A/N: This has to be my quickest update in a very LONG time. Okay, so no really gigantic event has happened in a long time (since the moon attack, probably). I'm waiting for the big stuff to happen (it's all planned) but in the meantime other little things need to happen. Oh, and the reviews were so nice! And where are my old reviewers? I love and miss you guys! OH, and I went back and slightly fixed some of the very early chapters as they were so cheesy and weird – especially in chapter 3, 4 and 5 I added more dialogue with Sadie and Max so it wasn't so sudden. And I got rid of them ever saying they loved each other. Back to the present. So, there's a third in the know (totally just threw that in on the spot – wasn't planned!). Will he keep it a secret?


Chapter 29 – Come Together

Like true Melbourne weather, it constantly switched between hot and cold all day when I was there. We were there for three days, coming home on the 27th of December. We had fun with our family and I got some great Christmas presents – including a Sgt Pepper original record and a Rubber Soul shirt! Quite honestly, everyone's scents barely bothered me. I could certainly smell them and pick them out individually, but it didn't overwhelm me. I don't know how Max went with the scents – I haven't asked him. It's New Year's Eve and I haven't spoken to Max since Christmas morning (12am) when he sent me a text saying Merry Christmas and all that boyfriend stuff. We have nothing special planned for tonight. Mum wanted to ring the Edisons and ask them to come to our house for a barbecue, but they already had plans with some other friends (Mum was slightly embarrassed after that – I could see the colour in her cheeks). So, tonight it's just us three (and Banjo, our new dog).

I've noticed that Max and I haven't conversed in five days. I honestly don't know who's avoiding who. Maybe we are avoiding each other? I don't know why. We're a couple. Weren't we supposed to be practically glued to each other? No. That's what bad relationships look like. Just as I was pondering this, sitting outside with Mum and Dad, an hour away from the midnight fireworks, my phone buzzed. It was said boyfriend messaging me on Facebook.

Max: hey beautiful

Me: hey! How are you? Haven't heard from you in a few days

Max: Sorry, I've been a bit busy

Me: that's ok… what are you up to tonight?

Max: right now we are at our neighbour's house, waiting for the fireworks. I'm in the toilet, having only just weaned off their three year old

Me: you might want to get used to it!

Max: I know, I know. How was Christmas?

Me: pretty good. Got a Sgt Pepper record and a Rubber Soul shirt

Max: really? cool! I got the Anthology DVDs

Me: omg really!? we'll have to watch it together!

Max: yep, speaking of which… the guys have been pestering me

Me: bout what?

Max: meeting you. Remember how we had that idea of getting our friends together and everyone meeting everyone? I think we should do that

Me: oh yeah. I was wondering when that notion was going to pop up again. So, I'll ask my guys and you'll ask your guys and we'll settle on a time and place

Max: cool. ok, talk later xxx

Me: bye. Mwah xxxxxxxxx

(so maybe I was a bit excessive with the 'x's – I hadn't kissed him in a while, okay?)

As the clock flowed into the New Year and the fireworks exploded (petrifying Banjo), I had a small influx of texts from my friends wishing me a Happy New Year. Even Prue managed to wean away from her depression to send me one.


Max

I was immensely glad that Sadie had agreed to get our friends together. I had a slight and secret craving to see her desperately – she was my girlfriend after all. Speaking of secrets… I so did not want her to know about Tom knowing. I could imagine her reaction – she would probably flip out and send all sorts of objects flying across the room. I did not want to have that happen. So, I thought, as long as Tom kept it a secret, I could keep it a secret from Sadie, no harm done. Being the first day of 2012, I thought I'd get straight in with asking the guys about the outing. I sent a group Facebook message out.

Hey guys, so you've been pestering me to the max (literally) about meeting Sadie and her friends. Well, I asked her and she agreed! She'll be asking her friends about it. Time and place will be decided on soon. Can you guys tell me when you're free?

Within a few hours, Riley, Des, Nathan, Kane and Adam had all replied telling me the days they could make it. Sadie got back to me about when her friends were free too. Coincidentally, there was only one day that everyone could make it – Monday the ninth. Conveniently, the next full moon. So, we decided on the city as our place of rendezvousing and we all met up on Monday the 9th of January.

