Chapter 3- The Arrival

Laura and Aaron finally arrived in Ocean Shores, after a long 5 hour flight. "Does your turtle listen to Good Charlotte?" Laura bumped him just a tad after that comment. "Come on, Laura, it was just a joke!" She started to get that evil look, Aaron thought. Maybe it was time to bear down for her revenge.

"Noogies!" Aaron now was on the receiving end, when suddenly four familiar faces showed up to greet them. Twister, with the camera in hand, started filming Laura doing that. Otto was just laughing out loud. "Man, Twist, this would make excellent blackmail, if Aaron tried to get us this time. I'm sure glad I wasn't Lars three years ago."

Now in their teens, even Sammy towered over Aaron, at 5 foot 8. "Man, what happened to you, Sam? Did you join Fitness USA, or was it the water in the ocean you drank? Either way, I'd like to know the secret. I want to get into the NBA someday!" Aaron was always fantasizing about being a Chicago Bull; he was good, but not great. Not athletic, but not slow.

And Reggie, she was still doing her 'Zine. It was now being published in her high school, Diablo Canyon High, now a freshman there. The latest article? "Top 10 reasons why teenage boys are jerks!" Laura looked at it, and laughed. "I couldn't agree more. Sounds like that was a cheap shot to your brother"

Twister looked around the room. "Are there any evil Santa's around? Because the last time, I found one, I said…" Aaron shrugged knowing what he was going to say, "Yeah, yeah, Twist, you said 'Damn you, SANTA! God, you're 14 now, and you still believe that Santa would take your boxers. Good grief. Can someone give this kid a smart pill or something?"

Suddenly, a Santa from the Salvation Army came up, asking for a donation of at least a dollar. Aaron, Laura, Otto, Reggie, and Sam pitched in. Twister looked paralyzed with fear. "I've caught on to you! You're not stealing my underwear this time!" With that, he jumped into the fountain. "Now you can't get me, you underwear snitcher!" Twister gave a pose, such that he outsmarted everyone.

Laura just stood there in shock, "Once again, Twister, I didn't think you could do anything stupider than your last act, but my God, this takes the cake! Here, I'll grab you out of the fountain." Twister just looked dumbfounded. "Can I be your boyfriend?" Everyone laughed. "Hey, I'm serious!" Aaron then came over to Twister, "Just a guess, I think the answer is no. Besides, you're too young for her, yet."

Otto was tired of all the chattering. "Can we go now? We got eight whole flicks to watch tonight. And the main event….8 Crazy Nights by Adam Sandler!" Aaron looked forward to the opportunity. "How's the movie?" Reggie looked at Aaron, "You can't be serious, you never seen the movie in your life?!" Aaron just replied, "Well, not exactly. But I came prepared in such an emergency. Mountain Dew, anyone?"

Laura declined, since she was not thirsty. Thirty minutes later, the taxi arrived at the Rockets' house, where they sat and watched a ton on Adam Sandler flicks on DVD. Aaron was curious what was going to happen tomorrow. "What's going on tomorrow?" Reggie replied, "We're getting the Christmas tree, and then we're drinking eggnog afterwards, a Rocket tradition, no doubt." Aaron didn't like the sound of that. The four of them to get the tree, then Laura and Aaron by themselves? It sounded like a perfect plan for Laura to get back at Aaron.

After all the movies, they all fell asleep, some on the floor, some on the couch. They had watched eight whole flicks from 9 PM to 1 AM. Tomorrow was going to be a great day to do some things in Ocean Shores. Laura was just grinning evilly as she hoped her plan would come to fruition before the trip was over.

TO BE CONTINUED.