How Green Becomes Wood

"Yeah, I hope so too." She nodded, beginning to pack up her lunch stuff since the bell was about to ring, "Honestly, I'm pretty sure it'll turn out okay, it just sucks right now, and my friends are the sort of people who take things really seriously."
 
Rumy stood to join Sloan. "Then it's a good thing you have me! The only things I take seriously are hair dyes and cows," she grinned. "You should take a break from serious stuff when you can and do whatever it is you do to relax. Coreograph a floor routine?"
 
"I do enjoy doing fun dance floor routines, even though they don't help me at all," Sloan said, lifting her bag over her shoulder, "But right now I'm already just preparing for finals. They're not that far away."
 
"Sounds serious," Rumy said with a grin. "Well, if you ever need some time out and away, just let me know! You know where to find me. Or I can help you with finals." She shook her head. "No, that'd probably be a terrible idea, but I think you get the point." She waved to Sloan as they needed to split to their own classes.

~~

Alec finally stirred from his bed. He hadn't moved except to roll over once the entire morning since Daizi left him. Now, at lunch time, he was finally ready to get up and attempt to face the day. He wished he could just stay in bed, but he knew Daizi wouldn't be happy with him if he did. So, he listened at the door until he was certain Ivy was taking her nap. Then he slunk out and downstairs.
 
When Alec came downstairs, Dark was in the kitchen reading a book and drinking a cup of tea, enjoying the bit of quiet he had during Ivy's nap times while Daizi was busy at her job. At the sound of footsteps, Dark turned his head and when he saw who it was, he shut his book and nodded in greeting, "It is good to see you up and about."
 
Alec hesitated, not sure how to respond to that. Finally, he said, "I need some water. Mama told me I should at least drink." His tone came out a little surly, but mostly it was from awkwardness, not any actual annoyance he felt at Dark. He made his way around to get a cup, keeping his distance as best as he could.
 
Alec poured himself some water and hunted up a piece of bread before replying. "I want to go back to bed and stay there," he finally said. "I don't want to be up or awake."
 
"Okay. Let me know if you need anything." Dark replied casually, not trying to force anything while also continuing to talk the way he had during the entire time Alec had stopped speaking to him: the same way he always had, to show the silence had always only ever been one-sided and the lines of communication could open back up at any time.
 
Alec mumbled something and turned his attention to forcing down water and dry bread, his ears coloring. He'd expected a bigger push, a desire to make him stay out of his room for a while. Some kind of talk about how he could just keep hiding away. But there was nothing. It was highly disconcerting. It was like bracing to push against something you thought was solid wood only to find out it was made of styrofoam. He finished his water and bread and stood awkwardly for a few moments. Then he went upstairs and to his room once more to hide among the blankets.
 
After Alec went back upstairs, Dark just turned back to his book and drank his tea. The teen was allowed some time to lick his wounds. Later Dark would clarify to him he had to get to work to make things right---not only to other people, but to himself---but for the time being he was allowed some time to regroup before he did.
 
Alec didn't move again until nearly time for Xander to get home from school. He came out slowly, quietly, behaving very much like an emo teen with dreams of being a vampire. The effect was somewhat ruined by the fact that he was wearing bright blue pajama bottoms with bunnies on them and a loose sleepwear shirt with a bold geometric pattern.

~~

At school, Xander was getting ready to leave. Out of habit, he looked for Alec four times as he headed for the door despite constant reminders that Alec was not there and why. He tried to find Sloan, hoping to catch her before she left.
 
Occasionally Dark or Daizi knocked on Alec's door to check in on him, but for the post part they let him be, because that was what he had asked for. When he did finally creep out of his room, Dark was downstairs playing with Ivy, who noticed her brother sneaking downstairs well before he did.

"Ack!" She cried out in delight.

~~

At the end of the day, Sloan and Claire were walking to the parking lot together, talking about their Thanksgiving break plans.
 
"Hi, Ivy," Alec greeted her quietly. "Are you having fun?"

~~

"Sloan!" Xander called, trying to catch up. "Hey!"

As he passed a trio of girls going in the same direction, he heard one of them mutter, "I heard they had a big argument at lunch!"

"Wow. Do you think he's trying to win her back?" the second asked.

"I hope she says no. She deserves way better!" scoffed the third.

Xander didn't catch what the initiater said. Any other day, he'd have been amused. Today, he barely noticed.
 
Ivy babbled at him, immediately crawling at him. By the time she reached his feet, she stood up, and leaned in to hug his legs.

~~

After turning at the sound of her name, Sloan told Claire to give her minute before walking over to Xander with her hands in her pockets, "Hey dude."
 
Alec couldn't help smiling at Ivy. He leaned down and stroked her head a bit like a puppy. "It's nice to see you, too," he assured her. He couldn't help it. She was too darn cute for his melancholy mood!

~~

"Hey." Xander shoved his own hands in his pockets and stood awkwardly for a second. "It's not your fault," he finally said. "I get why you did it. You were being a good friend."
 
Ivy tipped her head back and beamed up at him, holding onto both of his legs and showing no interest in letting go.

~~

"Thanks." Sloan replied, admittedly relieved, and she looked down at the pavement, "I'm still sorry about it. I don't really think there's anything I could've done differently, but I wish there had been."
 
"Well, I guess I'm stuck here now," Alec remarked, wiggling his legs just a little. "What else can I do?"

~~

"Yeah, it kind of sucks all around," Xander huffed. "You shouldn't have gotten stuck in the middle like that. I don't want it to happen again. And... I know it wasn't on the same level, but I shouldn't have told you not toe tell about me reading, you know, those books. Wasn't fair. I'll be telling him about it later."
 
Ivy giggled, bouncing slightly and nearly losing her balance.

~~

"Thanks man." Sloan said, "We cool? I'm not really... mad at either of you, I know you're both trying to do what you feel like you have to."
 
"Careful!" Alec warned, reaching down to.steady her. "Did you eat jumping beans for lunch? So squirmy!"

~~

"We're always cool, Slo," Xander promised her. "Have a good turkey feast." He turned to go and added, "Oh, and we were dating, but now we've broken up and you're way too good for me, so you shouldn't take me back."
 
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