A/N: SOOO sorry for the hugely long wait. It's less than an hour until Tuesday and I have been on school holidays for two weeks (I went back today). I told myself I would write, write, write on these holidays, but somehow never got around to it! I started this chapter like a month ago and now I'm finishing it. In actual truth, I have been writing this story, a lot – just FUTURE chapters. Some of them quite far in the future that I've been excited about!

I have been reduced to ONE review. Where have my other (very few) usual reviewers gone? I hope my lack of updating has not lost me any reviewers!

And guys, I want to ask your permission (I have no idea why) to use their solo songs as titles for chapters, because eventually I will run out of appropriate and fitting Beatles songs and will need to use them. Also, some solo songs have very fitting titles.

Chapter 27 – Can't Buy Me Love

I was kicking myself. Not literally, but you know what I mean. I had barely spent any time with my friends these holidays, and it had been nearly three weeks. Christmas was in seven days – this time next week. We had organised between us to meet up in the city today. It was Thursday and it was swelteringly hot. There was no other option apart from shorts and a tank top. The bus was late, much to my chagrin, as I had to wait in the unbearable heat. When the bus came, it was one of the old ones with the less effective air-conditioners. My day was not starting out well. We met up outside Hungry Jacks, as you do, and immediately headed for the nearest place with a cold drink to quench our thirst.

"So, what's been happening with you guys?" Anna asked.
"Not much, really," I replied, "I've been lazing around in the air-conditioning mostly. I haven't even seen Max that much."
"WELL," Patrick exaggeratingly started, "I went to the beach last week with Scott, Josh and Dan."
Remember Daniel? The other one who claimed to 'love' me? I haven't mentioned him in a while, mainly because I haven't had much to do with him. He still catches the bus with Prue and I every day and he's in a few of my classes, but apart from that I don't really see him. He's friends with Patrick, though… obviously.
"What about you, Prue?" Anna asked. Prudence – she was still a difficult subject. She hadn't completely recovered emotionally from whatever had happened to her, and she was still a little bit distant. It took Anna quite some convincing to get her to come today.
"Not much," she replied in a soft voice, "Just fighting with Dex and Cec."
Dexter and Cecilia are Prue's twelve-year-old twin siblings. 'Cec' was pronounced Cess as a nickname.
"Of course," Anna and Patrick smiled. I found it hard to understand that, as I was an only child. At least I could relate to Max in that department. Well, not for long…

Am I weird for liking to show off how much I know about my friends? Am I too cocky and conceited? Oh, what the heck. I'll tell you all about my three main friends (even though it's probably a bit late now). You know Patrick Angus James Donaldson (red-headed, chocolate-brown-eyed, only just taller than me) has an older sister Erin and a younger sister Brighid (pronounced 'breed') – they were born in Ireland. Their parents Karen and Mitch were born here in Australia, but lived there for seven years. Erin's seventeen, Brighid's twelve and, of course, Patrick's fifteen. Patrick's birthday is June 29th. His favourite colour is orange and his favourite bands are Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd (way cool – I'm so glad that he doesn't like crap modern stuff). He also mildly likes The Beatles too! Good thing he does, or he might have a slim chance at being my friend. Also, he LOVES Mexican food – which is probably why we were later being dragged into Salsa's. Overall, Patrick is – now – one of my best friends. He is so sweet, he doesn't come close to any of those dickhead teenage guys you know exist these days. He comes second only to Max. In fact, I might have had a crush on him in the early days…

My other best friend is Anna Brielle Rowley. She has unruly and thick short dark chestnut hair and cerulean blue eyes. She is shorter than me, being an average height for a fifteen-year-old. Without really trying, she looks pretty. Unlike me. Anna has an older brother, Nicholas, who's eighteen. I used to have a crush on him… Anna's birthday is February 11th, making her the eldest in our group. Her favourite colours are purple and baby blue and she loves, loves, loves sci-fi and fantasy themed stuff. I would say she is my best friend, being only slightly higher than Patrick on my Ladder of Friendship (remember, I've mentioned it before?).

Then there's Prue. Prudence Leigh Clarendon. I like to call her 'Poo' when she's being difficult. She's my Rapunzel – long thick blonde hair and blue eyes. She's a September baby – 3rd to be precise. She's practically a midget. Like, I'm talking 140 centimetres midget. She has 14-year-old twin siblings, Dexter and Cecilia. Her favourite colour is 'fuchsia next to lemon'. She loves baking – she makes us muffins and biscuits. Well, at least she used to. She's changed. I don't know exactly what's happened to make her be like she is, but Anna knows. So does Molly. I don't. It's quite depressing, really. It's so heartbreaking not to know, especially when I see the bruises on her face that no one else can see. Luckily, she didn't have any today or I would be doing some serious interrogating. If only she would open up to me…

My friends were always on my mind. Prue's situation popped up quite often. But recently, it's been Anna and Patrick. They were acting like they were never a couple, just laughing and hanging out like best friends. I had a very strong inkling that something else was attached to their relationship – and their breakup, for that matter. It nagged at me and I wanted desperately to know, but neither Anna nor Patrick would tell me. Obviously it was something between them, but I can't help feeling that it might have something to do with me. Their conversation that I overheard in the last week of school kind of gave it away.

