“Don’t suppose you’re making tea?” he shouted through. Luckily he couldn’t see my suspicious look. First Christmas songs, now hot drinks?

“Well, I wasn’t…” Their kettle was so annoying—you had to heat it up on a cooker like it was 1825.

“No worries…I was just in the mood for a Christmas tea.” I’d brought some with me. That’s how cool I was. “And no one makes it like you…”

How would he know? He’d never had one. But with the day I was having, I wasn’t exactly in a hurry to chat to Fred about Shakespearean bloodbaths, so I agreed. Plus, I could ask Nick outright why he’d ditched me this morning. I had my suspicions—was I right that he only spent time with me when Elle told him to? And as if I needed another sign I was on to something, when I carried his tea through, he’d gone again.

He wasn’t in his room either. Way to make me feel great.

Surely he’d have told me if there had been a Dottie situation?

Dominic was genuinely the only normal one today.

I left Nick’s tea in his room, settled down on Elle’s bed with my laptop, and waited for Fred to dial. Which he did. On the dot.

I was determined to be as happy as I could—Fred worrying about homework was not normal, and I had a hunch maybe he was sadder about what happened with Elle than he was letting on.

“Punctual?!” I laughed as I hit answer. Fred’s timings were normally just a rough guide.

“I’m a changed man.” It was so good seeing his face again—he always cheered me right up. Although…

“Erm, why are you in my room?” I recognized my wardrobe, all my photos pinned around it—and the now fully dead poinsettia. RIP, Stemi.

“Ah.” Fred rubbed his nose, buying time. “Did I not say?”

I shook my head.

“Sorry. My bad. I just thought if you needed any notes or anything…” He lifted a pile of books. My books.

“Er, okay.” I spotted what he was wearing. My favorite “Son of Nutcracker” top. “I’ll guess I’ll let you off as Mum said you’ve been repping the jumpers.”

He opened his eyes wide and wiggled his fingers just like Will Ferrell did in the film. We both cried, “Santaaaaaaa!” and creased up.

“Maaaan, I’ve missed you guys.” I wiped my mascara from where I’d just smudged it laughing too hard. “I mean, I’m having the best time here.” Don’t mention Woody. Don’t mention Woody. “But if I ask Nick one more time to watch Elf with me, I swear he’ll poke a Christmas tree in my eye.”