How Green Becomes Wood

"There are huge gaps in my knowledge and I have no way of knowing what they are. So I'm just kind of stuck looking dumb all the time." He closed his eyes, trying to listen carefully to the hallway. He didn't think there was a gym class in here immediately following their lunch period, but he couldn't quite recall. "You'll get in trouble if you skip."
 
"Eh." Xander glanced at Milo and figured that either he wanted his space back or he was actually worried about Xander getting into trouble. He didn't want to go to class either, but he guessed it was time to give Milo a break from his company. He grabbed his stuff and stood up. "See you around." He headed out of the gym and wandered back toward the cafeteria where Alec would be waiting.
 
"See you around." Milo mumbling, planning to dash off to a more secure hiding spot the moment he felt the coast was clear. He supposed this felt better after this conversation than he had after the last one, but it still... If he really let himself think about it, he'd know he was upset because he wished this hadn't happened at all. That he had never tried to... It was too much. He wished he had someone to talk to. He wished he was moving, he wished he was staying, he wished his mom was there and better. There were so many things he wished were not like how they were.
 
Xander headed into the cafeteria. Alec spotted him first and turned to say something, smiling, but Xander pointed at him. "I'm not talking to you right now."

"Oh," Alec said, wilting. "It didn't go well?"

Xander glared at him. "Answering that question is talking to you, but it was fine."

"That's a relief," Alec said cautiously, wondering if he should try to find Milo or leave well enough alone.

Peter glanced between them curiously. "Um... What exactly went on?"

"None ya business," Xander said flatly, dropping his lunch box next to Alec.

Peter held up his hand. "Understood, sir. Private business."
 
Sloan raised an eyebrow but looked at Peter instead of the twins, knowing there was no way they were going to tell either of them a word about what happened. Saluting to 'Private Business', even though you don't salute to privates, she said, "We were just talking about how your band should dress for the talent show. I was trying to talk them out of head-to-toe sequins, on your behalf."
 
"It would be incredibly shiny!" Alec said happily.

"As long as they aren't too heavy on the sleeves. That would mess with my timing. I could wear a bracelet or something, though," Peter agreed.

Xander shrugged. "Sure. Whatever."

Alec stared and glanced at Sloan in confusion. "I think he might actually be sick."
 
"Maybe," Sloan replied slowly, "But I was pointing out that under the stage lights, if you're all completely in sequins, it'll obscure your actual faces, and to the audience it'll just be a bright blur, which would ruin all the moves you'd want to put in. You know? And if you haven't picked a song yet, deciding on outfits is premature, because they may not fit."
 
Alec nodded vigerously. "You do have a good point. We need to balance function with beauty, or something like that. Isn't there a saying to that effect? However, I do like the idea of Peter having some sort of sparkly bracelet. That would just look cool."

"I'm agreeable to sparkly bracelets," Peter chuckled.
 
"I hope you appreciate how I've advocated for you, Xander," Sloan said, looking briefly at him and trying to read something in his expression without prying. He must have been upset to not want to talk to Alec, and she hoped highlighting how she had fought for his interests could comfort him somewhat.
 
"Yeah, thanks," Xander said with a nod in her direction. He kept his expression closed, with brows furrowed. but he wasn't quite angry. Just generally unhappy and upset. "No sequins or glitter."

"Well, we might need to revisit the glitter bit," Alec said slowly with a sly smile. "But not much, I promise!"
 
Sloan looked at Alec, now, widening her eyes to try to silently ask, what the hell?, but all she said was, "It'd be cool if you all had outfits that fit your different styles but all came together thematically, you know?"
 
Alec gave Sloan a subtle shrug. He didn't know, and he wasn't sure how much of what he did know he could share.

"I like that idea," Peter agreed, watching Xander out of the corner of his eye. He smiled at Sloan. "Are you offering to be our costume designer? I think you'd be marvelous at it!"

Alec nodded quickly. "We could scheme together!"
 
"I mean I used to sketch outfits on paper dolls but I've never done more than that. But I can help brainstorm," Sloan said, playing herself down like the had a habit of, "You just have to decide on a song, first. You're running out of time."
 
"Right," both Peter and Alec drawled out, giving her unimpressed looks.

"Come on, how good are you really?" Alec prodded.

Peter dug out a piece of paper and a pen and shoved it toward her. "Let's see a... I don't know, a dress? A glam rocker outfit?"

"What's a glam rocker?" Alec asked with a frown.

"Basically what you would be if you were more into rock," Peter chuckled.


Xander shifted to turn his back on them and pulled out his phone to text Dark. Not feeling good. Want to leave school.
 
"I'm not good at it," Sloan said, begrudgingly taking the paper and pen, "I mean, I think my ideas are fine, but I don't really have the skills... It's not even something I've really done since Middle School, and I never did it for men's outfits. But I'll try, I guess."

Not feeling good physically or mentally? Dark responded, fairly quickly. It wasn't his day watching the cafeteria, so instead he was in his classroom grading papers, and his phone was easily at hand.
 
"I used to be really into making paper dolls. I don't know why, I think I just liked how low stress it was because I didn't have to draw the model." Sloan explained, "That's the only reason I know how to do this."

Let me call him. Do you want to come to my classroom? You do not have to say a word to me about any of it, and I will not speak to you, but if you would prefer to wait in relative isolation you have the option.
 
"I've seen some paper dolls. That's a really cool art," Peter told her.

Alec glanced toward Xander, wondering what he was doing but not daring to ask. The bell would be ringing any minute now. "I haven't, but I can imagine. Do you still do it?"

I'd rather wait by myself. I can wait outside, Xander texted back before rubbing his temple.
 
"Not really," Sloan said, "I had been playing with my Barbies for too long, you know? Until I mentioned it to someone in school and they made fun of me for being immature--I was 11, I think it was fine, but when I was 11 I wanted to be 20--and so I stopped. But I really liked them, because I liked looking at the women in clothes... I used to think I was just 'really interested in fashion.'"

Outside where? You are in school. Nobody on staff would let you outside alone, unmonitored, and both of us would get in trouble if I gave you permission.
 
"Doesn't mean you can't also be interested in fashion," Alec pointed out. "Although, it could be the other thing, too."

"Smooth," Peter chortled.

Xander gritted his teeth in frustration. This was why he didn't ask for permission! It just made things complicated. It was ridiculously easy to get out of school with none of the staff knowing, especially with how they were constantly understaffed and overstressed. Fine. Waiting for Cooger. He gripped his phone tightly, fighting down a wave of irritation. Dark was just doing his job, but he wanted out!
 
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