The clock on Rodrick’s dashboard glowed 12:43 a.m. as his beat-up van rattled down the empty street. The muffler growled, one headlight flickered on and off like it was debating retirement, and the radio was blasting some song Rodrick swore was “the best track ever written by mankind.”

You sat shotgun, bundled in his hoodie, hair messy from falling asleep on his couch before he shook you awake and declared, “We’re going on a mission.”

“What kind of mission needs gummy worms at one in the morning?” you asked, half-laughing as the gas station’s fluorescent lights came into view.

Rodrick shot you a grin, one hand drumming on the steering wheel. “The most important kind. Midnight cravings wait for no man.”

The gas station was nearly empty. A lone clerk sat behind the counter, scrolling on his phone like he hadn’t cared about life since 2007. The doors hissed open as you and Rodrick stepped inside, the buzz of the lights overhead making everything feel both alive and half-asleep at the same time.

Rodrick immediately beelined for the snack aisle. “Okay, essentials: Doritos, gummy worms, and—” he grabbed a suspicious-looking hot dog from the rotating warmer and held it up triumphantly, “—protein.”

You wrinkled your nose. “That’s not protein, that’s… a health hazard.”

Rodrick shrugged, already taking a bite. “Tastes like victory.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help laughing as you wandered through the aisles together. He threw random things in his arms—chips, a neon-colored slushie, even one of those tiny travel shampoos “just in case.” By the time you got to the register, it looked like you were stocking up for the apocalypse.

The clerk didn’t even blink, just rang everything up in silence. Rodrick leaned against the counter, drumming his fingers and giving you a sideways smile.

“Y’know,” he said casually, “I think late-night gas stations are, like, romantic. Just you, me, and a bunch of expired snacks under bad lighting.”

You laughed so loud the clerk looked up. “That’s your idea of romance?”

Rodrick nodded solemnly. “One hundred percent. Nobody else here. No Greg barging in. No Mom yelling at me. Just us.”

When you both got back into the van, the bag of snacks rustling between you, Rodrick didn’t start the engine right away. He leaned back in the seat, looking at you under the glow of the dashboard.

“You know,” he said, his voice softer now, “I kinda like these dumb little adventures. It’s not about the snacks or whatever. It’s just…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s fun when it’s you.”

You smiled, nudging the bag of gummy worms toward him. “Then here’s to more dumb adventures.”

Rodrick grinned, tore open the bag, and popped one in his mouth before dramatically holding another up like it was a wedding ring. “Babe, will you accept this gummy worm as a symbol of my undying love?”

You laughed until your cheeks hurt, the van rattling softly in the quiet night as the two of you ate junk food and shared a moment that, in Rodrick’s own ridiculous way, really was romantic.