Chapter Text
“Oh, yeah, it’s such a nice day, why don’t you just WALK to and from school today! You’ll save on gas! Exercise is good for you!” You grumbled to yourself as you dragged yourself down the sidewalk.
“Would be a lot nicer if I didn’t have to haul all of these BOOKS!” You hefted your backpack strap back onto your shoulder, only for it to slip down again.
“I swear, I didn’t think I was this out of shape…”
You trailed off as you turned the corner to see two barely-teens standing next to one of those old-school kidnapper vans. You didn’t think that kind of thing actually happened, and in broad daylight?!
Well no, an old school abduction was not actually happening right in front of your eyes, considering the driver was currently leaning out the front seat window and bickering with the kids. Very counterproductive to getting them into the vehicle with you, one would think. One of the kids was yelling back.
“Leave us alone, Rodrick!”
Even though it wasn’t a kidnapping, the whole situation was still very strange. And while you wouldn’t exactly consider yourself the bleeding-heart, do-gooder, vigilante type… you couldn’t just walk away from this, could you?
No you couldn’t, because they had just noticed you watching them.
You ran over before you could second guess yourself, heavy books bouncing behind you. “Hey! Why don’t you go pick on someone your own size?”
Once you got closer to the two adolescents, you realized you weren’t much bigger than they were.
The driver scowled at you, dark bangs partially obscuring their eyes. About your age, if you had to guess.“Whoa, butt out. This is none of your business.”
You stood as tall as your diminutive stature would allow you to. “I’m making it my business.”
“And what are you gonna do about it anyway?” One of the van’s passengers piped up. Bad dye-job, you noted to yourself.
Stupid teenagers. You couldn’t wait until you were no longer one.
You looked down at the vehicle, which had “LÖDED DIPER” emblazoned across the side. “…This your van?”
The driver scoffed. “Uh, yeah, what do you think?”
You fished your keys out of your pocket with a deceptively sweet, fake smile. “It sure would be a shame if something happened to it. Like, say, I don’t know, I dug a key into the side of the door and dragged it all the way down—”
The three teenagers that were piled up together in the small space of the front seat all physically recoiled at your threat.
“Aw Geez,” “She’s crazy!” “This is not worth it.” “Let’s get out of here.”
The driver shot one last death glare in the skinny kid’s direction, mouthing ‘You’re dead’ as he pulled away.
You gave them a sarcastic wave, even though you were mentally flipping them off.
Not in front of the children.
“Wow, thanks lady!” The pudgier child looked at you as if you had hung the stars in the sky.
You smiled at him. A real one, this time. “It was nothing.”
“No seriously, that was so cool! Oh, manners– My name’s Rowley! Rowley Jefferson.” He extended his hand to shake. You humored him as you offered yours. Rowley repeated it to himself before pointing over your shoulder. “That’s Greg.”
“Don’t tell her my name!” Greg hissed between his teeth.
“Why not?” Rowley asked, face scrunched in confusion.
Greg opted for a facepalm instead of answering the question.
You looked back and forth between the two of them. “Who was that, anyway?”
Greg groaned and threw his head back as he let his arm fall down to his side. “My stupid brother, Rodrick. And his stupid band-friends.”
You frowned. Siblings. “He shouldn’t be treating you like that.”
Greg gave a sarcastic laugh. “Yeah, you’re telling me.”
You glanced down the street in the direction they had driven off. “Do you think he’s gonna circle back, or will the two of you make it home okay?”
Rowley shrugged. “He’s probably done for the day–”
Greg stepped in front of him, cutting him off. “Actually, we would love an escort home. If you don’t mind, that is.” He gave you an awkward, boyish grin.
Rowley threw his arms up in the air. “A literal second ago you told me not to give her your name! What’s going on with you, man?”
Greg waved his hand at him. “Rowley, shh!”
Rowley sputtered like an old lawn mower trying to start. “But you just—”
“I don’t mind if you don’t,” you interrupted. “Which way were you guys heading?”
They exchanged a look.
“Surrey Street.” Greg’s voice cracked. He cringed at the sound.
