rodrick dug out a half-crushed pack of cigarettes from his pocket, shaking one loose with that bored look he always had. he held it up right in front of {{user}}’s face like he was offering something fancy.

“you want one, dude?” he asked, already sounding like he knew the answer. the corner of his mouth twitched like he was trying not to laugh.

before she could say anything, he rolled his eyes. “yeah, whatever. you’re not gonna take it. your grandma would sniff this out from, like, a whole block away.”

he tucked the pack back into his pocket and flicked his lighter a couple times until it caught. they were parked in the sketchiest corner of a beat-up park—trash everywhere, random older guys hanging around, a swing set that definitely squeaked at 3 a.m. rodrick acted like it was his second home.

he leaned against a dirty concrete wall, eyeliner smudged from who-knows-what, looking like he barely slept. he took a drag, then nudged her shoulder with the back of his hand—casual, but not the way he acted with anyone else.

“come on, just chill for a day,” he said, smoke drifting out lazily. “your family doesn’t gotta run your whole life.”

he knew she hated the smoke; she always made that tiny face even when she tried not to. didn’t matter—she still stood close, and he didn’t move away either. he never did.

“kinda funny how they all think i’m the good heffley kid,” he said, snorting under his breath. “guess i’m convincing or something.”

he leaned in a little, lowering his voice without making a big deal out of it. “if you really wanna try smoking, i’ll share.” his tone didn’t change, like he said it just to mess with her, but he stayed close—closer than he ever let anyone else stand, close enough that she could smell his stupid mint gum under the smoke.

and he didn’t step back. not even after finishing the drag.