Chapter 12

Abstinence is the best policy

The day passed slowly, with my dad and me silently avoiding one another. It seemed my stubbornness was inherited from my dad. Neither of us was ready to apologize, because neither of us wanted to give in.

At supper that night my dad and I took are plates wordlessly from Ray and sat down, never once making eye contact. I had just started to eat when I heard a plate smash. I turned quickly and saw Ray looking pretty annoyed.

"THAT IS ENOUGH!!" he screamed. "YOU TWO LISTEN TO ME! YOU"VE BEEN IN EACHOTHERS LIVES FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND YOU'RE ALREADY FIGHTING!!!!

"Ray," I said gently. "Calm do-"

"DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!!! I WILL NOT HAVE MY BESTFRIEND AND HIS DAUGHTER NOT TALKING TO EACHOTHER OVER SOMETHING AS STUPID AS THIS!"

"Look Ray, it's not that big of deal," my dad said.

"Oh yes it is," Ray said. "Hear me now, or I'll scream it into your heads later. Shamus butt out of Katie's life, she knows how to run it, and if I say so myself she's done a pretty good job so far." He smiled at me and I gave a weak smile back. "Shamus, you know I love you like a brother but if you were invading my life the way you are to Katie's I would toss you out the window. She has every right to be mad at you and I think it's time you apologized," Ray finished, giving my dad a look.

My dad sighed. "Ray's right. Katie I am so sorry I acted like such a jerk. It's just I've waited my life to be your father and now I think I'm making up for lost time, but all I'm doing is making everyone's life harder. Bloody hell, Katie I don't know how to be your father."

I saw my dad's eyes fill. "Dad look at me," he glanced up and I continued. "I love you and you love me. That's all we need to know. That's all a family is, love. We might fight like brother and sister but you will always be my dad, and always has been, even when you weren't there. I never forgot about you, I never stopped loving you."

My dad sniffed and I saw one lone tear fall down his cheek and before I knew it, my eyes were tearing up as well. "I love you so much, you're my baby girl and I don't want to lose you." I started to interrupt but my dad stopped me. "Let me finish this. When I looked at Wood's face do you know what I saw there? Love. The strongest feeling of love I've seen in a long time. And when I saw that I thought I had lost you to him before I even got a chance to be in your life. But I can see how stupid that was. You've got enough love in you for both of us. Woo- Oliver," my dad corrected. "Is wonderful boy and he loves you just about as much as you love him. You should go to his party and when you get there for god's sake give your boyfriend a kiss."

I gave a slight cough. "Dad umm Oliver's not my boyfriend," I said slowly. "He's just my best friend. He used to love me like that but I wasn't ready and trust me, now there's nothing but friendship left between us."

"Sure and I'm Voldemort's most avid supporter," my dad said sarcastically. "If you really think that Oliver doesn't love you in "that way" then you're stupider then I am. Don't waste your opportunity. If you love0 him half as much as he does you then your wasting your time not being with him. That's all I'm going to say on that subject."

I stumbled over my words for a second before going to give my dad a kiss on the cheek. He put his arm around me and gave me a quick hug before calling to Ray. "You can come in now."

"Bloody hell," Ray said once he saw us. "Get a hold of yourselves or you're going to make me tear up as well!!"

"Oh I'm so sorry for your misfortune Ray," I said my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Well now that you mention it I do like chocolate and coffee," Ray mentioned stroking his chin gently. We all looked from one to another and burst out in hysterical laughter which we couldn't stop for the next twenty minutes.

* * *

"Do you have the number of Ray's friend? My cell phone? Your great aunt Sylvie??"

I sighed. I was in front of the fireplace, all my luggage ready to go for my week at Oliver's. There was only one thing standing in the way of my winter haven waiting for me. One 6'4, 187 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes thing.

"Dad," I said interrupting his muttering. "Look I'm going to be fine. I have all the numbers and I have the cell phone you gave me for Christmas in my bag." Though I'm not sure it'll work at his house, I said to myself.

"Ahh Shamus just give her a hug and let the poor girl go see her cherie," Ray said.

I sighed louder. Ray had not stopped teasing me about Oliver since the talk I had with my dad three days ago. I knew telling him to stop would just make him continue with more force so I kept my mouth shut.

"Dad I got to go," I said gently. I gave him a kiss on the cheek and said, "I love you." I turned towards the fireplace but stopped when I heard a cough from behind me. I turned and saw Ray holding his arms open.

"What about a hug for your favourite uncle?" he asked lightly.

I ran over and gave him a quick but firm hug. "Since when did you become my uncle," I asked pulling back gently.

"Oh I figured this all out last night," Ray said intelligently. "You see as a family member you can't kill me no matter how much I annoy you. The way things are going I thought I needed some protection, especially after yesterday."

