The Drummer Across the Street (Rodrick Heffley Fanfic) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 12

The drive to the diner seemed twice as long as it was from there to the pond. I grabbed my makeup out of my bag and used the small mirror in front of me to apply my thick eye makeup.

Rodrick glanced over at me and sighed. "Aren't you even mad about your mom leaving you?"

I shook my head as I finished applying my eyeliner. "I know I should be. But after everything she's done for me, I just can't bring myself to be mad at her. I mean, I was cheated on; and I know exactly how she felt."

Rodrick shook his head slightly, "I just don't understand how you can forgive a family member, let a lone your own mother for walking out on you for a whole year."

I grabbed my mascara and started piling it on, "Well you're not alone on that one, Rodrick. I have no fucking clue either."

We got onto the bitumen road after what seemed like hours and I stared straight ahead, trying to focus on my breathing. Rodrick looked over at me wearily, "You doing ok there, buddy?"

I kept staring ahead, feeling myself start to get light headed. "Rodrick," I groaned, feeling my stomach start doing flips, "I think I'm gonna be-"

"Please don't throw up in the van," he pleaded as he pulled over on the side of the road. I threw the door open and flung myself out, kneeling down on the ground. Small rocks dug their way into the palms of my hands and my knees and I threw up. I heard Rodrick behind me groan in disgust but I ignored it as I kept vomiting on the rocks in front of me.

Rodrick walked over slowly and held my hair back for me as I heaved breathlessly, trying to calm myself. I swallowed the disgusting taste in my mouth and started to get up, Rodrick helping me by holding my arm as I steadied myself. My eyesight was groggy and I felt like I was about to pass out. Through the blur, I saw Rodrick smile at me and grab a tissue to wipe at my mouth. I felt as though I was swaying side to side and tried to speak, but everything came out as a mumble.

"You can rest in the back 'til you're feeling better if you want?" Rodrick offered, before deciding that would be the best option. He helped me over to the side door and opened it. The inside was much cleaner than the first time I had been in it and there was even a couple of pillows and a thin blanket tucked away in the corner. Rodrick grabbed them and set them on the floor for me. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I blacked out.

But not before feeling a pair of lips on my forehead.

-/-

I blinked awake, remembering I was on the cold metal of Rodrick's van. I sat up and saw Rodrick turn his head from the driver's seat and smirk at me, "Hey sleepy head. You feeling better?"

"Heaps," I croaked out, feeling my throat closing up. I climbed from the back into the front and plonked myself down. "Ok, let's go see my mom," I said, doing up my seatbelt.

"You're still gonna go see her?" Rodrick asked in disbelief, "After how the thought of meeting her made you feel?"

"I have to," I gulped, looking at Rodrick, "I might not have another chance like this. She said she's only in town for a few hours. I don't have a choice."

"Yes you do," Rodrick told me. "You can choose not to see her."

I sigh and shake my head, "You don't understand what it's like to have your mother walk out on your family and after more than a year have her contact you because your step-mom is persistent on having a good relationship with you." I turned my head and looked out the window, "And if you're lucky, you'll never know how that feels."

Rodrick stayed silent for a moment before starting up his van and continuing towards the diner. The drive there was quiet, except for the soft metal music playing from his stereo. Rodrick soon pulled into the carpark right across from Benny's Diner and got out of his van once he parked it. My legs however, refused to move. Rodrick opened the passenger door for me and raised his eyebrows at me. "You coming?"