Without even checking what I was wearing I dashed downstairs and out to my car in record time. Not again, I thought. Please be safe Andy…. Please.

Where would he be? I'd never noticed how big Budgewoi actually was. Or maybe I was just panicking, yes, that's right. I definitely was panicking. I would try Andy's place first, I decided and then if he wasn't there…

Minutes later I pulled up in front of Andy's house and rushed inside. "Andy?" I called, "Are you here?" then realised I was stupid; if he was here, chances are he wasn't conscious. Last time I'd been lucky; I'd only left him alone for about twenty minutes but this time he'd had a whole day...

I rushed upstairs and practically kicked the door open to find Andy's room… empty. Crap, it just wasn't adding up. Where would he be? Think, I told myself; if I was Andy where would I go? Nothing came… did I even know Andy? It didn't matter, I was wasting time… Bradie's house; I'd try there next. It was a good thing Bradie's house was close because I was almost dying of panic by the time I got there. I probably got about five hundred speeding tickets on the way there. I banged furiously on the door until Bradie opened it. "Hey," I said breathlessly and hastily rushed up the hallway and ran straight into… I looked up. "Andy?" I was shocked for a minute and then it dawned on me; he was alive, he was okay. I threw my arms around Andy and fought hard not to cry.
"Hey," Andy said to me. "Er- you alright?"
"Hey? Hey? You scared me half to death and now all you've got to say is "Hey"?
"Er," Andy looked confusedly over at Bradie who returned the gesture.
"That note that you wrote," I explained breathlessly. "Andy, we never say goodbye, so I thought…"
"Oh," Andy breathed a relieved sigh, knowing I was (almost) okay. "Sorry about that. I was a bit upset… wasn't thinking straight." He mumbled.
"And this girl?" Now that I knew Andy was alive, I wanted answers.
"Never mind about her…. I shouldn't have told you that."
"You think?" Bradie spoke for the first time.
"Look, it doesn't matter," Andy told me. "Let's just stop fighting and be friends okay?"
I didn't want to just be friends but I found myself defeated and settled with a mere, "Okay."
"You had breakfast?" Bradie asked me.
"No," I told him, "But I don't eat breakfast."
"You should," He grinned and I followed him and Andy towards the kitchen, "So anyway, you done your Christmas shopping yet?"
"OH CRAP!" I said a little too loudly. "I totally forgot!"
"Well, I did mine the other day,"
"Really?" Andy was suddenly interested. "What'd you get me."
"Who says I bought you anything… pancakes?"
"Not until you tell me what you bought me,"
"Oh come on Andy," I said, "It wouldn't be a surprise then."
"I hate surprises," Andy said moodily.
"Oh fine, I got you a gift card," Bradie shook his head. "You are so hard to buy for."
"What gives you that idea?"
"You never ever tell me what you want."
"Whatever, so what'd you buy her," Andy jerked a thumb at me.
"Oh, Andy," I said, "Don't be silly, Bradie doesn't have to buy me anything."
"Yeah, I do," Said Bradie "And I did."
He and Andy exchanged glances. "We all put in for something," Andy smiled. "Me, Bradie, Shaun and JumpNow."
"You didn't have t-
"But we did and you're gonna love it."

*
Christmas shopping was difficult. I'd made a list of people but there was a problem. I didn't know what any of them would like. So far I'd bought Michelle a knife block, she loved to cook. I'd bought Kylie a set of towels and Yvonne a block of chocolate (she was lucky to even be getting that). Now I had to buy Shaun something… I knew him well but…

I gazed around the music shop, there were so many things I could buy for the boys but nothing I could afford. So I left and looked desperately around for something else before giving in and going home.

My shopping trip lasted a few days then, finally on the 23rd I figured I'd better get something. I'd start with Bradie I decided. He was nice and easy to buy for. I bought him a spider man t-shirt and a pair of jeans… not much but it was something.

That left Andy, Shaun and JumpNow. Shaun next, I decided. After being such a jerk to Andy he barely deserved anything but Christmas was all about giving and I couldn't let him miss out. I bought Shaun clothes also. I bought him this jacket that I fell in love with, but it was so expensive that I couldn't afford anything else for him.

Next was JumpNow. He would never ever be ungrateful to me which is why I wanted to buy him something good. But, I was a crappy shopper so he got a $50 iTunes voucher and a cover for his iPod. I was just thinking about what to buy Andy when I walked bang into him. Speak of the devil.
"Hey," he said, "Last minute shopping?"
"Only one more person buy for," I nodded shoving my list out of the way.
"Who?"
"Not telling."
"Aw, you're no fun."
"Ha, I know."
"Well, see you." Said Andy.
"Bye,"

And I walked away from him now with a burning desire to buy him something special. Andy really meant a lot to me especially these days. I thought and thought but nothing came to mind. So, I bought myself a coffee and sat down to think among the many other last-minute shoppers.

Absent-mindedly I reached up and brushed my fringe out of my face. I need a hair-cut, I thought and then it struck me. I was always complaining about Andy's hair. It annoyed me how messy it was. So, I thought maybe if I bought him something for it he'd do something with his hair.

I gathered up my many bags of shopping and set off towards the hair dressers where I bought Andy the best hair straightener I could find and some hair spray. Merry Christmas, Andy I thought as I set off towards home, glad to be free of the shopping.