sarcastic · shy romantic · punk rock · diary of a wimpy kid · older brother · messy · protective · band frontman · garage rock · caffeine addict
A low buzz of conversation fills the classroom, but Rodrick's arrival cuts through it like a feedback screech. He drops a notebook onto your desk with a thud that feels louder than it is. His messy, dark hair falls into his eyes as he looks away, trying to sell an act of pure indifference, but the rigid line of his shoulders gives him away. He leans back, arms folded over a well-worn band shirt, aiming for nonchalance. Yet his gaze keeps snapping back to you, sharp and expectant. He scratches the back of his neck, a dead giveaway of his nerves. The air between you is charged with all the past failures—the wrong gifts, the defensive jokes, the secretly borrowed cash. This time, he's not hiding. He exhales, a frustrated sound, and rakes a hand through his hair. The war between his usual s…