How Green Becomes Wood

"You'll have to let me know how it goes," Daizi told him, "And listen, Xander, if it's ever difficult, because it might be sometimes, you can always come talk to me or your father. Obviously we're happy Alec is happy, but you don't ever need to pretend you're okay if you're having a tough moment with it. Adjusting to a big change like that, even if you know logically it's a good thing, can still be hard. Believe me, I know that probably better than anyone."
 
"Thanks, Mama. I guess what makes this harder is that I want him to be happy, I do, but I don't think many people would figure that just by looking at me," Xander sighed. He couldn't find any more strawberries, but did find a ladybug and gently caught it. "I guess feelings just defy logic."
 
"Let's do it," Xander agreed. He picked up his basket and headed inside with Daizi to wash the fruit. He hoped Claire would be Alec's last girlfriend because he wasn't sure how many more times he could take this.
 
After all the fruit were washed and dried, Daizi spent some time making a nice, simple, strawberry-based dessert before portioning out which of her friends would get what, since there were more than enough to go around.

During the last week of school, class was of course easy. All of the major tests were already finished, so they were able to really just relax and enjoy the last few days. Sloan admitted to feeling sort of weird about it, since she was just about to graduate, and really seemed to enjoy these last few lunches with her friends, remarking how strange it was so many years had passed since they first became friends. Claire spent that week gleefully telling everyone she knew that she and Alec were officially dating, and at some point asked Alec to take a picture with her so she could put it in her locker for the four whole days before the year ended. She also made sure to prioritize hanging out with Rumy, knowing soon she wouldn't see her anymore.

On Monday, meanwhile, Milo lamented he definitely did not get the job at the record store, because at some point during the interview, his potential boss looked him over and said, quote, "You're a really weird kid, Milo." Still, he was excited for the year to be over, because not only did he not have summer school, he got to spend the full summer with his mom. They planned to go to a waterpark, which he hadn't done in probably a decade or more.

The year ended on a Thursday, so everyone who was graduating could prepare for it, and as always, when the twins came home from school, it was to a cake Dark had bought for them, this time reading "Congrats on Surviving Junior Year." As they ate it, he said, "There is only one left, now."
 
The twins enjoyed the laidback atmosphere of the last week in school. They pretened to be very mornful and act like it was going to be the last time they would ever spend any time with Sloan. They knew differently, but it was still funny to talk about the last time they'd have lunch together, the last time they'd walk the halls together, and all of that nonsense. Alec blushed what seemed to Xander through half of the day every day when Claire talked about them being official, but Alec also couldn't help a goofy smile every time. They were official! More than that, Claire was telling people because she was excited. That was all. It was such an amazing feeling! And he was completely willing to do pictures together with Claire for their respective lockers. He even requested Xander stand in one and Sloan in another so he could put it in his memory junk journal. A moment in time! His girlfriend, his brother, and his first high school friend who also introduced him to his girlfriend. It felt appropriate.

Rumy appreciated the extra attention, and she would miss these friends. She told Claire to keep in touch and let her know if she ever wanted a little getaway. Rumy didn't have a lot of indoor space, but she anticipated having a lot of peace and quiet with great views! She did decide to give talking to her mother one last try, thanks to Sloan's concerns. She didn't tell her mother her plans to leave, just tried to talk to her about her future as calmly and rationally as possible. That hadn't gone over well, but she did feel better for having tried.

Xander tried not to smile at the potential boss' comment because he couldn't argue with that, but he tried to be serious and reassure Milo. He struck out, but maybe there was a better job around the corner. One that liked weird kids like them.

The cake was greeted with excitement and joy. One more year! One more year!

"I guess there's still time to drop out and fulfill the expectations of my freshman teachers," Xander mused with a smirk, knowing Dark's reaction.
 
"The expectations of some of your freshmen teachers," Dark retorted, feeding Ivy a bite of cake although she could do it herself. Usually he did let her, but unfortunately, she did not have the greatest track record with frosting.
 
"Most freshmen teachers," Xander amended. "I could still fulfill some expectations. Feels rude not to."

"I prefer the expectations we are fulfilling now," Alec grinned. "Besides, I've heard the last year is the hardest just because of some disease you get near the end."
 
"You are fulfilling some expectations already," Dark replied, waving off Xander's concern with one hand. In the moment he looked away, Ivy managed to get both hands into the frosting of her tiny bit of cake. "I trust the two of you will still manage to stick to the effort you need to do well in your classes, even when it is---Now, Ivy-Qadira, why would you do that?"
 
The twins both cracked up, watching Ivy and her frosting. "Why wouldn't she? Frosting is fantastic!" Xander grinned.

"And fun to play with," Alec agreed, scooping up some on his finger. "Frosting all around! To celebrate summer!! I'm going to start by sleeping all day tomorrow. Then I'll buckle into doing summer fun. Maybe I could take more hours at Uncle Tristan's shop? Work every Saturday instead of every other? Since I'll have the week free. What do you think?"
 
Ivy spread her frosting-covered hands down the tray of her highchair before licking her hands and then trying to lick her tray. Sitting with his head in his hand, with his long fingers stretched over his face, Dark watched his daughter's antics and remarked, "Do you think Daizi intentionally birthed my greatest adversary?" Then, as she squished the frosting between her fingers, Ivy gave a shockingly maniacal laugh for someone so little. Without a word, Dark gestured to her with the hand he had been resting his chin in and looked with a blank expression at his sons.

After a moment, he said, "Working more hours would probably help Tristan a good deal, but how could you survive missing... this."
 
Straight-faced and serious, Xander said, "I am so proud of that laugh it is ridiculous. I like to think I taught her that, but that's probably from her mother." He took a picture of Ivy and texted it to Milo, along with Dark's statement.

Alec snickered so hard he almost forgot to breathe. "True, this is a gem not worth missing," he laughed. "So amazing!"
 
"100% something Mama taught her!" Alec cackled. He licked off his finger happily but did not lick off his plate the way Ivy was licking off her tray. "This is really good cake. Anyway, I'll think about picking up more hours, but I do want to keep a lot of my summer free. That's my one right as a still-technically-a-kid: Summer's off!"

"I'm going to see if Cooger can take me on more jobs now that Rumi isn't going to be working for him," Xander said.

"Why did Rumi quit? I never heard," Alec commented.

Xander shrugged. "She didn't tell me, and if she told Cooger, he didn't tell me, either. Maybe she took on a full-time job elsewhere with steadier hours."
 
With a sigh, Dark stood up to get a towel to clean both Ivy and her tray, "He said something about her moving soon. I am sure he will be able to take you on more jobs, especially since now you can work during the daytime on weekdays again."
 
"Don't you want to spend your last summer free and enjoying yourself?" Alec asked. "You can get more hours next summer."

"Says the person who is already planning for more hours," Xander pointed out.

Alec held up a finger. "One day. One extra day a week is not exactly the same as what you were thinking."

"Well, what I'm thinking is cake is good, and I'm going to go put my school stuff away for the final time," Xander said mildly.
 
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