DISCLAIMER: I own nothing.
A/N: As the title may imply, this fic is a sequel to "Struck by Lightning" and "December Wishes." This story takes place when everyone is older. Otto, Twister, and Sam are fourteen; Reggie is fifteen; Lars is seventeen.
Reviews and feedback appreciated.
Tick tock, tick tock...
The seconds crept by on the wall clock in a classroom.
"Come on," said a boy in the back row with unruly auburn dreadlocks, toying with his teal-tinted sunglasses.
"Please..." said the boy next to him, a redhead wearing a backwards baseball cap.
Both were wearing shorts and T-shirts and hanging on the edge of their seats. Otto Rocket and his best friend Maurice aka "Twister" Rodriguez lived for spring break. They loved all manner of extreme sports, pastimes school tended to get in the way of. Spring break was a chance to enjoy the outdoors with no interruption.
BRRRIIINNNGGG!
"Freedom!" Otto bellowed, standing up so fast he knocked his chair over.
The students jostled toward the door, sprinting down the halls, and finally pouring onto the sidewalk. To passersby, the chaos resembled the wildebeest stampede scene from The Lion King.
Otto met up with his older sister, Reggie, and their friend Sam Dullard.
Things had changed for the gang over the past few years. Sam had lost some weight, gotten better at extreme sports, and started dating Reggie.
While Otto and Twister were still no star students, their grades weren't nearly as poor as they'd been. Otto, by the way, had gotten taller, though he remained short for his age.
Twister, the tallest of them, had grown his hair out and joined the school basketball team.
As much as things had changed, it was very rare to see one of the teens without the others in tow.
"What should we do to kick off spring break?" Reggie asked, strapping on her yellow helmet and placing her skateboard in front of her. "Pig out at the Shack or hit the waves?"
"I vote for the Shack," said Sam eagerly. "I could sure go for some chili fries."
"I say we go to the amusement park and see who can last the most rides on the roller coaster," said Otto.
"Uh, you go ahead," said Twister. "I...kinda got something to do."
"But it's the first hour of vacation!" Otto protested.
Twister was already skateboarding away towards his house on Ozone Street.
0-0-0-0-0-0
When he reached his dad's office, he found that his older brother Lars was on the family computer.
Probably hitting on girls in a chat room again, Twister thought.
"Lars, I really need to use the computer," he said.
"I was on first," Lars argued. "Besides, I'm older. Don't worry. I'll let you use it...next week. TA-HAAA-HAAA-HAAA!"
"MOM!" Twister screamed. That approach might be considered immature; nevertheless, it was highly effective.
"Lars, let Maurice use the computer, or you will be grounded for the rest of the week!" Sandy shrieked from a distant corner of the house.
Lars grudgingly stood up, muttering in Spanish under his breath. Twister switched the Internet to his user name, scanning his buddy list. The name LA Lightning jumped out at him. LA Lightning was the screenname of Valencia Lightning, Reggie and Otto's first cousin. Twister had become smitten with her a few years previously; the feeling was mutual. He still wore the gold chili pepper necklace she'd given him one Christmas. Though their relationship was long-distance, they held up well.
Twister started an IM chat.
twistd-1: i havent heard from you in like forever, sweetness.
LA Lightning: I'm sorry, babe. Things have been keeping me tied up lately. Well, enough about me. How goes it with you?
twistd-1: great. my spring break just started.
LA Lightning: Now there's a coincidence. Hey, do you wanna come down to visit? My parents already said it's okay.
twistd-1: i can probably talk my mom into it. she and dad are going on a second honeymoon or something so lars will definitely be coming too.
LA Lightning: That's not a problem. We'll make the best of it. I can't wait to show you my 'hood.
twistd-1: you really are a city slicker arent you?
LA Lightning: Yeah, but I'm wild at heart.
Twister knew what she meant by that. She was half Apache or half Comanche; he couldn't remember which one.
twistd-1: i better start packing. adios.
LA Lightning: (blows kiss)