Cigarettes and Stars || Rodrick Heffley

Chapter 5. Dinner Disaster

When Emmeline finally arrived back home from skating, she was exhausted. The girl wanted nothing more than to collapse on her air mattress and sleep for the rest of the night.
Unfortunately, her parents had other plans.

"Oh good, you're home. Get changed dear, we've been invited to dinner at the home down the street. We're already late" Her dad called from the living room.

"Shit. I forgot." Emmeline hissed under her breath.
"Right, thanks Dad!" She yelled back, running full speed up the stairs.
She almost slipped as she clambered up the attic ladder, but managed to pull it off.

"Crap, Crap, Crap." She chanted quietly to herself as she dug through a box of clothes. What was the clothing etiquette for dinner with new neighbors? Emmeline had absolutely no idea.
The outfit she put together was rushed, but it would have to do. Jean shorts and a T shirt, all clean of course.

"Emmieeeee let's get going." Rayna shouted up the ladder.
"I know sis! I'm on my way."

.
.

They walked to the neighbor's house, because it was only about a block away.
The home was large, and looked exactly the same as the rest of the houses on the street. White siding, a fresh green lawn, and a two car garage. Basic, in short.
The family of five strolled up the short concrete walkway and knocked politley on the door.
Muffled yelling could be heard from inside, before a man greeted them with an uncomfortable smile.

"Oh urm, you all must be the Ledgers. I'm Frank." The man introduced himself.
"Come in, Susan is just finishing up dinner."

He ushered the family inside before closing the door behind them. They were led into the hall. Emmeline caught a glance of a toddler sitting in front of the television.
A short brunette woman with glasses suddenly appeared in the kitchen doorway, smile wide.

"Leanne! Welcome!" The woman addressed Emmeline's mother very sweetly.

"Susan, it's lovely to see you again. Let me introduce you to my family?" Her mother offered. "This is my husband Jason. These little ones are Rayna and Leo, and this is my eldest daughter Emmeline."

"It's wonderful to meet you all." Susan nodded at each of them as she shook Jason's hand, then Emmeline's.

"You aswell." Emme said cheerfully. Might as well make this woman think she was a wonderful kid, just for the sake of her parent's pride.

"We have three sons." Frank cut in, smiling as if this was a great accomplishment.

"Yes, they'll all be down for dinner soon enough. Actually Frank dear, would you mind getting Greg and letting Rodrick know that we're eating soon?" Susan asked. Actually, it didn't really sound like much of a question.

"Sure thing." Her husband replied quickly, before striding away.

Rodrick? Fuck. Emmeline immediately recognized the name and started to silently pray that he wasn't the same boy from the roller rink and math class. She'd be screwed if it was."

As Susan took them to the dining room. It was excellently decorated, Emme had to admit. The table setting was lovely.
She was sat next to Leo, with Rayna on the other side of her.

"The food is ready, I'm just going to go fetch my youngest." Susan explained as she hurried out of the room (even though nobody had objected).

Two minutes later, a young boy ran full speed into the dining area.
"Yes! I'm starving." The kid grinned to himself as he sat down at the table. He barely seemed to notice the other family in the room, until Ryna spoke up.

"Who're you?" The first of the twins asked in an accusing voice.

"Huh?" The kid looked up. Suddenly Emmeline recognized him, he was one of the middle schoolers from the roller rink. "Greg." The kid replied shortly.
"Is my mom done with dinner? I'm so hungry."

"Yes hon, she's just went to get your younger brother." Emmeline's mom piped up.

Greg scowled at this. Maybe he didn't get on well with his siblings?

Then, a teen boy strode in.
Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Of COURSE it was the same Rodrick. How could it be anyone else with Emmeline's luck?

He immediately made eye contact with her and froze. After a moment, his surprised face faded into a smirk.

Fuck.

Rodrick walked slowly over to the table and chose the seat directly opposite of Emmeline.
The mousy blonde tried not to look too pissed, but she glared daggers at him anyway. He just stared back, with the same smug look on his damn face.

The boy's hair was messy as if he had just woken up from a nap. Somehow, it pissed Emmeline off even more that he could be so effortlessly normal.

"So,"
Emmeline's mother spoke suddenly, cutting through the awkward silence.
"You must be Rodrick?"

He nodded in response. "Yup. My parent's pride and joy." The boy said sarcastically.

Leanne frowned at this, but continued anyway. "This is my husband Jason, and this is Emmeline, Rayna and Leo." The woman introduced her family again.
"Maybe you've met Emmie before? You two look the same age."
Emmeline winced at her nick-name. It wasn't terrible, but it was worse than her actual one.

Rodrick nodded again. "Yup." He said, popping the p. "Emmie and I take math together." He tilted his head at the teenage girl and flashed a cocky smile.

Leanne looked happy at this. "Oh wonderful! I'm sure you two will be great friends!"

Emmeline glared at Rodrick as her mother spoke.

"Oh yes, I'm sure Emmie and I will get along splendidly." The teenage boy, faking sincerity. Emmeline saw right through it, but apparently her mom did not.

.
.

The food was wonderful, but the dinner was awful.
Rodrick continuously shot her odd looks throughout the whole thing. He had kicked her in the shins 'accidentally' at least three times.

But the worst part of all, was when his mother had asked Emmeline to pass her the peas. She had lifted the bowl and reached across the table carefully to hand it to her, but just before that could happen, Rodrick screwed it up.

He had reached over, and hit the bowl HARD with his elbow. Immediately, the peas had been flung overtop of Susan Heffley. The entire table fell totally silent, everyone staring at Emmeline and Susan.
The woman looked shocked for a good 15 seconds as she processed what had just happened.

"Oh my god- I am so sorry-" Emmeline had uttered multiple apologies. Her ears had turned the darkest shade of red they had every been and she looked like she was about to burst into tears.
"I really am, I don't know what happened-"

"Honey, it's fine, It really is." Susan had replied each time. "Don't cry over spilled peas." The woman had said jokingly.
"It was a freak accident."

Rodrick had just sat there, trying not to buckle over laughing. Greg was giggling. Leo, Rayna and Manny were shrieking with glee. Emmeline had never been so embarrassed in her life.

Fuck.