The next morning I get up early and went to look around getting a view of
the area. New Zealand was different then Ocean Shores there were all these
birds and flowers and things, gross, there weren't cars or boats or planes
just some buses. I felt like I was in some fair tale world I didn't like
it. It made me feel small and weak I don't know why. There were a lot of
trees and I like places like the ocean and the ocean was not in viewing
distance. Eventually I made my way back to Twister, Otto, Reggie, and Sam
who were eating breakfast I sat down next to Twister, but not for long.
"Look who it is Rodriguez trash." I didn't have to turn around for this
one I knew that voice anywhere.
"Lay off Meyer," Twister defends me, Jeff my stupid cousin on my mothers' side. I stand up and turn around sizing him up he was still shorter then me. My advantage, "Can't you tell Lars isn't in the mood?"
"Awe that's sweet Maurice sticking up for your brother," he says patting Twister's head.
"Don't touch him," I snap glaring Twister was my brother. "You'll lay off my brother."
"Yeah I have some one lamer to push around, and he's you," Jeff says I glare, Otto, Reggie, and Sam snicker I knew they were just eating up the fact that my cousin was dissing me.
"Just get ready to lose this one," I say.
"I'm not worried about losing to you, you're a runner up, second string, a bench warmer," he says Otto, Reggie, and Sam laugh I knew Twister would have, but he was use to this.
I didn't like not having back up Pi and Sputz always backed me up but these guys they weren't my team. They weren't my friends. I guess all my mean things I had done to them had got to them. I wasn't sure what to do or say I couldn't think straight but one of the coordinators blew their whistle and said that the rafting would start as soon as they got to the cave and to get on our buses. I made sure I was on a different bus then Jeff but that made me on a separate bus from my team but I didn't care about them they didn't care about me. Bad move on my part, by the time I got there Jeff had already chummed his way in with them. I guess they all had something in common they didn't like me. It didn't matter. I was only here because of my brother.
"That's so cool," Twister says, "Do you really do that, Jeff?"
"Yeah sure I do Twist and if you want you can come down and I'll show you, like we could be brothers," he grins Urggh what a jerk. He steals my brother, my flesh, my blood, I couldn't believe this Twister the reason I was here, but he wouldn't go for it. Would he?
"Like a brother?" Twister says his eyes gleaming.
"Yeah, bro," he puts his arm around Twister. That made me so mad Twister was mine and he had taken him. I guess I deserved it I wasn't really a brother towards Twister. Its not that I didn't like him it's just I couldn't show him that I liked him. I had tried, to be his friend and Otto got in the way but I didn't blame Otto. Twister and I were just not meet to be friends.
"Lars," Otto says looking at me, "Will you help?"
I walk over and look at the rafts what did he want me to do I clipped the ropes together so the rafts were connected and looked at him, "Lars," Reggie says, "Where are you going to sit?"
"Huh?" I say.
"See we put Otto in the back because he's our strength and Sam in the front because he's our guide but you're strong and you are smart so choose, we'll sit around you," She says, I shake my head.
"No way, you choose then I'll sit some where," I say.
Twister calls from the shore, "I'm going to watch with Ray and Tito, later," he looks disappointed that he isn't going but I couldn't worry about him. Reggie and Sam had taken their spots with Sam in the front and Reggie right behind.
"Ok Twist," Otto says jumping in the back, leaving me in-between the Rockets. What luck! They were supposed to be my rivals. Now was I not only on their team I had to sit in-between them but I do anyway. At least I was close to Reg; "Ok we have to get a great start. So that we have a good lead in the races, so paddle Lars."
I look back at him as we head into the cave there are a bunch of dangling glow worms it would have been pretty cool if I wasn't busy paddling, "Hey Otto maybe we should bring some of these to Twister I'm sure he misses seeing them." Sam says and they all laugh I wasn't sure why but it didn't matter.
"See you at the finish line cousin," Jeff says with his team. "See you later Reggie."
I could tell Reggie was blushing I couldn't believe this Jeff was after Reggie, the girl I liked, and the girl that Twister was secretly dating, "Yeah I'll be waiting." I say as we head into separate tunnels of the cave.
