Rodrick x Reader

Chapter 6 - Who to believe?

"There's something I need to tell you about Rodrick..." What was she being so dramatic for? Evelyn continues. "You shouldn't trust him. I can't tell you everything now, but believe me, he's just pretending to like you because... well, I don't know why, but he is." 

You feel the bile rise up in your throat. What made her think she knew Rodrick so well? If you didn't know better you'd assume she was jealous, but her obvious disdain for him suggested otherwise. It just didn't make sense. Did Evelyn really feel this badly about Rodrick? You feel hurt and confused, and just about ready to either burst out crying or erupt into flames.

"Are you ok?" Evelyn asks, interrupting your spiral of emotions. You decide then and there to put on the best acting performance of your life. If you could convince Evelyn you didn't care about Rodrick, maybe you'd start to believe it too.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" you reply, trying to sound as neutral as possible. Evelyn gives you a quizzical look.

"Um, because you act like you're totally in love with him?" You grit your teeth because you know she's right, but you do your best to shrug it off.

"Yeah, well, there's plenty more fish in the sea or whatever." But you knew that there weren't any other guys at school like Rodrick, probably not even in the whole state. Even amongst his friends, who shared the same music and fashion tastes, he stood out. What was it about him? You picture Rodrick in your mind - his tall frame, his dark eyes, his spiky bedhead hair. Before you know it, you're in a world of your own, reliving the events from this morning.

"Hello? Are you there?" Evelyn's words snap you back to reality.

"Huh?"

"I was just saying I'm surprised how well you took it. I'm glad too, he wasn't worth your time." What does she know about who is and isn't worth my time?  You're surprised at your ferocity of your thoughts and force yourself to calm down and just be relieved that she bought your act. You can't think of anything to say, so you just nod.

A little while later the bell goes and you walk off to class. You try to concentrate on your lessons but all you can do is think over what Evelyn said. What did she mean you couldn't trust him? Why couldn't she tell you everything now? What even was 'everything'? If Rodrick was pretending to like you, what was he trying to gain? At the time, you were too defensive to believe her, but now you could feel doubt creeping in. Honestly, you really don't know much about Rodrick, but it's not as if you know Evelyn any better. Besides, the playful conversations you'd had with him in his van seemed so genuine. Could that really have been all an act? You couldn't bear to think that it was, but what did Rodrick even see in you? Why would he pick you out of everyone else? More than once a teacher asks you for the solution to a question you can't answer because you aren't paying any attention. A few people giggle but you're too focused on your other problems to care.

Variations of these same thoughts haunt you the whole day. When it's finally time for your English lesson with Rodrick, he plays the usual pranks on you, completely oblivious. He steals your pencil case and throws paper at your head and you try to play along but your heart is just not in it. It doesn't help that you can feel Evelyn's disapproving gaze burning your neck from behind the whole time. You wonder if he notices a change in your demeanor at all but he doesn't seem to. He just keeps on grinning at you like a mischievous little kid. You smile, despite everything that's going on in your head. It's hard to stay mad at someone who doesn't even know they've done something wrong.

English is your last period today, so you and Rodrick leave together to go home. You want to ask him about what Evelyn said, but you can't do it in a way that doesn't make it obvious that you like him. Besides, there was nothing stopping him from lying to you, so what was the point? There was also the party to think about. If you made it awkward now, maybe he wouldn't even come. You flop down into the passenger seat with a heavy sigh.

"You ok?"

"It's been a long week," you say, forcing a smile. Without saying anything, Rodrick puts your favourite album on. You smile again, but this time it's genuine. For a while you forget about all your doubts and just enjoy the moment together, not even saying a word. Before you pull up to your driveway, the track changes to a slower and more romantic song. You tense up, your heart starts beating faster and you can feel your cheeks going cherry red. What's wrong with me? I'm supposed to be over him! You quickly glance over at him to see if he's noticed, and you could almost swear his face was a similar shade! You look away and shake your head, thinking you must have seen wrong. Evelyn's warning plays again in your head. Before the van stops, you're already unbuckling your seatbelt and reaching for the door. As soon as the van comes to a halt, you jump out. 

"See you tomorrow!" you shout over your shoulder as you run to your front door.

"Bye!" he calls back. You think you can hear him laughing faintly. When you get in you slam the door behind you and let out a huge sigh of relief. Good job, very cool. Not suspicious at all.

Just then, your mom walks into the hallway.

"Why are you so sweaty? Did you run home?" she asks, clearly puzzled.

"No, I'm just... really hot." Your mom gives you a weird look and then walks to the kitchen. Maybe that wasn't the best cover story considering it's October.

You go to your room, relieved that it was Friday and you didn't have any work due tomorrow. But instead of enjoying yourself you end up worrying about the housewarming party the whole time. How should you play it? As far as you knew, Rodrick was the only 'kid' your age that was going to be there, so you couldn't ignore him forever. You also remember the time he told you he would 'explain everything' at the party. What was with Rodrick and Evelyn mysteriously withholding information from you? After hours of planning and un-planning your approach at the party, you eventually get to sleep.

The next morning is mostly spent cleaning the house from top to bottom. Your mom insisted that you clean your room too, even though the party was happening in the living room and kitchen downstairs. After lunch, you help with making the party food. They're almost all recipes from this questionable book your dad borrowed from the library called '101 canapés', but you managed to convince your parents earlier to get cake and chips too. After you help decorate the house you're finally allowed some time to yourself to choose your outfit and get ready. As you're putting the finishing touches on your makeup, you can hear people starting to arrive downstairs. You know your parents are expecting you to go and welcome them but you don't rush yourself. You weren't exactly thrilled to have to answer the same three questions over and over from a bunch of adults you didn't even know. Nevertheless, once you're done you go downstairs to perform your duties. The time drags by, but still the Heffleys don't show up. You watch the clock intently as you pretend to be interested in your other neighbours. Almost an hour of torture passes, and you start to wonder if they're even coming. Exactly as the hands on the clock read quarter past eight, the doorbell rings and the Heffley's come shuffling in. You're so relieved to see someone your own age you practically fling yourself at Rodrick, barely acknowledging his other family members. He looks surprised, but not upset.

"Hey"