The heat was overbearing so we decided to find air-conditioned refuge – and Target was the best place to find that. We ran around, playing hide-and-seek amongst the shelves and racks like little kids. Then I remembered that I needed to do some Christmas shopping. Max and I had a short, awkward discussion about presents.
"Max, are we… you know, getting each other presents?" I asked awkwardly.
"I suppose so," he replied without looking at me, "We're boyfriend and girlfriend, aren't we?"
And that was the end of the conversation.

I had no idea what he was going to get me, or what 'level' it would be on but I could rule out jewellery and clothing. He'd probably get me something from the two dollar shop. Anna, Patrick and Prue were less than thrilled to help me look for something for him. But eventually they found amusement out of finding various objects they thought would be a suitable present (such as a granny nightie or baby toy). I eventually found something that I could get him, not extravagant and not cheap and nasty – a Beatles book. I had seen the bookcase in his room and, surprisingly, there was not one Beatles book. I thought it was the perfect idea. My goofball friends agreed.

At the end of the day, everyone decided to come back to my house (consulting with their parents, of course). We caught the bus to my house. When we got there, we were greeted by Banjo, our new otterhound. Otterhounds are extremely rare, so we're lucky to have him. Anna, Patrick and Prue cooed over him and wouldn't stop snuggling him. It was soon getting late (and all they had done whilst being at my house was play with Banjo) and everyone caught the bus home. I decided to pack – pack for the holiday we were going on in two days. We were going to Perth to spend Christmas with Mum's family and then to Sydney for Dad's family. Tomorrow would be the last time I would see Max for two weeks. I loved Christmas.

The next day, we went over to the Edisons' house for a Christmas brunch. Max kissed me as soon as we stepped into the door, much to my chagrin. I felt awkward and uncomfortable kissing in front of our parents. They usually snickered or made unnecessary comments. Today they awed. We ventured into the dining room where Joan had elaborately set up the table with a Christmas-themed table cloth and her good plates and cutlery sets. There were wine glasses and patterned serviettes at each of the six places too.

"The turkey will be ready in a few more minutes," Bob announced, holding tongs and wearing a Christmas apron. They had been barbequing it most of the day. We were in charge of dessert – pavlova (ew) and Drumsticks.

Bob brought the turkey inside and cut it in the kitchen using the electric knife. Joan looked in her element hosting an elaborate brunch as she daintily placed the turkey in the middle of the table. Bob brought a basket of bread rolls, some gravy and a pot of steaming vegetables to the table as well. Mum uncorked the wine and poured it in hers, Dad's and Bob's glasses. Joan was unhappy about not being able to have wine.
"Bloody baby," she joked, looking at her stomach, and everyone laughed.
Max and had Fronti, a 'non-alcoholic grape drink' which I called kid wine, in our glasses, as did Joan. Everyone soon dug in and helped themselves to whatever was on the table. Dad's and Bob's plates were piled high. Mum had the least on her plate. Joan and I had around the same amount and Max had a little less than the dads. Bob put Christmas music on the computer to listen to whilst we ate, drank and were merry. The dads were in conversation at opposite ends of the table, as were the mums next to each other on one side. However, Max and I, adjacent on the other side, ate in silence. We didn't know what to talk about. Well, in front of our parents. The only thing we had to talk about was how well we were getting along with our powers – not the type of thing they needed to hear. Max cleared his throat beside me and said, "Been practising?"
"Not practising, per se," I replied casually, "I like to call it 'utilising my powers'."
"Shhh!" he shushed me. I said the p word. How dare I.
"Wanna see something?" he whispered excitedly to me. I nodded enthusiastically and his hand made a movement under the table. It started snowing lightly on my (thankfully finished) plate. Max hadn't mastered snow yet! And now he had!
"You can do snow?" I asked him excitedly.
"Yep," he smiled, proud of himself. He stopped quickly before the parents saw. I needn't remind him how risky it was for him to have done that just then.

After brunch and dessert, it was time for presents. Mum got the Edisons a family present and vice versa, but Max and I got each other gifts. Joan handed Mum a present, which turned out to be a nice plate – Mum loved it. Mum gave Joan their present from us, which was a Christmas nibbles bowl with a Santa hanging over the edge – Joan loved that too. Then it was time for the awkward exchange of gifts between Max and I. I took the plunge and handed mine to him first. He gingerly unwrapped it and when he was it was a Beatles book he seemed to perk up a bit (he probably thought I was getting him a random crap book).
"Aw, thanks babe!" he hugged me, though I disliked it when he called me babe.
He handed my present to me. I was a bit unsure at first what it was. It turned out to be a photo album decorated with Beatles pictures on the front. I thought it was pretty dodgy at first but when Max told me to open it, I saw how much thought and effort he had put into it. The title page said "Sadie and her Cronies" and there was a picture of me looking less than attractive, pulling a silly face. The next page contained pictures of Max and I as well as pictures of my friends, pictures of me, and pictures of my friends and I. Only about five pages were filled.
"The rest is for you to fill in," Max explained sweetly. I reached over and immediately hugged him and thanked him. I love the present. It symbolised that small, sentimental things like that were what was needed if I was to eventually love him. We ended up kissing. This first Christmas having a boyfriend went better than I had initially feared.

A/N: Sorry for it being so short and fluffy and crappy, but the next chapter (Christmas) should be fun, shouldn't it? Review please guys!