"Who are you writing to?" Max asked just as Thea signed her name and slipped the letter in an envelope she had brought down. She would go to the owlery later, Thea didn't particularly want to go outside into the frigid weather just to deliver a letter.

"I was writing to Nina. Letting her know about the tournament and how Cedric and I won't be home for Christmas this year."

"Yeah. It's going to feel weird to not go home this year for Christmas, we are staying at school for Christmas!" 

"I know!"

"Speaking of which are we going together or has someone asked you?" Max asked curiously.

"No-one has asked me out but if they do, you will the first person to know."

"Same."

"Now, with no Sadie here, you can answer honestly. Do you want Alexander to ask you to the Yule Ball, yes or no?"

"Yes."

"Oh, M. My daughter is all grown up and being honest with people," Thea shouted pulling on Max's cheek and then dodging the swipe across the face that Max sent her way.

"I don't even know why I'm still friends with you."

"Because you would miss me too much," Thea replied grinning. "Anyway, what are you going to wear?"

"Clothes," Max replied grinning just as widely.

"Ok-ok. You got me there. Well, I am glad you are wearing clothes because if you didn't things could get a bit awkward. Although I'm sure Alexander wouldn't mind."

"THEODORA DIGGORY!" 

"What has Thea done now?" The two girls jumped as they turned to see Alexander standing behind them. 

"How long have you been standing there?" Max asked turning slightly pink.

"Long enough.

"Oh god."

Alexander sat in the corridor with Marquis contemplating whether or not to ask Max to the Yule Ball. Her and Thea were in the library studying but Alexander couldn't find the courage to step in there and ask Max. Alexander had had a crush on Max for ages but didn't know if she felt the same way. If she said yes what would he do? What about if she said no? That was something Alexander didn't want to think about. 

"Just go in there and do it, Alexander."

"But what if she says no, Marquis?"

"But what if she says yes, Alexander?"

"But-"Alexander started before Marquis cut him off.

"At least your situation is easier than mine at the moment. You've known Max forever but whoever I ask if I do ever ask someone will be someone who I don't know very well and I don't even know if they are gay or not."

"True, sorry Marquis."

"That's okay, Alexander," Marquis replied smiling but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Now get in there and ask your girl out."

"Okay.....I'm going now," Alexander replied not moving.

"Are you going now?" Marquis asked curiously observing Alexander's feet that were still stuck in the same place.

"Yes....."

"Are you sure."

"Yes!" Alexander began to move towards the door, a puddle of nerves, hoping she would say yes.

He spotted the girls sitting at a table in the corner discussing something with their backs turned to him as he got closer he could hear what they were saying. 

Do you want Alexander to ask you to the Yule Ball, yes or no?"

"Yes," Max replied filling Alexander with happiness. 

"Oh, M. My daughter is all grown up and being honest with people," Thea shouted pulling on Max's cheek and then dodging the swipe across the face that Max sent her way.

"I don't even know why I'm still friends with you."

"Because you would miss me too much," Thea replied grinning. "Anyway, what are you going to wear?"

"Clothes," Max replied grinning just as widely. Alexander loved her sense of humour as well as the other parts of her personality. 

"Ok-ok. You got me there. Well, I am glad you are wearing clothes because if you didn't things could get a bit awkward. Although I'm sure Alexander wouldn't mind." 

"THEODORA DIGGORY!"

"What has Thea done now?" Alexander asked deciding to announce his presence to the girls. He watched amused as they jumped a foot in the air in shock. 

"How long have you been standing there?" Max asked turning slightly pink.

"Long enough," Alexander replied grinning. 

"Oh god."

"It's okay, Max." Alexander started. "In fact, Marquis just pushed me through the door of the library. I've been meaning to ask you something for a while."

Max gasped and Thea nodded encouragingly at Alexander from behind Max's back.

"Max, will you come with me to the Yule Ball?"

Max just gasped like a goldfish out of the water almost unable to speak. 

"I've liked you for a long time, Max. I should have asked you out a long time ago. Will you come to the Yule Ball with me?"

Thea grinned happily, hoping that things for her two best friends would work out. Alexander looked at Max as she finally gained some composure. 

"Yes! Yes! I would love to." Max replied jumping into Alexander's arms hugging him.

"Good. I'm glad."

Max and Alexander sat down and started to discuss something avidly. Thea wandered off wanting to give them some privacy, she needed to look for a book anyway.

"Thea?"

Thea looked over to see James reading.

"Hey, James. How are you."

"I'm good, thanks. You?"

"Well, my plans for the Yule Ball just went out the window."

"What happened?"

"Oh, it's nothing too bad. I was going with Max as friends but she is now going with Alexander one of my other friends who she has had a crush on for ages."

"That's good."

"Yeah. Maybe I'll just go with Sadie or Marquis as friends if they don't get a date as well."

"I don't have anyone to go with either."

"You don't?"

"No," James said. "We could go together, as friends I mean."

"I would love to."

"Cool, I'll see you there, Thea."

"Awesome."