Part 29
The boys all wanted to sit by Wes' side after the hug and they were arguing a bit. Wes rolled his eyes and surprised everyone by walking over to two of the tables, pushed the chairs aside and then turned to the others.
"Well what are you standing there for?" he asked. "Help me push the tables together." It wasn't a question and they knew it and they all grinned and helped him move the heavy tables.
"Now what", Jeff asked as they put the fifteen chairs around the two tables. Wes grinned innocently and jumped onto the two tables and stood in the middle. The others stared at him.
"What", he asked. "Take a seat and you'll all be close to me and we can stop this fight." He sat down cross-legged and grinned, he let the umbrella rest in his lap. The boys all took their seats.
"Are you okay", Trent asked when he saw the wide smile on Wes' face.
"Never been better Trent", Wes said happily and then smirked. "If we don't count the little show we put up at Christmas."
"Shut up!" Trent said glaring at him warningly.
"Aw but Trent", Wes almost whined. "The boys have already seen the picture. I can do it again."
"Stay away from me you crazy person!" Trent said and pointed at Wes warningly. Wes just grinned innocently.
"What", he asked Trent. "You didn't like it?"
Trent spluttered something and Wes laughed.
"It's not funny!" Trent yelled red in the face.
"But it is!" Wes squeaked out between fits of laughter. "The Warblers think I'm your new boyfriend and I know that you all had a funny time watching my-"
"Wes!" Trent objected still red in the face.
"What it's true", Wes looked 'innocent' again. "Why do you think I chose these jeans?" He stood up and made a little spin. Trent blushed even more and Wes sat down while laughing.
"Oh come on Trent", Wes said happily. "I am flattered really and besides it could've been worse."
"How", Trent asked.
"You could've kissed a girl underneath that mistletoe."
"Better than kissing you", Trent grumbled and Wes laughed.
"Oh come on it wasn't that bad", he said. "I'm a ten out of ten."
"Where ten is the worst."
"In that case I'm a one."
"Then the scale is one lowest and ten highest."
"Then I'm a five and don't tell me you didn't enjoy it."
Trent grumbled something underneath his breath and Wes made a little victory move with his hands. The other boys were staring at them and Blaine leaned over and prodded at Wes' knee.
"What", Wes asked him.
"Who are you and what have you done with Wesley Montgomery?" Blaine asked.
"And what are you and Trent talking about", David asked. "When did you kiss him and why did you do that little spin on the table? What's gotten into you?"
"I'm just happy", Wes said grinning.
"Wes you are… different", Thad said. "I've never seen you this relaxed." Wes theatrically lied down on the table and looked asleep. "What are you doing?"
Wes opened one eye and looked at Thad.
"Relaxing", he said and closed his eye again.
"What's wrong with you", Fred asked concerned. "You're not acting like yourself."
"Au contraire mon ami", Wes said and sat up. "This is the closest to the truest me you'll ever meet."
"Huh", everyone said and Wes sighed. Serious again.
"The Wes you're thinking of is only part of the real me", Wes said and scratched the back of his head. "I've changed… I've found a different side to me and I like that side… and my old self. So I mix them up and this is the result. A more easy going and witty Wes Montgomery… still strict when it comes to Warblers, student council and school… but more relaxed and 'fun'."
"I like this guy", Jeff said happily.
"Thank you Jeffy", Wes said happily.
"Aha!" Thad suddenly exclaimed and flew up pointing at Wes. "I know!"
"Know what", Wes asked cocking an eyebrow.
"Why you're acting like this!" Thad smirked. "You're nervous."
Wes snorted. "I'm not nervous."
"Yes you are!" Blaine exclaimed. "You overdo everything when you are nervous! Even relaxing! And you always give us 'sweet' nicknames when you're nervous!"
Wes grumbled something and David put a hand on his knee.
"What's going on buddy", he asked. "Does this nervous act have something to do with what I asked?"
"Or where you've been all this time", Nick asked.
