Part 15

The next morning Jeremiah headed to the office to get his schedule. Thad and David volunteered to show him around and they forced Wes to work on the essay he had to write… even though Wes objected. Jeremiah had agreed with them and they'd left Wes alone in his room. For a bit Wes actually did work on the essay, finishing it but then he set out to fix something. Something for which he needed Jeremiah's phone… lucky him Jeremiah had "forgotten" it in the room. Wes did not, I repeat did not, steal it… He just burrowed it without asking and that's not the same thing right... right? Okay, okay he stole happy now? Wes pulled the phone out and found Roger's number and dialed it. Two signals were heard and then came a purred answer:

"Hello my lovely sexy boyfriend, are you hungry for me?"

"Well actually I'm straight but I appreciate the compliment", Wes said with a smirk.

"Shit!" Roger swore clearly embarrassed. "Who the heck is this?"

"I didn't get time to introduce myself. I'm Wes Montgomery."

"Oh… Jer's bastard brother?"

"The very same."

"Why are you calling me?"

"Because your text started the apocalypse", Wes said and then explained everything that had happened to Jeremiah the night before. He could hear Roger growl and curse at the other end and when Wes was done he waited for Roger to say something. What he heard was not what he expected.

"You're my hero", Roger said.

"Pardon", Wes asked and raised his eyebrows.

"You don't know how much it hurts Jer to feel as if he can't trust his brothers and he knows that they most likely, which also turned out to be true, would never support him. Then there you are, some dude he's never met and has only known for a couple of hours and you jump to defend him at once. Dude not many people do that."

"Let's just say I have a weakness for crushed and broken boys then", Wes said smirking fondly. "I have experience of comforting abandoned boys."

"As you are one?"

"True, but also because most of my friends are… one way or another. Anyway the reason I called was actually to tell you that I have a plan to get the two of you to be together… all the time."

"Really?" Roger sounded so eager that Wes had to smile.

"Yes. You're attending a private school in the same area as Miah did?"

"Yeah…"

"Is it an expensive one?"

"You know it!" Roger laughed and Wes smirked sneakily.

"Could your parents afford Dalton?" he asked.

Silence and then he could almost hear the smile in Roger's voice.

"I love you!" he shouted to Wes.

"Thanks but I'm straight."

"Shut up."

"As you wish. But then again, how could I inform you about how you can get to Dalton?"

"On the other hand don't shut up."

"Thank you. Now here's what you must do…" Wes told him everything he had to know and they spoke for quite some time after that and Wes really felt that this guy would fit in perfectly at Dalton and there was no doubt in his mind that Roger really, truly loved Jeremiah.

Since leaving Dalton last night the rest of the Montgomery brothers had camped out in a hotel in Westerville. Jack, Jordan and Jasper shared a room and Jerome and Joseph shared the other. They had all fallen asleep when they got back but in the morning Jordan was pacing the room cursing the nerve of his younger brother.

"How dare he date someone and not tell me?" Jordan growled, smoke practically coming out of his ears. "Oh when I get my hands on that Roger kid I will interrogate him and scare him so bad that he will never dare hurt Jerry."

Jack stared at him.

"You're angry because Jerry didn't tell you he was dating", he asked shocked.

"Of course! I'm his big brother! He must tell me this so I can get a chance to scare the guy half to death if he even thinks of hurting our Jerry!"

"So you are not mad at him for being gay", Jasper asked raising his eyebrows.

"Of course not!" Jordan suddenly stopped pacing and turned to stare at them in horror. "Wait… he thinks I'm mad at him for that?"

"Well… you did kinda follow Jerome", Jack said carefully. "And you did without a word to Jerry I might add."

"Aw shit", Jordan said and kicked the chest by the bed running a hand over his face. "Man I was just mad at him for not letting me get a chance to scare the guy he's dating…"

"Wait", Jasper said shocked. "You knew he'd date a boy and not a girl?"

"Of course I did", Jordan said fishing out his phone.

"You knew he's gay", Jack asked in shock.

