Hello again everybody! We're drawing closer to the end of The Dizzy Game! So, without further ado, let's get on with the chappie!

Also thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to my few reviewers! They mean sooo much to me ^^

----

Hayner's POV

I can't believe it's Summer already, and Christmas is around the corner. The year sped by.

Christmas was a great time of year. You get to slack of at school, you get cool things for Christmas, even watching my little sister on the day was fun.

Olette, Pence and I never really did much for Christmas. But this year at school our English teacher insisted on doing a Chris Kringle. Y'know, where you take the name out of the hat and buy a present for them.

And today we were doing just that. During class Mrs. Hossack would call us up to her desk and we drew the name out. A few people were called, then Olette was called. I watched as she went over and picked out a name, and smiled at the note. A small gleam of hope shone over me as I thought she was about to smile at me, but instead she smiled past me and over at Casey, and pointed to her note.

Dammit.

After a while Pence was called over. He pulled out a name and came back next to me.

"Who'd ya get?" I asked.

"Tony." He snorts. "What am I gonna get him?"

"I dunno, a pack of Pokemon cards?" We laugh, and just then my name is called out.

I walk over and pull a name out.

Olette

My heart starts beating really fast. Woah. This might just be my chance I could tell her… through this gift, maybe?

I smiled and stuffed it into my pocket and sat back down.

"So, who'd you get?" Pence asked.

"Olette." I say, continuing with my work, which was something I didn't do often.

"Olette, huh? Interesting…" I jerk my head up again and look at him; man, how does he always find out these things?

And Olette's just sitting across the table from us, but she's talking to Casey about the Chris Kringle.

I look at him, not able to find words.

"Hayner, it's pretty obvious." Pence adds, smirking.

"Shut up!" I say, getting back to my writing.

----

Walking home in the summer heat is a real pain. Yeah, I missed the bus again. I'm nearly home, though. I'm just turning the corner down my street now…

Hey… wait a minute… look… that car, I know that car… the same, red car…

Dad's home!!!!

I start bolting for my house, but my bag's slowing me down with its weight. It's dad! He's back for Christmas!!

Dad works faraway at a mining company, so he's gone for a long time, sometimes months at a time. He only just made Christmas last year, on Christmas Eve. But now he's home early!

I reach the front door and open it up, and dump my bag near the entrance. I shut the door, then stop.

I hear laughing from the living room. Yep, that's dad's laugh!

"Hayner?" I hear.

"Dad!" I yell, running into the room. He and mum are on the couch. I jump onto him and he makes a loud 'oof!" before laughing.

"You're home!" I say, as he ruffles my hair.

"How have ya been, son?" He says, his big cheesy grin stuck on his face. Mum says I have the same smirk.

Just then the door shuts again. Ellie's home.

"Daddy!" She shouts, running in and jumping on top of the both of us.

Dad's home for the Christmas. The whole family is here.

----

That night, 13 days before Christmas, as Ellie had stated, and 7 days before the last day of school, I was lying on my bed, wracking my brains. What could I possibly get for Olette for Christmas? This was a chance to show her that I loved her. Oh, I'd need to get some munny too…

Just as I moaned from all the thinking, I heard the door opening. It was Dad.

"Hey, sport. I heard you won the midyear struggle this year!" He said as if I'd won the world cup. He sat on my bed and ruffled my hair. "I'm proud of you, son. And I'll be able to come watch you win the one in January too!"

I smile, but I'm still in What-can-I-buy-for-Olette mode.

"Is there something wrong, Hayner?" Dad asks, his brown short hair bouncing a bit.

I sigh. "Dad, how did you meet mum?"

Dad just smiles. "My sons growing up."

"Dad!" I say, putting my hands behind my back.

"Well, I met your mother in high school. So, who's the lucky girl?"

"Dad," I say again, more serious. "How did you… tell her?"

Dad leans in closer. "I asked her if she wanted to be my date for the prom."

"Oh." I say. Prom isn't until next year.

"I'm guessing you can't wait that long?" He says. Dad knows everything. "C'mon, you can tell your old man who she is, right?"

I smile. Dad's met Olette a few times throughout the years. He likes her too.

"Is it curly hair?" He laughs. Gee, he's so behind the times. That was a girl who went to my primary school!

"No." I say.

"Red head?"

"No!!"

"Well, gimme a clue, son! Is it a new girl?"

"No… you… you know her."

He thinks for a second, then grins. "Ahhh… so you've fallen for Olette, huh?"

"Dad…"

"Hey, Olette's a good kid. But I thought she was the girl best friend, not the best girl friend!"

I sigh.

Dad smiles, more warmly this time. "So, you want some advice on girls, huh?"

"Well, it's just…" I reach into my pocket. "We're doing a Chris Kringle this year, and look who I got."

He takes the note and smiles with his teeth showing. "So you want present ideas?"

"Well, I want to get her something that will… you know…"

"Give her the hint hint?"

I take the note back. "Anyway, Olette's not your average type of girl…"

"I'm not completely oblivious, son. I know what Olette's like."