Wes rubbed a hand over his face and sighed. He looked around the room.
"Okay", he said. "I'll tell you. But first… please forgive me for this and try to wait with the questions until I'm done okay?"
They all nodded and Wes started to talk. He told them everything. From when he witnessed the murder, how he moved around, how he came to Dalton, how Veronica got killed and lastly… how he got to McKinley and of course… being Victor.
"No", Blaine said and shook his head. "No."
"What", Wes asked confused.
"You were not Victor", Blaine said and Wes could see the hurt in his eyes. But what kind of hurt was it?
"I was."
"No!" Blaine stood up. "There is no way I could've been so close to you so many times and didn't even recognize you!"
"Blaine my hair was… colorful", Wes said sharply. "We didn't spend that much time together. We were never really close when we did hang out and recently I realized something."
"What", Blaine spat.
"I talked lighter, acted sunnier, acted more like a normal teenager", Wes said looking into Blaine's eyes. "There was nothing about me that you would recognize."
"Your face-"
"My hair pulled all attention to it and sometimes I wore colored lenses and they did the same."
"No", Blaine shook his head. "I still don't believe it was you. There's no proof of-"
"Fred", Wes said and turned to the beat boxing Warbler. "At sectionals you congratulated Victor on a job well done and he did the same right?"
"Uh yeah", Fred said. "How did-"
"And Rock", Wes turned to said Warbler. "You, Trent and Fred followed the blonde Victor Montgomery when he ran backstage correct?"
"Yeah", Rock answered hesitant. "But-"
"Trent, you guys lost him outside a janitor's closet right", Wes went on and Trent nodded. "When you guys were out there a janitor suddenly came out wearing grey overalls and cap. He was pushing a tool/cleaning cart in front of him and asked you to let him through right?"
The three boys stared at him.
"It was Victor!" Fred exclaimed. "I knew it!"
"Heck he even said it", Rock said. "Wait a minute…" he turned to Wes. "We didn't tell anyone about that janitor."
"So how do you think I know", Wes said and crossed his arms.
"But… but… but…"
"Thad", Wes turned to the shorter boy who was looking at him with big eyes. "The first time you saw Victor with colored hair was on Kurt's laptop when they were using Skype. Victor's hair was orange."
"Yeah", Thad mumbled.
"After that call you and Kurt decided to plot-"
"We know that story", Thad squeaked horrified.
"Ah I'm not done yet", Wes smirked. "After you all had watched that video Kurt show you of Victor and Holly Holliday and after your Animal affair Kurt called me up and we talked. You overheard and called to Victor to come to Dalton wearing those jeans. Victor called you a puppy-hobbit and told you to shut up and you and Kurt asked about that at the same time and Victor said-"
"That he called me that because I'm as adorable and cuddly as a puppy and I'm a hobbit", Thad said wide-eyed.
"You told Victor you are not that short and he answered that David seems to like you the way you are and that you don't have to b-"
Wes mouth was suddenly covered by a very red-faced Thad's hands. Everyone was staring at the duo, Wes was grinning, you could see it on his eyes, and Thad looked horrified and embarrassed. Nick, Jeff and a few other boys looked curious. Fred, Rock and a pair of other boys looked at Wes with awe, hurt or anger. David and Blaine were the only ones that looked as if they didn't believe him. Trent was smiling and Thad was still wide eyed… and covering Wes' mouth. David rose and grabbed hold of Thad's shoulders and pulled him away. Wes was smiling softly at him but then… it was as if a rubber band snapped. Thad flew at him and started to slap on him with his hands.
"Asshole!" he yelled. "You don't say those things to people! What is wrong with you?"
Wes just laughed and held up his arm to protect himself.
"You complete jerk!" Thad went on. "I couldn't be in the same room as David for the rest of the day without blushing!"
"That's not my fault", Wes said and dodged a swat at his head. "Don't be so proper Thaddy."