I giggled. Yesterday was Christmas day and Ray had run into my room at five thirty in the morning. I know I've mentioned this many times before but people get it through your heads. I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON. Any time before seven just doesn't exist to my waking mind. So when a thirty year old man comes into your room and starts jumping on your bed what did you expect me to do? I snatched my wand from my bedside table and started spitting curses left and right. Good thing my aim was of that early in the morning and all I hit was a table lamp. I smiled up at Ray.

"I would never intentionally hurt you Ray," I said. "You know that."

"Well you've only known me for a couple days give it time." Giving me one last squeeze he went skipping off through the room. I watched him go and was about to turn back around when I saw his face pop back through the door, a mischievous light in his eyes. "Oh deary I almost forgot," Ray said mockingly. "When you see Oliver tell him I said abstinence is the best policy." Ray's head slipped back out of the doorway before I could think of a curse to throw at him. I turned to my dad, feeling my face go red.

"Dad I'm not planning on hav-"

"Katie, don't worry. I've known Ray ever since your mom and I broke up and trust me if I believed every word he said I'd be backpacking across the ruins of the Berlin Wall chasing after a leprechaun who'd lost his rainbow." Seeing the look I was giving him my dad shrugged. "What can I say; Ray was always a highly creative boy. Now come give me a hug so you can go see your boyfriend and deliver your message."

"Dad he's not my boy-"

"Not your boyfriend, I know Katie. And I'd believe you if you weren't redder then the feathers on a phoenix's wing."

I laughed and ran over to wear my dad was standing, throwing my arms around his neck. "I love you dad."

"I love you to Katie, now get going before that insufferable git, I mean Oliver comes looking for you," my dad said mockingly.

I walked over to the fireplace and took one last look at my dad and threw a pinch of green powder I had taken from beside the fireplace onto the fire. As the fire began to turn green I grabbed my bag and stepped through yelling "The Wood's Chalet".

* * *

"Doll your rooms this way."

I sighed. "Oliver, are you trying to use those pet names again?"

"Yep, are they growing on you?"

"Nope not really."

"Sure?"

"Oliver," I growled.

"Sorry, sorry I'll shut up now. Tell me more about your dear tender and loving father."

"Ha ha ha very funny. For your information he apologized for that," I said matter of factly.

"Yes I know the teary apology," Oliver said grudgingly. I gave him a look and he sighed. "I'm sorry Katie, it's male pride I have no control over it."

"Sure." I walked ahead of him, purposely shunning him. Childish? Yes. Did it make me feel better? Yes.

Oliver ran in front of me and grabbed me by my shoulders, giving me his best puppy dog eyes. I sighed. "Do you mind? I'm trying to be mad at you?"

"Let me guess," Oliver said. "You can't because my smashing good looks are too much for you."

"Nah, I just feel bad for you," I said, shaking him lose and running down the hallway. He chased after me and grabbed hold of my shirt. Just as what would have been the tickle fight of the year would have begun we heard a bang coming from the living room.

"Look what you've done now Fred," a harsh female voice said.

"You're the one who got in my way," another voice answered.

"Excuse me!"

I turned to Oliver and raised my eyebrow. "We better get down there before Angie and Fred get blood all over your mother's beautiful white carpet."

We rushed downstairs and found Angie, Alicia, Fred and George in a heap, covered in soot. I looked at Oliver just as he looked at me. As our eyes we were overwhelmed with giggles.

"Oi what's so funny?" George asked.

"You-hahaha-guys look so- hahaha- funny," I manage to say before dissolving in giggles once again.

"Oh fine that's a great way to greet your friends. Merry Christmas to you to," Angie scoffed.

"Ahh don't be like that hon, you know I love you," I said mockingly.

"Enough of the girl stuff, help me up someone. Angie's behinds suffocating me," Fred said from the bottom of the pile.

"I'm very proud of that behind I'll have you know," Angie said.

"Yes I see how much work you've put to the size of it," Fred fired back.

"Come off it you two," Oliver said offering his hand to Alicia who was at the top of the pile. I helped him and in a minute we had all four of our soot covered friends standing. Oliver looked around, "Where's all your stuff?"

"Oh mum's having it sent through by tonight. We didn't want to cart it through the Floo network considering how shifty it's been because of everyone traveling in it," George answered.

"You wouldn't believe it," Alicia said. "We were hit by a lost dwarf and almost missed your house."

"Well we better get to work you guys," Oliver announced.

"Work?" Angie asked, puzzled.

"The party's tomorrow, you didn't think I invited you here for the fun of it. Alicia you're on food, since you're the only one who won't eat it all. Angie, you, Aretha and Lee, when they get here are in charge of decorations-"

"Wait," I interrupted. "The girls and I have to buy our dresses."

"What! Can't you just use the ones you wore at the Halloween ball," Oliver asked. Angie, Alicia and I sent him death glares making him cringe. "Fine, fine I give up. I'll never understand woman."

