“Oh my god,” I groaned. “Shaw, take it off.”

                “EVERYBODY TAKE IT OFF!” Shaw sang, dancing around my bedroom and doing inappropriate dance moves.

                “Don’t look,” I told Jude sternly, trying to cover his eyes. He hissed in protest and I pouted, holding him in my arms tightly so he wouldn’t dart out of my room and leave me alone with Shaw.

                There was a knock on my bedroom door and I groaned, praying it wasn’t my grandpa. I could just imagine him shooting Shaw, thinking he was some Japanese stripper or something.

                “Why are you groaning?” Maxx asked, stepping into my room with Chandler following behind him.

                “Chandler, control your boyfriend,” I begged, gesturing helplessly at Shaw.

                “Shaw, what the hell are you wearing?” Chandler asked, face-palming himself.

                “What? It’s festive!” Shaw argued.

                He was wearing a Santa hat and a costume that reminded me of Buddy the elf. I was seriously scarred for life.

                “But some real clothes on,” Chandler said with a sigh.

                “Please,” Maxx added, coming over and covering my eyes. “You’re scaring Mark.”

                “Fine! You people are jerks!” Shaw whined, grabbing some of my clothes and leaving to change.

                Maxx pulled his hands away from my face and sat down, pulling me into his lap. He kissed me deeply and smiled.

                “Merry Christmas,” he said cheerfully.

                “I’m actually really surprised you guys are even here,” I said, looking at him and Chandler. “Shaw come every year, but I figured you guys would spend the day with your family.”

                Maxx shook his head. “Nah. My dad had for Christmas Eve yesterday, but my mom has me today. She told me I could come here, as long as I was happy,” he explained, smiling at me.

                “I can’t stay long, but my parents did let me come .They like us to be together on Christmas though, so I only have an hour or so. Besides, Ariel was upset that I was leaving at all,” Chandler said with a shrug.

                “I’m back!” Shaw announced, coming into my bedroom in regular clothes. He still had the Santa hat on, but I could live with that. Not the elf costume. The elf costume was just creepy.

                “Oh god,” Chandler moaned.

                “You better not pout, you better not cry, you better not shout, I’m going in dry!” Shaw sang happily, going over and kissing Chandler.

                “You’re so weird,” Maxx said, laughing.

                “You’re in a good mood,” I said, smiling at him and kissing him.

                Maxx nodded. “Yes I am! My dad and I were getting along last night,” he said.

                My smile grew and I hugged him. “Good,” I said honestly. Maxx and his dad had had a fragile relationship ever since Maxx had told him off. I knew how much Maxx loved his parents, so I was beyond relieved that things were getting better between him and his dad.

                “So what did you get me for Christmas Marky?” Shaw asked, grabbing Chandler’s hand and smiling at me brightly.

                “My friendship. You should consider a gift with the way you act and dress,” I said with a sigh.

                “Oh! That was mean,” Shaw said with a frown.

                He turned to Chandler and the smile reappeared on his face. “What about you, oh lovely and rich boyfriend of mine. What did you get me?”

                Chandler smirked. “I got you something. Come with me and I’ll give it to you,” he said with a wink, pulling Shaw out of my bedroom.

                “Okay, ew. They’re cleaning the bathroom before they leave,” I said with a pout.

                Maxx chuckled and kissed me deeply. “Hey, are you okay?” he asked with a frown. “I know your parents are away. My first Christmas after my parents divorced, I was upset that I had to be split between them. Hell, I cried at my mom’s house that year. But I can’t even imagine my parents not being with me at all.”

                “It’s not the first time this has happened,” I said with a sigh. “I’m just really glad you’re here. Shaw comes over every year. He knows I get kind of lonely when my parents aren’t here.”

                Maxx held me tighter and kissed me. “I don’t ever want you to be lonely,” he said.

                I rested my head on his shoulder and smiled at him. “I’m not lonely anymore. I promise,” I said, kissing Maxx’s neck. “I love you Maxx. So much.”

                “I didn’t get your anything, because instead, I’m going to take you on the most amazing date of your life tomorrow,” Maxx said, smiling at me and kissing me.

                I smiled at him and dug around in my pocket, producing a small, wrapping box. I handed it to Maxx and he opened it curiously.

                “Mark…thank you. I love you,” he whispered, looking at the golden chain with an “M” hanging on it.

                “Shut up. It’s not much,” I said and laughed. “I just wanted to get you something.”

                “Well I love it. I honestly have always wanted a chain with an ‘M’ on it, but my mom never got me one,” he said with a pout. He put the necklace on and kissed me deeply.

                I deepened the kiss, biting his bottom lip. He opened his mouth and I slipped my tongue it, rubbing it against his.

                Maxx pushed my back on my bed and crawled on top of me, his weight comfortable and familiar. His hands began to roam my body eagerly.

                Hey, if Shaw could have some fun on Christmas, then so could I!

                As if he had heard my thoughts, Shaw came bursting into my bedroom. He smirked at me and shook his head.

                “Mark, Mark, Mark. You dirty boy!” he said, winking at me.

                “You’re the one who just got a blow job from Chandler. Zip up your pants Shaw,” I said, raising an eyebrow at him.

                He blushed as he zipped up his pants, which I suddenly remembered were actually mine, and smiled at me. He shrugged innocently. “Hey, it was a nice Christmas present.”

                “Yes it was,” Chandler said, grinning and wrapping his arms around Shaw’s waist.

                “Gross,” Maxx said with a sigh, rolling over and pulling me into his arms. “I guess snow isn’t the only white stuff this Christmas.”

                I chuckled and smiled at my friends, glad I wasn’t alone today. “I love you guys,” I said. I turned over and kissed Maxx. “Especially you.”

                “Merry Christmas Mark,” Maxx said, smiling at me lovingly.