own driveway, got off the bike, jumped up and down and ran back over to hug Charlie.
"Surprise," he said.
"Take your helmet off," Rerun said.
She shook her head.
"C'mon, take it off," Lamar said.
She shook her head again.
"Are you embarrassed," Patty teased.
She nodded.
"That makes you even cuter." Charlie quickly covered his mouth.
"Charlie," Linus, Patty and Sally gasped.
It looked like she stared at him.
"Please take the helmet off, nobody is going to make fun of you," he pleaded.
Lucy slowly took her helmet off, and she was red. "I'm sorry I kissed you."
"Don't be, it's fine… I did kinda… kiss back." He rubbed the back of his head. "How's the bike?"
"It's perfect. Thank you… both of you. I never thought after everything, that anybody would ever care about me again."
Violet was doing her homework, when her phone pinged a few times, she was surprised to see that somehow she was tagged in a post from Patty. She saw them reveal Lucy's fixed scooter in the video, how Lucy reacted and how she kissed Charlie.
"Are they… dating‽"
She traced around and saw a picture of them hugging, she saw how many people were there for her, other videos and pictures, she was so hurt at the sight of Lucy with Sally and Patty, her and Charlie on the scooter. Violet took the keys to the Cadillac and left, drove around for a while before stopping at a burger joint and making a rather large order.
"How did they talk us into this?" Lucy pulled up in a parking lot.
"I have no clue, but I can't complain."
"I can't either.”
"So is this a date?"
"Why not… we already kissed." He held the door open for her.
"That… thatwasmyfirstkiss," she blurted out.
"And you don't mind that it was me?"
"Honestly… no. You care about me like no guy ever did. Or I thought ever would. I feel like I stepped on Patty’s toes, though.”
Charlie smiled at her, before he could speak, she made a small gasp and froze, he turned to see Violet stand there. There was something off about her to him, while she was frozen as Lucy was.
"Lucy." She looked away.
Lucy didn't say anything.
"I… I… I—Charlie… umm… sorry but… Lucy I." she couldn't gather her thoughts and started to cry, "please just… I gotta go."
Charlie watched Violet ease past them cautiously and ran out the door.
"You okay?"
Lucy held his hand. "I'm fine."
Violet got in her car and cried, the first time she actually left the house, she ran right into the person she knew she wanted the most at that moment and she couldn't even say anything, it wasn't like her, all she wanted to do was try and make right at that moment, but she got scared, just like in the bathroom that day, scared Lucy may absolutely hate her, and if she got angry and wanted to fight her, then she'd let her, if it would help fix anything. She thought about going back inside, but she couldn't force her body to leave the car, chose to go home instead. Back home to take comfort in her room that has quickly become unclean, messy, food wrappers and dirty dishes.
While they ate, Lucy seemed to calm down, she didn't say anything about Violet, so he wasn't going to. The conversation was nice, here was more of the more, he figured was there to begin with and he found himself liking her more, she was really sweet. Lucy asked if he would play his guitar for her, Charlie was more than happy to, once they got back to his place. Lucy was having such a great time, she didn't notice her meds wearing off, the stress of holding the throttle made her arm hurt worse.
"Are you okay?"
"Me? Yeah, why?"
"You're riding kinda weird."
"No, it's fine."
"Then what's with your throttle control?"
"It has been a while since I used the thing, I just need to get the muscle memory back."
Charlie didn't say anything for a while.
Lucy stopped at a red light. "You wanna drive the rest of the way?"
"No, it's yours."
"Are you sure, it's pretty fun."
"You need to get that muscle memory back, plus I remember you saying that nobody better even think about riding this."
"I'm making an exception."
"How about a raincheck?"
"Sure… fine." She struggled to pull away.
The pain started to be too much, and she didn't bring her meds, or anything with her, but her phone, she started to get scared that her stitches would tear and pulled over.
"I want you to drive it, Charlie. All the work you did to fix it. And payback for the kiss," she demanded coldly.
"You want me to, that badly?"
"Please."
"Then tell me what's wrong."
"Nothings wrong."
"I know when you're lying to me Lucy. Now either tell me what's wrong, or keep going," he said firmly.
Lucy sat there not moving.
"What's wrong, Lucille?"
"I can't tell you."
"Yes you can."
"Then I'll tell you later."
"Lucille," he snapped, made her jump.
"Damn it." She started to cry. "Fine! Fine I'll tell you… just don't be mad."
She slowly pulled her sleeve down, revealing her bandaged forearm. She couldn't see his face but he was deeply concerned and saddened, knowing exactly what happened.
"Were you trying to kill—"
"No! I was just—"
"Cutting."
She nodded. "I didn't want you to know. I know you went through it, but I knew you were trying so hard… I didn't want you to think you failed, I didn't—I was scared of how you would feel."
"Are you still…?
"No, not since this happened. I didn't want anybody to know… I couldn't, I just couldn't."
He wrapped his arms around her. "I told you to tell me anything… you could've died."
"Please, can you take over, it hurts really bad."
Charlie rode her home, it had dawned on him that maybe this is why Linus started being so nice to her, and he had to know. Once she got off, he went right in that door.
"Linus," he yelled, startled him and Sally.
"Charlie stop," Lucy begged.
"Uhh… what is it?"
"Did you know about what Lucy did, that she cut herself?" He was nearly red in his face.
"I… knew about it."
"Charlie calm down," Sally yelled.
"It was my fault."
"Oh‽ Your fault‽ So you made her do it… or did you do it‽"
"I didn't do that to her," he squeaked.
"Then how is it your fault?"
"I just walked in on her, I scared her, she cut too deep. I didn't know she was doing it, I swear!"
"I made him go talk to her and fix things between them, big brother." Sally threw herself between the two.
"I tried to help her! I realized she was getting as bad as you! If it wasn't for Trish, I don't know how we would've got her to the hospital—we couldn't tell you, we swore we wouldn't!"
"Charlie, you promised you wouldn't get mad! They did it for me," she cried.
"Is that why you two are nicer to her now?" He calmed down.
"Yes… it was an eye opener. It shouldn't have gotten that bad, it shouldn't have… for nobody."
Charlie calmed down. "I overreacted, I'm sorry, it's just—"
"You care about Lucy, and didn't want her to go through what you did," Sally finished.
"How many people know?"
"Us and Trish. She almost didn't help. She didn't want anybody to know what happened, especially you, so we didn't even know who to call, but we had to find somebody not you."
"Are you mad at me, Lucy?"
She shook her head. "How could I be?"
"Linus, I'm sorry."
"No, I don't blame you. I was a real jerk to her, and you."
"Is that why you almost fought Joe, did he find out?"
"No… that was… about something else." He looked away.
"He overheard us talking about him seeing my boobs."
"Huh?"
"He had to help me get dressed this morning, I was teasing him about seeing real boobs, since Sally doesn't have any."
"Hey!"
Linus just groaned.
"I have boobs… they're there!" She held her chest.
"I didn't want that jerk to start spreading a rumor that she and I have relations."
"But you are related," Sally blurted.
They all groaned.
"He means doing the things that the two of you do," Charlie informed.
"Ooohhh… you mean like kissing and sex—that's nasty."
"What did you just say," Lucy and Charlie yelled.
Wednesday morning everybody loaded into Charlie's car.
"Hey mister, care to give a girl a lift?"
"You're not going to take your bike?"
"After that ride yesterday, I'm scared of tearing my stitches."
"Can I ride it then?"
"Haven't you ridden enough things of mine already?" She glared.
"My, it's a beautiful morning for a car ride, c'mon before we're late." Sally looked out the window.
"Do I hafta sit between them," Rerun asked.
"Yes," Lucy and Charlie answered.
"What did you two do‽" He looked confused.
They ignored him and looked out the windows.
At the cafeteria a few of their friends were already there.
"Morning everybody," Charlie greeted.
"Hey Charlie, hey Rerun," Marcie greeted.
"Lambchop." he kissed her.
"Chuck, Linus, Sally, Lucy, how's that… thing," Peppermint Patty asked.
"He knows… and maybe everybody else should, too,” Lucy said.
"Know what," Roy asked.
"Lucy! You're here, how come you didn't ride your bike?" Heather walked up.
"That's what I was just getting to."
"Morning yall," Patty greeted.
"Good morning Patty," Charlie smiled.
She didn't say anything.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm fine."
"That doesn't sound fine, you know you can talk to me." He held her hand.
"Patty, good, you're here!"
"Yeah… of course I'm here." She pulled her hand from Charlie's.
"...okay… so please keep this between us. The reason I didn't ride my scooter… what happened was I was cutting myself. The other night I cut too deep by accident."
"Lucy, you did that‽ Schroeder walked up.
"Don't you remember what happened with Charlie," Frieda demanded.
"I barged into her room to talk to her while she was cutting, she didn't mean to do it. Charlie had all the support of just about everybody here… we can only assume it wasn't enough, nobody will understand unless they've been there."
"Yall didn't see what I saw, when I went to pick them up. And you're right, none of us have really been there, but what I saw, even if I didn't care about her, Lucy, that scared the shit out of me… please… I know I'm not the best with sentimental stuff, but you can talk to me, or we can hang out."
"I still feel guilty for everything I did, I know some of you are there for me…"
"It's fighting your own demons, it's not fully trusting that people care. I went through it, she's going through it, Patty kinda went through it… and so is…," Charlie's voice trailed off.
"I think it's safe to say that we're all your friends and we support you, you'll never be alone," Lamar stated.
Patty sighed. "Almost all of us." She looked at Frieda and Schroeder.
“Patty, I’m really sorry I kissed him! I got too excited! He makes you happy, I’m not trying to step on that. You deserve him more than I do.”
“Lucy.”
“No. I need to make it clear I won’t get in your way. I’m not worried about dating.”
“Lucy… I’m not either. It’s fine.”
“So you’re not jealous, because you really seem like it,” Peppermint Patty blurted.
“No I’m not,” Patty snapped.
“You sure?”
Patty shot her a death glare.
"Why can't the both of you just forgive Lucy?"
"I haven't been friends with her since middle school, and I've only dealt with one side of her since then."
"Even when we were kids, I never wanted much to do with her."
"I don't know how she feels about you, Schroeder, but Frieda, you know how she feels, you know she regrets everything, you know… she misses you. I know for a fact it really hurts her that she affected your relationship. The Lucy you knew died that day we saved her,” Linus explained.
"Isn't that a bit of a stretch," Schroeder asked.
"She wants friends, she wants to be loved, she has a traumatic brain injury… that Lucy… is dead."
"Did you mean everything you said, Trish?"
"Duh! We're homegirls now! I know you're different now, but I'm begging you, please, talk to somebody before you do that again. If anybody gives you trouble, I'll punch their teeth down their throat."
"I promise." She smiled.
"Good. Don't make me knock you out." She laughed.
"I'm still no pushover."
"I never thought you were." She hugged her. "You're stronger than you think."
"Oh no." Sally broke their kiss.
"What?"
"Here comes Lucy."
"I'm not going to tap-dance around our older siblings because you blabbed that we had sex. Charlie I get, but Lucy, well she can—"
"Shh!"
"I need to talk to you two, now hear me out; I think we were just surprised that you two have sex. It's not my place to dictate your relationship, or Charlie's… it's just… you're our kid brother and sister, can you blame us? We both might not have been the best, but we try, I hope you see that."
"Ye-yeah, we do," Linus whispered.
"Good." She pulled them both in a hug. "I'm sorry if I made you two feel some kinda way."
"L-Lucy…"
She let go. "Don't worry Sally, I'll try and talk to Charlie, at least do me one favor?"
"What?"
"Use a condom every time. Both of you are too smart to risk having a baby. I am too young to be an aunt, and he's too young to be an uncle. Wrap it up Linus, and you better make sure he does. Now get to class, the both of you."
Chapter Text
Violet drug herself out of bed, she realized her parents didn't even try to wake her up, or did they even know that she lied about that retreat? She may need to get Jennifer something real good for her birthday, or Christmas for this. She did start to wonder how much they really cared about her, noticing that they don't ask about her social life that much. She went to take a nice shower for once, felt the water hit her from every angle with the fancy spa shower in her bathroom, she didn't want to get out, stood there with her eyes closed, losing track of time. Solace interrupted with racing thoughts, the pictures and videos, running into Charlie and Lucy. She hit the wall with the side of her fist, slid down, she doesn't fight the tears anymore, she doesn't fight anything, trapped with her own faults and mistakes, alone.
"Charlie," Lucy sang as she ran up to him.
He just smiled at her.
"Can I talk to you about Sally and Linus?"
"Hmm… what about?"
"How we found out they were having sex?"
"Yeah…?"
"I think we should lighten up on them, I promised I would talk to you. I don't think it's really our business."
"What? We haven't even had sex."
"Like we had a choice if we wanted to. Look… we weren't the best of older sibs, and I'm sure we can trust them, besides; we're all getting older, we can't just run their life."
"You're right Lucy. It just caught me off guard."
"Me too."
Patty went to stroll right past them.
"Patty," Lucy called out.
"Yo, Patty!” He reached out to her.
"What do you two want," she snapped.
They were surprised.
"We… we just wanted to say hi," Charlie answered.
"Did we do something wrong?"
She just huffed.
"Patty, what did we do," Lucy begged.
"If we hurt you I'm sorry."
"You didn't," she spat.
"Then…," Lucy started.
"I… I'm doing it to myself!" She ran off.
Charlie and Lucy looked at each other, and chased after her. Patty ran to the auditorium back stage, the other two went looking for her, listened for her crying. Lucy tapped his shoulder and pointed to a far corner.
"Pat… what's wrong," Lucy asked.
"You can tell us."
"I can't!"
"We're your friends."
"No I can't, it's not fair.”
They exchanged glances.
"Not fair," Lucy asked.
"What's not?"
"I'm jealous… of… that kiss. I shouldn't be, but I am."
"I was just so excited… I wasn't thinking…"
"I know! I know. I understand, but I don't understand why I feel this way."
"Patty… we shared a kiss just like that—oh."
"You did?" Lucy looked at him.
"Trish and Roy peer pressured us into doing it. Both were just harmless kisses."
"Maybe it was her first kiss?"
"It was mine too, that was the only thing special about it, just like that was your first kiss, and I was honored for yours too. I don't want anybody hurt, I want people happy. If kissing me is going to bring… some kinda… ruin… I… I'm sorry that I let it happen. Don't let me cause you two to drift apart again."
