Bookmarked - A Rodrick x Reader Fan Fiction

Chapter 4 - By The End Of Summer

You have to think carefully here. A bet was no small thing to get into and as you have gotten to know Rodrick more, you're worried that he actually is smarter than he looks. More devious. You also couldn't back down now.

Sleeping together was too easy and in all honesty? You didn't trust yourself. It was summer, you were away from home, and Rodrick had made it clear to you that he wanted sex. At least he makes it kind of clear. Why else would a man drop a towel like that and not want to have sex with someone?

"No, because there's no challenge in that," You crane your neck to see Rowley and Greg sitting on the curb. They looked like they were content with each other, but you bet they were wondering why you were talking for so long.

"Please. You and I both know that you cannot stand me. There's something about me that just ticks you off. Which totally makes sense since you're related to Rowley. I bet your idea of fun is going to a coffee shop, reading your books, and people watching." He looks at you expectantly. Fuck. He is right. That's what you think is fun. Your expression tells him everything he needed to know.

"You can't seriously think I'd bet to sleep with you, right?" You watch him, hoping to see something in his eyes that lets you know he can't be serious.

"Listen, you challenged me. I take this very seriously." He places a hand on his chest very dramatically. "How long are you staying with Rowley?" He looks at you slyly through his dark eyes. You feel as if you are actually living through one of your novels. That you're about to make some deal with a fae and it's gonna bite you in the ass. You also needed a distraction from your real life. You couldn't just hang out with two sixteen year old boys all summer. You needed action and this would be a fun distraction at least.

So you decided to tell him.

"Not sure. I was told however long it took for things to be normal-'' You stop yourself from revealing too much. "The length of my stay hasn't been determined yet, but at most... until the end of summer. I'll go back to college in the Fall." Your voice is flat as you deliver the news. It had only been one day in Plainview, but you hadn't even received a text or call from either of your parents. No one even checked in to see if you got to the Jeffersons okay. You were starting to think you'd be here a lot longer than promised.

"I bet by the end of summer you'll have sex with me AND fall in love. How's that for a challenge?" He raises his eyebrows at you and you seriously do not know how to react. What the hell is this guys problem?

"Do you even want me to fall in love with you?" Slightly annoyed, you crossed your arms.

"Funny how you didn't ask if I wanted to have sex with you. Probably because you already know the answer to that." He looks at you expectantly.

"What if you fall in love first?" You deflect, narrowing your eyes.

"What if I already have?" He narrows his eyes at you now. He reaches a hand out to touch your hair. You quickly smack his hand away. "Fine, the bet is whoever says I love you first."

"Why do you think I would want to gamble with my love life? Or my sex life, for that matter." You look away once more. He really does tick something off in you. But you had to admit, the way his mind worked was interesting. Why does he think you want him?

"When have you ever gambled with your love life? Don't you want some kind of excitement this summer? A 'will they, won't they' situation? Summer romance?" He grabs your hand and holds it. For a moment, you let him. But the moment passes and you take it back.

He sees the hesitation in your eyes. Lowering his voice, "Or even just someone to talk to who isn't under eighteen and related to you." You look back at him, eyes softening. It would be slightly weird to talk about what was going on with your parents with Rowley.

You look up at Rodrick. He looks puzzled, as if he was studying you for a reaction. You truly thought about his offer. It would be nice to talk to someone your age. Rowley's family was too perfect, never having problems in their marriage. Maybe Rodrick knew what it was like too? But you still couldn't trust it. Trust him. You did NOT want to talk about what was happening with your family.

"I'm not really here to make friends this summer. This is just temporary. I'll be gone soon anyways." You say bitterly. You look away again. Why can you not hold his gaze any more? Was it because of the subject matter? It couldn't be because you held his gaze when he was naked, walking away from you. You held his gaze as he walked halfway across a parking lot. You held his gaze when he tried to ask for sex.

You also hated the fact you were telling him you wouldn't be here long. The more you said it, which was twice now in this conversation, the more you started to doubt this way a weekend excursion.

"Then let's make the most of it." Rodrick plainly says.

Your head whips to his. He smiles and starts again.

"Look, you know where I live. I know where you live. If you ever want to hangout, come and find me. I wouldn't mind the company of someone who isn't shooting slushie out of their nose." He puts his hands back in his pockets once more. His smile radiated in the sunset's pink glow.

"Why are you mature all of a sudden and not a dick?" You laugh at him. No, with him. He was being genuine. He wasn't lying about being your friend or just someone to talk to. He wasn't forcing you into anything. He simply was offering his company, but only if YOU wanted it.

"I can surprise people sometimes." He takes his bottom lip between his teeth, at the corner before releasing it and speaking again. "Look, I gotta get back to my friends, but seriously. I know we got off on the wrong foot. In all honesty, I knew you were Rowley's cousin. In my head, I thought you would be some Mormon or something and wanted to shock you. But I see you're not exactly like him. My mistake for judging a book by its cover." With that, he turns and leaves. You watch him the whole way back to his obnoxious friends. When he's halfway, he turns his head slightly to see if you're still looking. You continue to do so, watching him smile to himself, and then he turns forward once more; leaving you in the parking lot.

Rowley and Greg finally come back over to you. Both seem tired and no longer have their ice cream.

"What was that all about, [Y/N]?" Rowley asks, looking at Rodrick while he talks.

"I think... I think he wants to be my friend." You say, reluctantly.

"Rodrick doesn't have friends who are girls. Rodrick just has girls who he fucks" Greg says matter of factly, earning a gasp from Rowley. You motion to them to leave and you all walk back to the car. Rowley and Greg tell you about their conversation which involved a wizard and a shark. You tried to listen to them, but you couldn't stop thinking of that interaction.

Why did it get so heated so quickly and then fizzle out like that. It made you feel almost dumb. You simply thought he was some stupid guy who lives with his parents and tries to get sex from anything with boobs.But why did he have to make you start to realize that maybe you judged a book by its cover?