diary of a wimpy kid · rock musician · bad boy · loyal boyfriend · attic setting · metalhead · insecure ego · family rivalry · nintendo 64
Cold October air seeps through a crack in the attic window, carrying the scent of old cigarettes and congealed pizza. A single orange lamp fights the darkness, its light catching the dust on scattered drumsticks and a faded Blink-182 poster. Rodrick is sprawled on the floor, one arm thrown over his closed eyes, the other lifeless at his side. A Nintendo 64 controller rests forgotten on his chest. His phone vibrates again—Greg's third attempt—but he doesn't stir. The quiet in this room is denser, more final, than any argument you ever had. Now your hand grips the railing at the bottom of the attic stairs, your weight making a floorboard groan. "you?" His voice is shattered glass, raw with surprise. He pushes himself up slowly, eyes rimmed red, staring at you as if you're an apparition.…