Twister waited outside the Rocket household with his surf board on the back of his bike. He was feeling slightly hyperactive. He had a ton of energy coursing through his veins, probably because he was nervous. He was planning on completely unloading his thoughts on Otto. He convinced himself to expect the worst from him. He won't take back anything he says no matter how Otto reacts like. This was about him and Reggie and for once not about Otto and only Otto..
A few minutes passed until Otto finally showed up riding his bike out of the garage with his surfboard hitched onto the back of it.
"Alright, Let's get going." Otto said as he rode past Twister, starting down the street towards the boardwalk and beach. Twister drew a quick, deep breath before following behind him.
Reggie woke up after she was sure Otto was gone for the morning. She felt strangely better, for the most part. She still had a little bit of pain at the small of her back but other then that, she felt back to normal. She still wasn't sleeping normally though, which bugged her.. She was hoping that since her secret got out (at least to her step-mother..) she would be able to sleep a little easier.. Not the case..
After a reasonable shower and some well needed journal time, she packed up her laptop and walked over to Sammy's house and let herself in like she usually does. Sammy was in the kitchen when she walked in. He smiled at her before swallowing the last of his breakfast.
"Hey Reg!" Sammy said kindly. "Ready to get cracking?"
"Totally! But I need some advice before Twist gets here.. Since he shouldn't be here for at least an hour or two.."
"Oh.. Okay, sure. Let's set up really quick and we can talk.."
"Okay.. great.." Reggie said almost nervously. She hoped Twister wouldn't show up early. Reggie followed Sammy to his room and unpacked her laptop and plugged it up to the printer. They usually printed in the garage but recently they started using Sammy's newer color printer instead of the older model she had.
"So.. What's up?" Sammy asked with interest. Reggie sighed heavily as she sat down at the desk next to him. He waited patiently as she slowly started forming the story in her mind.
"Um.. okay.. Bottom line is.. I think I.. might have a thing for Twister.. I am not sure when all this started but he is the reason I am beefing so often... It's weird.. and I don't know what to do with this..." Reggie said keeping her gaze to the floor but he glanced at Sammy who surprisingly had a wide smirk on his face. "What?"
"It's just.. I already knew all this.. You are completely obvious and you have been for months. Twister is worse. He is not trying to hide anything.." Sammy said with amusement. "So you're just realizing it or are you letting go of your denial.. Finally?"
"Umm. What?" Reggie asked after she had registered what her best friend had just said.. It was like the talk with her stepmother all over again. "What do you mean by Twister is worse?"
"He likes you." Sammy said matter of factually.
"No...I don't think so. No... Do you think..?" Reggie said numbly.
Sammy grinned wider and shook his head at her. "I don't think.. I know for a fact he has feelings for you.. I have known for sure for about a year and half after carefully watching his mannerisms around you. To tell you the truth, Reg.. I don't think he has even realized he likes you yet.. How that is, I have no clue but with Twister.. anything is possible I suppose.. He is Twister."
Reggie just stared at Sammy after he stopped explaining. She didn't know how to respond to him. She was essentially speechless.. again. She should be happy that Twister likes her too.. But how could she know for sure other then asking him.. That would be mortifying.
"So are you just realizing this?" Sammy asked as he pushed his glasses up his nose before waking up his computer.
"I don't know.. I guess.. I mean I have things like this saved in my journal for like a month straight. I can't really sleep well.. Which sucks since school starts up after this month." Reggie said as she pulled up the Zine's file that Sammy emailed her last night. She mindlessly started arranging pictures next to the articles. "I'm just kind of.. confused.. and almost scared.."
"That's normal." Sammy said dismissively.
"I get that!" Reggie exclaimed before Sammy started editing articles. "That doesn't make it any better though.."
"Look.. Things aren't going to get better until you confront this head on." Sammy said fluidly. "He really does like you. Remember after you dumped that last one you had-"
"-David.."
