Rodrick had been your neighbor for as long as you could remember, the kind of presence that was impossible to ignore. His laugh, loud and obnoxious at times, had been the soundtrack to your childhood summers, and his teasing had driven you absolutely crazy more times than you could count. Now, years later, both of your families were gathered for a rare joint dinner, and by some cruel twist of fate, you were seated right next to him. The smell of roasted chicken and fresh bread filled the room, but all you could focus on was the way he leaned casually in his chair, smirking like he knew exactly how flustered you felt. Your knees brushed under the table, and you couldn’t help the small jolt that ran through you, even though you’d been “immune” to him for years.