Author Note: OK, I know I've taken forever over this… thanks to all who reviewed/remained interested!
Scene: The Rocket House. Cleo is munching on Reggie's cookies with Otto, trying to figure out what to say to Reggie.
Otto: So, he actually sent you over huh?
Cleo: No… I needed to do this. I've been feeling bad about how I've been treating her, and I just don't know WHAT to say… (glumly) I wouldn't forgive me.
Otto: This is Rocket girl… she forgave me when I broke her surfboard in two last week…
Cleo (rolling her eyes): I think this is a bit more serious than that!
Otto (offended): Nothing's more serious than a broken surfboard…
Cleo: Except a study session with the prince of the Netherworld?
Otto: Man, remind me to KILL your cousin… hey it sounds like Sammy's gone…
Cleo (taking a deep breath): It's now or never…
Enter Reggie
Reggie: Oh… hey Rocket boy, didn't know you had company (looking warily at Cleo)
Otto: Oh man… look at the time… I've got to go… do my math homework! Babe, you'll have to let yourself out… love you! (he kisses his girlfriend on the cheek and hurries out of the room in an obvious attempt to give them an opportunity to talk)
Cleo: Otto Rocket has the subtlety of an elephant…
Reggie (wryly): Are you kidding me… that's an insult to elephants everywhere.
They look at each other with timid smiles.
Cleo (bursting out): I'm so sorry Reg!
Reggie (shocked): You're… apologizing?
Cleo (softly): Twice in one day… what does that tell you?
Reggie: That… you really do feel bad…
Cleo: You needed me, and I should've been more objective… listened to your side too…
Reggie (shrugging): Rocket boy didn't get Twister's…
Cleo: There's a difference thouogh, he was right…
Reggie (smiling): So, you found out too, huh?
Cleo: To be honest… I wanted to make up even before I found out… I missed my best friend.
Reggie: More than your loooover?
Cleo: Hey… sisters over misters, right?
Reggie (grinning): That's Trish's line, remember?
Cleo: Oh yeah… ours was chicks before…
Reggie: On that note, let's change the subject.
Cleo (squealing) : You forgive me?
Reggie: You're my best friend… what do you think?
Cleo (hugging her): Man… you're the BEST BFF ever… Can I sleep over tonight?
Reggie: Sure… if by sleeping over you mean hanging with ME all night and not sneaking off to see the little boy who "loves" you…
Cleo (blushing): You caught that, huh?
Reggie: You have a lot to spill, Rodriguez.
Cleo: I'll call Aunt Sandy right now.
Reggie: And I'll go whip us up a batch of cookies…
Cleo: Looks like I'm not the only one with a lot to spill…
Reggie (instinctively hugging her): Good to have you back, Rodriguez
Cleo (hugging her back): Right back at ya, Rocket..
They separate.. giggling. A few hours later, at casa Rodriguez…
Otto: Man, I can't believe I've been kicked out of my own house.
Twister: Dude… it's been happening since you and Cleo got together, you know that…
Otto: But still… it's not like we'd get away with much…
Lars (entering): Not the point, dork. Would you let Reggie stay home if the Twisted one was sleeping over?
Otto (traumatized): DUDE… I never even thought of that… NO more sleepovers at my house… EVER!
Twister (groaning): Man, Lars… thanks a lot!
Lars (whistling): Anytime, bro. Thomas and I are going for the Madtown midnight skate… see you dorks later.
Exit Lars and Thomas, who was waiting by the door with his skates. Meanwhile at the Rockets…
Reggie: Cleo… would you stop talking to me again if I get together with Trent?
Cleo (sighing): I… guess not… I mean… I could hardly blame you… but do you like him?
Reggie: I don't know… that crush I had on him as a kid was always there… and he IS pretty cool…he cares about me…
Cleo: So does Maurice…
Reggie: I know… and how I feel about Trent is nothing like how I felt for Twist… it's just that… he's really been there for me, you know? What guy would do that, even when I told him I'm not ready to move on?
Cleo (under her breath): A guy that knows how to take advantage of a situation?
Reggie: What'd you say?
Cleo: I said… do you think this way about him only because he was there for you when you needed him? Or do you genuinely love him… it's pretty easy to confuse gratitude for a crush, you know?
Reggie: I guess you're right… it could be just a rebound thing… and I'd never want to use anyone in that way… (Cleo inwardly cringes, remembering the conversation she had with Twister the morning after his breakup with Reggie) Besides… I'm not over Twist…
Cleo: You're not?
Reggie (sadly) : I don't think I'll ever be over him… you don't really get over your first love… but you can move on and be happy… that's what Trish says…
Cleo: Trish, huh?
Reggie (gently): You still feel guilty about that?
Cleo: I love Otto… and I wouldn't blame her for hating me… I do wish we hadn't gotten together the way we did, though…
Reggie (gently): If Otto had loved her, it wouldn't have made a difference… besides I see the way he looks at you…
Cleo: Yeah… the same way Twister looks at you…
Reggie (looking at her sadly): I guess…
Cleo (softly): He really does love you, you know…
Reggie: He said he'd never love someone like me…
Cleo (wincing): He didn't mean it…
Reggie: Yeah… for now. Until the next hot guy that hits on me comes along, that is.
Cleo: He won't do it again…
Reggie: Yeah… talk is cheap, though. He can say it… but he has to show it.
Cleo: How's he going to do that?
Reggie: He'll have to find a way… If he really does care, he'll think of something…
Cleo (giggling): You expect Maurice to think?
Reggie (giggling): He thinks… about as much as Otto does…
Cleo: We're both screwed…
Reggie (laughing): Apparently…
They both drift off to sleep.
Twister: I know… let's sneak over and go spy on the girls!
Otto: Yeah…. Wait NO!
Twister: Come ON O-Man.. we could scare them… knowing Reggie, she's asleep by now.
Otto: HOW do you know that?
Twister (mumbling): I might… have hung out in the cul de sac watching her window some nights…
Otto (disturbed): For how long?
Twister: not that long… only… a year… or two…
Otto: First I find out you kissed my sister, then I find out you STALKED her… man… you are just ASKING for a pounding, you know that? Wait… you've never watched her have you?
Twister (turning red): No… I can't see that far in… I just like to imagine her safe… and at peace…
Otto: Man… you should be the one playing Romeo. You're a complete sap.
Twister: The plan's still on, right?
Otto: Yeah, yeah.
Twister: Good… if those smug lips touch hers, I'll… I'll…
Otto: Dude… you're not going to blow it again right. You WILL trust her, after this?
Twister: Of course… I just… don't want him kissing her… or touching her… or anywhere near her…
Otto: Right…
Twister: At least I didn't hide for three days…
Otto: Yeah… more like a week!
Twister: I left my room!
Otto: Dude… your blades are probably rusty!
Twister: That's it O-man… midnight skate? We might just make it.
Otto (grinning): Nah… without me in the competition, Lars and Thomas might actually have a chance of winning…
Twister (pulling his sleeping bag out from under him): Pride comes before a fall, O-man.