"So, what should I get her?"

He chuckles. "Now that, I can't tell you."

"Huh?"

"If Olette is the girl of your dreams, you have to get her something that's from you, something that comes from your heart." Wow, I've never heard dad being all cheesy before, but he has a point.

"But I don't know…"

"You will know, Hayner. It'll just pop up in your head one day; the perfect gift for your perfect girl."

"Well hopefully it pops up before the 19th." I sigh.

"It will, son. Don't worry." He pats me on the head and gets up to leave.

"Oh, and by the way, she already has my approval. Just make sure I'm here for your wedding!" He winks. I laugh lightly.

"Thanks, dad." I smile. He shuts the door and I hear him walking down the stairs.

Something from me… but Olette…

I sigh again.

Girls are so complicated.

----

It's Sunday, 5 days before the last day of school. I decided to go shopping with my mum. Dad didn't tell mum, though. It was just between us men. I told mum I had to buy a present for Olette, though, for the Chris Kringle. She thought it was cute. I guess when dad does tell her she won't be surprised.

We're in the shops, where mum's buying stuff for Christmas. She bought a tin of biscuits for Pence's mum and a packet of coasters you can put your photos in for Olette's mum. Which I thought was stupid, cause you put your cup on top of it anyway.

We went past the jewellery, which mum suggested for Olette, but I didn't find anything that was… Olette. Plus shopping isn't really my thing.

Mum suggested a toy. I said no straight away.

Mum suggested some perfume. I reminded her that there was a $20 budget for everyone.

"Well, what do you want to get her?" she asks.

I shrug. I really don't know.

----

We get home, and I flop onto the couch, where dad is watching the sports.

"Hard day, son?" He says.

Muffling through the couch, I say "Shopping with mum."

"Ah yes, I know how you feel, son!" he laughs.

"Oh, you!" Mum says, throwing a cushion at dad. I lift my head up and sit next to dad.

"So, did you find anything?" He asks.

"Nope." I say, trying not to think about it.

"Well, don't give up. You've got 4 more days after this."

"Exactly. 4 more days at school. I'll never get anything…"

----

At school the next day, in our home room, some kids have already bought presents and put them under the tree. Even Pence brought Tony's present.

"What did you get him?" I ask.

"What do you think? A pack of Pokemon cards!"

We start laughing. Olette then comes in, and she's got a present too. She puts it under the tree. It's a box, wrapped in red and gold wrapping paper.

"Have you 2 finished your Chris Kringle shopping yet?" She asks. She doesn't know it's me. In fact, nobodies supposed to know.

"Not yet." I say, looking away.

"Yep, all done!" Pence remarks.

"Hayner, you'd better hurry up!" Olette teases. "By the way, who did you two get?"

"Olette, you know we're not supposed to tell each other." I say.

"Tony." Pence says. I hit him in the arm.

"Ow! What was that for?"

Olette giggles. "See, Pence told us, now you can!"

"Hey, did you get your math homework done?"

"Oh, yeah!" She says. It worked. "I finished it last night. I'm guessing you didn't?"

"Uh… I started it!" I say. I look at Pence. He's giving me the just-tell-her-already look.

----

Okay, where does the week go? It's Thursday already, and I still haven't got a present for Olette. Why is this so hard?

I decide to go on my own.

I grab my $20 pocket munny, shove it in my pocket and open the front door.

"Mum, I'm going to the shops!" I call out.

"Okay honey, but be home by dinner! It's 5 o'clock already!"

I sigh. Time is running out.

I walk to the shops, which is about half-way to the school. Inside, I decide I'm gonna get Olette some jewellery. I mean, I've seen Olette wear jewellery. It's one of those things she likes. She has this bracelet that her mum gave her, and she wears it everyday. And some days she wears necklaces, including one that Josh gave her once. Every time I see it I wince.

I look around, finding absolutely nothing that catches my eye. I can't imagine Olette wearing any of this stuff. The trend at the moment in the $20

mark is big chunky stuff. Olette is not chunky. I mean- you know what I mean!

Just when I'm about to give up, something actually does catch my eye. It's far back, as if unwanted by the public.

But it's perfect.

----

On the bus, that last trip for the year, I'm smiling the whole way. My Christmas shopping is done. Olette's gonna love this. I mean, I hope.

The bus comes to a halt and I barge out, going to the lockers. I put my bag in my locker and take out the small box that holds Olette's present inside, and put it in my pocket. These baggy school pants come in handy sometimes. I can fit my phone and 3 packets of chips in that pocket!

Then the bell goes. I don't take anything, because I know we're doing the Christmas party the first 2 periods.

Pence and Olette are already inside, hanging around the Christmas tree. When I come into view, they both smile.

"Hi, Hayner!" Olette beams.

"Hayner! Did you finally find the right gift?" He winks, but Olette doesn't see.

But I smile back. "I did, actually." I reach into my pocket. I can feel my phone. I reach deeper.

And deeper.

And… that's as far as it goes.

My face scowls as I jerk down to look into my pocket. I-It's gone! Olette's present is gone!!

