How Green Becomes Wood

"If they're your fans, they'll enjoy your music because it's what you want to put out. Fans don't only like a band because of one perfect song, unless your goal is to become a one-hit wonder." Milo replied, absolutely not understanding Alec's point at all, but he tried to remind himself Alec listened to pop, which was more about marketability than much of what he listened to, "We were just talking about the museum your mom works at. Nothing lurid."
 
Alec smiled, pleased by Milo's assessment, but he wasn't sure he could explain what he felt without it coming across as argumentative. It wasn't that he didn't want to, he just worried about pushing Milo too much, and it was ultimately just a song. Even he knew that. Instead, he focused on the museum. "Oooo, that's awesome! It's a lovely museum."

"He says he might possibly be interested in going," Xander told Alec. "Also to Sloan's gymnastics meet."

Alec clapped his hands. "Really? Oh, that's awesome!" he cheered, his face lighting up in genuine excitement.
 
"Xander suggested both," Milo awkwardly murmured, rocking on his heels, "He asked if, you know, there was anything I wanted to do, before... the end of the month..." If he had learned anything, it was that Alec was more emotional than his brother, and he really didn't want to mention how close he was to leaving to someone who would undoubtedly make a fuss over it. It was awkward and weird enough Xander had suggested they take one last trip, like he was a dog about to be put down.

That particular thought made him wince: He knew that wasn't how it was meant to feel. But it was exactly why he tried so hard to not make an impact.
 
"Oh." Alec looked a little confused by the timeline, but since no one offered an explanation, for once he decided not to ask for one. "The museum is a great place to go! No matter when. I wish we could go more often, but, you know, life and all of that." He smiled at Milo happily. "You two are going to have a great time. Oh! There's Peter! I'm going to go talk to him." Alec scampered off, leaving Xander and Milo alone.

"I think he just uninvited himself to a trip before I even got the chance to invite him," Xander told Milo, a little impressed.
 
"At least if your mom works there, you probably get free admission, right?" Milo asked, "That's bound to make it easier... Is that okay? That he doesn't want to go? I thought you both go everywhere together. I mean, I'm not afraid of being a familial Yoko Ono or anything, but... Is it... weird?"
 
"Yoko Ono?" Xander asked, not understanding the reference. "Don't worry about it, I'll talk to him about it later. It is weird, I guess, but, you know, can't be stuck together all the time." He looked away. It was just that bad things seemed to happen when they were separated.
 
"She broke up the Beatles. Allegedly," Milo quickly explained. "I never had siblings, so I don't know what it's like. But maybe he was too focused on the song to think about going or not."
 
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"I don't think we're good representatives of all siblings, but, nah, you aren't going to Yolo Ono us," Xander assured him. He frowned after his brother. "He is being kind of weird about this one. Like you said, we play a couple of times a month at the pizza parlor, and we've already done the talent show once. I'm not really into it, but I don't hate it. I don't think Peter hates it either or else he'd have peaced out a long time ago." He shook his head, realizing he was probaly laying more on Milo than he should. "Never mind. Not really your problem, right?"
 
"I wonder if there's someone specific he's trying to impress." Milo wondered outloud. He didn't necessarily mean a potential romantic partner, although if he did, he wouldn't have changed his words at all, since he didn't know how the twins felt about that sort of thing. "I don't think I'd ever enjoy performing any song in front of a crowd, especially not in front of my high school, but if I had to, I'd probably choose Roman Candles by Death Cab."
 
Xander frowned at Milo and very nearly said something but then swallowed the words. Milo wouldn't know, and even if he did, he wouldn't mean anything by it. Besides, maybe he didn't mean it like that. Instead, he said, "It wasn't my first choice, but most people don't really seem to notice me. I'm fine with that. Why that song?"
 
"I like the drumming in it. It's designed to sound like fireworks." Milo answered immediately, then shifted, and after some level of hesitantion, added, "and I really like the lyrics. It feels like they get it, you know? It feels like all of everything."
 
"I take the bus," Milo said, "most of the time my grandad is working, and because my grandma's shift changes, it's easier to take the bus than try to remember what I'm doing. I should probably go catch it."
 
"Yeah, and I gotta go get my brother before we miss ours. See you tomorrow, Stitch." Xander wandered off, seeking out his brother, who stood in earnest conversation with Peter. Peter listened and nodded patiently, doing a lot more listening than talking. It seemed they were still discussing the song choice.
 
"See you," Milo murmured before walking off alone towards his bus, trying to stay out of the eyeline of anyone who bothered him, although, to the credit of his system, his dedication to absolutely not reacting to bullying had made the rates of it decrease significantly. It wasn't fun to bully Milo. It was depressing to bully Milo. It was a pathetic form of defense, but surprisingly affective.
 
