{ first day back / 5th January, 2005 / with Lizzy }
there’s no way that’s in not going there
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Rudy grinned the second Lizzy “hit him”, not because it hurt (it absolutely didn’t) but because it surprised him… in a good way. He looked down at where her knuckles had tapped his arm like something important just happened there. Like when the light hits something exactly right for a second and you think, huh. His smile softened for a short second before he pulled it back to casual, already responding in the only way his reflexes knew how. ”Oof,“ he groaned, placing a hand dramatically over the spot. ”Careful there, that was almost a full truck worth of power.“ He gave her a look, teasing but mixed with something warmer, before moving like he needed to shake off the impact, rolling his shoulder with exaggerated caution, like she might actually be dangerous. And god… part of him wished it had hurt. Because then maybe it would’ve distracted from the psychological trauma of that movie list she just gave him.
” I might have heard of one of those,“ he said eventually, surrendering with a hand raised halfway in mock defeat, after shaking his head and noticing her disappointment. He glanced at her, caught the way she was watching him, probably waiting to see if he’d roast the whole list and he grinned wider, unable to resist. ” Damn, you’re serious about these, huh? Respect. I didn’t realize I was talking to someone with… taste.“ He joked, putting more attention on the taste. The way he said taste was full of playful accusation, like she’d just confessed to being secretly bougie. He did notice the movement somewhere behind him. A subtle wave, one of his friends… Ben? Jason? Half raised his hands like yo, let’s go. Another one gave a look that said, dude, seriously? And Rudy saw them, registered it, but he didn’t flinch. Didn’t even shift his weight toward them, just gave a lazy, twofingered nod in acknowledgment and turned right back to Lizzy like they weren’t even there. Because, honestly, he wasn’t done here. Not even close.
When she mentioned she had English next, he didn’t miss a beat. ”Perfect.“ he said smoothly, already adjusting the strap of his backpack like he was heading that way anyway. ”I was gonna walk that way.“ It was a total lie. His next class was in the opposite direction but she didn’t need to know that. He figured he could take the long way, besides there were worse detours than walking next to someone who punched like a real cheerleader and was willing to talk about movies with him. Then her “inevitably going to be a thing” landed and for a second the way he smiles changed. It became less… performative? More quiet and soft and… maybe surprised by how much he liked hearing that. And for some reason he decided to let it go for now… Instead, he side eyed her, already raising his hands in defence. ”Okay.. So, wait.. 27 Dresses. You do know that isn’t a real movie, right?“ His tone was perfectly innocent, like he was breaking tragic news to her. ”It can’t be. Who names a movie that? Those other two.. okay, I can get behind that, but this?“ He glanced over in time to catch her scandalized face and immediately raised both palms, laughing. ” I’m kidding! I’m kidding. Sorrrry, I’m already regretting this walk“ He quickly added, his laughter only continuing. ”But okay. They’re all… romance, right?“ He raised an eyebrow, piecing it together with theatrical suspicion. ”That’s your thing, huh? You like watching people almost kiss for two hours and then cry in the rain?“
He nodded solemnly, overthinking his next words. Should he say it… or not. ” Alright. I’ll watch one. One.“ He pressed a finger in the air to emphasize the limit, but then looked genuinely thoughtful. ”But you’re gonna owe me a backup rec if I pick a bad one.“ A beat passed before he added, casually, ” But, uh… how am I supposed to let you know when I finish? Like, I can’t just stand outside your locker and yell about the ending of 27… 27 Dresses,“ he laughed at that title again, before shaking his head to compose himself. He slowed just slightly then, glancing her way as if something was forming mid-thought. ” I should probably…like, add you somewhere.“ He said it lightly, but the implication hung there, not entirely unserious. ”So I can give you a full report. Ratings, commentary, emotional damage score… You know, the works. Yeah.. I’ll do it when I get home, got nothing after school today…“ He mumbled those last words, stopping himself from yapping and oversharing.
And then, like it was the most natural thing in the world, Rudy threw his arm around her shoulder in that loose, familiar way, the kind of move that said I’m not even thinking about it, because he wasn’t. Personal space had never really occurred to him as a concept and she was warm.. and he liked this. He gave her shoulder a tiny, dramatic shake. ”Oh my god, wait. Are we starting a movie club?“ His voice dipped to that exaggerated register. ”This is so official… We need rules now.“
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