"Proper? You told me that my boyfriend loves my size because I don't have to bend down too much to give him a blow-job!"
The room became quiet and Thad put his hands over his mouth red as a tomato in the face. David was also blushing… and the others broke out laughing. Wes pulled Thad into a hug and the smaller boy nearly cried when the wave of safeness and warmth washed over him, how he always felt when Wes hugged him. It could also be from feeling more embarrassed than he ever had before in his entire life. Wes was chuckling and kissed the top of Thad's head. Thad couldn't help but grin at that, Wes always did that to him and only him… at least that he know of now.
"So do you boys believe me now or do you need more proof", Wes asked when the laughter died down. He was still sitting on the table and was still hugging the embarrassed Thad, Trent suspected though that it was not the reason they were hugging. Wes and Thad were really close in Thad's freshmen and sophomore year. They had drifted apart a little when Thad started to open up to everyone else, but maybe they both just needed this. They needed the sense of familiarity and that truth was that they were both there. Taking care of someone always made Wes relax and being held by someone always helped Thad relax. That's why no one questioned it.
"I still don't believe you", David all but spat.
"Very well then", Wes got up and Thad looked at him quizzically. "I know how to change your mind." Wes jumped down from the table… and over Nick and Jeff's heads when he did. He whistled and walked over to the piano while everyone else was staring at him.
"What are you doing", David asked but then Wes started to play. They all know that intro. It was the intro to the Winner Takes It All.
I don't wanna talk – After that first line their mouths dropped open in shock. They'd know Victor's voice anywhere after that performance at regionals.
About the things we've gone through
Though it's hurting me
Now it's history
I've played all my cards
And that's what you've done too
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play
Los dioses por placer
eligen sin querer
sus dados a rodar
marcan nuestro azar
Va todo al ganador
le deja su dolor
es como debe ser
hoy igual que ay
He suddenly changed the tune and played and sang:
Push me up against the locker
And hey, all I do is shake it off
I'll get you back when I'm your boss
I'm not thinking 'bout you haters
'Cos hey, I could be a superstar
I'll see you when you wash my car
All of the dirt you've been throwing my way
It ain't so hard to take
That's right
'Cos I know one day you'll be screaming my name
And I'll just look away
That's right
Just go ahead and hate on me or run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down
Baby I don't care
Keep it up and soon enough you'll figure out
You wanna be, you wanna be
A loser like me
A loser like me
A loser like me
He stopped playing and turned to David.
"Do you believe me now Mitchell or do I need to make it even clearer?"
David just nodded mutely.
"I don't get it", Nick suddenly said. "If you were Victor and at McKinley and met us all those times… why didn't you say anything?"
"Yeah and why did Trent say he'd been to school with Victor", Jeff asked and then it dawned on him and he twirled around to Trent. "You knew?"
Trent blushed.
"I… I've known since Christmas", Trent said.
"WHAT?" the others, but Wes, yelled outraged.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"How could you keep this from us?"
"What the hell!"
"Dude not cool!"
"You jerk!"
"How could you?"
"HEY!" Wes' yell shut all the other boys up and he stalked over and jumped onto the table again and glared at them. "Don't you dare yell at Trent. He didn't tell you to protect me."
"What", Rock asked confused.
"If Trent had told you where and who I was you'd start hanging out with me and those fucking jerks would've figured out who I was. They'd get me and hurt me. Trent took a great risk calling me out in the mall at Christmas and I scolded him for it.
I yelled at him when he called me before your GAP-attack-fiasco, I told him to never call me again because he was risking the safety of all of you and me! I didn't want him to tell you and I didn't tell you so that I could keep you guys safe from Clive and Owen!
Do you know how hard it was being so close to you guys all the time? I don't think you understand how many times I nearly blew my cover. Like on the Lonely Hearts Dinner, Kurt noticed me sing along with the tenor harmony! And do you know how hard I had to fight to not run over to you at competition or at Breadstix and yell: 'Guys it's me I'm alive, okay and I'm in Lima'? I wanted you safe and I wanted Clive and Owen away from me. I didn't want them to find me."
