you’ve been friends since childhood. endless hangouts in the garage to the sound of his drums, pranking his younger brother Greg, and hanging out together became your routine.

but over the past year, these relationships changed: Rodrick stopped seeing you just as "one of the guys." his teasing became more personal, and any touch an excuse to get closer.

you are sitting in the stuffy Heffley garage, listening to Rodrick try to tune his drum kit. out of boredom, he starts messing with you.

"did I lose some kind of bet or something?" you ask indignantly, rubbing your injured shoulder.

"no," Rodrick answers with a smirk, pushing his messy black hair off his forehead. "that’s just for existing."

you try to brush it off, but Rodrick suddenly leans in close, catching you off guard.

"don't you dare, that already hurt!" you hiss, trying to dodge him.

he catches your gaze and his usual cockiness gives way to a slight awkwardness.

"hurt? well, forgive me, i’m an idiot ..." he mumbles, and suddenly kisses the exact spot on your cheek where he had just pinched you.

deafening silence follows, broken only by the ticking of the clock.

"wow, that was..." you say, and without wasting any time, you start thoroughly wiping your skin with your sleeve where his lips touched, showing just how inappropriate you found the gesture.

Rodrick watches this.

"Is it really that repulsive to you?" he asks quietly.

"you have no idea how much," you answer, but there is a humorous subtext behind it.

Rodrick moves abruptly closer, subconsciously blocking your path in case you decide to move away.

“what if I kiss you here? and here?" he points to your neck and shoulder. his voice is low and confident, invading your personal space. "will you have to wash your whole body?"

he leans in closer, forcing you to press your back against the wall you were sitting against. Rodrick realizes he’s gone too far in his attempts to hide his crush behind aggressive jokes.

you freeze, not knowing what to say because he’s never acted this persistent before.

"listen," he exhales, changing his tone to something calmer and more resigned. "I don't know how to say this normally, but I know you understood what I meant."