Part One of ? This is my first proper multi-chapter story, and I aim to finish it by September 20th, so no pressure! I don't own Glee, Dalton, or anything else you recognize. Dedicated to Jessseri and Vera Amoris on Tumblr.
*Chustin*
Charlie Amos arrived at Dalton Academy a little early, because his parents wanted him to 'make a good impression' or something. He followed all the other Freshman – well, everyone who looked nervous, confused, or lost – to a set of notice boards, where he began to look for his name. He'd just found it under "Windsor House" when they were all told to go to Orion Hall for their opening assembly. He and the others were shown to a huge... ballroom, really, where they were divided up by whether they were day students or boarders, and then by House. Charlie was given a blue and gold pin and shown to the Windsor section. Taking a seat by the aisle, he looked around and his new classmates, waiting for the speeches to start. He watched the boys walking past and thought about how boring most of them seemed.
*Chustin*
Justin Bancroft, unlike everyone else, arrived alone. All the other boys milling around had friends, or siblings, or parents to keep them company and help them find out where they needed to be, but all of his were back home, in England. He signed as he remembered everything that had happened to get him sent here, to his father's old school. The fights, both with the Gang and against his parents, who were already encouraging the 14 year old to find himself a girl. He stood alone in the sea of blazers until an older boy sent him to Orion Hall, where he was handed a gold and white pin and bundled off to sit with the other Hanovers, who were the quietest group. As he walked to his seat, he passed a brown haired boy with a blue pin, who smiled at him quickly.
*Chustin*
Within 24 hours, Charlie had changed his mind. Nothing about Dalton was the slightest bit boring. Especially, it seemed, Windsor. He should have seen that coming when the line 'Windsor boys break the boundaries' was included in the Orientation speech. This was only his third class, and he'd already made plenty of friends – the Andrews siblings, who were friendly but crazy, Mark, a senior, shy and clumsy but harmless. Even the Windsor prefect, Peter, seemed nice enough. He left the classroom, arms full of books, and found himself in a very busy corridor full of yelling boys. He frowned, wondering if this was normal or if something had happened. He got his answer when the boy in front moved away, revealing a freshman – a Hanover – fighting with someone else. Charlie acted on instinct and dropped his books, darting forward to help separate the two.
*Chustin*
Justin wasn't entirely sure how the fight started. He was walking down the corridor, muttering to himself about how stupid it was that he was even here, and then suddenly he was on the floor. The other boy was snapping at Justin, saying he should have been looking where he was going. Justin couldn't be bothered with it all, and lashed out. The other boy hit back and then it erupted into a proper fight. Justin forgot where he was, and what he promised, slipping back into street-fighter mode as the taller, older boy tried to kick his feet from under him. He felt blood on his face and redoubled his efforts to beat the other boy, but was stopped at someone grabbed his arms, pulling him back. He twisted, trying to get free, and found himself pinned by the Windsor from Orientation. Realizing he wasn't going to escape, he stopped struggling with an annoyed sigh.
*Chustin*
Peter and another boy – presumably the Hanover prefect – were holding the other boy back. They both looked furious. Peter spoke first.
"ALL of you to the Dean's office. You too, Amos."
Charlie released the other boy, who huffed as he moved away. He rolled his eyes and set off for Dean Ramsey's office. "So much for Hanover being peaceful."
The other boy turned, eyes darkening. "What's it to do with you, huh?"
"Everything, since you attacked a Windsor. What are you even doing here? You're British, right?"
"It's none of your business."
"Fine, Switzerland, be like that." Charlie retorted, sitting down where Peter indicated. The other boy was shoved into the seat next to him.
"What did you just call me?"
"Since you haven't told me your name, I had to think one up."
"Justin."
"Pardon?"
"I'm Justin. Bancroft."
Charlie smirked. "Charlie Amos. I would say nice to meet you, but..."
"Oh, shut up."