I do not own Rocket Power...
So dinner with her family was a bust and Reggie had to go through with the party. She hadn't spoken to Lars since then and told herself she would be surprised if he still showed up. Secretly, she hopes he stood her up causing Raymundo to regret throwing her the party. Please, he had to stand her up...anything. But on a much lighter note, Reggie was finally 18! Hopefully, now that she was 18, she could make her own choices and not have to listen to Raymundo much longer.
The day of the party came sooner before anyone knew it. It was being held at the Ocean Shores Community Center. Reggie was looking at herself in a nearby mirror. She was wearing her dress, which hugged her curves beautifully, and silver high heel shoes that Clio loaned her. The shoes emphasized her long, lean legs. Clio put her hair in a messy bun and Noelani did her makeup to the point where she looked natural and had worn her mother's pearl earrings and pearl necklace. Trish and Sherri came up to her.
"Reggie, you look stunning." Trish gushed.
"I'm so jealous." Sherri giggled.
"I'm not used to wearing these kinds of clothes," Reggie said bashfully.
"You act as if you've never worn a dress before." Sherri giggled.
"I've worn them but not to this extent," Reggie stated. "It feels funny being glammed out."
"You get use to it." Clio giggled.
The girls turned around to hear Twister giving a wolf whistle and saying, "Maldición, Reggie. Que luces esta noche muy caliente."
Clio smacked her cousin over the head and said, "Behave yourself."
"Don't worry, Clio. I'm used to the attention already." Reggie chortled with an eye roll.
It was funny seeing the guys dressed up in a suit and tie, especially Otto, who hated dressing up as much as she did.
"You do look beautiful, Reg," Sam said in a friendly way.
"Yeah. For once." Otto joked which made Reggie reach over and smack him.
Raymundo and Noelani walked over to Reggie.
"You look so beautiful! Noelani gushed. "You look just like your mom."
This made Reggie blush. Raymundo said, "Wow, Rocket Girl. It looks like I'm going to have to stop calling you Rocket GIRL. You look so grown up."
"Thanks, dad and Noelani," Reggie said giving him a hug. "And I wanted to apologize for all the frustration I caused you both the days leading up to today."
"No worries. All is forgiven. We will wait for you inside." Ray said.
Reggie hugged her parents again before they both walked back inside where the party was taking place.
Reggie rolled her eyes and said, "I hope this night just ends quickly."
"Reg, just try to enjoy it," Sam said.
"Or at least pretend to," Otto said annoyed with his sister's complaining about her party.
"Maurice, where is Lars? He was supposed to show up ten minutes ago." Clio said almost freaking out.
"I don't know. He told my parents he was going to drive here on his own." Twister said.
"I seriously hope he stands me up and humiliates me. That way, I can refuse to walk inside." Reggie whispered to Otto.
"I hope he stands you up because I don't want to see him," Otto replied.
Clio gave a loud, shrieking squeal that made everyone jump.
"And now I'm deaf," Trish said.
Clio ran past the group and said, "My cousin! So handsome! Look at you!"
Reggie turned around and almost dropped dead at what she saw. Lars was wearing his Marine uniform and looked incredibly handsome. Clio threw her arms around him, and he slightly pushed her off saying, "Okay...okay...chill out, okay?"
"Sorry!" Clio said.
Trish and Sherri were even taken aback at how handsome Lars looked in his uniform. Otto rolled his eyes and whispered to Sam, "Women. They see a guy in uniform, and they wet themselves with delight."
"Maybe I should join the service," Sam said.
"Bro, what took you so long! Mom and dad were getting upset you may not show." Twister said.
"Tell them to chill, okay? I'm here, aren't I?" Lars snapped.
Reggie turned to the group and said, "You guys, go inside! I will be in soon."
The group went inside, and Reggie was left outside talking to Lars.
"What are you doing?" she snapped looking at him straight in the eyes. "Don't lie because I know passive aggressive and that's what you are being!"
"Well...you asked me to be your escort and to look like a hot mess. So here I am." Lars joked with a smirk that Reggie found sexy for whatever reason.
"I said hot mess, smart ass! Hot mess as in mismatched! But instead, you look...hot!" Reggie said.
"Well, you don't look bad yourself. I mean you maybe Rocket dork's sister but if we weren't here right now I would..." Reggie smacked Lars' arm.
