E☆

🥁

Meeting Rodrick was certainly an interesting experience. While you both were technically in the same high school cohort, you never really interacted much. You first saw him perform at Heather Hill’s Sweet Sixteen while chaperoning your 16 year old sister at the party. You watched his rendition of Justin Bieber's ‘Baby’, completely failing to serenade Heather Hills, trying to stifle your giggles at the off key singing. Everything was then turned up to eleven when Rodrick hit the chorus, activating his hidden pyrotechnics and (literally)blowing everyone off their feet within a meter radius. Your eyes lit up in enjoyment as you watched the chaos unfold, as Heather’s rage was unleashed at Rodrick ending in both of them covered in chocolate from a fountain that was toppled. 

You never really understood your sister’s inclination to suck up to Heather. Maybe it was because she was rich and popular but you knew those things never lasted. Grabbing a napkin, you walked over and stood over Rodrick’s chocolate covered body.

“Need a hand?” Rodrick looked up to see a familiar face. He always remembered staring at you when he had bothered to attend hall assembly and always wondered where you had gone since you weren’t in any of his classes.

“Um y-yeah.” He managed to stutter out, trying to hide his embarrassment from his failed serenade.  Sitting up, he cleaned himself with the napkin you offered and thanked you. That night you ended up bonding over 2 iced slushies and talking shit about teachers from high school. So why did you hang out with this loser who just embarrassed himself in front of a group of people to get his crush? It was a giant mystery to Rodrick but he knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth. He was certain after this incident he would be an even bigger girl repellent after it goes through the teenage rumour mill. 

And he was right. After that it seemed every girl in his vicinity would avoid him like the plague. Every girl except you. After exchanging numbers, you would text each other constantly. Mostly it was just small talk, ‘how was class?’. But between those texts, long conversations about new music from your favourite bands were shared. Rodrick came to find out, you were one of those girls actually interested in hardcore music like rock and metal. You were a diamond in a bag of coal and he knew he couldn’t lose that. His first mistake was inviting you to band practice. 

You were interested in the music they play especially when Rodrick clarified that ‘Baby’ wasn’t their usual genre and they actually played rock music. As Ben and Chris walked into the Heffley’s shed for band practice, they took a few steps back as you waved at them from inside before returning back to your magazine. Hurrying over to Rodrick, they immediately questioned the presence of a hot babe hanging around during band practice.

“Rod! Whose the babe?” Ben whisper shouted, which was still audible to you. You stifled a giggle, trying not to burst into laughter.

“She’s my friend. And that means none of you creeps, can try and hit on her. Now let’s get to practice, you weirdos.” Rodrick brushed off their curiosity and rushed them to start. He knew you only as a friend and wasn’t sure if you were interested in anything more. Everything was just so new that he didn’t want to ruin it again by asking you immediately. But inside, he felt a strange tingle whenever Ben or Chris tried to impress you during practice as you watched. Those two constantly tried to one up each other while Rodrick just played his drums even harder in anger watching the pathetic display. 

Everybody knew girls would always go for the singer or guitarist in a band. Who cared about the drummers? They were always in the back and nobody paid attention to them. Those thoughts made Rodrick even madder, hitting his drums with even more force.

‘SNAP!’

That caused Ben and Chris’s competition to come to a pause as they heard the drums suddenly stop. Pausing for a moment, both boys turn back to see Rodrick angrily glaring into space as he holds a broken drumstick.

“Hey Rodrick… Are you okay? Do you want to grab a new stick and restart?” Ben asked. 

Realising everyone was now looking at him he shook off his angry glare and came back to his senses. Shaking his head, he decided to end practice right then and there.

“Nope, practice over. Go home losers, we’ll continue this next week.” Rodrick huffed. With a shrug of their shoulders, Ben and Chris left wondering what made their leader so angry. That question also lingered in your head as you carefully approached Rodrick.

“Rodrick, are you really okay? What happened?” His head snaps to attention as he realised you had watched the entire display. Rodrick grimaced slightly before thinking of a reasonable response.

“I just- I didn’t like the way they were looking at you and they kept trying to impress you. JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE A CHICK, DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH GUYS TRYING TO-”

“Rodrick, do you like me?” That question stopped him in his rambles. He fumbled trying to come up with a response.

“L-like? Yeah! I like you as a friend…!” You raised an eyebrow, which broke his fickle facade. His shoulders slouched in defeat as he admitted his feelings.

“Yeah… I like you. I just didn’t want to say anything because you would think I’m a creep and you’re a really good friend. Finally someone else also appreciates the music of Fall Out Boy and doesn’t just call it that poser emo crap and-” 

“Rodrick, I like you too.” This time his words stopped again, but instead of embarrassment he felt relief. 

-

⛱️After that whole incident, you got together

⛱️Whenever you go in public his hand seems to be glued to you

⛱️He glares at any creeps that dare to look at you up and down but you know he would run at any sign of a confrontation (he would drag you along as well)

⛱️However still he loves bringing you out on slushie dates and would try to fight off annoying teenage boy that might be in the vicinity

⛱️When summer hits, you drag him along to the pool to cool off

⛱️While the prospect of seeing you in a swimsuit was enticing, he was put off at the general idea

⛱️Rodrick tends to avoid going to the public pool

⛱️Firstly, it's just really gross, filled with icky kids and old people

⛱️But secondly, Lenwood Heath was there, your ex…

⛱️It was already bad enough at the pool with everyone able to ogle your very visible body, even worse your ex was there as the lifeguard.

⛱️Lenwood Heath now was mister perfect, after military school beat every bad bone out of his body

⛱️But when you dated him, he was the baddest boy around

⛱️Lenwood was now the perfect gentleman that was your ex turned friend after an amicable breakup, and Rodrick hated it.