"But they did", Blaine said dryly and then regretted it. The room became so quiet you would've heard a pin fall to the floor. Wes sighed and sat down on the table. It sunk in then, with all of them. Victor Montgomery had been kidnapped, their friend, their big brother and leader was Victor Montgomery… which meant Wes had been kidnapped and hurt. Kurt and Trent had told them about the situation when Victor was at the hospital. They all knew. They all knew that their friend, leader, brother had been badly hurt and nearly died.
Wes didn't have to open his eyes to know that they were all looking at him sadly. The Warblers were looking at their friend, brother, leader and noticed that he had fading cuts and bruises on his face, they noticed he was thinner and a bit paler than normal. One of the boys whose name was Luke was sitting behind Wes but now he got up, put his arms around Wes' and buried his face in his neck while he sniffled. Wes smiled a bit and reached up and put his hand on Luke's neck. Some of the other Warblers followed suit and soon they were all in a big group hug. Wes patted Luke on the neck and when the boy let go he rolled his shoulders. The boys asked if he could tell them what happened. He sighed.
"Guys", he said. "It is a long story and I'll have to tell you everything that happened from regionals okay?" They nodded and he started to tell them. He left out what happened when he was hurt, he only told them he got beaten. He told them how Owen and Clive had different views on him. Clive wanted to kill him and was brutal while Owen thought he was his son and tried to protect him.
"So they're both dead now", Nick asked when Wes was done and he nodded. "You're safe?"
"That's why I'm restarting at Dalton tomorrow", Wes said and they guys cheered and hugged him again.
"Then why aren't you in uniform", Jeff teased and Wes smirked. He jumped off of the table and made a little spin.
"Because someone told me to wear these jeans next time I came here", he said. "And a little birdie told me that you guys found a certain video very entertaining."
The Warblers looked confused and Wes started to sing softly as he made some dance moves... sexy ones.
Do you wanna touch
Do you wanna touch
Do you wanna touch me there
The boys gaped and some of them blushed. They just realized that Wes had been dancing with Holly Holliday and they had… checked him out. Wes started to laugh when all the boys who had checked him out blushed. Then Blaine flew up and grabbed hold of his shoulders.
"Kurt knew about this?" he asked and Wes blinked.
"Uh yes… he found out during my breakup with Mercy", he said and then glared at Blaine. "And I told him to keep quiet about it for the same reason Trent had to. So don't you go yelling at Kurt or get angry at him, because I have a gavel and my umbrella close by Blaine and I ain't afraid of using 'em."
Blaine blinked at him and Wes turned around to the other boys.
"The same goes for all of you", he warned. "I will not tolerate any harassment of Kurt or Trent because of what they got to know. Have I made myself clear?"
There were mumbles all around.
"I said: Have. I. Made. Myself. Clear?" Wes said sharply and put in all authority he could in his voice.
"Yes", everyone said loudly this time. Some even said "Yes sir!"
"Good", Wes said and jumped onto the table again and sat down. "Now tell me what's been going on around here when I was gone. Kurt didn't give all details."
"You know about Thavid", Trent said and Wes snorted.
"Took you two idiots long enough", he said and looked at David and Thad. Both boys grumbling something that sounded like:
"Shut up Wes."
They boys told him what had happened while he was gone. The school teams were doing good, the martial arts team were really missing him and now that he was back they'd even have a shot in the national competitions in a few weeks. Those competitions were always at the end of May and it was in the middle of April now. The only thing… was that the student council had gone crazy.
"Oh God what have those idiots done now", Wes asked and took a drink from a water bottle handed to him by Fred.
"Uh… nothing and that's the problem", Blaine said.
"Well they did get the milk and fruit banned from the cafeteria", Jeff spoke up. Wes spit out the water he was drinking in shock and it sprayed all over David, Thad and Frank.
