pairing: (boyfriend) rodrick heffley x (girlfriend!artist) female reader
summary: you got accepted into you dream school but that would mean you'd have to study abroad.
warning: college au, slight angst, and not proofread
word count: 1.7k
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Pancake batter gorgeously sizzles in an evenly oiled pan as it expands into a rich gold complexion. The delicious smell of breakfast was intoxicating, it permeated the entire dining room. Soon after each pancake was done cooking, syrup was masterfully drizzled on top with fruits added on top later. A soothing hum of leisure bounced off the kitchen walls, spreading the love all around the house. As your mom was ready to pour another mix of batter into the pan, she couldn’t help notice the excited footsteps zooming down the stairs. “Good morning, Mom!?” Your sister cheered as she ran to her seat, unable to contain her excitement any longer. Your mom chuckles, “Good morning to you too, Sweetheart! Did you have any sweet dreams?” She gives your mom a toothy smile while enthusiastically nodding till her head would probably fall off. Goodness was your mom in for a long wild story about how your younger sister was busy chasing after a unicorn while she rode on her narwhal. Laughter echoed in the room as the story continued onward. Your dad soon entered to find a big breakfast waiting to be dug into. “Damn! Now that’s what I’m talking about?!” He quickly walked up to your mom to lay a grateful kiss at her temple.
As for you, well you were still dead asleep. Plus who’d wake up this early on a saturday morning? Your parents didn’t want to disturb you too much after the brutal semester you had in your senior year of high school. That was a whole journey to hell. A lot of tears were shed, plenty of moments of self doubt, the start of developing unhealthy coping habits, some blood was even shed for your art projects, and others things to add on top of those things. As for now, you just want to enjoy the start of your summer vacation in bed without interruptions. But that wouldn’t be possible when you hear a heavy fist pounding against your bedroom door. “Y/N! Y/N! Y/N!! WAKE UP!” Your mom spouted out joyously. Groggy and annoyed, you begrudgingly got up but not before throwing your blanket over your shoulders. “This better be–...” You didn’t get a chance to finish your sentence before a letter was shoved into your hands. “Come on, open it! Open it!” Your younger sister chanted.
Looking down, your eyes widened. Your hands were shaking, literally shaking. Holding your breath, you ripped the seal off the envelope and read the first line. And that’s all you needed to read. You stayed quiet for a moment, still unable to fathom your reality. “Well?...” Your dad asked nervously. “I got accepted…” The way you said it was so calm but internally, you're screaming your head off. Jaws dropped to the ground. “OH MY GOD!” Your mom started to cry as she hugged you tightly. “I’m so proud of you, Honey!” Your dad joined in on the hugging session. “I knew you could do it, Big sis!” Your younger sister hopped around the three of you. You couldn’t help shedding a few tears yourself, you’ve come a long way for this moment to happen. But as happy as you were, you felt a weight drop onto your shoulder. “Say ummm Mom, do you mind if I go to the Heffley’s for dinner? You know... to break the news?”
Who was she to deny you of a simple request? “Go for it! My goodness! I can’t wait to tell everyone!” She continues to gleefully ramble on with your dad and sister by her side to join in on the fun. However, you stand there contemplating your life choices. “What am I going to do?”
Night was fastly approaching and you were quite literally shoved out the front door by your mom who couldn’t wait for Mrs.Heffley to get this scoop of news. “Let me know how it goes! Remember, we’re so proud of you, Y/N. LOVE YOU” Your mom said only to fix your hair before letting you go your merry way down two blocks. “Love you too!”
With a single ring, the door opened and Mrs.Heffley’s arms opened immediately. “Y/N! What a surprise! What are you doing here? Oh not that it matters, come, come, we’re having dinner.” Her grip on your wrist never let up until she guided you to their dining room. The room went silent. Rodrick stopped fooling around with Greg and quickly fixed how he looked. Mr. Heffley seemed tense on the sudden visit. “Y/N? Is something wrong?” Mr.Heffley spoke with an anxious laugh, wondering if you finally decided that Rodrick was not the one for you. “Ummm no, I’m fine.” You gave a polite smile but you’re not fooling anyone. Especially Rodrick.
