How Green Becomes Wood

"Take her out a couple times?" Sloan asked with a raised eyebrow, "You must like her. I hope the two of you have fun, I don't really know much about her."

~~

"I mean..." He glanced anywhere but at Xander, "You're kinda having to learn to cope without a substance that chemically alters your brain. That's, you know. Known to be famously difficult. My mom started smoking to try to stop doing the other stuff."
 
"She's really nice, and not to mention pretty, but I'm not sure I want more than friendship. So, we go out these couple of times, and she's asked for a yes or no, dating or not dating, after that, which I think is fair," Alec said.

"I don't think I've heard of an arrangement like that, but, yeah, seems fair," Becky admitted.

~~

"I am not and never was addicted to smoking," Xander said dryly. "It was a depressant I used at specific times, not all the time. Got any suggestions for something other than smoking, closets, or physical harm?"
 
"It's definitely not something I've heard a lot of people do, but it's probably smarter than dating someone before you're sure. When I was in middle school I had a boyfriend just because he asked, and it never occurred to me I could just say no." Sloan chuckled, and glanced briefly at Austin, nearly asking if he liked anyone, but knew how stressful that question could be, so didn't.

~~

"Sure, but if someone took a shot or two anytime they were stressed, even if they weren't an alcoholic, it'd still be hard to find a way to cope. Not being addicted doesn't mean it's easy to cope without it." Milo replied with a shrug, "But you shouldn't hurt yourself, either. I just... I dunno. Cry alone in my room and go to sleep."
 
Becky heaved a huge, melodramatic sigh. "I think I might say yes to any boy if he asked because no one has asked me yet! It is such a lonely experience, being single."

"Erm," Austin said uncertainly.

Alec chuckled. "Being single isn't so bad."

"Says the guy who could have at least a third of the girls if he asked and currently has one," Becky grumbled.

~~

"I'm not really a crier," Xander said, choosing to move past the addiction thing. It was a sticky subject at the best of times, after all, and while he didn't see anything too bad with his smoking, he didn't think Milo was necessarily wrong, either. He stared at nothing for a bit and then turned back and started walking the way he'd come. "Suppose it's worth a shot. Nothing wrong with trying out advice from a friend."
 
"Trust me, it's better being single than in a bad relationship." Sloan said flatly, "I've been single for most of the year, and it means I won't catch my partner cheating on me. A cold bed is better than how that feels."

~~

"Suppose it's worth crying?" Milo asked to clarify, walking after him, "Probably, and if you can it might help. Don't know if you can force it, but I do think laying in the dark, falling asleep, and not waking up until 2am helps."
 
Austin blushed deeply at that, and Alec was only a couple of shades lighter.

Becky grinned. "Oh, really? I suppose you have some stories about the warm bed?"

Alec caught her arm. "Becky, I don't think that's the kind of story you should be asking for in the middle of hallway!"

"Then you'll call or text me later, right?" Becky giggled.

~~

"The crying," Xander clarified. "I dunno. I guess I do... corners with music. I like my old MP3 player. It's good, but falling asleep on the floor ain't all that it's cracked up to be." He glanced at Milo. "I don't know why you chase after me, but... thanks."
 
Sloan chuckled, glancing away from them, having not recognized until too late what she was confessing to, and she shrugged it off, "Not the best for the hallway, no, but it's..." She paused for a few moments before landing on, "Metaphorical. Lots of guys will say anything to get a girl."

~~

Milo looked back at Xander, even though it was a bit awkward, "You always run after me. Just returing the favor."
 
Becky giggled while Alec rolled his eyes and Austin looked distinctly uncomfortable.

Xander walked over and glanced among the group. "What'd I miss? No," he held up a hand to Becky. "Don't tell me. From the looks on your faces, I don't want to hear it." He glanced at Austin. "Are you good with the homework assignments?" At Austin's nod, he said to Alec, "Then we'd better get going. We're late."

"Alright," Alec agreed.
 
"See you tomorrow," Sloan replied, with a wave as they walked away. Milo hadn't even gotten that far, he hadn't followed Xander back over to the group. Even after all this time they didn't quite feel like his people, but Xander seemed at least a bit more settled, and that was enough.
 
Xander glanced back briefly and gave Milo a quick salute of goodbye. Then they got into the van and headed for home. They didn't talk as Xander drove. There was nothing to talk about. Not right now. There was too much to think about.
 
When the came inside, the house smelled like freshly baked bread and soft music was playing. Sloan may not have known what was coming up, but Dark and Daizi both did, so they tried to make their very haunted house feel more peaceful.

But Ivy, who was not yet born when it first happened, or on the first anniversary, knew nothing about it, and she happily crawled up to the front door when she heard her brothers come home, before either of their parents made it around to ask how they were doing.
 
"Hey, Ivy," Alec greeted her. He quickly kicked off his shoes and touched the salt before scooping her up and hugging her. "How was your day?"

Xander slid off his shoes and touched the salt before offering Ivy a fist bump. "Sup, Mini?"
 
Ivy babbled at Alec, holding onto his face happily. When Xander spoke to her, she squeaked loudly and returned his fist bump.

"Hey," Daizi said softly, coming around the corner, "How was school?"
 
Alec shrugged and pulled Ivy into a hug. "It was... okay," he mumbled.

"Not much to report. No food fights or battles in the hall," Xander said, coming farther into the house.

"It smells good in here," Alec remarked.
 
Immediately, Ivy snuggled back in, letting go of his face so she could wrap her arms around his neck. She just liked the attention.

"Dark and I decided to attempt brioche," Daizi explained. As she paused, the desperate sounds of Dark cleaning filled the air, "I'm not sure if it worked. But the house smells lovely, and we'll be able to try it soon."
 
The twins both turned to look toward the kitchen.

"Um, does he need help?" Alec asked uncertainly, shifting his hold on Ivy so he could hold her more securely. She was getting heavy!

"I'll go help," Xander said. He took his backpack and Alec's and carried them toward the stairs. "What's brioche?"
 
"I was helping before you came in," Daizi said, turning her head that way, "we had... a bit of an incident... with the stand mixer."

The kitchen was almost comically covered in flour. Along with it were some irritating splotches of batter, but those were mostly contained around the bowl of the cursed machine and on the cruel dough hooks.

"It's a type of bread," Daizi added, leaning against the archway, "with lots of butter."
 
Alec and Xander peered into the kitchen, Alec making certain to keep a firm hold on Ivy. The last thing they needed was a flour-covered mini crawling around the house.

"Right," Xander said, at a loss of what else to say.

"I see," Alec agreed.

Xander pushed up his sleeves and stepped into the kitchen. "Let's get this sorted, then, before some kids show up thinking this is the savory version of Hantsle and Gretel."

Alec turned away and headed for the living room. "Mama, would you rather I help clean or keep Ivy occupied?"
 
"She seems really content with you," Daizi said, only knowing how bad it was by the flour she was pretty sure was still in her hair, "It might be best to keep her, for now. I was working on washing out our mixing bowl."

Dark glanced up only briefly, giving a wonderful impression of how he'd look when his beard and hair began to go grey.
 
"Alright. Come on, Ivy. Let's play and snuggle," Alec said, carrying her over to their usual place to see which she'd want to do.

"Ba, you take cleanliness far too seriously," Xander said with a completely straight face, going to get a broom. "Really, it's okay to have a little mess. Flour sweeps up. It's not worth going grey in a few seconds over."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top