R-PATTZ TO KRISTEN: LET'S BE FRIENDS -- PERIOD!

GRAVELY SAD TO REPORT THIS “TWILIGHT” SCOOP, BUT...! In the...er, wake of my revelation that kutie KRISTEN STEWART EXPLODED when undercover lover ROBERT PATTINSON blurted on the “Today” show that he yearned “to go on a date...because I never go on dates anymore,” here’s a fang-tastic NEW exclusive I’ve dug up that’ll make R-Pattz groupies gasp.

Rob’s confessed to pals that his tortured love affair with Kristen is “really, really over!”

Revealed an insider: “Rob finally made the decision to make a clean break, and he’s acting really happy – like a great load’s been lifted off his shoulders! It wasn’t easy, but he’s in a much better place now that he’s out of his on-again-off-again emotional entanglement. Rob’s still friendly with Kristen, but now that the romance is over, he’s like a new person!”

Amazingly, it was a chance remark by REESE WITHERSPOON – Rob’s co-star in their upcoming flick “Water for Elephants” – that triggered his breakup decision. Said the source: “Reese advised Rob to have fun while he’s young, and enjoy being a carefree bachelor while he can. So Rob gathered his courage and told Kristen he felt they’d both be better off as just friends.”

Moody Kristen played it cool, acting like the breakup was no big deal. “But it hit her harder than she’s letting on,” said the source. “She’s not freaking out because she still has hopes of reconnecting with Rob, although he’s standing his ground. He doesn’t want to fall back into old habits. He’s moving on! The ‘Twilight’ producers, aware of the relationship change, asked their stars to keep up appearances and be seen out publicly for the movie’s sake.”