Chapter 1

As Nick drove the truck, the three boys got to know eachother. Nick and Jeff had known eachother since their freshman year at Dalton different semesters after being victims of hatecrime and bullying. And boy did they have some stories to tell. The two were openly gay and it didn't faze Rory, but he knew imeadiatly there were certain aspects of his new friends his overly catholic parents would not hear about.

Rory himself was in the closet. He'd started feeling things for a guy back home. His best friend. When the guy came out to the parish in their village the whole place shunned him. Even his parents ignored him in public. Soon he wne tslightly mad in his exile. Rory and he still stayed close, that's why it stung Rory so much when he found him tied to a makeshift crucifix with his wrists and throat slit and the word 'Fag' carved deep into the flesh of his chest.

Rory had found him on the morning jog they usually took together and upon the sight began wretching into the nearest set of bushes. For his own safety Rory stayed in the closet and firmly locked the door.

Sitting with Nick and Jeff he felt hope that he could be accepted. 'Just not at home' he thought sadly. He had made his dad proud of him when he'd brought a girl home. She too was in the closet and they found comfort in eachother. They'd split with the promise of staying friends.

Nick parked the truck and the three of them collected their bags and headed to be registerd.

"Names." The stern looking woman asked.

"Nick Duval, Jeff Sterling and Rory Flanagan. Juniors."

"Right, Duval, Sterling, room 36 like last year, Flanagan, 35." She gave them their room keys and called a loud "NEXT!"

Leaving unpacking for later the pair decided to show Rory around.

"So, whatcha think?"

"It's different for sure."

"Bst thing is, the school lunchs, which it is time for right now." Nick said with a grin.

"Don't we have to wear uniform?" Rory asked looking down at the worn jeans and v-neck he'd worn for comfort while traveling.

"Nope," Jeff said popping the 'p' "not 'till class on Monday."

Food from the canteen was included in Dalton tutition, but things purchased from the on campus coffee shop were not.

"Come on, we'll introduce you to the Warblers."

"The Warblers?"

"Yeah, it's the school glee club. Do you sing?"

"I used to sing in church choir, but my dad thought it would impact me badly, so I had to stop."

"You should audition." Jeff stated as they arrived at a large table full of teenage boys.

"Hey guys."

"Hey Wes, how was you're summer?"

"Same old, same old. How was the roadtrip?"

"I tell ya Wes, we did it," Jeff's face spread into a grin. "We completed our objective, it wan't easy but we did it." There was a chorus of catcalls and cheers from the table.

"What objective?" Rory asked clueless.

"More of a bet," Nick smirked, "which we won, so Thad, pay up. Thad bet we couldn't fuck in every state."

"And you did?"

"We enjoy a challenge." Nick bragged.

"By the way guys," Jeff interupted, "this is Rory Flanagan, joining us from Ireland."

"Rory, meet the Warblers, well, about 99% of them anyway. Wes, David, Thad, Trent, Kurt, Blaine, Beatz, James, Flint, Ethan, Nick H, Cameron, Jesse, Andrew, John, Richard and Taylor."

"Hi."

"And Seb isn't here yet." Wes told him. "So what dorm you in?"

"35."

"Seb's dorm. He's a nice guy, sassy with an attitude, but a nice guy." David filled in.

"Auditions are Monday night and all current Warblers are required to attend," Thad told the table.

"How 'bout it Rory?" Blaine, a guy with more gel than hair asked with a friendly smile.

"Yeah why not, Can't hurt," he shrugged. Suddenly the empty spot opposite Rory beside Kurt was ocupied.

"Seb, where you been?"

"Flight got delayed," he told them rubbing his eyes, "I'm tired and Jetlagged.

"You should eat something."

"I stopped for a burger on the way here." Suddenly he spotted a new face. "Jeff, who's your new friend?"

"I'm Rory."

"You're new roommate," Wes added.

"Tell me Rory, is that an Irish acent?"

"Yeah," he answered a slight blush burning his cheeks.

After dinner the boys returned to their dorms to unpack before joining Nick, Jeff, Kurt and Blaine for a Disney movie Marathon. About half-way through the fourth movie, Rory felt Sebastian's head lolling on his shoulder, stealing a glance, he saw the boys eyes were closed. After the movie ended he helped the boy to bed.

The next morning Rory and Sebastian joined the Warblers for breakfast. It was Friday and all weekend students would be arriving, so the boys decided to spend the day at the mall in Lima with Kurt's friends from his old school.

"Are you OK?" Rory asked Sebastian, "you didn't eat much this morning."

"Yeah, flying caught up with me I guess. I'll eat at lunch," he replied sipping his bottle of water. Rory frowned but didn't press the matter. They spent the day in the mall before heading to a restraunt called 'Breadstix'. Rory watched his roommate of the corner of his eye, making sure the boy ate. Even if it was just a few bites of salad. Rory didn't know if he was right, but he was begining to get worried about Sebastian Smythe.