Disclaimer: I own nothing
The night passed fitfully for all except Trent. Sam and Sherry were worried about their friends, and Cleo was wondering how she was going to reconcile her boyfriend to her cousin who was like a brother to her. The next morning:
Cleo: Morning, cuz… rough night?
Twister: You too, huh?
Cleo: Don't worry… Otto will come around… he's just upset at the thought of his best bro dating his sister…
Twister (mumbling): Well, he doesn't have to be upset anymore…
Cleo: Excuse me? DON'T tell me you dumped Reggie because of what her brother might say…
Twister: She never really wanted to be with me in the first place. She was just using me, until she got to Trent.
Cleo: Reggie? Are you sure about this?
Twister: Positive… you know she's always liked that pretty boy…
Cleo: But… then why would she waste her time with you? Wouldn't she have just made her move on Trent long ago?
Twister: You know Reg… she's not the type to make a move on anyone. Maybe she just figured he wasn't interested, and wanted to move on…
Cleo: She wouldn't use you though…
Twister (miserably): She wanted to run lines with him, but he couldn't make it… I just became a substitute.
Cleo: But.. would she do that to you?
Twister: You saw her at the mall with Trent.. and the rose. That was the morning AFTER we kissed. He WAS her first crush, we all know that…
Cleo: But…
Twister (getting upset now): If it was Otto with Trish, how would you feel?
Cleo (starting to get upset on her cousins behalf): Well… all I can say is that, if she's capable of THAT, she doesn't deserve you… you shouldn't even be thinking of her
Twister: What do you think I was trying to do, all night?
Cleo (gently): Didn't work?
Twister (miserably): Nope… I love her Cleo
Cleo: Love… isn't that a bit fast? You only just started dating her… how do you know you LOVE her?
Twister: Because I have since I was twelve… when she saved me from drowning. It drove me crazy to see all the other guys hit on her as soon as puberty set in. She's smart, beautiful, cool, kind… excellent at ALL sports… not a girly girl, but still so soft at the same time…I've known her my whole life… and probably had feelings for her almost as long… Don't you remember how it was when you realized you were in love with Otto?
Cleo (sighing): That went through the normal phases though… childhood rivalry, denial, friendship and THEN love… although I still haven't told him yet
Twister: Go ahead… I'm sure at least one Rocket won't break a Rodriguez's heart…
Cleo (uncomfortably): Speaking of which…
Twister: You have to bail. I understand.
Cleo: It's just that… Otto's feeling terrible about the fight too. And…
Twister: Go ahead… and cuz?
Cleo: Yeah?
Twister: Try to get Otto not to be mad at me anymore. I've already lost the love of my life… I don't want to lose my best bro too.
He looks at her with such sadness and despondency, she had to bite her lip to keep from crying. Anger and resentment against her former best friend floods her heart, as she makes her way to meet her boyfriend. Meanwhile, at the Rocket house
Otto: Raymundo, tell your daughter to pass the maple syrup.
Reggie: Raymundo, tell your son if he wants something from me, he can ask me himself.
Otto: Tell your daughter if she didn't go around making out with people's best bros, they would be more willing to talk to her.
Reggie: Tell your son that 17 year olds can kiss whoever they want, and their lame-o little brothers don't have a right to complain.
Otto (turning red): Tell your daughter-
Raymundo: ENOUGH!!!! You two are TOO old for this. Now I am going to the shack, and by the time I come back tonight you two had BETTER work out your differences.
Otto: But-
Reggie: But-
Raymundo: No buts. You're both over 16. You need to be able to handle this. Now NO going out until this is resolved.
Otto: Aw, man… I was meeting Cleo.
Raymundo: Then I suggest you work things out with your sister quickly, so you don't have to stand her up (softening) Guys, since your mom died, you two are all I have. It hurts to see you against each other like that…
Otto & Reggie (shamefaced): We're sorry, dad.
Reggie: We'll work this out… (leans up to give him a kiss on the cheek)
Raymundo leaves the house, leaving the two siblings in an uncomfortable silence
Otto: Geez, Reg, did you HAVE to do THAT with Twister?
Reggie: Why does it bother you so much. You seemed fine at the thought of me dating Trent, and all the others…
Otto: Because… it's TWIST… He's supposed to be my best bud… and now he's making out with my sister… it's just… wrong… like he doesn't value our friendship… like you don't care how I feel…
Reggie: It just sort of happened, Otto… we didn't plan it, and never wanted to hurt you… that's why we never told you.
Otto: How long?
Reggie: This Friday…
Otto: So that's why you were so excited… I thought it was because you finally had a chance with Trent.
Reggie: No… it was because Twister finally kissed me…
Otto (getting mad): He WHAT?!
Reggie (quietly): Well… if you think it's going to be weird… don't worry… it won't happen again.
Otto (disbelieving): You guys broke up?
Reggie: Kind of…
Otto (feeling guilty): Because of me?
Reggie: Don't flatter yourself, Rocket boy. It was because he thought I was cheating with Trent.
Otto: He WHAT? Man, I knew he wasn't the brightest bulb in the box, but he should know you better than that.
Reggie (watery smile): Ya think… he even said…
Otto (starting to feel sorry for her): What'd he say?
Reggie: He said I was planning to run lines with every teenage guy in town. Because we kissed for the first time when we were running lines… he said… (pauses, trying to control the tears threatening to flood her cheeks)
Otto (shocked at the sight of Reggie about to cry.. .and becoming angry): What'd he say?
Reggie (in a small voice): That he didn't mean what he said when he told me he loved me. He could never love someone like me.
Otto (angrily): That DOES it! I am going right over to their house and I am going to whomp him so hard, his grandchildren will feel it.
Reggie (holding him back): Forget it Rocket boy. He may not love me but that doesn't mean that I don't love him…
Otto (stunned): You… love him?
Reggie (smiling slightly): Yeah… messed up right? I guess I always have…
Otto: He is NOT doing this to you (getting worked up again)
Reggie: No, Otto. That's not going to solve anything… and I don't want him to get hurt. Besides, Cleo would be upset.
Otto: She would understand. You're my sister.
Reggie: You love her, Otto, even though you won't tell her yet. Hitting her cousin would completely ruin things with her. Besides, I don't want you to. I still care for him, and I don't want him to get hurt.
Otto (grumbling): That kook doesn't know how lucky he is.
Reggie (smiling slightly): Aren't you late for your big date?
Otto: You gonna be ok, Rocket girl?
Reggie: I'm a Rocket, aren't I? I'll just go see what Trish and Sherry are up to. Maybe they'd be up for a killer volleyball game/surf session. You go see your loooooooover.
Otto (blushing): Shut up Rocket girl.
Otto leaves the house, heading for the Shore Shack to meet his girlfriend. Despite what Reggie says, an overwhelming desire to whomp Twister still lurks in his heart. He's not seen his sister cry since their mother's death… and wants very badly to wipe the smirk off the face of the one that caused all this… his former best friend.