A/N1: Hey guys, sorry I haven't updated in a while. Lot's of things have been coming up, you know how it is. Plus I have crappy updating habits anyway. I'm in Mexico on vacation, Cancun to be exact, I was sick for the first few days, and it's rained for the last two...not the best vacation so far, hopefully it'll get better. Not sure when I'll update again, soon I hope, I'll try, especially if it keeps raining. :P I come home on Saturday, and School starts the Tuesday after, so we'll see.

A/N2: Thanks Scott for your help on this it's appreciated muchly.

Ch. 4: A Secret is Revealed

So many up and downs
I dont know where to start
So many nights I cry

Life is breaking my heart

---

"Otto! Otto, wake up!" Reggie yelled at her sleeping brother.

"Otto stirred then rolled over and slapped his night stand, hard.

"Ow..." he said, remembering that he had put his alarm clock away the night before, on account of school being over.

"What do you want? It's the first day of summer, let me sleep." Otto groaned, rolled back over, and pulled his blanket over his head.

"Otto its twelve o'clock! We're going to madtown do you wanna come?"

"Who's we're?" Otto asked.

"Me, Marisa, Trish, and Twister, and you if you hurry up and get ready." Reggie replied.

"Okay." Otto sighed and got out of bed. Reggie went back downstairs.

Otto rummaged around in his closet until he found something to wear. He got dressed, put on some deodorant, and went downstairs.

"Ready?" Twister asked impatiently.

"Just about, bro." Otto said, his tone getting a bit more harsh when he said 'bro'. He poured some cereal and milk into a bowl.

"Come on, it's almost lunch time, we can stop at the shack before we skate." Twister said, damn was he in a bad mood Otto thought.

"Okay, okay fine." Otto left his untouched bowl of cereal on the counter and left with the rest of the gang.

First they stopped off at the shack, and much to their surprise, Sam was there.

"I thought you'd be with Sherri today." Marisa said walking to where Sam was sitting.

"Yeah, well, her and her family are in Arizona for the next three weeks."

"Awesome! I mean...oh man, that really sucks." Marisa tried not to smile, Sam just laughed.

After the six of them finished their lunches they went over to madtown. They skated around for a while. Twister was having some trouble concentrating on nailing his moves. So he ended up just filming everyone. Otto on the other hand had no trouble concentrating and spent the afternoon showing off as usual. At about four they decided to call it a day. The guys went back to the shack to get some dinner, while the girls went off to do some shopping.

Reggie, Marisa, and Trish stopped at an ice cream parlor on the boardwalk for some ice cream, while they waited in line to order Reggie noticed a sign on the wall, it said:

HELP WANTED

part time job opening for the summer

competitive wages

flexible hours

ask for an application at the window, or inside

"Hey, look at that guys," Reggie pointed at the sign, "we should get a job here."

"That'd be fun," Marisa said, "lets go for it."

"I'm game." Trish added.

When it was their turn to order, Reggie asked the girl at the window about the job.

"How old are you?" the girl asked.

"We're all fifteen, how old do you have to be to work here?"

"Fourteen, usually the manager comes and talks to you about the job, but he's not here, so I'll just tell you myself I guess. I work four hours a day, three days a week. I get to choose the hours and the days, and I get paid eighty-four dollars a week, that's before taxes," the guy working there had gotten their ice creams ready before the girl, whom from her name tag Reggie figured her name was Katie, finished talking. Katie handed Reggie three applications, and they went to the shack to tell the guys.

"Hey guys, guess what!" Reggie said to Sam, Otto and Twister, "We're going to apply for jobs!"

"That's great," Sam said, "where at?"

"At the ice cream parlor," Reggie answered, sitting down.

"Your what?!" Ray said from behind the counter.

"I'm getting a summer job, dad."

"Why? You always work here!"

"Yeah, but I'll get more money there, and I need money to buy stuff I want."

"Well, if it's more money you want I'll give you more! How much will you be making a week?"

"Eighty-four dollars, before taxes." Reggie replied.

"I'll give you eighty-five!"

"Dad, that's only a dollar more...."

"Eighty-nine?"

"Dad they have better hours too, we'll get to choose when we work."

"C'mon rocket girl, I need you here. I'll be more flexible."

"No dad! I'm getting a real job! I have to grow up one day! Stop treating me like a baby!" Reggie stormed off, with Marisa and Trish right behind her.

"Reggie, what was that all about?" Marisa asked, they were now at Reggie's house.

"I'm just sick of him treating me like a little girl, I don't really feel like talking about it right now, I'd just like to be left alone." Reggie went upstairs to her room, leaving her friends alone downstairs.

"I'll call you tomorrow!" Marisa called out before her and Trish left.

A couple of hours later, around seven, Twister called Reggie.

"Hello?" Reggie said into the phone.

"Hey Reg, umm, can I talk to you about something?"

"Sure, anything Twist."

"Umm I'd kinda like to talk face to face, can you come over? We could watch a movie or something...."

"Okay, I'll be over in a few."

"Okay, I'll talk to you then."

Reggie walked across the street to Twister's house, he let her in and they walked up to his room.

"So, what's on your mind?" Reggie asked.

"Umm well...."

"REGGIE! Your dad's on the phone!" Sandy yelled from downstairs.

"ARG, hold on."

"Okay."

Reggie went downstairs, a few minutes later she walked back upstairs, Raul was walking into Twister room yelling, just as she reached the top of the stairs. She went to Twister's doorway, to see what was going on, but she didn't go in the room.

"Twister I told you to be home at three to help me clean out the garage!" Twister's father screamed, he appeared to be a bit on the drunk side.

"I'm sorry dad, I just lost track of time." Twister said, he looked really scared, like this wasn't the first time his dad flipped out on him.

"I don't care, when I say you be somewhere, you better be there. ON TIME!" Raul smacked Twister, right across his temple, "do you understand?" He asked.

"Yes dad." Twister answered.

Reggie quickly ducked into Lars' room, the closest to her, so Raul wouldn't know she saw what happened. Luckily, Lars wasn't home at the time.

When she was sure he was gone she went back into Twister's room. He was just sitting there on his bed, he knew she had seen what happened, he wouldn't look at her.

"Twister...is this what you wanted to tell me?" Reggie sat down, and pulled him into a big hug.

"Don't tell..." Twister said softly, a tear rolled down his check.

"I won't" Reggie whispered back, and she kissed his forehead.

A/N3: Ohhh, Twister's secret is revealed, how long can Reggie keep it a secret? That last part there, was inspired by the book Dreamland by Sarah Dessen.