How Green Becomes Wood

"Don't worry sweet baby," Daizi cooed, smoothing Ivy's hair, "He'll learn how fun it is to spend time with his sister."

"But when she is?" Dark asked, pulling into the parking lot, "Xander still gets the front seat? And I fully believe she will be tall." He found this to be definite. And in his defense, although didn't yet weigh twenty pounds, she was getting long.
 
"Xander would totally hoist her out of his seat if she tried to steal it," Alec snickered as he got out of the car and shut the door. Then he opened the door again and grabbed his backpack. Then he closed the door and headed for the gym. "See you later! Have a good day!"
 
"You too," Dark said, heading towards the teacher's lounge.

As Alec entered the gym, Milo stepped out just slightly from underneath the bleachers, having begun to watch for the twins, but seeing only one, he stopped short of saying hello, trying to figure out the situation. But he remembered well the day before, and so asked, "Did Xander get in trouble or did he break his hand?"
 
Alec frowned a little and shifted his backpack, not because he was annoyed at Milo, but the reminder did bring up some worry. He shook himself and tried to smile. "Xander's okay. He did get into trouble, and he won't be here for the next nine days. It's just going to be me for now."
 
Alec considered this thought and glanced around for Sloan. They didn't always hang out in the morning, but sometimes they did. Not seeing her immediately, he nodded. "Sure, why not? Do you have a good spot under there?"
 
"Sometimes I have to shoo away couples who want to stick their tongues down each others throats, but mostly it's mine," He said, walking underneath. With one hand he fished around for a booklight, and leading Alec underneath, he directed it at the underside of one seat, where he had carved in his name, "When I move again, there will be this little thing in some forgotten space nobody but other losers like me will ever see. There's my immortality." He looked at Alec, "I'm not calling you a loser, being invited to a place like this is different from burrowing into them."
 
Alec shrugged. On a better day, he would have prodded Milo into more detail about his life, but today he was focused on keeping himself together. "I don't think you're a loser. Especially not for finding cool places like this." He reached up and brushed his hand over Milo's name. "Color would be cool here. Maybe a couple of pillows. Not too much stuff or it'd be found by the janitor, but what if you got those chair seat pillows that could be tied down and tie them to the bleachers until you want them? It would keep them out of the way."
 
"I've thought about it," Milo admitted, "but that's a lot to carry and collect when the roof gives in and I have to hit the road again. And I don't really spend that much time here, only the mornings before school."
 
"I meant metaphorically," Milo replied, "When my mom takes me somewhere new and I start all over again. I think the literal roof is as sturdy as any other roof you've been under."
 
"Oh." Alec paused. He almost asked about Milo's mother and the constant moving, but he couldn't bring himself to. Maybe tomorrow. Right now, there was only so much he could handle. "Thanks for showing me this, Milo. It's a good place to wait." He sighed and stretched. "I can't wait to get this school day started! Business means less time to think about other things."
 
"Yeah." Milo nodded, resting against the wall and carefully watching the movements of the students from the bleacher slats. But he didn't really say much more, he only watched, drumming on his camera with his fingers but not taking any pictures.

He grabbed his bag and began to head out before the bell rang, nodding to Alec to follow so they would miss the crowds and slip out undetected.
 
Alec followed willingly, gratefully attaching himself to Milo if only for the walk to class. They made it safely, and Alec murmured his thanks to Milo. He felt a little strange following around a fellow known for his disappearing acts, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Things would be easier later in the week once he'd gotten the hang of things. At least he had lunch to look forward to with Peter, Sloan, Tom, and Becky. Maybe even Milo if he'd join them.
 
"Suspended for fighting yesterday," Alec sighed, sliding into his seat.

Peter came next and plunked himself down without his usual care and rested his head on his hand. He looked more rumpled than usual.

"What happened to you?" Alec asked him curiously.

"Not much sleep," Peter said bluntly. "What about sick fighting?"
 
"Oh shit," Sloan said, sitting up straighter, "I'm sorry. Is he okay?" Then she looked at Peter, "Are you okay? Xander got into a fight yesterday, he's suspended. For how long? Shit." She tapped her foot, looking between the two boys and trying to figure out which problem to focus on first.
 
"Serves him right for misusing his talents," Peter growled. Then he pursed his lips and winced. "I'm sorry," he sighed, leaning back. He rubbed his hands over his face. "That wasn't fair. I didn't mean that. My mother has been crying for pretty much the past two weeks as she tries to decide whether or not to move, and, honestly, it's really wearing on me. On all of us. I've never seen her so conflicted about a move, especially not when it's to the place she's been talking about for most of my life, but it's still not an excuse."

"That's alright," Alec assured him. "I understand. Being tired like that can really mess with you. Apology accepted." Turning to Sloan, he said, "And Xander's fine. A little banged up in the knuckles, but otherwise perfectly fine."

Tom came rushing over sans Becky and all but flung himself into the table. "Hey! Have you guys heard the news?" he demanded, leaning on the table with both hands.
 
"Has your mom tried flipping a coin?" Sloan asked, "Not to decide a big move on, but to see, when it's in the air, which side she hopes it lands on? And I'm glad he's okay, but... still..."

She frowned down at her food but then turned to Tom when he came up, "We've heard some news, but I don't know if I've heard the news."
 
"Right." Tom slid into a seat. It seemed he'd forgotten his lunch in the excitement, but he didn't notice. Or care. "So, I bet you know the basics," he nodded to Alec, "and even the real reason, but the school is abuzz about Xander getting into a fight with at least two seniors, maybe more. The number keeps changing, but since only two of them are out, I'm betting on two. Anyway, he slugged them senseless in the bathroom, and the talk is about why. Some are saying it's because the two are closeted and tried to make a move on him and he's phobic."

"Of course, that would be one," Alec muttered before taking a drink.

Tom ignored him and kept going. "Another version is that he's the closeted one. I mean, we all know about Alec, so would it really be that insane to think that about an identical twin?"

Alec choked on his water and made a mess sputtering and coughing. Peter helpfully handed over some napkins.
 
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