Part 12

Wes' junior year

Wes was coming back to Dalton after a class trip to a nearby museum. He was walking last among the juniors, caught up in his music thinking. He was thinking of what songs they should sing and who he'd think be a good replacement for Eric on the council. The guy graduated so they needed a new secretary and Howard had told him he wanted off of the council as well so that he could audition for solos. So they would need two new council members. Wes entered the school just as he decided to put some seniors on the council and then he saw something. He saw a kid with a duffle bag and a paper in his hands. He was tall and pale, almost ashen. That couldn't be right… the boy also seemed to be lost. Wes smiled and walked over.

"Hi", he said when he was behind the boy. The kid, that was taller than Wes, twirled around with big horrified eyes and swung.

"Whoa easy", Wes said dodging the fist. "Easy."

"Who are you", the guy asked. "Are you going to hurt me? Leave me alone!"

"No I'm not going to hurt you kid", Wes said smiling. "I'm Wes Montgomery, are you new here?"

"Yes, what's it to you", the boy looked suspicious.

"I'm usually on the welcoming committee", Wes said smiling gently. "But my class was on an outing today. So what's your name?"

"Jacob."

"Nice to meet you Jacob", Wes said in the same kind and gently tone. "What's your last name?"

"Harr-Harrison", the boy stuttered.

"Well then Jacob Harrison", Wes said and held out his hand and the boy squeezed his eyes shut, as if he was waiting for a slap or something. "Welcome to Dalton Academy." The boy slowly opened his eyes and looked at Wes' hand. He took it and they shook. When Wes smiled again the younger boy smiled back… just a little. Wes saw that as step in the right direction. Wes was the first to let go.

"So have you been to the office to get your things yet?" he asked.

"Y-yes", Jacob stuttered. "I h-have me s-s-schedule right h-here."

"Need any help", Wes asked.

"Y-yes."

Wes smiled and took the schedule and swept his eyes over it and he kept the same kind smile on his lips the entire time.

"Okay", he said. "I can 1, show you where your classes for tomorrow is going to be, 2, show you to the dining room so you can eat or 3, take you to your room."

"1, 3, 2", Jacob stuttered out and Wes grinned.

"Grand tour it is then", he said and put his hand around the slight taller kid's shoulders and steered him down the hallways. In the beginning the kid was tense like a piano string but after a while he started to relax. He even started to laugh when Wes told him stories of various teachers, classes or places at Dalton. Soon they were done with the tour and were going to find Jacob's room. The kid looked so much happier now, but still held a death grip on his duffle bag.

"So", Wes said with a smile. "Where are you staying?"

They were standing in the entrance hall of the school. From there you could get to all four dorms.

"The woman a-at the reception s-said I was in t-the Dragon", Jacob stuttered.

"Sweet", Wes said. "I am too. Well actually the real name is Dalton East but we call it the Dragon."

"Why", Jacob said and they started to walk towards the dorm.

"Many years ago the guy who took care of arranging who is staying in what dorm was a Japanese guy from Kyoto", Wes explained. "Kyoto is protected by four gods, in North it's protected by the Black Tortoise, in the east it's the Azure Dragon, in the west it's the White Tiger and in the south it's protected by the Vermilion Bird, kinda like a Phoenix."

"The fire bird", Jacob asked in a shaky voice.

"Yeah", Wes said smiling. "At Dalton we have competitions in sports between the houses and the teams are called the Tigers, Dragons, Warriors and the Fire Birds."

"Warriors?"

"The Black Tortoise is sometimes called the black warrior of the north", Wes explained. "And would you really wanna be on a team called the Turtles?"

"No", Jacob chuckled and they got to their dorm. "Um…"

"Don't worry", Wes said as he led him inside. "If anything happens leave it to me."

They got inside and since it was after dinner most boys were goofing around. Two boys threw a football between them in the corridor. Jacob stared as Wes grabbed it as it came towards them. Wes then threw it over his shoulder. Wes skillfully led Jacob through the mass of boys trying to get to their rooms or one of the common rooms.

"Kitchen is on the bottom floor", Wes explained as they got to a staircase. "Sophomore and freshmen camp on the second floor and juniors and seniors own the third floor."

