Löded summer

The worst drug of all...

Rodrick leaned down even further to meet her ear. "I just told him to beat it."

Heat rushed to her face. "That's all?"

He straightened up, crossed his arms, and shifted his weight between his legs. "Hm. Well, he did say he wanted to protect you."

Y/N let out a huff of a laugh. "Protect me from who?" She looked him up and down. "You?"

Rodrick took the snarky remark on the chin and returned to the conversation, "I mean, I am much larger than you; stronger."

She rolled her eyes. "You speak as if I didn't just bitch you." A knowing smile spread across her face.

"First of all," he said, imposing on her space, "I let you win."

Rodrick's hand snaked around her throat. "And I'd be the asshole to make you tap out, huh?"

Y/N's smile was wiped clean off her face. "Rodr—"

With his other hand, he stroked her cheek and squished it. "Are you still going to talk nonsense, or are you going to be nice?"

"Be nice?" She scoffed.

Rodrick smiled. "Is that so hard?" he cooed in a condescending tone.

"With how close you are to me right now, I should spit in your face," Y/N retorted.

His face contorted through a weird array of expressions: first surprised, then curious, and finally smug.

"Go ahead," Rodrick's grip tightened. Y/N prepared to do so, but was stopped by his other hand. She nipped, and Rodrick quickly withdrew. "Easy."

The pair locked eyes; no words passed between them.

Knock.
Knock.
Knock.

"Rod, have you seen Y/N?" a familiar, agitated voice called from outside.

Mrs. Heffley.
—————————————————————

He reluctantly peeled his eyes off her and let go. "Hide," Rodrick hissed.

"What?" she panicked. "Where?"

The door swung open. "Where—" Mrs. Heffley stopped in her tracks. "What's going on here?

"The two teenagers nearly flew in opposite directions before Y/N took the initiative. She cleared her throat and made up a lie. 'Rodrick was just about to show me his—'"

"My records," he interjected. The eldest son pointed to the corner of his room closest to them, where a stack of vinyl records sat neatly stored.

He rushed to pick them up. "Korn, Slipknot," Rodrick recalled as he dropped them into her arms. "Pierce the Veil."

Y/N caught onto the plan in no time, "Thanks."

"Just bring them back by next weekend." He winked, then turned back towards his mother.

"You could've just brought them to her, instead of bringing a guest into this mess." Mrs. Heffley grimaced at her son's unorganized bedroom.

"It's all good, he didn't torture me too much." Y/N assured her.