"Dude!" the three of them said.
"They. Did. WHAT?" Wes yelled and turned to Jeff. "Oh those stupid idiots I oughta…" the rest of his threats went down in angry Cantonese. Chris, the other Asian in the group, covered his mouth giggling hysterically. Chris was fluent in both Cantonese and Japanese and he was giggling hysterically at all the threats Wes was throwing out.
"Chanel two!" James, Fred and Frank called and Wes looked at them.
"Trust me my sweets", he said. "You don't want to know what I was just saying."
"True", Chris quipped and said something in Cantonese and Wes snorted as a response to it. The clock in the room rung then and it showed 9.
"Wow", Wes said. "We've talked worse than gossiping girls."
"Speaking of girls", Trent said sneakily. "How are things with you and Mercedes?"
He wiggled his eyebrows at Wes. Wes put a hand to Trent's forehead and gave him a gentle shove. That's when that part dawned on the Warblers. Mercedes and Victor were dating! Which meant that now Wes was dating! A girl!
"Ha!" David exclaimed and pointed at Trent. "You owe me fifty bucks!"
"Damn", Trent swore but handed David the money, some other boys exchanged money with others. Wes looked caught between amusement and offense.
"I take it you all thought I was secretly gay", he said dryly to the boys that had handed money to others.
"Yes", the all said.
"And you didn't think so", Wes turned to the other group. The funny thing… the two groups were sitting opposite each other at the tables.
"Nope", the group 'winning' said.
"And Thad since you didn't take or give money I guess that makes you thinking I'm bisexual", Wes said and Thad snorted.
"No", he said. "You are just crazy and no one never knows what you could do."
"Like kissing Kurt", Blaine said and held up his phone. "Mercy just sent me this photo. Care to explain?"
Wes looked at the picture from earlier that day and shrugged.
"Not really", he said happily.
"Would you please stop kissing my boyfriend", Blaine said. "Keep your lips to your own girl."
Wes smirked.
"Did I just hear you call Kurt girl Blaine", he asked and Blaine's eyes widened. "Just wait till I tell him that."
Blaine paled.
"You wouldn't", he said.
"Try me", Wes smirked got up and ran out the room.
"Get back here you nitwit!" Blaine yelled and took chase. The others laughed and followed. Wes laughter echoed down the hallways and soon Blaine's did the same.
Later that night Wes was in his room. He was unpacking the last of his stuff and filling up the only empty wall in the room with pictures. It was the pictures he'd taken from his locker at McKinley but also pictures of him and his Warblers.
The first picture was of him and the freshman John. They hadn't gotten to know each other as well as Wes had the older Warblers, but he was still close with all three freshmen. The picture was of Wes by the piano helping John with a song. John was sitting on the piano and Wes was playing with a small smile on his face. John was looking at him with adoration and Wes was smiling reassuringly to John.
The next picture was of him and Luke, in the dojo actually. They were sparring and whoever took the picture had taken it while Luke was kicking at Wes head and Wes was blocking the kick. They were both grinning though.
The picture of Wes and Chris always made people grin. In the beginning of each school year Dalton threw a small "festival" where you dressed up like your ancestors, or in traditional clothes from what country you came from since Dalton had a few exchange students. Wes and Chris were both in traditional Chinese clothing… in matching colors for some reason. They'd planned it but never told anyone that and acted as if they hadn't.
The picture of him and Trent was from one of Trent's skin-treatment days. Wes was sitting on a chair in the bathroom while Trent applied skin cream to his face, Wes' hair was wet and standing up in every direction possible.
Wes' favorite picture of Jeff included Nick. Wes held his arms around the duo and they were sneaking glances at each other, long before Niff. Wes Was having a knowing smirk on his face.
His favorite picture of him and James was taken one day at the beach. The Warblers had taken a road trip and both of them was lying in the exact same pose reading the exact same book… they even had matching expressions on their faces.
