How Green Becomes Wood

"It's weird. I've put so much effort into the high school experience, been on student council each year, and even though I don't regret doing any of it... I don't feel like I'm going to miss any of it." She looked over at the lockers, "I've got a list in my mind of who I think I'll end up falling out of touch with."

Milo sighed, slinging his bag over his shoulder, "Feels like I didn't really get a break."
 
"My dad would say that means you've done what you needed to do, and it's time to move on before you outstay your welcome," Rumy grinned. "Well, we should get to class. How about we make this year the best ever?"

"You didn't," Xander replied blandly as he led the way. "You'll get one this summer for sure."

"Hey, guys! Come on, time for class!" Alec called, trotting over to them.

Xander started to point out they'd been waiting for him but let it go with an eye roll and nodded.
 
"Yeah," Sloan smiled, "Best year ever. How couldn't it be? We're getting out."

"Problem is, now the teachers all know me," Milo grumbled as he followed them to class, "Can't skip anymore."
 
Rumy laughed and gave Sloan a high-five before splitting off to her own class. She and Sloan shared a couple of classes, but not the first one.

"Good! Now you can soak up the knowledge and blow them all away with your smarts," Alec told him. "Come on! It's not so bad!"

"It is, but you can daydream a lot without anyone noticing," Xander muttered to Milo as they entered the classroom and found seats.
 
Sloan went to class much more willingly than Milo, who dreaded it significantly more. He couldn't even really say that he hated school, but it was a lot of people, and he was dreading a school year that seemed unending from the outside. He had been in this school for ages already, and he didn't know how to handle the feeling of being settled. He was good at daydreaming, anyway, and he sat in the most inconspicuous seat he could find.
 
Xander sat next to Milo, folded over his desk as he idly sketched out some variations of a couple of his designs. Some were just different shapes sewed onto the outside of something like a purse, but others were more in-depth. He was listening to the teacher, but it was easier to listen when he had something to do. Alec sat on Xander's other side listening intently and making notes. He was determined to get high grades this year!
 
Milo did take notes, because although he didn't like being around people or feeling like people were looking at him, he did generally try while in class, and taking notes meant he didn't need to look up at anyone. When the teacher mentioned participation was a big part of the grade, he visibly slumped until she explained that didn't necessarily mean answering questions and taking a primary role in discussions.
 
Participation sucked, and if the teacher had meant taking a role in discussions or similar, Xander knew he'd fail. Call it his rebellious streak, but he had no interest in doing things like that. Good thing it wasn't.

Alec was excited to learn about the participation grade. He was going to turn over a new leaf and be awesome in school! That included speaking up. He was determined!
 
The first class seemed to be doing okay, and they almost made it out unscathed. It was mostly talking through the syllabus. That was easy.

But then the teacher clapped her hands together, and resting against the whiteboard said, "Alright, we're going to do an ice breaker game, okay? So if everyone can go around and give their name, their favourite subject, a fun fact about themselves, and so you have one question today no other teacher will ask, what's one thing you're not looking forward to this year. I'll switch it up on you. We're going to start here at the front."
 
Xander couldn't help it. He let out a loud groan and let his forehead thump onto the desk. Not the stupid ice breakers! Who cared? He did not want to do this.

Becky was in their class and sitting a few seats ahead of them. She sprang to her feet and announced her name, her favorite subject (drama, even though that wasn't technically a subject), the fact that she could not snap her fingers no matter how hard she tried, and the fact that she was no looking forward to math class at all!

Alec, for his part, waited patiently until it was his turn. He said his name, his favorite subject (art), announced he was learning dance (he didn't want to explain the cyr wheel unless asked), and the fact that he was not looking forward to geometry.

Xander didn't stand up or otherwise respond until Alec gave him a significant shove. He huffed in annoyance and looked up at the teacher finally. "Xander. History. I don't do sports. Stupid games like this," he stated bluntly.

"Seriously?" Alec hissed in annoyance. "It's the first day! Be nice!"
 
Had Milo not been struggling so hard trying to figure out an answer as his leg bounced at an astounding pace, he would've asked if Judo was technically a sport, because he was pretty sure it was.

The teacher, however, just laughed at Xander's response, "See, I appreciate that, I like honesty here. You won't believe me, but it does genuinely help. Okay, next?" She turned to Milo, who was staring wide eyed at his desk.

This was too long of a pause. It felt like way, way too long of a pause. "Myname'sMilo. Myfavouritesubject is, um, uh, E-English, and---" He swallowed hard, "I've got birds and I'm not looking forward to, um. S-spirit week."
 
"Same," Xander muttered whether or not Milo could hear him. He gave Alec a look. See? She liked honesty! He waited until the teacher glanced away and handed Milo a small stress ball he'd been keeping in his pocket.

Alec fought the urge to roll his eyes. He doubted the teacher knew how much honesty Xande could give her.
 
Milo took the stress ball quickly and mumbled a thank you while the rest of the class carried on their introductions. Thankfully, the teacher didn't linger on Milo's answer, recognizing he didn't like speaking in front of others, so he was able to sit back and only dwell on what he said and what he should've said instead.
 
After their first class, Xander stretched out his back as they walked to the next class. "That was a giant waste of time. Why can't we just go straight to work? It's why we're here, right?"

"I like the easing us back into the school year and getting to know our teacher better, it's nice," Alec smiled.
 
"Probably because teachers don't want to jump right back into teaching either," Milo mumbled as he handed Xander back his stress ball, "Going over the syllabus is important, I guess, so we know what to expect. I don't think we need to know about each other."
 
Xander grunted in agreement and pocketed the stress ball. "Not like any of us are actually going to care."

Alec huffed in annoyance at the pair. "If you two would stop wallowing in what you want or don't want, you might realize that some of us enjoy things like that and that some of us actually do want to get to know our fellow students. Even and especially some first-timers. Dislike it all you want, but don't ruin it for those of us that enjoy it."

"As long as you don't enjoy my sourpuss party, I'll allow it," Xander drawled.
 
Milo looked at Alec flatly for a few moments, trying to decide if he wanted to say anything, and nearly decided not to, but worked up the courage to say, albeit in a tiny voice, "I wouldn't mind it if it was optional. I bet it's fun for outgoing kids, I don't mind listening to what people have to say. Speaking in front of people is more than just not fun for me."
 
"I can understand that," Alec said reasonably, "and it would be nice if it was optional at least sometimes. Other times, well, what if there's a shy kid that just needs a little encouragement to find their voice?"

"What, all two of them in the entire school?" Xander asked blandly. "I'm with Milo on this one."

"That's because you have a severe case of antidisestablishmentarianism, not because you don't like speaking in front of people," Alec pointed out.

Xander shrugged. "Same diff."
 
"Are you implying I'm that shy kid?" Milo asked blandly, having heard many speak up! pep talks without finding any of them particularly life-changing. "Some people just aren't oraters. I don't think the world is hurting for people who are comfortable speaking in front of a crowd."
 
"I think it's hurting for people comfortable speaking in front of a crowd that are actually reasonable and sensible," Xander said dryly.

Alec ignored Xander. "You do seem a little shy, but no, that's not what I meant. You can stay in the back and not speak all you want, that's fine, you're not that type, but others are. Not to mention, what happens when there is something you need to say? I think you should know how to be able to say it no matter how uncomfortable you are in front of a crowd. For your own sake. But if you don't want to, that's fine."

"Dude, quit harshing on him, he's fine," Xander huffed. "If he's got something he wants to say but can't, he can just text me. I'll deal with it. Or you and you can be the speaker."
 
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