How Green Becomes Wood

"I don't have any siblings," He said, ducking his head awkwardly, "I just, didn't know... how you knew that." He glanced at Xander, "I know you are still here, that's why I'm talking about you, because you know what the gap is like."

Sloan watched Jack and Sally for a moment, and although she knew, objectively, it was fair for them to share a dance, and that there was nothing weird about it... the teenage part of her still thought it was a bit embarrassing, although she was old enough to feel ashamed of that reaction. "It was fun," She replied, grinning at Rumy, "You're a beautiful dancer, too. It was really great dancing with you."
 
"Sorry, perhaps I should have asked directly instead of assuming," Peter apologized. Then he turned to Xander. "So, what is the gap like?"

"I dunno, weird, but I don't know how else it's supposed to be like," Xander grumbled without any real annoyance.

"If there's another dance party, we should totally go together," Rumy said. "Or at least look for each other at school sometimes. If you don't mind associating with me." She grinned brightly.
 
"I think," Milo mumbled, bouncing one leg, "it'll mean that, you know, kinda pull the same sort of... power... play that... that parents. can. Like. Telling her that... you used to... hold..." He trailed off, swallowing hard as he realized he had no idea what he was trying to say. On TV he had seen parents show off pictures of their teenagers as babies to their teen's date, but saying it out loud made it seem kinda cruel.

"Are there people you do mind associating with you?" Sloan asked, trying to act cool even though her heart rate sped up after hearing go together and trying to figure out what exactly Rumy meant by that.
 
Neither Peter nor Xander could figure out what Milo meant, qnd they sat silent as they tried to figure it out or give Milo a chance to explain. When no explanation came, Xander stood. "I'm going to get more food. Anyone want something?"

"Actually, I need to make a run to the loo, so if you'll excuse me," Peter said, standing as well. "Milo, I hope you'll show me your pictures when you get them developed. No pressure, but I'd love to see them!" He started off toward the opposite side of the room.

Rumy shrugged. "I like associating with cool people like you or friendly folk, artists... basically anyone who's not a jerk. I know who I like and who I don't like when I meet them, and some people surprise me. Like you. I never would thought you'd hang out with someone like me."
 
"No, I'm okay, thank you," Milo replied, fully aware he had absolutely not succeeded in that conversation, "I will show them to you, if you want to see them," he told Peter, although he couldn't look up at him, "some of them, anyway, because, you know, not all of them are going to turn out, and I don't really keep all of the ones I take that do turn out, well I mean, I keep them on my laptop but I don't print them off, so it'd be awkward to show them to you because I'd need to bring my laptop."

"Really?" Sloan asked, tipping her head to the side, "What about me made you think I wouldn't hang out with you?"
 
"No problem, I get it. My dad does photography, too, though a different type, but I'm familiar with the unsuccessful side," Peter assured him.

As Peter left, Xander said to Milo, "I'll be back in a bit." He glanced toward Alec, who had drifted closer, but still talked with friends. "Sure you don't want anything?"

"You're way cooler than me. Way outside my social standing," Rumy said, completely unbothered by the idea. "Cool people like you don't usually want to hang out with cow-obsessed art weirdos who have a hard time remembering what a filter is. It's okay, I get it, I'm a lot to handle, and I'm not everyone's cup of coffee. That just makes it so much cooler when I find someone I can vibe with. You know?"
 
Milo shook his head, "I'm okay, don't worry."

Sloan smirked, just briefly, and she shifted her weight to one hip, "I've never really put much thought into social standings. I watched Mean Girls in middle school and took it to heart, I guess. And I've met some really snobby people who I don't really want to emulate. But I think artsy people are cool, and cottage core is in, so... I don't think there's anything about you I wouldn't like."
 
"Cool." Xander headed off to the food table, leaving Milo alone for a while. This was a safe area, they'd curated their invitation list with great care to make certain it was, but he knew Milo was nervous in crowds and wanted to make sure he felt alright and not overwhelmed. Then again, maybe having someone like Xander constantly around wasn't helping. Maybe he'd prefer a break. So, Xander loitered, taking his time and giving Milo plenty of chances to move elsewhere and escape his company if he wanted to.

"Yeah?" Rumy asked, looking pleasantly surprised. "Gosh. Thanks! That means a lot." She smiled, genuinely pleased, and asked, "So, do you want to maybe hit the food table? Or sit and rest your feet? Unless you wanted to go talk to some other people. I guess you have a lot of friends here tonight, and I guess they wouldn't want to think you were ignoring them or anything." She was offering Sloan a way out with no hard feelings or expectations.
 
When Xander left, Milo really just sat there, fiddling with his camera, fiddling with his straps and the zipper to his back, checking his phone, and looking around the room, but he didn't really make any move to talk to anyone. He did, occasionally, stand up to get a different angle for his pictures, but he quickly returned to where he had been left.

"We can get food and sit," Sloan said, and then thoight for a moment as she looked around the room, "but then I should probably meet up with my friends again. You don't get many parties like this, and I don't think Xander especially will ever go to one again."
 