"Charlie no!" Patty jumped up and hugged him. "Don't you dare blame yourself."
"You were doing what you thought was right for us," Lucy hugged him.
"Umm…"
"We're here for you too, you know," Patty whispered.
"We're not leeches. If we have to be happy, then you do, too."
Charlie was still a little uneasy during lunch because of what happened, but the girls seemed to be okay as they talked to each other. He hadn't felt like this in a while, a long while, thought he moved past it.
"Charlie, are you okay," Marcie asked, and caught the attention of Patty and Lucy.
"Yeah, I'm just thinking."
"Uh-oh."
"Uh-oh is right," Lucy repeated.
"No, it's nothing bad."
"Charlie, I know you better than anybody but my brother." She glared.
"We didn't get to do that thing last night. You girls wanna come over and I play my guitar?"
"Yeah," Lucy agreed.
"Of course," Patty agreed.
Violet walked around the house bored, found herself in the room her parents entertain guest, a particular living room type area that has a liquor cabinet that is always well stocked.
"Well… I always wondered." She opened the door and picked something, took a sip, and almost spat it back out. "They drink this‽"
She took a sip of a few other bottles until she found one she liked, and drank most of it.
"This is good… I like this!"
Violet drunk enough that she hoped her dad wouldn't notice, feeling good, shambled into the kitchen for food, she rummaged through the refrigerator discovering she somehow ate everything she liked.
"What the fuck‽"
She sat the bottle down on the counter and looked towards the front door.
"I need something to eat, and everybody is at school… so I guess it's safe. Who am I talking to?"
She grabbed her keys, her phone, jumped in the car and drove away. She had in her mindset more cheeseburgers, wandered in the diner and placed an order. While she waited, she went through her phone at the counter, then she heard a familiar voice ordering food and her blood started to boil after she saw it was who she thought it was. She was given her order and she turned to face the girl.
"You… I thought I heard your loud mouth," she growled.
"Violet? My, looks like you've lost your sense of fashion." She smirked. "We've been hoping to run in to you after you got us suspended."
"It's your fault, Charlotte." She leaned in her face.
"Have you been drinking?" She waved the air in her face.
"It's your fault Lucy isn't my friend anymore… you just had to hurt her." She grabbed Charlottes arm.
"Did you forget who you're grabbing?" Charlotte furrowed her brow.
"You forget! You could've killed her… bitch!"
Violet's grip tightened and she swung with her free hand, smashed her fist right in Charlotte's jaw knocking them both off balance.
"You drunk cunt!"
"So what‽ You took my friends away from me, it's your fault." She swung again. "All of you mezzed it up!" She grabbed her hair and yanked Charlotte to the ground, then stumbled backward.
Charlotte screamed and Violet just laughed at her while she got up.
"Serves you… right, now everybody hates me because… because of you!" She leered.
"Everybody already hated you!"
Violet pushed her into the counter and rammed her body against her. "Take it back!"
"No!" She pushed back.
Violet grabbed the nearest condiment caddy and swung it at her face. "Take it back! You broke Lucy!" She swung it again.
Charlotte caught it on the third swing, snatched it from her and went to choke her. Violet swayed in her grip, her body convulsed and she puked right in Charlotte's face. She screamed and started to freak out, Violet looked around, grabbed her food and left like nothing happened. Once she was back in her car, she started laughing and drove home. Violet plopped down on the couch, watched television, ate, and fell asleep. She woke up hours later, on the floor.
"Wha happened… I feel like crap." She sat up and squinted from the daylight. "I feel like I'm gonna be sick."
She rushed to the nearest bathroom and puked up a little food and spent the next several minutes dry heaving. Once she felt okay enough to get up, she found that bottle where she left it, and put it back.
"I don't want any more of that."
After school Lucy and Patty were over Charlie's while he played a few songs on the guitar.
"You're getting really good at playing," Patty said.
"Thanks."
"Ever think about starting a band," Lucy asked.
"Not really. Why?"
"Ah dunno, you guys used to play together when we were kids."
"Yeah, and Snoopy played the upright bass." Patty laughed.
"He was pretty good, too. And it was nice that Farron and World War Two put their differences aside with him," Lucy said.
"Hey Lucy?"
"Yeah Patty?"
"Do you… do you think about Violet?"
"Violet? I haven't, really. You?"
"Sometimes."
"I'm still mad at her, aren't you?"
"I am, but…"
"You miss her," Charlie asked.
"Is that wrong?"
"For you… no, not you with your big heart. We did see her yesterday when we went to eat."
"Really? H-how was she‽'
Lucy just shook her head. "Not herself is the best I can say. Don't let your heart fool you, you know what she did."
"What about you Charlie?" She looked at him.
"I'm not in it. She hurt me, she hurt you two, and in some ways, she was worse than Lucy was."
"I think about that, and it makes me so mad! But we were friends."
"I won't stop you from doing what you think is right, Patty, but I'm not ready."
Violet's mom walked in her room while she was doing homework on her laptop.
"I need to talk to you Violet," she commanded.
"Yes mother?" She looked up.
"What are you doing on there?'
"Homework." She turned it around.
"Good. Anyway… I know what you've been up to."
"Me? What did I do?"
"You know what you've done! It's obvious, did you think we wouldn't find out?"
"I can explain!"
"Please do. I'd love to know why you've practically eaten up the kitchen and my personal stash of snacks? How did you even find where I hid those‽"
"I saw you one day. I'm sorry."
"Well… guess who's replacing them? And you and your friends need to stop eating up all of our food." She left the room. "I meant replace them tomorrow, Violet!"
Thursday, Lucy went downstairs, she had thought about what Patty said, and how Violet acted the day before, and how unlike her, she hadn't been to school despite the worst thing to happen to her, was her car getting torn up, none of it seems like Violet at all.
"Are you okay, Lucy?"
"Huh‽ Yeah, I'm just thinking, nothing bad I promise. Last night we talked about Violet."
"Why," Linus asked.
"Patty started it. When we went on that scooter ride, we actually ran in to her."
"How did that turn out?"
"Not like you'd expect… she was… like me."
"You," her brothers repeated incredulously.
"Mm-hm. I was thinking that the worst thing she dealt with was her car, and she decided just to stop going to school."
"Because she's weak. You faced everything despite it all," Linus explained.
"I think you're right."
"She has no power over anybody," Rerun added.
"Right, but you know how Patty is."
"Wants to love everybody. You know everybody isn't going to like you, even if we do…Violet would be an impossible sell and might—no, will harm the progress."
"Lucy… is there anything about your friendship with Violet that makes it worth saving," Rerun asked.
"Tomorrow you know the deal," Patty yelled at lunch.
"You know we're gonna be there, Mz. Bombshell," Lamar cheered.
"We're gonna rock," Peppermint Patty said.
"Are you going to get in the game one day, Lucy," Franklin asked.
"Me‽ I'm not good at that kinda stuff, but I'll watch you all play and cheer you on."
"That's what I do," Marcie added.
"Why not, because you can't make it about you in some way," Schroeder asked.
Charlie went to say something, but Linus beat him to it.
"Watch how you talk to her." He glared.
"It's fine. I was never really into video games and I don't like first person shooters. I don't care to have anything revolving around me… I am merely a bit player, like everybody else. I've been a fool, I don't matter, nor am I worth anything, unless somebody thinks I have value. I still think you're a great guy, I'm happy you two found each other. It might not seem like it but I do have respect for both of you. I'm learning my place."
"Whatever you say, Lucy,” Frieda rolled her eyes.
"Remember what my bullshit gave me." She raised her right arm. "And a TBI." She pointed at her head.
"Just leave her alone if you don't like her, but we welcome the new Lucy," Marcie said.
"I don't get it… the both of you cared enough to help me that day, but you don't want anything to do with me. Stop sending me mixed signals."
"Man, it's too early for this shit," Lamar yelled. "Both of you are cool, yall ain't gotta be friends, but yall ain't gotta be enemies either. Look… both of you were friends once, I know people grow apart and shit, but god damn, we all gotta be cool if this shits gonna work. I like you mother fuckers."
"She was never even your friend." Frieda glared.
"She is now, right Lucy?"
"Of course I am, thanks for being there."
"Friends now, and you're my friend, right?"
"We went on a double date the other night."
"As my friends… lets not have any bullshit, aieght?"
"Hey, I need to talk to you real quick."
"I'm going to be late for second period, Frieda."
"Lucy." She grabbed her. "What's your endgame here?"
"I told you, I want to be different, I want friends." She looked at Schroeder and Frieda cornering her.
"I don't believe that, and he doesn't either," she spoke coldly.
"It… it's true."
"Conveniently after what you did to me, you want to be friends again? Like you forgot it even happened. I might have said I would give it a try, but I just don’t want drama, and I’m not sure about you.”
"I know what I did, but I really don't remember exactly what I did."
"That's the same thingI"
Lucy flinched at her yelling.
"Don't tell me you’re scared?" He leaned in.
She pressed herself against the locker and nodded.
"You don't remember blowing up at our recital because we were dating behind everyone's back?"
"No, but… that sounds like me. Is that why you had me beat up?"
"What‽"
"Why did you even like me," he snapped.
"I don't know."
"How can you not know after all these years‽"
"I never knew! I d-didn't ever th-think about it!"
"Lower your voice," he hissed.
"S-sorry."
"You were beat up because you beat me up."
"Why did you save me if you had me beat up?"
"I di—"
"To teach you a lesson."
"I don't understand. I thought you helped me because you still cared. If it'll make everything right, you can beat me up again."
"Just… just get to class," Frieda yelled.
"You know if we scared her enough, she'll probably tell Charlie, or Linus?" Schroeder watched her run away.
"Then we'll just have to deal with it. Oh and I never wanted her to get beat up, just to leave us alone." She walked away in a huff.
Chapter Text
"You think Frieda is going to keep giving her grief, Charlie?"
"I hope not. I get it, but… you know, Linus."
He simply nodded.
"I don't want Lucy getting her hopes up, that Frieda will come around, it's been years since they were friends, and she shouldn't push it."
"I might say something to her."
Third period, Patty was at her locker when Melody walked up.
"You've gotten all buddy-buddy with Lucy again. She's weeding her way in your gang and will destroy it."
"No, I don't believe that. I think she's changed. I also think that you're not all that better than she used to be."
"Are you serious?"
"You're acting childish because your friends got suspended for fighting, even if it was Lucy, they could've killed her, I found her passed out on the bathroom floor. Yes she did hit Frieda, but even Frieda herself said it wasn't that bad and she wasn't even hurt. Do you think you'd just walk away from a fight with Lucy, sound mind and pissed?"
"Uh… yah!"
Patty just looked at her.
"What‽"
"She used to box as a kid, took first place, what was it… three years in a row. If you want to, and can set her off… well you just go on and try. You should be thankful that she has changed, wants peace and leaves you alone." Patty shut her locker and walked away.
"I could beat her now," Melody yelled at her.
Patty met up with Lucy for class. "Lu." She smiled.
"Pat."
"I was just talking with Melody and she thinks she can take you."
"Mmmm… nope, but I don't wanna fight. You weren't trying to get us to fight were you?"
"No, no, she was just talking crap about you, I was telling her that she should be thankful that you leave her alone."
"Just making sure."
"I don't want you hurt anymore."
"I can't believe she's making me replace her precious oatmeal cream pies," Violet muttered, went downstairs to eat.
She found a note on the counter that read: Don't forget to replace my oatmeal cream pies and clean your room, it is disgusting, you know better than that!!!!
"Love you too, mom."
She was in no hurry to do any of that, chose instead to stuff her face and watch television. She had long gone rather bored of sitting at home every day, but she didn't want to leave the house so nobody would see her out. Checked her phone, she was curious why nobody had blocked her yet, perhaps they just don't think about her. Violet wanted to make a post on Facebook, she needed to vent, having nobody but herself to talk to.
"Amy!" She jolted up. "Maybe I can talk to Amy."
She called her hoping she would answer.
"Violet, how's things?"
"Not good… umm… how's things at school?"
"You'd know if you were here."
"I'm not coming back. I can't."
"Not being here isn't going to make it better, they still talk about you, not to mention your grades will suffer."
"I'm still doing schoolwork, they think I'm on a retreat."
"How come it took you this long to reach out?"
"I've been so depressed, I thought everybody hated me… the things online."
"Yeah, it's all ugly."
"I've been devastated over it all, I ruined what friendships I had, and alienated everybody else who wasn't a friend, I know I won't get the same chance Lucy and Patty are getting."
"All you can do is try."
"Y-you're my friend, right?"
"Me? Were we ever really friends, or was I just somebody you talked to here and there? "
Violet didn't say anything.
"Now I guess I'm last choice, right?"
"Amy… no, I'm not doing that to you. I shouldn't have called." She hung up.
"Lucy, how's stuff," Charlie asked after the fourth period.
"Fine, actually." She reached for his neck in a hug.
"Frieda or Schroeder haven't bothered you?"
"Nope."
"I've been looking for you!"
"What Melody," Lucy sighed.
"You think you're so tough, let's go right now."
Students around them started paying more attention.
"I don't think I'm tough and I don't wanna fight."
"Why‽ You wanna be my friend too?" She leered.
"No, I want you to leave me alone." She started to move behind Charlie.
"Melody, enough!"
"Sack tap," she sung.
Charlie doubled over, people started to chant, Lucy gasped at the sight of Charlie and Melody with a devious grin.
"Now that your boyfriend is out of the way…"
"Melody stop! Please!"
She swung and Lucy barely dodged it.
"C'mon Lucy!"
"No!"
Lucy bobbed and weaved Melody's punches, ducked under a wild punch and ran before the crowd pushed her into Melody's clutches.
"Stop running, bitch."
Lucy continued to dodge and sidestep, she kept seeing him lean on the locker as the two danced, the pain in his face made her mad, the students cheered for Melody made her mad, how could she hurt him so easy for no reason, it made her want to cry, want to hurt her worse. Melody threw a crazy left hook and she caught it in her left hand, balled up her right fist ready to give her a heavy jab, and suddenly Melody was pulled away.
"That's enough," Charlie yelled, and twisted her arms behind her back like a cop. "Leave Lucy alone before I report you!"
"How dare you!"
"Damn right, you're not hurting her… we're done here!" He pushed her away. "Go on now."
Lucy stood there awestruck, everybody else moved on, upset about the ordeal, Charlie walked up to her.
"Are you okay?"
"Are you?" She started crying.
