ADD IT UP ✰ RODRICK HEFFLEY x MALE! OC

CHAPTER 15

     Every day that came closer to the audition felt like a monster trying to attack me from behind. Although I really did want to spend more time with Rodrick, we could only converse with each other at school— the atmosphere in the Heffley garage grew hotter the closer it drew to summer, not because of the changing weather, but due to the increasing amount of pressure that Rodrick put on the band.

     The rehearsal before the audition was practically hell; Ben's voice shook with every note, and my fingers trembled as I played the familiar riff, not being able to tolerate the tension in the room. Chris's bass lines were slowly falling out of tempo, and Rodrick's drums barely fell in sync with the rest of the band.

     "That's enough for tonight, I think," Rodrick said, after what must have been the millionth run of Add It Up. "Good job today, guys." His attempt at a smile came out more like a pained grimace as he ushered all of us out of the garage.

     "Stop lying to yourself, Rodrick, we were bullshit," Ben said. "But I appreciate the sentiment."

     "Sentiment, Ben? Really?" I feebly attempted to joke. But before I could say anything else, Ben and Chris were out the door.

      I sighed as Chris slammed the door behind him. "Rodrick, look. You don't have to put this much pressure on yourself. There's always gonna be other opportunities if this one doesn't work out."

      Rodrick let out a groan of frustration. "This is gonna be our big break! I can't let anyone ruin it!"

      For the first time since Firefly Hollow, I kissed him on the cheek. "We're gonna do great. But you've gotta give yourself a break. If not for yourself, then do it for the band, dude. It isn't just you, you know? Everyone's stressed about this. But tomorrow should be fun. We know the music. There isn't any point pushing it any further."

     He grinned. "I needed that. Do you want a ride home?"

     Wordlessly, I climbed into the front seat of his van, when I heard Greg behind me, calling my name. I entered the house, curious to see what Greg had in store for me.

    "Are you and Rodrick dating?" Greg asked, hands nervously hidden in his pockets.

     "No, I'm homophobic, why?" Greg eyed me, suspiciously. "I'm joking, Greg, does Rodrick not make it obvious enough? He's such an incredible boyfriend." I grinned at him, but something told me that a little more than curiosity was fueling Greg's question.

      "Can you please, please make it all work out? Rodrick isn't beating me up anymore. Well, not as much as he used to be. And I like having Bonnie around. I like Holly better, obviously," he smiled at me, sheepishly, "but Bonnie's really cool too! The only good thing that happened when Rodrick was dating Heather for the second time was that Holly was over a lot. He was such a jerk then—"

     The all too familiar blaring of the Loded Diper van's horn rang through the air, and I realized that Rodrick was still waiting in the vehicle. "I've gotta get going. Bye, Greg!" I waved at him as I left 12 Surrey Street, and headed back home to the tiny apartment, where my mother and Bonnie slept soundly.

✰

     I gave myself the liberty to wake up late the next morning, after my mother had left for work and my sister had left for school. The band got out of classes under the excuse that a "work opportunity" arose, under the guidance of Ms. Nguyen. We decided to all meet up at Rodrick's house at noon for lunch, pack up all the equipment, and be in Boston by 4:00, giving us plenty of time to arrive at the recording studio at 6:00 for our audition. Afterwards, we'd go out to dinner, and head home, arriving in Plainview, with luck, before midnight.