IN TEARS, CRYING.

I didn't think I'd need this version of illicit affairs.

OH MY GOD IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED MITSUAYA HAVE FINALLY KISSED AFTER 116 CHAPTERS LETS GO LESBIANS LETS GOOOOO

the new heart I've been growing in my garden is at a strange and delicate stage of development

When there isn’t 20 new fics for me to read after refreshing the tag (I just finished reading everything and have absolutely no patience)

One day I will stop falling in love with you. Until I do, I'll be thinking of you.

k.b. // laufey, philharmonia orchestra - let you break my heart again

How to make Lucy van Pelt hate me

Chapter 3 Accustomed to ─────── her face

Song: I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face - Rex Harrison

Previously: Chapter 2

3

Accustomed to her face

────────────

Schroeder

I'm frustrated.

At Frieda because her main focus in this contest is for her and her curly hair to shine.

and at myself, because I don't understand why I'm feeling like this, like, something's missing.

It couldn't be Lucy, it can't be! I worked so hard and I didn't want her company at all.

Lucy is bossy

She's mean

Sarcastic

A girl like her should be easy to forget!

But then,

"What is this Beethoven? Is it a candy brand?" Frieda smiled cluelessly.

I sighed, Noone seems to understand me more than her.

"What do you think of this?" I asked, then played symphony no. 5.

"Hm, it sounds nice! Let's see if it matches with my poetry!" Frieda answered, holding her notebook.

Lucy would've suggested something like, 'oh! You should play something more interesting!'

She'd suggest Elle fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, sometimes she'd even squeeze in the effort to recommend one of Beethoven's pieces which would surprise me, in the price of it being romantic.

If she's the one here right now, she'd probably sing my ears off. She's too confident for her own good.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

"What a girl does to have such hair~

So natural and curly and red like a red panda~"

I played my piano while Frieda recited her poem about her naturally curly hair but I can't help but glance at Lucy and Franklin from time to time on the other side of the room.

They were talking while Franklin held his guitar.

What does Franklin know about her? Nothing, that's it, nothing at all.

Gee, Good luck to him, he won't last a day with her.

I know what Lucy dislikes but I also know what she likes and it's definitely not Franklin's taste────

Franklin began to play his acoustic guitar and Lucy followed, singing an Ella Fitzgerald song.

I ended up messing the notes and stopped.

"Gardens of────

Frieda was cut off, "oh? What happened Schroeder?"

I flinched, "oh! Sorry, let's try again".

"It's alright, I got an idea on what to add anyway!" She reassured and began to talk about using flowers and gardens as metaphors.

I glance back at Lucy.

And now she's singing love songs with Franklin? I scoffed, It seems like an idiotic idea.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

All day, I've been acting strange. Wherever Lucy go, I would follow.

My goodness, I'm acting like a creep...

During lunch? I'd sit a few feet away, sitting where I could face her.

She would be talking with the other girls, then Charlie, Linus, and then Franklin.

I've been officially replaced!! My yesterday of victory and glorious freedom suddenly vanished. I don't feel so good about it anymore.

Why would she watch him play his guitar? Does she what? Like him or something?

Why won't she look at me?

Wait────No! Isn't this what you wanted Schroeder?

I sounded like an idiot.

Get a grip man!!

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

"We'll practice again tomorrow, Schroeder!" Frieda smiled and waved goodbye.

I smiled and waved goodbye back.

"How's your performance going?" A voice that's all too familiar to me made my eyes go wide and immediately turned around.

"Lucy", she's talking to me.

Her arms crossed and wearing her unbothered expression, "so?".

"Uh──... it's going well" I answered, the tension evident in the air between us. Weirdly enough, I found it a bit hard to speak to her.

"Huh, I don't believe you one bit!" She states.

I frowned at that, "and why is that?"

"You have never been a fan of anything but Beethoven" Lucy said, "Frieda already blew it for you with her poetry about hair" she added.

"It's clear you're struggling" she said.

Her assumption made me angry and grumble (she is right). Who does she think she is?? And to think that I almost thought I missed her!

But this is exactly right! To be reminded of why did all of this in the first place.

"Actually, I think we're just gonna ace this contest" I said with confidence.

"Oh really?? Don't lie to me Schroeder"

"I'm not! At least I'm not singing nonsensical love songs!"

"Cheek to cheek is a national favourite for any romantics in the world!!" She argued.

"Then, the romantics in the world is a bunch of dummies!" I argued back.

"It'll be a duet and it'll be amazing!!"

"Ours will be all about hair and Beethoven, now that's art!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

"Okay!"

"Okay!"

She walks away with angry stomps as I did the same.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

I sighed, playing my piano on my own. I played a few pieces but I can't get myself to focus properly.

I looked at the top board of my piano, a solemn feeling growing in my chest.

I frowned and got frustrated all over again. Her voice is echoing in my head, I won't lie about that anymore.

Ever since we've been apart, she has been in my mind.

Lucy's endless company and chatter has been a part of my everyday routine, her ups and downs are second nature to me now.

It feels lonely now and perhaps that's the reason I can't play well.

How did Beethoven do it?

Playing in a room?

With noone like Lucy around?

Without her voice, her face, her trace, how did he live to compose like that?

Why can't I do that if Beethoven did it so easily.

I kept my eyes on where she usually leaned on.

I frowned, "Don't tell me I've grown accustomed to that face!"