"Of course I do", Jordan said in annoyance as he dialed Jeremiah's number. "What kind of brother would I be if I… Hi Jerry!" The last was said in a hyper happy tone and he had a big grin on his face. His smile slid of his face though and his tone went pack to his normal pitch. "Oh… hi Wes."

His brothers looked at him curiously.

"No listen that's not why I call I… wait why do you have Jerry's phone? No I am not calling to yell at him for being gay. No I'm not calling to yell at him at all… uh well maybe for him getting a boyfriend without telling me… Of course I knew he was gay! Look that's not why I was… yes I know what it looked like. Will you… can you just… I get it I'm one of the biggest, if not the biggest, jerks in the world?" He was quiet and Wes seemed to be the same. "Okay now is where you are supposed to tell me I'm not Wes." Jordan was smirking. "Oh come on that was funny! Anyway… where is Jerry? WHAT?" Jordan looked totally shocked… and angry. "What the fuck man? Yes I know where the bloody Lima Bean is. Yes I'll meet-"

"We'll meet you there", Jasper cut in grabbing the phone.

"Who's that", Wes growled. "If it is you Jerome do us all a favor and let a bus run you over."

"It's Jasper… and that could be counted as a threat."

"No it can't because I asked him to do something. I did in no way tell him to do it or he would be faced with consequences. Now I have to return to my job but I will meet you and Jordan-"

"And Jack", the youngest brother called.

"-at the Lima Bean at 6 pm and no Jack you are not coming", Wes went on.

"Why?" Jack asked annoyed.

"Someone has to keep an eye on Tweedle Jerk and Tweedle Bigger Jerk to keep them away from Dalton and the Bean. Otherwise they will make everything worse."

"I can do that", Jack said grinning. "I'll keep them in the hotel!"

"Good." Wes hung up.

"I ask the meeting to come to order", Nick said and used the gavel and the Warblers turned to their new chairman. Thad sat at his side and David on his other. Nick had asked them to do it because he wanted them to be his mentors during his first time on the council. Wes had let them talking him into acting as chairman until after regionals, but after regionals they would have to chose a new chairman. He reminded them of that he would not be there the next semester, they would be on their own again and they needed a leader.

Wes stood behind them with a pen behind his ear and another in his hand. He was dressed in black pants, black blazer with red ripping, red logo on the chest pocket, black shirt and black tie and the usual shoes everyone at Dalton wore. When they asked him where he got that uniform from Wes had just smirked quizzically and told them to take 7 steps back and then ask him again. No one figured what he meant, but ooooh where they going to.

"Thank you", Nick said when everyone was seated. "Mr. Montgomery."

"Yes", two voices said and Nick slowly turned to glare at Wes, he was still looking at the clipboard he was writing notes on.

"How many times do I need to tell you that from now you answer to Coach Wes", Nick asked in annoyance.

"That would be the first time you told me chairman", Wes said calmly without looking at Nick. He didn't have to, because he knew Nick was blushing.

"Right… I apologize for that Coach Wes", he mumbled. "Mr. Montgomery."

"Yes", Jeremiah said shyly and Nick tried to see him among all boys.

"Please stand Mr. Montgomery", he said and Jeremiah stood. "Thank you. Gentlemen if any of you have missed it, this is Dalton's newest student, Jeremiah Montgomery and he is auditioning for the Warblers."

Polite applauds were heard.

"Should I start sir", Jeremiah asked.

"Drop the sir", Nick said. "And yes."

"What song are you going to sing", David asked as he made notes in the official minutes.

"A-a-a song f-from a Disney movie", Jeremiah stuttered out nervously.

"Don't be nervous", Thad said smiling. "You will do just fine and everyone in here loves Disney."

"Start whenever you are ready", Nick said and put his fingertips together in front of him.

"The council is forgetting", Wes said with a singsong voice and without looking up. The entire council turned to him slowly this time and with narrowed eyes.

"I thought you said you were not going to meddle into this meeting Wes", David said sharply.

