DEAR GISELLE • RODRICK HEFFLEY (CMY SEQUEL)

6th chapter: advice from ben

"you did what?" ben repeated, in confusion. he was pretty occupied trying to perfectly balance wiping a bunch of sticky table counters and keeping up with rodrick's relationship dilemma.

his dear friend sat on one of the chairs with a moody looking expression on his face as he tried to explain what he had recently done. "you're really making me say it again?"

ben chuckled, motioning for rodrick to move his arms so that he can continue wiping the table. "yes, I am genuinely asking," he replied. "I didn't understand you the first time."

rodrick groaned, covering his face in embarrassment. it was hard to admit how impulsive he was being with this situation. i mean, he couldn't possibly blame himself, he was new to this whole relationship thing and rodrick never thought gift giving would ever be a part of it.

"iorderedabunchofplantsandhadthemsentoverto giselle's house." he said, in a rush so he didn't have to deal with ben's inevitable laughter.

and as if it was on cue, ben had begun to sing like the morning birds. his laughter was almost taunting and rodrick just wanted to shut him up. 

"it's not funny okay!" rodrick retorted. "i spent like 45 dollars! my mom's not giving me any kind of allowance soon."

"get a job then, you idiot," ben chuckled, still finding the plant story incredibly hilarious. "may i ask, why you spent 45 dollars worth of plants for giselle?"

rodrick gulped, looking down at his shoes. "please don't make me say it, my pride is practically holding me down."

"stop being a whiny bitch and say it."

rodrick sighed, placing his chin on the palm of his hand. he was over it at this point and knew he was going to endure ben's triumphant gloating one way or another. "i..noticed," he trailed off, "that you seemed to be great at impressing your girlfriend with presents..so i thought maybe i'd do the same.."

ben turned back to his best friend, completing ignoring his rag and the liquid bottle cleaner on the table as he faced rodrick with a sly smirk. he lifted his finger and pointed at himself. "you.." he grinned. "you were inspired by me?"

"fuck off," rodrick rolled his eyes.

"wow!" ben gloated, crossing his arms proudly. "i never thought i'd see the day."

"it's the last time."

"oh please, allow yourself to be inspired more, my friend!" ben exclaimed, wrapping his arm around rodrick's shoulder. "i'll let you in on a little secret."

"what?"

"i get the whole plant gesture was sweet, since giselle does have a few," ben pointed out. "HOWEVER! giving her gifts should come from the heart man."

rodrick looked at him in confusion once more.

ben sighed, "let me explain, you shouldn't just shower her with presents." he explained. "it should be thoughtful, you know, something she'd really really appreciate because you took your precious time on it."

rodrick pondered with the thought for a few seconds before replying. "hmm, i see where you're going with this."

"thank god. where did all of this come from anyway?"

rodrick instantly remembered his conversation with giselle about her moving on in college and his heart began to sunk a little. he knew the time would come one way or another, it was their senior year after all. high school doesn't last forever, he reminded himself. he just wanted something for giselle to remember him by. no matter how ridiculous that sounded now, when they still had plenty of time together and he couldn't bare think of what'll happen after graduation.

"nothing," he shrugged in response.

"i see," ben replied. "i hope there wasn't anything else you impulsively bought for giselle."

rodrick gulped once more, "yeah, about that..."