"Class, gather round!" The teacher calls out, then the bells goes to start the party.

I'm scurrying around, looking for a small box. Where'd it go!? Shoot, of all the days to lose a present!!

"Class, search under the tree for your present. Oh, but don't ask who it's from! That's a secret!"

The class starts to scamper around the tree, calling out things like "I found mine!" and "Where's my present?"

I see Tony walk over to Pence.

"Pence, did you give me this?" he asks, holding up the packet of Pokemon cards.

"Uh…" He stutters. "Merry Christmas!"

Surprisingly, he says "Thanks! It has a really rare card in it!"

And then I see Olette, looking for her present. I decide to tell her before she loses all hope in finding hers.

I walk over and tap her on the shoulder. She turns around.

"Hayner, have you found yours yet?"

"I haven't looked yet. Olette…" I start, but there' too many people around. I grab her hand and drag her further back, near the entrance of the classroom.

"Olette, you won't be able to find your present…" I say. I'm still holding her hand.

"Huh? Why not?" She says, sort of stammering.

"Well… I was supposed to get you a gift, and I did, but I… I lost it… It was in my pocket and everything! It must've fallen out…"

Olette smiles. "It doesn't matter, Hayner. It's the thought that counts."

"But it does matter, Olette! You would've loved it… I mean, u-uh…"

She smiles with sympathy. "Well, maybe we could look for it."

We search around the classroom, and look outside where I would've walked, but we can't see anything.

The teacher walks over to us. "Leslie, Hanson. Have you found your gifts yet?"

"Mrs. Hossack, have you seen a little box anywhere? It's just a box, a little black box, it fell out of my pocket, and…"

"Mr. Leslie, It think you'll find there are two presents left under the tree, and there are two people in this room who have not collected their gifts." She says, almost smugly, but smiled.

Olette and I both looked at each other, then over at the gifts. There was one gift, that was small and looked like a figurine wrapped up, and the other…

"That's it!" I yell, but over flurry of excitement from the rest of our classmates, no one heard.

I run over and pick it up. This is it, all right. How did it get here?? Olette picks up the other one.

"This one must be for you." She says, handing it to me. I smile, and put the box under my arm whilst I open it. Just as I do, Tony walks up to me.

"You like it?" He asks.

I take off the wrapping, and find it to be an Ash figurine from Pokemon.

"It used to be mine, but I figured you might like it!" He said, holding his new pack of cards.

"Uh… yeah… Thanks, Tony." I say, looking at the doll. It's very poorly painted. "I'll put it on my shelf!"

He obviously didn't notice the sarcasm in my voice. "Really?? That's so great!" He then leaves, going to show his friends his new deck of cards.

Olette starts laughing. "Right next to your other Pokemon stuff, right?" She giggles.

"Yeah, right next to my Pikachu figurine!" I say. She smiles.

I take the box from under my arm.

Is this where I say it? It this the part where I say "I love you, Olette"? It'd be the perfect time…

"Merry Christmas, Olette." I say, handing her the box. She smiles affectionately and takes the box in her hands. Pressing her top teeth against her bottom lip, she opens it up. Her mouth then forms an O shape as she gasps. Then it turns into a smile from ear to ear. And I'm smiling too.

"Hayner!" She says, almost speechless. The necklace I chose out for her was a necklace with the letter "O" for Olette, and in the middle was a small jewel, which in most lights gave off an orange gleam. Olette's colour. It was perfect for her.

I can feel myself blushing. Man, I'll bet dad didn't blush when he asked mum out.

"Do you like it?" I say at last.

"Like it? I love it! Thank you so much, Hayner!" She says, ecstatic.

I don't know what overcame me, but when she put the box down and took it out, I took it out of her hands and stood behind her, and put it on her.

When she turned around, clutching it with her fingertips, she smiled so hard I thought her cheeks were going to burst. Or was she blushing?

"Thank you!" She says again, and wraps her arms around my neck for a hug. I wrap my arms around her back and smile. She likes it! I guess dad was right, as cheesy as he sounded.

When we left the embrace, I tried to tell her how I felt.

"Olette, I have to tell you something…" I say.

"What's that?" She asks, with joy in her voice.

I scratch the back of my head with my right hand and keep it there, and try to find words, but I just can't. Soon Pence walks up, and I still can't talk!

"Look Pence, Hayner just froze." Olette says, waving her hand in front of me.

"Hayner!" Pence said, punching my arm. I snap out of it.

"C'mon, Hayner!" He adds. Olette gives a confused look. I hit him back and give him the death glare. He just chuckles and walks away.

"So, what did you want to tell me?" She asks.

"Uh…" I guess now isn't the time. "T-That necklace looks really good on you, Olette. It suits you. Fits you to a T."

Olette blushes. "Thanks, Hayner… I have you to thank, though."

Not today. Maybe another day.

But that necklace really does suit her.

----

Squuee, so close!! Maybe the next chappie? *wink wink hint hint*

Now press the magic 'review' button and tell me what you think!