Recent content by BookKnight

"I'll eat it," Xander offered. "I like banana bread." "And he'll eat almost anything," Alec said as cheerfully as he could manage. He wasn't going to upset Ivy. "Are you enjoying squishing bananas, Mini?" Kiki came trotting into the room and started demanding Alec's attention until he...

Xander put his backpack near the door leading down, and Alec put his backpack leading up. They headed into the kitchen and watched Ivy for a bit. "What are you making?" Alec asked with a small smile. "Potatoes?" Now he really couldn't talk about it. Xander didn't say anything, just leaned...

Yep. That's the talk I needed. Thank you. You are absolutely correct. Thanks. Alec took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds. Rip the bandage off! He could do that. He could do that! He could... not sit here imagining his father's expression when he told them what had happened...

Alec thought about that. This isn't exactly the pep talk I was hoping for, but you have a point. I'm just worried that if I leave it too long, I won't find the courage, or worse things will happen, or... I don't know. Do you think I should sleep on it?

Exactly! So I have to tell them. They'll undoubtedly find out eventually, and better I just tell them, but I really don't want to, Alec admitted.

Xander accepted Milo's offer, and sitting under the bleachers with Milo did help him calm down. He finished eating rather quickly, and then he laid down and stared at the underside of the seats above, just resting in silence. He knew what he wanted to do, but he was not certain if his idea was...

"Okay," Alec said with a nod. "Don't worry about it." He was confused between feeling disappointed and relieved. If Milo had heard, Alec could have asked him to be a witness if need be. But if Milo had heard... Alec would need to ask him to do something he would absolutely, 1000% hate, but...

"I know," Alec nodded to Milo's statement that he took some things seriously. His mother, for one, the extent he went to be ignored and/or forgotten, and things like that, but he saw no reason to start listing things out. "I'll let you know. By the way, could you hear anything?"

"Milo, my friend, you are not one to make a big deal of just about anything. You are My-Low," Alec said dryly. "Anyway, we should get to our next class. I need to think about what to do next."

Alec looked at Milo for a long moment. Then he smiled and reached out to give Milo a fast, one-armed hug, made even more awkward by their backpacks. He was quick to let go and not make it more awkward. "You are a good guy, Milo. A really good guy. It's okay, though. I really don't mind you...

Alec gave him a weak smile. "It's okay. The good news is your grade is fine. You completely earned it."

Xander shook his head as he strode past. "I don't want to talk about it." When he reached the opposite side of the hall, he stopped long enough to pull out a stress ball and started squeezing the life out of it. Alec walked more slowly, his face pinched with uncertainty and worry. "I... will...

"I'll try to be quick," Alec assured her. "The thing is, I'm not sure why I deserve this grade. The rubric says that my sources aren't right, but I checked during class, and I'm positive I did them all right. Did I actually do them wrong?" The teacher sighed and set down her pencil. "They...

"Yeah, that's true!" Alec smiled. Xander grunted and stretched out. He had the same suspicions Alec did, but he didn't dare to say anything, either. After class, Alec gathered his courage to approach the teacher with Xander trailing behind. "Ma'am? I have some questions, please." She...

Xander nodded. "Very true. We'll talk after class. Worst thing, you get some clarity." Alec smiled at them both. "Thanks for the backup and making me feel like I'm not crazy to think this might be a wrong grade."