How Green Becomes Wood

Sloan blinked, shifting uncomfortably in her seat as Tom discussed the possibility of someone being gay. She knew he didn't mean anything by it, but... it didn't feel great. Giving him a quick but stern look, she said, "You shouldn't speculate about people's sexualities." Then she looked at Alec, and hoped she appeared apologetic and not like she was speculating. "And I'm sure all of us here know Xander's not homophobic."
 
"Of course he's not!" Tom agreed readily. "It's one of the stupidest things I've heard, and I've heard some pretty stupid stuff. Wait." He paused with a frown and looked at Alec. "Aren't you? Gay, I mean, not homophobic."

"I don't think that any of your business," Alec said cooly as he cleaned up the table. "Unless you're asking me out, in which case, I'm flattered, but I think we're better off as friends."

"Ouch. Harsh, but fair," Tom said, accepting the barb. "Anyway, some think that Xander either has been hiding his sexuality - that's not me speculating, that's just the rumor - and some say the other two were, but both sides can agree on one thing." He paused dramatically. "Xander has a secret boyfriend or girlfriend hidden away, and he may or may not be using abusive tactics to keep it hidden. Or some of the girls think it's a whole 'taming the beast' kind of thing and this person is the only one he's nice to outside of his brother since he has literally no friends outside of the ones that came with Alec. Sorry, Alec."

Alec let his head drop so his forehead landed on the table with a thump.

"That's a nice, ripe pile of trollop," Peter drawled.

Tom held up his hands. "Just repeating to the people who are involved so they don't find out another way."
 
"I didn't come with Alec," Sloan said blandly. "I'm friends with both of them independently of each other. But that dramatic rumor..." She paused, and despite the situation laughed a little bit, "It sounds a little bit like when rumors circulate about Mr. Dark, doesn't it? Like when Ivy was born or last year there was the talk about his 'satantic slave wife?' Maybe it's just the family buisness."
 
"Now there's a thought," Tom grinned.

"I would like to say I'm friends with them both, too," Peter protested. "After all, I'm their band's drummer!"

"I believe you," Tom agreed earnestly, "but... does he have any other friends?"

Both Alec and Peter hesitated for just a fraction of a second.

"Does it matter?" Alec finally asked. "He's introverted and prefers to stand back instead of take the lead. How is that damning evidence?"

Tom considered this and shrugged. "It's not. It's just a lot easier to make up stupid stories. Anyway, I just thought you should know so you can be prepared." He paused before asking, "Is there anything you think I should pass around to try to dissuade them? Other than he's not phobic and everyone should mind their own business, obviously."
 
A thousand thoughts of counter rumors swarmed through Sloan's head, but it wasn't really her story to mess with. "Alec, do you have... Actually, no, I'll text Xander." And, taking out her phone, she sent a quick message explaining what rumors were circulating--leaving out Tom's supposition that Alec was gay--and added, do you have anything you want us to spread? "There. Now he's included, too. And honestly I don't think it matters if he's friends with anyone who isn't also Alec's friend. It's literally just called a friend group, the fact they're brother's doesn't change anything. I bet Peter's not friends with anyone at this school that I'm not friends with."
 
"I kind of want to take that bet, but I'm too tired to start listing off names," Peter yawned.

"I agree with Sloan," Alec said quietly. "It's a group of friends. Having one person that no one else is friends with that you have as a friend isn't... special."

Tom shrugged. "I guess so, but anyway, sorry I speculated. A bunch of others just said it like a fact that you were, you know, and I took them at their word."

"It's alright. I suppose it's an easy mistake to make," Alec said, glancing down at his colorful outfit - pink tones today - and hoped his light makeup was still good. He liked to use it to smooth out his skin and draw attention to his eyes without overdoing things.

~~

Meanwhile, at home, Xander sat on the floor near Ivy and Daizi and stared at his phone in confusion. What kind of insane novel had Sloan just sent him. After a moment of thought, he sent back one word: Peanut butter.
 
"Peanut butter," Sloan said, after reading Xander's text, "That's all he said. I figure we can have our fun with it. Maybe the fight was over an allergy to peanut butter." She tucked her phone away, and then as the conversation drifted to other topics, she watched Alec carefully. At some point, she casually took out her phone, sent a text, and then lightly tapped him with her foot from beneath the table, gesturing at him to check his phone.

The message she sent was just, Are you okay? It's cool if you aren't.
 
Alec checked his phone and tapped out an answer. I don't know. I feel this day has taken a strange turn.

"I like that," Tom said cheerfully. "I'll talk to Becky, and we'll see what we can do for damage control." He smiled at Alec and patted his shoulder. "I don't know why Xander got into a fight, and I wouldn't exactly call him my friend, but I trust him and I feel I know both of you well enough to say I believe it was for a good cause."