He pulled her in a hug. "That girl has always had issues."
"She did that‽ I oughta knock her out myself," Peppermint Patty threatened.
"I put a stop to it as quick as I could, Lucy was really shaken up."
"She just can't catch a break," Shermy said.
"At least Melody didn't land a single punch."
"She's lucky for her sake, I'd be waiting by her car in the parking lot, right now." Peppermint Patty cracked her knuckles.
"Sixth period just about to start, Trish." Shermy rolled his eyes.
"How's your day been, Lucy?"
"Emily! Hi! It hasn't been bad, other than Melody trying to fight me."
"What happened?"
"Charlie stopped her."
"You don't look hurt." She looked over her.
"I dodged her punches. I used to box and I guess I still got it."
"The gods are looking after you. Play your cards right, and you'll get everything you want, maybe not exactly how you want it, but… you'll get it. You have friends, you brothers love you, and you'll even have Charlie."
"I already have him."
"No, not yet." She smiled.
Violet knew she had to replace her moms snacks, the more she thought about it, thought about yesterday, the more scared and reluctant she was to leave the house after beating Charlotte in her drunken state, she knew they would really be looking for her.
"So ladies, how about we do something," Charlie asked after school.
"Like what," Lucy asked.
"Who cares? I'm game," Patty said.
"Pizza place… maybe? My treat."
"Sounds good, I love pizza," Patty agreed.
Lucy nodded.
They walked up on Linus and Rerun talking to Frieda and Schroeder.
"Charlie, Patty, how's things? just two people I wanted to see," Schroeder said.
"What do you need, man?" Charlie looked concerned.
"We were just telling them that we hope there's no hard feelings over earlier," he explained.
"No, I'm not mad or anything," Charlie replied.
"Yeah, we don't hate Lucy… we're just…," Frieda started.
"Concerned because of the things she did," Patty asked.
"Right," the couple replied.
The conversation started heading towards the parking lot, Frieda slowed up a bit to talk to Lucy.
"So you didn't tell Charlie about earlier?"
"I did not tell him anything."
"Why? You were scared."
"I don't want to cause any more rifts. I was already the reason he and Linus were probably going to stop being friends. He just didn't need to know, especially with Schroeder, his second best friend, then there's Linus… and I can't be the cause of ending friendships, I'm not worth all of that."
"I'm speechless."
"Can I tell you something… well I need to show you to tell you?"
"I guess I can do that since you did keep everything to yourself, wait… I heard about your fight with Melody, you're not gonna—"
"No. I wouldn't have done it the first time, I keep telling you. I didn't fight Melody, I ran around dodging her punches." She pulled her into a bathroom. "If it will help, you can beat me up yourself… I won't fight back."
"I'm not doing that."
"I swear I won't fight back, you can even have Schroeder hold me."
"I don't want to hurt you, nothing good will come from it. Now is that what you had to tell me?"
"No. I want you to see this, only my brothers, Sally, and Trish saw it." She pulled her bracer off. "When this happened, I was actually…" She unwrapped her bandage, revealed her arm. "Hoping that Linus was going to just walk away and pretend he didn't even see this."
"My god… Lucy!" She looked at her stitches and the cut scars. "Did you want to die?"
"Not until I saw Linus's face afterwards, when he scared me by opening my door."
"Charlie actually wanted to die."
"I know. Part of that is my fault, so I tried to push him away. I don't deserve his friendship, his heart… yet there he is. Both of you should hate me for everything I've done." She wrapped her arm back up. "I keep begging for forgiveness like I deserve it. I still don't know why you two helped me."
"I didn't have you beat up, I didn't know it happened. I can't speak for Schroeder, but it scared the shit out of me, I thought you were going to die, or something. I wanted to stay mad at you, but then I kept seeing all the pictures."
"I saw them too… they made memes."
"I know you're trying to change, I don't want to believe it, but I see it. Let go of me, we might not ever be friends again, I don't hate you, though… we just… have our issues with you."
"I understand."
"Now let's get back to our friends."
Violet received a phone call from her mom.
"Yes mother?"
"I need you to do one more thing, I have groceries for you to pick up since you and your friends cleaned out the kitchen. How do three girls eat so much, you're going to get fat."
"Mom… I'm not fat," she whined.
"I didn't say you were, Violet, I said you will be. Always such an excitable child. Just pick up the groceries, and don't let your friends eat it all. We don't make money to run a restaurant and feed everybody. Gotta get back to work, dear. Smooches.” She hung up.
"I'm not fat!" She tossed her phone on the couch. "I'll show her."
She went to her room to find actual clothes to wear, picked a halter top and hip hugger skinny jeans, pulled them up and they barely fit after fighting with them, then she couldn't get them nowhere near buttoned. She took those off, and tried another pair of jeans, another, shorts, khakis, skirts, even skorts.
"I'm getting fat," she cried out and fell back on the bed.
She searched for something with elastic, stood there in track pants and a t-shirt, snatched up a candy bar she thought she'd ate already.
"It's all your fault," she scolded the candy before eating it.
Frieda and Lucy caught up to the rest in the parking lot, when Melody came running up.
"Lucy you bitch, I want a rematch! You made me look like a fool!"
"I don't wanna fight you, stop it!"
"I don't care, should've fought me the first time, or just took the licks," she snarled.
"I refuse!"
Right before Melody got close enough, Peppermint Patty closed in to stop her. "You can fight me instead."
"Mind your business, Trish!"
Even if Lucy wanted to fight, she was in no condition to, and Peppermint Patty knew that.
"I don't want anybody hurt."
"C'mon Mel, I'll even let you go first." She smiled menacingly.
"She can't watch you forever!"
"But it's your ass if I find out. And I'll fight all your friends, too. Go on now."
"Thank you so much," Lucy said once Melody left.
"I'd never leave a friend to fight alone."
"I could really use that pizza now."
Violet pulled up to the pickup area of her parents' chosen grocery store, scrolled through her phone while the employee loaded the back of the Escalade, she read the receipt to find out her mom left out the oatmeal cream pies, to which she growled and threw it out the window. She went inside and bought three boxes. Of course on the way home she wanted a snack, pulled into a gas station, went for a bag of chips and a big gulp of soda. When she walked back towards the front, she heard familiar voices and gasped when she saw who was in the store.
"Violet! There's that bitch," Charlotte yelled.
"As I live and breathe, I've been hoping to run into you." Molly narrowed her eyes. "So you sneak attack my friend, huh?"
"I… I was drunk! I drank my dads Fireball, okay‽ I got plastered for the first time."
"Fireball is some good shit," Delores finally spoke. "That's no excuse for attacking our friend."
"You attacked mine first."
"She's right. We did attack her first." Delores shrugged. "We also let you go."
"And we had a verbal contract that you would keep your mouth shut," Molly added.
"Not only did you snitch, but you assaulted me."
"There's only one thing to do, ladies." Molly glared at Violet.
Violet didn't give them a chance, she threw her food down, and ran out the store, they weren't too far behind, she tried to get in her SUV, but Molly kicked the door shut. The girls split up and chased her around the gas pumps.
"What is all that commotion?" Patty looked towards the gas station from the pizza places parking lot.
"Looks like somebody is being chased around there." Charlie looked.
"You're only making it worse, Violet," Charlotte screamed.
"Violet," Lucy and Patty yelled.
They all ran to the corner and saw her being chased by Molly, Delores and Charlotte. They started to get the upper hand, until Violet went to run out of the gas station, she sprinted towards the street, towards them, the three girls stopped when Violet narrowly missed getting hit by a car.
"Violet stop," Charlie screamed.
She didn't until she saw a one ton pickup speeding the other way. Charlie took off running towards her, pushed her frozen body and got hit with the extended towing mirror. They both fell in the middle of the street. The truck stopped as hard as it could. Lucy and Patty screamed out, the other three just watched.
Violet caught her breath and looked to see him lying next to her. "You just… saved my life."
"Yeah, well… I cou—” He passed out.
"Charlie? Charlie! Wake up," she screamed.
Lucy and Patty ran to them.
"No, no, no," Violet cried. "You can't die, not over me." She shook him.
"Stop it Violet," Lucy pushed her away.
"He has to get up! Charlie! Charlie! Why would you do that‽"
The truck driver ran up. "What were you kids doing in the street‽"
"I was about to get jumped by them!" Violet turned and pointed, but the girls were gone.
"I'm callin' an ambulance." He pulled out his phone.
Patty leaned her face near his. "He's still breathing."
Violet went to reach for him.
"Don'cha touch him till they get her," the guy said.
Violet pulled her hand back quickly, she didn't know what to do, so she threw herself at Lucy and cried in her shoulder.
"Violet!"
She just held tighter. "Why did he do that… he shou-shoulda just let me… I shoulda let them…"
Lucy just looked at Patty while Violet cried in her ear. They eventually heard the ambulance zooming towards them with police cars.
Chapter Text
They all explained to the cops what they saw, Violet was being checked over by the medics after they put Charlie in the ambulance.
"I had a clear green light when I got to the intersection, light changed when I was a few yards away, an then outta nowhere I saw that boy just jump out, by then I saw her just… standing there. I had no time to stop—that truck just don't stop on a dime. My mirror got flung in an I thought I ran'em over."
"Officer! It's… It's all my fault! I was trying to get away from these girls… they… they wanted to jump me! I wuh-was scared! Please don't blame him," she cried uncontrollably.
"She did just start running into traffic. She was running from the same girls that beat me up a few days ago. We were going to eat pizza and we heard yelling at the gas station, they were chasing her around there, then she just ran out in the street."
One of the cops came from the gas station. "It seems this girl and three other girls had an altercation at the gas station. Employees and customers said that she looked scared and ran out the store, they blocked her from getting in her car and chased her around the pumps."
"Which car is yours?"
"Th-the Escal-lade, our sp-spare car."
"Those girls vandalized her car and Lucy's scooter at school," Patty added.
"He should've just let me die under that truck, why'd he hafta save me?"
"Don't say that! I couldn't live with myself if I ran you over, young lady, that boy is a hero!"
"I'm not worth saving, I just screw everything up."
"Other than a few scraps, you're good to go Ms. Gray." The driver shut the back doors.
They watched the ambulance drive away, one of the cops left.
"It seems these other girls are the cause of many problems with you three."
"Do you think Charlie is going to make it, sir," Violet asked.
"Of course he'll make it, don't even think any different," Patty said.
"Do you two have a way home?"
"I'll… I'll take them! They can ride with me!" She looked at them pleadingly.
"Yeah… we can ride with her." Lucy sighed.
"Are you sure?"
Lucy nodded.
"Yeah, it's fine," Patty said.
They walked with Violet to her SUV, once she sat down and started it up, she broke down and cried again.
"Violet… you're in no shape to drive, I'll drive, okay?"
She nodded and got in the backseat.
"This is nice, oooo." Patty backed out of the parking spot. "I'd take this over my minivan."
"How can you two be so calm?"
"Because… we have faith he'll be okay. I'm… I'm losing it inside to tell the truth," Lucy said.
"I'm concerned, but I get to drive an Escalade."
"Patty…"
"I'm devastated, okay. We go from ready to eat pizza, to… this."
"Where are we going," Violet asked.
"He has to be okay, I mean… the truck barely hit him, right? Right?"
"It was just the mirror, Lucy, maybe he's perfectly fine, no more than a concussion."
Patty pulled up at the Van Pelts, Lucy went inside to get Linus and Sally.
"Where the hell did you get that," Sally exclaimed.
"I'll tell you on the way, let's just go already."
Lucy got in, Sally opened the back door and saw Violet laying across the seat silently crying.
"Uhhh," Linus said.
"Violet, sit up… sit up so they can get in," Patty said calmly.
"Sorry." She sat up and saw Sally. "I'm so sorry, it's all my fault."
"What did you do?" The anger shown through her sadness. "What did you do Violet‽" Sally lunged at her, with a fist full of her hair, she yanked her head and shoved it into the c-pillar.
Violet just wailed and cried.
"Linus get her off of Violet," Lucy yelled.
Linus climbed in and tried to separate the two girls.
"Let me go! I'm going to bash her head in!"
Patty drove off, slammed the passenger door shut, in the process. "Damn Sally, stop!"
Sally was hitting Violet while Linus was trying to get her off.
"Stop it!" Lucy reached to the backseat to help. "Enough Sally!"
"Why is she crying if it's her fault he's in the hospital‽"
"It's not her fault."
"It is my fault," she cried.
"Charlie saved her from being hit by a truck when she was running from Molly, Charlotte and Delores. He was… grazed by the mirror and passed out after they both hit the ground," Patty explained.
"And you stole this from the guy that hit him," she asked.
"What‽ No!"
"I-it's m-mine," she stuttered.
"Why are you crying," Linus asked.
"He risked his life to save mine. Why would he do that?"
"Why would he‽" Sally broke free of Linus hold.
"And why is Violet more hurt than you two," he asked.
"I am not worth saving… am not worth anybody else's life." Her voice was choked. "I realized… I screwed up. I decided to drop out, I couldn't face any of you. I didn't realize how bad I hurt you two… how selfish I was. I lost everything that mattered."
"Poor princess, nothing left but money and a sixty thousand dollar car," Sally mocked concern.
"If it were actually my car, I'd give it to Patty since she likes it so much."
"Because I’m driving. Don't talk about yourself like that," Patty said.
"No, let her, why do you care," Sally snapped.
"We were friends once."
"I should've just let them beat me up… none of this would've happened."
"Probably not," Lucy agreed.
"I'm such a screw up!" she exploded with tears.
"Nothing to add Linus," Lucy asked.
"Why make her feel worse than she actually does? I can't think of anything I could say, that she probably doesn't already think, and I'm not beating a dead horse in the case of whatever she's going through. Even if I don't like her, I won't be part of pushing her over the edge… I learned my lesson."
"He's going to be okay, right Patty?"
"Sure Lucy." She grabbed her hand and squeezed it.
"He better be… or… or I'll knock him out myself!" Her voice went up an octave as she started to cry.
Patty pulled into the hospital parking lot and they all went looking for where he was.
"I'm his sister, Sally Brown, I just want to see him, I need to know if he's okay."
"That's fine, but your friends will need to stay in the waiting room. He was just put in a room."
They went to the floor he was on, they all waited while Sally was taken there by a nurse. Violet sat away from everybody, cried so much she could barely breathe. Lucy and Patty were also crying and Linus was trying to console them both. It felt like they were there for two hours, Violet had to walk past them to get to the vending machine.