You nodded. “That’s not too far out of the way for me. Don’t worry, I’ll get you guys home safe.” You winked at them. Rowley attempted to wink back, bursting into giggles at his own failed attempt. Greg rolled his eyes and fell into step, flanking you on your left.
Rowley looked over at you and nearly stumbled over a crack in the sidewalk. You held your arm out to catch him, but he managed to recover on his own. “So, uh, do you like videogames?”
You shrugged with one shoulder. “Depends on the game.”
“Greg is really good. At all of them,” Rowley praised.
You turned your head towards the other side. “Oh, really? Is that so?”
Greg rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, I get a lot of practice.”
You took note of his physique (or lack thereof) and nodded. “I believe it.”
Greg slowed his steps to lag behind and hissed behind your back, “Ask her something else!”
Rowley leaned back to look at him. “Like what?”
He flailed his arms at Rowley. “Anything! Pick something!” Greg was still fully visible in your peripheral vision and you could hear every word, but you refrained from mentioning it and embarrasing him further.
Rowley shrugged. “Okay.” He stood back up straight and grinned at you. Toothy, but charming in its own right. “So, you new in town?”
You grinned back. “Is it that obvious?”
“Nah, it’s just that I’ve lived here forever, and Greg’s been here even longer.” He gestured with his hands as he walked and talked. “So like, we know everything there is to know about this town…”
Turns out, Rowley was an excellent conversationalist, at least as far as entertainment goes. Greg wasn’t too shabby, either. You could almost forget those STUPID BOOKS ON YOUR BACK CAUSING EARLY ONSET OSTEOARTHRITIS.
Almost.
Yeaaahh, you still felt it in your bones when you started your car the next morning. Even oversleeping wasn’t enough to stave off the effect.
You didn’t get to pick the color, but you definitely could do a lot worse. The two of you shared a birth year, but hey. Beggars can’t be choosers.
You pulled into the familiar parking lot of your high school and grimaced at the sight of that idiotic child abductor van. What an eyesore. You stared at it as you got out and couldn’t help but wonder what his parents thought.
You winced as the front door on the driver’s side was thrown open and nearly collided with the vehicle it was parked next to. Sheesh.
You turned and headed up the steps. You were not standing around to see whatever happened next. Your curious nosy nature notwithstanding, you’d much rather arrive to class ten minutes early over one minute late. And you were almost already a minute late.
To your surprise, another hand reached for the door right as you did. You looked over and nearly had a heart attack when you saw Greg’s stupid brother. How did he…?
You glanced towards the van to calculate the distance, then back at him.
Right. Longer legs. Life was so unfair at times.
Rodrick pulled the door open and gestured. “After you, mi’lady.”
“Uh. Thanks, Rodrick.” You walked inside warily, making sure you never fully turned your back.
Was this a power play, or did he seriously not recognize you?
He looked pleased you actually knew his name. “I’m always happy to help a lady out.” Rodrick gave you an awkward grin, hands in his pockets. (You could definitely see the family resemblance.)
Yeah, no, he seemed genuinely clueless.
Not that you had that much room to talk. You could barely keep track of the people who were in your grade, let alone those in the one above it. On the other hand, you were new, and as far as you knew, he had lived here his entire life.
Well, you supposed you were wearing makeup today. Spent some extra time on it, in fact. Quite the stark contrast to Rodrick, who honestly looked like he had slept in his van. Maybe he did.
Boys your age really were constantly lowering your expectations, it seems.
“I know this next part. You’re gonna ask me for my number,” Rodrick pulled out a flip phone and a slip of paper.
Wait. A flip phone??
You did a double-take. “Wait, what year is it right now?”
Rodrick came to a screeching halt. That was clearly not in the script in his head. “It’s… it’s, you know, retro hip.” He wilted slightly.
Yeah, I definitely believe that was your decision and not your parents’. NOT, you thought to youself.
The bell rang, nearly jolting you out of your skin. “Crap! Gotta go!”
“Wait!” Rodrick called out. “I didn’t catch your name.”
‘I didn't throw it,’ was your first thought. You turned and continued walking backwards away from him. Then, you lied. “Charlotte. Charlotte Tian.”