How Green Becomes Wood

Milo laughed quietly at Alec's joke and then answered his question, surprising himself with how easily it came to him, "I think I want to get a job. It always seemed pointless before."
 
"Well, you got photography experience. That's nothing to sneeze at," Xander remarked. "You might be able to do some freelance for ads and things."

"Our uncle's store could use some new pictures for his ads," Alec commented.

"That's a lot of posed stuff, though," Xander pointed out.

"Oh, right, not nearly as much fun," Alec frowned.

"My dad knows a few photography stores," Peter volunteered. "You likely would be starting at the bottom, but it'd be work with cameras."

Xander shrugged. "All good stuff, nothing that needs sorted out now," he said, reminding everyone not to overwhelm Milo with options.

Peter nodded. "Very true. This kind of thing takes time. You might find the right job while riding down the street on your bike in a few weeks. Who knows?"
 
"It is really cool," Alec grinned. "You could even think about dating someone nearby, if you wanted. No, I'm not talking about Becky, but you could if you wanted to. Just saying it's an option."

"He's already got a girl," Xander said, his mouth full of cheese.
 
All three boys paused and stared at Milo. And then exchanged glances.

"None of you are allowed to make fun of my obliviousness any more," Xander stated.

"Fair," Peter said, biting his lip in amusement.
 
Alec shrugged. "Well, maybe you don't, but you could if you wanted to."

Xander nodded. "She likes you well enough."

"I've heard through the grapevine," Alec started to say.

Peter waved a hand at them to make them stop. "They are talking about Noor," he said plainly to Milo. "The girl you've been texting since you met her. The one whose art you appreciate, and who appreciates your art. That girl."
 
"Oh," Milo replied, and after a moment said, "Noor and I aren't dating. I mean, I know that she likes me, but we aren't in a relationship or anything. I don't really like long-distance."
 
"Have you told her that?" Alec asked him bluntly. "If not, you need to tell her."

Peter nodded. "Girls need clarity like that. Guys, too, but especially girls. It lets her know that she doesn't need to wait for you."

"Unless you think you might want to give long-distance a shot after all," Alec shrugged.
 
"You don't have to come right out and go, 'By the way, you haven't got a chance,'" Alec said. "Be subtle about it. Maybe ask your mum about it."

"Nah, dudes," Xander drawled. "I know what's really going on here."

Peter raised a brow. "You do?"

Xander nodded slowly. "You see, Milo's brain is befuddled because he likes Noor, but doesn't like long-distance, but far more powerful than that, far more powerful than anything, he's under a spell. A bad spell."

"Eh?" Alec asked, tipping his head sideways. "Run that by me more eloquently?"
 
"Not even close," Xander smirked.

"Then what is it?" Peter asked.

Xander held up one of the googly-eyed candies he'd found in the living room. "He's under Becky's sugar spell. He'll never be able to break free, and maybe he doesn't want to." He dangled the candy in front of Milo by the edge of the wrapper.
 
Xander flicked the candy piece at him lightly. "Eh, just scrub your teeth more. You'll be fine!"

"Oh man, does Becky hold you under her spell?" Alec giggled, rocking back a little.
 
"I'm pretty certain she doesn't," Milo replied, "One of the biggest problems with people learning I exist is now I have girls asking me out and it may be my least favourite form of confrontation."
 
"Wow, yeah, terrible problem," Peter said blandly, trying to hide a grin. "It really is awful, being attractive enough to have people interested in you."

Alec nodded, holding a straight face. "Indeed. It must be so very horrible. I feel very, very bad for you."
 
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