"I'm so so sorry I caused this, I was trying to stay out of your lives… do you want anything, get whatever." She held out her card.
"I think we're good Violet," Linus replied.
"How can you eat at a time like this, and why do you care about him so much," Patty asked.
"I… I'm hungry, no… I'm not… I just—It feels good. Charlie… I do care about him, actually, I can't tell you why. I can tell you that I after those times he would sit and talk to Shermy at lunch, I got to know him. I miss listening to those conversations. I had no right to treat him the way I did, and if I'm the cause of his death…," She started crying again.
Sally talked to the doctor in his room while he was still unconscious.
"It appears to just be a mild concussion, and he should be fine."
"That's good. I'll need to call our parents about this. I'm so relieved that he's okay."
"We've talked to them already and if he has anymore issues make sure he's brought back right away."
"Yes sir, if I gotta drag him kicking and screaming."
"From what the EMTs explained; Charlie is quite the hero, saving the life of that girl. I'm sure she's more than thankful."
"Yeah… she should be."
"I'll let you have some time with him." He stepped out.
Sally sighed and finally let herself cry.
Back in the waiting room Frieda, Schroeder and Peppermint Patty arrived.
"Hey yall," Peppermint Patty greeted.
"How are you two doing, how's Charlie," Frieda asked.
"We're just waiting on Sally and we're holding up," Linus answered.
"Why is she here and looks like she's on death's door?" Schroeder pointed at Violet.
"He saved her life," Lucy finally spoke.
"No shit‽" Peppermint Patty was surprised.
"I'm not surprised he's in the hospital for saving somebody, even Violet," Schroeder stated.
"What happened," Frieda asked.
"We were going to get pizza and there was a commotion across the street, a lot of screaming and yelling. The next thing we knew; Violet was running through traffic, she barely missed being hit by one car before a huge pickup was seconds away," Patty explained.
"She was being chased by Molly, Charlotte and Delores. Charlie ran out to grab her, getting hit by the mirror," Lucy finished.
"They threw a trash can at me," Violet added.
"Still… why is she here," he repeated.
Patty sighed. "She's our ride."
"Really‽ I'm surprised you all accepted it."
'Trish it was either that, or walk… or the bus," Linus said.
"She was too messed up to drive… so I got to drive it."
"Want me to get rid of her since we're here now?"
"She's just crying and eating," Patty answered.
"Just… let her be," Lucy answered.
"Speaking of eating; I could use something myself," Peppermint Patty spoke.
"Here… get something from the vending machine." Violet pulled out her card.
"I was thinking the cafeteria."
She just waved the card and Peppermint Patty cautiously took it.
"There's actually money on this?"
"Like almost two thousand dollars."
"Noice!"
Charlie placed a hand on Sally's head and she looked up with a sniff.
"I'm fine Sal, helluva headache but fine." He smiled.
"We thought you were going to die!" She hugged him.
"Not that easy, Lucy might get mad."
"This is no time for jokes."
"How're the girls?"
"Worried sick."
"How's Violet, is she okay?"
Sally scoffed and looked away.
"Sally. How is she?" There was a bite to his voice.
"Why did you save her?"
He just gave her a look.
"She… she's not okay—"
"What‽"
"Let me finish… she has been crying the whole time over you, more than Patty and Lucy, but she's okay, you did save her."
"Is she here?"
"She is."
"I want to see her, you understand? This is not the time to be mean to her. If she's that shaken up and distraught, then treat her with kindness, at least for right now. Understand?"
"I understand. Your girlfriends will kill me if I don't send them first, though." She walked out.
Sally walked back to the waiting room everybody's attention on her.
"He's okay, and he's fine. When did you three get here?"
"Not that long ago," Schroeder answered.
"Sally, I'm going to the cafeteria, ya want something, Violet's treat.” She waved the card.
Sally looked at Violet.
"I don't mind." Her voice was nearly a whisper.
She closed her eyes with a huff. "Thank you Violet, but I'm okay." She turned to Lucy and Patty. "Room eight, girlfriends."
They walked in while he was being checked over, he could tell they had been crying.
"Hey ladies."
"Is he okay," Patty asked.
"He's fine."
"We thought you were going to die." Lucy started crying.
"No, not me… you would be mad and beat me to life."
They couldn't help but giggle.
"I just have a headache, a bit of bruising. The important thing is that Violet is okay."
"The big crybaby." Lucy pouted.
"Sally said she had been crying… a lot."
"Almost nonstop," Patty added.
"You're too good for her, Charlie." Lucy narrowed her eyes.
"I know how you girls feel, but I'll tell you what I told Sally; right now, with all that's happened, she needs kindness. We don't know what she's gone through since she's been gone, with this piled on top of it. Please don't be too hard on her."
They both looked at each other to figure out if he was begging or demanding.
"Sure… we will try our best," Patty spoke for them both.
"She offered to pay for everybody's food. Trish may have ran off with her card, never to be seen again."
Charlie just sighed.
The girls walked back to the waiting room as Linus was escorting Peppermint Patty back in.
"She said she didn't care!" She huffed with a bag.
"It doesn't matter, don't take advantage of her kindness, now give it back to her."
"I was gonna… eventually."
'Now," he growled.
"Here… thank you Violet." She handed the card back.
"Any time, Trish."
"What's with you, why are you being nice all of a sudden?"
"It's… the right thing to do."
"That near death experience really changed you, huh?"
She shook her head. "I don't think he should've saved me, I've just had time to think."
"Hnh… I still don't like you. I can't stand you."
"That's fine, you can all hate me but I will do my best to not be another problem in your lives."
"...okaaayyy… honestly… I probably would've saved you, too, but only because I couldn't live with myse—oh, I get it."
"Okay… who's next," Frieda asked.
"We're going to head out, we both have practice. See you all at school tomorrow," Schroeder said.
Linus and Peppermint Patty went back, and it felt like they were back there for a while. She wanted to see him, but wasn't sure if he wanted to see her. Violet started to play conversations in her head of what she would say, if she could muster the nerve to open up. She didn't realize Peppermint Patty and Linus came back, while she munched on a candy bar.
"Violet… earth to Violet." Sally waved at her.
She snapped her head up.
"Go see Charlie."
Chapter Text
She crept in slowly and nervously, he was sat up on the bed.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey. So you're okay?"
"Yep. Did you get your card back from Trish?"
"I did." She walked closer to the bed.
"I'm glad you're okay, Violet. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you after that."
"But why? Don't you hate me, why would you save my life‽"
"I've never hated anybody, sure you've picked a life I don't agree with, but it didn't warrant hatred, you never shot up a school, or anything that bad. To be honest; I do hate the girls that caused this, they permanently hurt Lucy and almost cost you your life."
"Is Lucy doing better?"
"She is. How are you doing, Violet?"
She sighed.
"Okay… I saved you because you don't deserve to die and die that violently. I was told you were really upset about me getting hit by that truck, saving you, why were you seemingly more upset than Patty, Lucy and Sally?"
"Because I am not worth saving, I've been a horrible person… the worst. My friends couldn't even open up to me… I destroyed my own relationship. You… you Charlie; everybody likes you, so many people want to be your friend, nobody cares about what faults you still have. I bet nobody judges you for associating with Lucy, you even convinced Linus to come around and Sally, they hated her! Everybody is going to question and be mad that you saved my life, why would you save my worthless life, your biggest enemy. I stopped going to school so I wouldn't be a problem for anybody."
"Sounds like it's more to avoid being bullied. Aren't you lonely?"
"I am alone, lonely, I have nobody. Reality hit me like a ton of bricks, that I made bad choices that are thrown in my face online because strangely enough, nobody ever blocked me, like they wanted me to see it all. I can't tell my parents because they don't care, or they'll somehow make it worse. It's just me and my thoughts. I always thought it was all about me, I only needed me, how dare people turn away from me… here I am… standing alone, if you can call it that. I never knew how much I needed my friends, how much popularity wasn't that important, that I actually wasn't liked like I thought I was… how much… how much I miss Shermy… and you? I paid attention to you and him talking, I got to know more about you, than I thought I'd care to. Sitting alone at that table I started to wish you would sit down and just prattle on. Sitting at home I wish I could've talked to Lucy and Patty about everything, but I can't, because I was their problem. My life is so empty Charlie, I ruined everything that filled it, and gave it meaning."
"I would've told you basically the same thing, but I guess you figured it out the hard way. You can't run from any of this, drop out of school, avoid everybody, do whatever you want, but it's still going to haunt you no matter what."
"That's why… you should've let me die."
"People would miss you, even some that think they hate you. People would be guilt ridden and blame themselves. I couldn't live with myself if I did nothing. I understand wanting to kill yourself, I get that it's not selfish like people perceive it to be, but it doesn't solve the problem for anybody but you, making problems for everybody else—that is the only part of suicide that is selfish."
Violet was speechless, there was nothing else she could say, what could she say? He had been there, he was right, all of this wouldn't stop. Was she this stupid, clueless, disconnected from everybody? Charlie saw the look on her face, grabbed her hand to pull her close enough he could pull her even closer by her waist, this caught her by surprise and she gave in to him. She fell on him in the tightest hug she ever felt.
"Th-thank you… f-for sa-sss-saving me," she cried.
He just held her while she cried what he assumed was probably the hardest she had, he reclined the bed down and just let her have a cry. After a while he thought he had dozed off at some point, she was quieter, but tears still flowed. His door slowly opened.
"Charlie, is everything okay?" Sally asked before walking in.
"Violet's been in here for…," Lucy was stunned, walked in before her. "Umm…"
"What's happening?" Patty walked in with Sally.
The three girls saw Violet laying completely on top of him, and he still held her. Lucy had an annoyed look on her face, and went to speak.
"Shhh… let her have this one, Lu. Let her have probably the only peace she's had," Patty spoke.
"Kindness," Sally whispered.
"Is she awake," Lucy asked.
"Probably. I know what you're probably thinking, but you can't blame her for the choice I made, it's not fair. She came to me one day, thought I was the only person she could talk to and I turned her away. I really wasn’t gonna help her, like I said I wouldn’t. I was mad at her over you two, and in a crazy way, however so small, helped create this situation."
"You can't blame yourself," Sally argued.
"I'm not saying it's all my fault, I'm just saying her choices pushed me to where I didn't want to help, and me not helping is just one small reason why we're here now."
"This sounds like that no victim blaming stuff," Lucy said.
"No… sometimes it's the victim's fault, it's called consequences… negligence."
Patty walked closer and looked at Violet, saw she was sleep, and went to wake her up.
"I think she's learned her lesson, and she feels like her life is nothing without you two in it, and I know you two don't hate her."
"I don't hate her." Lucy sighed.
"Patty," Violet woke up.
"Hey… I don't mean to interrupt anything, but I noticed you had groceries in your car, and maybe we should get those home before they spoil."
"I forgot about them, it's not like they can't be replaced or whatever."
"Your parents will be livid, and you don't need that right now, okay?"
"They're going to keep you until tomorrow to make sure you're okay," Sally explained.
"Wait… what about my car?"
"If it gets towed, I'll pay for it."
"You can't just buy people off, Violet," Lucy spat.
"I don't know any other way to help. I'm not trying to buy him, it's just…"
"I get it. He couldn't afford to waste money on impound fees." Lucy put her hand on Violets back. "Just… be kind."
Charlie smiled at her.
"Both of you are lucky I like you." She grabbed his keys. “I’ll get your car."
Violet rolled off of Charlie and sat on the bed.
"Luckiest guy alive with girls like you."
"Let's go, Violet," Patty sang.
"Okay… I'm coming. I just wanna say goodbye… please?"
"Hurry up." Patty left the room with Lucy.
"Shoo Sally." He spoke.
She scoffed and left.
After a moment she spoke. "Will you be my friend?"
"Be your friend?"
"I know I have no right to ask you, and it's probably too soon, but I want a friendship between us… I feel like… I feel…"
"Yeah?"
She stood. "Something inside of me is begging for you… I… want more, need more. We know each other, but right now I just want your friendship. I hope this is not goodbye, but see ya later."
Once in the parking lot Violet finally spoke. "I'm okay to drive."
"Are you sure, because I don't mind?"
"I'm… feeling better, thank you."
"Give her the keys, we got groceries to unload." Lucy hopped in the backseat.
Violet got behind the driver's seat and drove towards home. The ride was quiet for a few blocks.
"Violet, I'm sorry I stopped being your friend," Patty blurted.
"You have nothing to apologize for, she was a terrible friend," Lucy scolded.
"She's right. I was a terrible friend, I didn't deserve you."
"I was bad too," Lucy said softer.
"Didn't deserve you either, Lucy. Can… can we start over‽ Please‽"
The two look at her.
"Please‽"
Lucy put her hand on Patty's arm, she turned to look at her.
"I need you girls in my life," she whined.
"We're here, we're starting over. We were mad at you, but we missed you, too… Vee," Lucy calmly spoke.
They pulled up to Violet's house, quickly helped her put the groceries away. Lucy was still being kind of stand-offish, but Violet couldn't blame her.
"I swear if you screw up this time, I'll be done with you," Lucy threatened.
"I'm going to do my best."
"Good." She went back for more bags.
Patty watched her leave. "Okay, I feel the same way, but…" She gave her a tight hug. "I'm just happy we can be friends again!"
"Same."
"These are the last ones." Lucy came in and started helping put the rest away.
Once done, Violet got ready to take them to Charlie's car, Lucy had a face she couldn't figure out, before she could, Lucy pulled her in a hug.
"Be better Vee." She whispered.
"You two are more like family, than my own family."
Lucy let go. "Then act like it, okay?"
Violet nodded.
Charlie laid in bed, watched television, went over his conversation with Violet and what she said about wanting more of him, to be more than friends. His parents came in, interrupted his thoughts.
"Charlie!" His mom rushed to hug him.
"He's not on death's door, Jen. How're you holding up?"
"I'm fine."
"Reggie, he was hit by a truck!"
"clipped… grazed," Charlie corrected.
"The girl you saved; isn't she one of your bully's," Reginald asked.
"She was. She was being bullied herself, the same girls that jumped Lucy went after her, they chased her out to the street. Mom, dad, she was so scared. She narrowly missed one car, then there was the truck… I couldn't just let Violet die."
"Was she at least thankful," Jennifer asked.