"Yeah, him... You know I don't like mentioning him..." Sammy said uncomfortably. "Well Twister cornered him and told him if he saw him around you ever again, then he would use him for target practice. He said it so calmly too, it was kind of scary. I never saw Twister as an intimidating person until that day."
"I always thought that was because I was like a sister to him or something of that nature..."
"Nah.. That's why you have me.." Sammy joked with a grin. Reggie just rolled her eyes at him. She knew full well that wasn't the case during the first semester of their freshman year. Sammy actually told her that he had a crush on her. Sadly, She had to tell him that he was like a brother to her. She just couldn't see dating him at all. Good thing it didn't change anything between them. He was her best friend next to Trish and Sherry. Well now a days, He is more of a best friend then the both of them put together.. It was kind of sad. She did know that Sammy now had eyes for Sherry now but she hasn't been around much this summer. They had a girls night before school ended and that was the last time they were in the same place together, Trish was surfing and playing for the beach volleyball team this summer and Sherry was working at the new burger bar at the other end of the beach all summer.
"Well, When I get the courage to confront him about this.. I will let you know weather your right or not."
"Oh, I'm right." Sammy said knowingly. "You'll see."
After they parked their bikes in the back of the shack, they instantly went down to the beach and saw that it was surprisingly spacious. For an hour, Twister mostly watched Otto surf a few small waves. The ocean was mostly flat this morning. He left his camera back in his room and he was kind of wishing he had it with him so he doesn't have to look at Otto.
"Okay, dude. Spit it out.." Otto said after they floated in silence for a few minutes. Twister attempted to look at him with a confused look.
"What are you talking about?" Twister asked. He sounded weird to himself. He should just say it.
"Twist, I know you. You didn't catch a single wave here.. You have something to say.. so spill." Otto said, sending him a splash to the face. Twister grinned at the playful notion and he wiped the salt water off his face. His grin totally faded within a second, Otto's face fell as well. "Twist..? Seriously.. What's up?" Now was the moment, apparently.
"Um.. Otto-man.." Twister started but his voice got caught in his throat the second he looked his best friend in the face. The cleared his throat and started to form his confession before he received another yet harsher splash of water to the face. Otto looked serious, He wasn't playing. Twister gazed down at his hands. "Okay! The thing is... I think.. I am starting to get feelings for Reggie.."
When Twister dared to look up at the awkwardly silent Otto in front of him, He was just staring at him behind those dark sunglasses in a blank gaze. "Um. No-wai-what?"
"I said.." Twister started quietly again but Otto held up a hand out in front of him to stop him from speaking.
"Don't. Answer..." Otto muttered. Otto ran a hand through his dreadlocks and turned his board around and paddled himself to the shore away from Twister. This confused him but he instantly followed Otto. When he reached land, Otto had thrown his board a few feet away from him and he was pacing the sand with his hands on top of his head.. He almost looked deranged.
"Otto-man." Twister called out feeling desperate. Otto turned around to face him and sighed before slowly walking towards him.
"Twister... I already had a clue but you had to tell me like this?"
"I didn't know what else to do, But I needed to tell you. We could always talk in the ocean, dude.." Twister said as he stuck his board in the sand. His inside were twitching with nervousness. He didn't anticipate this mixed reaction at all.
"Okay.. Let's just.. go get something to eat.. The surf is flat anyway." He muttered before grabbing his board from the ground and walked towards the shack. Twister grabbed his board and ran to catch up to his best friend. When the pair parked their boards on their bikes they took a seat at the bar like usual but Otto was completely silent. Sure Twister felt better now that it was all out in the open.. but Otto not talking was just plain weird. Tito smiled at the pair in front of him and then slowly frowned at the quietness.
"What's up little cuzzes?" Tito asked in concern.
"Nothing really... I'll take a basket of fries, please." Otto said in a bleak tone.
"Ooookay. And you twisted brudda?" Tito asked looking towards Twister. At the moment, Twister couldn't feel his stomach. He was numbed with slight fear.