At our meeting point, I arrived to find Des, Nathan, Adam and Sadie's best friend Anna already there. Anna looked awkward, standing there with three guys she didn't know. All four of them looked relieved to see me arrive.
"Hey, Anna," I greeted in an unusually high pitched voice.
"Hey Max," she replied in an even higher voice.
"I see you've met the guys."
"Yep. Nathan, Des and Adam?" she pointed to each of them as she said their name.
"Correct," I laughed.
"So, what will we be doing on this fine day?" Adam asked me.
"We'll decide that when everyone gets here."
"Who else is coming?" Nathan asked.
"Kane and Riley…" I looked at Anna for her to say who was expected from Sadie's party.
"Sadie, Molly, Prue and Patrick," she listed.
I was yet to meet Prue and Molly. From what Sadie has told me, Prue is quite depressed at the moment, however she has apparently brightened up! Good thing or else she'd be dampening everyone else's moods. At that moment, Sadie arrived. She beamed at me when she reached us and we kissed in greeting.
"Hello beautiful," I greeted.
"Hello handsome," she replied, grinning.
Behind me, someone was making gagging sounds – Riley had just arrived. He was, let's say, my most obnoxious friend.
"You must be Riley," Sadie looked at him incredulously.
"That I am," he puffed his chest out in mock formality, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Sadie."
Sadie just laughed at him. I'll bet that Sadie recognised him from what I've told her about him. He's the main joker of the group. He can be a little insensitive at times, but he's actually a great friend.

I then introduced Sadie to Nathan, Des and Adam and she hugged Anna, causing the guys to snicker (including me, admittedly). Within the next ten minutes, Patrick, Molly, Prue and Kane all arrived and everyone was introduced to each other. The eleven of us stood there awkwardly before anyone suggested anything.
"So…" Riley, the most outgoing, started, "Where are we going?"
"Not the movies," Anna instantly interjected, "And not shopping."
"Well that narrows it down to nearly nothing," Riley replied. They glared at each other for a while. Patrick and Nathan found this particularly amusing.
"Let's sit at a café all day or something," Sadie suggested, breaking the tension.
"I'm up for that," Des agreed.
"Me too," Molly also agreed.
"Okay!" Sadie smiled, "It's settled then!"
Where we met up happened to be right near a stretch of cafés, so we had a lot to choose from. We eventually decided on a little café called Toffee 'n' Coffee. We sat outside under umbrellas at conjoined tables, just chatting endlessly and effervescently. Riley, being his usual self, kept trying to crack on to Anna.
"How 'bout you don't try to crack on to me?" Anna turned abruptly, frustrated, to Riley after he kept leaning over her shoulder and making suggestive comments.
"Why not, sweet pea?" he replied.
"She's on the rebound," Patrick acted innocently, taking a sip of his drink whilst avoiding all eye contact. You could see him struggling to keep a smirk off his face. With this comment, Anna glared at him. I was thoroughly enjoying this outing.


Sadie

We had been sitting and chatting for about an hour, getting to know each other and becoming fast friends. I was happy that Prue was actually interacting occasionally and not just sitting there miserably. Riley was constantly hitting on Anna, much to her annoyance. She clearly found it irritating, which only further fuelled Riley's philandering. Patrick was obviously very amused by this, but I don't know why – he and Anna had only just broken up over a month ago. However, the breakup was very fishy, I might add.

We were chatting away incessantly when we had some people approach us – three of our friends from school: Lauren Jennings, Emma Connors and Renee Carmichael. Have I ever mentioned the fact that Emma used to be my best friend in year 9 and the start of year 10? Yeah, key word, used to be. She's still my friend though, and the position of best friend has since been filled by Anna.
"Hey guys!" Lauren greeted.
"Hey!" Patrick, Molly, Prue, Anna and I greeted in return.
"Uh, this is my boyfriend Max and his friends," I explained.
"Oh, you have a boyfriend now?" Emma asked, seeming surprised.
"Uh, yeah. For a few months, actually."
There might have been a hint of a glare when I told her.
"So, guys, having fun?" Emma continued. She was a bit like the female Riley. Well, not really… she wasn't particularly out-loud and obnoxious like Riley was but she certainly had a bitchy streak – an attribution to her downfall from the best friend position. She was also never afraid to speak her mind and gossip about people. Looking around the group, her eyes landed on Patrick. He deliberately had his head turned, looking the other way. I wonder why that was?
"Oh, Prudence, you're not still in a foul mood, are you?" she continued. How rude!
"Um, excuse me Emma, but when was she ever in a foul mood?" Anna retorted.
"Oh, I know all about it," she gave Prue a satisfied smirk, to which Renee decided to step in.
"Uh, I think we should go now," she interjected, gently pulling Emma back, "See ya, guys."
We said goodbye and afterwards all the boys were looking at us as if to say 'my, what bitchy friends you have'. Poor Prue, embarrassed by Emma's intrusion, just looked down, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone. Max's friends didn't know anything about what was happening to her. Come to think of it, neither did I. Why the hell wouldn't she open up to me?