"Come on guys just a little further," Sam tells us, I wasn't sure what he was talking about. We had just barely gotten in the cave and we were almost out? "Hold on tight!" He says as we begin to speed up. This was sort of cool the speed was so cool it was like a cool water slide.
Then we started going thorough all these turns and tosses I was sure I heard something rip then I knew what it was the rope that connected Sam and Reggie's rafts had snapped and without us to slow him down his raft was sliding further ahead.
"Oh man Squid," Otto says as we get closer to a fork, "What if we get separated?"
I could tell they were too panicky to think so I was the one who had to think quickly I turned around and unhooked my raft and while I was still holding onto the hook I unhooked Reggie's and then hooked there's together, "What are you doing Lars?" Reggie says as they fall behind me and I paddle faster to catch up with Sam.
"Squid," I say, "Look out." He must be an idiot because all he did was look at me luckily for him I grabbed him with my paddle, I guess I sort of hit him with the paddle, but it kept him from going splat on the wall. "Sam, just follow me," I say since we were already way ahead of Reggie and Otto. Sam was freaking out that they wouldn't make it, "Look we can't worry about them we have to get out of here," I say clipping my raft on to his. We eventually make it out of there in one piece and paddled towards these huge poles.
"We have to get the rafts on the poles Lars," Sam says pointing to one.
"But the Rockets," I say.
"Like you said they'll be here," Sam says, "Its going to be hard to get them up there with just the two of us."
I see that he's looking at the poles, trying to find away up and I roll my eyes, "Why don't you just climb it?"
"Climb?" He asks.
"Uh yeah..." but before I can explain Reggie and Otto run up with Jeff and his team right behind him.
Reggie nearly hugs Sam; "I'm so glad your ok."
"Yeah enough talk we have competition," he points out.
"Hold still Lars," Otto says climbing on top of me, right then, if he had done this for any other reason I would have womped him, but all I cared about was beating Jeff at his own game. "Ok Reg," Otto says helping her up and then I guess Sam went up but I wasn't paying attention as I handed them the rafts.
"Hey I reach," Sam says.
"Yeah that's because Lars is taller then Twister," Reggie says as Otto hands her another inter-tube.
"Hurry up," Otto says, "Jeff's team could beat us," he says as I hand him the third tube. I watch as Jeff puts one of his tubes on the poles and then hand Otto the last one of ours and wait for Sam to get it on before I shake them off causing all of them to fall, "Thanks a lot Lars." Otto says.
I hold out my hand to help him up, "Come on Rocket." I say as he looks suspiciously at it before grabbing it and running up to the boards with Reggie and Sam. I follow close behind. I Remember that I'm suppose to be Twister and come in behind Otto and next to Reggie. I tried to do what I was suppose to I really did but that stupid Jeff. I was neck and neck with him the whole way and he was getting closer and closer to Otto. We had already passed Reggie a long time ago and we were gaining speed every chance we got finally we were so close to Otto that he kept glancing back at us worried I knew what I was suppose to do. I almost snaked Jeff just so I could do it, but I knew that this was a clean race so I didn't. But, we kept getting closer. I knew I was suppose to pull back so Otto could win but Jeff was my main concern. If it wasn't for that stupid Jeff we wouldn't have had a three way tie for first. Otto gave me the evilest look I didn't know what to say but luckily, I didn't have to Twister saved me.
"That was so cool Otto," Twister says holding his camera, "Your moves where so sick."
"Thanks bro," Otto says still giving me an evil look.
"Don't worry about him, man, he was not trying to beat you he was just trying to beat Jeff," Twister says, "At least he didn't beat you."
"Well he doesn't make a very good Twister," Otto says.
"Hey why did you guys come out of the cave separately?" Twister asks. Reggie and some of the other boarders pass the finish line.
"Lars saved Sam," Reggie says as Sam finally pulls up she looks appreciate.
"Was it the glow worms?" Twister asks, "See since Sam has a bigger brain I figured they'd go for him first."
"No our rope snapped separating us from Sam, Lars just thought faster then us," Reggie says.
Sam nods, "I'm glad he's smarter then you."
