How Green Becomes Wood

"Sounds like a plan!" Alec said cheerily as he stood to help. The table was cleaned off in no time flat, and they headed off to the last store.

"Having any fun?" Xander asked as he hobbled alongside Sloan.
 
"Yeah, it's been great. I mean, it's been a bit tiring because I've changed my clothes about ten thousand times, but it's way better than when I went shopping with my mom," Sloan replied, "Hopefully it hasn't been miserable for you."
 
"I am in the absolute pit of misery," Xander said dryly. "Nah, it's okay. Never really done something like this before, and it's kind of fun to see your reactions to stuff."

Meanwhile, behind them, Alec had cautiously taken Claire's hand and was whispering to her the real story of how Xander had damaged his ankle: that he'd stepped off a curb funny and rolled it in a way that it did not like one bit.
 
"Maybe next year we'll do it again, but when you're picking out a suit," Sloan teased, able to guess there was almost nothing Xander would want to do less.

Claire laughed at the true story, but did still show genuine sympathy and expressed how awful freak accidents like that were.
 
Xander snorted. "I've already got a suit. It's a perfectly good suit. As long as I don't lose or gain a bunch of mass, it'll be just fine in a year. Not that I'd be caught dead going to prom."

Alec agreed and quietly shared a few of his accidents. None had left him limping in a boot - for which he was glad, and he did show sympathy for Xander's booted plight - but they were funny and somewhat damaging. He couldn't imagine what kind of injuries gymnastics invited.
 
"If you keep kicking medicine balls, you may lose or gain mass," Sloan teased, "I'd ask if you'd go to prom if Alec asked you, but I'm starting to wonder if he'll ask someone else."

Claire shared with Alec some of her gymnastics injuries, none of which were too severe. It was something she was grateful for, because she had come along way for only the occasional sprain or broken toe, although she did admit she had a concussion once which was terrible.
 
"There's no way Alec would ask me." Xander resisted the urge to look over his shoulder. "Do you think they'll last a year?"

Alec winced in sympathy at her tale, and was also glad that she'd not been hurt worse.
 
Xander grunted, frowning slightly, still not sure how he felt about all of this. Of Alec dating so "freely." Logically, he knew it wasn't "freely," and he could see how happy Alec was. He still found it unsettling and worrying, and that always made him cranky. He shook off the thoughts and the feelings for now and indicated the open door of the last shop. "Gentle Ladies first."
 
"That means you have to go in before me, Claire," Sloan joked, feeling she wasn't half as gentle as her friend.

Claire playfully stuck her tongue out at Sloan and then went inside of the dress shop, "I'm going to challenge myself and not pick a blue dress for you this time!"
 
"Yep. Ready... set... go!" Xander said, starting the timer.

"You're so mean!" Alec laughed, dashing off. He spotted a red number almost immediately and picked it up. He had a feeling Claire wouldn't vibe with it, but it was red, and he said he was going to find a red dress, so here was a red dress!

Xander wandered off and found a dress that caused a sly smile to cross his face.
 
As she looked around, Claire did find a green dress she thought might be nice. She wasn't totally sure how Sloan would like it, but she thought it was beautiful, and wanted to select it as an option. Then, since Sloan had already expressed interest in the dark blues they had been pulling for her, she chose another as an option, although she didn't think it was as nice as the blue halter from the last store.

Sloan, meanwhile, looked around for dresses, and soon found a nice purple one she thought might look really lovely on someone.
 
Alec found another lovely green dress that came in plum, as well, and he stood debating for some time before picking up both. Sloan could pick which color she preferred. Then, as he was looking, he found a dress that would most definitely not be in Sloan's preferred list, but maybe another girl would try it on. His heart fluttered as he then spaced out, wondering if it would be weird to suggest it. He was still debating when Xander, with two of his own choices, called out that it was time. Alec decided to bring the dress along, just in case.
 
When they met back up at the dressing room, Claire said, "Try this blue one on first. I also have a green one, but I don't think this blue one is as good, so I just want to get it over with."

Obliging her, Sloan changed into the dress. It was lovely, with mesh cutouts at the side, and interesting crossings of fabrics at the front, but as she looked in the mirror, it just didn't feel like her, so she went to go change, but wanted to bring another dress back with her before she did.
 
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