How Green Becomes Wood

The twins headed upstairs to put away their things and sort out their homework. Alec grumbled briefly about needing to get so much done so early, but he followed Xander's example in creating a system for what needed to be done when. He hated the idea, but he couldn't keep doing his homework in the van on the way to school.

When Alec's phone chirped, announcing a text from Becky, he tossed it to Xander to check while he finished sorting the dreaded homework. Xander read the text out loud to Alec and typed in the response Alec told him. Then he paused. He shouldn't. He really shouldn't. He glanced at Alec. Then he flicked back up a few texts between Becky and Alec. Strange. In the fast, skim-read he gave the texts, there was nothing indicating Becky was being particularly pushy or telling Alec what to do. Perhaps Xander had been wrong to accuse Becky for Alec's recent reactions. Alec had never been particularly shy about sharing his opinions - Xander blamed his lack of balance with his lack of any good friendships until recently - but he was being pushier than usual. Strange. Guiltily, Xander closed Alec's phone and handed it back. Alec didn't even notice, and soon, they were heading downstairs again.
 
By the time the twins were back downstairs, Daizi and Ivy were both awake again. As predicted, Daizi was a bit sore from her impromptu nap on the floor, and a bit confused because she definitely had not planned to take a nap, but nobody ended up being trampled by a dog. When he noticed them, Dark went over to show his drawing of them sleeping on the floor. Like all of those sorts of sketches, it was warm and peaceful.

On Friday, Sloan was dressed casually, having not realized she agreed to go on a date, and drove over to the theatre to meet Rumy, unbothered and just looking forward to spending time with a friend.
 
The twins were delighted by the picture. Alec gushed, as he usually did, but he genuinely meant it. Xander loved it, but he kept it more to himself, reserved as always, but he looked at the picture long and quietly, almost memorizing it. Both loved the picture and treasured it in their own ways.

Rumy was waiting outside the theater for Sloan, dressed up in a large red and black striped sweater with abstract designs worked in, a short, pleated black skirt, tights, tall boots, and a wide belt made of medallion shapes. She'd gotten her hair done in thick, tight braids, something she normally didn't take the time for, some of them still dyed magenta, and layered on a few carefully chosen pieces of jewelry. She smiled when she saw Sloan and gave a slight wave. "Hey! You made it!"
 
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"Thanks," Rumy smiled. "Thought I'd try to look a little saner than usual since you agreed to be seen with me in public, and I don't count school as public." She glanced at Sloan's outfit, but for once didn't say what was immediately in her mind. "Want to get some popcorn or something? Or a soda? Or does that mess with your diet for being an awesome, high-flying queen-of-the-bars?"
 
"I'm not really that kinda girl," Sloan promised, "I'm not embarrassed seeing my friends in public, so long as all of their parts are covered and they aren't wearing hate symbols. Popcorn would be great, I made sure to move things around so my diet isn't thrown off too badly. Still have to enjoy life, right?"
 
"You bet!" Rumy hesitated a moment, moved as if to offer Sloan an arm, and then boycotted the movement to open the door for her and wave her in. Rumy then took the lead again so she could reach the ticket counter and paid for two tickets and then paid at the concession stand for their sodas and popcorn and any other candies they got. She chose some chocolate crunch for herself. "Ready to go sit through an absurd amount of trailers?"
 
Noticing the gesture, Sloan thought it was a bit odd but didn't dwell on it, "I really don't mind paying for some of it, movie theaters are crazy expensive. Actually," she dropped her voice to a whisper as they exited the earshot of employees... even though she knew it wasn't really necessary, "This is the first time in a long time I didn't sneak my own food in. I just hope the trailers are good, I don't mind them when they're fun."
 
"No, it's cool. This is my treat," Rumy assured her. She grinned at Sloan's admission. "I did that plenty of times, too," she whispered back. Then she gestured to the seats. "Do you have a preferred seat? I usually like the middle kind of toward the back."
 
"Oh yeah, back and in the middle are the best seats," Sloan agreed, "Once when I was a kid I sat all the way in the front row and it was awful. I swear to god, I walked into that theater feeling fine and left with a fever. My mom says it wasn't the fault of sitting that close to the screen, but I'm not so sure. All I know is I never watched another Alvin and the Chipmunks movie again."
 
Rumy cackled at that and pointed out a good spot for them. "I could never stand the Chipmunks' voices. Not even when I was little. My mom says I tried to attack the TV the first time she played one of those old cartoons that she grew up on. High squeaky voices are my trigger to primordial rage!"
 
"I bet," Rumy snorted. "I never had a movie ruined for me like that, but you know that old vintage movie, Yellow Submarine? I watched it once when my uncle was babysitting me because I was home with a high fever. Let me tell you: that movie is trippy enough sober! Fever-induced mirage-things on top of it? Better than any D.A.R.E. campaign."
 
"I never really got into that movie to be honest," Sloan admitted, "Overall I was never really a Beatles fan. I get why people make a big deal out of them, you know, historically, but I only like a few of their songs."
 
"I only saw it the one time, and I didn't really get it. Big surprise," Rumy smiled. "I only know a couple of their songs, too, and they're okay, I guess. Not really my thing. What's your thing? Wait, let me guess! Umm.... Alanis Morissette?"
 
Rumy laughed. "That's like describing the Rolling Stones as a Barber shop quartet. they are like a classic orchestra playing punk rock." She paused. "Although... I kid you not, they do have one song -One! - that's a full-on hillbilly bluegrass song."
 
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