⛱️

Summer came hot and heavy, punishing everyone in its path. The beach wasn’t an option for escape as it was a long drive away and currently infested with sharks. So Rodrick had to settle for the public pool. It wasn’t the ideal situation but there were no alternatives left to killing the heat. 

“Come on Rodrick, the faster we get there the faster we can get into the pool to cool off.” 

Rodrick dragged his feet along the hot pavement, scraping his plastic sandals along. Moving in this heat was exhausting but he pushed through, eventually settling his items down on a nearby chair. As you got to apply sunscreen, Rodrick sat under the shade waiting. However, a distant voice seemed to call out from afar. 

Walking towards you both was Lenwood Heath. With his perfectly quaffed hair and dazzling smile, he approached with a disciplined stroll. As he got near, he went in for a friendly hug which put Rodrick’s boyfriend alarms to the max. Why did Lenwood Heath know who you were and why was he so touchy with you? Rodrick stood up immediately as you returned the hug, cutting it short by shoving his body in between the both of you.

“Heyyy Lenwood, what are you doing here huh?” Rodrick says, in a failed attempt at intimidation. 

“I work here?” 

“Right, yes. And uh how do you know my girlfriend so well?” Managing to dig out another sentence from the empty reservoir of his mind. This seemed to surprise Lenwood for a short second which Rodrick took as a small victory.

“Oh! I didn’t know you guys were dating. Congratulations.” Heath smiled brightly, with a genuine gaze.

“We used to date, but we broke up when he got sent to military school and still kept in touch as friends throughout his stay there.” You explained, weaving your arm around Rodrick and looking for his response. 

As Heath made his leave, Rodrick was still grimacing but dragged you into the pool before you could say anything. You both enter the pool and sigh at the relief the cool water offers. Relaxing in a public pool was always a difficult task but Rodrick made it ever so bearable by acting as a human shield against the other gross bodies in the pool for you. And for that he was rewarded with a nice and deep kiss. 

“Mmhm. I don’t like how touchy Lenwood was with you babe.” He confessed, leaning his forehead against yours before moving his lips down to your neck. 

“Rodrick, I swear we weren’t anything serious and now we are just friends- ow!” You exclaimed as he bit down with a small amount of force on your neck, creating a visible hickey. Rodrick continues his assault down your neck as you start to get slightly breathless from the intimacy. 

“Nuh uh. That doesn’t mean he gets to touch you. You’re my girlfriend.” You run your fingers through his hair, unable to decide whether to tug him away or pull him in closer. Suddenly a squeaky voice pulls you out of the moment of intimacy.

“MISTER LIFEGUARD, THEY’RE KISSING IN THE POOOOL.” A child screams. Your cheeks filled with embarrassment as Lenwood walked over with an awkward expression.

“Guys, I’m sorry but if you want to do that kind of stuff I have to get you guys out of the pool now.” He says, with a stern voice but laced with hints of apologies. Rodrick glares up at Lenwood before getting out of the pool with you. Drying off, you both carry your things to the van before changing into your clothes and settling into the seats with the AC on full blast.

“Rodrick if you’re uncomfortable with me being friends with Heath I understand but-”

“Nope. Not at all” He interrupts, cutting off your train of thought.

“Wait what-”

“Because you have a type, babe. You have a thing for bad boys, and Heath is straighter than an arrow now so I’m not worried.” He shrugs his shoulders, looking at you with a knowing smirk while you shy away at his pin accurate deduction. 

“All I have to worry about is being the baddest boy around for you to stick with me, am I right?” Moving closer, he held your gaze as you felt his breath on his lips

“How about you show me how much of a bad boy you are right now?” Rodrick’s grin deepens and his eyes lower, flicking to the clothes he wanted to tear away from your body.

-

📓Even at home he wasn’t safe from everybody trying to take your attention away from him

📓Greg, to his greatest nightmare, had taken a liking to you

📓You were the cool older girl that hung around the house when Rodrick had invited you over

📓At first he was intimidated, unsure of your motives

📓But once you stopped Rodrick once from bothering him, he clung like glue

📓Greg constantly came to you for advice about how to woo Holly Hills

📓Describing his ridiculous plans and totally unrealistic world view

📓You would giggle at his childish antics but did sit him down on how to actually talk to girls

📓This was a complete NO in Rodrick’s book

📓How could his annoying snotty brother steal you away in his own home?

📓And Greg wasn’t the only one he had competition with 

📓As you had gotten closer to the Heffley’s, babysitting Manny had become another way to hang out with Rodrick while Susan and Frank were freed up to go on date nights

📓However your entire attention was given to manny, playing this toys and entertaining the small toddler

📓Completely ignoring Rodrick, to his chagrin

📓

“So I was thinking. What if I took you to the dance, which would totally make Holly jealous and she would try to fight for my love!” Greg proposed, waving his hands in an effort to make his proposal more enticing. You took in a moment of shock and laughter before properly responding.

“Greg, that is a TERRIBLE idea. You’ll never get her like that, just ask her out normally to the dance. I’m sure she would accept.” You said as you ruffled his hair. Greg looked down nervously at the idea of directly asking Holly out.

“Are you sure?” He questioned. You laughed and nodded in response.

“Yes Greg I’m sure. And even if you wanted me to come to the dance, you would have to ask my boyfriend for permission first.” Your statement quickly caught the attention of Rodrick who rushed to the scene.

“GREG DID YOU JUST ASK MY GIRLFRIEND OUT TO THE DANCE!” Greg gulped nervously before running straight up the stairs, avoiding a raging Rodrick.

“Oh you are so dead twerp.” Rodrick announced to Greg's horror. Before he ran up, you held Rodrick by the arm and pulled him close.