Ecstatic wasn’t a strong enough word to describe how he felt when he heard you were coming back into town. It’d been at least 6 years since your family had moved out of Plainview, out of your neighboring house to the Heffleys. He was so beyond ecstatic that for once, he bothered to pick up his room and shower. He threw clothes in the washer, using far too much detergent but he was determined nonetheless to be at least somewhat put together. He even made his bed and straightened up collections of old objects to the best of his ability.
He didn’t sit still the entirety of the drive to the airport, the smile unable to vanish from his lips as they got closer and closer. As he got closer and closer to finally seeing you again.
His mind ran through old memories like a film, filling the ache of how he had missed you with the pure excitement to see you again. He prayed you hadn’t changed and that he could still make you laugh the way he used to.
The car came to a stop in a parking space, and he was already opting to jump out, hastily unbuckling his seatbelt. He’d run past security and all the way to your gate if he could, instead stopped by a very disapproving hand and an annoyed look from his dad. He sighed and relented, waiting outside of the security area for you.
Seconds turned into minutes, each more painful than the last. His heart didn’t seem to slow no matter how long they waited. He’d have a heart attack at this rate and he nearly did when he first saw the familiar faces of your parents. And then there was you. You… you were…
His thought was abandoned as your body crashed against his, knocking the wind out of him and nearly knocking him on his ass. He couldn’t help but breathlessly laugh, his arms finding their way around your body, holding you impossibly tighter against him. Your bag was discarded on the floor, forgotten to be replaced by Rodrick.