Chapter Text
“Van Pelt.”
“Van Pelt.”
Linus' head snapped up from the book he was hiding in his lap, suddenly aware that the teacher was calling his name. Afraid she had been for a while. You couldn't blame him for not paying attention in class, though. It's hard to pay attention when you're being lectured on things you already know.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“I need you to run these papers to the music room. They're for Schroeder.”
Linus stood and nodded, accepting the papers from the teacher. On his way out the door he eyed the seat Schroeder usually sat in. He hadn't noticed it was empty before.
The trip to the music room was a long one — all the way across the school — and Linus took his time, ensuring it was even longer.
As he walked he snooped through the papers in his hand. He was a little disappointed to find they were just the worksheets and homework for today's lesson, but he really didn't know what he was expecting to find either.
The soft lure of a piano let him know he was getting close to his destination. When he knocked on the music room door, the music abruptly stopped, and he was welcomed with a faint, “Come in.”
The music room wasn't very intricate or complicated. In fact, Linus thought ‘the piano room’ would have been a more appropriate title, as it was the only instrument in the entire space. Still, the sole instrument was grand and well crafted and Schroeder’s touch made it sound like a dream.
“Hey… Linus?” Schroeder spoke from the piano bench, sounding more like a question than a greeting.
Linus smiled. “Bet you were expecting the other Van Pelt, huh?”
Schroeder shook his head. “Nope. I knew it wasn't Lucy.”
“How?”
“You knocked,” Schroeder smiled. “I don't think anyone taught her how to do that.”
“You're telling me,” Linus laughed. “Try living with her.”
“Not in a million years,” the pianist replied, jokingly. “Anyway, what brings you here?”
Linus held up the papers and set them on the sheet music holder. “Mrs. Duncan has me on errand-boy duty.”
Schroeder took the papers from the stand and examined them. His smile fell. “God, I hate math, I don't understand any of it. The Ancient Greeks already gave us music. Why'd they have to go and give us math too?”
“I could help you if you want. With the worksheet,” Linus spoke without really thinking. He'd always been one to offer assistance or advice whenever he could, and that hadn't changed when he reached highschool.
Schroeder smiled, appreciatively. Linus found himself thinking that he had a very nice smile. “Thanks, I might take you up on that offer.”
There was a beat of silence. Linus knew this was the time where he should say his goodbyes. He really should be getting back to class, but he found himself not wanting to stop his conversation with Schroeder. So he said the first thing he could think of to keep the chat going.
“I, uh, didn't really notice you weren't in class until Mrs. Duncan asked me to bring you the papers.”
For a moment Linus was worried his words had come out the wrong way; that Schroeder thought he was implying that he was forgettable. But the blonde just laughed.
“Really? I'm like, the tallest guy in that class. How did you not notice?”
Linus exhaled, relieved. “Well, when all you can see is everybody's torsos, people tend to blend together.”
Schroeder chuckled. While the rest of the gang hit their growth spurts, it seemed Linus had swung and missed. He stayed right at the height of 5’ 6” he'd been since middle school. Schroeder thought that made his classmate quite adorable. 5’ 6” fit Linus.
“So why aren't you in class, anyway?” Linus asked.
“The Christmas band concert is coming up, and the director wanted me to get a bit more practice before the big show,” Schroeder shrugged. “He arranged a time for me to practice during my math period, and I'm certainly not complaining.”
“Well from what I heard before I knocked, you don't need anymore practice. You sounded beautiful, Schroeder, honest.”
Schroeder felt his face growing warm. Sure, he'd been given complements before — by many people in fact — but never by Linus. For some reason, the black haired boy’s complement made his stomach feel fluttery.
“Thanks,” he smiled. “That means a lot coming from you.”
Linus smiled back before his immediately dropped. “Oh, man.” Schroeder followed the boy's gaze to the wall clock. “I really should be getting back to class.”
Schroeder nodded, feeling confused at the disappointment he felt forming. “If Mrs. Duncan asks where you've been, just tell her I was at the music directors office, and that you had to wait on me.”
“Alright, thanks,” Linus said. “It was really nice talking with you.”
The way Linus looked into his eyes when he said that last part made Schroeder’s heart beat switch from 4/4 to 2/2. Before he could stop himself, he called after the black haired boy, stopping him right as he'd gotten to the door.
“Wait!” he’d shouted, louder than he'd meant to. He felt a bit embarrassed. “I'm, uh, I’m gonna practice more after school tomorrow. If you wanna keep me company…”
Linus grinned. “I guess I'll be seeing you tomorrow then.”
~~~
When he got back to class, Linus found he still couldn't focus. This time, however, for entirely new reasons. Reasons like perfect blonde hair, and beautiful blue eyes.
Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.