How Green Becomes Wood

"Because you are an interesting person and someone worth being friends with," Xander said bluntly. "But you get so wrapped up in questioning the why and what they want from you, that it gets rough. Lucky for you, I'm a fellow porcupine, so I'm used to the work. She saw all that and thought maybe it'd be easier all around if she tried to soften you up slowly instead of jumping straight into the friendship thing. Maybe then, you wouldn't be scared of her. Looks like it didn't work, and now you're doing the questioning thing about that."
 
"Dude, you really think trying to be nice to someone is manipulation?" Xander asked, raising his brow at Milo. "'Cause that's all she's doing: trying to be nice to you in a way that won't freak you out - tried and failed, but whatever - because she likes you."
 
"She's secretly supplying me with pieces of candy to make my brain form positive associations between her presence and the taste of sugar," Milo replied flatly, "An ulterior motive is still ulterior even if the intentions are good. And it means I can't trust anything because I know she's tried underhanded tactics before. And it makes my brain twitch like I'm going crazy, because I know it's not actually that serious but it makes me paranoid."
 
Xander sighed. "Well, Stitch, with all the warm-fuzzies I have in my body... I am glad you realize you are you're acting like she's some sort of evil villain secretly planning to deliberately stab you in the back, not a teen girl with a teen crush just trying to get a shy boy to notice her. If you want her to stop, the answer is simple: Ask. Her. To. Stop. And don't say it's not that simple, because it literally is. She's not trying to be malicious. She's not trying to hurt you. But if you keep this up and let it keep going, you are going to hurt both of you. So. Talk to her."
 
"You're talking like she didn't have to plot to tame me like an animal, I'm sure you'd be offended too," Milo pointed out, feeling some level of discontent at the seeming notion he shouldn't be bothered by any of this. Then he paused, "She has a crush on me? That's disappointing... Every few weeks she has a crush on a different guy, so she did all this not even because she wants to get to know me, I'm just the current pick."
 
Xander gave him a look. "We are all animals to be tamed," he said dryly. "I spent most of my life being treated like an animal that needed to be tamed. At least she was being nice about it with you. Also, I think you are the most oblivious guy I've ever known, and that means a lot coming from a guy who didn't even realize his mother was blind for a long time." He mulled over the next thought before saying it. "I dunno. I think you're kind of selling her short. Have you seen her actually work on any other guy? I can't pretend to read her mind, but even if you are a 'current pick,' you're one she's put a lot of effort into."
 
Xander snickered softly. "I get that it bugs you," he said at last, "and I get that you're worried about it, and it's okay if you don't want to be friends or hang out with her. She annoys me, but only kind of, so I can just ignore it and put up with her, but I wouldn't want to hang out with her. I really do think she's just trying to be friends the best way she knows how, but she won't know that it's having the literal opposite effect if you don't tell her. If you do want to hang out with her and try out being friends, that's cool, too, but either way, you'll have to say something. Ig you want, I can have your back."
 
"I don't know how to just talk to someone," Milo replied, "at least not to someone like that. She's kind of annoying and she treats me like a shelter cat, but she's still, you know, a girl. And it makes me feel like... a chauvinist, or something, to see her differently, but at least whenever I've forced myself to stand up to you I didn't have to worry about making you cry. I'm weak to crying."
 
Xander stopped walking and stared at Milo.

After a moment, Alec came hurrying up to them. "Sorry that took so long!" He glanced between them. "What did I miss?"

"Top of your head, what animal do I remind you of?" Xander asked.

"Junkyard dog, but like a semi-tamed one, or a porcupine," Alec said instantly.

"What's Milo?"

"Shelter cat. Maybe dog? But I get more cat."

Xander raised his brows at Milo.

"What did I walk into?" Alec asked, bewildered.
 
"Ooo, opossum is a good one!" Alec said brightly. "Play dead to avoid confrontation, but if you really need, you can bite and body slam like nobody's business!"

"Right," Xander said, smirking at Milo. "Anyway, it'll be fine. Sooner's better than later, and let me know if you need help."

Alec looked between them quizzically but shrugged and let it go as they stepped into their classroom.
 
Milo sighed and followed after them, sliding into his seat. He didn't know how to talk to Becky, especially since most people seemed to love her. It was all a mess and he didn't ask for any of it, he was quite comfortable being invisible and someone nobody ever expected to be anywhere.
 
Milo took it and tried to just pay attention to class. Afterwards, he handed the ball back to Xander and headed off to his next class, which he didn't share with them.

It was in the hallway after class that Claire finally ran into them, wearing a pink knit dress, which had woven strands which shimmered in it, as well as her sparkliest jewelry and barrettes, but it wasn't so extreme that it looked over the top. When she spotted Alec and Xander, she waved hello and then walked over to them.
 
Alec waved back, smiling. "Hi! Wow, you look phenomenal! I love that dress on you." He blushed and stammered, "I hope it's okay to say stuff like that. I'm used to talking to Becky and Sloan."
 
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