ADD IT UP ✰ RODRICK HEFFLEY x MALE! OC

CHAPTER 14

The remainder of May and early June was spent in Rodrick's garage, preparing for a gig that could make or break the dreams of my close friends. Complaints from the neighbors were, shockingly, few and far between, held for some objections from Frank, which stopped after Frank's discovery that Loded Diper was actually presented with a job opportunity.

However, the highlight of my evenings were Rodrick's words of support. The boy confused me; he was just as beautiful as he was in the window of Old Timey Ice Cream Parlor all those months ago, yet, he was no longer just a commodity viewed from a distance. He was here, standing right next to me. Surrounded by my dearest friends.

And it was perfect.

The most entertaining part of these rehearsals, however, was hearing the newest gossip from none other than Patty Farrell, Holly Hills, and my own, dear sister. Patty and Holly, the best friends that they were, had developed an affinity for each other, due to both of their siblings rebounding with each other.

"It's so annoying!" Patty said one day, bursting into our rehearsal on a particularly sunny day, Holly Hills trailing behind her. "They always look like they're eating each other's faces off! Disgusting losers!"

"Who?" Ben inquired from the floor next to Rodrick's drumset, tuning his guitar.

"My sister and her brother are dating," Holly muttered, embarrassed. "They're going to prom together." I let out an exhale of relief, the fact that I would not be attending prom seeming all the more welcoming.

"That's the fastest rebound I've ever heard about," Rodrick chortled, sitting at his drums. "If it means anything, Holly, you and Greg have been together for longer than Heather and any of her boyfriends have. And if there's anyone that I didn't expect to even get in a relationship with in the first place, it's Greggie. What do you see in him, anyway?"

"Hey!" Greg exclaimed, peeping his head out from the garage door, Rowley and Bonnie right next to him, a large bag of animal crackers in hand. "Just get in here!"

Part of me was sad to see them go; the Westmore kids would always come with the juiciest gossip. But it was during this rehearsal that made me unsure that I wanted to join Loded Diper in the first place.

"Are you guys ready to run our audition song again?" Ben questioned, getting up from next to Rodrick's drums. We had decided that the best song to use for the audition was Add It Up; despite the sexual nature of the song, it was impressive, and framed Ben's voice really well. He sang the introduction, and everything went smoothly from there.

I played the last chord with pride, incredibly proud of my progress since the first time that I played with Loded Diper. We heard applauding and hollering from the garage door, and looking behind me, I saw the Westmore kids cheering us on from the sidelines.

"Is that the same Loded Diper that played at Heather's sweet sixteen?" Holly questioned, happily. "You all sound amazing!"

"It's not like they care about what a couple middle schoolers think about their music," Greg muttered. But Rodrick, Ben, and Chris pulled the kids into a hug, and I chuckled at their excitement, a smile on my face as I joined in on the group huddle.

✰

It was after one of these rehearsals, in early June, that Rodrick held me back after Ben and Chris had left.

"Let me take you somewhere," Rodrick ushered me into his van. I climbed in, but glanced at Rodrick apologetically before the vehicle left.

"Can't we at least get dinner first?" I said, playfully shoving him out of the van. "Let me drive."