"Well… not at first, but—"
"Excuse me‽ My son risk his life, and she wasn't thankful‽"
"It's not like that! She… Violet didn't think she deserved to be saved. Let's just say; her life choices caught up to her. Lucy and Patty cut her off, the whole school turned on her, Shermy broke up with her, her car along with Lucy's bike were vandalized. She didn't think her life was worth saving."
"You did the right thing, Charlie," Reginald said.
"That's right, even if she was a… bitch of a child… she doesn't deserve to die. Now hopefully she will learn to be a better person, like Lucy."
"I think that's her goal, mom. She's not doing very well, I think this pushed her over the edge, so to speak. I was told she cried more than Lucy and Patty, she begged for a friendship with me."
"It's all guilt," she said.
"Sounds like it. Would you be willing, do you think you can trust her," Reginald asked.
"I'm willing to give her a chance, I think Patty and Lucy will, too."
"Are you sure you're willing to take that risk, son?"
"So much has happened that I haven't told you. They say good things come in threes… "
Violet pulled into the pizza place parking lot and stared at the intersection.
"Violet… Violet." Patty tapped her shoulder.
"Who wants pizza?” She whipped her head around.
"I think I'm good, Vee."
"You sure? I'm pretty hungry."
"But you've—never mind. What about you Pat?"
"No, I just wanna go home. Are you going to be okay, Vee?"
"After today… I think I will be… eventually. Maybe you two have the right idea; I don't want to be around here any longer than I need to be." She sighed.
"Do I need to follow you to make sure you get home?"
"No, I'll be fine."
"Are you sure? It's really no problem." Lucy looked concerned.
"I can make it, I promise."
"Okay… you… umm… let one of us know when you get home." She had uncertainty in her voice.
"I will, I promise."
"Good… good night Vee." Lucy got out.
"Please come back to school." Patty reached over and hugged her.
Violet watched Lucy drive away before leaving herself.
"We're really doing this, right? Giving Violet another chance?"
"Yeah… I know she means a lot to you, I like her too, but I know how much you were missing her, ya big baby."
"I can't help it, I'm sensitive! You miss her too."
Lucy sighed.
"Don't lie to me."
"If she makes you cry, I'm done with her. I miss her too, Pat and I'm worried about her, but I'll be damned if she hurts you like we did before."
"Okay big sister." Patty laughed.
"I'm serious! If it comes down to it; I'm picking you over her."
"Well I appreciate it. You know it's going to be hard, right? The three of us back together, both of you technically still not liked. I know Charlie asked us all to be nice to her… pretty sure that truce is over."
"So it'll be like it was to begin with. I'm comfortable with those who want me, I don't need anymore friends, or the stress of being popular."
"We got a nice lil group, huh?"
"Yeah."
Violet made it back home, went to make something to eat and to start her homework. Pop music played, she stuffed her face, barely home before her parents came in and walked in her room.
"Violet honey." James walked in.
"Yes daddy?"
"How was your trip?"
"My… trip…? Oh! Oooooo, nooooo." She realized what he was talking about.
"Yes, you know… the retreat you told Jennifer you were going to. She wanted to know how it was going."
"It wasn't as fun as I thought it was going to be."
"Uh-huh." He stepped in. "Why the fuck have you not been in school‽"
"I've been doing the work."
"What have you been doing all day‽ Why the fuck are you not going to school‽"
"I… I…" She was too scared to answer.
"Answer him!" Heather walked in.
"You won't get it, you won't care."
"Try us," she snarled.
"Ev… everybody hates me, everybody bullies me."
"Why?" He grew intrigued.
"It's… my… fault. I even pushed Lucy and Patty away; I let Lucy get jumped by herself, teased Patty over her broken heart."
"The hell do you do all day," Heather asked.
"Nothing. I sit around all day, homework, eat."
"What about today? The Cadillacs engine was still cooling down when we got here," James said.
"I was at the hospital."
He gave a keep going motion.
"Charlie… he was hit by a truck… because of me. I was running from the girls that beat up Lucy… ran out in the street." She started to cry. "He saved me from being hit by a truck."
Her parents looked at each other.
"It's true!"
"Is he okay," Heather asked.
"The doctor said he just had a concussion, and should be fine."
"Ah… well… that's nice, he's okay. You seem to be okay," she replied.
"But it's no excuse for leaving school and you can't hide from your problems. You're going back to school starting tomorrow, you'll just need to reap what you've sown, whatever happens, happens—that should be punishment enough," James said sternly.
"You don't care what happens to me?"
"High school doesn't matter in the grand scheme of it all, you're still a child, you'll get over it, and if they all hate you, then there's nothing holding you back," James explained.
"But… I… wha…" Her voice trailed off.
"Then it's settled and done. Hopefully we won't need to revisit this… will we?"
She shook her head.
"Then we'll leave you." He shut the door after his wife.
"That was… cold, even for you."
Violet remembered to call the girls, and she called them on conference.
"Girls," she said with a hitch in her voice.
"You don't have to cry because you didn't let us know right away," Lucy said.
"It's not that."
"What is it, Violet," Patty asked.
"My parents came home right after me… they found out I wasn't going to school. Not only are they making me go, but… they don't care what happens to me."
"They were going to find out. Did you tell them what happened," Patty asked.
"I told them everything, they don't care. I really need you girls tomorrow, okay? I'm really scared."
"We got your back," Lucy said.
"We'll do what we can," Patty agreed.
Chapter Text
"Lucy, do you still have my keys?"
"Yeah I do, I forgot to give them to your parents."
"That's fine, just use my car so none of you have to walk."
"Are you sure?"
"I trust you, you've driven it before."
"Umm… thanks."
"Have a good day, Lu."
"I'll try, but I can't make any promises."
"Huh?"
"Well… Violet's parents found out she wasn't going to school, they're making her go."
"That does throw a wrench into things, , but she can't just avoid school." He huffed. "Damn I wish I could be there."
"Me too. I'm going to miss you today."
"It's just a few hours at best."
"I miss you anyway! Hurry up and rest or stop thinking so much, so you can get better."
Charlie laughed. "Go to school, goofy. I'll let you know when I'm home."
"Okay. See you later."
"Definitely." He hung up.
Lucy finished her ritual coffee, when Linus came downstairs to make his own with Rerun.
"Morning Lucy," Linus greeted.
"I just got off the phone with Charlie; he said we can use his car."
"That's cool," Rerun agreed. "And I don't need to sit next to them sucking face."
"Nope." She laughed.
After Linus made his coffee, the three walked outside, saw Sally already prepared to walk to school.
"Sal, we're taking the car," Lucy called out.
"What‽ If anybody should be driving it, it's me! How can you be so entitled to think you can just take his car to school? Huh?"
"You're not old enough, and you don't have a license."
"And‽ He's my brother. Why do you even still have the keys? See… I thought you changed, my mistake. Gimme the keys!"
"Charlie said I could use it, I'm telling the truth. I forgot about the keys and I wouldn't just drive his car without permission. You can trust me." Lucy sounded heart broken.
"Uh-huh…"
Her phone went off and she saw a message from Charlie; "I told Lu she could take the car, so don't give her crap." Sally looked at Lucy with wide eyes.
"Let's go Lucy, c'mon, we're wasting time."
"That was Charlie wasn't it?" Linus smirked.
"It was… Eudora, she said; it's… waffles today."
They all knew she was lying. They all got in the car, Lucy was quiet.
"We have the whole back seat to ourselves," Sally flirted.
"Uh-huh," Linus nonchalantly agreed, stared out the window.
"Quick make out sesh, my Babboo?"
"No, you hurt Lucy's feelings, you owe her an apology."
"So I made a mistake, it's no big deal. It was Charlie that texted me, not Eudora—I messed up, okay?"
"We know it was Charlie… you're a terrible liar, Sally," Rerun said.
"See… it's settled," she leaned into his face.
"You hurt her." He held his hand to her face. "Say you're sorry. You know she wouldn't just take his car."
Sally huffed. “You're right… Lucy, I'm sorry, I mean it, please don't be mad at me. I should trust you like my brother does… I screwed up."
"I forgive you. I just don't know why you would think I'd take his car without permission, I'd be pissed if it happened to me, and the last thing I want is to make Charlie mad at me."
"I should've known that, with how much you love him."
Lucy made a small noise.
"What was that noise," Rerun asked.
"N-nothing. I don't… I don't love him, I just like him a lot."
They pulled into the parking lot, Violet pulled in behind them and just sat in her car not wanting to get out.
"Violets here." Peppermint Patty walked up to them.
"Yeah, her parents found out she wasn't going to school," Lucy replied.
"But on Friday, what's the point?"
Lucy just shrugged. They saw Patty zoom in and parked.
"What's her hurry," Sally wondered.
They watched her walk up to Violet and knock on the window and heard Violet scream.
"You scared the hell out of me!"
"Sorry, I just wanted to be here for ya."
"Violets here, maybe you'll catch a break today." Frieda walked up with Schroeder.
"Mornin' Frieda," Lucy walked to where Violet was parked.
"You don't need to be nice to her, it's not like Charlie's here," Frieda called out.
She stopped and turned, "I don't need him to tell me right from wrong. I'm letting go of the past, she's scared like me. All of your friends are bullying us now. I thought you cut ties with us because we were the bully's, because you thought it was wrong? Sure some people are nice to me now, but they apparently still don't trust me, and Violet has nobody but me and Patty… like always. I know last night was a fluke for Charlie's sake. She hated him more than I did, and nobody cried over him more." She turned back around.
"I said I was sorry," Sally sighed.
"C'mon… let's go Violet." Lucy walked up.
"I'm not ready."
"I know, hey, we are here for you, fresh start," Lucy reassured.
"We will be with you as much as we can," Patty added.
They finally got her out of her car and aimed towards the school, they were walking next to the rest and they could tell she was on edge. Students were staring and talking and pointing.
"Violet! What are you still doing alive, shouldn't you be smeared on the pavement," Melody shouted.
"Didn't you run out in traffic, can't even do that right," Janice asked.
"Got nothing to say? You ran out into traffic like an idiot. I don't know how—" Melody started.
"Stop it! Just shut the fuck up! You don't like her, cool, but none of that is something to joke about," Sally screamed.
"You're defending Violet‽"
"No, I'm defending the situation! I could've lost Charlie, he's why she's alive, Melody!" Sally marched to the cafeteria.
"Is he… okay," Janice asked.
"As far as we know, he's fine, you'd need to ask Sal," Schroeder said.
"Why would he save her?"
"Why wouldn't he," Lucy snapped.
In the breakfast line Violet was shaken up, her tray had more food than she usually ate. Lucy and Patty led her to where they normally sit, much to their surprise, the usual’s sat with them still, and to their surprise; they didn't think Violet ate that much.
"Violet," Marcie spoke up. "That… incident must have really shaken you up. I've never seen you like this, you're always so confident and bold.
Violet looked up at her and swallowed.
"I don't mean to offend you."
"You're talking to me? I would say arrogant and conceited. I'm a horrible person, no better than my parents… I looked down on everybody and barely even cared about the things that mattered. I'm nobody's role model."
"Everybody can change, Vee. Sometimes we just need to be torn down and rebuilt back up," Patty said.
"Who knew she ate like that, how does she keep her figure?" Heather stared in awe.
"She doesn't eat like that, I think she's stress eating," Frieda said.
"I've never seen her wear some generic tracksuit either," Emily said.
"That's a Gucci," Frieda corrected.
"The look on her face, she looks terrified to be here, I kinda feel sorry for her," Lamar said.
"She's finally getting a taste of her own medicine."
"That's true," Franklin nodded.
"She was miserable at the hospital, Lucy was right, she barely stopped crying to stuff her face. I couldn't imagine what… the three of them, actually, are going through. Nobody has ever treated me that bad, whether I deserved it or not," Peppermint Patty explained.
"Lucy isn't that far off from Violet, I don't get why she's doing this, what slim chance she had to be somewhat well liked is going to be ruined by dealing with Violet again."
"I think you're more worried about popularity, than they are, Ree-Ree," Lamar stated.
"The diabolical trio are back together again," Eudora asked when she saw Lucy, Violet and Patty going to class.
"I guess you could say that," Patty replied.
"And you wanna be friends with her? Bad enough you're still friends with Lucy."
"I never wanted to stop. I'm not leaving her like this either, I don't hate people, I'll be here for anybody who needs me."
"Patty is the best of us all, the kindest girl I know. I always thought you were weird, but never so mean," Lucy said.
They move on to class, which was where Violet had to fend for herself, luckily the teacher wasn't having any of it, after seeing her act like a scared rabbit.
"Have you seen Lucy, babe?" Sally ran up after first period.
"No, maybe you should give her time to cool down."
"But I want her to know I really feel bad about this morning."
"I can't do anything about it, but tell you to give her time."
"I am her friend, and she's going to forgive me, damn it!" She marched off.
Violet was trying to safely make it to second period, not paying attention and bumped into Shermy
He turned to see who bumped into him. "V-Violet‽ Where've you been?"
"Oh Shermy." She looked up nervously.
"Are you okay?"
She shook her head. "I… I need to tell you…"
"Yeah?"
"Sorry I messed everything up! Pushed you… away. I didn't know what I had thrown away."
"I'm not mad at you, Vee, it's fine."
"You guys are happy, right?"
"Yeah. We are. Do better in your next relationship, I know you have it in you."
She mumbled something.
"Hey… you seem really shaken up, you must've dealt with more than that thing with Charlie, huh? How about I walk you to class, and you tell me about it?"
"If… you want to."
"I do."
"Lucy, I need some answers." Peggy walked up to her.
"Umm… okay?"
"I keep being told Violet was with Shermy last period, what do you know about that?"
"Nothing more than you do, I swear. I haven't seen her since breakfast."
"If she's trying to get him back…"
"I don't think she is, just… just ask her at lunch, and please be nice about it," she begged.
"Why should I‽"
"It… it might not… be what you think it is. Plus you can… you can just ask him."
Peggy growled.
"He won't lie!"
"You're right." She calmed down and walked off.
"What was that about?" Sally walked up.
"Like you would trust me to tell you." She rolled her eyes.
"I do! I do trust you, I'm sorry about this morning, I really am, Lu." She hugged her. "I messed up, okay?"
"Why should I believe you?"
"Do I gotta say it?" She let go.
"Say what?"
"Why would I not trust my future sister-in-law?"
"Don't you butter me up."
"I'm buttering you up, big sis. I'm going to marry Linus, you're going to marry Charlie. Everybody is gonna be there, we're going to be each other's bridesmaids. Right now; we are going to be best friends somehow, until then."
