I sighed. I’d explained it before, but maybe it was worth one more try. “It’s not about finding someone, Ruby. I don’t need a someone. This is about being with him. Even if that makes no sense to anyone else.” I wished they could understand how much I liked him. “It’s literally all I want for Christmas.”

“And the whole, erm, compelling thing?” Fred was too kind to say the word “exciting”; he knew it had been a trigger word since the cinema, so he had found thesaurus alternatives. “Are we over that?”

Well, no, but I didn’t want them thinking I was a pushover. “I just need to show him that he was wrong. That’s all. In fact, maybe I already have?”

Ruby laughed. “Says the girl who’s already shared her suggested itinerary spreadsheet for every day of the Christmas holidays…”

“And?” I folded my arms.

“…And who once had the same cereal every day for a year?”

“I meant ‘and what?’ Not ‘and please tell me more, Rubes.’” I threw a pillow at her. What was wrong with routine? And lists? And lists about routines?!

But Ruby threw the pillow straight back. “But that’s the point, you nugget. We think you’re the best, the actual best, exactly as you are.”

Fred sat on the bed behind her. “Yup, we loved everything about this year’s itinerary.” He did a tiny cough. “All one hundred and twenty-four color-coordinated rows.”

I huffed. Well, huffed and smiled. They knew I loved it when Ruby said stuff like that. And when anyone complimented my spreadsheet skills.

“Well…” I sat on the floor by Fred’s feet and opened the Pringles. Ruby had gone back to checking her phone. “If we were all spontaneous Meeras, the world would be very dull.” Meera had just started at our neighboring school, and literally every day, there was some new news about her. She just got a sponsor for her snowboarding! She ordered sushi in actual Japanese! She was interviewed on BBC News after crowd-surfing at a climate change protest! Quite frankly, it was exhausting even hearing about her.

But Meera could wait.

How had I only just noticed the Jenga was pushed to one side, and Ruby was surrounded by what looked like bits from Fred’s garden path?

“Don’t ask.” Ruby saw my confused stare.

“They’re powerful crystals.” Fred bent down and picked one up. “Dad’s magazine said they could make stuff happen.”

“Oh yes.” Ruby sounded entirely unconvinced. “Especially if they’re from the spiritual site of your back garden.” She picked one up and eyed it suspiciously before turning her attention back to me. Guess that was the life-changing development Fred had been excited about.