MA MEILLEURE ENNEMIE x

How to make Lucy van Pelt hate me

Chapter 4 My Muse

Song: My Girl - The Temptations

Author's note: Late chapter 4 cause college break was over almost two weeks ago and already got a ton of school work but anyways, just one more chapter and it'll be the end :DD

Previously: Chapter 3

4

My Muse

────────────

Schroeder

"Schroeder?" A voice echoing in my room that made me turn in bed and it was my dad.

"Why are you still awake buddy?" He asked, walking inside to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Nothing, was just about to sleep" I simply answered and averted my eyes but it's obvious that dad knows something's seriously bothering me.

His expression contorted into a concerned one, "you can tell me anything, you know.."

"Dad, I just really want to sleep right now" I said, turning away.

I heard his sigh, "are you sure?"

"Yeah..."

A few seconds later, I felt a small creak of the bed when he stood up, "Goodnight son".

Before he could leave and close the door, I finally said something, "dad".

He stops, "yes?"

I glared softly at the wall and clutched the sheets, not fully fond with the idea that I had to tell my dad this. "How...how did you make up with mom when you guys fight?"

"Did you have a fight with someone?" He asked.

I paused a bit before answering, "no─ yes...well, me and lucy──

"Ah, Lucy" hearing his chuckle as he came back to sit on the edge of my bed, I turned once again and faced him, "well...what happened with Lucy?" He asked.

That's when I told my dad everything. I told him about my plan on making her hate me, how I was mean to her and shouted, the contest, how she ignored me now, and hates me now.

How it all came backfiring to my face, I couldn't even play a decent tune anymore.

I never told my dad any of this before, I never shared to him my problems before, it was always with mom.

My dad nods, "that is pretty bad and reminds me of a certain situation I was in.."

My ears immediately perked up, "really? what happened?"

"I was young then..." dad trailed off, "and I was just like you, passionate and loved music a whole lot" he smiled.

"I wouldn't let anything distract me, it was me and my violin against the world" he said, "but I didn't know that it was a bad thing to drown in your passion a little too much" he adds.

"What do you mean?.." I asked curiously.

"Your mother needed me the most at that time but I wasn't there for her because I got too caught up on that one offer I got" he answered.

"I didn't realize that I was slowly pushing her away. Soon enough, I realized just how silly it was.."

Dad grew quiet so I spoke, "What's silly?"

"How silly it was to drown in my own pieces while the reason for inspiration walks out the door" he said.

"It's alright to dream Schroeder, to dream of becoming like Beethoven, a great pianist but it's not a very good idea to push away relationships like family and a friend that cares about you for it".

"They're one of the reasons we are able to create music, that's how musicians write their pieces" he said, "I get inspiration by feeling the breeze, a snowy stroll outside, your mother's warm kiss on my cheek, and when you came in our life".

"You can't simply create music on your own Schroeder, you have to live and pay attention too" he finishes off.

He ruffles my hair and smiles, "and as for what I do to make up with mom.." he thinks for a bit before he clicks his tongue, "an apology and a kiss on the cheek works every time".

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

I thought of what my dad said that night, it stuck in my head. Find inspiration and to pay attention, I always found inspiration in Beethoven but it wasn't enough anymore so I began to follow dad's advice.

I looked around more, I took my surroundings in and breathed in the fresh breeze while also practicing with frieda.

I took in her curly red hair and the way it's the only thing her poem consisted of, I tried to convince her to add something else but she's too adamant on it.

Then, something happened. I was on my way home after playing with my friends when I saw flowers of different colours in my neighbour's garden. It looks so cool and nice, a wave of inspiration hitted me.

I suddenly remembered a piano piece that would match perfectly with those flowers.

In my room, I began to play one of Beethoven's pieces. Closing my eyes and visualizing those flowers I've seen outside and my fingers began to move against the keys.

I smiled cause I finally got my rhythm back.

Now, I just have to apologise to Lucy.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

The day of the contest came. The first one to perform was peppermint patty and Marcie's cowboy show, patty almost destroyed the stage with that fake horse.

Came next was pigpen's declaration speech and pride of his dusty appearance. Of course, he got exited off the stage by our teacher.

Everything was going normally well but I was looking for Lucy when──

"Gah!", both of us hitting the ground, "sorry Charlie.." I quickly apologised and helped him up.

He groaned a bit, "it's alright, why were you circling around?" He asked.

I sighed in defeat, "I'm looking for Lucy"

"Ah, she is still pretty upset with you" Charlie said.

"I know" I answered because I do know and I want to make it right.

Charlie looked at me like he knew exactly what I was gonna do and smiled, "are you gonna make up with Lucy now?"

"Yes.."

"And to admit that you were being dumb?"

I frowned and grumbled, "yeah yeah..."

"Well, you won't see Lucy right now, she's up next with Franklin" Charlie said, "you should come sit with us and watch!"

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ﾟ.

Here I was sitting amongst the crowd, I saw Lucy walking on the stage with a big smile on her face along with Franklin.

Franklin started playing his guitar and Lucy sang Ella Fitzgerald's duet with Louis Armstrong, cheek to cheek.

Did she always sound this good?

How come I never noticed it before?

Then, I've come to realize that I've been stupid.

I was so immersed in being a great musician like beethoven and completely pushing her away that I forgot just how important Lucy is to me, how impressed I am by everything she does.

I wonder what it will be like when she talks to me again.

Man, I really did mess up good time huh? Because as I watched her sing along Franklin's playing, I couldn't help but smile.

I was smiling and I couldn't help but be proud of Lucy.

If anyone could bring out the best in me, it'll be her.

My muse.