The next morning...
Reggie and Sam went down to the indoor swimming pool to spend a little time together.
"Canonnballll!" Sam cried joyfully, springing off the diving board.
He entered the water with a large splash.
"Sammy," Reggie giggled, putting up her hands to shield herself.
"Ahhh, that was refreshing," said Sam, shaking water out of his hair.
He began to swim laps. After about forty-five minutes, he noticed Reggie was just treading water. She had a distant expression on her face. She pulled herself out of the pool and sat in one of the lounge chairs. Sam joined her. He put an arm around Reggie's shoulders.
"What's wrong, baby?" he asked gently.
"Things just haven't been the same since Val and Twister broke up," said Reggie. "Val cries a lot and avoids him like the plague. I haven't seen her out on the water, and she's usually awake by now."
"Maybe she's sleeping in," Sam suggested.
"And then there's Twister," Reggie continued. "He pretends he doesn't care about her anymore, but he always looks so bummed. He's hardly been eating; Otto told me he hasn't been sleeping much either."
Sam nodded understandingly. Everything Reggie had said was pretty much true.
"Remember how much fun we all had when they were still together?" she asked.
"I sure do," said Sam. "Like the beach barbecue..."
"And the trip to Mount Baldy..." Reggie added.
"That New Year's party a few years back..."
Sam trailed off. The basement door opened. Twister ambled downstairs, wearing his swimming trunks with a towel draped over his shoulders. There were dark circles beneath his eyes and he yawned continually.
"What's on your mind?" Sam asked him.
"It--it's Val and Lars," said Twister, taking a seat in one of the other lounge chairs. "I just wanna puke whenever I see the two of them together. I want to get back together with her, but I'm afraid to ask. You know how her temper is."
Reggie snapped her fingers, the way she usually did when she had a good idea. "We could call an emergency meeting of our crew and hers to figure out the best way to make that happen."
She dashed upstairs to rouse everyone.
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Within another half an hour, Lars, Chuy, Otto and Roderick had joined Reggie in the basement.
"Couldn't this wait until after breakfast?" Otto whined.
"Or at least until noon," Lars added. "I'm tired of seeing the little dork so bent, but did we have to get up this early?"
"Yes," Reggie said calmly. "I thought we could surprise Val with whatever we come up with."
All was silent for a moment while the two groups brainstormed.
"How about we make her breakfast in bed?" said Chuy.
Reggie asked for a show of hands to see who was capable of cooking. Only Roderick raised his hand.
"To be honest, I'm really much more skilled with cars," he said.
"Okaaay, nix the breakfast," said Sam. "Any other ideas?"
Lars spoke up. "She's always liked hearing Twister sing, but I don't know if getting them back together is worth waking the entire neighborhood."
"That's a great idea!" Twister cried. "Thanks, bro! I'll see you guys later. I gotta warm up my voice."
"Let us know if it works!" Reggie called after him. "If it doesn't, come back down and we can think some more."