Chapter 1: Departure
It was dark. The only thing illuminating the wet concrete was two lights in the distance. They were far away, like eyes. The rain poured, and the only sound Rodrick could hear was the distant thunder. To his right, a street light flickered on, briefly illuminating the empty road, before plunging Rodrick back into darkness. He was alone. Alone with those two eyes, growing steadily larger, plunging through the rainy haze. He turned to his left and was startled by his own face, screaming, reaching toward him with one outstretched hand. He turned back to the eyes, which were massive, blocking out anything with their sheer light. A truck horn blared and Rodrick screamed. He shot up from his pillow, sweat beading across his face. Rodrick breathed deeply, relieved. Just another nightmare, he thought. He looked at his alarm clock.
3:30 AM.
"Ugh…" he grumbled. Four hours until he has to leave for college. His recent academic kick after the split of his band got him into the teeny weeny Harvard University, Idaho. Quite far from Plainview, Massachusetts, where he currently resides. Mom had packed the night before, with all his possessions fitting in a suitcase and his birthday present, a Yamaha DD-75, a portable digital drum set. He gets dressed, In his screen printed Lӧded Diper t-shirt, worn above a fishnet shirt, with black jeans and a vinyl checkerboard belt. He walked upstairs and into the kitchen to make something to eat. He was about to put the cheese covered plate into the oven for a few minutes when he saw a little box on the counter, wrapped with pink paper and a skull drawn crudely in sharpie on it. It was tied with a red bow. He turned the box around, and revealed the writing in sharpie on it:
"TO RODRICK FROM MANNY"
Rodrick's hands slowly fiddled with the bow, pulling the strings, causing it to collapse and untie. He peeled off the tape and unfolded the wrapping paper, in an uncharacteristically neat way. Inside was a small cardboard box, and a paper card addressed to him. Inside was a small chain necklace with the Lӧded Diper logo attached at the bottom. He opened the card. It was plain, with only the distinct handwriting of Susan Heffley, which he knew like his own, from half a decade of forging it.
"We wanted to give you something to take to college, and so we all pitched in. Even Manny donated! Your dad and I wish you the best for your new school! We know you're nervous, but we know you will do great! I love you.
-Mom"
Rodrick scoffed. Don't they know Lӧded Diper split up two months ago? His pessimism evaporated quickly, as it was a sweet gesture, and a badass necklace. He quickly returned to his cheese, however, as he realized it should have been finished roughly thirty seconds ago. He snatched it out of the oven and shut the oven off. He blew on the cheese, now fully melted, and grabbed a spoon. Rodrick retreated to his basement, slurping up melted cheese. He looked at the alarm clock again.
3:41 AM
Shit.
Rodrick finished his cheese and flung himself onto his bed. Staring at the ceiling until he couldn't hold his eyes open any longer. This slumber was awoken by a different blaring noise. The sound of heavy metal. His alarm clock had gone off ten minutes ago. Rodrick grumbled and slowly raised his right arm to hit the snooze button. He then remembered, and sat straight up. He unplugged the clock and rushed upstairs. His father, mother, and little brother, Manny, were all eating breakfast together, waiting for him. His suitcase and drums were right next to the front door. His father was taking him to the airport today. Rodrick snatched a piece of toast off of Manny's plate, and went to put on his new necklace as the child opened its mouth to let loose a terrible screech.
"Manny!" Susan scolded, and the five year old was silenced.
Rodrick, through a toast filled mouth, inquired, "Where's my makeup?" to which his mother replied;
"I packed it already." A concise interaction.
Rodrick decided to prepare himself for the trip. His toiletries were in the suitcase, but it wasn't like he really needed them right now. His hygiene was spotty, to say the least. Rodrick returned to the basement, grabbed his wallet, his phone, and took one look around his room. Thank god I'm leaving this place, he thought, and left. He and his father packed Rodrick's luggage into the car. When they were finished, Manny and Susan were outside of the house. They hugged and said their goodbyes. Rodrick waved as Frank drove him out of the driveway, and onto the street and up the steep hill that is Surrey Street. Rodrick could barely believe it. This is it. He's going to college.
