How Green Becomes Wood

"And you think he'd be good at that?" Daizi asked, a sly grin heard in her voice, "I'll have to tell him that. He was telling me he felt like there were some people at your event who would've shared classified information with him had he asked in the right way."
 
"It fascinates me how people either find him terrifying or relaxing, and there is seldomly anything between that," Daizi said, rubbing Ivy's back as she coughed, "I am sure, at that event, it helps that Dark rarely drinks enough to be intoxicated."
 
"Right now, I'm feeling fine. I think Dark is starting to get sick, but he hasn't admitted it yet. Yesterday, Ivy was throwing tantrum after tantrum, so we knew something was going on, but we didn't know she was getting sick until we picked her up out of her crib this morning," Daizi explained, "and I know I'll end up with it too. There's nothing for us to do but to hold her, and she's too little to really understand how to behave when sick so her germs get everywhere. And even if I were to somehow avoid it from her, I share a bed with him. We just have to warn Alec to stand clear of us. Xander we don't have to worry about unless Alec catches it, and he'll never forgive us if he does because he has big plans next weekend."

~~

WA sports? Milo texted back, not understanding what that meant. Like Washington State?
 
"If you need anything, let me know. I will do my best to lend you aid," Ciara assured Daizi seriously. Her curiosity goaded her into asking, "What is it Alec has planned for next weekend?"

~~

WA = What About, Peter texted back. Do you have any interest in photographing sports events?
 
"I appreciate that, but I think we'll be alright. Just stay far away, I would hate for you to catch it," Daizi told her seriously, and then, dropping her voice conspiratorially, "He has a second date with a girl from his school. Yesterday was their first."

~~

Oh, that makes sense. I mean, I've photographed some, but it depends heavily on the sport. Milo replied.
 
"Does he indeed? My. This does sounds serious," Ciara remarked. "What is this girl's name?"

~~~

Do you know what HEMA is? It'd be that sport. What do you think of photographing something like that? Peter replied.
 
"Claire, I don't know her last name. She's best friends with their friend Sloan, whom I believe you've met before," Daizi explained, "Dark had her in class a few times and says she is sweet and can be a bit shy, but did well in his class."

~~

That's like sword fighting, right? Milo asked, That would be pretty cool.
 
Ciara wrote down the name. "I am glad to hear that she is a good student. Although, as I recall, the previous girl, Emma, was also the scholarly type."

~~~

Peter grinned. First hurdle down! There a tournament the first weekend of our summer break. I'm not in it, but I was going to go watch. The company is looking for photographers. They'll be paying you, of course. It's about a two-hour drive away, starting late on Friday and ending mid-Sunday. I'm going to go, so, if you want, you can stay in my motel room. I was thinking of inviting Sloan and Xander, too. Don't know who all will actually be able to go.
 
"She was," Daizi agreed, "but they also had what a divorce court would probably call irreconcilable differences, the most pressing of which was that she could not stand Xander. Alec will never stay with someone who cannot be on at the very least neutral terms with his brother." Honestly, she didn't think he could stay with someone who didn't like Xander, neutrality wasn't enough, and she found it commendable.

~~

Milo stared at the text and reread it multiple times. It did seem like a cool event... But two hours away? Sharing a motel room with Peter? He had shared some cramped spaces with strangers before, but it was somehow it was weirder to imagine being with a friend. Would they be in the same bed? Would they need to drive separately? can I think about it? I'd need to talk to my mom or my grandparents. He didn't even know what adult he was supposed to turn to!
 
"I see. That would be the definition of irreconcilable differences," Ciara agreed in a cool tone, her disapproval of Emma growing, even though she'd likely never meet the girl. "You said Sloan has a high opinion of this Claire? And Claire gets along with Xander?"

~~

Sure thing! It's still a ways off. I bet you have a bunch of other questions, too, so fire away! I'll be sending out a general 'who wants to go with me' call in a bit, but I'm going even if no one else comes. Only difference is single or double beds in the room, you know? Although if Sloan comes, which he doubted, but he'd send the invite anyway, I'll need to book two rooms. I'm hoping a couple of others from our gang want to come as a cool joint vay-cay before I leave.
 
"She's Sloan's best friend, and I presume Xander likes her. He's not as against it as he was with Emma, and the few things he has said have been positive," Daizi explained, "I think I've met her once or twice when she was a kid and went trick-or-treating, but I can't say. But Alec really, really seems to like her."

~~

Leaving for the summer or leaving permanently? Milo asked, his anxiety declaring this more important than anything else Peter said in that message.
 
"Good. I am glad for him, then. Although with only one date and one planned, so we cannot say what is to come," Ciara mused.

~~

Peter winced. Summer. Sorry, that slipped out. I was going to tell everyone at school on Monday. I got an awesome internship for several weeks over this summer! Don't worry. I'll be back for next school year.
 
"Oh, anything can happen," Daizi agreed, "but right now, he really likes her, he came home dancing and talking about poetry. Our problem, if you can call it a problem, is if we tried to advise him to be cautious and reminded him most high school relationships don't last, he would remind us we met in high school. I don't have a strong retort to that."

~~

Oh. Well, that's cool, then. Congrats, what internship? Milo texted back, able to relax again.
 
Ciara gave a slight nod. "Good. I am glad that he is happy. I shall let you go to care for your child. Do call me if I can help."

~~

Peter thought about telling Milo he'd have to wait to hear the details until Monday, but he'd already let the main secret out, so he might as well share. The Ocean Cleanup crew. I'm going to be working to learn their systems for searching for 'hot spots' and predicting new areas of trash, and I'll also be on one of their ships to help literally haul garbage from the ocean. It's going to be so epic!
 
"Thank you, she's feeling pretty miserable today," Daizi said sympathetically while rubbing Ivy's back as she coughed, "We'll talk soon, though, thank you for calling. I look forward to visiting the poetry club with you!"

~~

Milo read that text and couldn't help but feel a deep pit of envy he wasn't proud of. But he had been having such difficulties to find a job, none of his interviews had been successful so far, and he struggled to not view Peter as his likable, friendly, rich friend with a cool accent who could just... succeed in things. As much as he wanted to feel otherwise, it made him feel inadequate in comparison, or like he and his friend were from two completely separate worlds. That sounds really cool, I hope you have a good time!
 
"And I with you," Ciara told her before signing off.

~~

Thanks, mate! I'm really excited. It's going to be a lot of hard work, and I hope I don't get beaned with a fridge, but it's for a good cause, you know? Hey, did you know fridges float? I didn't!
 
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