"I am not going to", Wes said calmly. He was still not looking up from the notes he was writing. "But you have a new chairman and he has yet to decide the audition-form."

"The what", Nick asked and now Wes looked at him.

"Are you all, not including freshmen or Jeremiah, having amnesia?" he asked dryly. "What did I always do at the start of each school year?"

"Uh…" Nick looked at David and Thad for help. They looked as clueless as he did. This amused the other Warblers and Jeremiah. Wes sighed.

"Dear me", he said and ran a hand over his face in frustration. "That annoying little weasel messed you up worse than I thought", he turned to the Warblers, putting the clipboard on the windowsill in front of him. "At the start of each school year the chairman of the council, should there be one, has to decide what form of audition he wants." He rested his hands on Nick's shoulders and the new chairman blushed. "Does he want all Warblers to decide if a candidate should be approved or is it just enough with the council, maybe he wants the seniors to act as judges."

"Oh right", Nick said sheepishly and Wes patted his shoulder before removing his hands.

"So", he said and returned to the window and his clipboard. "Nick."

"Right", Nick said and cleared his throat. "My suggestion for the Warblers is to continue in the style of our beloved" he looked pointedly at Wes. "former chairman-"

"Give me a break", Wes said shaking his head but Nick ignored him.

"-and have the council in charge of judging the auditions", he turned back to the Warblers. "of new Warblers and for solos but if the council cannot agree the rest of the Warblers will act as panel."

"But… you're three", Jeremiah pointed out.

"Yes but the chairman has two votes", Thad explained. "And if he wants he can veto… Hey Wes, did you ever do that?"

He got no answer and Nick rolled his eyes.

"Coach Wes did you ever put in a veto?" he asked.

"Two times", he said and held up two fingers as he said so. And everyone stared at him and he looked up. "What?"

"When did you put in a veto?" David asked turning to him with a disbelieving look on his face.

"When Charles Sullivan wanted to join in my sophomore year… boy was tone death and in junior year when Harvey Fletcher wanted to join."

"Ugh I remember that guy", Rock said. "His voice sounded as if he was drawing her nails over a blackboard."

"Exactly", Wes said and pointed at him with his pencil. "But the other members of the council wanted him to join because his father was very wealthy and Harvey did try to bribe the council. I was not going to have him buy the Warblers so I vetoed… the other council members never forgave me for that."

"What did he offer you", Rasmus asked as Wes returned to his writing again.

"He offered us all trips to Hawaii", Wes explained and everyone looked at him in shock. "and enough money to pay for trips to sectionals, regionals and nationals for the upcoming ten years."

The all stared at him.

"Now go on with the audition…" Wes said calmly. "Pretend as if I'm not here and do not forget the camera."

"Camera", Jeremiah asked nervously as two Warblers set up a video camera.

"A tradition of the Warblers has been for a few years now that video tape our auditions to show parents or talent scouts", David explained and turned to Wes again. "Coach Wes did they tape your audition?"

"No", Wes said with a snort. "Thank God."

"What", Nick asked aghast. "Why not?"

"It was the council and I that in my sophomore year decided to tape all auditions", Wes answered. "Now get going… we do not have all day boys." He continued to write.

"What are you doing", Thad asked him.

"Working on a set list as you three asked me to do… now get on with it."

Jeremiah suppressed his chuckle, as did the rest of the Warblers. This was because the council looked little boys being scolded by their mom.

"Well you heard our coach Mr. Montgomery", Nick said. "Start at anytime."

"Can… can I use the piano?" Jeremiah asked shyly.

"Of course", David said kindly and smiled. Jeremiah sat down by the piano and started to play. He played a small intro and then started singing (Rock was filming):

The earth is cold
The fields are bare
The branches fold against the wind
That's everywhere

From here
The birds move on
So they survive
When snow so deep, the bears all sleep
To keep themselves alive

Wes looked up from his clipboard and his brow furrowed. He knew this song.

