he plays the drums ✗ rodrick heffley

✗7

"Promise me you will dress decent for our guests later today," Kat's mother said sticking toothpicks into small fruit squares, "don't want anyone thinking you're apart of the rat pack."

"Haha, very funny." Kat said back sarcastically twirling the toothpicks around her fingers.

"Well, what are you waiting for, go get ready!" Her mother yelled and kay started marching upstairs in revolt.

She had about two hours, even less because she decided to sleep till noon. She searched her entire closet and all of her drawers but came up empty. It wasn't until she came across an off the shoulder black romper that was covered with double stemmed cherries. Kat burned her hand more times than she should've trying to get the perfect curls, which she then just threw back behind a red bandana. To complete the outfit she threw on her, now, off white converse and laid on her bed. She was bored out of her mind and guests wouldn't be there for another 20 minutes.

"Screw this." Kat said as she rolled back on her stomach and grabbed for her phone.

Text from:
Rodrick: Can't wait to see you tonight, kitty.

Kat just shook her head and the phone went back to its rightful spot, buried under her pillow. She didn't know whether or not Rodrick was someone she should be liking but she couldn't help it. She felt like what happened between her and Rodrick was just apart of his game to prove his image because he wouldn't be caught dead confessing his true feelings.

But Kat just laughed herself off of the bed until she realized her thinking had gotten in the way of tracking the time.

"Shit." She said sitting up and clawing at the floor to stand up.

Down the steps was a small group of people and an even bigger group outside.

"Nice of you to join us." My mother slyly said passing her from the front, leading in a very familiar family.

"Hey Kat!" Greg said waving his hand while his friend Rowley stood quietly by, staring at her.

"Hi Greg." She said with a smile before the two boys rushed the kitchen for snacks.

"It's so nice to see you Kat," Mrs. Heffley said with a smile, "all you have done for Greg is so amazing, thank you."

"My pleasure." Kat answered shyly with a smile. Finally the parents all moved to reveal a nicely dressed Rodrick.

"What? No hugs for your best friend?" Rodrick said sarcastically.

"I am not giving you a hug." Kay laughed as Rodrick's arms were already starting to engulf her.

"Too bad." He said as Kat smushed into his chest and his strong arms held her.

"I need a drink." Kat said stepping out of his arms and holding her head.

She walked away from the boy but he followed her like a magnet. He watched her closely for the next hour as she socialized with others and occasionally poured herself a drink or help her self to the small platters of food. She started to listen in on a nearby conversation between her parents, the Heffleys, and a few other moms.

"These kids nowadays are so talented you know?" One mom said as her mom and Rodrick's mom nodded their heads.

"My daughter has the opportunity to try out for a broadway show." A mom gloated.

"My son was just accepted into Juilliard." Another said.

"My daughter, you know Katrina, is amazing at playing the guitars." Kat's mom said nodding to her, which was her entrance into the conversation.

"What about your sons?" Some random neighbor asked the Heffleys.

"Uh–"

"–he plays the drums," Kat said answering for them, "and he's in his own band, they are pretty good."

"Yes, our son Rodrick is in a band." Mr. Heffley said with a nod and an awkward smile.

Kat stood there with a smile on her face as the subject changed and the sun started to set lower. She knew the Heffleys were not too fond of Rodrick's talent so she stood up for him. And she really did like listening to him play the drums.

"I think you're the first person to ever stick up for me and say something like that." Rodrick said from behind Kat, who had wandering back to the drink table.

"Well it was true, your music is good, you are really talented." Kat said going on a tangent and saying her words like she was reading off a slam poem.

"Glad someone thinks so." He said with a shrug.

"Knock it off Rodrick, you're really good, some people just don't have good taste in crazy, high school band, rock music." Kat said with a laugh which made him crack a small smile for her.

"So what's the deal when it gets dark out, all of us out by 10?" Rodrick said looking around at the coming darkness.

"Have you seen my parents?" Kat said raising an eyebrow, "my dad is taking a shot of tequila over there, and my mom is on her third Bloody Mary, our parties don't end too tomorrow." She said with another small laugh.

"My parents are the same way, and my mom can not handle alcohol." Rodrick said shaking his head with second hand embarrassment.

"I guess we'll be able to get some alone time." Kat said getting excited to spend more time with just Rodrick.

"And now why would you want to do that?" He said to Kat sarcastically, starting to come closer to her.

"Oh, I don't know." Kat said with a stutter as his hand went to twirl her curls and brush the back of her neck.

"Well I think I know why." He said winking at her, "let's just meet up in your room by 9:30."

"Sounds like a plan." Kat said nodding trying not to show happiness.

"Until then, Im going to just keep you waiting, kitty." He said whispering in her ear to try and mess with her.

Kat laughed a little bit and pushed him off of her, she knew he was just trying drive her crazy.