"Bro… I can't believe you're being so cool about this…"
'Dude… YOU were the one who said you didn't want to spend a minute of this week fighting…'
"That was BEFORE…"
'Before…'
"Before I found out she camped overnight in a motel with TOMMY" Twister seems to spit out the word.
'You think I'm any happier about that Chuck person being here? He's probably some math geek whose salivating at the thought of getting a girl like Cleo…'
"So… why aren't we protesting? Even I realize they'll be staying together while we've been banished… what if Tommy sneaks into Reg's room… with a VIDEO CAMERA??? He has all his film equipment…"
'With Raymundo around? Doubtful, dude… Listen the plan is for us to chill out, take the girls out on a nice night on the town, and the minute we see these kooks, we have a little man to man talk with them' Otto punches the palm of his hand with a cocky smile.
"Dude… you realize Reggie will kill us if we do anything to ruin her project… besides… they'll start giving us the business about how we don't trust them…"
'Bro… I trust Cleo a hundred percent… it's deprived math geeks I don't trust…'
"And I trust Reg too… it's not her fault she's so perfect that every guy in college probably wants to date her…"
'Dude… let's just make sure they have such an awesome time tonight, they don't even think about dumping us for those kooks…'
"Yeah… Tommy's probably a complete nerd anyway… according to Reg he's one of the top students in their class…"
'Yeah… and Chuck must be a much less cool version of the squid! Cleo mentioned he had red hair and glasses…'
As they begin to make themselves feel better by describing the likelihood of Chuck and Tommy having acne, premature balding, and beer guts, Otto's phone starts to ring.
Uptown girl… she's been living in her white bread world…
Ignoring Twister's raised eyebrow at his choice of ringtone, Otto answers.
'Babe… what's up…mmm hmmm… they want to what? But… we had plans! Well… I guess Twist and I could join you… No, we won't beat them up… Seriously babe… Yes… we'll play nice… OK we'll pick you guys up later…Bye babe…Come on… your cousin is here… I know Reg is there too but… fine…' 'Love you honey cupcake…' he adds softly before hanging up. His ears slightly burning, he looks up at his grinning friend.
'Not one word, Maurice'
"I didn't say anything… honey cupcake…" Twister chortles.
'Shut up'
"What'd she want…"
'Apparently Tommy and Chuck want to go clubbing tonight… and I told Cleo we were coming too…'
"B-but… didn't we have plans with the girls?"
'They feel bad ditching their friends who were soooo nice to come with them all the way here for spring break' Otto rolls his eyes, resisting the urge to punch the wall.
"Aw man… don't they realize we only get to see them for a week?" Twister does punch the wall, in sheer frustration. He winces as his fist makes contact, but opens his eyes in surprise when a familiar pair of soft hands grab his hurt fist.
"Reg?" His voice is barely a squeak as he registers his girlfriend, standing in front of him, wearing a pair of white shorts and a form fitting orange halter top, a smile on her face.
'Hello to you too' She leans up to give him a peck on the lips which he, in his excitement, begins to deepen, his arms encircling her waist, pulling her towards him.
'Dude… you DO NOT get to do that with my sister!!! No way!!!' Otto looks thoroughly disgusted as they break apart, flushing.
"Don't you have somewhere you need to be, O-man…" Twister is too frustrated to be affected by Otto's discomfort. Didn't the universe understand how much he had missed Reggie? And it didn't look like he was EVER going to get a chance to kiss her properly.
'Cleo's waiting for you down at our house… we thought since dinner was cancelled, it'd be nice to spend some alone time with our guys… although if you WANT to hang out with Twister and me, I'm sure Eddie would be glad to take her out…' Reggie grins mischievously at her brother.
'Keep it clean, dudes… I'm OUTTA here…' Otto practically runs out of casa Rodriguez, leaving his sister and his best friend alone, at last.
"You think we should go join them?" Twister sounds reluctant.
'We could… or we could just hang out here… I'm going to be traipsing around Ocean Shores all week with Tommy anyway…' Reggie replies, not noticing her boyfriend's grip around her tightening slightly.
"So… what do you want to do?"
'I think you know what I want to do…' Reggie looks up at him with a wink and a smile. Catching her drift, Twister starts to smile as well.
Twenty minutes later, the couple is sitting cross legged in front of Twister's tv screen.
'I kicked your butt AGAIN!!! Man Rodriguez, you've had the last two months to practice and you STILL get whipped!' Reggie crows. The competitive Rocket spirit has gotten the best of her as she begins to do a victory dance. Twister looks up at her with a smile.
"Did anyone ever tell you you're beautiful when you're celebrating kicking my butt?"
'Not in the last two months'
"Come here…" Twister pulls her down to his lap.
"Did anyone ever tell you you're beautiful in general?"
'Just everyone I've met since puberty…' Reggie snuggles against his chest, happy.
"I'll bet… Reg…"
'Yeah…'
"I love you…"
Blushing, Twister looks down at his silent girlfriend who suddenly leans up and kisses him full on the mouth. Pulling back, he looks at her.
'That means I love you too…'
They lean in for their first (real) kiss since her return. As he feels her lips on his and her arms around his neck, Twister almost forgets the last two long (lonely) months.
