How Green Becomes Wood

"Oh." He glanced over his shoulder at the blur that were Mr. Dark and his tormentors and did his best to pop the lens of his glasses back in, "I bet he's real glad to be back. Glad I don't have any classes with him, I made a shit impression." He picked up his bag roughly--in the lighting it was pretty beat up, although not as bad as the twins' were, "Is the cafeteria food good? I've not had it yet."
 
He shrugged, "Probably? I've never gone into the line before, but I'm not blind or anything. Just can't see far away..." Milo paused, shifting awkwardly, "Why did you come and help me?"
 
"'Cause I can't stand those jocks," Xander stated, seeing no reason to explain himself or his actions to a kid he'd known through two brief, chaotic meetings. "You'd best get your nearsighted butt in line if you want to eat anything today. Most of the best stuff is already going to be gone." He turned and started walking back toward his usual table. "Even if it's not good, food is important."
 
"Yeah, but..." Milo said, but then shrugged, "whatever. Thanks." He squinted at Xander's face and then turned to get his lunch while he still could, and as he did, mostly just to save face, he said, "If I had just kept ignoring them, eventually they'd have gotten bored, though."
 
Xander just snorted. "Maybe back in your other fifteen schools or however many. Catch you around." He walked off without a backward glance and rejoined Alec, who was watching him with open curiosity.
 
"I can't believe Mr. Dark just let you off the hook like that," Sloan said as Xander walked back up to them, "I guess it's true, parenthood does make you soft. We probably shouldn't let that secret get around."
 
"Yeah. I was a bit surprised myself," Xander admitted, sitting on the edge of a seat. "Maybe it's because it's his first day back. Doesn't want any extra work."

"I could believe that of him, though he's usually so very diligent," Peter mused.

Alec smiled at Xander. "You did a good job."

Xander just grumbled a bit before demanding, "Don't we have classes soon? This is like the world's longest lunch."

Alec glanced at Sloan and Peter in amusement, knowing Xander was just trying to get out of what he felt was an awkward situation.
 
Sloan turned, watching the lunch line, "Maybe he's just glad you stopped, you know? Just did what needed to be done and let it go. Or he's still sleep deprived, Ivy's not sleeping through the night yet, right?" She glanced back at the twins, then back at the lunch line, wincing, "You should've gone with him, he made a terrible choice."
 
"No, she's not yet," Alec answered her. He turned and craned his neck to see what she saw. "Why? What'd he pick?"

Xander frowned at Sloan. "I'm not his babysitter, and I did warn him it wasn't that good."

"Hmm, not the best, no," Peter agreed.
 
"The fish sticks." Sloan answered Alec, "Poor kid. He couldn't have known. They look identical to the nice ones you can buy at the store." She looked at Peter, "You've been the new kid a bunch. How do you handle it? I've lived in the same house my whole life."
 
Both twins, even Xander, shuddered. "Ugh."

Peter shrugged. "I dunno. I think it's all about the mindset. To me, it just means I have friends and family in all sorts of places! I still skype a lot and pen-pal. Sometimes I think it would be nice to settle down, but I'm never quite sure where I'd pick. I mean, I love you guys, but..." He shrugged with a smile.
 
"My best friend growing up was this girl named Haley, but she moved away the summer before fifth grade. We kept in touch for a little while, then lost contact," Sloan sighed, "I use her last name as my passwords still... It doesn't look like Milo's made many friends since moving here though." She nodded at the stranger sitting alone at a table again.
 
"He doesn't want to make friends," Xander pointed out.

"Oh," Peter said slowly. "This conversation reminded me of something I wanted to talk to you guys about."

Alec frowned. "I don't think I like the sound of that," he said worriedly.
 
"Basically," Xander shrugged. Or... had he? He hadn't acted like he wanted friends. Maybe he wanted them but didn't want to risk the pain? Probably something like that, but he wasn't interested into digging into psychologies. He turned to Peter to listen.

"Well, nothing is determined yet, but my parents did warn me that it is a possibility that we might be moving this year. They promised it would absolutely not be until after the school year is over this time, so there's that, at least," Peter explained.
 
"...Oh." Was all Sloan said, dropping her hands into her lap. Her gaze shifted to the twins, trying to figure out what her reaction should be, because she had never been good with change, but she also hated seeming extra emotional, especially when she was the only girl. So instead she just tapped her foot underneath the table and waited for someone else to say something, because then she'd know the level they were at, and she wouldn't look stupid.
 
Xander said nothing, just fussed with a speck on the table.

"Where will you be going?" Alec asked in a small voice.

"I don't know yet." Peter turned to Sloan and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't be too upset yet. Things haven't been decided," he said gently. "I just wanted to let you know and not blindside you."
 
"Yeah." She said, still tapping her foot. She scrunched up her nose and looked over her shoulder at nothing. Then she laughed, but it sounded forced, "It'll just be me and a set of identical twins. And they're probably comfortable living all alone on a deserted island. But I'm graduating next year, so it doesn't super matter, people don't keep in touch with their high school friends anyway." She shrugged, "You'll be the sorry one, I bet."
 
Peter squeezed her shoulder gently. "We'll keep in touch. If I leave." He dropped his hand and sat back. "Remember, nothing's been decided yet." He sighed, glancing around, "I meant to just warn you guys, but maybe I shouldn't have said anything."

"No, it's alright. It's better to be prepared," Alec assured him with a wobbly smile. "Thank you for telling us. If you do leave, we'll totally stay in touch!"
 
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