"What are you", Jacob asked shakily.

"Junior. You?"

"Freshman…"

"Ah should've seen it by your number", he said looking at the paper. "Room 213. Cool the rooms been empty the entire semester."

"W-why? Is there a ghost there? I hate ghosts. It's scary. I don't want to stay there!"

Wes laughed. "Call down Jake there's no ghost." He noticed the boy stare at him. "What?"

"What did you call me", he asked and his voice was deadly.

"Jake", Wes said. "What you don't like it?"

"My name is Jacob. Got it? Not Jake. Nobody calls me Jake. You get that? NOBODY!"

Wes held up his hands and took a step back.

"Okay", he said. "Sorry Jacob. I didn't mean to offend you."

"Is there a problem here boys", a tall African American asked and Jacob twirled around.

"N-n-n-no", he stuttered and Wes smiled.

"No Logan", he said. "Not a problem here. This is Jacob Harrison. He's a transfer freshman. Jacob this is Logan Smith. He's a senior and our prefect/floor manager."

"Nice to meet you Jacob", Logan said and they shook hands.

"S-s-same."

Logan smiled. "If ya got a problem come see me okay? Or Wessy-boy here. He's got a good hand with everyone, even us older boys." He ruffled Wes hair. "See ya at Warbler practice buddy."

"Yup", Wes said and grinned. He then turned to Jacob. "So let's get you to your room shall we?"

Wes spent the rest of the day, up until Warbler practice, with Jacob. Helped him unpack his stuff that arrived shortly after they found the room. Jacob was amazed at what Wes could do. When all the boxes came they knew they'd have to do quite a few trips up and down the stairs. Wes had just cracked his knuckles, walked to the door of their dorm and called up:

"Muscle needed! Now! Don't make me come up there!"

Five boys materialized at the bottom of the stairs at once and helped carrying all the stuff up. Jacob made sure that no one opened any boxes. As soon as anyone tried he threw himself at the box glaring daggers at the boy trying. Wes had reassured him that they didn't mean any harm and had reassured the boys that Jacob was just shy. A few hours later with Wes' help the room was in perfect order.

"Okay Jacob", he said. "I have to start with my homework now. If you need me I'm in room 305, my roomy might be there but don't worry about him. He's harmless. He can bark a lot if he's tired but he is as scary as a Yorkshire-terrier."

Jacob only nodded and Wes left. As soon as the door closed Jacob hurried over to his duffle bag and opened it up. He pulled out a black shiny… deadly object.

A few hours later the door to Wes' room was opened and Jacob walked inside. Wes was lying on his bed reading a book but looked up when he saw Jacob.

"Hi there buddy", he said. "You okay?"

"W-Wes… d-d-d-do y-y-you h-have band aids", Jacob stuttered out and held out his right hand. Wes saw a cut there, dripping blood.

"Shit", Wes said and flew up. "What happened?"

"B-b-band aids."

"Of course", Wes hurried inside the bathroom, Jacob turned and locked the door. Wes heard the click.

"Did you lock the door Jacob", he asked and saw the boy's image in the mirror. He saw him by the door. Wes guessed it had something to do with his shyness so he shrugged it off. He found the band aids and took some bandages too. He hurried into the room again and froze. Jacob was shaking and tears were streaming down his cheeks. He was aiming at Wes with a gun.

"Jacob", Wes said holding his hands up in chest height. "What are you doing?"

"No one calls me Jake", Jacob said shakily. "No one."

"I know. You told me. Put the gun down Jacob."

"No one calls me that."

Wes heard steps outside the door and someone took the handle.

"What the", a voice said as the person outside realized the door was locked. "Wes you in there? Why did you lock the door?"

Wes looked at Jacob who was still aiming at him.

"Tell him everything is fine", Jacob growled shakily and aimed for Wes' face. "Tell him."

"George everything is fine", Wes called and the banging on the door stopped.

"Why have you locked the door Wes", George called back. "What's wrong? We never lock the door. Dude are you okay?"

"George everything is fine. The door must've-"

"He said it was fine!" Jacob yelled cutting Wes off.

