Bookmarked - A Rodrick x Reader Fan Fiction

Chapter 15 - Festival

You had agreed to meet later tonight, after the excitement of the last day of school wore off for Greg and Rowley, which you had agreed to hang out with earlier in the day. You had also agreed that your deal needed to be a secret for now. You didn't want Rowley to worry about you, but you knew he was too observant for his own good. Rodrick had assured you Greg was less so.

Rodrick hadn't said explicitly what your date was going to be. Just that it would take about an hour to get there and you should wear pants. That was it. No clue what that means, but you should probably follow it.

As you sat inside your car, you waited for Rowley and Greg to get out of school. Being in a pick up line for a car rider made you feel like a mom picking up her sons from school. It was kind of fun to imagine that this was your life. Anything was probably better than your current life.

You finally see Rowley and Greg come out from the doors, walking with a tall boy and a very pretty girl. And they were all walking to your car. You decide to get out and meet them, it seemed less rude that way. You closed the gap between you and them in no time.

"Hey, [Y/N], this is Holly Hills and Chirag Gupta. They're our friends. [Y/N] is my cousin, she's staying with me for the summer." Rowley says. The girl, Holly, blew your mind how she could be so pretty. And why she was hanging out with these boys. No offense, but Rowley has shared how many times he and Greg have played Twisted Wizard 3 and stayed up all night to do so. But you also slightly remember Holly from your letters with Rowley. Didn't Greg have a crush on her?

"Nice to meet you guys. Are you riding with us?" You extend your hand out to shake theirs, the way you were taught to. They both do it, except Chirag tries to dap you up for some reason. You understood what it was, but definitely didn't know how to do it so the handshake comes out weird.

"Actually, we were wondering if you wanted to come with us. Near downtown, in the park, they're having a festival since it's officially the start of summer now that school's out." Holly says, sounding so perky.

"Really? Wow, when my high school let out, most kids went home. Do they get big crowds for this?" You look hesitantly at the kids. You were from Seattle. They lived near Long Island so I guess it was possible for people to do bigger activities like that. Less skyscrapers and Starbucks here.

"Yeah. I mean, it's something to do around here. There's food, rides, games, that sort of thing." Chirag answers, as if it was obvious. It then clicks. Small town, they're not 21, they need something fun to do. Of course a place like Plainview would have a festival for the start of the summer.

Which you would now be a 5th wheel for, it seemed. It did kill time until you could see Rodrick. You also could spend time with Rowley and hope that would satisfy him for now. Yes, you could see yourself hanging out with a guy more than your own cousin. You were sure Rowley would want to hang out with this group more than you anyways since you had been drifting apart. Isn't that what family does anyways? Eventually, as you grow up, away from those you grew up with, you all move onto your new and different lives?

You would still hang out with Rowley this summer, but he knew the truth about your home life. He basically agreed that you needed to work things out. You need to cope in healthy ways and being with others your own age (which you had never done before) might help. It also might help having an outside opinion from someone who isn't related to you. And dammit, it might also be helpful for you to have some random summer romance, something you have never done before, to cope with it all.

Everyone piles into the car, with you driving of course. Holly and Chirag have already gotten their license while Greg and Rowley hadn't. Holly and Chirag had driven together today, but could pick up their car later. You all were heading to the fair.

You had been to festivals before, mostly when you were little and every ride was exciting. Now the real excitement for you as an adult came from the booths that sold art, clothes, and whatever else could fit in a stall. Rides kinda made you sick and the food could sometimes make you sicker with how much of it was deep fried.

The sun was still out which made things a bit warm with how many bodies were packed down each aisle. The boys wanted to do the crazy rides first and Holly wanted to do the ferris wheel. For some reason Chirag wanted to leave and go find some girls to talk to, which everyone had to talk him out of for what happened last time. You all sat at a picnic table

"What happened last time?" You ask, wondering how bad could it have been for everyone to deny him the chance to talk to girls?

"He went up to high school girls as an eighth grader and got slushies dumped all over him." Rowley had said, looking sad for Chirag.

"He then tried it again a year later and it was lemonade. But it was right after he had gotten back from camping so he had a bunch of cuts." Greg laughed at this, which seemed very fitting of him. It also showed the difference between him and Rowley. Rowley had empathy and Greg, well, Greg probably liked watching people burn out and be rejected. But you could guess that he probably would not want the same thing to happen to him.

"You do not need to remind me of the flesh wounds I endured that day." Chirag plainly states. He buries his face in his hands, dragging them along the way.

You look around at the group of kids. It was nice knowing Rowley was around people who could take care of him. You wish you had the same as him, but you weren't good at making friends and even worse at keeping them. You always happened to have said the wrong thing.

Eventually you decide to get on a few rides and even met some of Rowley's classmates. Patty, Fregley, and Angie. Greg liked none of them and made it quite obvious. You wondered with how few people Greg liked, was he well liked at school? Judging by the fact, he was going to need to do some summer school for a month if he was going to pass sophomore year, probably not.

"Hey, isn't that your brother?" Holly asks, nudging Greg's arm. Greg almost melts from her touch, which means he likes her. A lot.

But all of your heads turn in unison, towards the Zipper, a ride where you essentially get locked in a cage and spun around while your cage is also spinning. It was a ride that causes way too many kids to puke and one you were way too old for. It made you dizzy just looking at it.

Rodrick was controlling the ride, which A.) how'd he even get that job and B.) who thought that was a good idea?

"I bet we can get on without spending any tickets. Do you think your brother would let us?" Holly asks, grabbing Greg's arm. The look on his face makes it seem like he's in another world. Which he probably was imagining himself and Holly dating, but you couldn't see it happening. Maybe he's liked her for a bit, but Holly and him weren't dating and they've known each other for, what, four years now?

"He might, but not because I'm his brother." Greg's eyes wander towards you. Your face twists slightly with confusion. Does Greg know? Does he somehow know about you two?

But no one else questions it as you all head over towards the ride and Rodrick.