"Stop," Otto says and they look at him, "Don't congratulate him, he tied with me." He glares at his friends and they get quiet, "Who's side are you on anyway that's Lars the guy who gives Twister daily wompings, who rips us to shreds, and who tries to beat us at everything every chance he gets. He's not our friend he's only a teammate for the next 5 days and don't forget that."
No one says anything and Otto walks away "Don't let him get to you Lars he's just a bad loser." Twister says.
"He's right just stay away from me, kay," I walk away not in the mood to talk to anyone.
"But Lars!" Twister tries to follow but Reggie stops him before he gets too far. I keep going and going I guess, I find myself with an amazing view of the surrounding area and sat down to think but I didn't think much. I ended up falling asleep! When I woke it was almost dark, but I just stayed where I was I'm sure they didn't miss me. I was just their teammate not their friend. I heard something funny and looked towards my left to see Reggie and Jeff, I couldn't believe it Reggie, didn't see that he was all over her.
"I'm really sorry I had to beat you," Jeff says.
"I guess it was ok. I could have won if I wanted to," Reggie says.
Jeff says, "Yeah sure, not the way I was going, did you see me. I was so great." Urggh what was he doing girls liked it when you talked about them and not you.
Reggie rolls her eyes, "So what's it like being Twister's cousin?"
"Who?" Jeff asks.
"Maurice," Reggie says.
"Oh Maurice yeah he's ok I mean, I never get to hang with him Lars is so protective and stuff. But, enough about that dork, did you know that..." he says
"Hey look at that moon isn't that so beautiful, I mean it's so big, beautiful, and sliver; and look it reflects in the water," I didn't see any water but I assumed there was water down there.
"Well you're hundred times more beautiful then any moon beam," Jeff says, it was so cheesy.
Reggie blushes and looks away, sure it was just a compliment, anyone would have fallen for it, but what he did next I couldn't believe. He leaned close to her, kissed her on the check, she looked shocked, and I'm sure I did. I don't know if she liked it or not, but she didn't say anything, she just leaned her head on his shoulder what happened to Twister, at least I could handle him. This was different. I stood up quickly and silently, then I headed back, to the campfire most of the people were listening to Otto tell about his win. I sat down close to Twister, but not next to him, he sat next to Otto and Sam, so I just watched silently. Finally, most of the kids left to go to bed.
"Maybe we should go to bed bro?" Sam says
"We have to wait for Reg," Otto looks worried. I knew where she was but I didn't say anything.
"But we need rest for tomorrow," Sam says.
Otto yawns, "We do not."
"Yes you do bro," Twister says, "Hey I know, I'm not competing, so I'll wait for Reg." That was smooth.
"Uh," Otto yawns again, "Ok come on Sam." He walks by, me shooting me a glance, but says nothing.
I was going to go as well, but Twister motioned for me, "What's up bro?"
Twister looked at me, "I'm really sorry Otto busted on you today bro."
I shook my head in shock, "Really?"
"Yeah it was a jerk of a thing to do and I am really sorry," Twister says, "Man where's Reg?"
"Uh...I know," I say.
"You do?" Twister asks, "Where?"
"With Jeff that little good for nothing Shoobie," I say.
"Jeff isn't that bad, Lars. I talked to him and he was cooler then you said," Twister says defending him.
"You don't know him like I do," I say as Reggie and Jeff walked up.
"Reggie!" Twister says slowly standing up; "Otto and Sam were all worried and stuff. Where were you?"
"She was fine," Jeff says smiling, I glare at him, but I always do so he didn't bother to ask why.
"Oh that's good," Twister says. He eyes Reggie over and then nods his head before heading up to the tents.
"See you tomorrow, Jeff" Reggie says running to catch up with Twister.
"You lay off Reg," I say. Finally, Jeff looks up at me.
"Oh do you have a little crush? Just face it this is one more thing I will win and you will lose," Jeff says as he turns to leave.
"Reggie isn't a prize and she isn't yours she's Twisters," I don't know why I said that, but Twister was better then Jeff and I didn't want anyone to know I liked Reggie.