"Who the heck is that", George asked and pulled on the handle. "Wes?"

"Everything is fine", Jacob whispered and George started to hit and kick on the door. "Fine." Jacob waved the gun back and forth, squeezing the trigger.

"Jacob!" Wes yelled but too late a shot was fired. Wes flung himself at the floor and the bullet hit the roof. The banging on the door stopped, Jacob stared at the gun in his hand.

"Was that a gun shot?" George screamed. "Wes!"

"Get campus security!" Wes yelled and got onto all fours… coming face to face with Jacob's gun. Wes gulped.

"Jacob let me go", he said. "Please."

"No Alan I won't", Jacob said and Wes noticed that his nails look purple… his eyebrows climbed high up on his forehead. He knew that meant that someone was high on heroin. (I've heard this is a way to see if someone is high, but I'm not sure it's true.) That's why he'd been acting so weird… he was an addict and was probably delirious. Wes slowly got up.

"Jacob", he said. "It's me, it's Wes. Not Alan, I don't even know who Alan is!"

"Oh s-s-s-o you d-d-deny that you a-are the guy t-t-that bu-b-bullied me f-f-f-for years?"

"Yes."

The door shook behind Jacob and Wes knew someone tried to break it in. Jacob looked at the door horrified.

"They're coming for me", he screamed in terror. "I won't let them!"

"Jacob!" Wes screamed in terror as the boy pressed the gun to his temple. The door banged open, hitting Jacob in the back. The boy fell and the gun went off again… bullet hitting the floor. Wes found himself in strong arms and pulled out of the room.

Present time

"Jacob was brought to a mental institution", David explained. "Wes still gets letters from him. He tells Wes of his progress and how sorry he is for what happened. He thanks Wes for everything he did… and always ends the letters with 'I am so sorry, please forgive me'."

"Wes forgave him after a bit", Thad explained. They looked at the door. A senior was on his knees in front of it and was picking the lock. Jordan sighed.

"We don't have time with picking", he grumbled and stalked up to the door and with one swift kick… kicked it open. He then headed inside the room.

"Wes", he called and looked around but the room was empty. David and Thad hurried inside and saw it too. Jordan headed for the bathroom.

"He's not in here", he said and found the boys looking at the open window. Thad hurried up to it and to Jordan's confusion he looked up. Thad visibly relaxed.

"Idiot!" he yelled upwards. "Wake up!" Jordan gasped when Thad climbed onto the windowsill and then reached out through the window and pulled himself out of sight. David shook his head and went out in the corridor.

"Nothing to worry about", he told the students. "Wes is on the roof again."

"Asleep", Rock asked.

"Probably… Thad climbed out."

"THAD!" they all heard Wes scream and they heard running feet above them.

"Not asleep anymore", Fred said and grinned. Jerome looked around at the boys.

"Are you all Warblers", he asked and 17 of the boys in the hallway nodded. "But you all like Wes?"

Everyone nodded.

"He's the closet thing we have to a big brother", Nick said smiling. "Always there for us."

"You kicked down my door?"

They all turned to the angry voice and saw Wes stand there giving Thad a piggyback ride. Wes' eyes were wide and his mouth wide open.

"It was locked and we freaked out", David explained.

"It didn't occur to you to call my phone", Wes asked.

"Well you wouldn't have noticed it lost in dream land", Thad said happily.

"I wasn't asleep!" Wes objected.

"Nope, just had your earphones plugged in on highest volume, you wouldn't have heard a phone call even if we rang."

"Which we did", Luke piped up.

"Really", Wes let go of Thad's legs but the younger boy put his legs around his waist to keep from falling. Jerome and his brothers looked on in confusion and awe. It didn't bother Wes at all, he practically acted as if Thad was not hanging onto him… he was looking at his phone.

"Huh so you have", Wes said grinning sheepishly. "Oh well." He put his phone in his pocket again and grabbed hold of Thad's legs. Then he noticed his half-brothers and his face fell.

"Are you still here", he asked.

"We got worried", Jerome said calmly. "We went back to talk to you again after you upset Jack here and-"

"Sorry about that Jack", Wes said calmly. "But I was pretty upset myself."

