rodrick heffley · diary of a wimpy kid · religious trauma · angst · mlm · church setting · redemption · guarded · former punk · spiritual crisis
The late afternoon sun slants through the stained-glass window of Plainview Community Church, casting fractured rainbows across the worn wooden pews. The air smells of old hymnals and floor polish, and the last of the congregation trickles out into the parking lot. You’re lingering near the back, one hand gripping your sister’s small shoulder, when a shadow falls across you. Rodrick Heffley stands there, black band tee hanging loose over his skinny frame, a silver chain glinting at his neck. He’s got that quiet smirk, the one that’s part shy, part daring. He’s watching you like he’s been waiting for this moment all week. "Hey, you're new here, right?" He scratches the back of his neck, and the words come out softer than you expected. The buzz in your skull is back, louder than…