Jeff stops and turns around, "Then Twister better learn that she's out of his league because I won her so just back off. If you ever try to push me around again you're going to be in serious trouble." He keeps walking.
That jerk I couldn't believe that Twister was his cousin, and my brother. And Jeff was trying to say that I didn't know what league Reggie was in, well I did, and I was going to show him.
"Lay off Meyer," Twister defends me, Jeff my stupid cousin on my mothers' side. I stand up and turn around sizing him up he was still shorter then me. My advantage, "Can't you tell Lars isn't in the mood?"
"Awe that's sweet Maurice sticking up for your brother," he says patting Twister's head.
"Don't touch him," I snap glaring Twister was my brother. "You'll lay off my brother."
"Yeah I have some one lamer to push around, and he's you," Jeff says I glare, Otto, Reggie, and Sam snicker I knew they were just eating up the fact that my cousin was dissing me.
"Just get ready to lose this one," I say.
"I'm not worried about losing to you, you're a runner up, second string, a bench warmer," he says Otto, Reggie, and Sam laugh I knew Twister would have, but he was use to this.
I didn't like not having back up Pi and Sputz always backed me up but these guys they weren't my team. They weren't my friends. I guess all my mean things I had done to them had got to them. I wasn't sure what to do or say I couldn't think straight but one of the coordinators blew their whistle and said that the rafting would start as soon as they got to the cave and to get on our buses. I made sure I was on a different bus then Jeff but that made me on a separate bus from my team but I didn't care about them they didn't care about me. Bad move on my part, by the time I got there Jeff had already chummed his way in with them. I guess they all had something in common they didn't like me. It didn't matter. I was only here because of my brother.
"That's so cool," Twister says, "Do you really do that, Jeff?"
"Yeah sure I do Twist and if you want you can come down and I'll show you, like we could be brothers," he grins Urggh what a jerk. He steals my brother, my flesh, my blood, I couldn't believe this Twister the reason I was here, but he wouldn't go for it. Would he?
"Like a brother?" Twister says his eyes gleaming.
"Yeah, bro," he puts his arm around Twister. That made me so mad Twister was mine and he had taken him. I guess I deserved it I wasn't really a brother towards Twister. Its not that I didn't like him it's just I couldn't show him that I liked him. I had tried, to be his friend and Otto got in the way but I didn't blame Otto. Twister and I were just not meet to be friends.
"Lars," Otto says looking at me, "Will you help?"
I walk over and look at the rafts what did he want me to do I clipped the ropes together so the rafts were connected and looked at him, "Lars," Reggie says, "Where are you going to sit?"
"Huh?" I say.
"See we put Otto in the back because he's our strength and Sam in the front because he's our guide but you're strong and you are smart so choose, we'll sit around you," She says, I shake my head.
"No way, you choose then I'll sit some where," I say.
Twister calls from the shore, "I'm going to watch with Ray and Tito, later," he looks disappointed that he isn't going but I couldn't worry about him. Reggie and Sam had taken their spots with Sam in the front and Reggie right behind.
"Ok Twist," Otto says jumping in the back, leaving me in-between the Rockets. What luck! They were supposed to be my rivals. Now was I not only on their team I had to sit in-between them but I do anyway. At least I was close to Reg; "Ok we have to get a great start. So that we have a good lead in the races, so paddle Lars."
I look back at him as we head into the cave there are a bunch of dangling glow worms it would have been pretty cool if I wasn't busy paddling, "Hey Otto maybe we should bring some of these to Twister I'm sure he misses seeing them." Sam says and they all laugh I wasn't sure why but it didn't matter.
"See you at the finish line cousin," Jeff says with his team. "See you later Reggie."
I could tell Reggie was blushing I couldn't believe this Jeff was after Reggie, the girl I liked, and the girl that Twister was secretly dating, "Yeah I'll be waiting." I say as we head into separate tunnels of the cave.
"Come on guys just a little further," Sam tells us, I wasn't sure what he was talking about. We had just barely gotten in the cave and we were almost out? "Hold on tight!" He says as we begin to speed up. This was sort of cool the speed was so cool it was like a cool water slide.