"It's okay", Jack said smiling. "C… Can we talk some more?"

Wes looked around at all the people in the hallway.

"Fine", he said with a sigh. "But not here… we go to one of the common rooms and on some conditions."

"What", Jasper asked.

"One, the Warblers come with me, two if I don't want to answer whatever you're asking I don't have to and three please take out those freaky lenses. I can't focus on anything else."

"And please cover up that hair", Jeremiah joked. "Everyone keeps staring at us."

"How dare you insult my hair", Jasper said with mock horror. "I shall color you blue!"

Wes rolled his eyes and walked towards a common room, Thad still on his back and the Warblers followed.

"So talk", Wes said sitting down in an armchair. The Warblers sat around him and Jerome nearly laughed at the whole thing. For one, the Warblers were all in matching uniform and they stood or sat around Wes like a harem or something. For two, Wes was dressed in black, black trousers, shoes, shirt and a black blazer with red ripping and Dalton Academy's logotype on the chest pocket. He was sitting with one feet resting on his knee, his elbows resting on the armrests and his fingers pressed together in front of him. And for three, he looked so much like their dad that it was scary. His brothers were thinking the same thing, although Jack thought that Wes looked like a mob boss facing some petty thieves… or people that had angered him. He even chuckled out: "Godfather."

"I heard that", Wes said calmly and looked over his shoulder. His boys were trying to look intimidating. "Oh for crying out loud stop flocking around me like shadows and sit down somewhere else!"

"Aw but you remind me of Doctor Facillier", Jeff joked and dodged a swipe at his head. But the Warblers spread out in the room. Jeff and Nick singing:

He has friends on the other side

Wes rolled his eyes and turned to his half-brothers. They were sitting on two of the sofas. Jerome sat in the middle of one, with Jasper on one side and Jack on the other. Joseph was in the middle of the other one with Jeremiah and Jordan beside him. It was quiet for a bit and then Wes sighed.

"So talk", he said. "What is it that you want from me? Why the heck did you come here?"

Jerome sighed and ran a hand over his face.

"I don't know why the others came", he said and ignored Joseph's 'you forced me'. "But I came to apologize to you."

"Apologize to me", Wes looked confused. "For what?"

"Like you barked at us before… we treated you badly. It was our fault you got sent away and we're sorry we didn't try to stop dad."

"You said you didn't know about me earlier", Wes remarked.

"True", Jordan said. "But we should have stopped him acting so mean to you when you were still at grandma's place. Even we noticed how he treated you back then… the few times we saw you there…"

"We really want to get to know you", Jeremiah said and smiled. "We are related after all and dad didn't only rob you of the family you had the right to… he robbed us from getting to know an awesome guy."

"How do you know I'm so awesome", Wes asked narrowing his eyes.

"Are you kidding", Jasper said. "Look around you dude!" Wes did and saw his Warblers look at him. "You got a school full of kids looking up to you! You got at least 18 younger brothers that turn to you for advice. Of what we gathered of today's happenings you mean a hell of a lot to these guys."

"That he do", Trent spoke up. "Without Wes some of us wouldn't be here. Wes is fantastic!"

Wes blushed. "I am not!"

"Yes you are!" the Warblers yelled.

"We can go on forever on what you've done for us", David said. "Don't be modest Wes. You are our hero! Just look at how you dealt with the Devil!"

"If you by Devil mean Smythe then yeah… I handled that pretty good."

"Pretty good", Rock yelled. "Dude you were awesome!"

"What did he do", Jack asked.

"That's a very long story", Trent said rubbing his face.

"We got time", Jerome said. Wes shrugged and motioned for Thad and David to tell the tale. The rest of the day went by with the Warblers telling stories about Wes, Kurt and Blaine joined after a bit. They'd come to cheer Wes up and he looked happier to see them. Blaine and Kurt didn't say much, they just sat close to Wes and watched his half-brothers. Wes did the same but instead of thinking: "What are they plotting, are they trying to hurt Wes?" like Blaine, Kurt and a few other Warblers were thinking. Wes thought: "Are they really here just to apologize? Have I misjudged them?"

TBC I don't own characters, except OCs, or songs.