"Thanks, Tom," Alec said with a weak smile. "We appreciate your support."

Tom clicked his tongue, shot them all finger guns, and hurried away.

"This day has gotten very strange," Peter remarked. "I am looking forward to getting out of highschool, even if it does mean bills and jobs and so-on."
 
Do you need to talk, like, away from everyone else? Bc like we can absolutely get into one of the practice rooms rn. "High school is hell," Sloan agreed readily, "I don't know why everyone can't just mind their own buisness. It's so dumb, like, some kid you don't know fought with someone you also don't know and suddenly you've got to speculate on it... It doesn't even matter."
 
Alec smiled at Sloan, grateful, but gave his head a slight shake. He appreciated it, but he'd be alright.

"I think it's because we're all trapped together for eight hours a day with nothing but drudgery and busywork," Peter said. "You know, the only reason the school day is as long as it is is because of the common work hours, which were put in place by factory workers because Henry Ford was literally working them to death. It was also sold to factory works as a great way to balance you day, which is great for physical labor but not for brain work. Multiple studies have shown that the average person's mental ability to study or work like how we're expected in school or a desk job diminishes after the three-hour mark, four hours tops. Which means you're getting a product with less and less quality for-"

"Peter," Alec interrupted. "You're rambling. And possibly ranting."

Peter blinked. "Sorry. I need a nap."
 
"Besides being tired, how are you doing?" Sloan asked, turning her attention to Peter since Alec indicated he'd be okay, "the possibility of a big move and all... Do you have any idea which way they'll decide to go?"
 
"I thought for sure my mother would jump at the chance," Peter admitted. "I'm shocked she even had to think about it. I mean... it would be cool to see Egypt, and if we did go, I'd figure it out, but I'd rather stay here. My dad, he's mostly confused, and I think they're trying not to fight about it. He's always enjoyed the moving around, so he doesn't really see the problem. I short... I have no idea."
 
"Even had to think about it?" Sloan asked, trying to get some clarification, "Did she decide, then? Are you leaving? Or do you just think they're going to go that way? I'm sorry your parents are struggling... I can't imagine how hard that choice must be."
 
"I mean..." Peter rubbed his tired eyes, "I thought that when they sat down to talk about it, it was a we will be moving, not a we might be moving. That's so much worse! And it's Egypt. I thought my mother would be like, 'Let's pack, we're leaving tomorrow!' but instead she said she needs time to decide. She seems to want to go and stay in equal measure. Dad wants to go. I'd rather stay but wouldn't argue if they said go. It's a bit of an undecided mess right now."
 
"But it can't stay undecided forever though, right?" She asked, "I feel like this has been going on forever. Why does your dad want to go so badly? I know this isn't paradise but it's not that bad here, there was enough value for them to come in the first place, right? ...But I guess if this new job is higher up on the ladder it makes sense to want to move on..." She frowned, rocking back and forth a few times as she tried to think it through, "Are you totally sure adulthood is easier than highschool?"
 
"She has to give a decision by the end of this week," Peter told her. "So, we'll figure out soon enough. My mother says my dad gets itchy feet and it's hard for him to stay in one place too long. I feel like there's a story there, but I don't know the details. I've tried a couple of times only to get guided away from it, so I'm guessing not a happy story. I don't think the where matters so much as the moving itself. This new job is higher up the ladder, and my mom's always talked about wanting to go back after having done... I think an internship or something there." He heaved a sigh. "I dunno, but I think I'll be going into a job that doesn't require a bunch of moving. I've learned to live with it, but it's such a hassle. On top of everything else."
 
"If your mom decides she wants to stay do you think your dad will be cool with that?" Sloan asked, and then waved her hands, "You don't have to talk about it if you're not comfortable. I just, you know, there are some things where it's like, 'I really would rather go but I'll follow you wherever you think we should be' and there are no hard feelings but there's also..." She shook her head, "No, I'm sorry. I wanted to try to help you through it but I feel like I'm saying all the wrong things."
 
Peter watched her morosely as she rambled a bit. "Yeah... that's not really helping," he said truthfully. "It's okay, though. I appreciate the effort. I'm just going to finish my lunch and then go see if I can find some caffeine somewhere."

"At least you remembered your lunch," Alec said, trying to put a little bit of cheer into the conversation. He got a grunt in reply.
 
"I'm sorry," Sloan said, scuffing her shoe, "My parents have pretty much always just hated each other so I don't really know what to do when people who have parents who do get along are having a conflict."

She took an awkward little pause and then said, "Benny got in trouble in school on Friday. It's actually a funny story."
 
"Do tell?" Alec asked with a smile, glad to move on to troubles that were less important.

The rest of lunch seemed to pass decently, and soon, it was time to get back to class.
 
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