"No jokes. I'm mad at you!" Reggie said.
"Hey, you asked me to be your escort so don't get mad at me!" Lars snapped at her.
"I'm mad because instead of making a bad impression on those people inside, you are doing everything you can to do the opposite. Now my dad has every reason to be happy he threw this party!"
"Excuse me, but you said I would get something out of being your escort. You said you'd pay me and that's why I'm doing this! So don't get mad at me for helping you do your dirty work. Besides, I'm sure you can make a bad impression without me."
Reggie took in a deep breath and said, "You're right. I'm sorry. I didn't think about that. Okay, we have a new plan."
"And that being?"
"You'll see. I am not saying, but I have a plan..."
"Just one question," Lars asked. "Are there any thirsty girls inside that? Because I wouldn't mind taking someone back to my car and..."
"Yes! Some of my classmates and cousins are pretty slutty. That's the Lars I'm looking for! The asshole I've know since I was a kid! Be that Lars!" Reggie exclaimed.
The music started playing, and that was an indication for Reggie to make her grand entrance. She looked up at Lars and said, "Well...ready to make a scene?"
"Let's do this, Princess." Lars held out his arm for her to take.
"Don't call me that." Reggie snapped.
The announcer started to say over the music, "Everybody please put her hands together for the guest of honor, Regina. Escorting Regina is her date, Lars."
As the pair walked in, everyone was cheering for Reggie. Lars said to her, with a plastered smile on his face, "I'm feeling flustered as fuck at the moment."
"Who cares. Just keep smiling." Reggie replied.
The party went on, and most of Reggie's guest seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was Hawaiian themed because she was half Hawaiian. Reggie, still feeling awkward, was pretending to enjoy herself. She ran into some people she knew, such as relatives that flew out for the big day, the Stimpletons, Conroy and even her friend, Keoni, which was awesome. While picking at appetizers. Trish and Sherri came up behind her.
"Having fun yet?" Trish asked.
"No." Reggie giggled. "I feel so awkward."
"Okay. We just wanted to say that your escort is hot." Sherri giggled.
"Guys, that's Twister's brother," Reggie said.
"Who cares," Sherri said. "Twister's brother or not, I would take him somewhere and..."
"Hey, Reg!" Otto came up behind her. "Did you see Keoni?"
"Yeah. I was talking to him a while ago." Reggie said.
"Hey, Reggie!" Ray walked over to her. "Come on. Tito wants to see you."
"Be right there." Reggie gave Otto her place and said, "Be right back. I'm off to make a scene."
Reggie walked over to grab Lars, who was talking to a few girls that surrounded him. Women and men in uniform. Even she didn't understand why women got like that.
"Lars!" Reggie said as she walked over to him indicating the other girls to leave him.
"I just got hit on by at least 20 women tonight," Lars said. "Uniforms do wonders."
"I have a totally rad plan." Reggie gave him a devious smile. "I just need you to act like an ass and follow my lead."
Reggie walked over to where her dad needed her to be. She saw her parents, Tito and some family members all sitting at a table. She ran over to Tito and said, "Tito! Thanks for coming!"
She hugged Tito who said, "Anytime, Lil Cuz."
"Oh, I forgot to mention. This is my boyfriend, Lars. He's in the Marines, as you can see." Reggie gently pushed Lars to Tito, who just shook his hand.
"How are you doing, brotha? I hope you are taking care of our Lil Rocket Cuz over here." Tito told Lars.
"Oh if you mean what I think you mean by "taking care of me" then he is. Lars knows how to satisfy my needs." Reggie said looking up at Lars who gave her a 'What are you doing?' face.
Some of Reggie's family members choked on their food after hearing what came out of her mouth.
"Reggie..." Ray said through gritted teeth.
"So what are your college plans, Reggie?" Tito asked.
"You still looking into publishing?" Noelani was trying to prevent a scene from happening.
"Oh...gee, I haven't thought of it, Noelani." Reggie said.
"Reggie and I are planning on...shacking it up," Lars said putting his arm around Reggie.
"Yeah. Why go to college? I mean who wants to spend four more years at a school being told what to do when you have already done that with high school?" Reggie said and looked up at Lars. "Right, babe?"
"Yep. While she will be a housewife in training, I'll be working the auto shop. Sounds about right. Don't you think?" Lars said giving Reggie a tight hug.
