How Green Becomes Wood

When Milo came into school that day, he was feeling tired and strange. He was seventeen, now, and he missed his mom, and he was going to have a friend over for his birthday for the first time since Chicago. It all stirred up a confusing mix of emotions. Then he walked to his locker and stopped in shock to see it decorated. He stood there, with his backpack on one shoulder, staring at all of the details, truly amazed to see people had gone through such effort for him.
 
"Milo!" Becky called. She waved to him as she hurried down the hall. "Hi! Happy birthday! Welcome to being seventeen!" She reached into her large tote bag and pulled out a slightly rumpled but carefully wrapped gift that was vaguely tubular in shape and soft. It was a solid gold paper, and while it was not supposed to be glittery, there was still a bit of glitter stuck to it. "I got you something. I hope that was okay. I know things are a bit weird, but it is your birthday, so..." She smiled nervously, genuinely worried about his reaction but trying to be friendly, if not friends.
 
Becky beemed in relief. "I know, but I really wanted to. I hope your day is fabulous!" She stepped forward to give him a hug but caught herself and turned the movement into an awkward shoulder pat, blushing as she did so. "See you at lunch?" she asked, moving away. "Great locker!"
 
Becky smiled and gave a little wave before heading off.

Alec and Xander waited farther down the hall, not sure if they should approach Milo or not. Xander was in his usual black and grey self, but he was wearing a red stud in one ear. Alec was dressed colorfully as always in a bright red shirt with thin green stripes and brilliant blue pants. Alec smiled as he watched Milo.

"I think he likes it!" he whispered to Xander.
 
After Milo put Becky's gift in his locker, he turned and finally saw the twins, so with a shy, awkward little smile, he ducked his head and went over to them, "Hey, uh..." Glancing over his shoulder at his locker he asked, "Did you...?"
 
Alec tried to look innocent. "Who, me? Do what?"

Xander rolled his eyes. "Yep. Thought it might amuse you." He looked past Milo and saw Emma walking toward them. "I hope she keeps walking," he muttered.
 
"It's really cool, thanks," Milo replied, fiddling with his bag strap. Turning to see who Xander was talking about, he looked at Emma for a few moments and then said, "I wonder if she's still upset about everything."
 
"Dunno," Xander said.

"She couldn't be, right?" Alec asked with a smile that wobbled a little.

Emma walked over to them, so proper and prim she almost looked out of a movie or like she should be going to a boarding school in her earthen tones and properly curled hair. "Alec," she announced, "I wanted to tell you something, and I didn't want to leave it until later. What happened between us did hurt me quite a bit, although I do recognize that you were trying to be as delicate and gentle as you could. I appreciate that. I also now recognize the fact that we could not last because of how you are."

Alec waited a bit before cautiously asking, "How I am? What do you mean by that?"

"A person who is attracted to those of the same sex," she said as rigidly as possible. "I understand this now, and I forgive you."

Alec had no idea what she was forgiving him for, but he just nodded. "Thank you, and I guess if believing that will make you feel better, you might as well have it."

"I wish you peace with whomever you find to love," Emma announced and turned to walk away.

Alec and Xander stared after her.

"I am so glad you broke up with that girl," Xander said mildly.

Alec smiled at Milo weakly. "Happy birthday?"
 
Milo's eyes went wide and he stared down at the floor, biting his tongue to keep from laughing at the absurdity. It took a lot of self-confidence to assume the only reason why your boyfriend broke up with you is because he is closeted. After she walked off, he said, "At least she's not homophobic, I guess."
 
"Oh!" Alec said, sitting in his usual seat. "Emma distracted me, so I completely forgot. I have a gift for you. Hang on." He opened his backpack and started sorting through it. "I thought I put it on top. Hang... on..." By now, he was starting to look like a comedy routine, like he was about to climb head first into his bag at any second.

Xander propped his elbow on his desk and watched in amusement. "You put it in there last night. How did you lose it?"

"Because this bag is a black hole!" Alec huffed. Then he broke into a bright grin and pulled out a box. "Found it! Happy birthday." He turned and handed it to Milo. It was about the size of a really thick notebook, wrapped in warm brown paper and tied off with a silver ribbon and fluffy bow. Despite everything, it was in surprisingly good shape. "Now you can lose it in your backpack."
 
"How much stuff do you have in your bag?" Milo asked, bewildered, as he watched Alec dig around. When he was given the gift, he looked over the wrapping for awhile and then said, "Thank you. Is it okay if I open it later?" As he put it in his bag.
 
"Everything needed for the school day," Alec said, straightening his hair with a few flicks of his fingers. "You can open it whenever you would like, but I figured you'd probably open it at home later."
 
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