"Look, if you want to do 'Best Fake Smile,' I'm fine with it, really!" Peter was reassuring Alec. "It's truly fine. All I meant was that the first time, we did that pretty awesome rock song. It didn't go as hard as some people might want, but it had a nice edge to it and a good beat, not to mention fun lyrics. 'Best Fake Smile' has a great chorus, but the rest of it is about a waitress who's had enough. I mean, fair, and I think it's supposed to be some kind of symbolism or analogy, I guess, but how are a bunch of high schoolers supposed to relate to a waitress?"

"A bunch of the seniors are waitresses," Alec pointed out.

Peter frowned. "Sometimes I forget how young your labor laws go... Anyway, if that's the case, then maybe they will relate. I just kind of hoped for something with a bit more edge if not more complicated." He raised his hands. "But truly! I am okay with the song we picked, and I think it'll go over great! You don't have to worry."

Xander came over and nudged Alec's shoulder gently. "Did you get it worked out?"

"I think so," Alec said slowly. He frowned for a bit. Then asked, "Do you know Amaranth by Nightwish?"

Peter heaved a sigh. "No, but I'll look it up. My dad's waiting in the parking lot, so I gotta go. I'll text you later, okay?"

"Dude, you gotta stop trying to change the song. You picked it, and it's fine," Xander told him.

"I know it's 'fine,' but that's all it is," Alec sighed. "Just... fine. This is our chance to say something meaningful to our entire peer group! How often does that get to happen?"

"Best Fake Smile' has a good message about not having to pretend in order to be friends with people, even if it does also have a story about a waitress," Xander told him. "And it's got a bit of fun guitar work. It's going to work out." He glanced around. "And we get to work out, too. That's our bus... leaving... and it's not stopping."

Alec facepalmed. "Ah, man!"

Xander snorted. "Relax. We can walk home. We've done it before. We'll just let Mum know we'll be later than usual."

"Mama," Alec said automatically.

"Same rose, different names," Xander muttered as he started to text.
 
Are you sure you're okay walking home? Daizi texted back, I could probably send someone to pick you up, or you could go tell your father. I don't know what his plans are, but he might be able to leave now. Is Sloan still there?
 
Xander wasn't actually sure Sloan was still around, but while he knew she wouldn't mind, he didn't want to ask her for a ride. He did consider going up and talking with Dark, but it was a decent day. We're okay, he texted back. We really don't mind walking. It's nice out today, and we don't have any homework, so not stalling.
 
Okay then. Be safe. Let me or your father know if you change your mind. She texted back, and then set down her phone and lifted Ivy up over her head, "It'll just be the two of us for a little while longer, Hummingbird! What does Ivy want to do, hm?"
 
"You've started on Daizi's Mother's Day gift already, haven't you?" Alec asked as they walked down the street.

Xander shrugged. "Doing a bit here and there. Not really rushing it or anything. I've got orders and stuff to fill, too, so I figured I'd get a head start."

Alec looked up at the sky and sighed. "I wish I could give her more," he said softly.

Xander glanced at him in confusion. "What?"

"Well, she and Dark give us so very much, I'd like to have something to give back in return. Dark can see my drawings and things like that, but what can I do for Daizi? She won't even be able to enjoy my attempts at the Cyr wheel, if only to laugh at the awfulness of my first few tries."

"You haven't even had a go on the wheel, yet, so how do you know it'll be awful?" Xander pointed out.

"Because it's a very unique tool that I'll have no idea what I'm doing when I do get the chance, so of course I'll be bad at first," Alec pointed out logically.

"Oh. Anyway, why do you want to give stuff back? This kind of thing isn't transactional, you know."

"I know," Alec admitted, "but I want to share things with them. I can't help it."

"Dude," Xander sighed, "you have more to give than me. Yeah, you can't share the drawings or the crying wheel, but you can share your singing, and... she can touch you." He shifted uncomfortably. "She doesn't get that with me. We hardly even spend time one on one because we just don't... you know... I mean, it's okay, I get it, but you have way more than you think."

Alec glanced at him. "You're right," he agreed. "I've been overthinking everything lately. I feel like my brain just wants to scramble around and make trouble since there's no outside trouble being made."

Xander snorted and put an arm around his shoulders. "Trouble will find us soon enough, don't you worry. Our family is too weird for it not to."

Alec laughed and leaned into him. "You're right again. Two for two!"

Xander shoved him away, and they scuffled lightly for a brief moment before continuing their walk. They stopped briefly at the park, and Xander wandered over to look out at the junkyard where the block of a dog still guarded. It growled and barked at him warningly, and Xander experimentally tossed the last bit of bread he had from lunch. THe dog barely glanced at it and kept glaring and barking until Xander turned to leave. Alec, meanwhile, had garnered quite a collection of leaves and twigs from the grass, and he arranged it into a bouquet as they walked. They didn't run into any other trouble on their way and made it home safe and sound.
 
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