Chapter 18

Max

"MAXWELL ALEXANDER EVANS, GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF THAT BED!" I heard Isabel shouted, I whined as I pulled the covers over my head.

Welcome to the worst day of my life, Christmas month. That's right, you heard me, it's Christmas now and now I have to deal with the Christmas Nazi! "Max, I swear if you don't get out of that bed, you will regret it." She snapped. I'm already regretting that I'm born at the moment. "Dad is there a reason you haven't fixed the lights outside?" Isabel demanded as she chased after my dad, I pulled the covers away from my face and looked up at the ceiling.

"I have so got to be adopted!" I muttered out loud before getting out of my bed and heading into the bathroom to get washed.

I sighed as I stepped under the hot water in the shower and let the water run over my body, soothing and relaxing my muscles. I leaned my back on the wall on the opposite of the shower and thought back to my room that day Liz and I crossed the line a little further. Damn, god I really wanted to make love to her and hear her scream my name but it wasn't the right time, not that my body cares mind you. God, she was so hot and her breasts fitted perfectly into my hands like they were made for me and the way she rocked her hips into mine…okay, maybe I should stop my thoughts there for a mo…never mind.

Anyway, my sister is going completely nuts about Christmas and I'm not gonna get any peace till after New years and don't think that Isabel won't go psycho over that! God, I have got to be adopted, there is no way I'm related to any of those girls, if I was, then I would be psycho as them over a holiday but I'm not, so therefore I'm adopted, right?

I made my way into the kitchen and I saw my mother sitting at the table and I sat down next to her, staring at her, she looked at me.

"What sweetie?" she asked as she took a sip of her coffee.

"Am I adopted?" I asked and she choked on her coffee as she looked at me, wide eyes.

"No!" she exclaimed. "Why would you think that?"

"Isabel and Tammy, they go nuts over a holiday so how come I don't?" I asked and she laughed as she stroked back my bangs.

"Because you are sane sweetie, well, as sane as you can be with your friends and family around you." She informed me and sighed. "Isabel and Tammy are so much like your grandma, my mother, she was the same around holidays, always wanting everything to be perfect and go to plan, always taking up a fit when they don't and finding the nearest person to blame. Your grandfather found it quite funny, mind you. You take after him; he was relaxed around these seasons, he didn't see the need for it to be perfect, he thought it was perfect when his family and friends was surrounding him." She informed me and I smiled.

"At least I know I'm not adopted." I told her and she laughed as she ruffled my head before looking at the clock.

"You better go if you gonna pick up Liz." She told me before kissing my forehead and walking off, I smiled as I grabbed my jacket and keys before hurrying out to my Jeep.

Yep, Granddad was right, it is perfect when your family and love ones are around you.

Liz

"What are you so happy about?" I asked Max as I stepped into the jeep and he smirked.

"I know I'm not adopted." He stated and I looked at him with a bemused look.

"What made you think you were adopted?" I asked and he rolled his eyes.

"My sisters, how they go nuts over the holidays but I don't, mom told me that they are like my grandma and I'm like my grandfather, more relaxed when it comes to the holidays." He told me and I shook my head.

"I can't believe you thought you were adopted. You and Tammy are too much alike." I told him and he groaned.

"No we're not." He denied and I shrugged.

"Believe whatever you wanna believe." I told him and he shook his head as he pulled to a stop outside the shopping mall.

"Here we are, let get some shopping done shall we?" He asked as he pulled up in parking place and put the car into park before hopping out and rounding the car and helping me out of the car.

"We need to, otherwise I think Isabel will have a heart attack if we miss the present schedule." I explained and he shook my head.

"She just had to pick Christmas to fuss over didn't she?" he muttered as he led me into the mall and I bit back a smile at his disgruntle look, I know that he loves Isabel and Tammy underneath everything but I have to agree that Tammy and Isabel do tend to go overboard when it comes to their favourite holidays but it'll end soon. Hopefully before Max decided to bury himself under the desert floor.

Tammy

"Why do I have to do this with you?" Jake asked as he lifted the bags and I rolled my eyes.

"I offered to carry the bags but you threw a fit and told me under no certain terms that a girl my size was going to carry the bags." I told him and he rolled his eyes.

"I mean, come shopping with you." He amended and I roll my eyes.

"Because you are hopeless when it comes to picking out gifts for the girls and I need a man point of view when it comes to picking out presents for the boys." I told him as I dragged him into a shop and he groaned.

"I am not hopeless." He muttered and I rounded on him.

"What do you call what you got Isabel last year for her Christmas?" I demanded and he blushed.

"Okay, I admit that a toothbrush might not be a good present…" he started and I scoffed.

"Might?" I demanded. "How about not!" I stated and he nodded.

"Okay, not a good present but what was I suppose to get her? She's not one of those people you know what to buy for her." He muttered and I rolled my eyes.

"If Max can get a present for her, then you can get her one." I told him and he glared at me.

"I don't live with the girl for crying out loud!" he exclaimed.

"Jake." I stated but he kept on walking by.

"It's not like I can read her mind and know what to buy her." He rambled on and I rolled my eyes.

"Jake, we've reached the shop we were to get the last present from." I told him, he stopped and looked at me before looking to where he was and shaking his head before walking back over to me.

"Next time will you tell me rather than just standing there?" He demanded before going into the shop, leaving me shaking my head as I walked in after him, wondering how I was going to strangle him without anyone knowing.

Max

"How did shopping go with Tammy?" I asked and he growled under his breath.

"A nightmare, she gave me a lecture on being such a guy when it comes to presents." He informed me and I laughed.

"Count yourself lucky that it wasn't Isabel, I heard her laying into Michael for buying Maria a bumper for her Jetta, you know how the Jetta keeps getting banged up so he got her a new bumper, not that Isabel was please." I told him and he shook his head.

"What the hell am I suppose to get Tammy?" he demanded. "She told me that it better be good or I'm sleeping on the couch, even when we live together!" he exclaimed and I laughed, the image of Tammy telling him that. "Oh sure, laugh your head off while your at it." He muttered.

"Sorry man, but I could just see Tammy doing that, let me guess, she planted her hand on her hips and narrowed her gaze at you, warning you?" I guess and he nodded. "See, the girls are not the only one who can know someone very well." I told him and he laughed.

We came to a stop outside a jewellery store and smiled at each other before stepping inside. Now we can get our girls some really good presents.

Liz

"What on earth is the matter with you?" I demanded to Tammy as we walked y the shops.

"Jake." She muttered and I rolled my eyes.

"Let me guess, you got on to him for giving Isabel a toothbrush last year and told him that he better get you a good present or he'll be sleeping on the couch when you get together?" I asked and she nodded and I bit back a smile. "He's with Max, you know Max, he's good at picking out presents so he help Jake." I told her and she nodded. "Hey come on, don't be such a grump." I told her and she laughed.

"Okay, so what are we getting our man then?" she asked as she looped her arm through mine and I smiled.

"I haven't got a clue and I usually know what to give Max these days." I told her and she smiled.

"Christmas does funny things to people." She told me and I looked at her.

"I hope you are not hinting to a particular blonde are you?" I asked and she smirked.

"Maybe." She stated and we both laughed.

We looked up when saw a shop and smirked to each other before stepping in, even if Isabel goes psycho on Christmas, it's nice to hang out with your friends and getting presents for you love ones. No matter the circumstances.

TBC