"Babe, stop! That's my family." Reggie giggled.
"Okay...Reggie, I need to have a word with you." Raymundo grabbed Reggie's arm and pulled her away.
Reggie turned to Lars and winked at him as if she approved of how he acted. Lars just looked at the people facing him and said, "I think I hear my parents calling me..."
Ray pulled Reggie outside and said, "Inappropriate! What were you thinking?"
"Raymundo, relax. I was only kidding around." Reggie giggled.
"Don't tell me you are really going to move in with him!"
"But I thought you liked him. You proved that during dinner."
"Reggie...I...why are you doing this?" Raymundo asked.
"Because I'm mad you threw the party. I didn't want this party. I don't care for having a big party. So what if all my cousins had one. I didn't need it. I wish you would know just because I'm 18, I'm still your daughter but...I don't know...you need to let me make my own decisions and not drag me into things."
Just then, the music came on, and the DJ was telling everyone to get up and dance. The song that came on was 'Cake By the Ocean' by DNCE. Clio came out to find Reggie.
"I love this song! Let's dance." Clio pulled her arm, and Reggie followed leaving her dad there.
Noelani walked over to Ray, who gave her a look.
Three hours later...
Reggie seemed to be having fun as the night went on. She never got to dance with Lars, was either talking to some people, most likely those asking him about the Marines or getting hit on by any girl or woman at the party. Damn that uniform. Reggie was doing the running man challenge with Otto and even got to dance with Sam, Twister, and Keoni. She even got to dance with her girlfriends, cousins, and Clio. Soon, Fetty Wapp's "Trap Queen" came on the speakers and the kids went wild. While she was dancing, Lars was looking at Reggie from the bar. Clio immediately noticed this and walked over to him.
"It's hot out there on the dance floor. I had six guys, and some of Reggie's cousins dance with me. That Keoni guy is kinda hot."
"Cool..."
"Maurice is really the ladies man out there. He keeps having several girls hit on him."
"Funny..."
"Aunt Sandy said you and Reggie looked nice together walking in."
Lars just nodded his head and kept his eyes on Reggie, who was dancing with her friends to "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" by the Darkness. Clio looked at him and said, "She does look gorgeous tonight, doesn't she?"
"Yeah..." Lars said and took a sip of his beer.
"So why are you sitting here and not dancing with her? That could be you dancing with her right now instead of Maurice."
Lars then spotted his brother dancing with Reggie. He wasn't a very good dancer...at all. Lars gave Clio his beer and said, "Hold this. I'm going to show that Lame-o how to dance."
Clio held the beer and smile to herself and took a sip. Lars walked out on the dance floor and shoved his brother to the side and said, "Move it, Lame-o. I'm cutting in."
Twister glared at his brother and walked off. Lars took Reggie's hand and spun her around. She was surprised that he was a pretty good dancer. Where did he learn how to dance? Twister maybe better at sports but Lars was a better dancer. At the end of the song, he dipped her and pulled her up smiling at her.
"Where did you learn how to dance?" she asked.
"I learned in military school when I wanted to impress a girl." Lars joked.
"Well you dance better than Twister, I must say." Reggie laughed.
"Please. That loser has two left feet." Lars laughed. "Let's go sit down."
Reggie followed Lars to a table, and they sat down.
"By the way, what you did back there in front of your family...pretty low...but impressive. I never knew you had that in you." Lars laughed.
"Believe me; I wanted to piss him off as a way for making me have this party," Reggie said.
Sam came up to Reggie and said, "You know what's awesome? Grinding up on chicks. I have danced with seven girls tonight!"
"Nice going, Sammy...are you drunk?" Reggie asked concerned for her friend.
"No...I mean...maybe...someone must've spiked the soda" Sam said and was dragged by some girl.
Reggie looked at Lars and said, "He's going to get some tonight."
"Lucky bastard." Lars laughed.
Silence fell between the two until Lars randomly stated, "By the way...I meant what I said before...you do look beautiful tonight..."
Reggie blushed slightly at what Lars said to her and said, "Thanks...um...you don't look bad yourself..."
Raymundo walked over to the two and said, "Reggie, can I talk to you alone? Lars, I think your parents need you."
Reggie looked at Lars and shrugged. She followed her dad outside and said, "What's up?"
