Miracle Mirage (Draft One)

The First Snowfall

A/N: sorry for finishing this after christmas. too busy being sexy 

A/N: unsatisfied with images. They will be replaced!

Max and Ray were sitting on a bench next to Max's dorm hall. It was a chilly day out, and it looked like it was about to rain.

"These last few weeks have been so long and tiring," Max sighed, "How did you do on your exams?"

"I did fine." Ray shrugged, "But it doesn't really matter as long as I can stay in school, my life back home is far more important. I'm only here until we can get rid of the threat and then I'm going back to Serene Isles. It doesn't really matter if I actually graduate."

"What do you do anyways?"

"Computer stuff. As long as I'm here, I may as well indulge in my interests."

"I'm in graphic design. Still had to get the basic classes out of the way. So you're also a freshman?"

"I'm a sophomore." Ray said, "I took some classes back home for a few years."

"Oh." Max nodded, "For some reason, I assumed that you were the same as me."

"I think I'm two years older. Not that it really matters," Ray looked at her watch, "My flight does leave soon, I think, so I'll have to go soon."

"Are you going home for the holidays too?"

"I can't with everything going on. We have detected some sort of magic energy near a small town a few hours away, so I'm going there to check it out. I think the town is Oakfall."

"Oakfall?" Max smiled, "I live there. Maybe we'll bump into each other."

"Maybe," Ray sighed, "I'll most likely not even have much to do. They're not letting me in on as much information as they used to for whatever reason. It's a little worrying, but I probably won't have anything I have to do for a while."

"Then maybe they'll at least let you go home to your family for a bit." Max smiled, "I'm sure they miss you after all this time."

"Don't feel bad for me. I wouldn't go see them anyways." 

"Oh... why not?" 

"It's not something I want to talk about." Ray sighed, "I really don't know you well."

"Oh." Max looked down, "Sorry. You don't have to tell me. But if you ever want to talk about it, you can. If you do ever want someone to spend the holidays with though, I wouldn't be opposed to it."

"I appreciate your offer, but don't expect me to call. As I said, we don't really know each other well."

"I see." Max sighed.

"Can I ask you something, though? Have you noticed James acting weird?"

"I haven't seen him since I first met him. Why?"

"You talk to Julius a lot now so I figured you talked to James too," Ray took a deep breath, "I just have trouble picking up on these sorts of things so I wasn't really sure, but lately he's been really... affectionate? I don't know. He's not doing anything bad, but it still makes me a bit uncomfortable."

"Maybe I should mention it to Julius. I think he might like you from the sounds of it, but I wouldn't know either."

"Don't. I can handle this myself. He did ask me if you and Julius were a thing yet."