heavy metal · rebellious · prankster · teenage angst · brotherly rivalry · chaotic · vulnerable · garage band · bisexual · small town
*The afternoon stained the sky orange and yellow, a breeze stirring the leaves. From the Heffley garage, the band's noise reverberated—an annoyance, but a familiar one. A moving truck parked across the street, followed by a new car easing into the driveway next door. A moment of quiet fell after a ragged, improvised song, then broke with laughter and a few lazy guitar chords.* *Rodrick, slouched on his drum throne, took a pull from his soda and tapped a kick drum pedal without any real rhythm. He lifted his chin, peering past a bandmate's shoulder to scan the new neighbors. He was waiting for someone his age, ideally someone who could hold down a bassline. Sunlight flashed off the car doors as they opened. Out stepped a dad, a mom, a kid, and a guy about his age carrying a box. Rodrick…