Jason looked at him.“Not like that, but this wasn’t planned?Just…Raven, are youokay?”
Maxim walked over to Jason and put a hand on his shoulder.“You were about to give me a tour of the room.I should like to see the shelves.And perhaps the bathroom.Do you clean it?”
“Yeah.Raven’s a fucking nuisance about cleaning the shower.We have a dedicated bottle of vinegar to get the water stains off the tiles.”
“Do you object to a clean shower, Jason?”
A nervous chuckle broke out of Jason.“Are you joking again?”
Maxim shrugged.“Not particularly.”
Maxim kept Jason talking.It wasn’t hard.Jason was one of those people who could keep a conversation going all by himself and failed to get offended or upset by most things.When he was done with the tour of the admittedly small room, Maxim got him to show him the photographs again: the ones he’d taken with Raven during various outings, the ones he’d shown him when he’d first been looking for Raven, frustrated that no one seemed to care, that no one seemed to want to do anything.
“…and this was the department party.Not really a party, just orientation for the freshmen and free food.I was volunteered to help.”He pointed.“By that guy.”
“That paper hat suits you, Jason,” Maxim said, though he looked at Raven smiling just behind Jason in the selfie while piling a plate with food, wearing a similarly ridiculous hat.
“You have a bad case of the sarcasm, Mr.Vallois.Anyone ever tell you that?”
“Oh, on a regular basis.Say, could you do me a favor?”He dug out his wallet and handed Jason a bill.“Head to the nearest bookstore.Find me either the newest Kawaii Demon Hunter whatever or some of the more unusual science fiction and fantasy that is appropriate for younger readers.”
Jason narrowed his eyes again.“You want me…to buy children’s books for you?And manga?”
“No.Books anyone can read but without themes that will deeply scar younger readers.And the manga.Just use your best judgment.”
Jason looked at the bill.“You want me to spend all of this?On books?”
“Most of it, if you please.”
“Dude, you’re really weird, Mr.Vallois.”
“Thank you.”
“Whatever.”
Jason grabbed his jacket and opened the door, but stopped before he headed out.“Raven, I’m glad you’re back, okay?I was just super worried, but I’m glad.Whatever happened, you’re home now.”
Maxim saw Raven’s brow furrow, saw him flinch slightly as the door closed behind Jason.Calmly and slowly, Maxim walked toward the bed and sank to the floor to sit cross-legged where Raven could see him.
“He’s a good roommate, is he not?”
It took at least a dozen slow, vampiric heartbeats, but in the end, Raven nodded.“I didn’t volunteer him though.He wanted to help out.He likes being in the middle of things.”
“That sounds about right.Did you enjoy that party?”
Raven shrugged.The movement was tense, much like most of Raven’s muscles.“It was for the freshmen, like he said.I don’t—I’m not that outgoing, but it was all right.”He heaved a sigh.“I can’t stay here, can I?”
Maxim was tempted to look away.He was tempted to lie.He was tempted to meddle so much with everyone and everything around Raven that he would be able to continue school, at least for a time.That would make it worse though, in the end.
So he kept facing Raven and said, “It might not be the most ideal setup for you at the moment.”
Tears filled Raven’s eyes.Then they ran over and soaked into the pillow.“Right.”
“Likely, you’ll be able to return to your studies.Perhaps in a few months.Or maybe I can have an internship arranged for you, something that will make it so a semester off will not hold you back much.”
Raven sniffled.“Doesn’t matter.I’m… It doesn’t matter anymore.”
It was Maxim’s turn to sigh.“Raven, do not give up.Take back the power they thought they had over you.Take back your very self.Do not give up.”