Frank and Fred are brothers and Wes favorite picture of both of them was another trio picture. The brothers were holding Wes down while tickling him.
Wes had a few pictures of him and Joseph actually but his favorite was an "odd" choice. Wes was having his arms crossed, Joseph had as well and they were facing each other and glaring daggers. Wes loved the picture because even though Joseph was taller than him and Wes was glaring up at him it was Joseph that looked less confident. He was leaning back a little while glaring. Wes also loved the picture because even though they kept butting heads in the beginning, due to Joseph's I'm-better-than-all-of-you-attitude and his yeah-yeah-whatever-attitude, they became good friends. Wes liked to think his "big brother" authority was to thank for that. A lot of the Warblers had had problems with Joseph in the beginning and though he sometimes came off as nonchalant or mocking he really wasn't.
The picture of Wes and Rock was an… interesting picture. Wes was sitting by the piano and Rock was leaning his elbow on top of Wes' head and was leaning on him like one would lean on a rail… or how models leaned on pedestals sometimes. Rock hadn't known it was Wes he was leaning on and Wes was looking up at the boy with the long hair. His face was skeptical and he had one eyebrow cocked. When Rock figured out what he was doing his eyes had become really wide and horrified. Wes had just shook his head and continued to play the scales the two of them were working on.
Wes smiled fondly when he put up the picture of him and Blaine. He was giving a sleeping Blaine a piggyback ride back to his dorm.
The picture of him and David was of the two of them swing-dancing together at a school party, that's what somewhat started the rumors of him being secretly gay he guessed.
At the last picture he had to smile really big. It was of him and Thad from Thad's freshman year. The poor kid had been so terrified of everything and only trusted Wes. Thad had stayed in Wes' room a few times, to Wes' roommate's annoyance. Though it was the roommate that had taken this picture when he came in one morning, after spending the night with his girlfriend, and Wes loved it. Wes and Thad were lying on Wes' bed. Both were in full uniform and Wes was holding his arms around Thad, pulling him close to his chest. Thad was burying his face in Wes' shoulder and looked really peaceful. Wes looked a bit possessive and… had a don't-you-dare-touch-my-bro-aura around him even in his sleep. Wes didn't remember why they were asleep on the same bed but he loved the picture all the same.
Wes also put up group pictures of both the Warblers and the New Directions. When he was done he sat on his knees and pulled out something from underneath his bed. It was a box and when he opened it there was a keyboard inside. He smiled and plugged it in and started to play. He played a song he'd written himself* and started to sing it:
And I have lived my life the way fate intended
I was a wind that blew by
And I have carried so many lies
I just refused to be free
I could be someone else than myself
But you saw the true me
Fate was my path
It took me everywhere
Took me back to my life
Fate was my path
But now I am myself
Now I know what I want
And now I understand that my life is for me
Come I'll show you that deep inside me
There is a place I had forgotten
There I've fun the courage to not run anymore
There I can find what I've forgotten
There I could be someone else than myself
But you saw the true me
Fate was my path
It took me everywhere
Took me back to my life
Fate was my path
But now I am myself
Now I know what I want
You showed me the path when I was blind
And you gave your life to me
You stood there alone when I had nothing to give
But now I'm here for you
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Fate was my path
It took me everywhere
Took me back to my life
Fate was my path
But now I am myself
Now I know what I want
And now I understand that my life is for me
He stopped playing and smiled but then jumped high when he heard applauds and he turned around. His Warblers stood in the door, all of them grinning happily. Wes smiled gently, stood up and took a bow. The Warblers laughed and started to wolf whistle and cheer loudly. Wes only laughed and felt at home and really truly happy. Had he had Kurt and Mercedes and Brittany and Santana with him he'd been on cloud ten, he was already on cloud nine.
TBC *The song is not written by me. It is a song that I like, but it is in Swedish and I doubt you guys know it. The translation is mine though. I was listening to it and felt that it suited.
