#yuffierps

[Jane]: You’re overreacting. At least you didn’t make complete a fool of yourself.

[Jane]: I’m sure Jake didn’t even see you drooling over him. And if he did, what did either of you expect? He’s a shirtless boy cleaning a pool.

[A PAUSE]

[Jane]: Did you at least get a picture?

Roderick pulled Madison into his lap and secured his arms around her. Here’s where she quickly moved to bury her head in his chest, wrapping her arms back around him in response. “You don’t have to worry so much, you know.” He whispered to her, rubbing her back slowly. “Those people… they don’t matter. What they say, shouldn’t matter. what they do, that shouldn’t matter either. You know it’s not true, I know it’s not true, there’s no reason to get so worked up about it. And besides, I keep hearing that this is a form of ritual for new kids in the glee club.” The members of the New Directions had just gone through their first slushy session. This one paired with some fun verbal abuse. 

Interesting words flew at the group about twincest, and weight, and all of the colorful things that’s thrown at the nerd and geek population prior. Poor Kitty had gotten the brunt of it, the hierarchy of McKinley working in an odd way. Someone who goes by the name of Bree had instrumented the whole ordeal. It was an ordeal that had gotten under Madison’s skin immensely. One that set her off immediately and had her seething all through while the group went to clean off. Now she and Roderick were sat together in his car afterwards, and she was getting herself worked up about it. Going on about getting revenge, and doing something back at them. It had gotten her so worked up, Roderick could see the small tears pooling up in the corners of her eyes.

She now was mumbling something about it not being fair, and only so many jokes that she could take. Another thing that earned her a nod from Roderick. “I know, I know a person can have their limits. I know it better than anyone. But fighting back won’t make you better than them, it’ll bring you down to their level, Madi. It’s better to hold your head high and let these things roll off your shoulders. These people won’t matter in a few years anyway.”

They were old, and rickety, and two people who were able to say they saw a lot together; nearly the world together. Not a day went by anymore that they weren’t attached at each other’s hips; the ones that weren’t crumbling and old. That night, the two were going about there normal routine. Madison would wash the dishes, and Roderick would dry them; just like they did every night. Then after that, they’d help each other up the stairs of their house; one that was now quiet - no more children running the halls - just the two of them. They made their way to their bedroom together, where they took turns getting changed for bed, or leaving to brush their teeth. Then the two of them settled down in their bed. 

Just like every night, Madison curled up next to her husband, book propped up for her to read. They stayed up talking for a bit more, Roderick Sporadically reading over Madison’s shoulder, until they both decided they were ready for bed. That night Roderick asked if they could turn the light out later than they normally would. Madison didn’t object, of course not, but she still ended up drifting off sooner than Roderick had hoped. She laid, her book at her side forgotten, her head tucked against her husband’s shoulder, and her arm draped across him. Though this wasn’t how he had wished to spend this night in particular, he enjoyed it anyway. It gave him some extra time to admire her. 

Eventually he closed his eyes as well, his glasses still on his face because he didn’t want to move and take them off. He didn’t want to move and risk waking Madison up, because he liked the way the were resting together. People always say that the old know when it’s their time to go, and Roderick never really was one to believe folklore like that. But he knew his time was coming soon, and his time just happened to be that night.

“Don’t you have any secrets? Something private you wouldn’t share with just anyone?”

Roderick gave a shrug of his shoulders. There was a lot that he kept secret from people, enough to make his head spin. Sitting in the grass besides Madison, shoulders hunched forward as he toyed with Madison’s hair, he began to scan through his endless catalog for one to share with her. “Of course I do.” He started, turning his head so he could look at her. She was curled in a ball next to him; her head only half in his lap with it tilted so she was looking back up at him.

“Well, are you going to share it, or what?” She asked, to which Roderick answered with a sigh and a nod of his head. “Give me a moment to gather my thoughts first.” Was his reply. Minutes past in silence, and by the look on her face he could tell she was growing antsy with waiting. So, finally, he forced himself to settle on one. “I’ve never told anyone this you know.” Was how he started his tale.