Then we started going thorough all these turns and tosses I was sure I heard something rip then I knew what it was the rope that connected Sam and Reggie's rafts had snapped and without us to slow him down his raft was sliding further ahead.
"Oh man Squid," Otto says as we get closer to a fork, "What if we get separated?"
I could tell they were too panicky to think so I was the one who had to think quickly I turned around and unhooked my raft and while I was still holding onto the hook I unhooked Reggie's and then hooked there's together, "What are you doing Lars?" Reggie says as they fall behind me and I paddle faster to catch up with Sam.
"Squid," I say, "Look out." He must be an idiot because all he did was look at me luckily for him I grabbed him with my paddle, I guess I sort of hit him with the paddle, but it kept him from going splat on the wall. "Sam, just follow me," I say since we were already way ahead of Reggie and Otto. Sam was freaking out that they wouldn't make it, "Look we can't worry about them we have to get out of here," I say clipping my raft on to his. We eventually make it out of there in one piece and paddled towards these huge poles.
"We have to get the rafts on the poles Lars," Sam says pointing to one.
"But the Rockets," I say.
"Like you said they'll be here," Sam says, "Its going to be hard to get them up there with just the two of us."
I see that he's looking at the poles, trying to find away up and I roll my eyes, "Why don't you just climb it?"
"Climb?" He asks.
"Uh yeah..." but before I can explain Reggie and Otto run up with Jeff and his team right behind him.
Reggie nearly hugs Sam; "I'm so glad your ok."
"Yeah enough talk we have competition," he points out.
"Hold still Lars," Otto says climbing on top of me, right then, if he had done this for any other reason I would have womped him, but all I cared about was beating Jeff at his own game. "Ok Reg," Otto says helping her up and then I guess Sam went up but I wasn't paying attention as I handed them the rafts.
"Hey I reach," Sam says.
"Yeah that's because Lars is taller then Twister," Reggie says as Otto hands her another inter-tube.
"Hurry up," Otto says, "Jeff's team could beat us," he says as I hand him the third tube. I watch as Jeff puts one of his tubes on the poles and then hand Otto the last one of ours and wait for Sam to get it on before I shake them off causing all of them to fall, "Thanks a lot Lars." Otto says.
I hold out my hand to help him up, "Come on Rocket." I say as he looks suspiciously at it before grabbing it and running up to the boards with Reggie and Sam. I follow close behind. I Remember that I'm suppose to be Twister and come in behind Otto and next to Reggie. I tried to do what I was suppose to I really did but that stupid Jeff. I was neck and neck with him the whole way and he was getting closer and closer to Otto. We had already passed Reggie a long time ago and we were gaining speed every chance we got finally we were so close to Otto that he kept glancing back at us worried I knew what I was suppose to do. I almost snaked Jeff just so I could do it, but I knew that this was a clean race so I didn't. But, we kept getting closer. I knew I was suppose to pull back so Otto could win but Jeff was my main concern. If it wasn't for that stupid Jeff we wouldn't have had a three way tie for first. Otto gave me the evilest look I didn't know what to say but luckily, I didn't have to Twister saved me.
"That was so cool Otto," Twister says holding his camera, "Your moves where so sick."
"Thanks bro," Otto says still giving me an evil look.
"Don't worry about him, man, he was not trying to beat you he was just trying to beat Jeff," Twister says, "At least he didn't beat you."
"Well he doesn't make a very good Twister," Otto says.
"Hey why did you guys come out of the cave separately?" Twister asks. Reggie and some of the other boarders pass the finish line.
"Lars saved Sam," Reggie says as Sam finally pulls up she looks appreciate.
"Was it the glow worms?" Twister asks, "See since Sam has a bigger brain I figured they'd go for him first."
"No our rope snapped separating us from Sam, Lars just thought faster then us," Reggie says.
Sam nods, "I'm glad he's smarter then you."
"Stop," Otto says and they look at him, "Don't congratulate him, he tied with me." He glares at his friends and they get quiet, "Who's side are you on anyway that's Lars the guy who gives Twister daily wompings, who rips us to shreds, and who tries to beat us at everything every chance he gets. He's not our friend he's only a teammate for the next 5 days and don't forget that."