Lucy couldn't do anything but smile.
"See? I'm here for you. I don't want to be a part of hurting you anymore."
"I hope Vee can get that same courtesy." She hugged her. "Now get to class, see you at lunch, lil sis."
On the way to lunch Violet tried to call Charlie.
"Hello," he yawned.
"H-how are you today, am I bothering you?"
"No… no, I just woke up from a nice nap, I'm fine, what about you?"
"My parents found out I was skipping school, so I'm at school."
"How's that going?"
"I… I wish you were here… with me. I'm scared to be here."
"I should be coming home today."
"Do you want me to get you, I can get you!"
"If it's possible, I wouldn't mind."
"Violet! I heard you were messing around with Shermy." Royanne walked up.
"What‽ No, it wasn't like that!"
"Violet, what's going on," Charlie asked.
"Then what was it like, huh‽"
"I just… ran into him… I apologized for being a bad girlfriend, that's it… nothing more."
"And I'm supposed to believe you don't want him back‽"
"I don't! I just… wanted to make things right… I… I… I promise."
"Is everything okay? Violet? Talk to me Violet!"
"I know how you are, you're planning on stealing him back," Royanne growled.
"I'm not, I don't want him… I want… I want…"
"Yeah…?"
"I want Charlie," she cried.
"You… want Charlie…?"
"Me‽ Violet, you want me," he said loud enough that they heard him.
"Is that Charlie on your phone?"
She gasped. "Oh no… it's not what it sounds like!" She went to hang up. "Can't believe I said that!"
"Like he would want somebody like you, anyway." She laughed.
"Yeah… I know. I don't deserve a guy like Shermy or Charlie." She walked away.
Chapter Text
"There you are! C'mon Vee!" Patty grabbed her hand. "Let's get to lunch."
They caught up with a few others aimed at the lunch line.
"Patty, are you still doing the stream," Franklin asked.
"I wasn't going to, because of what's happened, but I think I will. I'll fill everybody in on it, I've got important things to say."
"You hanging in there Violet?"
"You're… talking to me?"
"Yeah, I see how people are treating you, plus this morning it looked like you didn't want to be here."
"I don't wanna be here," she said quietly.
"Just hang in there."
"I know it's hard being here, but we got you Vee." Lucy sat down.
"She sure is putting it away," Rerun stated.
"Hush," Lucy spat.
"That was rude, sweetheart," Marcie scolded.
"Sorry Violet."
"Okay, so about the stream tonight, I wasn't going to do one, but I think I need to, it might not be super fun tonight—"
"There she is," Melody interrupted. "I hope you had a good day, because it's going to be your last."
"I know you're not trying to pick a fight right now," Lucy asked.
"No, not me, she's going to get hers soon enough, especially after what she did the other day. So ya might as well stop hiding, Violet! If they don't find you this weekend… well… their suspension is up Monday."
"What she did the other day, was almost die," Peppermint Patty blurted.
"Before that, when she was drunk and started beating Charlotte in the face with those mustard and ketchup things at Tom's Diner!"
Violet tried to hide her embarrassment, while the others were surprised at what they heard.
"I can't wait to see, so kiss your ass goodbye, miss Warbucks." She cackled and walked away.
Violet started to cry silently.
"That's kinda what I wanted to talk about on stream tonight. Violet, did you really do that?"
"I snapped," she said to her lap.
"What was that," Heather asked.
"I… I snapped." She looked up, tears streamed down her face, she tried to catch her breath. "I was… thinking about… my friends I lost… boyfriend… how I didn't do any-anything to help… to help Lucy. Wanted to be numb and… forget. I saw her and… and… I got mad! H-how could… she hurt Lucy, how could I… run away…"
"Damn. At least you got her before she got you," Sally said.
"Right," Peppermint Patty agreed.
"If I didn't do it… if I didn't… Charlie wouldn't be in the hospital." She started crying.
"We don't know that, Vee," Lucy spoke quietly."
"Didn't they already want to fight her for telling on them," Schroeder asked.
Lucy shot daggers at him.
"All my fault." She shook her head. "I made it worse."
"It's not all your fault."
"Well…" Frieda started.
"Frieda, to be honest… they started this for you, because of what I did."
"There's no way you think this is okay, Ree-Ree. Look at her. I'm tired of violence and hate." Patty hugged her.
"It's only fair," Violet cried. "Nobody's going to help me, everybody hates me."
"I'm going to help you. I'm scared too, but I'm going to," Lucy said.
"Are you sure you can fight with those stitches in your arm, won't you rip open that gash," Heather asked.
Violet looked at Heather and Lucy. "What stitches?"
"Did I screw up? I thought she knew?"
"I… haven't had time to tell her any of that, yet, no biggie."
"What stitches," Violet repeated.
"I'll tell you later, okay? It doesn't matter right now."
"I think if you guys are willing to give Lucy a chance, Violet deserves one, too. If you're going to be friends with Lu and Pat, then you're going to end up dealing with Vee, anyway. I feel how broken her soul is," Emily explained.
"My soul is broken?"
"I'm getting the feeling that you're alone, scared, feeling empty because right now your life has no real meaning. Are you getting that Lamar?"
"Hmm? She does have those vibes, her lifestyle didn't have true meaning, it was all material, now she seeks substance."
"I'll pray to the gods for you, Violet, be strong," Emily said.
"I'd have never thought some of the people we know could be this cruel, given the chance. We all should know trauma when we see it; a person broken down and ripped apart until not much of them are left, and they're never the same after that," Linus explained.
"Everything I've seen is far worse than what Lucy and Violet has ever done," Franklin added.
"I think I'll stand with Violet, I think she's more than sorry for everything she's done. I don't think I can take another… accident, we'll call them," Peppermint Patty said.
"If you're going to, so will I," Roy agreed.
"Aww, babe." She kissed him.
"I don't blame anybody for not wanting anything to do with me, I was a horrible person. I should just take my beating. I abandoned you Lucy, because I'm such a coward… I deserve it. I deserve to be alone. I really did think money was everything… popularity… all of that, and I've probably missed out on so many things and real connections with people, more interested in being worshiped. I'm as bad as my parents."
"They're probably just doing what they think is right, I'm sure they love you," Heather said.
"I'm not sure if they even do. They just buy me stuff, let me do what I want, as long as I do what I'm told. I can't remember the last time I even had a hug, or… like… being proud of me. Good job, like I work for them. Daddy, I finally passed the driving test after the fourth time; good job, you're not driving my Bentley. Daddy, I made Cheerleading squad; good job, I'll have Jennifer be there for you. Daddy, mom, Charlie almost lost his life saving me from being hit by a truck because these girls wanted to jump me; is he okay, you seem to be okay. I told them everything and they said it would be a fitting punishment for ditching school. Jennifer is always proud of me… I wish Jennifer was my mom."
"I didn't know your home life was like that, Violet I'm so sorry," Heather said.
"I should call Jennifer, I hope she didn't lose her job because of me, I hope she'd not too mad, I hate when she's mad at me." Violet started to cry again.
"Did you know this?” Schroeder looked at Frieda.
"Kinda… it always seemed like they were never home, and when they were, they just left us alone. I've never heard her open up like this. They sound like… like your parents, Lucy."
"They're worse," the three siblings said.
With lunch eventually over, Violet clung to Lucy while she walked her back to class.
"What happened to your arm?"
"I was cutting… and I… cut too deep. Linus came in my room and scared me. It was an accident."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"It actually brought me and him closer, although I was expecting and kinda hoping he would've ignored it and left me alone. Sally didn't let him, they had Trish take me to the hospital."
"Couldn't you have died?"
"I wanted to, after my fuck ups."
"If you die… Pat would be heartbroken, so would me and your brothers."
"Yeah… I'm sure Patty would be the first, if not the only one to jump in my grave, saying take me with you." She chuckled.
Violet let out a little giggle.
"I can't promise you anybody will care about you, but we do, and I bet Charlie does. You're not alone."
"I guess I can't go off dying now… he didn't save my life for nothing."
"That's the spirit."
"Do you think we should actually give Violet a chance?" Peppermint Patty stood with Linus.
"I'm leaning towards yes."
"Is it to make Lucy happy," Schroeder asked.
"No, not completely. It's her home life. I think the way Violet has always acted is her parents fault, see; she sought popularity and praise because she doesn't get it at home, she's mean and nasty because it's probably internalized anger and sadness, she's so materialistic because that's all she knows. They're creating a monster. And Jennifer isn't a strong enough positive force to help."
"Sometimes I think you're too smart, Linus," Peppermint Patty said.
"Yeah, well… it comes in handy."
Frieda found a few of her friends to talk to, before fourth period.
"Can I ask you girls to please stop being so hard on Lucy and Violet?"
"Are you serious?" Tapioca looked incredulous.
"Yes."
"They're finally getting a taste of their own medicine," Lydia explained.
"They're getting an overdose. Have you not seen Violet, it looks like she's going to have a panic attack at any moment. You don't like them, fine, just ignore them, or at the very least, keep your hands to yourself, I know for a fact that they've never hit anybody."
"Violet should be scared," Lydia said.
"No she shouldn't, not to the extent that she is. I promise she's learning her lesson. Why bully somebody so relentlessly… Lucy almost killed herself. I stopped being friends with them because they were bullies, just to be friends with more bullies. I get that you don't like them, they treated me no better, but I'm not out for blood. You all are pushing them too far, damn it. There's no excuse for pushing people over the edge—they weren't even that bad." Frieda walked away.
"I need to talk to you, Violet," Peggy demanded.
"I didn't do anything, please don't hurt me!"
"I—what? Wow… no."
"I don't want Shermy back, if that's what you're here for. All I did was apologize for being a bitch, he does deserve better than me. And I… I didn't look for him either."
"I guess that's it." She shrugged.
"Ummm… Peggy?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry I called you a redneck, or whatever, I was just mad, I was hurt. I don't want any trouble."
"Just leave my man alone, and we're good."
"I'll avoid him best I can."
"Glad we could have this talk." She went to pat her on the shoulder and made her flinch. "Yeah…"
"Lucy."
"Yeah Frieda?"
"I just wanted to tell you that I did try to talk to some of the girls, but I can't make any promises."
"At least you tried. Thank you Frieda."
"Yeah, well… yeah.” She walked away.
Fifth period rolled around and Peppermint Patty snuck up on Violet in the hall.
"Hiya Violet!" she tapped her shoulder.
Violet jumped and yelped.
"Jeez girl… relax at least a little." Peppermint Patty raised an eyebrow.
"Everybody's out to get me, they keep saying things, and taunting me about getting the same treatment Lucy got."
"Ugh. Violet, I decided to give this thing a shot after Linus explained it all."
"Give what a shot?"
"You."
"Me‽"
"He was talking about how it's your parents fault you're how ya are, right, so I wanna show you how us normal people do things."
"I guess I understand."
"Good! I'm hoping this don't turn out to be a mistake… I might just hafta beat ya up myself. No pressure." She slapped her back.
"I-I'll d-do my b-best."
"That's the spirit! now what class ya got, let's roll!"
"Not so fast!"
"Whadaya want, Joe‽" Peppermint Patty turned around.
"Not much, just a few words with Vee over here."
"If you're here to cause problems," She growled.
"Who me‽ Nah! So… Vee… how ya holding up, kid, what with losing Shermy and all?"
"I have no choice but to deal with it."
"Yeah… yeah, not much choice." He shook his head. "How ya taking it, though?"
"I'm actually okay with it, I don't deserve a guy like that and they seem really happy… I don't wanna mess that up."
"Just keep yer head up, kid."
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
"That's what I'm wondering."
"Ehh… you're having a pretty rough time, I can tell. Plus I heard about what happened with you and Charlie, I actually hope that big dope is okay. I'm cuttin' ya some slack." He walked off.
"Weird," the girls said.
When school let out Violet stayed close to Lucy, Patty, Linus and Peppermint Patty.
"Oh! Charlie is calling." Sally looked at her phone. "Big bro, is everything okay?"
"Put it on speaker," Patty whispered.
She didn't want to, but obliged.
"Everything is fine, I was released a while ago, but they won't let me leave until somebody can get me."
"I'll do it," Patty yelled.
"Pick me Chuck!"
"Hey, I'm the one with his car!"
"I'll show you what my Crown Vic can do!"
"I appreciate so many offers.” He laughed. "Violet asked first, so I pick her."
They all stared at her, she had a heavy blush of embarrassment mixed slightly with fear.
"I uh… if some… somebody else wants to." She started to cover her face.
"He did ask for you, so it doesn't matter what we want," Patty said.
"Violet stop feeling bad and go get my brother."
"I'm waiting for ya, Vee."
"Should I have not—"
"Go! Go get him," they all yelled.
She flailed her arms with a squeak and ran to her SUV.
When Violet got to the hospital, she ran inside to see him going through his phone, in a wheelchair.
"Charlie…?"
He looked up with a smile. "My rides here!"
"Are you really okay?"
"Yeah… you can come closer, you know."
She cautiously approached him and he pulled her into a hug that warmed her heart. When he let go, he took a quick selfie while she was smiling. A nurse wheeled him to where she was parked in the pick up lane.
"Thanks for picking me up."
"It was n-no problem."
"Relax, everything’s okay."
"I think everybody is mad at me."
"If anything they would be mad at me, but I doubt it either way. I could use something to eat, how about you?"
"Yes, after today; I'm famished."
"Bad day? You look like you've been upset."
"Charlie, it sucked."
She got a text message from Jennifer telling her to pick up her car from the shop right away, so she can get back to work.
"It might've just gotten worse…"
"How?"
"My dads assistant, Jennifer; she just told me to come pick up my car." She pulled away.
"That's not good?"
"I lied to her about why I wasn't in school, and I just know she's mad at me. I wanted to talk to her about it when she got off work… I'm not ready yet!"
"She's just your dads assistant, right? Is it really that big of a deal?"
"It is. She's the one that's always been there for me, when my parents were too busy, she's like… like… I wish she was my mom." She started to cry.
"Hey… hey," He squeezed her thigh, "it'll be okay, just explain it all, I'm sure she'll understand."
She rested her hand on his and gave him a desperate look, he gave her a warm smile.
"I'll help if you want."
She didn't say anything, she just sniffed and nodded. After a while Charlie went to pull his hand away when she made a turn, but she caught him halfway, intertwined her small fingers in his and held, she blushed a little, then a lot when he held her back. They finally pulled into the BMW dealership and she saw Jennifer outside, with a cigarette.
