How Green Becomes Wood

"Oh for sure you can visit, but you'll probably need to get a hotel because because I'll be in a girl's dorm," Sloan replied, her hands in her back pockets.

"Me?" Claire replied, "I dunno. I haven't really decided yet, I'll probably stay closer to home though. In-state tuition is cheaper."
 
Alec actually blinked in surprise. "You haven't decided yet? Wow. You must be insanely confident you'll get in! I admire that. I'd have been applying to so many colleges with it being only a summer away."
 
Alec stared between Claire and Sloan and back again multiple times. Multiple emotions crammed for acknowledgement, and relief finally won out. "Really?" he asked, his voice breaking into a squeak. He blushed and cleared his throat. "I mean, oh. I hadn't realized. I was thinking you and Sloan were in the same... Anyway, yeah, that makes sense why you haven't picked colleges."

Xander rolled his eyes so hard he feared he might have sprained something.
 
When Alec's voice broke with clear joy that Claire wasn't graduating yet, she blushed and looked away, nearly swallowing her tongue. In a shy stammer she said, "Yeah, uh, my mom put me in Kindergarten a year late. My birthday is right before the cut-off, and with my dyslexia..."

"We should've been in the same year, but..." Sloan shrugged, taking a careful look at all of them, trying to think of a reason why she would need Xander somewhere else for a moment.
 
"Oh, that makes a lot of sense," Alec said, nodding and trying very hard to play it cool while his heart did handsprings.

"I thought you guys were in the same year, too. Guess that means Claire's stuck here while Sloan goes off to make a name for herself in Gymnastics," Xander remarked.
 
"Friends reunited! That's a great story by itself," Alec said, suddenly even more chipper than he had been before getting to school.

"Awesome. Then you two can go to college together," Xander said dryly, motioning between Alec and Claire.

Alec tipped his head thoughtfully. "You think that's possible?"
 
"Together?" Claire asked, her face flushing again.

"If you're both going to college," Sloan shrugged, "Hey, Xander, I forgot, I promised to help move things for student council, do you think you have a moment to help before class starts?"
 
"Sure, I can help out," Xander agreed. He glanced at Alec. "Don't get lost."

"I think I can find my way to the same classroom I've been going to all year," Alec said, rolling his eyes.

Xander did not look convinced, but he followed Sloan to help her out.

Alec suddenly realized... he had no idea what to say. They were alone - or as alone as one could be in a hallway of a school getting ready to start the day - and this was precious time, yet he had no idea what to say!
 
"Thanks, it's this way," Sloan replied. It was all a lie. There was nothing that needed to be moved. She just was trying to force Claire and Alec to actually talk with a lesser risk of interruptions.

Claire, meanwhile, held her books a little bit tighter and looked up at Alec with the same hopeful look she had when Xander had interrupted them the last time they were alone together. "You really thought I was about to graduate?"
 
Xander followed Sloan, none the wiser as to her ulterior motive. "What kind of things do you have left to do for the council?" he asked.

Alec nodded with a slightly sheepish smile. "I thought for certain that you were in the same year as Sloan, so... you know... graduation, college, all that kind of stuff. I guess you are stuck here for another year, right?"
 
"What, Claire and Alec?" Xander huffed and found some wall near Sloan to lean on. "Is that what's been going on? I wondered if it was something like that."

"I guess that makes sense," Alec said, nodding. He hesitated, shifting his weight awkwardly. "So. Are you... doing anything over the summer? Going anywhere?"
 
"Yeah dude," Sloan replied, "Claire's been into him since way before he and Emma broke up. And Alec does not have a poker face."

"My family and I are going to Gatlinburg for a week in June," Claire replied, still just looking at him, "but that's it. What about you?"
 
"Now that I know to be true," Xander snickered. He glanced down the hall. "So, what, you think those two can actually date or something?"

Alec nodded. "That sounds like fun. I'm not sure what we're going to be doing. The beach, I think. You know, maybe we could... hang out over the summer. That could be fun. Or maybe... sooner?"
 
"I've been trying to get Claire to just tell him for what feels like seven years, but she's way too shy," Sloan said, "Claire thinks he was about to ask her after he gave her thy vase, but somebody," she looked pointedly at him, "interrupted it."

"The beach is great, I love swimming," Claire replied, trying to pretend like she hadn't just imagined him in swim trunks. Then when he asked her to hang out some time, she broke into a bigger grin than she once thought possible, "I'd love to! I-I mean, that would be cool." She swallowed, and almost in a squeak she said, "Sooner is good."
 
Xander made a face. "The bell was about to ring! You can't blame me for trying to make up for all the times I've been late or just not bothered to show up."

"Yeah?" Alec flushed lightly, her smile making him smile. "Yeah, sooner is cool. When, uh, when would you like to do that? We could... maybe go to the mall together?"
 
Xander snorted in amusement. "At least Claire seems like a pretty good kid. I don't mind this."

"Friday sounds good to me. I don't think I've ever tried boboa. No, wait, I have, it's just been a while. So, it's a date? Or, um, I mean, a good time?" Alec stammered.
 
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