"Go Otto. go Otto. It's your birthday. It's your birthday!" his friends chanted.
"This is gonna be great footage for my next movie!" Twister exclaimed, putting the lens cap back on his camera.
"Hey Twist, why isn't the camera turned towards the great surfing champ?" Otto stretched his right arm over his head and to the toothy grin plastered to his tan face.
Reggie rolled her eyes and kicked him off his surfboard. Otto surfaced, spluttering out water and a few obscenities.
Sam gave a laugh and couldn't help but throw out a sarcastic comment. "I don't know Reg, he might actually become the champ of something."
"Thank you Squid." Otto threw Reggie a discerning grin.
"I mean come on," Sam continued, "how many people do you know that can flex their muscles, flash a sappy smile, and paddle a surfboard all at the same time."
"Ha, your right Sammy. Otto definitely has my vote for that award!"
The two began to laugh as Otto climbed back on his board and scowled at them. He then looked toward Twister for back up but instead became a little confused.
"What are you doing Twist?"
Sam and Reggie looked in the direction of the other boy.
Twister was flexing one of his arms, forcing a smile so big that it looked painful, and using his free hand to paddle his board resulting in him going in a continuous circle.
"When did this competition start and why did I not know about it?" he cried, looking like a complete idiot. "I got to get some practice in if I want to win!"
Sam and Otto looked at each other and heaved over with laughter. Reggie smacked a hand to her forehead and grinned.
Twister stopped and realized that his friends were making fun of him. His face went crimson as he lowered his head in embarrassment. A warm hand grabbed his and squeezed it tight. He knew it was Reggie before he met her eyes.
"You know we don't mean it right?" she asked, sincerity etched throughout her voice. She had not meant to smile at his nativity, but it was rather cute.
Twister shook his head, not once breaking their gaze. The blush on his cheek grew redder with every beat of his pounding heart. His body wouldn't move. Reggie was aware of her hand still holding on to his. She knew he was fine, but she found herself unable to let go of it. Its warmth sent shivers down her spine that should not have.
Without either one realizing what was happening they began to move forward. Reggie felt like her heart was going to pop out of her chest at any moment. Twister's breath quickened and the hair on the back of his neck prickled. He licked his lips. Otto and Sam's laughter vanished from their brains and the ocean winds seemed completely irrelevant.
They continued to move toward one another inch by inch. Reggie could have counted each freckle on Twister's nose if she were not so distracted. Their faces were so close now that any sudden movement would make the connection.
A wave crashed through the two teens, breaking the moment. Eyes no longer held but instead averted to any place but the other.
Twister felt very woozy. His head was spinning and his vision was blurred. He tried to remember what happened but couldn't think straight. Thoughts swarmed his mind grasping to one thing. I almost kissed Reggie!
Reggie was experiencing similar problems. "What just happened? Twist and I were way to close! I should not be feeling like this at all, or wanting to feel like this!" Panic struck as she looked at the two forgotten boys. They were still laughing at the earlier joke, seemingly unaware of the happenings that took place between the two friends.
She sighed and glanced back at the flustered Twister. He looked as if he was deep in thought. She wondered if he was going through the same issues. He met her gaze once again but she did not return it. Instead her eyes fell on the shore not to far away.
"I have to go!" she thought to herself. She threw a final look Otto and Sam's way before making her way to the beach. She could have sworn she heard Twister call her name but she wasn't going to turn around anyway. Thinking of him only made the warmth replace itself in her body and a spark run down her spine.
"He is just my friend." she told herself. "He is Otto's best bud."
Reggie made her way up the beach, catching sight of Sherry and Trish. She immediately turned the other way. Trish would only ask questions that she was not in the mood to answer.
"I hang with Twister and the guys all the time." she sighed. "I did hang with them, until this. Now I'm not so sure if I'll be going around him anytime soon." She felt like screaming and crying but instead, shook her head and ran the rest of the way home.