“Stop it all of you! She’s here to have dinner with us, now come on, move!” She rapidly ordered as Rodrick fetched a chair for you to sit next to him. For the rest of the night, you felt their gaze bounce around you. This was getting unbearable. Rodrick was staring at you, whether he was doing it consciously or unconsciously he sure made it noticeable. You don’t even know how to break the news with this kind of pressure. “Mom, I need a moment to talk to Y/N.” She nods, as she can sense how uneasy you’ve been the entire dinner. “Come.” You held his hand as he brought you up to safety in his room. “Alright, spill the beans. What’s going on?”
You couldn’t look at him, not now. You’d rather look anywhere but into his eyes. “Babe?” His voice was gentle, encouraging you to confess your worries. Still you wouldn’t crack. Stressed, he made you sit on his bed as he kneels down in front of you. His arms protectively wrap around your waist as he rests his head on your lap. “Is it something I did? Did I do something wrong? I’m sorry...I am, really. Please don’t leave me.” You’re at your breaking point, you shook your head as you gave him a sorrowful look. “Rodrick...I…” Now his anxiety has peaked. You never call him by his name unless it’s something extremely serious. He waited, but he didn’t know if he could wait for long. “I was accepted into the university.” His heart sank. He didn’t know how to feel. He was proud and beyond happy but utterly devastated. “Great! Uh did you umm accept the offer?” He asked hesitantly.
You shook your head, “Not yet, I don’t know if I should.” You held your head in shame, shame that shouldn’t exist, not after all that you put yourself through. “WHAT?! NO! You have to accept it.” He was adamant about it. “But, but that means I wouldn’t be able to see you…” Those words hurt, it crushed his heart but it’s the truth. “I’d be on a whole different continent than you.” Again, the truth hurts. “Y/N, I love you, I support you, and I’ll respect your choice. Put yourself first, dummy.” He leans in for a kiss before resting his head back onto your lap. “You worked so hard, why throw all that hard work away?”
“Because I don’t want to leave you.” His arms slightly wrap a little tighter around you. “Well I was hoping to save it for our anniversary but I guess now would be a better time than ever to give it to you.” He slowly got up to move to his closet, in which he pulled out a small box. “Here, open it.”
You pulled the cover off the box to be surprised by a heart locket, opening it shows a memorable picture of the first time you two kissed and next to it was a goofy selfie of you two making faces. “It’s not much but I hope you—...” You got up to pull him into a kiss. “I love it.” He was relieved.
Right as he moves closer to interlock your lips once more, you hear a gasp. “I– uh I didn’t see anything!” Greg shouted as he ran down the stairs. Flustered, you hid your face into Rodrick’s chest. “He’s so dead.” He grumbled as he heard your muffled laugh. “What?” He playfully questioned as he tilted your chin up.
“Now I think we were in the middle of something?” His brow rose as you felt his love pouring into your core. “I love you, forever and always.” He spoke softly, arms wrapped around you securely. Unbeknownst to you and your boyfriend who was having a sentimental moment, the rest of his family was cheering in bliss. “That’s my boy!” Mr.Heffley thought as he hyped himself up. “They grow up so fast!” Mrs. Heffley rejoiced in silence but her thoughts then wandered off fast. “WAIT?! Maybe I should bring the topic up about protection, ooh I should take note of that.” She made herself a mental note. As for Greg, he’s just there and happy for his big brother. Even after all that Rodrick’s done, he can’t help but be happy for him. They all enjoyed the sight until they snapped out of their thoughts. “How long have you all been standing there?!” Rodrick annoyedly asked, though mostly embarrassed.
“Not long, come on guys let’s go.” Mr.Heffley responded rapidly as he shuffled everyone downstairs. “Hey, at least they're happy for us.” You tried bringing the mood back up as he smirks at you. “Not as happy as me, now say, a-are you able to stay the night?”
“Of course…” You walk over to his bed to lay down as you turn to your side, waiting for him. He wasn’t one to waste time, not around you. “But I wish I can stay forever…” You said to yourself but Rodrick heard that.
“I’m going to marry you, just you wait!” You gave him a pointed stare, moving closer to rest your head on his arm, “Take me out for dinner and then we can get talking about the wedding.” Chuckling erupted at the same time without fail.
After tiring yourselves out, Rodrick stays awake a little longer, unable to take his eyes off of you. “I love you, don’t forget about me when you leave. Okay?” You grumbled something but he’ll gladly take that as an answer. Carefully, he pulled the covers over the two of you so you get to rest in peace, in the arms of your sweet and very obnoxious boyfriend. “Goodnight, Babe.”