They do what they must for now
And trust in their plan
If I trust in mine
Somehow I might find
Who I am

But where do I go from here?
So many voices ringing in my ear
Which is the voice that I was meant to hear
How will I know, where do I go
From here

During the entire chorus Wes and the others could see the pain on Jeremiah's face and Wes put down his clipboard and slowly walked towards the singing boy. Jeremiah oblivious to all this went on:

My world has changed
And so have I
I've learned to choose
And even learned to say good bye

He closed his eyes but the tears escaped them anyway and sailed down his cheeks slowly. Wes was standing closer to him now, and moved closer as Jeremiah went on.

The path ahead is so hard to see
It winds and bends
But where it ends
Depends on only me

The tears flowed freely now and he opened his eyes. Wes was now right behind him and the other Warblers were coming towards them as well.

In my heart I don't feel part
Of so much I've known
Now it seems it's time to start
A new life of my own

He looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder and saw Wes smile at him and he flung his arms around Wes' waist as he sang his heart out. Wes held him and rubbed the back of his head and felt Jeremiah's tears seep through his shirt, his blazer wasn't buttoned.

But where do I go from here?
So many voices ringing in my ear
Which is the voice that I was meant to hear
How will I know, where do I go
From here

As Jeremiah started to sob Trent suddenly rewrote the chorus and sang:

This is where you go from here
Ignore the voices ringing in your ear
It is your voice that you were meant to hear
I know you know, where you should go
From here

Wes smiled at him and mouthed a thank you. Trent just beamed and Jeremiah looked up at Trent and the other Warblers that were standing around him know. Nick smirked and held his arms open and sang:

This is where you go from here – he motioned for all the smiling Warblers.
Ignore the voices ringing in your ear – Jeremiah looked up at Wes who nodded.
The voice in your heart you were meant to hear
I know you know where you should go – Jeremiah got up slowly and walked over to Nick.
From here – As Nick held the last note Jeremiah fell into his hug and Nick hugged him back.

"Welcome to the Warblers", David said and they joined each other in a huge group hug, Lewis pulling Wes into it as well. Wes looked up though when he heard footsteps he didn't know. A young man had entered the room and Wes smirked.

"Thank you", he heard Jeremiah whisper and just had to say:

"Hey Nick you're cured!"

"Oh shut up", Nick spat as the group hug ended. Then his eyes widened and he looked at Wes, slightly panicked. "Wait what do you mean?"

He sounded terrified and he looked at Wes who nodded at the door. Nick slowly turned and saw a tall young man, around 2 meters tall, with chestnut-colored hair and green eyes. He had a tan face and he was beaming at them. The boy was in a Dalton uniform. Nick's eyes grew huge and he let go of Jeremiah.

"You just had to do that didn't you", David hissed at Wes accusingly and Wes smiled and shook Jeremiah's shoulder.

"Hey Miah", he said. "You got a visitor."

Jeremiah's head shot up and he looked at the door and his eyes grew wide.

"Roger!" he cried and ran over and jumped into the guy's awaiting arms and the Warblers all smiled, except Nick. Wes chuckled and pulled the scared teen to him. He apologized and whispered reassurance to him. Nick was still stiff but relaxed once Wes voice broke through to him. He melted into the touch… like he always did when Wes or Jeff hugged him like that. But he melted for different reasons. When Jeff hugged him he melted because of the love he felt and wanted to melt into Jeff's love and when Wes held him it was just the warm comforting feeling he melted into. Roger and Jeremiah were kissing and Wes was smiling.

"The guy must have a private yet", he whispered to Nick. "I called him this morning and he is here already."

"Don't you have somewhere else to be", Nick snapped in annoyance, but didn't try to get out of Wes' arms.

"I do actually", Wes said and let go of him. "Jeff, care for your wife."

"Okay coach", Jeff grinned.

"I'm not his wife!" Nick's objection was the last thing Wes heard before leaving the room, taking the camera with him. He knew David would soon get Nick to cancel the meeting but didn't stay to wait for Nick to jump him and, most likely, hurt him for calling him Jeff's wife.

TBC