"Uh, I'll be back… I need the toilet," Prue got up out of her seat. As she stood up, the back of her shirt had risen a bit to reveal some skin. My super eyes made me instantly catch sight of some odd bruising on her lower back – Max glanced sideways at me, having seen it too, with a pitiful look on his face.
"What's up?" Kane asked.
"Just some personal troubles going on with Prudence," Anna replied, which quieted everyone on the matter.
"Who were those girls?" Kane asked, still staring after the trio.
"Our friends from school," I replied with a sigh.
"That Emma chick was a bit…" he obviously struggled to find a word to describe her.
"She used to be Sadie's best friend," Anna proclaimed, hiding a smirk. She loved to stir things up with me.
"I didn't know that," Max responded, looking at me.
"Well, has Emma ever come up in conversation before?" I reasoned, "No. So why should I randomly tell you about my ex-best friend?"
For the rest of the time we were there, we continued to get to know each other – Max's party and mine. We all seemed to get on quite well – well, except for Anna and Riley (Riley flirted incessantly with Anna, much to her chagrin). I was glad I was finally getting to know Max's friends, and him mine. All his guys were great.

Adam… little Adam Wilson, the smallest of the bunch with his long brown hair and blue eyes. He's so sweet and nice (just like Patrick) and not at all rambunctious. He has a girlfriend, Hayley.
Nathan… Nathan Royston is also a sweet guy, but he's really tall – the tallest out of the eleven of us, in fact. He's got a girlfriend called Brianna.
Destry Jones (you would think Des is short for Desmond, but it's short for Destry, thank god!) is quiet, I noticed, but he can input heaps into a conversation when he wants to. He has blonde hair and hazel eyes.
Kane Rogers is really funny guy who's so full of life. He can crack me up so easily with his humour and just everything he says. He's Max's best friend.
And Riley… Riley Mathers, the outgoing, rambunctious, flirty, spiky-haired dude.
I liked them all. And I'm pretty sure Max liked my friends too. Overall, the outing was great, I reckon. Everyone got on so well, like old friends. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy. All I know is, everyone was adding each other on Facebook that night.


Max

I was fearing the full moon that night. I had forgotten about it all day, having had a great time out with mine and Sadie's friends, but when I got home I started becoming anxious. Sadie told me not to worry, that I wouldn't see the moon if I stayed inside. But even not looking at it, I was feeling a bit weird. I could smell new human scents, and I didn't know where they came from. The only people in the house were Mum, Dad and I. The scents were strongest in the backyard and I concluded that it must be the neighbours' - the same ones whose backyard Sadie and I experimented on with our powers. It was odd for me to smell them when they were so far away - it must be the full moon that makes our powers stronger. It makes sense, after all. I had no idea what happens to you during a full moon, apart from what Sadie told me, so I didn't know what to expect. I didn't remember a thing from last time.

Not only were the scents overwhelming me on this particular night, but I had a strong headache, like my mind was clouded - I had a feeling that actual clouds had something to do with that. I felt a small burning sensation in my fingertips, similar to the basil-burn, which irritated me. I had a really strong feeling - one to make it rain. I didn't want to, but the feeling was pretty intense. I managed to fight the impulse, at the cost of furthering my headache. I hadn't done anything weather-related in a few days - I theorised that maybe their was a build up of power that had to be used, otherwise pain would ensue. Whilst Sadie seemed to love it, I was really beginning to hate that night three months ago.