"Yes, but isn't that what makes us so intriguing?" I suggested sweetly. "Look give us a list of food and anything else you need to buy and we'll get it while we're dress shopping."

"I guess that's fair but don't take all day," Oliver pleaded.

There was a bang from the fireplace and we all turned to see Aretha and Lee standing in the fireplace, covered with almost as much soot as the other four.

"Mornin, Merry Christmas all," Aretha asked.

I grabbed Aretha, Angie and Alicia and pulled them out of the room.

"Whoa whoa, calm down sister," Angie said. "What was that all about?"

"Ya Katie I just got here, what's the rush," Ree asked.

"I convinced Oliver to let us go shopping instead of helping set up for the party, I didn't want to give the other guys a chance to try and change his mind. Girls grab your purses we're going shopping!!

* * *

"Why is my behind so damn big!!!!!!!?"

It was an hour later and me and the girls were scouting the nearby mall for the perfect dresses. We'd gone from store to store and so far only Alicia, who found a beautiful light pink halter dress with small crisscrossed ruffles down the front hitting her just below the knee, had managed to find a dress.

"You seemed pretty proud of that derrière a couple hours ago," I reminded her.

"You try shopping for a dress with an ass the size of Ireland," Angie grumbled.

I sighed and turned back to the racks. We had some of our money turned into muggle money but most of these dresses were still above my price limit. I reached a shimmering gold dress and I shouted into Angie. "Hon I think I may have found the perfect dress for you."

"Pass it in," Angie grumbled. I passed it under just as Ree opened her change room and came out dressed in a black dress. The design was simple; it was strapless and falling, like Alicia's, just below the knees but Ree's slanted upwards; yet in it Ree looked amazing.

"Wow you look amazing Ree," I said.

"I know, I know I'm just gorgeous."

"And so modest," I joked. "You almost got that dress over your backside Angie."

"Sod off Katie," Angie shouted from the change room. "I'm coming out." Angie exited the room wearing a the dress I picked out for her it was sleeveless and cut low on her chest and went all the way down to her feet (think Beyonce's gold one).

"Why am I friend's with you guys, you only make me feel ugly," I stated.

"Aww come of it Katie you know how gorgeous you are," Alicia said sweetly. "Now let's go find you the perfect dress."

"Why is it Katie is always the last to pick out a dress?" Angie asked, in a much better mood now that she had found a dress.

"Because I want the perfect one," I said as Angie and Ree changed back into there street clothes.

"Picky you mean," Angie mumbled.

"To true but you love me anyways," I said swinging my arm around Angie as we headed to the front of the store to pay.

* * *

The girls and I burst through the doors a couple hours later our perfect dresses in are hands. We walked towards the room where the ball was to be held.

"I can't believe you did that!" Alicia shrieked.

"What she was asking it, strutting all over the mall and criticizing us for no reason. Do you really think I'm going to let some girl come up to on of my best friend's

 and say "Hon you can so tell that blonde is fake." Puhleeze," Angie said.

"Yes but you didn't have to give her one of those lollipops," I exclaimed.

"Don't worry her hair will turn back to normal in about a week," Angie said nonchalantly just as we reached the room where Fred, George and Lee were working.

"What did you do now Angie?" Lee asked.

"Oh nothing big this time, she just gave a muggle girl on of those hair changing lollipops," Ree answered.

"Hey where's Oliver?" I asked.

"Oh he went over to the living room, he left in quite a hurry," George answered.

"I'll go find him so we can all go have supper, I'm starving," I said heading off to the living room. When I got to the living room I looked into the mirror on the far side of the room before I entered, fixing my hair. I opened the doors to the living room and gasped. There in the living room was the girl from the mall…

In Oliver's arms…

Gasp!! Aren't I just evil. Ok first of all I am so so sososososososososoososo sorry for the wait I know its been like 2 months now but I was auditioning for this school for writing (which I got into to) and I had to do all this writing so my creative juices were just gone. A couple of hours ago I was re reading a Harry potter book when I got inspiration!! ya!! I ran to the computer and wrote this aren't u all so proud of me. Anyways important from now on all chapters will be about 1000-1500 words so I can come with them more often like one a week. If that's ok with you ppl please say so. I thank anyone who reviews bcauz I love you all so much!!! I'm not sure if I'm going to finish this story after the Christmas ball or keep it going till the end of there year. Tell me what u think. And now for my long overdue thankyous:

Spexy-  Thanks so much! Sorry about the wait!

ElfLuvR2931- That means so much to me! Plz keep coming back lolz

Sinttu- Not planning on leaving! thanks!

Drusilla13- Hope u like this chappie to!

herminone-the-perfect- I know Olie and Katie are to cute!

Clarinet-Chick-06- I love Oliver to but I gotta leave him to Katie!

VoicezWithin- Thanks for the comment it means a lot to me! I know I love Katie's dad but he is annoyin sometimes lolz!

Ronluvr28- You're very welcome