"Uhh.." Twister muttered thoughtfully. "I-I will just.. I'm not hungry, Tito.. Thanks.."
"Not hungry?" Tito asked, stunned. Twister just shook his head and placed his forehead on the table in front of him. He closed his eyes as he listened to the fries sizzle in the searing oil. "Okay. You both look as though surfing got banned from ocean shores... How about I treat you two to one of my famous banana-pineapple pick-me-up smoothies?"
Twister just sighed and Otto said nothing. Twister picked his head up and leaned it in his hand as the blender roared lively. Tito soon placed two coconut cups in front of the two of them and filled them with the thick, frothy, bright yellow mixture.. topped with tiny umbrellas and straws. Twister slowly took the cup in front of him and stirred the straw a bit. When Tito presented Otto his fries he left the bar and went to the backroom.
"Come on, O-man. Talk to me!" Twister begged.
"Nothing to talk about." Otto said glancing over at him. "You like my sister. So what?"
"Your obviously bothered by it.." Twister muttered before taking a sip of the super sweet smoothie.
"Yeah. I am. How can I not be?" Otto said raising his voice a little. "She is my sister, and.. and You.. you are my best bro, dude."
"I know that... But how do you feel about it?"
"I dunno, dude... Rather you than.. David... I just.. What if things don't work out?! Everything will be messed up. We've all been friends for.. like ever!" Otto exclaimed. "It could destroy everything.. but if this lasts then I guess it wouldn't be that bad... I'm torn, okay?"
"It's not like I'm going to ask her out anytime soon, Rocket Boy.." Twister muttered. He felt his face heat up at the thought of being rejected by Reggie. "I don't know if she.. uh.. likes me like that.. y'know.." Otto thought silently as he sipped the smoothie. "What if.. she like.. turns me down..I've never tried asking a girl out! She probably only likes me as a friend or something.."
"I'm not going to pretend that I would probably like that to happen... but I can understand, Twist.. I have faced that type situation loads of times.."
"..Really.." Twister said mindlessly as he contemplated on how things would go if he decided to ask Reggie out. What if she laughs at him? Oh that would be the worst.. but she is an understanding person.. she wouldn't do that.. If Otto was talking, he couldn't hear.. He was just picturing his worst fear happening... Twister cringed as his stomach flipped several times. Oh, the embarrassment... He wouldn't be able to live it down... At least Otto didn't seem like he was going to whomp him into oblivion...
"You can do it, Twist... But truth be told, dude..." Otto said as he gripped Twister by the shoulders pulling his attention to him. "If you ever...EVER... hurt her.. in anyway.. consider yourself targeted to be demolished. Whomping doesn't even scrape the surface as to what I would do to you. Just because you're my best bro does not give you a free pass..."
Twister felt his throat dry up in fear. "I-I would never hurt Reg.. I can't even think of it... I just want her to be happy. And safe.. I care about her too much to even consider-"
"Good. Keep it that way." Otto said shortly, roughly letting go of his shoulders to return to his food. Twister felt his heart race but he was pretty confident about the fact that he couldn't hurt her even if he tried... even though he wouldn't want to try.. Fact of the matter was, it was impossible for him to hurt her. He just wanted to be kind to her. Show her that there are guys out there that would treat her right. He was going to be the one to do that, if she would have him.. He hoped she would..
After Otto finished his lunch, Twister decided it was time to head over to Sammy's house to help (or watch) finish the Zine. The two of them rode back to the cul-de-sac to quickly change. Twister was soon knocking on Sammy's front door. Thankfully Sammy answered the door.
"Good timing, Twist." Sammy said as he let him inside and straight to his room. "We were just talking about you."
"You.. were?" Twister asked as he walked into the bedroom and sat himself at the end of his bed. Reggie was taking up half of the Squid's desk with her laptop. She didn't bother noticing Twister as he came in. Great, what did he do now? "What about..?"
