How Green Becomes Wood

"Well, if you want one, I'd be happy to put something together for you!" Becky chirped. "Unless your other friends have that covered, of course. I'm thinking... Black and white theme! Just a few people. Maybe four, five friends? Adults don't count. A table of food and soft music." She squinted at him. "Hmm. I feel like you're either a jazz person or a rocker. Like, cool rock. Anyway, nil pressure. None, nada. But... even if you don't have a party, are you accepting gifts?"
 
Milo stared at Becky for a moment before looking away. Four maybe five friends? Plus adults? The absolute most he could imagine inviting to anything was three, and even having three felt questionable to him.

"Uhm... it's probably too late to plan anything like that..." He mumbled, "and I don't really... I don't know. I'm not all that bothered about presents or anything like that." It was just more to carry, he thought, despite trusting his mom he wouldn't need to do that, anymore.
 
Becky smiled. "It's never too late to plan a party, but it's okay if you don't want one. They aren't for everyone. Sometimes, the best time is had between two people in a dimly lit room!"

Xander choked.

Becky scowled at him. "Get your mind out for the gutter. I was thinking of things like sleepovers, gaming, or eating pizza while watching a scary movie."

"Sorry," Xander coughed.
 
"Well, if you'd have let me continue before gagging like a loon eating a fish, I'd have cleared that up," Becky said with a sniff.

"I think the bell is about to ring," Xander said, relieved. "We should clean up and head out before there's anymore choking hazards."

Becky wrinkled her nose at him.
 
"No, I seriously wasn't thinking like that!" Becky complained. "I mean, not to say it isn't something that appeals, but I really was just thinking like calm and cozy. Not sultry. Suggestive and sultry is fun, too, but maybe not for a birthday party." She finished cleaning up. "Making Xander gag is a bonus, though. Do you think he'll ever get past that? Or is he going to be alone for life?"
 
"Oh, I know. Some people just never want that kind of affection, and I try to accept that, it's just... I don't know. I feel sad when I think about him never finding someone to love like that. I think it's because other than his brother, he never even touches anyone. Maybe it's because I'm such a touchy person, but that just sounds so lonely to me," Becky shrugged. "I know, I know, if he's happy, who am I to say otherwise? But feelings feel whatever feelings want to feel."

Xander glanced over his shoulder. He was far enough away not to be able to hear what was going on, but it wasn't like Sloan to loiter for so long, and Becky never could sit still.
 
"Yeah..." Sloan said, thinking about it, "I don't know, though. It doesn't seem to bother him, and if it does, he's got his whole life to figure it out. And I think him and Alec have a closer relationship than most married couples anyway."
 
Becky snorted. "That sounds creepy when you put it that way. It's like that song I wanted to perform as part of a play until Alec told me what was going on with it. I did not fully get those lyrics!"
 
"True," Becky agreed, walking alongside her companionably, "but you're a boy and a girl, not a boy and a boy or a girl and a girl. That may or may not make a difference. Or it might be a 'forged in the fires of suffering,' thing. I don't know! Maybe I could ask Peter if he ever wishes he wasn't an only child. I'm not sure that's something Milo would want to talk about."
 
"I guess so, but I don't think my friend Claire is that close to her sisters either," Sloan shrugged, "I think being twins is probably part of it. Having literally never lived a day apart is probably a big part of it. And I'm not totally sure Milo ever wants to talk about anything."
 
"I think he's someone you have to treat like they're a stray cat or the fox from The Little Prince or something," Sloan shrugged, heading to class, "He's too skittish for anything else."
 
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