“You looked really out of it over there. Thinking about Winter?”

Chris shook his head. “No, not really.”

This time, at least.

“I'll be completely frank with you, Christopher--”

“What a shock.”

“I don't believe an inch of you. Can’t you just call her so you can calm down already?”

“Great plan, except I don't have her number, nor do I know anyone who does,” Chris sighed, exasperated, and fixed the strap of the bag over his shoulder. “And I don’t know where she is, either,” he added before Daniel could ask – again. “She graduated last year, so she’s probably back home, no? For now, anyway.”

“Well, then call the cafe and ask.”

“Sure, 'cause that's not creepy at all. If I were you, I’d worry about the pop quiz we had today.”

“Yeah, but I’m not.” Daniel stretched, his eyes closed. Chris shook his head, feeling a light smile coming on. Of course, Daniel could afford slacking off – he didn't even have to suck up to pass. Chris shuddered to think what would happen if his friend wasn’t trying to hide how smart he was; he would probably be transferred straight up to university.

...And probably beat Chris at everything, a task not in itself difficult, considering that Chris’s only strong subjects were history and the specific science-theory behind Ice magic (a laughably small portion of biology, but he’d made it into a point to know more than the teachers themselves on the subject.They hadn't liked that.)

Chris asked, “So, how was Julia? Did you have another argument?”

Daniel stared at the building blankly. “Just a continuation of yesterday’s. But we’re still going out, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“I suppose that qualifies as good?”

Daniel ignored his question. “Hey, do you have your notes from history? I want to see if I can memorize something before lunch.”

“Hold on.”