"Oh, nothing too bad.." Sammy said as he nudged Reggie before taking his seat in front of his computer. Reggie didn't do anything, from what Twister could see. She had her back to him.
"O..Kay? ..So how far are you in the Zine?" Twister asked wearily.
"We are almost done." Sammy said calmly. "I just need to do one thing... Say Cheese, Twist."
"Cheese twist?" Twister asked Sammy before he heard a clicking sound come from Sammy's computer. "Wait, what?"
Sammy laughed as he looked at the picture he just took. "That's great, Twister. Thanks."
"What?" Twister asked as he got up and looked over the Squid's shoulder. He saw a picture of him looking clueless, like usual.
"Chill. It's for the credits. You did help out with about three articles. It's only fair." Sammy said. Reggie giggled, making Twister feel his face heat up once again today. He just quietly went back to his original spot. In a matter of ten minutes, the zine was approved for printing.
"Finally." Reggie sighed before turning towards Twister. She gave him a small smile, making him smile back in return.
"How are you feeling today, Reg?" Twister asked awkwardly.
"I'm much better. I just have a little bit of a back pain. Pretty good for three days, huh?" Reggie said calmly. "Thank you for helping me and keeping me company, Twist."
"Uhm... No problamo, Rocket Girl. Anything for you, really." Twister said quickly with a goofy strained smile. He felt that weird melty feeling again. He sounded foolish to himself, what the hell was he thinking. 'anything for you!' He couldn't sound more obvious! why did he have to be so stupid... Reggie just smiled at him before turning back around to her laptop. She was probably thinking about how spazzy he is being all of a sudden.
"Yeah, You were a big help with the Zine, Twist." Sammy added nicely as copies kept coming out of the large printer. "We wouldn't have gotten it done without you."
"No problamo, Squid-man." Twister repeated easily. Sammy gave Reggie a 'look' of some sort. Twister instantly felt a jealous twinge. What was that? Sammy has something for Reg? No, he can't..
"Ready to study up for the SAT's?" Reggie asked happily.
"Ready when you are." Sammy said simply.
"I can try it... To help you, I mean.." Twister said.
"Let's take a break for a little bit then pick it up in about five minutes?" Reggie asked.
"Whatever you want, Rocket Girl." Sammy said as he got up. "I'm going to get some soda.. Want anything?"
"Umm Surprise me." Reggie said shooting Sammy a smile.
"You got it... Twister?" Sammy asked. Twister just shook his head. "Okay then, I'll be back. Reggie opened a thick looking book and started grazing it for tips.
Twister stared at her for a second before getting up himself. "I'll be back." He made his way into the kitchen where Sammy was preparing cups of regular soda.
"Reg prefers anything with a cherry flavor in it." Twister said softly. Sammy turned around in slight surprise before giving him a small smile.
"Way ahead of you." Sammy said as he held up a cherry infused pepsi product for Twister to see but he ignored it.
"Do you like her?" Twister asked quietly as Sammy picked up the tray of soda. Sammy's eyes grew wide but he grinned at Twister in response.
"Why? ..Do you?" Sammy asked just as quietly.
"Don't toy with me, Squid.. I asked you first.." Twister replied uncomfortably. "I see those looks you give her.."
"Don't worry.. Reggie is like a sister to me.." Sammy said normally "Come on, lets go before she studies the whole book herself.. We won't be of much help if she does that."
Why did he do that? Now Squid knows.. He was such a psycho spaz! Twister returned to his place in Sammy's room, Reggie was flipping through the gigantic study book. "Wait for us, will you Reg?" Twister asked.
Reggie just smiled at him and rolled her eyes, "I'm just gathering testing tips from the sidebars here. I really want a high score on my first go at this.. I need to get into a good school."
"You will. Don't worry, Reggie. You got this. Your great with tests!" Sammy said as he gave her a tall glass of soda, which she sipped idly.
"Mmm Cherry Cola... You know me well, Sammy." Reggie said with a smile.