"Swanky," he said, followed by a whistle.
She parked near her car, took a few seconds to will herself to let Charlie's hand go and step out, he followed suit, grabbed her backpack. She could tell Jennifer was annoyed.
"I can explain," she blurted, not even looking at her.
"Explain what, why I had to catch an Uber down here for your finished car… or why you lied to me?" Her tone was less than welcoming.
"Jenny… I—"
"I felt really stupid, Violet. You've pulled some stunts before, but this is one of the worst! A youth retreat… really‽ Just so you can cut school‽"
"Sorry."
"You should be. I'm so disappointed in you."
That really hurt her, tears ran down her face as she handed her the keys to the Escalade.
"You should hear her out. It's not that cut and dry. Violet has been having a hard time in school, she lost her friends, her boyfriend, she's getting bullied, nobody likes her at school… she was almost killed yesterday." Charlie stood his ground.
"And you are…?"
"Charlie Brown. Her friend."
"You're that round-headed kid I've heard her talk about. Explain, Violet."
"I… realized I was mistreating Lucy and Patty. I made fun of Patty for liking Pig Pen and him turning her down. I wasn't there for Lucy when she found out Frieda and Schroeder was dating, and when she was really depressed and got into it with Frieda… some of her friends jumped us… and… and I ran, left her by herself. They both stopped being my friends, then Shermy dumped me for being selfish. I've been so lonely… so scared. The girls that beat up Lucy saw me yesterday and chased me out in traffic, Charlie saved me from being hit by a truck."
"Why didn't you tell me any of that?" Concern grew in her voice.
"I don't know. There was just… so much going on and…" She started crying. "I'm sorry Jenny, I even… I let you down!"
"I've never seen her like this, have you?"
"No Charlie." She pulled her into a hug. "You're really having it rough, you can tell me anything, you know I'm here for you."
"My parents don't even care." She cried.
"Oh Vivi, it's going to be okay, stop crying baby."
"I think you must see something the rest of us don't, or at least I didn't… but I think I'm starting to see it."
Chapter Text
"Vivi, you have to start letting people in. Give people a chance to know the real you." She let go and wiped a tear from her face.
"I'm here for you Violet." Charlie smiled.
Violet turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I want you to know the real me." She pulled him into a hug.
Charlie hugged her back.
"You just fall for any boy who's sweet to you, huh?" Jennifer smirked.
"No," she whined.
"Look at your face… red as a beet." She laughed.
Violet pouted and buried her face in Charlie's chest.
"It's actually kinda cute." He chuckled.
"Stop teasing me." She let go and turned around with her arms crossed.
Charlie couldn't help but laugh.
"She can be just a big a baby as Patty, don't let her fool you." She gently pushed Charlie into her and wrapped his arms around her. "Where were you kids going?"
"She picked me up from the hospital."
"Shit. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, it was just a concussion. I got hit in the head with the trucks mirror."
Violet held his arms around her.
"You're quite the hero, then."
"I wouldn't say that."
"I would," Violet whispered.
"Next time leave the crazy schemes to Lucy—the brains of the outfit."
Charlie guffawed.
"Better yet, just stop trying to be delinquents. I gotta go before the slave driver starts preparing his whip."
Violet giggled.
"Be good you two… or good at it. And Vivi, you're not alone, you can talk to people."
"I see why you like her so much." He sat in her car.
"She's always there for me." She started up the car.
"Whoa, this is a manual‽"
"Yeeeah…"
"You can drive stick‽"
"Uh-huh." She backed out of the spot.
"That is so cool."
"It's no biggie." She tried to fight the smile on her face. "Jenny taught me. My dad got me this and didn't really pay attention to the fact it had a manual, or that it was the M5."
Violet waited for traffic to clear, dumped the clutch, slid out of the dealership. Charlie was stunned, she did a heel toe technique through a slip road, then rev matched downshifts to the traffic light.
"You think that's no big deal, that was awesome, like a racecar driver!"
"I could teach you."
"I don't think I could ever drive like that."
"Don't sell yourself short, Charlie. I'm sure you can do lot's of things and driving a manual isn't that hard."
Violet easily pulled away from the light, Charlie noticed her motions were fluid, the car almost felt like an automatic.
"I couldn't tell you how many clutches I burnt messing around." She laughed.
“I bet the girls get a kick out of your spirited driving.”
“They hate it… terrifies them. I have to beg for us not to take Patty’s lumbering minivan anywhere. It’s like; c’mon, can’t I enjoy something, why put down and…”
“And? And what?”
“Accept that I like it… even if—yeah, I get it.”
She pulled in the drive thru of some fast food burger place.
"It's my treat. I owe you for saving my life and… being here for me."
"You don't owe me."
"I do, and much more than just food."
Charlie ordered something small, but she upsized it, then ordered more than he thought she could eat.
"Do you wanna come over?"
"I would, but Patty is streaming tonight, and I have work to catch up on."
"Oh."
"But you're more than welcome to come over and hang out."
"You're inviting me to your house?"
"Yeah."
Violet was actually nervous as she walked in Charlie's house, treated it like she might break it, followed him to his room, but hesitant to go inside.
"Well… are you just going to chill at the door?" He rose an eyebrow.
"Sorry, I just—"
"I won't bite."
"I know that." She gave a weak chuckle, "You sure your parents are okay with a girl in your room…?"
"What they don't know won't hurt them."
She gasped.
"Betcha didn't think I'd say that, huh?"
"A-aren't you the rebel?" She walked in and looked around.
Charlie came up behind her, put his arms around her hips, slowly he brushed her neck free of hair on one side. Violet didn't move, as his face neared closer to hers.
"Now… about that bite," he spoke into her neck.
She felt his breath on her and gave a small whimper, he thought she stopped breathing. Violet thought she felt his mouth get closer, the hair on her neck stood. Charlie gave a quick lick towards the inside of her ear and started laughing, she jumped away.
"Eww!"
"Gotcha!" He cackled.
"Charlie Brown! That… that—you jerk," she yelled at him.
He still laughed, she was red in the face.
"How could you‽"
"I had to do something to lighten the mood. Did you think I was actually going to bite you?"
Violet looked away.
"Violet… Violet look at me sparkle and have very little character."
"You wish you were Edward… blockhead." She huffed.
He laughed.
"Your bald head is shiny, not sparkly."
"I'm not bald anymore.” He pulled his hat off.
"I know! You… you got me flustered!"
"You did want me to bite you‽"
"I did not!"
"Sure." He rolled his eyes.
She scoffed. "Charlie, don't make me hurt you."
"You and what army? Has Gray Industries stepped into the private military sector? You can't even take me licking your ear, and you think you can take me?"
"You're Charlie Brown, I can take you!"
"Really? You can't take me from over there, Gray. Even poor 'ol Charlie Brown can't be defeated from six feet away, and so far I've won," he teased.
"You haven't won!"
"I got the last lick."
"Watch it!"
"Watch you cower in the fear of the measly Charlie Brown?"
"That's it, buster!" She ran to him.
He faked left, ran right, slipped past her, she spun with a growl.
"Weren't you in gymnastics once? You're losing it Gray."
"Hold still, you!" She went to attack him again.
He went to dodge, but she grabbed his arm and shirt, spun him towards the bed. He tried to roll to the other side, but she jumped on his back, he rolled her off, she grabbed a pillow and swung at his head. Charlie waited for an opening to grab the pillow during her flourishes, while she cackled. Once he got a hold of it, she went for the other one and he tried to keep her away from it, she wrapped her legs around him to slow him down, to keep him from getting it, then the pillow was soon forgotten as they started wrestling with each other, winning little leg lock skirmishes and arm pins, fought to get on top of another. Charlie would manage to lick somewhere on her face, she would shriek, he would laugh when she would try and rub it off on the bed.
"Ah ha, I got you," she cheered on top of him, held him by his wrist. "No, no, I won!" She put her weight down, when he pushed back.
"Fine… fine… you won." He relaxed.
"Yay!"
"Or did you," he snapped, pulled a hand free to tickle her.
"Th-that's cheating," she cried out, laughed.
With his other hand free, he tickled her until she collapsed on him, squirming. Eventually he stopped so she could catch her breath and just help her.
"That wasn't fair."
"Alls fair in love and war, Vee, didn't you know that?"
"Is that so?” She sat up just a little.
"Yep."
Her face was inches above his, hair all out of sorts.
"So I won."
"No… you cheated."
"A draw, then?"
"No. Cheaters lose by default, so I'm the winner."
"Okay winner." He laughed.
"That's right. Now I claim my prize."
"Which is?"
Violet stared at him, she lowered her face to his and their lips were so close to touching, they felt each others breath. Violet quickly licked his nose, rolled off, and laughed.
"Ugh! You even got inside!" He went to wipe.
She laughed harder.
Violet was still in a good mood while they played music and did school work, this was a side of her that he really liked and wondered if she had been this happy before. She sat on his bed with her shoes off, when he thought she wasn't paying attention, he would go and tickle at her feet.
"Lucy would so give you shit right now," he said after taking a picture of her.
"Why, and why did you take that pic?"
"You sitting there with a Pocky stick hanging out of your mouth, concentrating on something."
"Yeah… so…?"
He found some anime pictures to show her. "This is why… anime girl."
"I'm doing an anime thing," she cried out.
He just laughed. "You know I gotta send it to her."
"Don't you send that! Charlie, you stop right now!"
"Too late, Vee-chan!"
A few seconds later Violet received a text, she opened it to see it was Lucy who sent her several laughing emojis. "She's laughing at me! See what you—" She looked at the other text, a picture of her and Sally doing the same thing, clearly Sally didn't notice and Lucy was trying not to laugh.
Charlie got the same picture and he laughed.
"Okay… it is kinda funny," Violet admitted.
"Why do you hate anime?"
"I don't hate it, I… I guess I just never gave it a chance. I like real stuff."
"Real stuff? Don't you watch trashy reality television?"
"It's not trashy! Maybe it is a little bit. I know it's an unhealthy addiction, but I neeeed it!"
"I bet you do." He chuckled.
"Don't you judge me!"
"I'm so judging you… judgy stare." He wiggled his fingers at her.
She threw a pillow at him.
Charlie turned to speak to nobody, "I can't believe Vee-chan threw a pillow at me‽ This girl is crazy, just wait until I tell my sister, then she'll see what a pillow fight really is, oh yeah! Oh yeah! It's about to be on, just yall see!"
"What are you doing?" She looked confused.
"Talking to the camera about this pillow drama you started, did the producers tell you to do that? You'll have your turn to interview."
Violet just started laughing. "That was so lame, and it's called a confessional."
He threw the pillow back at her.
"Is this the kinda stuff you do with Patty and Lucy?"
"Kinda. They both just want to be appreciated. You can say Patty is the softest, but Lucy likes to hold hands and be close, just as much as Patty does. I just try to give them what they want, so they're happy."
"Yeah, I saw the pictures when you fixed her scooter, I don't think I've seen her that happy in… a long time, actually, she was just super excited, and she can't even drive it, because of her arm, something tells me that she doesn't even care that she can't drive it."
"Why's that?"
"Because riding to school with you is just as good of an alternative. It's like picking between two cakes you really like; either way it's gonna be a good time."
"You might be right."
"So… what do you think I want? Is there anything unique to me, that you think I need?"
"You like to be licked."
"I do not!"
"You want me to bite you."
"Charlie Brown," she huffed and blushed a little.
"I didn't decide what they wanted, they showed me what they wanted—I just tried to give it to them."
"Then humor me, okay. I can trust you not to make a wrong choice."
"Fine." He moved his school work to his desk, and sat back down. "Come closer."
She did as she was told, he gently laid her down on her side, positioned himself against her, intertwined his fingers with hers on his free hand, holding her close.
"You’re more forward than I thought you were. This is a good start."
"Violet, I know you have a not so warm home, but you have friends that care, and you're trying. School might be rough, but here you are doing it, and that's pretty brave… I'm proud of you, Vee. Don't give up this path, no matter the mistakes you make on the way and I will always be proud of you."
"You're… proud of… me?"
"I am. I see you trying."
"You were the last person I thought would even care about me, now you've got me in your arms and you're… proud, how can you be?"
"Because look where you are now, it's just the start. I didn't think you cared about me either."
"I do… a lot."
"I know that now, I'm coming to understand how you girls feel, and you, Vee, are a bit more straightforward, I'm not surprised."
"I just want your friendship."
"You want people to be there for you, to be loved and have the affection you lack at home. You want your friends, you want me."
"As a friend."
"Mm-hm."
"I do."
"For now."
"What do you mean by that?" She turned around.
"We should just get it out of the way."
"Get wha—"
Charlie kissed her, a simple a kiss that he shared with the others, just lips pressed together, when he finally went to break the kiss, Violet followed his lips far as she could.
"You want more than that. I don't know why you girls are so fascinated with me, but I don't seek to take advantage of it."
"You… kissed me."
"Did you not want it? I'm sorry, I just remember what you said—"
"I did, I did want to kiss you, but Lucy, aren't you two dating?"
"No we aren't."
"But the way she kissed you?"
"I know… I know. Patty and I also kissed before. I just want to be there for you girls, somebody you can really rely on. I enjoy the company, too, since the only time people really get together is on Patty's stream."
"What do you want?"
"I want yall happy, safe… sane."
"No… what do you want… for you? What can we do for you?"
"I never thought about it."
"Of course you didn't. Charlie, Charlie, Charlie." She sat up.
"What?"
"You're such a sweetheart." She leaned down and kissed him on the lips. "Thank you for helping us broken ones. Don't hesitate to ask me for anything, you matter too, okay? I know I caused you so much trouble, but I do know the aftermath, I heard it, I saw it, read about it, and I am sorry I hurt you so much. I owe you my life and you can't tell me no, that's not fair."
"I understand, Violet."
"I hope you do… and… I think… I think I'm proud of you, too, for everything you've managed to do since you've bounced back. If you can, we can, with your help. I know I really need you, okay? I am not okay, Charlie, I see that now."
"Gee Violet, I didn't know you were like this."
"I spent a week alone with my thoughts, eating up the kitchen, seeing life move on without me."
"You're not alone anymore. I can't help with your parents, but I'm here for you."
She gave him a hug then licked his face.
"Violet! Eww!"
The way she laughed, and how she looked so happy, he just smiled at her, he did start it, anyway.
