Chapter Text
The bar was buzzing with the typical Friday night energy. Loud voices, clinking glasses, the hum of laughter—it was all a bit too much for Schroeder, but he’d come out anyway. His friends had insisted, and despite his usual aversion to these types of places, Schroeder found himself sitting at a table with the rest of the gang, sipping on his sparkling water and trying to focus on the conversation.
Lucy, of course, was already several drinks in. She was sat next to Schroeder, of course, she leaned onto him with an arm lazily hung around his shoulder, her eyes locked onto him in that usual teasing way.
“You’re really not going to drink?” she asked, her voice a mix of amusement and mild irritation. “What’s the point of coming to a bar if you’re just going to sip at something you can easily have at home?”
Schroeder shrugged. “Someone has to drive everyone home. I’m just doing my part.”
Lucy rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. Schroeder got up and left to join another group that was playing pool, leaving everyone else back at the booth.
“So, what’s going on between you and Schroeder lately? He still hasn’t given in to your antics?” , Charlie Brown teased, now that they were older he didn’t have to fear her so much, although he still made sure to watch himself just in case. However, Lucy didn’t respond, she was too busy watching the other group—particularly Schroeder, who was starting to feel the weight of her gaze. She always watched him so closely, as if waiting for something to happen. But nothing ever did. At least, not the way she seemed to want it to.
Schroeder was about to take another sip of his drink when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned, half-expecting it to be one of his friends, but instead, it was a woman—early twenties, tall, blonde, with a warm smile. She stood next to him, her strong and seductive perfume intoxicated him. It was warm, floral, with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla.
“Hey,” she said with a smile that was just a little too practiced, a little too friendly. “Can I buy you a drink?”
Schroeder glanced at her, he was a little surprised at her forwardness, but he quickly recognized her as someone who had been lingering around the bar, checking him out earlier in the evening. He raised an eyebrow and gave her a smirk.
“Sorry babe, I can’t drink tonight. I’m driving everyone home tonight.”he replied, his voice smooth and effortlessly charming. Normally calling a random lady “Babe” would seem insulting, but the way it rolled off his tongue made it sound so natural.
Lucy, still sitting at the table, narrowed her eyes. She didn’t know why it bothered her so much, but it did. She didn’t particularly care if Schroeder flirted with other people—she was used to it. But for some reason, watching him talk to this woman, seeing the way he leaned in slightly and flashed that smile, made something twist uncomfortably in her stomach.
The woman laughed, a little too loudly. “Aw shucks,” She said playfully, “How about you just let me keep you company then ;)”
Schroeder adjusted his stance, “Haha alright” he said, looking her up and down. She was so pretty, but for some reason Schroeder couldn’t feel any sort of attraction to the woman. He couldn’t feel that sense of pull that he felt with Lucy. The sense of pull that always made him feel so connected to her, despite constantly pushing it aside.
Lucy watched them. She thought to herself, what are they even doing? This lady is disgustingly throwing herself at Schroeder and he’s desperately flirting back at her with no shame or awareness! Schroeder was enjoying the attention, he always did. And she hated how easily he could slip into that flirtatious role like a second skin. It wasn’t that she had a problem with him talking to other people, but it felt different this time, maybe she was just paranoid. Lucy kept telling herself that Schroeder’s flirting was forced, that there could never be anything between them, but a small part of her worried.
The woman was still talking to him, her laugh ringing out again as she brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear, a gesture that felt far too calculated for Lucy’s taste. Schroeder was smiling, but it wasn’t the smile he gave her. It was lighter, more casual. It was the way he smiled at everyone. It was the smile he’d used on countless girls at countless bars, and Lucy knew it.
She didn’t know why it hurt. Maybe it was because the connection between her and Schroeder—whatever it was—had always been more complicated than it seemed. Lucy had spent so long teasing him, pushing his buttons, making her feel like she was in control of their interactions. But in moments like this, when he was effortlessly charming someone else, part of her wished that she was the one being charmed.
Suddenly, feeling like she’s had enough, she begins walking over to the pair. “Well, aren’t you having a nice little chat?” she said, her voice louder than she intended. It was the kind of loud that only happened when she’d had too much to drink.
Schroeder turned to Lucy, blinking in surprise. “What’s up with you?”
Lucy could feel her cheeks heating up. She didn’t know why she was getting upset, but the irritation bubbled up anyway. “I don’t know, maybe I’m just tired of watching you flirt with anyone who walks by.”
His eyes widened a little, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, don’t act like you don’t know,” Lucy snapped. “You’ve been flirting with this girl for the past ten minutes. I don’t think she’s interested in your ‘I’m so serious and cool’ act. She’s probably just bored and looking for someone to entertain her.” She turned to the lady, “Right??”
The woman standing next to them looked awkwardly between the two of them before giving Schroeder a polite smile and excusing herself to go back to her group. Lucy didn’t care. She didn’t even look at her.
Schroeder didn’t know how to respond at first. “You’re drunk, Luce,” he said, his voice a little defensive. “You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
Lucy started feeling a little dizzy, struggling to stay standing, she says, “I know exact what I’m talking about. You flirt with everyone!! But you don’t take a single girl seriously. Are you scared of commitment or is it because you’re too busy thinking you’re better than the rest of us? Hm??”
Schroeder fixed his posture, feeling the need to match her energy, even though he wasn’t quite sure what was happening. “Okay Luce, you’ve had too much to drink. It’s time to go home, let’s go.”
“No it’s fine go ahead” she shot back, her eyes narrowing. “Go ahead. Go flirt with whoever else you want. Maybe you’ll finally find someone who’s not as annoying as I am.”
For a moment, Schroeder was quiet, but he couldn’t help the pull he felt toward her. This wasn’t the usual back-and-forth. This wasn’t just Lucy teasing him. This was something else. Something... real. He had never quite understood why Lucy’s words got under his skin so much, but right now, standing in front of her, he didn’t have the answers.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about” he says as he puts his jacket on her and walks her out of the bar. He yells to the rest of the gang that he’s going to drive Lucy home first, then come back for the rest of them.
As they walk out, Lucy softly says “You don’t get it,” her voice cracking with something that felt too raw for her usual bravado. “You flirt with everyone else, but when it comes to me, you won’t even admit you like me. Not really.”
Her words hit him like a sudden wave, knocking the air out of him. He didn’t know how to respond. He never had. Instead, he remained silent, as they walked to the car, with the tension between them growing.