"Twister suggested it." Sammy said calmly. Twister felt his face and neck heat up at the mention, especially since he had to question the Squid. Stupid.. He was so stupid... Today was a total off day for him.. The three of them started studying, passing the book around every five questions or so. Twister didn't need this yet but he felt good about helping his friends out. He wasn't the best studier but if the questions were there to read then it was easy for him to test them. They spent about an hour and a half doing that until they called it a day. Twister opted out early to go home.. He had to think some more about all of this. He hadn't considered college and how that would change things... He totally forgot it. It shouldn't matter much.. but it's a scary thought though. Twister made sure Reggie was okay to walk home before he left. She did heal very quickly. When he walked through the front door, Lars was in the living room but he didn't try anything. He just stared at him as Twister avoided him.
"Your acting weird, Twister." Lars spoke up when he was half way up the staircase. "Is everything okay in the Dork kingdom?"
That's a weird way to approach some one.. "Everything is okay.. For the most part.. Why are you concerned?"
"Your my little bro.. duh.." Lars said as he got up and followed him up the stairs and into his room. "I know when something is up with you. And something is definitely up with you.. so spit it out."
"Why? So you could throw it in my face when you joke with me?" Twister asked coldly.
Lars snorted, "If you don't wanna talk then fine. Be that way. I'm offering to help you out and you go and pull that crap."
Twister sighed loudly as his mind screamed in confusion while he plopped himself on his bed, "No. Fine. Get in here.. but no one hears about this! No one!" Lars grinned at him as he walked in his room and shut the door behind him and sat himself on the floor beside the bed. Twister reluctantly told the entire story up until today, when he finished Lars was quiet. Lars. Quiet. Yeah, that's a good one. Twister stared his older brother down until he drew a deep breath. Lars wasn't laughing but he was completely serious.
"You got it bad, little bro.." Lars said finally.
"Tell me something I don't know..." Twister muttered.
"So you haven't talked to princess dork about this?" Lars asked seriously. Twister sighed and shook his head.
"Let me guess.. I have to talk to her about it..." Twister asked.
"It is the only answer. Believe it or not, dude. OR. You could always hold it in until it eats you alive." Lars said simply. "Hormones are vicious. That is for sure."
"So I've been told." Twister muttered again.
"Just grow a pair and go talk to her. The sooner the better. It's not like she is going to eat your soul or anything like that. She's a Rocket dork, that's about it."
"I thought I didn't have a soul." Twister said in a smart tone. "You've told me plenty of times. I'm a ginger."
"Yes, Yes you are." Lars said with a laugh. "But seriously... the worst she can do is reject you. If that happens, then you just pick yourself up and move on. It' a slow process but eventually you move on to where you're meant to be... So mom says anyway."
"Mom?" Twister asked. "You listen to her?"
"Sometimes." Lars admitted before getting up from the floor. "That is all the advice I have to offer... I have a movie to go to so.." Lars jumped at Twister and pulled him into a sudden headlock. "See you at dinner, Wittle Maurice!" Lars let his head go and left his room in a hurry.
"Stop Calling me that!" Twister yelled after his older brother but He sighed when he heard the front door slam shut. At least he didn't have to worry about Lars for at least an hour or so... Twister sprawled out on his bed and enjoyed the silence of his room. Not to be bothered until seven thirty that evening.
One of these days, He will be able to go to Reggie with this.. Might not be today or tomorrow but he will eventually confront this head on. He has talked to everyone else but her.. and she is the one that needs to know! At least Otto didn't kill him.. He was thankful for that.
"Maurice!" He heard his mother call from the bottom of the staircase. "Mi hijo, You have company!"
"I do..?" Twister asked himself. He didn't remember asking anyone to come over.. Reluctantly, He got up from his thinking and when downstairs to see who was here. At the door, He saw his mother chit-chatting with Reggie...
"Hey Twist!" She said nicely. Twister felt a lump form in the back of his throat. What was she doing here and not in bed..?