Chapter Text
Charlie had gotten ready to watch Patty's stream on his computer.
"You're not playing?"
"Not this time, don't feel up to it, so I'm moderating."
"You do that too?"
"Some of us do. Marcie, Schroeder, Linus, Lamar, Heather. Marcie and Heather don't play and wanted to help out somehow."
"You have any snacks, I can make us something."
"I don't want you thinking you're going to be my slave, but yes, there's food."
"I want to do things for you, silly."
They heard somebody come in downstairs.
"Who is that?"
Charlie shrugged.
"Aren't you worried?"
There was noise downstairs.
"Sounds like they're in the kitchen, Charlie." Violet grew nervous.
"Hey relax—"
"Relax? In this neighborhood, are you crazy, Charlie Bro—oh my god they're coming up the steps, shut the door," she whispered loudly.
Violet saw the shadow of somebody, she grabbed one of her text books and threw it before Charlie could stop her.
"What the hell Char—Violet‽" Lucy walked in, food in hand, with a confused look.
"Lucy, it's you!"
"Who else would it be, why'd you throw a book at me," she whined.
"I'm sorry, I thought somebody broke in." She got up and helped her with the food.
"I keep telling you burglaries don't happen around here."
"You… you knew it was her, didn't you?" Violet turned to Charlie.
"I assumed it would be, or Sally, or my mom. I tried to calm you down."
"I come over for every stream." She sat the other things down.
"Please don't be mad, Lucy I didn't know."
"Oh I know you didn't… but he did." Lucy glared.
"Alright Lu, it was just a big misunderstanding."
"Or you were playing a prank on her."
"No, no." He fought back a smile. "Why don't we hug this out?"
"No," they both said.
"I didn't think she was going to throw a book at you, I did try to assure that it was okay, whoever it was coming in. So I thought it was mildly funny." He shrugged.
"Save some food for the rest of us." Lucy grabbed something and sat next to Charlie. "You're not playing?"
"He's moderating," Violet said with a mouthful, plopped down on his other side.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine…"
"Are you?" Charlie looked at her.
Violet sighed. "We need drinks." She went to get up.
"Fine… I'm sorry if I hurt you girls feelings." He held them both.
"That's better." Lucy smiled.
"Mm-hmm," Violet agreed."
"Welcome to the stream muh peoples! Now I wasn't going to stream tonight because of something that happened yesterday, I can't promise how long this will even be, but tonight I want to talk a little about that, and how it kinda led up to it. So I'm dropping some serious bombs and I won't deal with haters in the stream, my great moderators and friends will give you a swift boot. Some of you I probably go to school with, you probably already know."
"Seriously guys… some people we know have went through so much recently, even Mz.Bombshell did. This is nothing to make fun of, these people are hurt and I don't like seeing it," Heather said.
"I did, LilRedHeadGurl, I'm doing better and I'm getting better. I hope they're on the path, too."
"I'm here and after what happened, I didn't feel like playing, but I figured I'd still try to be here for you," Charlie spoke up.
"I'm glad you're here, we could really use your insight. The mods tonight are probably the most compassionate people I know."
"Yeah. To start, I just got out of the hospital earlier today, I was hit by a truck, which we'll get back around to."
"I know this is serious, but we're getting our butts kicked, call that air strike if you're near it," Peppermint Patty said from the game.
"On it," Lamar said.
"So… I guess I'll start with me; few weeks back I was crushing on a boy…"
"He's actually in the chat," Marcie said.
"Ah, hey, no hard feelings because you were right. I finally got the courage to say something and he read me like a fortune, I was so hurt and I didn't have the support from the people I thought I would, and because of my rep, people thought I was up to no good. My heart was crushed, but nobody really cared, not the people I expected to, but GriefGiver—I thank him so much for picking me up and showing me I had to cut off my friends even though I didn't want to. I didn't realize how much people didn't trust me because of the choices I made and I'm happy to have been given a second chance, and to extend that to others. Sometimes people just need a chance to be better."
"Would you say that started a slippery slope?"
"Probably, GreatPumpkinDaemon, things did seem like it was falling apart, but I can't say it was related."
"I wouldn't say it was related to what happened after, but that—are we giving out warnings, or just kicking instantly,” Charlie asked.
"No more warnings, I already gave it."
"Okay. So I was saying; not related but didn't make things better. It was a similar situation because both of you had a crush on somebody… she just… refused to realize it was never going to happen with her and Bethovens_Revenge and that he was already with somebody secretly. This was just a huge set off, and it's crazy how it became a free for all as people really showed their dark sides. For everything they did, or done, everybody was hell-bent on returning it tenfold, and at their weakest moment. She quickly fell into depression and then the roles were quickly reversed," Charlie finished.
"I get that she was bad, but yeah… other than a few of them, I thought the others were much better than that. Even I treated her dirty and didn't care about what she was going through, and she's my sister. I didn't see how she was really being affected after going zombie mode and attacking the other girl after not eating for days, and very little sleep, she cried for hours. Some people never learn, some do and sometimes it's the hard way. They were all hit at their weakest and were broken more. I think being jumped should've been the end of it, but nobody let up—you're gone bud. My sister was mainly just bossy and mean, but they beat her so bad she got a traumatic brain injury." Linus kicked a viewer. "You don't know what somebody is going through."
"Then after that, the same girls vandalized two of their rides, I really felt sorry for them. I saw Grief giving them a chance, I saw your friendship with his wearing thin, I saw her so scared and sad, I wanted to be there for her, I knew she was no longer the girl we grew up with," Marcie explained.
"She could've died that day. She almost died again after the… incident—she doesn't want anybody to know about that one. You're right OpusculeWyrm; my old sister is dead, the new one is as nearly as kind as Mz.Bombshell herself."
"Aww… I love him," Lucy said.
"I love you too, big sis."
"He heard me‽"
"Yeah, you're right next to my mic." Charlie chuckled. "You embarrassed her, dude."
"I was mad at her and our other friend, but it's just not in me to hate, and it hurt me to see what she was going through. Everybody was just… over doing it,” Patty explained.
"We were all blinded. I wish people would just stop. Leave her alone, she's not hurting anybody," Linus said.
"Hurt people, hurt people."
"True, Grief, but I don't think our fellow students are hurt anymore, they never saw the pain these girls went through. They didn't want… Vee… to live, some seemed mad that you saved her, and almost died yourself."
"It took me the longest to realize how bad I was… I felt the same, I didn't think I was worth him risking his life either." She started to cry. "With how dirty I treated my friends… looked down on everybody… my parents not really loving me…"
"Hold on… hey… hey." Charlie walked away from his computer.
"Is she over his house," Patty asked.
"I guess they've been together since she picked him up from the hospital," Lucy spoke in the microphone.
"How do you feel about that," Heather asked.
"If anybody can make her happy, and pick up the pieces… it's certainly him. There's… something special about him, I'm seeing things I thought I saw in somebody else. I appreciate you giving us a chance again, Mz.Bombshell, I don't think she realized how much she needed you back, either. I realized that sometimes you can't just come back from the things you've done, I can't just apologize back into everybody's good graces, especially if I was never there to begin with. Me and Vee aren't really looking to be friends with everybody in school. We know we were bad people, we learned our lessons and we just want to stop hurting, stop being hurt by others. I'm not saying wipe the slate clean, or whatever, I know I regret everything I've done, and it's something I—all of us are going to have to live with. Everything online is forever… the memes… wishing we were dead… the pictures of me passed out on the bathroom floor. I hope everybody is happy, I really do, because we've suffered, still are, but I can't wait until everyone is satisfied, so we can really heal, like the rest."
"Buh-bye." Linus removed two people.
"Have some fucking compassion." Marcie removed three more.
"You, Mz.Bombshell, and GriefGiver were there when he saved her, can you tell us what happened? He said he was going to get into that," Heather asked.
Charlie held Violet on the steps while she cried.
"I'm sorry… I just…"
"It's okay Violet, let it out."
"I'm so tired of crying."
"I've been there."
"Charlie, Sally, I'm home!" His mom walked in. "What's going on here?"
"Violet is just going through some things, mom."
"I think that's an understatement." she tossed her purse and walked up the steps.
"We were going to get pizza… there was something going on at the gas station across the street and we recognized it was Violet screaming, we kinda saw what was going on. The girls that beat me up were chasing her, but we were stuck because of traffic, I don't know if we could've even helped. I'm just going to say it; Molly, Charlotte, and Delores chased her out to the street, into traffic. Violet barely missed being hit by one car, Chu--GriefGiver… yelled at her to stop, but I don't know if she was too scared, or didn't hear him, but she started to run right in the path of this big dually, He ran to get her and he was hit in the head by the mirror."
"Oh my god," Heather gasped.
"I never seen Violet cry so hard, we went to the hospital after picking up his sister and PumpkinKingDaemon, I drove her car because she just couldn't—after talking to the cops, that is. His sister almost beat her up. Violet cried the entire time at the hospital," Patty explained.
Jennifer had gotten Violet a box of tissues. "Here you go, Violet."
"I don't deserve your kindness after I've been so cruel to your son, how do you not hate me?"
"I know what you've done to him, even if I did hate you, or at least did not approve of him being anywhere near you; to come home and see you crying in his arms, after everything, sweetheart, it just doesn't matter that much for me to hold a grudge after he's moved past it."
"I feel terrible over everything." She cried.
"We don't hold grudges in this family, we just hope people can be better."
"Tell that to Sally," he remarked.
"If Sally can forgive Lucy, she'll forgive miss Gray eventually."
"I'm honestly tired of it all. I went through this with my best friend, I went through this with my sister- almost lost them both. Although I don't like Violet that much; I don't want to see another person get that close to suicide, or even considering the idea of it. Pushing them, and bullying them isn't going to fix anything, or erase the past, the resentment, the hurt. Everybody at school has become far more cruel bullies than they ever have been. I learned something about Violets home life; her parents are worse than mine and Lucy's, it's not an excuse, but it is the reason she is how she is… or was. They didn't care that she was almost ran over, they don't care that the whole school has it out for her," Linus explained.
"Blockhead, I know who you are… how do you do this—I got it." Lucy removed somebody. "Violet never really talked about her problems at home."
"What is going on with her, they've been gone for a while," Patty asked.
"Let me see." Lucy got up and spotted her and Charlie with his mom. "She's talking with him and his mom."
"Do you think she'll want to explain what happened at the gas station," Heather asked.
"I don't know."
"I don't get why they're targeting her."
"Because she told the principal that they beat me up, and there was something else, and probably because Violet is Violet, and because they like Ree-Ree."
"Is that Lucy up there?"
"Yeah, you know she watches me do Patty's stream."
"Your father would have something to say about you having two girls in your room."
"And it would be totally embarrassing," he moaned.
"Should I not be here? I don't want anybody else mad at me, or get him in trouble! He just… he asked me to pick him up from the hospital, I just want to be his friend, he's great and kind, he… never deserved my mistreatment, I want to do better by him."
"No ones getting in trouble, dear." She smiled. "Reggie is just a character, is all. We don't mind you being here. You and Lucy both can stay for dinner if you want. You should probably get back to that stream… never know what Lucy is doing up there."
"Thanks, Misses Brown."
"Do you need to let your parents know?"
She shook her head, "they won't be home until much later, and they won't care." She stood.
"I'm sure they do."
"Not really. All they care about is that I do what I need to do, to carry on the Gray name and business—they make Lu's parents seem like… almost you."
"I know how they are." She looked away. "If you need somebody to talk to, I am all ears, this is what I do, I'm a social worker."
"Thank you so much."
Charlie led her back to his room, Jennifer just watched with concern before starting dinner.
"Are you better now," Lucy asked.
"I believe so." She sat next to Lucy.
"How about a hug?" She hugged Violet.
"My bad, guys," Charlie spoke.
"No need Grief, Violet's wellbeing is more important," Linus replied.
"Yeah, I hope she's going to be okay," Heather said.
"Wow… thank you Linus," Violet said.
"We were hoping, if it weren't too much to ask if you could tell us what happened at the gas station, what led up to it? If it's not too much to recant," Marcie asked.
Violet sighed. "They wanted me because I told on them for jumping Lucy. I felt bad after we fell out because I… left her alone with them—I know it's no excuse, but I was scared. All of them are tough and I can't fight like Lucy can. That's one reason I left school. I messed around the day before and got drunk because I thought it would help the pain, went to get something to eat and Charlotte was there. I was instantly pissed over the whole fight thing, so I yelled at her, tried to fight her, and then… puked on her."
"Melody said you had did that," Charlie replied.
"My mom made me pick up groceries, I stopped at the gas station to get something to eat, not knowing they were already there. They saw me, I dropped my stuff and ran to the car as fast as I could but one of them tried to kick me, and kicked my door shut. I ran screaming for help between cars and pumps, they were throwing those window cleaning things at me, and Molly hit me with a trashcan… nobody would help. I set the alarm on it, so they couldn't get in, and just ran. Then… you know."
"Where were they after," Marcie asked.
"Gone. By the time we got to her and him, they were gone," Lucy said.
"I think… I think I heard them cheering for me to get hit. I didn't see the truck, I only wanted to get away, next thing I knew, Cha—GriefGiver was grabbing me."
"I think we're all glad the two of you survived," Heather replied.
"I think the cops said they were going to look into it. Those girls… I don't think they're going to quit," Patty explained.
"This is the stuff that needs to stop. People need to learn to let go and move on, holding on to hate isn't healthy," Linus ranted.
"You're right. There's really nothing to gain by constantly punching down to make yourself feel better, I already feel like crap for everything, how much longer do we need to suffer, I just wish… I wish everybody would just pretend we don't exist. I guess we don't get to be happy," Violet said.
"Yes you do. You both do. People mess up, people have issues, people change. Don't stop changing, don't let them get to you when you have support right here," Marcie said.
"I'm tired of people hurting my sister, don't associate with me if you hate her that bad."
"I'll do what I can to help these girls out," Charlie said.
"Violet, you ate all the chips," Lucy whined.
"I couldn't help it!"
"I think my mom should be done cooking, she said you two could stay for dinner."
"I'm going to go see." Lucy got up.
"We are kinda hungry, so I think I'll get off here."
"Sounds good. Any last words," Patty asked.
"Yeah… don't become what you hate. GriefGiver signing out."
ReaderfromSomewhere_11 on Chapter 1 Fri 23 May 2025 02:21PM UTC
Last Edited Fri 23 May 2025 02:22PM UTC
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