No one says anything and Otto walks away "Don't let him get to you Lars he's just a bad loser." Twister says.
"He's right just stay away from me, kay," I walk away not in the mood to talk to anyone.
"But Lars!" Twister tries to follow but Reggie stops him before he gets too far. I keep going and going I guess, I find myself with an amazing view of the surrounding area and sat down to think but I didn't think much. I ended up falling asleep! When I woke it was almost dark, but I just stayed where I was I'm sure they didn't miss me. I was just their teammate not their friend. I heard something funny and looked towards my left to see Reggie and Jeff, I couldn't believe it Reggie, didn't see that he was all over her.
"I'm really sorry I had to beat you," Jeff says.
"I guess it was ok. I could have won if I wanted to," Reggie says.
Jeff says, "Yeah sure, not the way I was going, did you see me. I was so great." Urggh what was he doing girls liked it when you talked about them and not you.
Reggie rolls her eyes, "So what's it like being Twister's cousin?"
"Who?" Jeff asks.
"Maurice," Reggie says.
"Oh Maurice yeah he's ok I mean, I never get to hang with him Lars is so protective and stuff. But, enough about that dork, did you know that..." he says
"Hey look at that moon isn't that so beautiful, I mean it's so big, beautiful, and sliver; and look it reflects in the water," I didn't see any water but I assumed there was water down there.
"Well you're hundred times more beautiful then any moon beam," Jeff says, it was so cheesy.
Reggie blushes and looks away, sure it was just a compliment, anyone would have fallen for it, but what he did next I couldn't believe. He leaned close to her, kissed her on the check, she looked shocked, and I'm sure I did. I don't know if she liked it or not, but she didn't say anything, she just leaned her head on his shoulder what happened to Twister, at least I could handle him. This was different. I stood up quickly and silently, then I headed back, to the campfire most of the people were listening to Otto tell about his win. I sat down close to Twister, but not next to him, he sat next to Otto and Sam, so I just watched silently. Finally, most of the kids left to go to bed.
"Maybe we should go to bed bro?" Sam says
"We have to wait for Reg," Otto looks worried. I knew where she was but I didn't say anything.
"But we need rest for tomorrow," Sam says.
Otto yawns, "We do not."
"Yes you do bro," Twister says, "Hey I know, I'm not competing, so I'll wait for Reg." That was smooth.
"Uh," Otto yawns again, "Ok come on Sam." He walks by, me shooting me a glance, but says nothing.
I was going to go as well, but Twister motioned for me, "What's up bro?"
Twister looked at me, "I'm really sorry Otto busted on you today bro."
I shook my head in shock, "Really?"
"Yeah it was a jerk of a thing to do and I am really sorry," Twister says, "Man where's Reg?"
"Uh...I know," I say.
"You do?" Twister asks, "Where?"
"With Jeff that little good for nothing Shoobie," I say.
"Jeff isn't that bad, Lars. I talked to him and he was cooler then you said," Twister says defending him.
"You don't know him like I do," I say as Reggie and Jeff walked up.
"Reggie!" Twister says slowly standing up; "Otto and Sam were all worried and stuff. Where were you?"
"She was fine," Jeff says smiling, I glare at him, but I always do so he didn't bother to ask why.
"Oh that's good," Twister says. He eyes Reggie over and then nods his head before heading up to the tents.
"See you tomorrow, Jeff" Reggie says running to catch up with Twister.
"You lay off Reg," I say. Finally, Jeff looks up at me.
"Oh do you have a little crush? Just face it this is one more thing I will win and you will lose," Jeff says as he turns to leave.
"Reggie isn't a prize and she isn't yours she's Twisters," I don't know why I said that, but Twister was better then Jeff and I didn't want anyone to know I liked Reggie.
Jeff stops and turns around, "Then Twister better learn that she's out of his league because I won her so just back off. If you ever try to push me around again you're going to be in serious trouble." He keeps walking.
That jerk I couldn't believe that Twister was his cousin, and my brother. And Jeff was trying to say that I didn't know what league Reggie was in, well I did, and I was going to show him.