Xander came back, hiding the slight relief he felt that Milo was still there right where he'd left him. Oh good! He didn't have to sit here awkward and alone and hating it. He sat down where he'd been and nodded to Milo but didn't try to start the conversation.

"Xander? That's a cool name. Oh, wait, he's Alec's brother, right? The grumpy one?" Rumy asked as they walked toward the food tables.
 
Sloan chuckled, "Yeah, that's one way to describe him. He's definitely a lot nicer if you get to know him, but he'd probably grumble if he heard me say that. He really likes keeping up his reputation, you know?'
 
Rumy grinned and nodded. "I understand that." She got a plate for herself and handed one to Sloan before finding the tastiest finger foods. Once she was satisfied, she headed back to the table where Sherri still sat waiting and watching the dancers. "How did you two become friends?"
 
"We actually live across the street from each other, so I just sort of... Introduced myself. And somehow I managed to convince them not to give me a shot." She stayed silent about how both twins found it a little difficult to open up or how hard she worked to seem extra friendly so she'd, hopefully, break through the barrier, "Xander's got, like, a cat personality, which is another thing he can't hear me say... although now I do kinda want to tell it to him."
 
Rumy thought about this for a moment. "Dorky but loveable orange cat, smart tabby that gets into things, snooty Persian, or the kind that probably shares its DNA with the devil?"

Sherri looked up in surprise as they approached. "WHO shares WHAT with the devil?"

"Certain cats," Rumy informed her.
 
"None of those, I don't think," Sloan said, thinking carefully about it, "He's like... the shelter cat you bring home and it takes a bit to warm up to you. Once he does he's not going anywhere, but he's gotta keep his reputation in tact, so he's going to hiss at anyone you invite over."
 
"Oh, that type," Rumy smiled with a nod. "I follow you, now."

Sherri tried to glance toward where Xander was, but there were too many people and items in the way. "That is kind of a cute way of looking at him. To be honest, he always frightened me just a little bit, but I knew he couldn't be all bad because Peter is in a band with him."

Xander sat in silence with Milo, enjoying the relative quiet and seclusion as he cleaned off his second plate and listened to the music. At one point, he used his foot to tap Milo's foot and nodded in the direction of three other boys at the back of the room. They were trying to make a pyramid of cups and succeeding with some amount of success. They fussed over each cup placement and all froze whenever the tower would wiggle threateningly only to cheer when it didn't fall.

Alec wandered over and flopped down on the couch next to Xander, leaning over into him with a tired sigh. "Parties are exhausting. How do some people do this every weekend?"

Xander snickered and shifted to put his arm around his brother, letting him rest against him. "I guess they build up their stamina."
 
"I think he prefers being a little frightening," Sloan said with a grin, "and I prefer making absolutely certain he knows I'm not frightened of him. You really like Peter, huh? I don't mean that in like... an accusatory way, or anything. It's just... I don't know. Neat, I guess."

Milo looked at the two of them, taking a few moments to figure out if he was still involved in the conversation or if he should go somewhere else. He could never tell those sorts of things, so he tested the waters by saying, "some people feel more energized after a party."
 
Sherri turned bright red and ducked her head while Rumy laughed.

"Poor Sherri has had a crush on Peter since the first day she saw him, and then when they did the talent show," Rumy made a gesture with her hand, "it was all over for her. But despite my advice to just go talk to the guy, she just moons over him."

"It's not that easy!" Sherri moaned. "He's just so... him!"

"And you're so you," Rumy agreed patiently. She glanced at Sloan. "Whatever that means."

~~

"I've heard that," Alec agreed, easily accepting Milo into the conversation, "and I guess I sometimes feel that a little, but every weekend? That's just... wow. I like the occasional weekend at home to just relax, but that's just me."

"I prefer never leaving home to begin with," Xander remarked.
 
"I think you should talk to him," Sloan told Sherri earnestly, "I mean, even if not to like... ask him out, because I don't know how that would go over, especially when his parents are chaperoning," she knew, of course, about the Hollis "no dating" rule, but it didn't seem like her place to share, "but he's a friendly guy, so you don't have to worry at all about if he'll, like, be dismissive or rude to you. I don't think I've ever seen him have a problem with anyone."

~~

"I don't like going places either," Milo agreed, "I wonder how many people do genuinely go out every single weekend. I think it is not so many."
 
"Really? You think so?" Sherri asked, shyly excited.

Rumy snorted. "Oh, sure, when she says it." She sighed melodramatically. "I guess that's what happens when you get too used to someone. You stop hearing their advice."

"Oh, stop it," Sherri smiled.

~~

"I think they're the type of people who are really drawn to big cities and like to live super downtown," Alec said thoughtfully. He sat up and smiled at Milo and Xander both. "I know neither of you really like going out, so it means a lot to me that you did. Thank you both. I'd hug you, Milo, but I know you don't like that." So, he hugged Xander instead, who rolled his eyes but almost smiled.
 
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