How Green Becomes Wood

"You just go to events without knowing about them?" Milo asked, missing Xander's actual point because he was so immediately focused on going to a busy event without preparation, but he was quickly thrown off with the shock of the big football player knowing his name. How did he learn his name? Why did he?

Awkwardly, he held up one hand in greeting and then dropped down into his seat.
 
"Milo, Xander, Alec," Alec was explaining to Austin as he sat down next to him. "It's understandable that you got a little mixed up. A lot of people do. Alec and Xander are both the easiest and most annoying names to remember."

"Right," Austin said awkwardly before turning his attention to the rolled paper he was trying to keep still on his desk.

"It's some kind of block party for the businesses in that area," Xander told Milo, dropping his voice low. "Come and go as you want kind of thing. I bet there will be a raffle or a couple of other things that are timed because there's always that kind of thing going on, but it's mostly just 'please come spend money' kind of deal with food."
 
"Oh," Milo replied, keeping his head down at he unpacked his bag, "That sounds loud. I don't like when there are those booths with spinny wheels and they yell at you to give them your email address."
 
Xander shrugged. "Pretty easy to avoid, and you can ignore them, but I just thought I'd let you know." He fell silent, staring up at the front of the room, feeling a little bad that he'd reminded Milo of other stresses. At least he wasn't thinking about presentations anymore, but that hadn't entirely been the point. Oh well.

The teacher called them to attention, and their first class of the day got started.
 
"Thanks," Milo replied, pulling at his eraser, "I don't know if I have time to prepare myself for it, though."

This class was normally pretty okay. Quiet. It, normally, wasn't too hard to get through. Soon enough the bell rang and he was headed for history
 
Their history teacher reminded them to have their names on their posters as they walked in, and both Xander and Alec had to quickly add on their names before they could turn in their posters.

"If you want to present your poster, we have ten minutes for you to do so," the teacher said, checking the class clock against her watch. "You will receive five bonus points if you do, but this is not a requirement. This is just a chance to get a few extra points to help you out come next grading period. I don't do this often, so if you think you'll need them, now's your chance. If not, be respectful of those who are."

Three people eagerly accepted the offer for extra points, and while they held up their posters and presented them, the teacher went through the stack of rolled and folded papers to make sure she had everyone's. Alec considered participating, but he didn't need extra points that badly.
 
5 points of extra credit were meaningless to Milo. He turned his poster in and sat down without another word. He didn't know how many points it'd take to convince him, but five were not nearly enough. After turning it in and sitting down, he was able to breathe a heavy sigh of relief, free from the worry that he'd be forced to publicly speak.
 
Alec grinned at Milo and gave him a thumbs up. See? Not so bad!

"After class, I will be hanging these up along the walls, and they will feature in a variety of tests and homeworks, so I suggest you take whatever opportunities you have to look over all the work your classmates did for you," the teacher announced. "Now, let's get into it."

Xander made the occasional note, trying not to tune out the teacher as she talked about what was known about the earliest known civilizations. She had to be brief, but at least she had some actually interesting facts.
 
Milo was good at taking notes, although he didn't like the fact he had to rely on the other student's posters for part of his education. What if they did a bad job? The early civilization stuff was cool, and after class he asked Xander, "Is it kinda weird to hear about, like, Ancient Egypt and stuff considering your parents?"
 
"Not really. I'm actually kind of used to it," Xander admitted, adjusting his bag. "And they talk about it - at least our Mama does - like it's still alive and well. Teachers like her make it sound dead."
 
"I guess that's why I thought it'd feel weird," Milo replied, "She was talking like the people from there don't exist anymore. And I guess they don't in the same way, but Egypt still has the same name, and everything."
 
Xander shrugged. "It can be, but I mostly just... don't pay attention to the names all that much. Dunno why. I just don't. It's like listening about two different places completely, and I guess I don't have to bother with them connecting."
 
"You should pay attention to what your parents say about that kinda stuff," Milo commented, feeling like Xander didn't really get what he meant, "See you at lunch." Then, he went off to his English class.
 
Xander figured he didn't quite get what Milo was saying, but he was a little tired and a lot distracted. He'd ask again later when there wasn't so much going on. At least when they weren't in the hallway and he was having to steer Alec.

"What do you keep looking at?" he finally demanded.

"Nothing," Alec protested, letting Xander lead them into their next class. "Nothing, just thought I saw... It doesn't matter." He waited until Xander was looking away to try to catch one more glimpse of the pretty girl he'd seen as they walked by.
 
At lunch, Sloan came in at her normal time, dressed in her standard clothes, although she was wearing the fake septum piercing. Some people had thought it was genuine, and the only reason why she corrected them was because otherwise it might get back to her mom.
 
"Hi, Sloan!" Alec called, walking ahead of Xander to greet her. "You look good today! Extra good since you look good every day."

"What are you, a politician?" Xander grumbled, following him while looking for Milo.

"I don't think he'd make the worst politician," Peter remarked from his seat at the table, grinning.
 
"I think he'd make a pretty bad politician because he actually cares about people," Sloan chuckled, "I'm still working on decorating the shoes Rumy gave me. Once I have those finished, then I'll look really good."

Milo came to lunch a bit late, but he did actually show up and slunk down to his seat, hoping very much that nobody made a fuss about him showing up.
 
"I didn't get to see them well from where I was standing, so I cannot wait to see them all done up!" Peter told her. "Good pizza, by the way. Which place did you get it from?"

Alec saw him, smiled, and started to say something, but Xander reached up and literally turned his head away from Milo. Alec scowled at Xander and then turned his attention back to Sloan. "I bet they'd go well with that shirt I got you!"
 
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